Review #032: The Man From Snowy River.
Cast
Tom Burlinson (Jim Craig), Sigrid Thornton (Jessica Harrison), Kirk Douglas (Harrison / Spur), Terence Donovan (Henry Craig), Tommy Dysart (Mountain Man), Bruce Kerr (Man in Street), David Bradshaw (Banjo Paterson), and Jack Thompson (Clancy) Directed by George T. Miller.
Review
NEW VERSION: https://officalmovienight.blogspot.com/2018/05/redux-redux-the-man-from-snowy-river.html
The film is a greatly made drama that has good acting, especially from Kirk Douglas, who plays not one, but two roles. The film also had the best horse racing/riding you will ever see. It's hard to believe its adapted from a poem, but you don't feel like it does. You feel its very original, which helps the film out. It's a family film that feels comfortable being what it is, as do I.
Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.
March 26, 2011
Movie Night: Ghostbusters II.
Review #031: Ghostbusters II.
Cast
Bill Murray (Peter Venkman), Dan Aykroyd (Ray Stantz), Sigourney Weaver (Dana Barrett), Harold Ramis (Egon Spengler), Rick Moranis (Louis Tully), Ernie Hudson (Winston Zeddemore), Annie Potts (Janine Melnitz), Peter MacNicol (Dr. Janosz Poha), Harris Yulin (Judge Stephen Wexler), Janet Margolin (Prosecuting Attorney "Kitten"), David Margulies (Mayor "Lenny"), Kurt Fuller (Jack Hardemeyer), William T. Deutschendorf and Hank J. Deutschendorf II (Baby Oscar), and Wilhelm von Homburg (Vigo the Carpathian) Directed by Ivan Reitman (#026 - Ghostbusters)
Review
Let me make this clear, it isn't as good as the original. Despite having all the cast, it isn't as funny as the first. But I will say the plot is different (what a sequel has to do to have a chance), and the acting and visuals are allright. The film works for the most part, trying to do more, but it still doesn't measure up in terms of the first one. However, it is still a good film. Now where's Ghostbusters 3 when you need it?
Overall, I give 8 out of 10 stars.
Cast
Bill Murray (Peter Venkman), Dan Aykroyd (Ray Stantz), Sigourney Weaver (Dana Barrett), Harold Ramis (Egon Spengler), Rick Moranis (Louis Tully), Ernie Hudson (Winston Zeddemore), Annie Potts (Janine Melnitz), Peter MacNicol (Dr. Janosz Poha), Harris Yulin (Judge Stephen Wexler), Janet Margolin (Prosecuting Attorney "Kitten"), David Margulies (Mayor "Lenny"), Kurt Fuller (Jack Hardemeyer), William T. Deutschendorf and Hank J. Deutschendorf II (Baby Oscar), and Wilhelm von Homburg (Vigo the Carpathian) Directed by Ivan Reitman (#026 - Ghostbusters)
Review
Let me make this clear, it isn't as good as the original. Despite having all the cast, it isn't as funny as the first. But I will say the plot is different (what a sequel has to do to have a chance), and the acting and visuals are allright. The film works for the most part, trying to do more, but it still doesn't measure up in terms of the first one. However, it is still a good film. Now where's Ghostbusters 3 when you need it?
Overall, I give 8 out of 10 stars.
March 16, 2011
Movie Night: Face/Off.
Review #030: Face/Off.
Cast
Nicolas Cage (Castor Troy/Sean Archer), Joan Allen (Dr. Eve Archer), Alessandro Nivola (Pollux Troy), Gina Gershon (Sasha Hassler), Dominique Swain (Jamie Archer), Nick Cassavetes (Dietrich Hassler), Harve Presnell (Victor Lazarro), Colm Feore (Dr. Malcolm Walsh), John Carroll Lynch (Guard Walton), C. C. H. Pounder (Dr. Hollis Miller), Robert Wisdom (Tito Biondi), and Margaret Cho (Wanda) Directed by John Woo.
Review
Considering what's he's been in the past few years, Nicolas Cage does a good job in this film. why does it matter? Because as the main lead along with Travolta, you have to sell the concept, thus it works. The action is good, with some decent effects. The plot is allright, doing what it can to make a good film work, which it does. Woo would make other films after (Mission Impossible II, Paycheck, Windtalkers), but this will be remembered more.
Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.
March 15, 2011
Movie Night: Top Gun.
Replaced by newer review: https://movienightcentral.blogspot.com/2022/05/redux-top-gun.html
Review #029: Top Gun.
Cast
Tom Cruise (LT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell), Kelly McGillis (Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood), Val Kilmer (LT Tom "Iceman" Kazanski), Anthony Edwards (LTJG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw), Tom Skerritt (CDR Mike "Viper" Metcalf), Michael Ironside (LCDR Rick "Jester" Heatherly), John Stockwell (LT Bill "Cougar" Cortell), Barry Tubb (LTJG Leonard "Wolfman" Wolfe), Rick Rossovich (LTJG Ron "Slider" Kerner), Tim Robbins (LTJG Sam "Merlin" Wells), Clarence Gilyard, Jr. (LTJG Marcus "Sundown" Williams), Whip Hubley (LT Rick "Hollywood" Neven), James Tolkan (CDR Tom "Stinger" Jardian), and Meg Ryan (Carole Bradshaw) Directed by Tony Scott.
Review
If you couldn't tell, this film is a 80s flick, and it shows. It's a cheesy flick, trying to be dramatic, but the weirdness of the film (especially the Volleyball scene) sever the film down. The action's pretty fine, and the acting is decent, but the film suffers from age, cheesiness, and just being weird.
Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.
March 14, 2011
Movie Night: Hot Shots!
Review #028: Hot Shots!
Cast
Charlie Sheen (LT Sean "Topper" Harley), Cary Elwes (LT Kent Gregory), Valeria Golino (Ramada Thompson), Lloyd Bridges (RADM Thomas "Tug" Benson), Kevin Dunn (LCDR James Block), Jon Cryer (LT Jim "Wash Out" Pfaffenbach), William O'Leary (LT Pete "Dead Meat" Thompson), Kristy Swanson (Kowalski), Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (Wilson), Bill Irwin (Leland "Buzz" Harley), and Ryan Stiles (Dominic "Mailman" Farnum) Directed by Jim Abrahams.
Review
This spoof of Top Gun might actually be better then Top Gun, with some good gags that might remind you of another spoof, Airplane! (That also had Lloyd Bridges) Anyway, the film is decent with performances, especially Sheen and Elwes. The film is decent enough to become good, making this a film to watch. While it may not be great-great, it at least is useful.
Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.
Cast
Charlie Sheen (LT Sean "Topper" Harley), Cary Elwes (LT Kent Gregory), Valeria Golino (Ramada Thompson), Lloyd Bridges (RADM Thomas "Tug" Benson), Kevin Dunn (LCDR James Block), Jon Cryer (LT Jim "Wash Out" Pfaffenbach), William O'Leary (LT Pete "Dead Meat" Thompson), Kristy Swanson (Kowalski), Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (Wilson), Bill Irwin (Leland "Buzz" Harley), and Ryan Stiles (Dominic "Mailman" Farnum) Directed by Jim Abrahams.
Review
This spoof of Top Gun might actually be better then Top Gun, with some good gags that might remind you of another spoof, Airplane! (That also had Lloyd Bridges) Anyway, the film is decent with performances, especially Sheen and Elwes. The film is decent enough to become good, making this a film to watch. While it may not be great-great, it at least is useful.
Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.
Movie Night: The Fifth Element.
Review #027: The Fifth Element.
Cast
Bruce Willis (Korban Dallas), Gary Oldman (Zorg), Mila Jovovich (Leeloo), Ian Holm (Vito Corneilus), Chris Tucker (Euby Rhod), Charlie Creed-Miles (David), Brion James (General Munro), Tricky (Right Arm), and Tom Lister Jr. (President Lindberg) Directed by Luc Besson.
Review
This film is not like other Science Fiction films, like Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (#113), 2001: A Space Odysesy (#93), Alien, and many others. It's a weird breed with flying cars and more in a futuristic tale (Not like another one with cars that fly. But that had some sort of organic robots) It's a strange plot, but it's a little creative, and the acting (Save for Chris Tucker, who gets the award for least subtle preformance ever) One odd end to mention is that the main hero and villian never meet. Overall, the movie is a weird breed, but it all works in the end, making this a good film.
Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars..
Cast
Bruce Willis (Korban Dallas), Gary Oldman (Zorg), Mila Jovovich (Leeloo), Ian Holm (Vito Corneilus), Chris Tucker (Euby Rhod), Charlie Creed-Miles (David), Brion James (General Munro), Tricky (Right Arm), and Tom Lister Jr. (President Lindberg) Directed by Luc Besson.
Review
This film is not like other Science Fiction films, like Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (#113), 2001: A Space Odysesy (#93), Alien, and many others. It's a weird breed with flying cars and more in a futuristic tale (Not like another one with cars that fly. But that had some sort of organic robots) It's a strange plot, but it's a little creative, and the acting (Save for Chris Tucker, who gets the award for least subtle preformance ever) One odd end to mention is that the main hero and villian never meet. Overall, the movie is a weird breed, but it all works in the end, making this a good film.
Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars..