Movie Night: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.

Review #496: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.

Cast
Tim Allen (Santa Claus/Scott Calvin), Martin Short (Jack Frost), Elizabeth Mitchell (Mrs.Claus/Carol Calvin), Judge Reinhold (Neil Miller), Wendy Crewson (Laura Miller), Liliana Mumy (Lucy Miller), Alan Arkin (Bud Newman), Ann-Margret (Sylvia Newman), and Spencer Breslin (Curtis the Elf) Directed by Michael Lembeck (#318 - The Santa Clause 2)

Review
The first film (#313 - The Santa Clause) was at least enjoyable, not too bad for a Christmas film. The sequel was mediocre, predictable, felt sort of forced (but I guess workable), and should have ended the series right there. But of course, they made a third film, and naturally, it is about as forced and tired as you would expect. Most of the cast returns, with of course one new addition, Martin Short, and boy does he try to make this film less forgettable...mostly failing. I can't blame him though, I blame the mostly unfunny script that traps him with such mediocre lines like "I invented chill!" and "Excuse me... Did you just accuse me of being skillful and delicious?", but oh well. Allen doesn't really do any better, but with a film so forced, it makes some sense. Even the effects look mediocre, not really noteworthy or terrible, just meh. This is a poor "conclusion" to the film series that probably didn't deserve to be a film series, and a Christmas film you could skip. Countdown to 500 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4...

Overall, I give it 3 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Air Force One.

Review #414: Air Force One.

Cast
Harrison Ford (James Marshall), Gary Oldman (Egor Korshunov), Glenn Close (Kathryn Bennett), Wendy Crewson (Grace Marshall), Dean Stockwell (Walter Dean), Liesel Matthews (Alice Marshall), Elya Baskin (Andrei Kolchak), Levan Uchaneishvili (Sergei Lenski), David Vadim (Igor Nevsky), Andrew Divoff (Boris Bazylev), Ilia Volok (Vladimir Krasin), Paul Guilfoyle (Lloyd Shepherd), William H. Macy (Major Caldwell), and Xander Berkeley (Agent Gibbs) Directed by Wolfgang Petersen.

Review
In keeping with Independence Day, I decided to get another film off my back burner, which was this film. That and it is always fun to watch a film with Harrison Ford (Such as Blade Runner, American Graffiti, Star Wars Episode IV-VI, Raiders of the Lost Ark-Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Fugitive, and 42), so why not? And...it's pretty good. Ford once again manages to do an impressive job, reserved, but a stand out nonetheless. Gary Oldman (Who has been in 8 films reviewed here) is a decent villain, and as a contrast to The Fifth Element, he actually meets the main hero character, so I guess that's something. Glenn Close is alright, improved from her performance in (#383) The Natural. The rest of the cast is decent. The film flows well, not veering off too much in the silliness factor or the absurd zone, though I do wonder if the real Air Force One has escape pods for that situation. Petersen does an alright job directing a film such as this, and it is entertaining along with having a bit of drama to make a balanced, useful film for all.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

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Movie Night: The Santa Clause 2.

Review #318: The Santa Clause 2.

Cast
Tim Allen (Santa Claus/Scott Calvin), Elizabeth Mitchel (Carol Newman), Eric Lloyd (Charlie Calvin), Wendy Crewson (Laura Miller), Judge Reinhold (Dr. Neil Miller), Liliana Mumy (Lucy Miller), David Krumholtz (Bernard), and Spencer Breslin (Curtis) Directed by Michael Lembeck.

Review
Sometimes films are made just because apparently there is a need to make one. This is one of them. While the film does have some chuckles, it doesn't have much of the spirit as the first one. It just feels like a predictable, mediocre Christmas film, not as enjoyable or as memorable. Allen does a good job, not a downgrade, more of a compromise from the first film. The other actors are allright, not half bad. I just don't feel this was really needed, like the plot device was only introduced just to have another one, which is kind of pointless, you could've ended on the first with no problems. I suppose there could be a good idea or two involving Santa (granted without the "Clause" in the title), but this isn't really an idea, more of a "roll with it" idea. But oh well, there is some usefullness to it. Kinda. I hope the next review will cheer me up.

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Santa Clause.

Review #313: The Santa Clause.

Cast
Tim Allen (Scott Calvin), Eric Lloyd (Charlie Calvin), Judge Reinhold (Neal Miller), Wendy Crewson (Laura Calvin-Miller), David Krumholtz (Bernard), and Peter Boyle (Mr. Whittle) Directed by John Pasquin.

Review
It's been a while since I've reviewed Tim Allen (#082 - Christmas with the Kranks, #237 - Galaxy Quest), who seems to do a consistently decent run of performances. Does he have a decent performance? No he doesn't. He has an better than just decent performance. I like him in this film, you get the sense of fun and you especially get into the Christmas spirit (If there is anyone who is tired of me saying that, let me know), doubts and all. While Reinhold's character sounds deliberately jerk-like on paper, he isn't all bad. There is no real villain, no evil Santa has to beat.  (Which is a good thing, though the idea of Santa fighting evil with a high powered sleigh is a good idea. That or him being an Time-Where was I? Ah.) It's funny at times, and it does makes sure to not lose balance (Even the child actor is decent. Is it a pattern to have either a Christmas review or have a child actor in one?), and to have cheer and all that we love.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The 6th Day.

Review #191: The 6th Day.

Cast
Arnold Schwarzenegger (Adam Gibson), Michael Rapaport (Hank Morgan), Tony Goldwyn (Michael Drucker), Michael Rooker (Robert Marshall), Sarah Wynter (Talia Elsworth), Wendy Crewson (Natalie Gibson), Rodney Rowland (P. Wiley), Terry Crews (Vincent Bansworth), Ken Pogue (Speaker Day), Colin Cunningham (Tripp),and Robert Duvall (Griffin Weir) Directed by Roger Spottiswoode (#171 - Tomorrow Never Dies)

Review
Schwarzenegger has been in films ever since the 70's (unless you count that Hercules in New York film in 1969...). In the 2000's, he was in a few of them, which...wasn't as stellar (Collateral Damage, Terminator 3 - #089). This...is...yea, let me explain. The acting is decent, Schwarzenegger does his decent performance given his ability. The film has a science-fiction theme to it that is present through some of his other films (#001, #063, #067), but it doesn't feel as well as the others. I feel the film skims over the supposed message to get to the action, which given out actor makes sense. It can have some good action, but it isn't as memorable as his other films. Countdown to 200: 10, 9...

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.