Movie Night: The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

Review #699: The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

Cast
Leslie Nielsen (Lt. Frank Drebin), Priscilla Presley (Jane Spencer), Ricardo Montalbán (Vincent Ludwig), George Kennedy (Capt. Ed Hocken), O. J. Simpson (Det. Nordberg), Susan Beaubian (Wilma Nordberg), Nancy Marchand (Mayor Barkley), Raye Birk (Pahpshmir), and Jeannette Charles (Queen Elizabeth II) Directed by David Zucker (#664 - Airplane!)

Review
Yes, we have come to the point of The Naked Gun. In a way, I feel proud of that fact, though I do wonder how it took so long for me to review it. In short, I was lazy. But hey, nobody's perfect, though this movie sure comes close to it. This movie will tickle your funny bone so much that you'll be on the floor with laughter calling for help. Yes, there are sight gags, but the movie's biggest strength is with Leslie Nielsen, who has the absolute best timing with any sort of gag. It's hard to pick a favorite scene, though the beginning scene (and the credits that go along with it) is hard to beat, especially with Nielsen at the wheel. Any scene with Nielsen and Presley is effective because it provides the movie with a nice blend of fun and humor, especially at the end of the movie. I was pleasantly surprised to see Ricardo Montalbán in this movie, and he does a pretty good job at basically playing a villain in a comedy movie, but it is fun to see him, especially because he does it so well. The supporting cast is right for the job, complimenting a movie that already has so much going for it. It's a movie that is over 25 years old, and that's usually the point where a movie starts to feel like fine wine, well versed and well aged. Go see the movie, it will be the best 85 minutes you could spend because the movie just lets you have fun.

Now then. There is a matter of the next review. It will be...the 700th. No spoilers here...yet.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Review #299: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Cast
William Shatner (James T. Kirk), Ricardo Montalbán (Khan Noonien Singh), Leonard Nimoy (Spock), DeForest Kelley (Leonard McCoy), James Doohan (Montgomery Scott), George Takei (Hikaru Sulu), Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov), Paul Winfield (Clark Terrell), Kirstie Alley (Saavik), Bibi Besch (Carol Marcus), and Merritt Butrick (David) Directed by Nicholas Meyer (#226 - Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

Review
Indeed it has been a while since I reviewed a Star Trek film, this being my 5th (#009 - Star Trek, #225 Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, #226, #246 - Star Trek: Generations) that I've reviewed here. Now I'll get to the main point. Is this film any good. Yeah. Real good. The main trio (Shatner, Nimoy, and Kelley) do a wonderful job once again, especially with Shatner, who gives off a depth (for me anyway) not reached in his performaces beforehand. But by far the most important peformance is Ricardo Montalbán, as Khan. He reminds me of a Bond villian, only more suave. Speaking of that, the themes of revenge, death, and age are used to the fim's advantage. The directing is top notch, and the pacing is good as well. It's funny how the villian is so good even though the villian and Kirk never meet face to face, and yet it still doesn't hurt the film. The action is engaging, for the most part. The sets are good, showing off some good work done to make them. The effects are decent, but in the end the film really all boils down to how good it is. It has a hidden sense of depth with an useful plot with a whole lot of fun after 30 years. Countdown to 300 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.