Movie Night on New Years Eve: In Like Flint.

Review #686: In Like Flint.

Cast
James Coburn (Derek Flint), Lee J. Cobb (Lloyd Cramden), Jean Hale (Lisa), Andrew Duggan (President Trent), Anna Lee (Elisabeth), Hanna Landy (Helena), Totty Ames (Simone), and Steve Ihnat (General Carter) Directed by Gordon Douglas (#663 - Them!)

Review
Well, it's New Year's Eve once again, and I'm continuing my tradition of reviewing a movie on the date, like I've done for the last three years, which had reviews of Duck Soup (#085), Jailhouse Rock (#327), Spies Like Us (#513) & Our Man Flint (#514). As such, I'm reviewing the sequel to Our Man Flint, released a year later, reportedly the "favorite movie" of Austin Powers. And how is it? It's alright. To say that it's an okay sequel is the perfect statement for this movie, as it is just okay, nothing too awful or too great. Coburn is here again, though maybe it's just me, but he was a lot more interesting in the first movie, he had an exotic charm there, especially with all the tricks he did. Now it just seems more played down, though the part about dolphin speaking is funny. The movie has some decent action and some decent dialogue, but it feels like it goes on and on before it ends on a...high note, I suppose. It just doesn't have the same punch as Our Man Flint, though at least it is a strange little capsule for the late 60's, even if it was the last Flint film, as Coburn rejected an offer to star in a third film, ending the short run of Mr. Flint. But at least it was a good run, I suppose, so I'll be a bit generous with the rating.

Happy New Year to everyone around the world, as it is 2015 in some places of the world already, such as Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. It's going to be a weird year, filled with new movies, such as The Force Awakens, the Avengers sequel, the new Peanuts movie, Spectre, Antman, and the Cubs win the World Series (according to Back to the Future Part II, anyway. BTW, I'm reviewing the trilogy in the new year), so everyone get happy. Or not. I hope you liked this last review of what I call "Season 4", because the new "Season" will start tomorrow. Get ready for another year of reviews!

Overall, I give 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: What Happens in Vegas.

Review #685: What Happens in Vegas.

Cast
Ashton Kutcher (Jack Fuller), Cameron Diaz (Joy MacNally), Rob Corddry (Hater Lewis), Lake Bell (Tipper Saxson), Dennis Farina (Richard Banger), Queen Latifah (Dr. Twitchell), and Dennis Miller (Judge Whopper) Directed by Tom Vaughan.

Review
Oh look, today's December 30th, the day before New Year's Eve. In honor of that, I decided to watch a movie that I had watched when I was young...by which I mean when I was 14. Yes, I remember watching this way back before this show was even created, because the movie was loaned to us by a friend. I watched it once, and then we loaned it back to them. The only thing I can remember from the movie was that Dennis Farina was in it, who I loved watching on Law and Order, which was a thing I used to watch a little, or maybe because I was bored. Either way, I remember him and his distinctive voice and not remember the plot. So...yeah, what about this movie? Meh. Looking at my old house on Google Maps would've been a better revisiting of my past than this. This is at best a boring movie filled with characters who are as stale as waffles somewhere on your couch that decided to get married to the scissors also lost in the couch. Actually, it would be more beneficial for me to clean my couch and do winter homework than to watch this movie, or to try my fedora over and over again. The main problem with the movie is that it's just not funny, being more tedious than endearing. Maybe it's just me, but going to Las Vegas after being fired (by your dad, no less) is a bad idea. Then again, nicknaming one of your characters "Hater" is also a terrible idea. It's pretty sad when I can't make a Dennis Miller joke because I honestly had never heard of Miller prior to this movie and probably won't mention him again. The characters do change, but it's too little too late by that point as I realize I wasted my time and realized that I had a better time feeding my dog while on a break from this movie. Goldie is such a nice dog, though. Nicer than this movie.

Overall, I give it 3 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: It Conquered the World.

Review #684: It Conquered the World.

Cast
Peter Graves (Dr. Paul Nelson), Lee Van Cleef (Dr. Tom Anderson), Beverly Garland (Claire Anderson), Sally Fraser (Joan Nelson), Russ Bender (General James Pattick), and Taggart Casey (Sheriff N.J. Shallert) Directed by Roger Corman (#368 - The Little Shop of Horrors)

Review
With less than three days left in the year, why not review a monster mash flick from the 1950s? And from Roger Corman, no less. Only this time the monster draws laughs not because it's meant to, but because it looks like an ice cream cone with dopey looking eyes for good measure. At least the cast tries to seem less than ready to laugh at the monster (Garland notably laughed at the monster when she first saw it on the set, kicking it over, which led to it being made 3 feet taller...which only made it about 5 feet). I like Peter Graves in this film, though no one could make the last line "man is a feeling creature, and because of it, the greatest in the universe" sound anything but overblown, though the lines that precede and follow it aren't as silly. The movie is quick (save your complaints about me saying that all the time), which makes for an easy film to breeze through. It's tough to determine if this is a good movie, but if you're looking for a 50s monster mash movie to gawk (or laugh) at, I'd recommend it. Or the MST3K version.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Alice in Wonderland (1951).

Review #683: Alice in Wonderland.

Cast
Kathryn Beaumont (Alice), Ed Wynn (Mad Hatter), Jerry Colonna (March Hare), Richard Haydn (Caterpillar), Sterling Holloway (Cheshire Cat), Verna Felton (Queen of Hearts), Pat O'Malley (Tweedledum and Tweedledee/The Walrus and the Carpenter/Mother Oyster), Bill Thompson (White Rabbit/The Dodo), and Heather Angel (Dinah, Alice's sister) Directed by Clyde Geronimi (#178 - Peter Pan, #373 - Cinderella, #511 - The Three Caballeros, and #660 - Sleeping Beauty), Wilfred Jackson (#178 and #373) and Hamilton Luske (#178 and #373)

Review
It's hard to make much judgement on a movie like this. On the one hand, it's an imaginative movie that also creates a world that makes no sense. The characters are drawn really well but are also insane. The movie is short but it also could've not have its ending be so abrupt. But on the whole, the movie is entertaining. Beaumont does a really good job as Alice due to watching how she responds to the inane world around her, which contrasts well, and she is a likable character. The other characters can be annoying and fun to watch, though remembering that the world they live in is figuratively nonsensical makes the movie more enjoyable. The Walrus and the Carpenter story is pretty funny, and I'm impressed it was one actor who did all the voice work for that short bit, Pat O'Malley, which is well done. If the movie had been a little longer it might've made for a little more story element (and perhaps an ending that isn't just "let's have some tea".), but the movie is fine nonetheless, and it is quickly enjoyable, and I'd recommend it. But of course I'd recommend the original novel by Lewis Carroll as well, either before or after watching this, so there you go.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Silent Night, Deadly Night.

Review #682: Silent Night, Deadly Night.

Cast
Robert Brian Wilson (Billy Chapman), Lilyan Chauvin (Mother Superior), Gilmer McCormick (Sister Margaret), Toni Nero (Pamela), Britt Leach (Mr. Sims), Nancy Borgenicht (Mrs. Randall), H.E.D. Redford (Captain Richards), and Linnea Quigley (Denise) Directed by Charles Sellier.

Review
Yep, here is your Christmas gift, from me personally. This isn't my first review on Christmas, I've reviewed a movie or two three of the past four Christmases (#020 - A Christmas Story, the two Bill and Ted movies (#021-#022), #319 - It's a Wonderful Life, and #507 - Santa Claus Conquers the Martians). While Christmas Evil was known by some, Silent Night, Deadly Night is the Christmas horror film people know more about, and for good reason. This was a controversial film due to the marketing (because horror films haven't been protested before, this time protested by the PTA), and it was pulled from theaters after a few weeks. But did it really need to be pulled? No, it didn't. Horror films are films like any other films, and if someone doesn't like it, just don't watch it. Everyone has their own preferences or interests, and protesting when someone doesn't fit their likes is a terrible idea. This also applies to these reviews, you can choose to read this fully or not. Either way, I appreciate the thought. So anyway, back to the movie. What we have here is a movie with more action then Christmas Evil, even if it comes at the expense at being a bit sillier. The characters are okay, even if it seems obvious that some are just waiting to die, following the tropes that accompany the horror genre at times. But the movie is at least enjoyable to watch (for me, anyway.), it's not a movie that tries to disgust you or make you tear up, it's just a movie that's trying to invoke a few scares. On the whole, while Christmas Evil is a better all around film, Silent Night has slightly better action. If you're looking for an alternative way to celebrate Christmas, this is it, and I'm proud of it. I hope you enjoyed the "different" kind of films reviewed for the break. Tomorrow I'll be focusing on some other kinds of films, with one surprise next Wednesday. Stay tuned.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Christmas Evil.

Review #681: Christmas Evil.

Cast
Brandon Maggart (Harry Stadling), Jeffrey DeMunn (Philip Stadling), Dianne Hull (Jackie Stadling), Andy Fenwick (Dennis Stadling), Brian Neville (Marc Stadling), and Joe Jamrog (Frank Stoller) Directed by Lewis Jackson.

Review
Yes, today is Christmas Eve. In the four years of this show, I've review four films on Christmas Eve (#018 - Die Hard with a Vengeance, #019 - For a Few Dollars More, #318 - The Santa Clause 2 and #506 - Bullitt), but this time I've picked a real winner, a horror/Christmas film called Christmas Evil (clever pun BTW). The movie is also known as You Better Watch Out and Terror in Toyland. And...it's pretty decent. For one thing, it takes its time before the killer starts his spree, though the first few minutes pretty much sets up everything...weirdly, but still. I guess a kid could go crazy they saw Santa groping their mother. See, the weirdness from the last review did latch onto this review. The reason it's not bad is because it manages to be interesting to watch Maggert's character evolve in terms of mood, and I like how much fun it has with itself. The actors are standard, but it doesn't matter due to the movie's strange charm. The ending has to be seen to be believed because it isn't what you would expect in a horror film. If you like horror films that don't exactly take themselves too seriously and have some fun, this is for you. I kinda like it, so call this a guilty pleasure, or a killer flick, if you will.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Elves.

Review #680: Elves.

Cast
Dan Haggerty (Mike McGavin), Julie Austin (Kirsten), Deanna Lund (Kirsten's mother), Borah Silver (Kirsten's grandfather), Mansell Rivers-Bland (Rubinkraur), Christopher Graham (Willy), Laura Lichstein (Brooke), Stacey Dye (Amy), and Winter Monk (Kurt) Directed by Jeffrey Mandel.

Review
Happy Festivus everyone! And yes, there is a horror movie about killer elves. Believe it or not, this was given a limited release in theaters and then released a few years later to VHS. I don't know what's weirder, the fact that this hasn't been released to DVD or that there's a petition to get it released on DVD. So...yeah. Elves. How do you make a horror film about elves, those little helpers to Santa? Simple, you throw in Nazis wanting super soldiers elves, incest, and virgins into the mix. Yep, it's that kind of plot line. The highlight of the movie for me is Dan "Grizzly Adams" Haggerty. He brings a lot of charm to a movie that doesn't really have much charm to it, and I like his casual performance, but I especially love that beard. It's so cool looking. The rest of the actors seem more like television bit part actors, but they have their moments where they play it a bit over the top, which it is actually pretty funny. The "elves" aren't really featured too much in the movie, it's more about the Nazi/incest plot line then the elves, which sounds bizarre without context. The movie's not anything too special, but I do find it to be stupidly fun to watch. It's kind of like food that isn't really good for you but you eat it and (in a way) enjoy it nonetheless. I call that kind of movie the "The McDonald's Movie". It's a idiotic idea, but it has its quirks and Dan Haggerty to counter it.

If you're wondering about Festivus, my Airing of Grievances is as follows:
Why didn't I do more reviews this year? I've only done 166 so far this year!
Why does AMC keep showing The Santa Clause 2 (#318)? Not even a classic.
Why does AMC show the colorized version of Miracle on 34th Street (#303)? It looked fine in black and white.
Why is their a sequel to Jingle All The Way (#491) with Larry the Cable Guy? Words fail me.
I'm disappointed that I didn't get a 27 on my October ACT. I guess a 26 will do.

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Black Christmas (1974).

Review #679: Black Christmas.

Cast
Olivia Hussey (Jess), Keir Dullea (Peter), Margot Kidder (Barb), John Saxon (Lt. Fuller), Marian Waldman (Mrs. Mac), Andrea Martin (Phyllis), James Edmond (Mr. Harrison), Doug McGrath (Sergeant Nash), Art Hindle (Chris), and Lynne Griffin (Clare) Directed by Bob Clark (#020 - A Christmas Story)

Review
Yes, the same Bob Clark who directed A Christmas Story (a movie that admittedly has its own weirdness to it) directed a movie called one of the first slasher films, Black Christmas. And hey, it's a "Christmas film" along with being a Canadian film as well. I guess surprises come in threes. But is the movie any good? Yea, I suppose so. This is a chilly little film that uses perspective from the killer and some pretty odd phone calls to make for a spooky little slasher film. The highlight for me though is Margot Kidder, who certainly seems like she's having a good time even if half of the time she is...inebriated. What is unique is the fact that the killer isn't revealed, not even at the end, as the movie ends ambiguously, all in part because Bob Clark decided to. The killer isn't really shown, but by using perspective and a voice (or two, probably), it makes for a creative way of delivering scares without having to adhere to the cliches too much. And hey, it's another movie with John Saxon, who as always is a rough but watchable authority figure. It's been 40 years since this film has been released, and it has had a remake but even now this film has a cult following and I can understand why. What we have here is a stellar movie that even inspired Halloween and Friday the 13th, which is like a sign of respect, I believe. Watch the movie, and then make sure to check the caller ID on your phone.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Silent Night, Bloody Night.

Review #678: Silent Night, Bloody Night.

Cast
Patrick O'Neal (John Carter), James Patterson (Jeffrey Butler), Mary Woronov (Diane Adams), Astrid Heeren (Ingrid), John Carradine (Charlie Towman), Walter Abel (Mayor Adams), and Fran Stevens (Tess Howard) Directed by Theodore Gershuny.

Review
Yes, I realize that the movie doesn't have much (if any) ties to Christmas. But hey, the title is a reference to a Christmas song and apparently it takes place on Christmas Eve, so there you go, you've got a Christmas review. That, and it should've been reviewed in October but is being reviewed now. This movie is in the public domain and easy to find, though the real question is should you watch it? Yes and no. What we have here is a weird, weird, weird movie, and the fact that it came out in the 70's only supports that fact. It figures that John Carradine is in this as well (take a drink of your favorite beverage folks), in a movie that also features former Warhol superstars (Heh, it took me 1,462 days to make an Andy Warhol reference). The actors are at least decent enough, trying to make this movie work even if sometimes it looks more like a stage production than a movie. At least it has some moments of chill to it, and the reveal on the killer is spooky...even if the mask (or whatever it is) that Butler wears is sort of silly. It's at least a passable movie that runs only about 90 minutes, and I guess it's the perfect movie for 70's fans, John Carradine lovers, people cynical of Christmas, and people who decided to review this movie with the stupidest explanation ever.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Elf.

Review #677: Elf.

Cast
Will Ferrell (Buddy Hobbs), James Caan (Walter Hobbs), Zooey Deschanel (Jovie), Mary Steenburgen (Emily Hobbs), Daniel Tay (Michael Hobbs), Ed Asner (Santa Claus), Bob Newhart (Papa Elf), Faizon Love (Gimbel's manager), and Peter Dinklage (Miles Finch) Directed by Jon Favreau (#135 - Iron Man and #334 - Iron Man 2)

Review
I admit, this movie probably should've been covered earlier in our four year run. The fact that this is the anniversary day only magnifies minor missteps and also films I should've covered. But hey, now I can cross this one off my own little list (I'm sure your lists are much more reasonable than mine). I admit, Buddy could be an annoying character with the wrong actor. But Ferrell manages to give off a lot of energy and makes the movie a lot more fun, especially when around Caan, who is just an array of sunshine. If it was a cold star, anyway. The cast is charming, especially Newhart, who is fun to watch, even when weighted down by Ferrell...literally. The movie has some cheer and charm to it, and I think my favorite scene is when Buddy decorates Gimbel's at night. There is something funny about making snowflakes and a Lego Empire State Building (with a train!) all in one night. That, and Peter Dinklage attacking Buddy. I was surprised that Jon Favreau directed this film, but everybody has their duck in a chicken coop (Or something like that). The movie does a good deal of Christmas cheer to it while also being enjoyable. And because of this movie, I now know who (or what) a Zooey is, so I guess that's something. Very nice voice. The movie is quirky enough and manageable enough to be a classic, so I'd say to go watch it. And then get a big tree.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Shock.

Review #676: Shock.

Cast
Vincent Price (Dr. Richard Cross), Lynn Bari (Elaine Jordan), Frank Latimore (Lt. Paul Stewart), Anabel Shaw (Janet Stewart), Stephen Dunne (Dr. Stevens), Reed Hadley (O'Neill), Renee Carson (Mrs. Hatfield), and Charles Trowbridge (Dr. Franklin Harvey) Directed by Alfred L. Werker.

Review
I guess I'm shocked this show managed to get to its fourth year anniversary, so logically this movie makes sense for today's focus. It's a delight to review a film with Vincent Price in it, especially when it's a film noir. And hey, it's a 70 minute one, which I guess is a selling point if you want something quick and cheap (made on a budget of $350,000), but that would also work for fast food, so make up your mind on that one. The movie itself is fine, even if it is devoid of mystery. Really the movie is more about waiting for the characters to catch up to Price's schemes. Speaking of Price, he does a fine job; he doesn't just play an evil doctor, which is a good thing, he does a pretty good job portraying the complexities of his predicament. The other actors are fine, they don't overact their roles, though this is more a movie for Price to shine, even over the patient afflicted with shock (Anabel Shaw). It at least looks good to watch, and it has its moments, especially near the end, which manages to be pretty effective in suspense. For this film, anyway. Well I'm glad Movie Night still has new reviews after four years, and I do hope for more fun and entertaining films in the next year or so. Thank you.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Expendables 2.

Review #675: The Expendables 2.

Cast
Sylvester Stallone (Barney Ross), Yu Nan (Maggie Chan), Jason Statham (Lee Christmas), Dolph Lundgren (Gunner Jensen), Jean-Claude Van Damme (Jean Vilain), Bruce Willis (Church), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Trench Mauser), Terry Crews (Hale Caesar), Randy Couture (Toll Road), Chuck Norris (Booker), Jet Li (Yin Yang), Liam Hemsworth (Billy the Kid), and Scott Adkins (Hector) Directed by Simon West (#458 - Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)

Review
It figures that I'd get to this eventually. And 628 reviews later, a review of the sequel to a movie that to begin with was a nice little capsule for action stars old and new...now with two sequels in tow. Granted, it is fun to see Schwarzenegger in an action role (as opposed to a cameo) again, and I admit, this is more of a guilt pick for me. And yes, Van Damme plays a villain called Jean Vilain. He's actually pretty decent in this film, and he's about as right for this film as tanks getting blown up. Really when you think about it, this is a sandwich of action with a slice of referential humor in there for effect, with the plot representing the condiment on the sandwich (or bagel, if you prefer), which I guess makes sense. Or it makes me hungry. The cast is enjoyable (Terry Crews especially, but hey, even Lundgren is cool). Nan provides a breath of fresh air to the movie, which is a good thing. The movie is what you want: awesome fun that doesn't drag too much. Honestly, it's better than the first film, even if still gets the same rating, so make up your mind on that one. Tomorrow (December 20th) is the 4th Anniversary of the show, so I've got something planned for it. Stay tuned.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Grandma's Boy.

Review #674: Grandma's Boy.

Cast
Harold Lloyd (Grandma's Boy/ Grandfather), Mildred Davis (His Girl), Anna Townsend (Grandma), Dick Sutherland (The Rolling Stone), Charles Stevenson (His Rival / Union General), and Noah Young (Sheriff) Directed by Fred C. Newmeyer (#667 - The Freshman)

Review
Yes, I am aware of the 8 day delay between reviews and that the month has had only two reviews. I'm doing a pretty terrible job on quantity, but I just hope the quality is at least good enough. Enjoy. Oh hey, another Harold Lloyd film, this being his second feature film (The first being A Sailor-Made Man), out of the 18 (or so, if you count compilation) films he did. The movie's structure is simple, but effective enough, the trope of the wimpy hero who overcomes his weaknesses is standard nowadays, but back then it was probably like Silly Putty, a fad that keeps going (and stops being a fad, I suppose) and going. The gags are pretty good; I like Lloyd and his character's look, it just seems like Lloyd could make a gag work even with just shoes and a cat. The movie is well-paced for 60 minutes, and it manages to be enjoyable, especially the last 20 minutes, which manage to be laughter-inducing, especially with the facial expressions by Lloyd and Sutherland. The movie built itself on gags and a pinch of story development, which make for a fine film.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Scrooge (1970)

Review #673: Scrooge.

Cast
Albert Finney (Ebenezer Scrooge), Alec Guinness (Marley's ghost), Edith Evans (Ghost of Christmas Past), Kenneth More (Ghost of Christmas Present), David Collings (Bob Cratchit), Michael Medwin (Fred), Paddy Stone (Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come), Frances Cuka (Mrs. Cratchit), Richard Beaumont (Tiny Tim), Laurence Naismith (Fezziwig), and Mary Peach (Fred's wife) Directed by Ronald Neame.

Review
Ouch, it's been a week since the last review. Sorry for the delay, but hey, December's a tough month. I celebrated my birthday on the 1st, then promptly was sick for the next three or so days. Colds are very annoying to deal with, but now I'm better and ready to get back into the circuit...with another film called Scrooge. If you're wondering how it's any different from the other films, this time we're dealing with a musical version of the tale (I guess at this point anything can be turned into a musical, even hockey.), with one small change from the novel. But hey, how's the movie? It's alright, I suppose. For a Christmas film, it's fine as it does have a good deal of spirit (Heck, it even has Santa-I mean Father Christmas in it. I'm just surprised that the store happened to be selling it in Scrooge's size rather then the fact that they were open on Christmas), and you do get the sense of warmth and fun. Albert Finney is the biggest highlight, especially given that he portrays Scrooge so effectively you barely notice him under all that makeup, which helps when focusing on how he ranges Scrooge's emotions, such as the flashback sequence, where you see his grief and his regret in the past; I especially like seeing the present Scrooge berating the younger one for his actions, which makes Scrooge out to be more than a miser. The songs and how they are sung, are debatable though. Sometimes they're good (Thank You Very Much is nice, I admit), but other songs aren't as good (Father Christmas isn't a bad song, it just feels long). The ghosts are fun to watch (Ghost of Christmas Present sounds more like a feasting buddy, but he at least gets the point across, so there), and Guinness does a fine job as Marley. The one scene in the movie that veers from the tale is at the end, when Scrooge sees his future in death...and in chains. Yep, Scrooge sees more than just his grave, he also sees his chain. It's an unnecessary scene; Having Scrooge only see his grave without anyone being sad for his death and having them cheer in the streets in more haunting than a sequence in "fire land", with rats. But ultimately the movie is fine, and it manages to have enough quirks to be a good telling of the tale.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Scrooge (1935).

Review #672: Scrooge.

Cast
Seymour Hicks (Ebenezer Scrooge), Donald Calthrop (Bob Cratchit), Robert Cochran (Fred), Mary Glynne (Belle), Garry Marsh (Belle's husband), Oscar Asche (Spirit of Christmas Present), Marie Ney (Spirit of Christmas Past), C.V. France (Spirit of Christmas Future), and Philip Frost (Tiny Tim) Directed by Henry Edwards.

Review
Yes, another adaptation of A Christmas Carol. But this time it's the 1935 film version, the first sound film based on the tale (after numerous stage versions and a silent film adaptation in 1913, which also had Hicks as Scrooge). This isn't my first foray into adaptations of the novel (#075 - Scrooged, #076 - Scrooge (1951), #079 - A Christmas Carol (1984), #498 - The Muppet Christmas Carol, and #503 - A Christmas Carol (1938), but somehow this has managed to be forgotten, probably lost in a sea of these adaptations that are on TV, as opposed to this film, though this film is in public domain, so there's that. What makes this film unique from the other versions? The ghosts aren't seen. They are merely shapes (except for the Spirit of Christmas Present), more non-real than the others. Whether that's a good thing or not is up to you. The atmosphere of the movie is at least well made, it certainly does feel festive with a touch of dark mood. Hicks is at least effective when it comes to portraying a miserable character such as Scrooge. Is it the best version? No, but it is fine enough for a film like this. The movie manages to tell its story effectively enough (77 minutes), cutting a few things but not anything too crucial. Overall, this is a movie that does a pretty good job at being entertaining and being a decent movie to watch come Christmastime (which seems to be coming closer), alongside the dozens of other picks. It was good to end November on a high note (and on a streak), and now comes December...and my birthday.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Night the World Exploded.

Review #671: The Night the World Exploded.

Cast
Kathryn Grant (Laura Hutchinson), William Leslie (Dr. David Conway), Tristram Coffin (Dr. Ellis Morton), Raymond Greenleaf (Gov. Chaney), Charles Evans (Gen. Bortes), and Frank J. Scannell (Sheriff Quinn) Directed by Fred F. Sears (#255 - The Giant Claw and #265 - Earth vs. the Flying Saucers)

Review
When it comes to attractive titles for films that get your eye, this is the key attraction. Just include the word "explode", "invade", "mutant" or "space" in the title, and there you go, you've got a 50's sci-fi movie. But at least the plot is normal enough, with some imagination put into the way the world...almost explodes. I guess it does explode in the sense that earthquakes keep popping up. Of course "The Night the World Had Earthquakes" is a little long, so there you go. The actors are passable, they don't overact (which is good), and at times Grant and Leslie do have some good chemistry together. The movie is at least entertaining and it only lasts about an hour, which really makes it less risky to watch. I mean, if it was over two and a half hours long and had polarizing reception, I'd worry a bit (I think you know what film I'm referencing). Take the movie for what it is: (possibly) classic time spending fun.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Cliffhanger.

Review #670: Cliffhanger.

Cast
Sylvester Stallone (Gabe Walker), John Lithgow (Eric Qualen), Michael Rooker (Hal Tucker), Janine Turner (Jessie Deighan), Rex Linn (Richard Travers), Leon Robinson (Kynette), Craig Fairbrass (Delmar), Gregory Scott Cummins (Ryan), and Denis Forest (Heldon) Directed by Renny Harlin (#012 - Die Hard 2)

Review
Honestly, this sounds like something that could've been made in the 40's/50's, especially with the cliffs. But hey, some idea did stay original in the 90's, all you needed to do is add an action star and a villain with a cool accent and boom, you've got a winner. Stallone is entertaining enough, I guess when you co-write the screenplay, you can seem just fine (the "Premise by John Long" credit notwithstanding), but there you go. Lithgow is at entertaining enough as a villain, though he only gets one fight with Stallone...which lasts about 3 minutes. For some reason, my favorite actor in this film is Rex Linn. I don't know, maybe it's his exasperated expression, or his killer mustache (insert your CSI: Miami joke here). The cliff action is pretty fun though, you can enjoy it and still have a laugh anyway. You can be a good action/adventure film and yet still have some laughs with it (not necessarily at it), I especially like the scene where Linn's looking for a case of money...and the tracker leads him to a rabbit. Yes, he shoots at the bunny. And yes, he misses as the bunny runs away. This actually drives his character to go crazy. What's even more funny is the fact the original scene had the bunny dying before Stallone (personally) changed it due to crowd reaction. You want some entertaining action and a decent enough film? Then this is for you.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Home Sweet Home.

Review #669: Home Sweet Home.

Cast
Jake Steinfeld (Killer), Vinessa Shaw (Angel Bradley), Peter De Paula (Mistake Bradley), Don Edmonds (Harold Bradley), Charles Hoyes (Wayne), David Mielke (Scott), Leia Naron (Gail), and Lisa Rodríguez (Maria) Directed by Nettie Peña.

Review
Yes, a Thanksgiving horror film. Why? Because why not. After all, what better way to be thankful for stuff (and a stomachache from the food) than a slasher movie with a bunch of unknown actors? But hey, holiday themed horror films aren't that new, with Christmas and Halloween being the big focus (Leprechaun, and April Fool's Day notwithstanding), and I'm sure that I'll come across them again soon. But let's get back to this film, and its...slasher villain. It seems the makers of this film thought you could make a villain who just laughs. Steinfeld at least looks strong and muscular (here's a strange fact, he is a fitness advocate and the founder of the National Lacrosse League) for the part, but his laughing all throughout makes me laugh more than be scared. The characters are just what they are, characters slated to die. Here we've got our characters who romance each other, the kid character, and lastly the comic relief character, who has a guitar this time. And yes, his name is actually Mistake. I can think of one other name that sounds worse, and that name is Practice. The movie is at least quick with the deaths, though when your movie last 83 minutes (which seems short even for horror films), you kinda have to. What I'm disappointed in most is the lack of turkey. Heck, I wish the villain was a giant turkey (or someone dressed up as it), because then I could make turkey puns. But I'll just have to settle with Eli Roth's "Thanksgiving" trailer from Grindhouse instead. The story is thin, and to be honest I have no idea why the killer went to the Bradley house, but I can't really stress over it, I have other Thanksgiving stuff to deal with. Have a great day everyone, and enjoy the food (cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, biscuits, biscuits with turkey in the middle, etc.), and the family too.

Overall, I give it 3 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Cat-Women of the Moon.

Review #668: Cat-Women of the Moon.

Cast
Sonny Tufts (Laird Grainger), Victor Jory (Kip Reissner), Marie Windsor (Helen Salinger), William Phipps (Doug Smith), Douglas Fowley (Walt Walters), Carol Brewster (Alpha), and Suzanne Alexander (Beta) Directed by Arthur Hilton.

Review
You're probably wondering if the Cat-Women in the title have tales or do anything cat-like. Sadly, no, which means I can't do any effective cat puns, which would've been fun, especially during the fights (a cat fight, you might say *rim shot*). But that aside, what we have here is a sci-fi flick from the 50's that apparently had such a good story that it would be remade five years later with Missile to the Moon. Is it any good though? With 50's flicks, you could be entertained in a variety of ways, even if the movie isn't that good. Heck, the fact that these Cat-Women are the last of their civilization is sort of creative. The rubber spider on the other hand makes me giggle. The acting is fine (William Phipps is in it, more notable for his work as Prince Charming in Cinderella - #373), they certainly carry their lines well enough. The movie isn't bad, it's pretty passable. You could do better (or worse, if that's your preference) with this time of month, and I know my picks for the rest of the month (and the month I love most) will probably be better (and worse) than this, but as someone once said, it is what it is.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Freshman.

Review #667: The Freshman.

Cast
Harold Lloyd (Harold Lamb), Jobyna Ralston (Peggy), Brooks Benedict (The College Cad), James A. Anderson (The College Hero), Hazel Keener (The College Belle), Joseph Harrington (The College Tailor), and Pat Harmon (The Football Coach) Directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor.

Review
When people think of Harold Lloyd, they think of him dangling from the clock tower in Safety Last, or his work in Grandma's Boy (which I'll review in the future), or his role in The Freshman, which is what I'm covering. Lloyd's career could've been stopped before he gained his fame; in 1919 he lost a finger and a thumb in an accident, with a prosthetic glove concealing the damage. But he did not let that stop him. The Freshman was Lloyd's highest grossing silent feature, and it's easy to see why. His character (Harold, also known in the movie as Speedy) is so likable. Lloyd's character isn't a random passerby who happens to pop in, he's a character whose purpose is given depth. You emphasize with him and his plight, which makes it easier to laugh at his naiveness. The gags are slight but easy to recognize, the movie has a lot of fun with the situation Harold sets himself in. My favorite gags involves Harold speaking to the crowd...while a kitten comes out of his sweater. The characters are easily describable given their character names, but at least they act their parts convincingly, especially Benedict, who is easy to dislike, and for good reason. The romance between the main leads is sweet and brief enough to work. The football action at the end is particularly noteworthy because we get to see how football was over 80 years ago. The action was filmed at the Rose Bowl (with crowd shots at Cal Memorial Stadium), and the football action is about as wild and silly (with Lloyd) as it can get. It certainly is a good way to end the film. The movie is like a gift basket, sweet and entertaining for a short period of time (about 70 minutes), and that's probably why this movie is still a great hit with others. I highly recommend this film (along with other silent movies with Keaton and Chaplin) for a good way to spend a day, especially on Thanksgiving.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: RoboCop (2014).

Review #666: RoboCop (2014).

Cast
Joel Kinnaman (Alex Murphy/Robocop), Gary Oldman (Dr. Dennett Norton), Michael Keaton (Raymond Sellars), Samuel L. Jackson (Pat Novak), Abbie Cornish (Clara Murphy), Jackie Earle Haley (Rick Mattox), Michael K. Williams (Jack Lewis), Jennifer Ehle (Liz Kline), Jay Baruchel (Tom Pope), Aimee Garcia (Jae Kim), John Paul Ruttan (David Murphy), and Patrick Garrow (Antoine Vallon) Directed by José Padilha.

Review
It's not better than the original film. But I think we all knew that already. But at least it tries to be a decent movie. Whether or not it succeeds is up to the viewer. The movie's at least better than RoboCop 3 and up to the level of RoboCop 2, which I guess is a success. It's really hard to live up to the original film, especially for a remake/reboot, but at least it looks they tried to make a decent film. To be fair, I'd recommend renting the film. The acting is passable, the highlights being Michael Keaton and Samuel L. Jackson, they make the film seem less basic, and they are pretty entertaining also. Kinnaman is not bad, while at times he feels flat; the emotional aspect of the character is at least explored a little, though it's really hard to beat Peter Weller's portrayal. The movie is probably more enjoyable when not being compared to the original, but then again that's really hard to not compare. The action is fine, though the fact that it's toned down due to the PG-13 rating does hinder its effect. I guess it helps make the film have more chance at profit, but who didn't watch the original film when they were a teen? Heck, I watched the original for the first time when I was 13, though that's a product of my dad's love of buying movies. But enough about my recollections, back to the review.  At least the tone of the film feels different, and the suit looks...pretty good. While they first show the suit with grey/silver as the main color, it actually looks better in black. It looks more robotic and less human like. While it may seem like the human drama drags it down at times and sometimes it feels odd, but I guess in the end it works...sort of. Much like the last film reviewed here (Star Trek: Into Darkness), it's a toss-up. Pick your poison.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Star Trek Into Darkness.

Review #665: Star Trek Into Darkness.

Cast
Chris Pine (James T. Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock), Benedict Cumberbatch (Khan), Simon Pegg (Scotty), Karl Urban (McCoy), Zoe Saldana (Uhura), Peter Weller (Alexander Marcus), Alice Eve (Dr. Carol Marcus), John Cho (Sulu), Anton Yelchin (Chekov), and Bruce Greenwood (Christopher Pike) Directed by J.J. Abrams (#009 - Star Trek and #149 - Super 8)

Review
Eh, it's been a while (10 months, 22 days to be exact) since I've done a Star Trek film (#515 - Star Trek: The Motion Picture), so why not do the most recent film. The first film (of the reboot series) wasn't bad, though it's not like it was a great piece of work, and you find that out during this film. It's not that this film is bad, it just feels like one step forward but one-and-a-half steps back. The effects are at least good, though those lens flares really get in the way on occasion, which almost gets in the way of actors trying to convey their scenes. The acting is fine, though I really didn't buy that Eve's character being Weller's daughter, maybe it's the lack of time they have together, but at least Weller is stellar despite limited time. Cumberbatch is pretty good, but it's the character I have an issue with. By making him play Khan, the film limits his motives in a sense. The original Khan had a motive of revenge and was great at portraying it. This Khan has more a touch of generic than revenge. Even when Cumberbatch cries it feels forced. It's not a bad performance, it's just flawed writing. The story is at least somewhat decent...until it rehashes Wrath of Khan's last half hour. Well, almost. Just because you have the villain from Wrath of Khan doesn't mean you have to emulate it, it's unnecessary and just makes the movie seem unsure of itself, like it wasn't confident with itself. At least the movie has its moments, any scene with Simon Pegg is brilliant, he brightens the movie, if only briefly. Your opinion on the movie will probably rest on what you think of Abrams as a director and/or Khan. It's a toss-up, basically.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Airplane!

Review #664: Airplane!

Cast
Robert Hays (Ted Striker), Julie Hagerty (Elaine Dickinson), Leslie Nielsen (Dr. Rumack), Peter Graves (Capt. Clarence Oveur), Lloyd Bridges (Steve McCroskey), Robert Stack (Capt. Rex Kramer), Lorna Patterson (Randy), Stephen Stucker (Johnny), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Roger Murdock), Frank Ashmore (Victor Basta), and Jonathan Banks (Gunderson) Directed by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams (#028 - Hot Shots! and #375 - Hot Shots! Part Deux), and Jerry Zucker.

Review
I knew I would eventually review this film, I just didn't know it would take so long to do so. It was worth the wait. When it comes to slapstick and having efficient gags, this is the movie people refer to for reference. But what also helps the movie is the fact the gags mesh with the story and not just outright overwhelm it. The movie is silly and also really, really, fun to watch. It's a breeze to watch, and watching how the actors react to all of this (hint: not very well) also helps. My favorite character isn't really a character, it's Otto, the inflatable balloon. It's just so amusing watching Otto, especially at the end, when he inflates...all by himself, with a inflatable girlfriend to boot. Hays and Hagerty do a fine job complimenting each other, their best scene is when they dance disco, or maybe I'm just amused of how people danced to disco (as opposed to now). Nielsen is a highlight as well, if it was anyone else playing that role, surely (see what I did there) the lines wouldn't be so memorable. The movie has dozens of gags, along with brief appearances by Ethel Merman (playing Ethel Merman) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar...as a pilot. What I like is how the music sounds so serious, which is really funny given the tone, all due to Elmer Bernstein. The movie is quick and effective, and it's a good way to spend 90 minutes, along with being a really fun experience.

Billy...have you ever been in a Turkish prison?

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Them!

Review #663: Them!

Cast
James Whitmore (Sgt. Ben Peterson), Edmund Gwenn (Dr. Harold Medford), Joan Weldon (Dr. Pat Medford), James Arness (FBI Agent Robert Graham), Onslow Stevens (Gen. O'Brien), Sean McClory (Maj. Kibbee), Chris Drake (Trooper Ed Blackburn), and Sandy Descher (Ellinson girl) Directed by Gordon Douglas

Review
Them! was one of the first films released dealing with nuclear created monsters, which were a big thing in the 1950s (that and alien invaders), with a unique opening credits sequence to boot. The words practically glow against the black and white background and rightfully so. The insects used for this film are giant ants, which for me is terrifying enough (swarms of ants are already creepy, imagine a swarm of GIANT ants), but hey. The sounds that the ants make is also pretty chilling. The characters are fine, they serve the purpose of advancing the story without being annoying, though seeing Edmund Gwenn is enjoyable. The effects are brilliant to watch, they especially look good underground when the lights aren't as lit, which makes them look more menacing. I like how the movie just flows well with itself, it doesn't get too convoluted, it has its moments of terror along with moments of action, and the sewer scene at the end is pretty good. What we have here is a finely crafted sci-fi film that helped popularize the nuclear monster/bug era.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Beneath the Planet of the Apes.

Review #662: Beneath the Planet of the Apes.

Cast
James Franciscus (Brent), Kim Hunter (Zira), Maurice Evans (Dr. Zaius), Linda Harrison (Nova), Charlton Heston (Taylor), David Watson (Cornelius), Paul Richards (Mendez), and James Gregory (General Ursus) Directed by Ted Post.

Review
The original Planet of the Apes (#347) was a great look into what could bring man's downfall and our level of power that could be used against us, while providing a great twist ending. The sequel is not quite as good. Charlton Heston is not our main star this time, it's James Franciscus who takes over, and sadly he isn't really that exciting as a lead. Heston in his brief scenes is better only because I'm reminded of how Heston had a certain charm to him, a undefinable way of making you care about him immediately. The movie slogs around at points, such as in the beginning, when you realize you're stuck with Brent and Nova (a mute) as your main characters, with brief moments of Heston to spruce things up. The effects are alright, though that nuclear bomb being gold really makes it so off putting. The random blazes of fire that springs up comes it at a close second for weirdest thing in the movie, though. At this point, the plot has reached heights of near absurdity, and combined with everything in this movie, it makes for a strange and uneven experience. At least the ending tries to be a big surprise, but instead of being a good ending, it just makes you hit your head that it ended so abruptly. Especially given the fact there were three sequels to this, which just makes the ending even more moot. Take this film with a grain of salt and...judge for yourself.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Are We There Yet?

Review #661: Are We There Yet?

Cast
Ice Cube (Nick Persons), Nia Long (Suzanne Kingston), Aleisha Allen (Lindsey Kingston), Philip Daniel Bolden (Kevin Kingston), Jay Mohr (Marty), M. C. Gainey (Al), and Tracy Morgan (Satchel Page Bobblehead) Directed by Brian Levant (#491 - Jingle All The Way and #577 - Beethoven)

Review
It's been almost ten years since this film was made, and in that span a sequel and a television series was made following this movie's...success. I guess this was made in an age where anyone thought they could do a family film no matter what they were before (Such as Vin Diesel with The Pacifier or Dwayne Johnson with The Game Plan), but whatever. This is classified as a "Christmas film" by Wikipedia, but I would compare this to giving your distant relative a fruitcake the day after Christmas. It seems this movie was made with good intentions, but it ultimately fizzles into boredom. The characters seem like they'll make a connection to you, but really you're just going through the motions and wondering how much longer it'll last. At least Ice Cube is decent, though he can't save a movie with stale jokes. The kids may seem nice, but really they just get on your nerves, and while later scenes try to make them look more sympathetic, it doesn't work. It's fitting that the movie has a bobble head in it that talks, because at this point, anything goes. It's a forgettable movie that bores you to the point where you truly wish it was Thanksgiving, because then you could go to your relative's house and forget all about it. And then remember it again after too much turkey.

Overall, I give it 4 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Sleeping Beauty.

Review #660: Sleeping Beauty.

Cast
Mary Costa (Princess Aurora / Sleeping Beauty), Eleanor Audley (Maleficent), Verna Felton (Flora - The Red Fairy and Queen Leah), Barbara Jo Allen (Fauna - The Green Fairy), Barbara Luddy (Merryweather - The Blue Fairy), Bill Shirley (Prince Phillip), Taylor Holmes (King Stefan), Bill Thompson (King Hubert), and Marvin Miller (The Narrator) Directed by Clyde Geronimi (#178 - Peter Pan, #373 - Cinderella, and #573 - The Three Caballeros), Les Clark, Eric Larson, and Wolfgang Reitherman (#250 - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and #598 - The Rescuers)

Review
Sleeping Beauty was given such a middling reaction (and little profit) that it was the last fairy tale Disney film made for 30 years. But now the movie has a legacy and is now called a classic (being re-released a few times does help), so time does change. The movie is astonishing to say the least. The movie looks beautiful to watch, the way that it is animated and how the backgrounds look so colorful and detailed. I like how the three fairies are colored, it's not just a simple red-green-blue schemes, the way that it is colored makes the difference. The cast is pretty decent, with Audley standing out, mostly because of the character she plays. Sleeping Beauty herself is alright, but her screentime is limited, focusing more on the villain/fairies. Speaking of which, Maleficent is awesome. Her design and her voice are so delightful to watch, she manages to be more interesting than Sleeping Beauty herself, which is probably why they made a movie about it...55 years later (not exactly late for Walt Disney Studios), but at least the movie is still fun to watch. The songs are alright, and the movie flows quickly enough at 75 minutes to never really drag on, it's easily watchable and easily enjoyable for anyone, with a cool villain to headline it all.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: True Grit (2010).

Review #659: True Grit (2010).

Cast
Jeff Bridges (Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn), Hailee Steinfeld (Mattie Ross), Matt Damon (LaBoeuf), Josh Brolin (Tom Chaney), Barry Pepper (Ned Pepper), Domhnall Gleeson (Moon), Bruce Green (Harold Parmalee), and Ed Lee Corbin (Bear Man) Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen.

Review
I knew that one day I'd eventually watch a film by the Coen brothers, it wasn't intentional for it to be almost four years after this show started, it just happened that I didn't. But now I'm rectifying a mistake, in a sense, and with a recent Coen movie, which just happens to be True Grit. Based off the 1968 novel by Charles Portis, True Grit attempts to be like its namesake and succeeds. What I like about the movie is Jeff Bridges. He is so interesting to watch in this role, even at Cogburn's lowest point, Bridges manages to be so effective at making you feel empathy for him, and it's just so fun to watch him interact with nearly any actor in this film. Steinfeld is really effective at playing such a hardened child, it's interesting to watch the movie from her perspective and watch her progression throughout the movie. The rest of the cast is good, I like how Matt Damon practically blends into the role, and his interaction with Bridges is pretty fun to see. One of my favorite scenes is a scene with an actor who is the movie for only one scene, and that is Ed Lee Corbin...as a Bear Man. Watching him act while wearing a bear suit while talking to Bridges is really amusing and oddly memorable. The movie is a tale more about the journey and the progression of revenge on a person than the revenge itself (Brolin is only in the last half of the movie), I like how gritty the movie can get, I especially like how well made the movie is, there isn't a scene in the movie that is badly made. This is a movie with many redeeming features, two of them being Bridges and Steinfeld, who really make the movie even better. The fact that it runs under two hours probably isn't a selling point for most, but I'll use it solely because sometimes a Western can be a breeze to go through. But hey, watch it for Bridges. Or the Bear Man.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Poor Little Rich Girl.

Review #658: The Poor Little Rich Girl.

Cast
Mary Pickford (Gwendolyn), Madlaine Traverse (Gwendolyn's Mother), Charles Wellesley (Gwendolyn's Father), Gladys Fairbanks (Jane), Frank McGlynn, Sr. (The Plumber), Emile La Croix (The Organ Grinder), Marcia Harris (Miss Royale), Charles Craig (Thomas), and Frank Andrews (Potter) Directed by Maurice Tourneur.

Review
This is the earliest film I've covered on this show, beating out Mickey and Back to God's Country (1918 and 1919 respectively) just barely. And it just so happens that this is the first film with Mary Pickford covered here as well. Who is Mary Pickford, you may ask? One of the most important stars in the silent film era. For example, she was one of the original investors in United Artists (along with Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith), and this was after she had already made her own film company to distribute her films. And in this film, she does a wonderful job...playing a 11 year old. The 25 year old Pickford looks so small compared to the other actors, which helps give an illusion of youth. Her aura of wild energy and manner of comedy make for a really entertaining performance. The movie is practically lifted by her performance, while the story sounds repetitive at times (she tires to have fun, they later ruin it), the comedy is mildly decent enough to help outweigh boredom. My favorite scene is where Pickford's character believes her father deals with bears at his job, even imagining them huddling around her dad. That, and when the servants tell her of the bears that could attack her if she walks alone. Try telling someone your job has bears in it, and see how they react. The movie is at least entertaining enough to justify its 70 minute length, which makes for a brief but decent time.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Laura.

Review #657: Laura.

Cast
Gene Tierney (Laura Hunt), Dana Andrews (Mark McPherson), Clifton Webb (Waldo Lydecker), Vincent Price (Shelby Carpenter), Judith Anderson (Ann Treadwell), and Dorothy Adams (Bessie Clary) Directed by Otto Preminger.

Review
I had bought this movie for $2.99 at a Blockbuster only three weeks ago, and I knew I would review this eventually, preferably before the year ended. And given the movie's 70th anniversary just passed last month, it makes good sense to review it now to start off another month. Clifton Webb is brilliant. I like how his facade of insults and strange charm actually serves the movie well. I like how Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews interact with each other, they seem to just have an instant connection and it makes an already pretty decent movie a little better. This is the earliest Vincent Price film I've seen him in, and for once it's not a horror film, it's refreshing to watch him play a supporting character who seems much more at home. The movie flows efficiently enough, lasting less than 90 minutes yet revealing details not all at once and letting you get slowly interested as the tale is weaved along. Film noirs are usually enjoyable, and this is no exception. It manages to leave you guessing while also being riveting.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night Redux: Halloween (1978)

Review #068 - REDUX: Halloween.

Cast
Donald Pleasence (Dr. Sam Loomis), Jamie Lee Curtis (Laurie Strode), Nancy Kyes (Annie Brackett), P.J. Soles (Lynda van der Klok), Charles Cyphers (Sheriff Leigh Brackett), Kyle Richards (Lindsey Wallace), Brian Andrews (Tommy Doyle), John Michael Graham (Bob Simms), Nick Castle (The Shape), and Nancy Stephens (Marion Chambers) Directed by John Carpenter.

Review
I originally reviewed this movie on October 30, 2011, watching it on television. I remember it being entertaining to watch back then, for me movies are entertaining when you can just sit back and talk about how the movie works. Two years later, I decided to revisit this movie, which had been appearing on TV once again. Out of all the movies in the Halloween franchise, this is the best of them all, it also could be considered one of the best horror films of all time. The movie isn't perfect by any means; the beginning has a few choppy dialogue scenes where it feels really cliche, especially from P.J. Soles, who just keeps saying "totally". But the movie overcomes it with some really chilling music that makes the boring scenes more interesting. I especially love when the characters are talking and Myers suddenly appears out of nowhere, while the music adds a layer of depth. Of course it helps that the movie is also frightening with its death scene, showing little blood but using lighting and perspective to make for a truly chilling movie. My favorite scene is after one of the deaths as Myers looks at the body and tilts his head. It really is a perfect scene.

Donald Pleasence does a wonderful job as Loomis, explaining the motives (or there lack of) for Myers but also saying his lines in a tone of voice that fits the movie's tone, which is fright. Curtis is a really good screamer and a good actress here as well, she's the most interesting character to watch. Special mention goes to Nick Castle, who is the one most famous for playing Michael Myers (The Shape), though he wasn't the only one who played him, there were several others who did stunt work, but Castle is the most notable, and he would later become a movie director in his own right, with films such as The Last Starfighter and Major Payne. The movie takes its time, letting you get interested into what happens next, and it has one of the best endings that leaves you waiting for more. This is an essential movie for October, or for any month when you're looking for a scare.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Invasion of the Saucer Men.

Review #656: Invasion of the Saucer Men.

Cast
Steven Terrell (Johnny Carter), Gloria Castillo (Joan Hayden), Frank Gorshin (Joe Gruen), Raymond Hatton (Farmer Larkin), Lyn Osborn (Artie Burns), Russ Bender (Doctor), Douglas Henderson (Lt. Wilkins), and Sam Buffington (Col. Ambrose) Directed by Edward L. Cahn (#331 - It! The Terror from Beyond Space and #560 - Experiment Alcatraz)

Review
Monster movies with comedy induced into is nothing new, and it especially carried over in the 50's, with this being one of them. It figures that this would be the last film reviewed for October, I know the month's output wasn't exactly great, but at least I'm ending it on...a high note? The movie's credits are imposed onto a book with comical illustrations...which is actually pretty nifty, given the movie's comical tone. The effects are not too bad, the alien has a big head with googly eyes, it actually fits the tone the movie is going for, which is a really silly one. The movie may have its cliches (older people not believing the young people's claims of alien/monsters, a trope I only like in movies when the elders finally see the monster/aliens), but it is what is, an alien movie with some comedy sprinkled into it. It has a quick pace, 69 minutes to tell a story that takes place in one day, with a few characters along the way. Frank Gorshin, known mostly for portraying the Riddler in the classic Batman TV series is in it, for a few minutes, but he is noteworthy. The rest of the characters are stock, but they do their jobs just fine, and they are entertaining. The movie is entertaining, easy to watch, and just has fun, which makes it really hard to hate the movie. I'll be generous for the rating because why not.

Happy Halloween.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Young Frankenstein.

Review #655: Young Frankenstein.

Cast
Gene Wilder (Frederick Frankenstein), Marty Feldman (Igor), Peter Boyle (The Monster), Teri Garr (Inga), Cloris Leachman (Frau Blücher), Madeline Kahn (Elizabeth), Kenneth Mars (Inspector Kemp), and Gene Hackman (Harold, the Blind Man) Directed by Mel Brooks (#061 - Blazing Saddles, #198 - Spaceballs, #248 - Robin Hood: Men in Tights, #361 - The Producers, #364 - High Anxiety, and #623 - Silent Movie)

Review
Yeah, I guess at this point I had to cover this movie, and I have three reasons why: The 40th Anniversary of the movie's release is coming up very soon, It's October, for Pete's (or in this case, Rob's) sake, and...It's been long overdue. Seriously, I should've reviewed this last year, but I just forgot (Of course last October I reviewed 20 films in 31 days, but who's counting?), so I am now rectifying a mistake (Though I know I will undoubtedly make another mistake in the future). The movie is a wonderful parody of the classic Universal Horror films, especially Frankenstein (#072), right down to the black and white shooting. In fact, Kenneth Strickfaden, who made the electrical equipment for the lab scenes for the Universal films (and still had it with him), let them use the equipment for this film, which is highlighted by his name on the credits. But let's get to the part of the review where I just say the movie's really funny because that is the next part, isn't it? Every major actor in this movie has or is involved in a funny scene, especially Marty Feldman (What hump?), who is just so fun to watch move around and gaze upon. I especially like Peter Boyle in this film because his movements and way of speaking as the Monster (especially while singing "Puttin' on the Ritz") is just so charming. The movie flows really well and never misses a beat when it comes to being funny, it has so much atmosphere and so much charm, and that is just perfect for October, or for any month in particular. I urge anyone, if not everyone to go see it, you just have to look.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Screaming Skull.

Review #654: The Screaming Skull.

Cast
John Hudson (Eric Whitlock), Peggy Webber (Jenni Whitlock), Russ Conway (Edward Snow), Tony Johnson (Mrs. Snow), and Alex Nicol (Mickey) Directed by Alex Nicol.

Review
Like I said back in the last review, the title says all you need to know about the movie. Actually, wait a moment, the opening scene telling people that the climax of the movie may actually kill them while offering free funeral processions is the icing on the cake. I was not aware that skulls could scream, so that's something to know, I guess. To say this movie is silly is an understatement. It actually does have some good laughs in it, the idea that a skull apparently terrorizes a couple and just randomly shows up is pretty quirky. Yes, the skull screams, though that's actually more amusing to type out then to watch. My favorite part is when the skull is superimposed onto the screen, as if making larger makes it terrifying, which is then followed by the skull...biting someone's neck. To be fair, at least the film tries its hardest to be spooky, and it does flow pretty well for a movie that last barely an hour. The film was directed by Alex Nicol, who also stars in the film as well, and he was apparently happy with the result: "I liked it; it had some nice dolly shots, a good atmosphere. So I was happy with that; it was a nice change from the films I'd been doing." Is it nice that even in a silly 50s film like this, there is at least one person who had fun while doing it, and had fun doing it for the production sake as well. The only reason to see the movie? For Spook-tober, obviously. But oh well.

Overall, I give it 4 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Brain That Wouldn't Die.

Review #653: The Brain That Wouldn't Die.

Cast
Jason Evers (Dr. Bill Cortner), Virginia Leith (Jan Compton), Leslie Daniels (Kurt), Adele Lamont (Doris Powell), and Eddie Carmel (Monster) Directed by Joseph Green.

Review
To say this movie has no hope of being good is an understatement. The movie's title says all you need to know about the movie , I guess that's a positive given that it lures you in, especially for October. Our stars are more like shooting stars, they fade away from our consciousness after about five minutes. So yeah, a brain that wouldn't die. The movie feels like it should be called "The Head that Wouldn't Die", which is apparently what the title card at the end called it. Yes, even the end credits disagree with the rest of the movie. Now I may be getting a-head of myself here, but the movie is an ultimate headache. Brain games aside, this a movie that I guess goes pretty quickly. When it comes to this movie, it's either watching the Mystery Science Theater 3000 version or the actual movie. Even if you've never heard of the MST3K rendition, it still sounds better than this film. I kept wondering throughout the film who I was supposed to hate more, Evers of Leith's character. By the time you get into an hour in the film, you just stop caring and just wish the movie would end quicker. You're probably wondering (or not) how a head can talk at all or breathe. It's explained through the magic of mad science, of course, what else. I'd say the movie feels tired, but even I'm tired, it's hard to care about a movie that doesn't even care about itself. You'd be better off making head puns, which is actually one "head" of an idea. See what I mean?

Overall, I give it 3 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Drive.

Review #652: Drive.

Cast
Ryan Gosling (The Driver), Carey Mulligan (Irene), Bryan Cranston (Shannon), Albert Brooks (Bernie Rose), Oscar Isaac (Standard Gabriel), Ron Perlman (Nino "Izzy" Paolozzi), and Christina Hendricks (Blanche) Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn.

Review
Drive is a strange film in the sense that it feels so retrofitted and could seemingly work in another era. Is it a bad thing to be compared to other eras and their films? No, not really. This is at heart a movie that gives you time to just watch it and not just listen to dialogue. Whether that's an aspect that makes the movie exciting/boring depends on the viewer's patience. Honestly the movie was fine for me, though I imagine it works best if watched at midnight, or a late time, as it just heightens the mood. The actors don't exactly have many lines to go by, but they do make the most of it, especially Albert Brooks. It's actually a bit surprising on how effective he is as a villain. He's a chilling character to watch at times, and he makes the movie his own for his scenes. Gosling and Mulligan do share a good bond with each other, Gosling is pretty effective playing a (mostly silent) character who looks like he'd fit into a 60's movie, seemingly inspired by Steve McQueen or even Clint Eastwood, which is a pretty good compliment. I like how he uses his expressions sometimes to help convey his emotions without dialogue. The supporting cast such as Bryan Cranston and Ron Perlman are fun to watch, along with Oscar Issac (in the brief scenes he has) and Christina Hendricks. Are the characters easy or hard to like? That all depends on the viewer, though Mulligan is probably the only character without blood on her hands. The action and violence is subdued, but when it happens it is a good payoff. I like how the driving sequences are shown, it feels so natural and the lack of dialogue actually helps make it better. This is a strange movie, it shouldn't work, but it works so well at being a movie of its own.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.

Review #651: Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.

Cast
Ben Stiller (Alex), Chris Rock (Marty), David Schwimmer (Melman), Jada Pinkett Smith (Gloria), Jessica Chastain (Gia), Bryan Cranston (Vitaly), Tom McGrath (Skipper and First Policeman), Chris Miller (Kowalski), Frances McDormand (Captain Chantel DuBois), Sacha Baron Cohen (King Julien XIII), Martin Short (Stefano), John DiMaggio (Rico), and Christopher Knights (Private) Directed by Eric Darnell (#154 - Madagascar 2, #165 - Madagascar, and #254 - Antz), Conrad Vernon (#162 - Shrek 2) and Tom McGrath (#154- Madagascar 2, #165 - Madagascar, and #195 - Megamind).

Review
The first two Madagascar films were alright, not too shabby. 7/10 star ratings, but again, decent enough and entertaining enough for at least children or teens. But hey, what do I know, right? Anyway, the third movie is more wild, more ambitious and also more entertaining. The animation this time is really good, I especially like the circus show with the use of black lights and trapeze work. It's so colorful to watch, and the use of "Firework" oddly enough goes really well with the scene, which is about as wild as you expect. The characters (old and new) are entertaining, especially Bryan Cranston, though admittedly that maybe just my preference for the rugged but entertaining to watch actor. Or maybe I just have Malcolm in the Middle (go watch it if you haven't already) on the mind, but whatever. The comedy is more fun to watch, and most of that comes from how awesomely insane the villain is, I especially like the scene where McDormand sings "Non Je Ne Regrette Rien". It comes out of nowhere, and the character reactions to the song are just priceless. Is the plot anything special? Probably not, but it makes up for it by having enough enjoyment and just having fun. Is it great? Not really, but it is better than the first two films, which I guess matters the most.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Ghost Breakers.

Review #650: The Ghost Breakers.

Cast
Bob Hope (Larry Lawrence), Paulette Goddard (Mary Carter), Richard Carlson (Geoff Montgomery), Paul Lukas (Parada), Willie Best (Alex), Pedro de Cordoba (Havez), Virginia Brissac (Mother Zombie), Noble Johnson (The Zombie), and Anthony Quinn (Ramon Mederes/Francisco Mederes) Directed by George Marshall.

Review
The Ghost Breakers isn't exactly a horror film, it's a comedy-horror mix, but it fits into the context of this month, and I get to rectify a long running mistake: Not reviewing a film with Bob Hope in the main cast. It's weird how it took almost four years to do this given Hope had a long running career with over 50 films in a span of 40 years not counting cameo roles. But anyway, this is a movie that even has zombies in it, and guys who play dual roles, this could very well have been a drama, though the movie had been made two times before in the silent era, so who knows? The actors are pretty good conveying spooks and decent enough comedic timing, Hope is probably the best  part of the movie, right next to the cinematography by Charles B. Lang, along with some really fine camera shots that make the movie at least have some chilliness to it. The movie is short at about 83 minutes, but it moves at a good pace and it manages to not overstay or under stay its welcome. Goddard does a pretty good job being the lead next to Hope, she even gets in a few fun lines, and her and Hope share a good rapport in this film, which is a plus. The movie is enjoyable enough and sweet enough to work as a film to watch if it's on or a rental, especially for this month.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.

Review #649: A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.

Cast
Heather Langenkamp (Dr. Nancy Thompson), Patricia Arquette (Kristen Parker), Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger), Craig Wasson (Dr. Neil Gordon), Ken Sagoes (Roland Kincaid), Jennifer Rubin (Taryn White), Bradley Gregg (Phillip Anderson), Ira Heiden (Will Stanton), Laurence Fishburne (Max Daniels), John Saxon (Donald Thompson), Rodney Eastman (Joey Crusel), and Penelope Sudrow (Jennifer Caulfield) Directed by Chuck Russell (#157 - The Mask)

Review
I described the second movie (Freddy's Revenge) as "a mismatch of random ideas that spring into a less than mediocre horror film." With that in mind, the third film can't be as bad because Langenkamp returns to the series, and she does a pretty good job once again, she doesn't get on your nerves (like the doctors in this movie), and she's not annoying, like some of the characters, such as the doctors (save for Wasson and Fishburne), who just keep believing that the dreams aren't killing them, despite two of them dying, because apparently none of the doctors have ever heard of Freddy Krueger. At least the actors are pretty good, Arquette is a pretty decent co-lead, though for me one of my favorite actors that return is John Saxon. He doesn't get too much screen time, but he is awesome to watch, for me it's his expressions and how he reacts to all of this, Saxon is just so cool to watch. The effects are pretty good, although for some reason my favorite scene is when Dick Cavett (in the strangest cameo for a horror movie I've seen in a while) suddenly turns into Kreuger while interviewing Zsa Zsa Gabor (2nd strangest cameo), which segues into one of the kids' deaths, which is a cool scene as well. The fact that Wes Craven returns to help write the screenplay is also a big help, and Russell does a pretty good job directing, I like how Kreuger is given something new to do, and Englund excels at that. The movie is not near the first's level of scares, but it's better than the second film and it's entertaining enough for October, or as I call it, Spooktober. Check it out, and have some fun-I mean fright.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Beowulf (2007).

Review #648: Beowulf.

Cast
Ray Winstone (Beowulf), Anthony Hopkins (Hrothgar), Angelina Jolie (Grendel's mother), John Malkovich (Uniferth), Brendan Gleeson (Wiglaf), Robin Wright Penn (Queen Wealtheow), Crispin Glover (Grendel), and Alison Lohman (Ursula) Directed by Robert Zemeckis (#317 - The Polar Express, #352 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and #581 - Forrest Gump)

Review
It is somewhat weird for me to write a review of a movie I also had to write a compare and contrast essay about, but here we are. Beowulf is a classic tale from long ago that inspired many tropes of heroism in other stories, which is why it has had a few adaptations over the years, like The 13th Warrior, or even the 1999 version of Beowulf, along with spin offs such as Grendel (and the film of it as well), but this movie is something of its own. Motion capture animation is hit and miss when it comes to scenes, at times it can look good, like the battle scenes but other times it looks a bit off-putting, such as closeup shots of characters looking more like a 90's interactive adventure story. The actors are at least entertaining, they seem to have a grasp on making these character interesting, though the character motivations and the plot itself is changed significantly. The idea to have Beowulf be a flawed man is either a brilliant way to make the plot seem more interesting, or just disappointing that they couldn't follow the story even in motivations.

At least the characters are given more screen time to develop, though the story sometimes seems more like a telenovela then an action film. At least the film has moments that are pretty fun to watch, the scene at the end is pretty good, I like how the movie doesn't hold back on the action/violence, and even though the movie has its silly moments (the beginning scenes are a bit odd to watch), it at least is an entertaining movie. Is it a movie that's true to the story? Not really, the whole subplot of Grendel's mother has a few new subplots and the movie ends on an ambiguous note, whereas the story ended on outright victory. I guess the movie's quality depends on your relation to the story and if you can let changes not affect your perception of the movie. I thought it was just okay, but at least it tried to be an entertaining movie, and it probably did a better job at doing that then the other two Beowulf films I mentioned earlier, which I guess is a good thing.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Men in Black 3.

Review #647: Men in Black 3.

Cast
Will Smith (Agent J), Tommy Lee Jones (Agent K), Josh Brolin (1969 Agent K), Jemaine Clement (Boris the Animal and 1969 Boris), Emma Thompson (Agent O), Michael Stuhlbarg (Griffin), Mike Colter (James Darrell Edwards II), Nicole Scherzinger (Lilly Poison), and Michael Chernus (Jeffrey Price) Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld (#005 - Get Shorty, #077 - The Addams Family, #078 - Addams Family Values, #211 - Men in Black, #212 - Men in Black II, and #454 - Wild Wild West)

Review
10 years? It took 10 years to do this? (I mean the wait between films, not length of production) I wonder how long it'll take to make the next one, hopefully not 15 years. I don't know which is more surprising, the gap or the time travel plot. Actually the time travel plot is more surprising, though it is at least inventive and not just "stop the alien from destroying the world" again. Actually it is kind of like that, though at least it's more focused on stopping the past from changing, and Agent K again, though at least Jones and Brolin are enjoyable. The makeup and the effects (by Rick Baker) this time are pretty decent, they've evolved in a sense, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  The characters are pretty good, I guess the villain is alright, but comparing him to the past two is all a matter of choice, though I still prefer D'Onofrio from the first film, at least Clement does his best. It is at least fun to watch Smith and Jones once again, and while the movie lacks Rip Torn (who they kill off), Emma Thompson is a good replacement. I do like the twist at the end with K, the ending of the movie is just good enough. The movie is not as good as the first, but it at least is better then the second film, which is all you need, I suppose.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Dredd.

Review #646: Dredd.

Cast
Karl Urban (Judge Dredd), Olivia Thirlby (Judge Anderson), Lena Headey (Ma-Ma), Wood Harris (Kay), and Domhnall Gleeson (Expert) Directed by Pete Travis.

Review
The original Judge Dredd (#332) film was awful. All the film tries to do is really distance itself from that movie and make its own identity, and it succeeds. The film has a variety of characters, though most either get only a few lines or are just there for a few moments, but the main four (with one supporting character) are the focus, and they all do a wonderful job. Karl Urban has the task of conveying a character and their emotion (or lack of, but still) with half of his face covered by a helmet, which is thankfully never taken off. And he succeeds. Urban is so awesome to watch, he looks just like a menacing judge figure. Thirlby is a pretty good lead as well, she manages to pair up well with Urban, and even her scenes with Harris are chillingly good. Headey plays a pretty decent villain, her voice is effective enough to play such a hardened character, the whole cast is wired and fun to watch. The movie plays out almost like a horror film, especially with the violence, but given that this is a movie about judges that protect against hardened criminals, the violence makes sense. The effects are beautiful at times to watch, especially the Slo-Mo parts, which make the film go slower but better looking. Overall, this is a brutal but pretty awesome movie that manages to be a good action film. And I imagine it's also a good adaptation of the comic strip as well, so go figure.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: School of Rock.

Review #645: School of Rock.

Cast
Jack Black (Dewey Finn), Joan Cusack (Roz Mullins), Mike White (Ned Schneebly), Sarah Silverman (Patty Di Marco), Miranda Cosgrove (Summer Hathaway), Joey Gaydos Jr. (Zack Mooneyham), Kevin Clark (Freddy Jones), Rebecca Brown (Katie), Robert Tsai (Lawrence), Maryam Hassan (Tomika), Caitlin Hale (Marta), and Aleisha Allen (Alicia) Directed by Richard Linklater.

Review
Rock and roll is awesome, let's just get that out of the way. We (audience included) could discuss our favorite bands all day, what we listen to and if disco is actually better than pop songs today, or we could do it over the comment section below. It's all up to you, but in the meanwhile, there's School of Rock to talk about. It figures that on Rocktober (Or Spooktober, but whatever), School of Rock pops up on television, and it was on my day off, which created a perfect storm (Imagine that, AMC actually showing movies for once.) to review it. Black was practically born to play a rocker turned teacher and he has so much energy, he seems to really just blend into the role and the fact that he's pretty good rocking it out makes for a real fun performance to watch. The rest of the cast is good, I do wonder if I was supposed to like Silverman's character (though I'd complain too if a rocker reject posed as a teacher by pretending to be someone else), though I think I'll just let that one slide, only because sometimes rock just invades the mind, "who made who", as you might say. It is a long way to the top, if you want to make a good film, and this film manages to overcome some quirks and become the pinball wizard. Whoops, I meant an enjoyable film.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Blot.

Review #644: The Blot.

Cast
Philip Hubbard (Professor Andrew Griggs), Margaret McWade (Mrs. Griggs), Claire Windsor (Amelia Griggs), Louis Calhern (Phil West), and Marie Walcamp (Juanita Claredon) Directed by Lois Weber.

Review
Lois Weber is probably one of the most important legends of the silent era, she directed over 100 films (short and feature length) in her lifetime, and that number isn't even accurate as she may have done at least 200, though only a small portion survive. This movie comes from the 1920's, a decade in which I admit I've barely covered (This is only the 13th film I've covered on this era), and the movie is still relevant in today's society, especially for teachers, which is a strong point, when a movie manages to not be dated even after 90 years. The actors do a fine job, they convey their feelings very well without managing to overact too much. The atmosphere is pretty decent, it helps that Weber filmed in real locations and not just sets, trying to make a film as realistic as possible, and she succeeds. The movie is a pretty good drama, it manages to convey a slight dark tone that has a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Uncle Buck.

Review #643: Uncle Buck.

Cast
John Candy (Buck Russell), Jean Louisa Kelly (Tia Russell), Macaulay Culkin (Miles Russell), Gaby Hoffmann (Maizy Russell), Amy Madigan (Chanice Kobolowski), Jay Underwood (Bug), Garrett M. Brown (Bob Russell), Elaine Bromka (Cindy Russell), and Laurie Metcalf (Marcie Dahlgren-Frost) Directed by John Hughes (#046 - The Breakfast Club, #207 - Ferris Bueller's Day Off, #249 - Sixteen Candles)

Review
When it comes to John Hughes films (whether as writer or director), Movie Night revisits him and his movies every so often. This is another example, though at time it's one with John Candy, which is a plus. In fact, the main reason this movie is any good is because of John Candy and how his character is just so fun to watch interact with the other characters. I especially how he looks menacing to the teenagers, which made me though this was going to suddenly turn into a horror movie half way through (Imagine that, a comedy that turns into a horror film. I wonder how that would work out..), which is kinda nice. The movie is probably not as funny as Hughes' other movies, but it makes up for it by at least being entertaining enough. It's been a while since I've seen a clown get punched in the face, so I guess it gets a (rare) point for that. The actors had decent enough, Kelly does well in portraying such a mean character (who oddly reminds me of Lucy from Peanuts), and Culkin is....Culkin, only not as clever. I think. Anyway, the movie is passable, it at least is enjoyable enough and not too long to be a waste, you could spend 99 minutes doing worse stuff, this movie is along the "just fine" category, though really it's John Candy who makes the movie good, if not perfect.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Jurassic Park.

Review #642: Jurassic Park.

Cast
Sam Neill (Dr. Alan Grant), Laura Dern (Dr. Ellie Sattler), Jeff Goldblum (Dr. Ian Malcolm), Richard Attenborough (John Hammond), Ariana Richards (Alexis Murphy), Joseph Mazzello (Tim Murphy), Bob Peck (Robert Muldoon), Martin Ferrero (Donald Gennaro), Wayne Knight (Dennis Nedry), and Samuel L. Jackson (Ray Arnold) Directed by Steven Spielburg (#126 - Close Encounters of the Third Kind, #168 - Raiders of the Lost Ark, #169 - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, #170 - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, #302 - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, #351 - Schindler's List, #480 - Jaws, #563 - The Sugarland Express, and #573 - E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial)

Review
Jurassic Park is probably one of the most defining movies of the 1990s, and the special effects are the forefront of why this movie is what it is, which is awesome. The effects for the movie are so fantastic to look at, it has managed to not look dated after over 20 years, but it really comes down to the fact that the effects just look great. And yes, computer generated imagery can look good for a film, provided that it doesn't get abused and is used effectively, which this film does (of course it helps that they also used life sized animatronics). The film itself is also pretty good. While the effects may sometimes overshadow the story, it does actually have its moments of scares, making for a decent thriller. I especially like the kitchen scene near the end, it makes for a good way to end the movie, The characters are at least enjoyable, each having at least one memorable scene, especially Neill and Goldblum (Life does indeed find a way). For some reason, it is refreshing to see Wayne Knight (Hello, Newman) in this movie. I guess it's because he is probably the best person to portray a smarmy character and yet still be funny. The science behind the movie is probably questionable (So...flies can just suck blood from a dinosaur and then just happen to get stuck in amber and later just happen to be found preserved millions of years later? The exposition explaining this is actually nifty though.), but the movie manages to shine over it with some fun action and excellent special effects. Take the movie for what it is, and it is one pile of fun.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Apartment.

Review #641: The Apartment.

Cast
Jack Lemmon (C. C. Baxter), Shirley MacLaine (Fran Kubelik), Fred MacMurray (Jeff Sheldrake), Ray Walston (Joe Dobisch), Jack Kruschen (Dr. Dreyfuss), David Lewis (Al Kirkeby), Hope Holiday (Margie MacDougall), Joan Shawlee (Sylvia), Naomi Stevens (Mildred Dreyfuss), Johnny Seven (Karl Matuschka), and Edie Adams (Miss Olsen) Directed by Billy Wilder (#106 - Some Like It Hot, #194 - Ace in the Hole, and #422 - The Fortune Cookie)

Review

Billy Wilder was a fantastic director who always managed to showcase a theme he wanted to get across with memorable characters being the most notable highlight. And in this movie, there is no real exception, the movie is up to par with Wilder's other work reviewed here. Jack Lemmon is enjoyable to watch, especially when he shares scenes with Shirley MacLaine, the two just connect well with each other, they just have a certain spring to them, especially when they play gin rummy with each other, it's a refreshing scene given the preceding scene before it. The movie has a mix of warm and cold moments, essentially having some sadness mixed with layers of hope, it's good to have some sentimentality. The movie is great to look at, black and white film has many possibilities for looking stylish, and the cinematography by Joseph LaShelle looks wonderful. The movie is a good comedy-drama, it has its moments of both, I especially like the scene where Lemmon keeps switching the channels of the TV during a sponsor commercial, only for there to be an "alternate sponsor". The movie is enjoyable along with being clever, and Wilder is the reason for it, and the perfect person to make a movie like this.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Bucket List.

Review #640: The Bucket List.

Cast
Jack Nicholson (Edward Cole), Morgan Freeman (Carter Chambers), Sean Hayes (Thomas/Matthew), Beverly Todd (Virginia Chambers), and Rob Morrow (Dr. Hollins) Directed by Rob Reiner (#108 - This Is Spinal Tap, #232 - The Princess Bride, and #363 - North)

Review
I do wonder how it is in real life for patients with lung cancer after they are diagnosed. Evidently after about a few days, you can be fine enough to go travel around the world to cross off stuff to do. Yes, it truly is a good idea to go cross stuff off a list before you die with somebody you barely met (the setup to them meeting could be compared to how couples meet in terrible romance films) instead of going home and settling things with your family. Granted, it seems he probably did that beforehand while in the hospital, but let's not forget that after he gets home, he gets to spend a grand total of one day before he get sicker. Is it selfish? You decide. These are characters that are at best just okay, it's the performances that make the movie look interesting because without these performances by Nicholson and Freeman, the movie would lose a lot of its strength. The supporting cast is small and barely focused on, but I guess Sean Hayes is okay, he's really just playing a cliche snippy assistant, which you can see done better in other movies, such as Arthur (1981). Is the movie funny? I guess so, but the movie hinges on if you like the premise. If you like the premise, you'll probably watch the movie. If you feel that people don't just spend of their time away from their families to go globetrotting with their friend before dying like me...you'll have to forget the movie immediately. Is it a well made movie? Yes, but it is not well made in its script, the key element. Or in this case, bucket.

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.