Viewed in
1992, 1993
Formats
Movie theater, VHS
Premise
A street rat finds a lamp with a genie, and uses it to become a prince to woo the princess he loves.
Thoughts
It's been a while, but I recall having a fun time thanks to the great comedy from Robin Williams' genie character. The songs were quite memorable and the animation was pretty cool.
What I would change
Nothing.
Showing posts with label 1992. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1992. Show all posts
Amant, L'
Viewed in
1999
Premise
In colonial Vietnam, a French lady learns some hardcore love from a Vietnamese businessman.
Who should watch
Jane March fans.
Thoughts
Horrible movie. Allegedly, the plot was about race and colonialism etc. But that was a lame excuse for interracial sex scenes. How bad was the story? The business man creeps his hand on hers and they instantly fall in love. I should try that sometime in real life.
As for the gratuitous sex scenes, they went from unintentionally funny, to arousing, to creepy. I am sure Jane March was legal, but the story presented her as a 15 year old.
What made this experience worse for me was because my French film teacher made us watch this as a social commentary film.
What I would change
Not bothered making such garbage.
1999
Premise
In colonial Vietnam, a French lady learns some hardcore love from a Vietnamese businessman.
Who should watch
Jane March fans.
Thoughts
Horrible movie. Allegedly, the plot was about race and colonialism etc. But that was a lame excuse for interracial sex scenes. How bad was the story? The business man creeps his hand on hers and they instantly fall in love. I should try that sometime in real life.
As for the gratuitous sex scenes, they went from unintentionally funny, to arousing, to creepy. I am sure Jane March was legal, but the story presented her as a 15 year old.
What made this experience worse for me was because my French film teacher made us watch this as a social commentary film.
What I would change
Not bothered making such garbage.
Batman Returns
Viewed in
1995
Formats
Syndicated TV
Premise
In the Tim Burton/Michael Keaton sequel, Batman must face Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer).
Thoughts
Details are hazy, but I remember it being okay. It was consistent with the first Tim Burton film in terms of visual style and atmosphere. DeVito and Pfeiffer did their best, but they could not match the scene-stealing powers of Jack Nicholson from the previous title.
What I would change
No idea.
1995
Formats
Syndicated TV
Premise
In the Tim Burton/Michael Keaton sequel, Batman must face Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer).
Thoughts
Details are hazy, but I remember it being okay. It was consistent with the first Tim Burton film in terms of visual style and atmosphere. DeVito and Pfeiffer did their best, but they could not match the scene-stealing powers of Jack Nicholson from the previous title.
What I would change
No idea.
Beethoven
Viewed in
1994 (2), 1995
Premise
Family adopts big saint bernard, and hilarity ensues!
Who should watch
Kids who likes big dogs doing silly things.
Thoughts
It was like 'Turner and Hooch' of the 1990's, but family-friendlier.
As a kid, I enjoyed it, mainly because the dog was cute. The only part I did not like was the bad guy getting stabbed by a thousand flying syringes.
I kind of feel bad for Charles Grodin that people my age probably only know him for this movie.
What I would change
Got rid of the bad guy subplot.
Random
Check out this supporting cast: Oliver Platt, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Heaton, David Duchovny, Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
1994 (2), 1995
Premise
Family adopts big saint bernard, and hilarity ensues!
Who should watch
Kids who likes big dogs doing silly things.
Thoughts
It was like 'Turner and Hooch' of the 1990's, but family-friendlier.
As a kid, I enjoyed it, mainly because the dog was cute. The only part I did not like was the bad guy getting stabbed by a thousand flying syringes.
I kind of feel bad for Charles Grodin that people my age probably only know him for this movie.
What I would change
Got rid of the bad guy subplot.
Random
Check out this supporting cast: Oliver Platt, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Heaton, David Duchovny, Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Viewed in
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
A Valley Californian cheerleader discovers that she belongs to a lineage of vampire hunters, much to her dismay.
Liked
Its weird charm.
Thoughts
Not great, but odd and entertaining.
I definitely found the bizarre cast amusing, with with a hot Kristy Swanson, an undiscovered Hilary Swank, practically-unrecognizable Paul Reubens, Stephen Root, and old fogies Rutger Hauer, Donald Sutherland, and of course, Luke Perry at his zenith. Composer Carter Burwell was recognized for artsy scores for artsy movies in the 2000's, so I was shocked to see his name in the credits.
In my opinion it was intentionally trying to be campy, and it worked for me. The actors played it straight, but the whole atmosphere of the film felt like it was winking at me. In any case, I enjoyed the overall silliness, teenage dialogue, and the 1990's fashions.
Since I never watched the more successful show, I cannot compare the two Joss Whedon creations.
The biggest problem for me was how predictable it was, from the boy-meets-girl arc, the old master-young pupil dynamic, and everything climaxing at a school dance. Another problem was that Buffy's implausibly quick transformation and acceptance to her situation. Lastly, I got confused by the "ripe" dialogue between Sutherland, Hauer during a key scene.
It was fun and goofy, and that was entertaining enough for me.
What I would change
Add some creative twists to the predictable parts.
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
A Valley Californian cheerleader discovers that she belongs to a lineage of vampire hunters, much to her dismay.
Liked
Its weird charm.
Thoughts
Not great, but odd and entertaining.
I definitely found the bizarre cast amusing, with with a hot Kristy Swanson, an undiscovered Hilary Swank, practically-unrecognizable Paul Reubens, Stephen Root, and old fogies Rutger Hauer, Donald Sutherland, and of course, Luke Perry at his zenith. Composer Carter Burwell was recognized for artsy scores for artsy movies in the 2000's, so I was shocked to see his name in the credits.
In my opinion it was intentionally trying to be campy, and it worked for me. The actors played it straight, but the whole atmosphere of the film felt like it was winking at me. In any case, I enjoyed the overall silliness, teenage dialogue, and the 1990's fashions.
Since I never watched the more successful show, I cannot compare the two Joss Whedon creations.
The biggest problem for me was how predictable it was, from the boy-meets-girl arc, the old master-young pupil dynamic, and everything climaxing at a school dance. Another problem was that Buffy's implausibly quick transformation and acceptance to her situation. Lastly, I got confused by the "ripe" dialogue between Sutherland, Hauer during a key scene.
It was fun and goofy, and that was entertaining enough for me.
What I would change
Add some creative twists to the predictable parts.
Encino Man
Viewed in
1993, 1994
Premise
Two high school bu-uddies discover and thaw a frozen caveman from their backyard. Hilarity ensues.
Who should watch
Brendan Fraser fans. Pauly Shore fans (do they exist?).
Thoughts
Totally outdated and totally cheesy. Still, it was entertaining, thanks mainly to the underrated Brendan Fraser. Pauly Shore was tolerable.
Like a frozen caveman, this movie should be preserved to remind us that not all of the 1990's was as cool as we recalled.
What I would change
Nothing.
1993, 1994
Premise
Two high school bu-uddies discover and thaw a frozen caveman from their backyard. Hilarity ensues.
Who should watch
Brendan Fraser fans. Pauly Shore fans (do they exist?).
Thoughts
Totally outdated and totally cheesy. Still, it was entertaining, thanks mainly to the underrated Brendan Fraser. Pauly Shore was tolerable.
Like a frozen caveman, this movie should be preserved to remind us that not all of the 1990's was as cool as we recalled.
What I would change
Nothing.
Hard Boiled
Viewed in
1999
Formats
DVD
Premise
Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung star as undercover cop duo in John Woo's shoot-em-up.
Thoughts
I don't remember much, except for the jaw-dropping, epically cool shootout climax in the hospital. To me, this was Woo's second best, next to his masterpiece, The Killer was Woo's best film, even though Hard Boiled one had the more stylish action.
What I would change
Nothing.
1999
Formats
DVD
Premise
Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung star as undercover cop duo in John Woo's shoot-em-up.
Thoughts
I don't remember much, except for the jaw-dropping, epically cool shootout climax in the hospital. To me, this was Woo's second best, next to his masterpiece, The Killer was Woo's best film, even though Hard Boiled one had the more stylish action.
What I would change
Nothing.
League of Their Own, A
Viewed in
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Tom Hanks and a bunch of recognizable actresses star in a story about a female baseball league in America during World War II.
Loved
Ridiculously deep cast.
Liked
The charming characters.
Disliked
The sappy melodrama.
Thoughts
If you were to play a "six-degrees of" game with movie stars, this would be a very reliable hub to use. There was radiant Geena Davis in her peak, awesome Tom Hanks as the curmudgeon drunk, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Bill Pullman, David Strathairn and Jon Lovitz in a hilarious role as the bitter scout. Scrolling down the cast, you can find an undiscovered Tea Leoni, Harry Shearer, Wayne Gretzky's wife, Superman's dad from Lois and Clark TV show, Sharona from Monk, and a lesser Cusack.
Thanks to the writing and the performances, the film did a very good job of making each character distinguishable and and unique. Without resorting to too many cliches, it had me laughing and smiling with its zingers, charm, and occasional low-brow moments. Pretty much everyone got a chance to shine.
As I feared, it went sappy on me about halfway through. While the strong performances prevented me from hating it, I did not appreciate the somewhat-sudden turn of melodrama about losing loved ones to war and sibling infighting. Then they had to throw in the obligatory, "shout out to the Blacks!" moment.
Another flaw was the length by bookending the main section with the characters as present-day grandmothers. Once again, it turned up the sappy by following their reunion and getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Now you might argue, "hey, they want to give respect to these pioneers". If that were true, then the flashbacks should have been more realistic, instead of full of Hollywood comedy.
Overall, I found the film to be very likable and fun. But it could have been shorter.
What I would change
Cut out the entire way too long "where are they now?" part, and just cut straight to the ladies making it into the Hall of Fame. Also, use a different song for the ending. Madonna's "This Used to be my Playground" is excellent, but too much a downer to close the film.
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Tom Hanks and a bunch of recognizable actresses star in a story about a female baseball league in America during World War II.
Loved
Ridiculously deep cast.
Liked
The charming characters.
Disliked
The sappy melodrama.
Thoughts
If you were to play a "six-degrees of" game with movie stars, this would be a very reliable hub to use. There was radiant Geena Davis in her peak, awesome Tom Hanks as the curmudgeon drunk, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Bill Pullman, David Strathairn and Jon Lovitz in a hilarious role as the bitter scout. Scrolling down the cast, you can find an undiscovered Tea Leoni, Harry Shearer, Wayne Gretzky's wife, Superman's dad from Lois and Clark TV show, Sharona from Monk, and a lesser Cusack.
Thanks to the writing and the performances, the film did a very good job of making each character distinguishable and and unique. Without resorting to too many cliches, it had me laughing and smiling with its zingers, charm, and occasional low-brow moments. Pretty much everyone got a chance to shine.
As I feared, it went sappy on me about halfway through. While the strong performances prevented me from hating it, I did not appreciate the somewhat-sudden turn of melodrama about losing loved ones to war and sibling infighting. Then they had to throw in the obligatory, "shout out to the Blacks!" moment.
Another flaw was the length by bookending the main section with the characters as present-day grandmothers. Once again, it turned up the sappy by following their reunion and getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Now you might argue, "hey, they want to give respect to these pioneers". If that were true, then the flashbacks should have been more realistic, instead of full of Hollywood comedy.
Overall, I found the film to be very likable and fun. But it could have been shorter.
What I would change
Cut out the entire way too long "where are they now?" part, and just cut straight to the ladies making it into the Hall of Fame. Also, use a different song for the ending. Madonna's "This Used to be my Playground" is excellent, but too much a downer to close the film.
Malcolm X
Viewed in
2005
Premise
The biography of the polarizing black Muslim American.
Who should watch
Denzel Washington and Spike Lee fans. Those who are too lazy to ready Malcolm X's autobiography.
Thoughts
Emotional, educational and entertaining. Denzel was awesome. What was amazing was that he had power on race and religion. It was an enlightening exploration of both subjects. Take the three hours of your time and watch the best film of the year.
While watching scenes of Malcolm understanding Islam, made me wonder: had he lived to the 2000's, could he have prevented American-Muslim strife?
What I would change
Nothing.
2005
Premise
The biography of the polarizing black Muslim American.
Who should watch
Denzel Washington and Spike Lee fans. Those who are too lazy to ready Malcolm X's autobiography.
Thoughts
Emotional, educational and entertaining. Denzel was awesome. What was amazing was that he had power on race and religion. It was an enlightening exploration of both subjects. Take the three hours of your time and watch the best film of the year.
While watching scenes of Malcolm understanding Islam, made me wonder: had he lived to the 2000's, could he have prevented American-Muslim strife?
What I would change
Nothing.
My Cousin Vinny
Viewed in
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Joe Pesci stars as a Guido lawyer from New York sent to Alabama to defend his cousin in a murder trial.
Loved
The acting, the tight screenplay.
Liked
The genuine tension.
Thoughts
A very fun film that was smarter than it looked.
I loved the performances, especially by Pesci and the lovely Marisa Tomei as Pesci's fiance who refuses to sit on the sidelines during the trial. Fred Gwynne, Lane Smith, and Ralph Macchio also put in strong performances, and even had authentic-sounding accents. Gwynne was especially enjoyable as the booming, tolerant, but take-no-guff judge.
Not only was the writing very funny, but it was well-thought out. There was a lot of comedy derived from putting two American stereotypes into a fish-out-of-water formula. Yet, the stereotypes were done tastefully, there was nothing mean-spirited about either portrayed sub-culture.
Heck, even the antagonists were not mean-spirited either. There was no convenient conspiracy, or evil characters, just regular people thrust into a murder trial, with lawyers, authorities and judges doing their job. Because the situation felt genuine, the tension during the court and the cousin's life on the line felt genuine as well.
Another amazing part about the writing was its deceptive way of moving the plot. There were early scenes that just appeared to be entertaining culture-clash scenes, when there was nuggets of information that would be used later on. Also, the courtroom scenes managed to be plausible, entertaining, and still moved the trial to its conclusion. Pretty much every scene had a purpose.
My only nitpick was the tension between Pesci and Tomei coming to a boiling point felt slightly forced, two-thirds of the way through. But not a momentum-killer.
Thanks to the the wonderful performances and smart writing, this film has held up very well over the years, and I definitely see myself re-watching this in the future.
What I would change
Nothing.
Random
Jess Harnell (Wakko Warner) sang some of the songs on the soundtrack!
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Joe Pesci stars as a Guido lawyer from New York sent to Alabama to defend his cousin in a murder trial.
Loved
The acting, the tight screenplay.
Liked
The genuine tension.
Thoughts
A very fun film that was smarter than it looked.
I loved the performances, especially by Pesci and the lovely Marisa Tomei as Pesci's fiance who refuses to sit on the sidelines during the trial. Fred Gwynne, Lane Smith, and Ralph Macchio also put in strong performances, and even had authentic-sounding accents. Gwynne was especially enjoyable as the booming, tolerant, but take-no-guff judge.
Not only was the writing very funny, but it was well-thought out. There was a lot of comedy derived from putting two American stereotypes into a fish-out-of-water formula. Yet, the stereotypes were done tastefully, there was nothing mean-spirited about either portrayed sub-culture.
Heck, even the antagonists were not mean-spirited either. There was no convenient conspiracy, or evil characters, just regular people thrust into a murder trial, with lawyers, authorities and judges doing their job. Because the situation felt genuine, the tension during the court and the cousin's life on the line felt genuine as well.
Another amazing part about the writing was its deceptive way of moving the plot. There were early scenes that just appeared to be entertaining culture-clash scenes, when there was nuggets of information that would be used later on. Also, the courtroom scenes managed to be plausible, entertaining, and still moved the trial to its conclusion. Pretty much every scene had a purpose.
My only nitpick was the tension between Pesci and Tomei coming to a boiling point felt slightly forced, two-thirds of the way through. But not a momentum-killer.
Thanks to the the wonderful performances and smart writing, this film has held up very well over the years, and I definitely see myself re-watching this in the future.
What I would change
Nothing.
Random
Jess Harnell (Wakko Warner) sang some of the songs on the soundtrack!
Porco Rosso
Viewed in
2001
Formats
DVD
Premise
Hayao Miyazaki's tale of a humanoid pig pilot.
Thoughts
Unfortunately the only thing I remember was that it felt lighthearted. Sorry.
What I would change
NA
2001
Formats
DVD
Premise
Hayao Miyazaki's tale of a humanoid pig pilot.
Thoughts
Unfortunately the only thing I remember was that it felt lighthearted. Sorry.
What I would change
NA
Reservoir Dogs
Viewed in
2005
Premise
A group of criminals pull off a successful heist, so they think.
Who should watch
Quentin Tarantino fans.
Thoughts
There was flashes of brilliance that would later be harnessed perfectly in 'Pulp Fiction'. It was an enjoyable flick full of bloody violence, pop culture references, cool ensemble acting, hilariously quotable quotes, eclectic soundtrack, non-linear storytelling, and a tinge of dark humor.
What I would change
Nothing.
2005
Premise
A group of criminals pull off a successful heist, so they think.
Who should watch
Quentin Tarantino fans.
Thoughts
There was flashes of brilliance that would later be harnessed perfectly in 'Pulp Fiction'. It was an enjoyable flick full of bloody violence, pop culture references, cool ensemble acting, hilariously quotable quotes, eclectic soundtrack, non-linear storytelling, and a tinge of dark humor.
What I would change
Nothing.
Scent of a Woman
Viewed in
2008
Premise
A college student befriends a grumpy and blind Al Pacino.
Who should watch
Al Pacino fans.
Thoughts
As expected, the main reason to watch this film was for the great Pacino. He was in the element as a blunt, bitter, blind man. Poor Chris O'Donnell looked like a stiff while acting with Pacino. I agree that he deserved his Best Actor award.
In addition, the famous tango scene was awesome and sexy.
My only problems was Pacino saying 'Whoo-ah!' too often to the point of parody. Also, some parts of the story I found implausible, such as the Ferrari scene.
It was a good film, especially for Al Pacino fans.
What I would change
Eliminated that whole school subplot.
Random
See if you can spot a skinny Philip Seymour Hoffman.
2008
Premise
A college student befriends a grumpy and blind Al Pacino.
Who should watch
Al Pacino fans.
Thoughts
As expected, the main reason to watch this film was for the great Pacino. He was in the element as a blunt, bitter, blind man. Poor Chris O'Donnell looked like a stiff while acting with Pacino. I agree that he deserved his Best Actor award.
In addition, the famous tango scene was awesome and sexy.
My only problems was Pacino saying 'Whoo-ah!' too often to the point of parody. Also, some parts of the story I found implausible, such as the Ferrari scene.
It was a good film, especially for Al Pacino fans.
What I would change
Eliminated that whole school subplot.
Random
See if you can spot a skinny Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Twin Dragons
Viewed in
2002, 2010
Formats
DVD (dubbed), HD TV (dubbed)
Premise
Jackie Chan stars as twins separated at birth, one became a fighting mechanic, the other a classical musician.
Liked
The charming acting by Chan and Maggie Cheung.
Disliked
The annoying sidekick, the choppy English dub.
Thoughts
Here's my thoughts in "The good, the bad, the ugly" format:
The Good:
Charming funny performances, especially by Jackie Chan and Maggie Cheung (I forgot how stunning she looked back then). Some cool stunts. In fact, it was a pity they could not afford high speed cameras back then, so we could truly appreciate how precise Chan's stunt work had to be. The middle section when the two girls keep getting mixed up with the twins, very funny and energetic.
The Bad:
Ridiculous premise, very noticeable blue screen artifacts in HD when the two Jackie Chans are onscreen, and the annoying sidekick.
The Ugly:
Horrible dubbing.
It was far from Chan's best works, but it was charming and funny enough to be worth an occasional revisit.
What I would change
Less of the annoying sidekick.
2002, 2010
Formats
DVD (dubbed), HD TV (dubbed)
Premise
Jackie Chan stars as twins separated at birth, one became a fighting mechanic, the other a classical musician.
Liked
The charming acting by Chan and Maggie Cheung.
Disliked
The annoying sidekick, the choppy English dub.
Thoughts
Here's my thoughts in "The good, the bad, the ugly" format:
The Good:
Charming funny performances, especially by Jackie Chan and Maggie Cheung (I forgot how stunning she looked back then). Some cool stunts. In fact, it was a pity they could not afford high speed cameras back then, so we could truly appreciate how precise Chan's stunt work had to be. The middle section when the two girls keep getting mixed up with the twins, very funny and energetic.
The Bad:
Ridiculous premise, very noticeable blue screen artifacts in HD when the two Jackie Chans are onscreen, and the annoying sidekick.
The Ugly:
Horrible dubbing.
It was far from Chan's best works, but it was charming and funny enough to be worth an occasional revisit.
What I would change
Less of the annoying sidekick.
Unforgiven
Viewed in
2000
Formats
DVD
Premise
Clint Eastwood directs and stars (with Morgan Freeman) as retired Old West gunslingers who reluctantly take on one last job.
Thoughts
Unfortunately, I have forgotten the details, but I remember loving the cool and well-acted cast.
What I would change
No idea.
2000
Formats
DVD
Premise
Clint Eastwood directs and stars (with Morgan Freeman) as retired Old West gunslingers who reluctantly take on one last job.
Thoughts
Unfortunately, I have forgotten the details, but I remember loving the cool and well-acted cast.
What I would change
No idea.
Wayne's World
Viewed in
1995, 2002
Formats
VHS, DVD
Premise
A full-length movie incarnation of the famous Saturday Night Live skits by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey.
Thoughts
It's been ages, but I recall enjoying the assortment of random comedy, as well as the great sing-along to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody".
What I would change
No idea.
1995, 2002
Formats
VHS, DVD
Premise
A full-length movie incarnation of the famous Saturday Night Live skits by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey.
Thoughts
It's been ages, but I recall enjoying the assortment of random comedy, as well as the great sing-along to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody".
What I would change
No idea.
White Men Can't Jump
Viewed in
2007
Premise
A black/white basketball duo make money by hustling Southern Californian courts.
Who should watch
Fans of Wesley Snipes or Woody Harrelson.
Thoughts
The first half incredibly entertaining. I laughed my head off from all the great dialogue and trash-talking from all the actors. The delivery of the dissing was very organic. Snipes and Harrelson definitely had great chemistry. Also, the basketball action was pretty good.
However, it sadly went into the melodrama-chick-flick zone in the second half. Suddenly, the basketball took a back seat to all this dramatic, heavy stuff. I was sorely disappointed.
I hate it when movies pull a 180 degree turn on the audience out of nowhere, and I hate it when movie studios only market it as the first genre.
What I would change
Get rid of the melodrama and cut the movie by 30 minutes.
2007
Premise
A black/white basketball duo make money by hustling Southern Californian courts.
Who should watch
Fans of Wesley Snipes or Woody Harrelson.
Thoughts
The first half incredibly entertaining. I laughed my head off from all the great dialogue and trash-talking from all the actors. The delivery of the dissing was very organic. Snipes and Harrelson definitely had great chemistry. Also, the basketball action was pretty good.
However, it sadly went into the melodrama-chick-flick zone in the second half. Suddenly, the basketball took a back seat to all this dramatic, heavy stuff. I was sorely disappointed.
I hate it when movies pull a 180 degree turn on the audience out of nowhere, and I hate it when movie studios only market it as the first genre.
What I would change
Get rid of the melodrama and cut the movie by 30 minutes.
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