Simone

With the advancements in computer technology we can now make complete movies without any sets or actors, but the animation still looks a little off. This movie takes the innovation one step further to the point where there is no distinction between the real and the simulated. This movie also shows the way the some actors act like immature children when it comes to things that are written into their contracts, having the largest trailer on the set, all the red Mike and Ike's removed from a bowl of candy, etc. The addiction to a pop culture is examined here with stark reality and blatant truthfulness. The other thing that is shown is the lengths that one man will go to too have his dreams realized, even if it means breaking the rules of man and society.When a director is left with no alternatives to finish his film, he turns to a computer animated actress, Simone, to complete the project. As the fame goes to his head he realizes that Simone's life has become more real than his. Al Pacino as the director plays the role as only he can, with complete believability and with all the ear marks of someone trying to hold on to his career. The fame that is displayed is so over the top that its hard to believe that there are people out there that actually behave like that.
If this is truly the future of film making, I think we should really reexamine how far we want to continue in this direction. I think its great that computer technology has advanced to the point that the graphics are better, and that some simulations can be done so that actors, and stunt people, don't have to risk their lives. But the idea that they can be replaced completely is absurd, give me a live, flesh and blood person over a cold Sim any day.

Hard Rain

This is one of those movies that didn't get a lot of buzz when it came out originally, and even when it came to DVD it was released without any fanfare. With all the flooding that has happened around the nation in resent years, it maybe hard for some people to watch, but if you can get by the anxiety of the situations it's a very good film. Christian Slater in the lead role makes a good action star and should have gone on from here to do more but that never really happened. The other two strong performances are from Morgan Freeman and Randy Quaid, and its Quaid's acting that I was totally shocked by, it was better than I expected. Ed Asner as the old cranky senior security guard is a welcome surprise, since by 1998 he wasn't doing many movie pieces or television roles. An armored-car carrying three million dollars from evacuating banks along a flooding river is attacked and the lone surviving guard fights for his life and the safe delivery of the money. The scenes of the flooded out town are so realistic at times that you forget that this was shot on a sound stage. The constant threat of the rising water is a great catalyst and they use it very effectively, from the water for the emergency spill off to the breaking of the dam. The only problem that I could see here is that everyone's gun at one point or another is submerged in the water and not one of them misfires, that just seems a little odd.
The film is so fast paced that you really don't notice that the time has flown by. One of the reasons that I would re-watch a movie would be to see things that I missed the first time through, and this is definitely one of those movies, at times there's so much going on, you just have to watch it again.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Tis' the season of horror and terror of many types, to send a chill down your spine, and hopefully you'll walk away in the dawn with a smile on your face because your still alive. Of all the classics that come out this time of year there are only a handful that would be considered for children. But of that handful, and until recently that handful is getting bigger, this is by far the most memorable and the most fun. Since 1966 this story has delighted and entertained generation after generation of children and after all these years the tale of the Great Pumpkin has aged extremely well. Linus awaits this Halloween for the coming of the Great Pumpkin, and while he waits he puts up with the teasing of his peers for believing in such a character. This story and animation was Charles Schultz at his best, the characters that he had created in his Peanuts comic strips come to life with all of the mannerisms and quirks that his readers expect. The story alone is a wonderful look at the beliefs that we all had as children and how we would defend them to the bitter end. The animation in this annual classic is basic and doesn't look as clean as the animated movies and specials we see today, but the simplicity of the look goes hand in hand with the story and with the kindheartedness of the characters your drawn into a world that feels like a warm security blanket.
Most people have grown up with this classic and over time have begun to look at it as "I've seen it I don't need to see it again." But what this really is, is a slice of childhood that we're able to revisit unlike so many other things from the past. So even if you don't have children this is a video to see, it will remind you of the warm feelings that you had back then, and that those feelings can still be captured once again.

Tales from the Darkside - The Movie

This movie is a continuation of the successful TV series Tales from the Darkside, a horror anthology show that grabbed the audience and never let go. The stories that were shown were of the highest caliber of writing for television since the Twilight Zone in the 1950s. This film carried the tradition of the show on to the big screen with four amazing stories that work from the opening sequence.There are four stories that are in this movie, three segments and a wrap around stories, all having the twists and turns that are needed in good horror stories. The stories cover the spectrum from mummies to gargoyles to a cat from Hell. With stars like Steve Buscemi, Christian Slater, and David Johansen the stories move along at a pace that is perfect. All of the story are great but the wrap around story is really good . Starring Deborah Harry, of Blonde fame, as the witch in an updated Hansel and Gretel story is completely over the top and works to tie everything together.
At this time a year when your looking for a movie to watch if you haven't seen this before give it a shot. Its one of the movies that I would watch over and over just to see some of these actors in some of their best work. Over the years it hasn't lost any of its charm or humor, like a good bottle of wine it has aged quite well.

Grosse Pointe Blank

John Cusack is one of those actors that over the years he has gotten better and better. This movie shows just how good he is, the character is so multi-layered that a lot of actors would not be able to pull it off. When this film first came out I thought that it was an interesting idea but wasn't sure if it was going to be any good, boy was I wrong.A freelance assassin goes back home for his tenth High School reunion, and while there work on a last minute contract killing. The cast is perfect in this film with Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd, Alan Arkin and Joan Cusack backing up John's hit man role. From the very beginning of the movie you see the chemistry of the characters gel just perfectly. The craziness of the situations is great and at every turn you think that things are going to work out for our hero but then something happens that seems completely believable.
Being a product of the 80s I have a strong fondness for this film, I've watched it over and over and have never gotten tied of it. From the soundtrack to the acting to the action there isn't anything that slows this movie down. This is one of those movies that you can sit down and watch with friends or family and enjoy it completely.

Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie

This film is something that my sister watches with my niece and she said that if I enjoyed the Heffalump movie, I might like this. She was right it's very fun and for a movie that is only an hour long there is a lot of story laid out. All of the main characters are here so that you feel quite familiar with the situations that come up. This Halloween is Lumpy's first and Roo and the gang want to show him what trick or treating is all about. With all of the mishaps that we have become familiar with over the years, every new adventure brings out the best in these characters, and ultimately ourselves. Friendships are something that we all need in our daily lives, but how many of us can say that our friendships are as strong as Roo's and Lumpy's. The story is very inventive and since the last movie got rid of the frightening Heffalumps, so a new ghoul had to be created, enter the Gobloon.
With the universe of Winnie the Pooh expanding , you start to wonder when will it stop, hopefully not any time soon. After watching this I can see why my niece loves it so much , its fun with characters that she loves and the scary story is just that a story and everyone is all right in the end. So if you need a little adventure in your holiday, find a friend and laugh along with the gang as they prove that "brave together, brave forever" is the motto we should all have.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

This is one of those movies that I first saw when my grandfather was watching it, It was one of the few non western or war films that he enjoyed. Even though he is known for his comedy work, it is one of the best drama films that I've seen Walter Matthau in. And the role of the cold blooded mastermind of the hijacking was superbly portrayed by Robert Shaw. With these two strong leading men this movie couldn't do anything but succeed. A band of four armed men hijack a New York subway train and hold the hostages for a million dollar ransom. The action starts at the very beginning and never stops until the final credits are run. This movie was filmed entirely in New York City and has the feel of what the city was like in the early seventies. Even though most of what happens in the movie could not happen now with all of the security that is now in place, it is fun to watch and remember that there was a time when life simpler, even for the criminals. This movie only took sixty-two days to shoot and is one of the best action films to come out of the early seventies.
If you've never seen this film, or have only seen the bad TV remake, it is well worth the time and effort to see some great actors doing their best work. If I had a list of my favorite films that I would repeatedly watch, this would be in the top ten.