Movie Night: Blast from the Past.

Review #445: Blast from the Past.

Cast
Brendan Fraser (Adam Webber), Alicia Silverstone (Eve Vrustikoff), Christopher Walken (Calvin Webber), Sissy Spacek (Helen Webber), Dave Foley (Troy), Joey Slotnick (Melker), Dale Raoul (Mom), Rex Linn (Dave), Cynthia Mace (Betty), and Harry S. Murphy (Bob) Directed by Hugh Wilson.

Review
You know, there are some films that aren't really good on attaining its purpose, but still have a cute charm, a sweet, but not too sweet feel, basically a guilty pleasure. The premise of this film is a bit inventive (Though what kind of person makes a shelter that you can't even get out for 35 years?), and while it may not live up fully to its potential, I suppose it could've done worse. Brendan Fraser is not too terrible in the main role, awkward, but not too bad. Alicia Silverstone (Who I last saw in Batman & Robin, which automatically means she went a step up from that film) is somewhat better, though to be fair Christopher Walken in some ways steals the show, maybe it's his charisma, or that duck joke, I don't know. The film has a few laughs, and it sometimes tries to be ambitious, and while it starts out slow, it does at least finish well, and it's not too bad, a bit average. Is it awkward? Sometimes. Is it okay? Sure. But is it forgettable? Not all the time. Countdown to 450 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5...

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Major League II

Review #444: Major League II.

Cast
Charlie Sheen (Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn), Tom Berenger (Jake Taylor), Corbin Bernsen (Roger Dorn), Dennis Haysbert (Pedro Cerrano), James Gammon (Lou Brown), Omar Epps (Willie Mays Hayes), Bob Uecker (Harry Doyle), David Keith (Jack Parkman), Takaaki Ishibashi (Isuro Tanaka), Margaret Whitton (Rachel Phelps), Eric Bruskotter (Rube Baker), Alison Doody (Rebecca Flannery), Michelle Burke (Nikki Reese), and Randy Quaid (Unnamed Fan) Directed by David S. Ward (#426 - Major League)

Review
Major League had its shares of laughs, and while it could've been better, it was a good comedy, arguably a classic. Five years, they made a sequel. This isn't as good. It feels like a rehash at times, and while it does have its moments, it's an okay comedy, as it eventually seems to win down in the same way the first film went, but at least this film doesn't get too sappy, which I guess helps...sort of. The film even retains the same "villain" from the first film, though I do wonder if she would've been allowed to own the team again, what with her deliberately trying to sabotage the team last season and all but oh well. The actors do fine, and Omar Epps does an okay job replacing Wesley Snipes from the last film, not too bad. It's an okay film, having some laughs, but not rising above the first film, inspiring more comparisons to the first film than praise for it. But hey, at least Cleveland got to win something, and that's always nice to see I suppose. I love the fact I've reached 444 reviews, and on my first day back at school. Countdown to 450 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6...

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Daredevil.

Review #443: Daredevil.

Cast
Ben Affleck (Matt Murdock/Daredevil), Jennifer Garner (Elektra Natchios), Colin Farrell (Bullseye), Michael Clarke Duncan (Wilson Fisk/The Kingpin), Jon Favreau (Franklin Nelson), Joe Pantoliano (Ben Urich), and David Keith (Jack Murdock) Directed by Mark Steven Johnson.

Review
On November 2, 2006, Ben Affleck stated his disintrest in being Daredevil again, saying "by playing a superhero in Daredevil, I have inoculated myself from ever playing another superhero... Wearing a costume was a source of humiliation for me and something I wouldn't want to do again soon". Irony is a terrible thing isn't it? Yes, Ben Affleck will be Batman. Yes, I would've liked to hear about much better things, like a Wonder Woman movie, or when the Hulk will get a film that will actually get a sequel. But hey, at least Affleck has some experiance as a costumed hero, and it was a success, right?...Sort of. It was a financial hit when it first came out, and yet all that this inspired was an Elektra spinoff...and no sequels. It's a stand alone film, and an unfocused one at that. My first question for this film came when you first see Daredevil's costume. Maybe it's just me, or my complete non knowledge of the comics, but Daredevil's costume is hilarious. Maybe it's the shade of red, or how it looks at night, but it looks very funny. The film starts off...normally, and the action is okay, and than we get introduced to Elektra 30 or so minutes in. You'd think that the subplot between Elektra and Daredevil would be entertaining, but it's mild in its approach, and it makes you yearn to see the over the top Colin Farrell (Who I last saw being harassed by Kiefer Sutherland in Phone Booth), or wonder why Michael Clarke Duncan isn't seen in this film too much even though he is an entertaining villain. Affleck isn't too bad, and I admire his attempt to be like the character because he apparently read the comics as a kid. The film...just can't support itself. It's not a great or good comic book film, but it could be passable for some, and I give this more credit then other early 2000's comic book movies (Catwoman, Fantastic Four, or even Green Lantern) that weren't as good. I've heard that people like the Director's Cut more than the original version, but at this point I just want to keep this review under a millenium words long. Countdown to 450 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7...

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Garbage Pail Kids Movie.

Review #442: The Garbage Pail Kids Movie.

Cast
Anthony Newley (Captain Manzini), Mackenzie Astin (Dodger), Katie Barberi (Tangerine), Ron MacLachlan (Juice), Jim Cummings (Greaser Greg), Debbie Lee Carrington (Valerie Vomit), Kevin Thompson (Ali Gator) Directed by Rod Amateau.

Review
I've decided to watch this film because of the film's 26th anniversary and because reviewing terrible films are not that common on here, so why not? Before I divulge, there is a fun fact to this film (shocking, I know) this director is also notable for directing episodes of Mister Ed, The Dukes of Hazzard, My Mother the Car, and Supertrain. Which of things sound weird to you? But oh well. I apologize in advance if the review is long, but with a film like this, rants are necessary.

I love the tagline for the film: Out of the garbage pail and into your heart! A live action heap of fun! Oh yeah, I was crying at one point of the film, when I got hiccups and it made me spout tears. So the film begins like most kids flicks...in space. With a trashcan flying...somewhere towards Earth, though I'd like to imagine they really landed on a parallel green and blue looking planet, called...Zerth. You may notice the bizarre names of these characters, like..."Juice, or "Dodger", or "Manzini", or "Tangerine", which sounds like something that 2nd graders would think of. Also, what did this kid do to be bulled by...teenagers who look like adults? He must've done something, he was constantly referred to as "creep", that or the "gang" really like calling people creeps. I'd mention the acting, but I'm told that laughing does not count as an opinion.

And then we see the titular characters, which were adapted from a series...of trading cards. Not a TV show, not a book, not a poem, not even an idea, but trading cards. I'd judge the "Pail Kids" on their looks and terrible puppetry and lipsynced voices, but judging the personalities...is less mean. Especially when they're so nice, stealing vehicles, destroying other vehicles...vomiting on people, and other such things. Their personalities might be worse than the effects. I love the technical errors in this film, like when Dodger (Is it his name, his nickname, or the name he used while being on Earth as a Time Lord?) asks a question to Tangerine while she drives (?) in daylight...and gets the answer at night or when the "Kids" go to see the Three Stooges in a theater (?)...and everybody at the theater..is laughing like hyenas. I know they are watching the Stooges, but is anything really funny enough to laugh really, really hard?  Strangely, the Garbage Pail Kids can make clothes...and sing.  They sing...while stealing clothes from a sweat shop. I can't think of any worse moment to have a song other than a funeral then this. The fashion of the film is terrible, inherently stuck in the 80s but in a bad way. One question that kept popping up all throughout the film is...where is Dodger's parents? Does he even have parents? This is a film that has inspires a lot of questions, such as: Who made a State Home for the Ugly? How do the Pail Kids know Manzini? Are the Kids aliens, and if so, where did they come from? How can Santa Claus, clowns and cavemen be in the House of the Ugly? Who names their bar "The toughest bar in the world"? Who thought this would be a good idea? Why are the designs of the Kids so horrendously bad? There are two good things about this film, though. It was a failure at the box office, and...the end credits. I wonder which film is worse, this or Birdemic. Don't watch this movie, not even for curiosity's sake.

Countdown to 450 Reviews: 10, 9, 8...

Overall, I give it 0 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Toy Story 2.

Review #441: Toy Story 2.

Cast

Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear), Kelsey Grammer (Stinky Pete), Joan Cusack (Jessie), Don Rickles (Mr. Potato Head), Jim Varney (Slinky Dog), Wallace Shawn (Rex), John Ratzenberger (Hamm), Annie Potts (Bo Peep), Estelle Harris (Mrs. Potato Head), Wayne Knight (Al McWhiggin), John Morris (Andy), and Laurie Metcalf (Ms. Davis) Directed by John Lasseter (#440 - Toy Story), Lee Unkrich, and Ash Brannon.

Review

Ever have a film sequel that actually might be better than the original? (yes, you could answer Empire Strikes Back, or Spider-Man 2, or Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan, but let's not get too off topic) Toy Story 2 manages to evoke that question, and it could be argued that it is better. This might feel tired, or stale (or both) coming from me, but the Toy Story trilogy could arguably the best film trilogy ever made (I...will probably take that back at some point, but yeah. That and the ambiguities of their being a potential fourth Toy Story), but oh well. Hanks and Allen again do a good job, but Grammer is a fine villain, and it is nice to watch Newman-I mean Wayne Knight in this film. The animation doesn't change too much, consistent, but very well done. There's not a whole lot to say about the film either because I'm sure everybody in the world has at least said something of the film, or because continuously giving praise over and over to different but similar subjects gets repetitive after a while. The film is good nonetheless, and Pixar once again did a fine job. Not bad for a film that originally was going to be a direct to video sequel (Gee, doesn't that sound similar *cough* Planes), isn't it? Countdown to 450 Reviews: 10, 9...

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Toy Story.

Review #440: Toy Story.

Cast
Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear), Don Rickles (Mr. Potato Head), Jim Varney (Slinky Dog), Erik von Detten (Sid Phillips), Wallace Shawn (Rex), John Morris (Andy Davis), John Ratzenberger (Hamm), Annie Potts (Bo Peep), Laurie Metcalf (Ms. Davis), R. Lee Ermey (Sarge), Sarah Freeman (Hannah Phillips), and Joe Ranft (Lenny) Directed by John Lasseter.

Review
Trying to ask what would be the rating for this film is pointless as this is a really good film, with a lot of heart and with a lot of good animation. As I said in my review of Toy Story 3 (#382. Gee I really messed up the chronology, didn't I. At least I reviewed this first instead of the second film), Hanks and Allen pair off each other really well (fun fact: Billy Crystal was offered the role of Buzz Lightyear, but turned it down), and the scene where Woody tells Buzz he is a toy makes me laugh a lot. But the film has its moments of drama and adventure, and it doesn't feel manufactured or phoned in. The film was written by a variety of writers, and I'd make a joke about Josh Whedon, but I've honestly never even watched any of his shows, so there's no purpose, but the writing is good though. This was the first computer animated film and Pixar's first film, and it is a monumental success, especially with the story, the acting, and the animation. Truly excellent. Countdown to 450 Reviews: 10...

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze.

Review #439: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.

Cast
Brian Tochi (Leonardo), Robbie Rist (Michelangelo), Adam Carl (Donatello), Laurie Faso (Raphael), Kevin Clash (Splinter), Paige Turco (April O'Neil), David McCharen (Shredder), David Warner (Jordan Perry), Ernie Reyes Jr (Keno), and Frank Welker (Voices of Tokka and Rahzar) Directed by Michael Pressman.

Review
Almost 400 reviews ago, I reviewed the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, and I liked it, it was fun to watch, it had good action, and it aimed for a specific goal of entertainment succeeded. The second aims a bit lower, with more silliness and puns. And...it isn't half bad. While not as good as the first, the second film doesn't veer off completely off the deep end, though crashing into a rap concert by Vanilla Ice comes extremely close to the deep end. The actors are fine, not too shabby. Shredder with Bebop and- I mean Tokka and Rahzar are okay, and while the action is injected with silliness, it manages to at least have some entertainment, not as much as the first, but just enough for some, I suppose.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.