The Muppet Movie

In the grand scope of children's movies the Muppets are by far the most recognized and most beloved characters since their original introduction in the seventies. At the height of their popularity, from Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, this movie was made and the public just ate it up. With a hero like Kermit, a heroine like Miss Piggy, and a sidekick like Fozzie Bear for the some what comic relief, this film is loved by all that watch and get carried away in their world of wonder.The road to stardom starts in a swamp where a singing frog, Kermit, is told that he could make it in Hollywood, but the trip is adventurous as well as treacherous. There are more star cameos in this film than can be mentioned, but needless to say you can't swing a dead cat without hitting one. Some of the effects that are used were cutting edge at the time, and still stand up to scrutiny of the watchful eyes of a new younger audience. Between the audience at the movies screening and the actors in the film itself almost every Muppet that Jim Henson, and his merry band of puppeteers, created make an appearance.
Of all of the Muppet movies that have been done over the years, I think this one is by far the best. That's not to say that the others aren't good in their own rights, it's just that this one is better and seems to have a more home feel to it. Most people avoid these "children" films because they just don't find them interesting or they don't want anyone to know they like it. But I say throw off the burden of being an adult and remember the fun and happiness that has been lacking and let some old friends remind you how carefree life use to be, so sit back and enjoy the trip down memory lane.

Insomnia

After all these years it seems the best role that Al Pacino can fall into and out of without so much as a glimmer of doubt in the character is that of a police officer/detective. He's done so many of them that he could probably become an officer without to much trouble. Robin Williams also shows how versatile his acting really is, this character is so far beyond what most people would think he'd be capable of that its amazing. An L.A. police detective is sent to a small Alaskan town to help with the murder investigation of a local teenage girl. The constant sunlight in the story helps with the wearing down of Pacino's character to the point that even you as the audience aren't quite sure what your looking at is real or a hallucination. Having the original murder shown only in glimpses and flashes adds to the eeriness of the situation. The scenery that is shot for the exterior scenes is at times breathtaking, it's hard to believe that there are places this beautiful. At times the pace of the film is so fast that you feel like your running to keep up with the characters, and this helps with condition the Pacino is going through with not sleeping for six days straight.
This murder mystery got by me when it originally came out on DVD but I'm so glad I finally saw it. After watching this film you can see why Williams was tapped for the role in One Hour Photo, he is so beyond the comedic actor that most people see him as. This is definitely one of those films that you can watch over and over, there are so many little things going on that its easy to miss a lot of them, and you'll want to watch it again just so you can find them.

What Planet Are You From?

Alien invasions are usually a good subject for sci-fi movies and over the years I've seen some unique ways of looking at the invasion. The aliens coming to Earth to impregnate women isn't a completely original idea but the modern twist of having to deal with human relationships puts a spark in the story. With a cast that includes Garry Shandling, John Goodman, Ben Kingsley, and Annette Bening this film got by a number of people and if you don't like the dry, straight forward humor of Shandling this isn't for you. A planet of men on the verge of extinction sends one of their own to Earth to impregnate a woman to continue the race. This movie is more about the human condition of relationships than anything else, as each situation is presented, you can see more of your own relationships. There are very few effects used in the film, and a lot of the comedy is sight gags with a little innuendo thrown into the mix. Shandling as the emotionless alien works well and when he starts to have problems dealing with blossoming feelings you completely believe trouble that he gets into.
The humor that is in this film isn't out loud, role on the floor laughter, but if you like your comedy a little thought provoking you'll probably enjoy this. The thing about this film is that its focus audience was to small for it to be a success, the roles be the supporting cast aren't strong enough to carry it and only a true Shandling fan would search it out. All in all its an interesting story, be it an old one, and if you if you can sit through the dry humor I think you'll come away with a smile or two.

Let It Ride

When a film flies under the radar most people have to be told about the movie by some one who has seen it and liked it. That's why I'm here to tell you about this Richard Dreyfuss film, it's a fun comedy from beginning to end and when it originally came out in the theaters the add for the movie ran in the sports section of the paper amidst the race results. Dreyfuss said in a recent interview that of all the characters that he has portrayed in movies over the years he would truly consider reprising this role in a sequel.When Lady Luck smiles on Jay Trotter he has the best day of his life at the horse races. The cast of characters, and the actors tapped for this movie, are so memorable that you could swear that you've met these people somewhere. The supporting cast of actors includes David Johansen, Teri Garr, and Jennifer Tilly, who plays the sexy siren to a tee in a slinky red dress and all. The comedy is not over the top but in some ways very subtle and with the help of the camera angles and editing the laughs are not hard to come by.
As the story continues after each situation you almost think that at some point the bottom is going to fall out of Trotter's fairy tale, but Luck seems to have other plans for his life. This is a fun look at the gambling that goes on around the country at horse racing tracks, and after you see the film you'd probably think that its not far from the mark. I know a lot of people have never seen this film but its well worth the time and effort and after you see it you'll agree its one of the best little comedies that got by the public.

Hiding Out

In the 1980s there were a lot of up and coming actors and actresses but very few showed as much promise as Jon Cryer. In the all the films that he did at this time Hiding Out gave him the opportunity to show the versatility of his acting. Since the character that he plays is a thirty year old pretending to be eighteen, and in high school, you can see and feel the awkwardness of the situations that he is being put into.A stockbroker on the run from a mob hit man hides out in a high as one of the students. There are a few chase scenes in the film and they're done very well. The make up job done on Cryer is very convincing; the change from thirty-year-old businessman to eighteen-year-old student is very believable. The soundtrack for the film so 80s you'd almost swear that you've heard all of the songs some where at one time or another. The pace of the film is kept up with the constant moving of the main characters from situation to situation, whether its the chase with the hit man or the battles with the history teacher.
This film has two 80s sides to it and both are presented perfectly, the first is the display of wealth that gave the 80s its money/power mentality, where the dollar was the main focus and any one who made it was king of the mountain. The second is the beginning of the disillusionment of the younger generation, at this time in the 80s high school was where many of us begin to express our likes, dislikes and how we just couldn't understand the establishment. I've truly enjoyed this movie over the last twenty years, its funny, smart and has aged quite well, if you've never seen it before check it out it's a fun ride down memory lane.

The Godfather Trilogy

This is one of the greatest stories that ever came out of 1970's Hollywood, the chronicling of the Corleone family has gone down in history as some of the best film making ever. The whole story runs from 1901 through to 1979 and just shy of ten hours of film, which shows three generations of the family and its business. From the first moment that I saw these films I fell in love with them and then I heard that Mario Puzo was working on a screenplay for the fourth movie at the time that he died. It's a shame that we will never know what he direction that he was going to take with the Corleone family.The Godfather-Vito Corleone is the head of his family and their associates, which are all a part of one of the five crime families of New York City. Through all the trials and tribulations of this family goes far beyond any of us could imagine, but then there are a few who have seen some of these things first hand. By the end of the movie you truly realize that Michael is a more bloodthirsty killer then his father was, and that everyone should fear him. Francis Ford Coppola, who directed all three films, shoots a lot of the scenes with very dark shadows, so that you get the feeling that there are things going on that you are just not privy to. This is an outstanding piece of work by all of the actors and actresses, the crew and the production staff, it is as close to flawless that you can get. This, in my opinion, is Marlon Brando's greatest role, and it's the one that people will remember him for, more than any other.
The Godfather Part II-This movie broke the mold about sequels; this film is a far superior film than the first one, yet you can't have one without the other. Seeing Michael use all of the things that his father had taught him is great, from the opening sequences to the last there is no deigning that he is in complete control. The power that Michael has in this film is beyond belief and you just feel it radiating off the screen. After seeing Michael fight to keep his family together, it's hard to see him end up alone and reflecting on his actions, many of which he regrets doing.
The Godfather Part III-Being the weaker of the three films, this movie had a lot to live up to and it tries to hard to be like the previous two installments. The similarities to the first two films are undeniable but if you watch it with an open mind it is still enjoyable. One of the best things that I love about it is that after all the years between these movie they were able to find the original actors and actresses to come back and reprise their roles. Introducing Andy Garcia as the son of Sonny is great and works to the point of showing how much like his father he is, full-blown temper and all. The make-up jobs done on the three main stars of this film, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton and Talia Shire, is great work and can see how their past exploits have taken a toll on their bodies.
Growing up in an Italian home we watched these films over and over again, and grew to love these characters as if they were members of our own family. After having such great success with the first two films, Coppola and Puzo only naturally wanted to finish the story of the Corleone family in a fitting way. In recent years an author by the name Mark Winegardner has continued the story with two books, The Godfather's Return and The Godfather's Revenge, both of which are essential to read along with the original book by Puzo. There is also a book out on the market called The Godfather Companion, which is about the myths and facts about the movie and the efforts to get it to the screen and then to keep people from seeing it. This is a great book to have and read if you are truly into the movies and want to know more about them.

One Million Years B.C.

Like most young boys growing up I had a fascination with dinosaurs, and one of my favorite movies was One Million Years B.C. Of course over the years this film has been tossed into the movie vault, once other films like Jurassic Park, and the like, have taken center stage with the advancement of CGI graphics. But this film still holds a place in my heart; it is a true classic in the science fiction genre.A man from a tribe of rock people is banished and through his travels finds a tribe of shell people that live in a much calmer and gentler way of life. Isolation is the main ingredient in this movie each tribe that is seen believes that they are the only ones alive and must fight to live. The shell tribe being blonde and athletic seems a little far-fetched but if all the women look like the young Raquel Welch in an animal skin bikini I'm willing to accept it. The greatest part of this movie is that there is no dialog for the actors, oh the occasional grunt and groan, even some made up words, but no English to contaminate the idea that this is the dawning of time. The stop motion wizardry of Ray Harryhausen helps cement the action into the minds of the audience and for 1966 this was probably a big budget film.
With the imagination that went into this film at the time it is no wonder that it was a hit with audiences, and you can still see the likeability of this movie. Though the effects are not the best on film, and the idea that dinosaurs and man coexisted is just a make believe story, it is still an enjoyable and fun movie. And besides having a young Raquel Welch run around the movie half naked for an hour is definitely not a drawback in any way, shape or form.

The Pope of Greenwich Village

When you talk about great actors of the last twenty years the name Mickey Rourke comes to mind and with the career that he has had he just gets better and better as the years go on. This movie is an early film that shows an actor with more range in his performance than the character allows. Joining Rourke in this story are Eric Roberts, Daryl Hannah and Burt Young, all of which are wonderful but the job done by Young, as the local gangster, stands out amongst them. Two cousins from New York's Little Italy try to get by each and every day, but after a scheme to make $150,000 from the wrong guy goes bad, their lives may have to be payment for restitution. Having the movie shot in New York City gives the film a completely authentic feel of the local neighborhood. The authenticity of the characters run the borderline of the common stereotypes of the times, the Italians are the criminals and the Irish are the cops and both are on the take. Rourke and Roberts show the real bond that is evident in most Italian families, and demonstrate just how far any of us would go for a member of our own family.
I have always liked this film, I think the final showdown between Rourke and Young is classic and brings the movie to a perfect conclusion. Even though this film was made 1984 it doesn't feel that dated, you can still go to some of the neighborhoods and get the same feel from the people there. If you've never seen this film, and like Rourke as an actor, you should find a copy of it and see for yourself how he got that air of confidence that has carried with him to this day.

Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War

Ever since Saving Private Ryan, most war films are measured on how realistic the battle scenes are and how good the story is. This movie takes a different approach than most war films, set in the Korean War the movie is completely from the South Korean point of view. The two actors that are in this film, Jang Dong-Gun and Won Bin, look like they could actually be brothers in real life, which helps with the believability of the situations. When a young brother is forced into conscription at the beginning of the Korean War, his older brother is also forced into enlisting just to save his brother. The graphic effects of the battle sequences are superb; the wounds that the soldiers receive are realistic and at times disturbing. The acting is great; you follow these characters along and feel for them at every crossroads when something desperate happens. At times throughout the film you just get mesmerized by the horrific and hopelessness of the situations. And when they reach the point of the Chinese invasion you feel as devastated as the characters on the screen.
Watching a war film from somebody else's point of view is great and eye opening, especially when all that you've ever seen is Americanized war films. This movie actually gives you some story of what is going on in the country before the U.N. and American forces showed up. If war films are your chosen genre, you should check this out, in view this movie is a good as Saving Private Ryan.

Iron Monkey

I have some friends who have steered me the right direction when it come to martial arts films that I've either never seen or never heard of. I'm a big fan of the Once Upon a Time in China series, and it was recommended to me that I should see Iron Monkey because its a prequel of that series. Now most prequels that are made don't do the original movie justice and sometimes hurts the main storyline, but here it's just the opposite, it enhances the main story of Wong Fei-hung and helps the emergence of the hero that we later see. The Iron Monkey, a local vigilante, has been terrorizing the corrupt government officials, stealing gold from them and returning it to the peasants in the town. The fight scenes are very well choreographed and in some cases breathtaking in the stunts that are archived. The acting itself is just like so many other martial arts films but lets be honest we watch these films for the action not the acting. The young actor that they have playing Wong Fei-hung is very convincing as a young boy who is trying to please his father and discover his own nature abilities.
This movie was originally released in 1993 and was considered a very campy film, and then Quentin Tarantino had the movie retranslated and re-scored to make the story easier to follow. With these changes he has released a must see film for anyone who enjoys martial arts films, and also a very enjoyable early chapter in the Jet Li Once Upon a Time in China series.

The Island

With the hot topic of human cloning coming up in the news lately I thought it would be about time to see this film and find out what its all about. The film doesn't hide behind any of the social issues, they come right out and tell you that only the wealthy are the one who can afford to have themselves cloned. But buried in this very interesting film is a revamped version of the classic story Logan's Run. Any fan of the earlier film will notice the similarities, but this doesn't take away from the films action and story twists, that are very well placed through out the movie, help it keep a pace that just seems to go faster and faster. A member of a secret colony of survivors of a worldwide contamination begins to question his surroundings and wonders what else is there. The technology that is used in the movie is probably not to far into the future and that idea makes it a frightening possibility. The chase scenes outside of the facility are well choreographed and seamless with the CGI that was used for the car chase on the highway. The acting that Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson do here is great, as the characters are experiencing different everyday things for the first time the reactions that they give are believable and strengthen the issue of human awareness.
This film didn't get a lot of play time in the theater and didn't make a huge splash when it was released on DVD, but that aside it's a very enjoyable film with some very thought provoking issues that we will all have to deal with in the future. The issues of life, death, cloning and the ownership of property are hot button topics that will never truly go away and here they are thrusted into the spotlight and have given us a look at a possible future, whether we like it or not. If you've never seen this film and like your sci-fi movies with a little bit of a bite from the reality bug, then this is one that you should see.

Prince of Egypt

Transferring stories from the bible into formats that children can watch and understand has been repeatedly done over the years with some success and some failures. This movie is an adaptation of the Exodus story and with the use of CGI animation in some places has brought to the screen a very enjoyable film that the whole family can sit and watch. None of the harsh issues of the story, murder, slavery, etc. have been sugar coated for the audience, which in the long run helps the film convey the hardships of the Hebrew slaves.A baby is found floating in the river Nile and brought up as a Prince, Moses later finds out that he was born a slave and must free his people by the word of God. The voice acting of Val Kilmer and Ralph Fiennes sounds just like two brothers that don't quite get along all the time and who are trying to achieve their destinies in the world. As in the 1956 version of The Ten Commandments, the parting of the Red Sea is a spectacular piece of film; here with animation the trip through to the other side is wonderfully conveyed.
I was totally amazed at how well this movie was done, I didn't expect it would be as good as it is and how mesmerizing the story was presented. If your looking for a film that is entertaining and also has a great learning story to tell this is by far one of the best bible stories made for a child's perspective. The action will keep them enthralled and by the end they'll probably want to know more of the story and how it ends.

Battlefield Earth

The question today class is can you successfully turn a thousand plus page best-selling mega novel into a two hour blockbuster movie, and the answer is: NO. Even with some of the best effects on screen outside of ILM studios this could not save the film from dieing on the battlefield. From the opening scenes to the closing credits, you have the constant feeling that there is so much more to the story. With the amount of information in the novel they probably would have been better off making a multi chapter mini series and come away with a more successful project. Earth has been invaded by an alien race, which runs every thing like a corporation, and is being strip-mined; the surviving humans stage a revolt to fight for its very existence. The movie takes place a thousand years after the invasion began and man is pretty much on its last legs, but its hard to believe that the human race would have given up this easily. And there are some other problems with the story; if the nuclear radiation is keeping the Psychlo out of the northern states how come after all this time the people living in those areas aren't dead. Also how can a band of savages learn how to fly a squadron of Harrier jets from just a flight simulator?
There were high hopes for this movie, with the popularity of the book and the acting talents of John Travolta, Barry Pepper and Forest Whitaker, the outlook was promising. But every one at one time or another bites off more than they can chew, and this is definitely one of those times. If you like a film that moves and has its share of action, and your not to much into story substance this movie isn't too bad, but just don't expect a lot it's not the best out there, and by far its not the worst.

Outbreak

Over the years Wolfgang Peterson has given us some of the most thought provoking movies to hit the screen. With this techno-thriller he has brought to the forefront the issues of biological weapons, infectious diseases and the ability of the government to cover up what ever it wants to. With an all-star cast to drive the film, the story hits you between the eyes and never lets up until the end. An infectious disease has been found in a small California town, and is so strong and deadly that if its not stopped, in 48 hours it will sweep across the nation. The tension and the feelings of hopelessness in the film just come right off the screen and never lets go of you. There are some chase scenes that are done quite well, and with Peterson at the helm you wouldn't expect any less. The helicopter chase scenes are expertly done and you have a hard time coming away from it without the feeling of vertigo.
In the 90s when the idea that we could be wiped out by a virus that was so vicious that by the time you realized that you had it you were dead was one of the most frightening things to imagine. This film brought all of those thoughts and fears into focus and laid them out in the open for us to see how truly terrifying the situation could be. This movie is as important today as it was in 1995, diseases like Ebola are still out there and could kill off thousands of people if given the chance. Organizations like the CDC and the USAMRIID, are working every day so that we wont have to live with this fear, but with movies like this it helps put things in perspective.

Click

Learning things from the movies that we watch doesn't happen all the time but when it does we usually learn a good lesson. Here the lesson learned is that our family is more important than a job, and we should never confuse the two. Adam Sandler has done some great films over the years and he's not one of my favorite actors but this movie shows the versatility of his acting ability. Playing the devoted family man fits Sandler at this point in his career, and he could probably do this kind of role, husband/father, again and be very successful in it.When Michael Newman is given a universal remote to control his universe, he finds that skipping the bad times only leads to more than just lost time with his family. Christopher Walken seems perfect to play angels, the archangel Michael to the angel of death he just carries that air about him. The effects that are used to show the remote working are quite good and at times heart wrenching. The fat suit that Sandler wears in one part of the film is very believable and life like, which in turn makes the situations that he's in that much more funny.
This is a wonderfully done, completely enjoyable movie, and not over the top comedy like Sandler is known for so the whole family can watch and have some fun. As a modern version of It's a Wonderful Life, without the entire holiday overture, it gives us the opportunity to examine our lives without all the heartache and sacrifice. This movie moves from comedy to drama without much effort and comes across as a family film that every one can enjoy.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure & Bogus Journey

Giving the time travel storyline a boost with an eighties twist, brought this pair of movies into the spotlight, and rocketed Keanu Reeves into the stratosphere. We also saw that George Carlin could play the straight man to our two heroes, which only shows how versatile he is as an actor. The idea that a future society could be totally based on the music of one group is so far fetched that as the movies move along you almost begin believing that it could happen. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure - A guardian angel from the future help two buddies pass their final History exam by giving them a time machine to gather information. The cast of characters that the boys bring forward for their exam truly feel like they were plucked out of time for this experience. Subtle sight gags and verbal innuendo are rampant throughout the film and help with the childish nature of the characters. The storyline itself is very inventive, the idea that the two most brain dead students in high school could be the saviors of society just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover.
Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey - A terrorist from the future plans on killing Bill and Ted and replacing them with robots, but Death isn't ready for the ultimate battle of wits with these two. The character of Death is by far one of the best additions to this film's cast, the battle of games that the three of them par take in was very ingenious. The sets and effects that were made and used for the Heaven and Hell sequences were very well done, you can almost believe that this is how it could be when the time comes. There are as many laughs in this film as the first but they just seem to be more forced than natural and that harms the film.
One of the best tag lines for a movie was used for the first film as a description of what it was about, "History is about to be rewritten by two guys who can't spell." And after they tear apart history they destroy the afterlife for good measure, this was about as far as you could have gone with this story but that is not what Hollywood is about. You must squeeze as much blood from a stone as possible, so a cartoon series was made, which altered the original premise of the story so that they could have a weekly show, and oh, what a bad series it was. So as a closing remark, watch these films, enjoy them for what they are, a fun trip around the universe, and be excellent to each other.

The Hurricane

Movies that reflect the true emotions and triumphs of the human spirit are few and far between, not because that aren't any stories out there, its more of a financial reason. Hollywood just doesn't see a huge money return on films of the trials and tribulations of man, even with the large named star in the leading role. This movie is emotional from so many different view points that they are hard to keep track of, but needless to say it will tug at your heart strings from time to time. After being wrongfully accused of a multiple murder, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter spends twenty years in prison during which he writes his autobiography and inspires a young man to take control of his life. Denzel Washington is great as Carter, from the prize fighting boxer in his prime to the decades out inmate fighting for his life, he comes across as the quintessential character rivaled by no one. The supporting cast helps the movie take off from its staring gate and it never stops until the story is completed. At the very end of the movie there is a quick clip of Carter accepting the boxing title in 1993, and you can see in his eyes that he feels that he is the luckiest man on the planet.
This is so much more than a movie about a man who has been pushed into the injustice of the system, it about the human soul and the lengths that an innocent man will go to too be free. At times the racist issues that are through out the movie are tough to watch and hear, but it helps to show how much injustice was handed down onto the black community through the 50s and 60s. I enjoyed this movie more than I thought I would, but with Washington's powerful performance the movie starts and ends with so much passion you can't help but cheer every chance you get.

The Replacements

As the football season is winding down, I wanted to sit and watch one of the best comedies about football out there and you can't get any funnier than this. With strong actors like Gene Hackman and Keanu Reeves, this is one of those laugh riots that gets started from the very beginning all the way to the very end. All of the situations that are presented in the movie are completely believable and at times, you wonder if some of these things haven't at one time or another really happened.When the pro football players go on strike, four games out of the play-offs, the owners decide to use replacement players to finish off the season, with some mixed results. The supporting cast of characters that are assembled here can't really be matched anywhere else. Jon Favreau as the uncontrollable linebacker keeps the energy level high and you have a hard time coming down from it. The football sequences are very realistic and at times you find yourself cheering the players on as if it was a real game. The added spice of the cheerleading squad having to be replaced by ex-strippers is funny in its own right, and a welcome sight at times.
This is one the funniest football movies in a long time, and ranks right up there with the best sports film out on the market. Once I saw this film I couldn't help but fall in love with it, between the lovability of the characters and the teamwork of the underdogs coming through in the end, is just perfect. So if your looking for a movie to watch that has some great football moments this is it, just remember, "Pain heals, Chicks dig scars, and Glory lasts forever."

The Last Boy Scout

When an action film star has a successful character they are usually identified be that character no matter what they do after. Once Bruce Willis started making the Die Hard films the public identified him in any of his other action films as a John McClane kind of character. For this film that identification helps, the story is a little weak but with the action sequences, gun play and car chases it becomes a better than average action flick. When a seedy private detective and a disgraced football player team up to find the murderer of the players girlfriend that leads to conspiracy, blackmail, and legalized gambling. This is only one film in the long line of hits from the director Tony Scott, the camera work and the action sequences have his signature all over them. The ride that he takes you on is at times so fast you don't realize how much time has really gone by. The roughed up characters that Willis and Damon Wayans play are great together, the chemistry works on so many levels that it's enjoyable to watch them even when things don't go their way. The stripper girlfriend is played by Halle Berry, and in this part of her career she had no problem wearing the revealing outfits that strippers, wear on and off the stage.
With the teaming of Willis and Wayans, this actually had the chance of becoming an on going franchise, the way the movie ends you almost get that impression. But the powers that be never went any further with the idea, so we're left with a very entertaining action film that can be repeated watched. This is another of those guilty pleasure movies that most people have seen but they don't want to tell people, but I say proudly this is one of my favorites and I love every minute of it, from the dead squirrel to the Irish jig.

Excalibur

One of the most enduring adventure stories is that of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, this tale has been past do over the centuries and has gone from history to legend more times than can be counted. The amount of times that this story has been portrayed on film is almost as countless, from comedies to musicals to dramas the hold this saga has had on the minds of men and women around the world is staggering. With all the elements that make a story worth retelling are here; adventure, love, betrayal, action and magic the entire journey is filled with these parts and more.The true King of the people will pull the sword Excalibur from its stone and forge a nation of peace and abundance. This film is based on Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur and takes you from the creation of Excalibur to the quest for the grail and then to the death of King Arthur. All of the acting is very well done, but there are two actors who appear in very early roles for their careers, Liam Neeson and Patrick Stewart. The movie was shot entirely in Ireland and in the different scenes of the countryside you can see why it's called the Emerald Isle. The colors are so vivid and breathtaking that it can't be anything other than the touch of God upon the Earth.
The complete story is more about the sword than about the knights, but that only enhances your experience with this film. The magic and the action that takes place is very well done and drives this epic story that over the years has become common knowledge to so many people around the world. When this film first came out in the theater it was considered more of an art film because of all of the symbolism through out the movie. But it became an audience favorite because it's an enjoyable and stylish film that just doesn't get old.

Dead Presidents

I've wanted to see this movie for a long time and was hoping for something that had a strong story to tell, with equally strong performances from its stars. What I was expecting was a bank heist film, because of the way it was originally advertised as, but this movie has a deeper message and the heist is almost an after thought. The term Dead Presidents, in case you were unsure, refers to money, describing the faces of the dead presidents on the currency. Which only leads you more in the wrong direction of what to expect from this film.Life for young men, particularly black men, in the late 60s and early 70s was hard, but coming back from the Viet Nam War was even harder and some of the decisions that were made were out of desperation. The story focuses on Anthony Curtis who's played by Larenz Tate and does a superb job as a young man being torn from one life to another. The hardships that are described here are at times hard to see and disturbing to think about but they are so realistic that you wonder if this more of a biographical movie fiction related. The war sequences are disturbing in their own right and make you wonder if you would be able to survive the whole ordeal yourself.
I would recommend this movie to any one who is interested in seeing a film about the effects of war on returning soldiers from combat in Viet Nam. But you must remember that this is not a completely action film, its more of a drama about the life of a man with the war stuck in the middle. After watching this film, and seeing it for its merits, you have to wonder if the studio executives really had any faith in this movie. To market the film as something that it's not only hurt the box office because it was not attracting the right audience. The audience that did come were disappointed with what they saw, because it wasn't what they were promised by the advertising.

The Promise

This is one of the best Asian fantasy films I've seen in along time, it is so visually stunning that you get lost in the scenery and you just get swept away by the story. The two main characters are played by Cecilia Cheung and Dong-Kun Jang and they do a wonderful job, it's amazing that they don't get lost in the complexity of the story. The characters that they portray are so well crafted that you can't help but be drawn into their plight, and hope that things will turn their way in the story.A young girl makes a promise with a God for life and beauty and then becomes the center of a battle between two men for her love that they can never have. The idea that the Gods have some say in the outcome of a mortals destiny is the focus, but this is ultimately a love story that has you asking just how far would you go for your true love. The swordplay that is everywhere through out the film is expertly done and rivals some of the best sequences done in the martial arts genre. Some of the special effects that are done here are marvelous; from the vastness of the cities to the battle sequences each effect that used just lends more to the believability of the story.
Fantasy films are usually quite fanciful and a little unbelievable but this film keeps enough of the story rooted in reality that you almost begin to think that some of the story could really have happened. This is one of those movies that a lot of people haven't heard of and probably would pass by without a second thought. I for one would like to tell any one who enjoys a good fantasy with a little bit of a love story; you have to check this one out. And don't be afraid of the fact that its an Asian film, there is an English soundtrack for the dialog so any one who shies away from subtitles should be fine.

Scoop

When you have very good actors with a very descent story you should be able to come up with an acceptable movie that people will enjoy, unfortunately that didn't happen here. With the acting talents of Woody Allen, Scarlett Johansson, and Hugh Jackman this film should have been able to hold my attention for the hour and a half that it played. But the story dragged so slow that the movie felt like it was going on forever. On his way down the river Styx, a dead reporter gets information from a serial killer's victim what his identity is, he then passes it on to an ambitious student reporter who tries to break the story to the world. Some of the jokes that are used here are so old that they are so stale they're growing strong mold spores for penicillin. After this disaster Jackman needs to stay in the action genre where he fits in with the rough characters like in X-Men and Van Helsing. Some of the jokes that Allen uses through out the film are repeatedly repeated and become so annoying you just want to stick a gun in your mouth and pull the trigger.
The movie is more than just a waste of time, it's a waste of life force and you end up feeling emotionally and physically drained by the end. All I can truthfully say is that if you rent this film and watch it you too shall be sucked into the vortex of failed movies and the fans that follow those movies. There is only one bright point in the whole film and that's when Johansson puts on a well-fitted red bathing suit. After that you could stop the movie because after she puts on her robe the film goes down from there.

Meatballs

When summer came around when we were kids, my brother and I always wished that we could spend it in a summer camp. Granted none of the camps that we would have gone to were anything close to the camp in this movie. But if there were camps out there that were anything like this I'm sure they would have been shut down, yet it would have been fun. With the popularity of Bill Murray, and a cast of virtual unknowns, Ivan Reitman hit a homerun out of the park that to this day, even though it's a little dated, will put a smile on your face and make you laugh.The summertime is the time for friendships, fun in the sun and blossoming new love but at Camp North Star there are no rules, no boundaries, and more fun than you can swing a dead cat at. The jokes that are laid out in this film are so well placed and timed that the sequences that are setup for the actors are flawless. Where the entire film was shot on location at a real summer camp the feel of the movie is totally authentic and gives you the belief that this camp really exists. There are barely any true special effects in this film but that is the beauty of it, true honest reactions to what is truly going on in front of the actors. The one thing that happened to this film over time was that it was drawn into the neverending bad sequels. I believe that there were three sequels, each worst than the one before, that never captured the comedy or the magic that the first had.
The antics that go on here are so far beyond the norm that you can't help but enjoy yourself, some of the humor is a little crude but by today's standards its very mild. Murray's career blew up after this and from here on he was a comedic force to be reckoned with The genius teaming of Murray and Reitman was so obvious that it was only natural that they would go on and do other memorable hits together. Most likely everyone has seen this film at one time or another but its always good to be able to watch a movie that brings back the memories of summer as a kid, or at least ones that you wish you had.

Earth vs. The Flying Saucers

Of the B-movies that came out of the 50s very few are looked back upon with any respect or admiration for how they were made or for what they were about. This movie had one of those cheesy titles that most of us remember these films for but at least when you read the title you knew what you were in for. A lot of the "technical" jargon that is used through out the movie has become commonplace now, or has become totally obsolete in our vocabulary. Its fun to hear some of the dialog of scientific explanations to help the audience understand what's going on in the film, but you hear it now a days and it's like being back in high school. When a slew of flying saucer sightings threaten the military's newest project and an alien invasion is the outcome of the activity, all out war begins. The acting isn't the greatest, but what would expect from a B-movie, between the dialog and the acting the effects are the only things keeping this film afloat. The best part of this film is the effects that are used, between the special and the stop motion effects done by Ray Harryhausen, for 1956 they could have been a lot worse. But with Harryhausen's flair for the fantastic and the unbelievable come to life, this movie goes down a lot easier and you realize by the end that you really did enjoy it.
This is one of the movies that I haven't seen since they took the Creature Double Feature off the air in the late 70s - early 80s, even though its is dated with the subject matter and the effects, its still fun to watch. Some people my see this as just one of those movies that you may have enjoyed as a kid but now that your older its just a foolish waste of time. But no movie that can be watched years later and analyzed for all its aspects, that were lost to us in our youth, can be a true waste of time.

Whisper of the Heart

Usually when you think of a Japanese anime film the first thoughts are of robots, demons and some kind sci-fi fantasy story that completely boggles your imagination. But this is something entirely different, a love story that has all the earmarks of a classic that draws you in and never lets go. The issues that are addressed in the movie range from young love to peer pressure to parental acceptance, things that we all have had to deal with and the young children are dealing with in today's society. A young student that is completely focused on her reading of fairy tales notices that a boy in her school has been taking out the same books from the library before her, soon her curiosity drives her to find the boy and fulfill her own fairy tale. The movie is set around young teenage students in one school, and the aspects of the academic life of these students, as well as their social life, shows how common the issues are that all students deal with around the world. The issues that are examined here are so realistic that you begin to truly feel for the characters and the situations that they are in, sometimes you might even remember being in some of those same situations.
This film was recommended to me by a friend who told me that I would be amazed by how good this movie was, but he never told me that it would be good enough to fall in love with. This is one of those films that after watching it you just want to tell people about because most people will pass it by as just another one of those fantasy anime films. But I'll say this to any one who will hear me out, if you like a movie with substance, a plot and plays like real life, you must see this film. After watching this film I think that families could sit down and discuss the issues that it might bring up. Then with this openness maybe more children and their families will realize their dreams and strive together to reach them.

Who Killed the Electric Car?

Conspiracies are a great part of the modern day culture, from who shot President Kennedy to if the moon landing was faked; they have equal amounts of fact and fiction to drive the imagination. In this movie the issue is the death of one of the greatest innovations in the automotive industry, to come a long in years, the completely electric car. A car that could solve so many problems with we are having in today's society, from the dependency on the oil industry to the issue of global warming.In the mid 1990s a new car hit the road, the GM EV1, a 100% electric car that could run for seventy miles on one charge and drive at a top speed of 75 MPH, being everything that public wanted including a price that was reasonable where is it today. The film examines the different aspects of the history and development of the EV1 and how strong forces, working against the public's best interests, killed the car and the idea that it was ever possible. Seeing how much money was thrown into the effort to stop this feasible auto, and how much the car and oil industries pushed the government into their corner, just leaves you dumbfounded.
With the current situation of gas prices and the global economy so tied to the oil industry, this movie is something that should be watched by any one who drives a car now. Who of us wouldn't drive a car that saved us money and saved the environment as well, it's a no brainer. This movie should be watched by our children, so they can turn around and ask us why they don't still have this car today, because ultimately we are all at fault. We allowed the government and the car and oil industries to shape our opinions as to what is acceptable and what is not, and today we are paying the price.

The Proposition

When you talk about Westerns that have attached themselves to the idea of what we all want to remember the old west as, the first director that comes to mind is Sergio Leone. In the spirit of how he changed the film industries approach to the western movie, we now have a director that ranks right up there with the best of the best, John Hillcoat. This film is set in the Australian outback sometime around the 1880s, and is as gripping as any of Leone's films.Two outlaw brothers are captured, and the older brother is given an option to save his younger brother from the gallows, in nine days find and kill his oldest brother and the two of them can walk free. Like all good stories the premise starts out with a simple proposition and then the fun begins. Watching this film you get the definite impression that the outback in Australia is as exactly as it was in the 1880s, you could literally walk in the same paths today that these characters would have walked in back then. Between the authentic costumes and the strong acting from all of the participants this film comes off as a gripping drama that can be stacked up against any of its genre brethren.
The feel of the film is so much like Leone that you almost get the impression that Hillcoat had learned his craft directly from the master himself. This is not a movie to be missed if you are a Leone fan, this should be seen for the shear enjoyment of a western film that shows that the genre is not dead and there are people out there that know how to do it right.

Deliverance

Over the years there have been a lot of survivalist kind movies, people put in situations that go completely out of control, most only scratch the surface of the reality of those situations. But here the control is kept out of the reach of the four main characters and they never truly gain it, they have to change with each situation until they don't resemble the same men who started the trip. The director here is John Boorman, who did the film Excalibur, and you can see the attention to detail every where, nothing that you see in the movie is beyond the possibility of physically being done which only makes the movie even better. Four men go a canoe trip down the Cahulawassee River before the new dam being built floods it, and find that any adventure comes with a high price. This film was entirely shot on location along the Chattooga River in Georgia and the scenery is breathtaking, in some spots along the river it looks like no one had ever stepped there at all. Once the trip starts the tension is so thick that you wonder if they are going to survive at all, but as each man is transformed the group gets tighter and the bonds between them get stronger. The action is set up very well everything that happens is believable and well within the relm of possibility.
This is a classic in the true sense of the word; it has all the elements that make a movie enjoyable and re-watchable. I've watched this film countless times over the years and to this day every time I watch it I learn or see something new. After watching a biography about Burt Reynolds I learned that this was his first commercial success and his career skyrocketed from here. I also learned that there are a lot of people who have never seen this film, most people know about it and some even think they've seen it but can't really say one way or the other and then there are the ones that just don't want to watch it because of the subject matter of rape. But it is one of those movies that after you've seen it you start to think if you would have been able to survive if put in the same situations.

Billy Elliot

Some of the best feel good movies that are out there involve children realizing and succeeding to reach their dreams, this is just such a film. As the story unfolds you're drawn into young Billy Elliot's struggle to find out who he is and just what he's suppose to do with his life. Having the film shot on location helps with the claustrophobic feel of the neighborhood and how close some of these families had to live in order to survive. This was a nice launching pad for Jamie Bell, he's done some nice work over the years, and most recently he had a part in Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers.A young boy, who is trying to be all he can be for his father, realizes that ballet is the only thing that makes him happy but his career may be over before it ever gets to start. Set in 1984 in a Northern England coal-mining town the hardships that the local families have to go through while a strike is going on are heart breaking. There are some comedic moments that are not to overpowering but help give the film a warm and fuzzy feeling about the story and characters. Billy is played expertly by Bell who shows such a range of emotions throughout the film that he comes off as if its second nature, so when he cries you just want to reach in and hug him.
This is one of the cutest movies I've seen in a long time and it deserves to be watched teenagers that are striving for their dreams, this film shows that some hard work, sweat, and strong drive they can accomplish what ever they set their minds to. The final scenes are a nice culmination of the story and leaves enough open for the audiences minds to fill in the gaps. Dreams are an important part of life and every one should have one or two to reach for on a continuing basis, for without dreams life is just not worth the aggravation. Other than some harsh language this movie could be watched by almost every one the family, and they would all enjoy it.

Cars

Good race movies are some times hard to come by, at times it's not only having the right actors but also a captivating story. Disney and Pixar have given us one of the best race films to come along in a long time, having the movie animated opens up all kinds of possibilities in the way of effects and action. With the likeable characters that Disney and Pixar have become know for over the years, its not surprising that this movie has so many characters that are a joy to watch.On the racing circuit there is no bigger race than the Piston Cup, and after a three way tie the rookie, Lightning McQueen, gets lost on his way to the tie breaker and ends up in a town where life is passing the residents by. As the years have gone on the CGI animation that Pixar has been producing is becoming more and more realistic, as this film progresses you begin to notice that the cars and scenery start to lose their animation look. The voice over work here is done very well and the actors that were chosen fit their characters from the over confident Owen Wilson to the fatherly figure of Paul Newman, all of the roles fit just right.
Having NASCAR turned into an animation film with fun characters and an interesting story just adds to the ever-expanding library in Disney's vault. The comedy throughout the movie is decent and clean and where it's a Disney film you know that the kids can watch it without worrying about the language. This is one of those films that most adults wouldn't mind sitting through with their kids and enjoy every minute of it.