Movie Night: The Mummy (1932).

Review #622: The Mummy.

Cast
Boris Karloff (Ardath Bey/Imhotep), Zita Johann (Helen Grosvenor/Princess Ankh-es-en-Amon), David Manners (Frank Whemple), Arthur Byron (Sir Joseph Whemple), Edward Van Sloan (Dr. Muller), and Bramwell Fletcher (Ralph Norton) Directed by Karl Freund.

Review
When it comes to Universal horror movies, most refer to Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, and the there's The Mummy. The Mummy had its own share of sequels (none of which that relate to this movie though), and a remake that spawned its own series, but thankfully I'm not covering that...yet. The Mummy is short, but horror films from this era weren't usually long anyway, so it makes it really accessible to watch. The Mummy has some impressive effects, especially at the beginning when Imhotep is first shown, in his mummified state, wrapped in bandages, designed by famed makeup artist Jack Pierce, who does a really good job in this film. Karloff is given his chance to shine, he's the most interesting actor in the movie, and his back story for his character is actually pretty entertaining. The rest of the characters aren't too bad, they are after all just the heroes who face off against the more interesting, which is common in some of these movies, but at least it doesn't detract too much from this neat and entertaining film.

Overall I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Scooby-Doo.

Review #621: Scooby-Doo.

Cast
Freddie Prinze Jr (Fred Jones), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Daphne Blake), Matthew Lillard (Shaggy Rogers), Linda Cardellini (Velma Dinkley), Rowan Atkinson (Emile Mondavarious), Neil Fanning (Scooby-Doo), Isla Fisher (Mary Jane), and Scott Innes (Scrappy-Doo) Directed by Raja Gosnell (#495 - Home Alone 3)

Review
Scooby-Doo was at always at least somewhat enjoyable, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! was fine for all its flaws (the laugh track, the questionable animation), and it is probably the show most remember of the 11 shows that have been broadcast in nearly 45 years, and so they made a movie. Let me clarify that, they've made a few direct to video films (22) and telefilms, but then there's the two theatrical films, but we're only covering the first film tonight. So...yeah, what about this film? It's like the movie can't decide on what it wants to be, does it want to make fun of the show or does it want to just embrace the show and its quirks? Part of the problem is that the movie is unbalanced, it just doesn't have a proper focus, though I guess it is sometimes fun, it has it moments, the climax is actually decent, even if Scrappy-Doo is in it. The CGI is weird, maybe it's the fact that the demons look like weird stick figures, and their weakness to the sun doesn't help much. This is a movie where you really can't care if it stinks because it's not like you were expecting anything special from a movie with a competition of burping and farting between Scooby and Shaggy. The acting is fine, but the movie neither benefits nor suffers from the actors, it's just an average movie that while sometimes fun, isn't anything special. Watch at your own risk.

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Lust for Life.

Review #620: Lust for Life.

Cast
Kirk Douglas (Vincent van Gogh), Anthony Quinn (Paul Gauguin), James Donald (Theo van Gogh), Pamela Brown (Christine), Everett Sloane (Dr. Gachet), Henry Daniell (Theodorus van Gogh), Madge Kennedy (Anna Cornelia van Gogh), Noel Purcell (Anton Mauve), and Niall MacGinnis (Roulin) Directed by Vincente Minnelli (#405 - The Reluctant Debutante and #510 - Father of the Bride)

Review
Vincent Willem van Gogh was a very talented painter who suffered a very tormented life, he painted many things, but he didn't have much success until after his death. There have been a few movies based off his life (and one episode of a certain television show revolving around one of his paintings...Alright, I admit, "Vincent and the Doctor" was a fine episode, go watch it.), but we're (I mean me, but let's just say 'we' to make you readers feel like you're involved in this review, if you don't feel like you are already) focusing on the 1956 version with Kirk Douglas, who does looks like Gogh, especially with his red flowing hair, and he delivers a really great performance, you empathize with this poor guy, and even watching Douglas painting is fun to observe. Anthony Quinn doesn't has much screen time, but he certainly does leave an impression on you, which is good and all; honestly I was surprised he won an Oscar for this role, it takes an hour for him to appear, even Donald is seen first, but oh well. Lust for Life lists credit to the various galleries (along with collectors) that allowed the works of Gogh to be photographed for the film, and it helps the film with its artistic edge, it makes the movie more colorful and it just shows the genius that was Vincent van Gogh. This is a powerful movie that is sometimes slow, but mostly cool to watch, especially with its paintings, seriously, go google Vincent van Gogh (or go to an art museum), and look at the colorful and vividness of his paintings, they are magical, just like the film.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Maverick.

Review #619: Maverick.

Cast
Mel Gibson (Bret Maverick), Jodie Foster (Annabelle Bransford), James Garner (Marshal Zane Cooper), Graham Greene (Joseph), Alfred Molina (Angel), James Coburn (Commodore Duvall), Geoffrey Lewis (Matthew Wicker), Paul L. Smith (The Archduke), and Max Perlich (Johnny Hardin) Directed by Richard Donner (#355 - Lethal Weapon, #356 - Lethal Weapon 2, and #547 - Superman)

Review
The movie is based off the classic television show of the same name, which also had the late great James Garner in it. The movie uses a trio of actors that manage to do a great job together, especially Gibson and Garner, they share a really good act with each other and Foster is also excellent, very clever and very intriguing to watch. But what makes the movie just so awesome is how it manages to be not only a fine action movie, but also a good comedy as well, making for a really entertaining film. The supporting cast is delightful to watch, especially Molina and Coburn. They're practically irresistible to watch, even Coburn's beard. The card games are interesting to watch, even the riverboat is great to look at, it just looks so beautiful. This is a Western that just has fun, and it's a pleasure to see Garner and all of his charm in a film like this. It's a fantastic film that manages to not just a other adaptation of a TV show, it's a movie of its own that is just so fun.

On a sadder note, I would like to say rest in peace to James Garner, who died just two days ago. We will all miss James Garner, but we will always have movies (#559 - Grand Prix, The Thrill of It All, The Great Escape, Space Cowboys, etc) and TV shows (The Rockford Files, 8 Simple Rules) to remember him for, with his charm being especially one that will last forever.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Rocketship X-M.

Review #618: Rocketship X-M.

Cast
Lloyd Bridges (Col. Floyd Graham), Osa Massen (Dr. Lisa Van Horn), John Emery (Dr. Karl Eckstrom), Noah Beery, Jr. (Maj. William Corrigan), Hugh O'Brian (Harry Chamberlain), and Morris Ankrum (Dr. Ralph Fleming) Directed by Kurt Neumann.

Review
Rocketship X-M was rushed into production after Destination Moon had production delays. This was made on a $95,000 budget, shot in 18 days, and released only 25 days before Destination Moon, with Lloyd Bridges heading the cast. So how is the movie? It's okay. It's evident that it's slightly rushed, and while the effects are just alright, at least the film manages to be passable. The cast is alright, Bridges is the best aspect of the movie, he just has a certain charm to him that's practically magnetic. The story is fine, even if it's rushed, the movie just feels like a breeze, it's surprising when you get through 30 minutes because it doesn't feel like 30 minutes has passed. It is what is, a sci-fi flick that goes fast and has a few quirks (who brings weapons on a trip to Mars?), but it is okay and easy to watch, though I'd stick to Destination Moon for its better quality. Take this for what it's worth, a sci-fi breeze.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Destination Moon.

Review #617: Destination Moon.

Cast
John Archer (Jim Barnes), Warner Anderson (Dr. Charles Cargraves), Tom Powers (General Thayer), Dick Wesson (Joe Sweeney), and Erin O'Brien-Moore (Emily Cargraves) Directed by Irving Pichel.

Review
In honor of the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing today, I've decided to do a double feature of films dealing with expeditions to the moon, both movies being released in 1950, this one being released second. This was made way before Sputnik helped begin the Space Age, and 19 years before Apollo 11. This was produced by George Pal, who would later produce the 1953 version of The War of the Worlds and later direct 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (#430). So how is this film? This is a really interesting movie that manages to seal itself and its premise in a 90 minute window, with really dazzling special effects to boot. While there is a small cast, it more then makes up for it by being exceptionally entertaining, the cast itself is fine, Wesson steals the show and makes for a good wisecracking relief character. The effects by Lee Zavitz are really astounding to watch, even the matte paintings by Chesley Bonestell are nice to look at. My favorite scene for some reason is the scene in which a cartoon is shown to would-be funders of the spaceship Luna to help explain how a rocket can get from the Earth to the Moon and how it lands, starring none other than Woody Woodpecker. It's a amusing scene, but it also is a informative scene that just shows how cool space travel can be. The story (written by the trio James O'Hanlon, Rip Van Ronkel, and Robert A. Heinlein) is pretty good, it's balanced well and certainly adds to the level of entertainment, The movie is fun to watch, especially in the last half hour, which is actually pretty riveting. In the end, this is a good film to watch not only on this day, but any day, for anyone looking for a good sci-fi flick. That, and one with the Moon in it.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Bad News Bears (1976).

Review #616: The Bad News Bears.

Cast
Walter Matthau (Coach Morris Buttermaker), Tatum O'Neal (Amanda Whurlitzer), Chris Barnes (Tanner Boyle), Vic Morrow (Roy Turner), Jackie Earle Haley (Kelly Leak), Joyce Van Patten (Ms. Cleveland), Ben Piazza (Bob Whitewood), Alfred Lutter III (Ogilvie), Erin Blunt (Ahmad Rahim), and Gary Lee Cavagnaro (Engelberg) Directed by Michael Ritchie.

Review
At the end of the day, the movie is a look back into how competitive can get about a simple game of baseball. So I figured, give that the All Star Game is tomorrow, why not review a baseball movie? So how is the movie you may ask. I guess it's alright, it all depends on what your memories of being a kid are, competing in sports, or just being a kid. The baseball action is good and all, but the movie's main focus is on Matthau with his troupe of misfits that are somewhat endearing, and somewhat colorful. But is the movie funny? Yeah, it has its moments, I admit that playing the Carmen theme when showing the kids and their "talent" on the baseball field for the first time is oddly hilarious. Matthau is a grouch, but he is a fun guy to watch, especially when trying to coach. O'Neal is interesting to watch, especially when paired with Matthau, such as when they first meet, her selling Maps to the Stars to random passersby. The movie is pretty brutal, especially with its characters, and in the end, nobody wins, everyone seems to have die a little inside, ad they celebrate with beer, so I guess somebody wins. Watch some baseball tomorrow, or revel in some past baseball. Or see the movie, I suppose. Whatever works best.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Review #615: Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Cast
James Franco (Will Rodman), Freida Pinto (Caroline Aranha), Andy Serkis (Caesar), John Lithgow (Charles Rodma), Brian Cox (John Landon), Tom Felton (Dodge Landon), David Oyelowo (Steven Jacobs), Tyler Labine (Robert Franklin), and Karin Konoval (Maurice) Directed by Rupert Wyatt.

Review
I admit, maybe I should've watched and reviewed this movie earlier in the year, or even earlier, but mistakes happen, so here's my chance to rectify that. So how's the movie? You know who makes the movie better than just good? Andy Serkis as Caesar. It is just more than performance capture, it's watching Serkis just disappear into the role, you forget about the fact that it's a person's movements being captured and later being turned into looking like an ape. It's fun to watch Serkis act in a sense without speaking, though he does have lines near the end, which genuinely surprised me, especially his last three: "Caesar is home", which is really touching to me for some reason. Maybe it's because his plot line closes smoothly, and the movie works best when focused on the apes. That's not to say the human cast is bad, but Serkis steals the show. Franco does fine admittedly, and his scenes with Serkis work well. Pinto is okay, but she doesn't really get much screen time to do anything, even Lithgow has stuff to do (though my praise of Lithgow is 90% due to his performance and 10% because you don't see Lithgow much anymore, unless you capture a Third Rock from the Sun rerun or watch Shrek), but at least the cast is enjoyable at times. The effects are good, it's fun to watch the apes when they march on the Golden Gate Bridge. The story is alright, I suppose, the movie is entertaining enough, and the end scene is brilliant and just makes you want more, like a sequel, which came out yesterday. This is a movie that while not as good as the original Planet of the Apes, is at least a good origin story.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Thinner.

Review #614: Thinner.

Cast
Robert John Burke (Billy Halleck), Joe Mantegna (Richie "The Hammer" Ginelli), Lucinda Jenney (Heidi Halleck), Michael Constantine (Tadzu Lempke), Kari Wührer (Gina Lempke), Bethany Joy Lenz (Linda Halleck), Daniel von Bargen (Chief Duncan Hopley), and John Horton (Judge Cary Rossington) Directed by Tom Holland.

Review
You want a movie that goes over the top and manages to be outrageously insane while having 0 likable characters? This is the movie for you. The movie is based off the book of the same name by Stephen King (who even has a cameo in this movie), and indeed it does feel like a silly adaptation of a novel, but at least this movie is laughable to watch. I can't decide if Burke is worse in this or in Robocop 3, but arguing over which role had more emotion when one is a robot and not being able to have an answer is troubling. For some reason Burke looks like Jiminy Glick in the overweight scenes, though at least the effects for when he gets thin are decent. The cast is okay, but their characters are unlikeable which means that anytime something happens to them, you're left not caring about what happens to them. Even the guy who curses Billy is unlikable, the whole plot of revenge is mediocre at this point. The way that Billy manages to get rid of the curse is stupid (really? Putting his blood into a pie? It's from the novel, but still.), but I guess all curses could be solved by pies. Especially pecan pies. What we've got is a mediocre movie that runs short enough to where you'll forget about it after a few hours, with effects that are probably better than the characters, and it makes you want to eat pie. So I guess it makes sense, especially that last part.

Overall, I give it 4 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.

Review #613: Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.

Cast
Allison Hayes (Nancy Archer), William Hudson (Harry Archer), Yvette Vickers (Honey Parker), Roy Gordon (Dr. Isaac Cushing), George Douglas (Sheriff Dubbitt), Ken Terrell (Jess Stout), Otto Waldis (Dr. Heinrich Von Loeb), Eileen Stevens (Nurse), Michael Ross (Tony the Bartender / Space Giant), and Frank Chase (Deputy Charlie) Directed by Nathan H. Juran.

Review

When you're watching a movie called Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, you know the movie's probably bad, but at least it's 50s bad, which I guess is okay. But this? Oh boy. The movie could be picked apart easily, by anyone, but let's not dwell on that too much. The movie was released on the heels of other movies released around the time based on size changing, such as The Amazing Colossal Man and The Incredible Shrinking Man (#420), except made on a lower budget. The actors are okay, I suppose, but come on, we all came to see when the 50 Foot Woman appears. And...it takes a hour to happen. Now granted, it does seem hypocritical to criticize it for taking a while to show the monster when praising Jaws for doing that. What's the main difference though? Jaws had actual tension, while this film has absolutely no tension, though lasting an hour doesn't help. But how are the effects? Hokey as can be, but for a movie like this, they fit the movie well. It's an oddball movie that is laughable, but endurable for all its flaws (Elephant syringe? Why does she look only 30 ft tall? Why did TCM show this in the afternoon and not at late night?), but perfect for anyone wanting to waste/spend a hour.

Overall, I give it 3 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Devil's Disciple.

Review #612: The Devil's Disciple.

Cast
Burt Lancaster (Anthony Anderson), Kirk Douglas (Richard Dudgeon), Laurence Olivier (General John Burgoyne), Janette Scott (Judith Anderson), Eva Le Gallienne (Mrs. Dudgeon), Harry Andrews (Major Swindon), and Basil Sydney (Lawyer Hawkins) Directed by Guy Hamilton (#280 - Diamonds Are Forever, #289 - The Man with the Golden Gun, #291 - Goldfinger and #293 - Live and Let Die)

Review
It figures to review a movie (based on a play) based around the Revolutionary War on the day of America' declaration of Independence 238 years ago, and The Devil's Disciple fits that bill just nicely. Is the movie good though? Yeah, pretty much. The most interesting actor is Kirk Douglas, playing a clever little character that fits so unevenly with the rest of the character, and yet he's the most interesting one of the bunch. Lancaster is at least commanding, and Olivier is as well, the cast is pretty good all in all. The action is brief, but it is fun to watch, and while the movie may run short, it does its job pretty well. The movie may take its time to get where it wants, but it eventually makes its mark, and it works well overall, especially today. Happy Independence Day to all, and stay safe.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Spider-Man.

Review #611: Spider-Man.

Cast
Tobey Maguire (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Willem Dafoe (Norman Osborn/Green Goblin), Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson), James Franco (Harry Osborn), Cliff Robertson (Ben Parker), Rosemary Harris (May Parker), and J. K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson) Directed by Sam Raimi.

Review
No matter the weather wherever you are, today's going to be a beautiful Independence Day, so I'm going to review something that's been on the waiting list for a long time, the (can't believe I'm saying this) original Spider-Man film. Speaking of which, how is the film? It's pretty good. For all of its quirks, the movie does a good job at putting Spider-Man onto the screen and be entertaining for the most part. The cast is well rounded, it's even fun to see J. K. Simmons as Jameson because his bombastic nature to everyone is just fun to watch, even if it's brief. Maguire and Dafoe have a good dynamic together, and while Dafoe may have some odd scenes (though I guess talking to a mask is normal if you go insane), he is pretty menacing. Maguire is a good hero, I think my favorite scene is when he's being introduced to the ring against a guy named Buzzsaw (played by the late great Randy "Macho Man" Savage), and he asks to be called "The Human Spider". I don't know why, but there is something funny about trying to make your own name and come up with something a 1950's b-movie would reject as a title. The dialogue is okay, though Robertson's line about "with great power comes great responsibility" is a defining line for the film. Is it a great movie? No, but it at least is a good flick for anyone curious on how the first movie about Spider-Man is. Happy 4th, everyone.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Shaft (1971).

Review #610: Shaft.

Cast
Richard Roundtree (John Shaft), Moses Gunn (Bumpy Jonas), Charles Cioffi (Lt. Vic Androzzi), Christopher St. John (Ben Buford), Gwenn Mitchell (Ellie Moore), Lawrence Pressman (Tom Hannon), Victor Arnold (Charlie), and Sherri Brewer (Marcy Jonas) Directed by Gordon Parks.

Review
The epitome of cool, Shaft manages to have a charming lead character and have some thrilling action, combined with a cool theme song. Roundtree is fun to watch, with his charisma and charm the best aspect of the movie. The theme song by Issac Hayes is the right amount of funk and the right amount of cool to work perfectly. The movie feels like a throwback to detective movies from the 30's/40's, but Shaft has enough edge to work as its own, and the characters are certainly noteworthy. Gunn does a fine performance; his twisted character and his emotions (two) are contrasted well. It's a cheaply made movie, but it's a well-made movie nonetheless, it has enough charm and style with Roundtree alone to be a good flick, but the rest just adds on to the pile in a movie that will probably be immortalized and remembered for more years to come, as we're still talking about it 43 years (and a day) later.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Police Academy.

Review #609: Police Academy.

Cast
Steve Guttenberg (Carey Mahoney), Kim Cattrall (Karen Thompson), Bubba Smith (Moses Hightower), G. W. Bailey (Thaddeus Harris), George Gaynes (Eric Lassard), Donovan Scott (Leslie Barbara), David Graf (Eugene Tackleberry), Michael Winslow (Larvell Jones), Leslie Easterbrook (Debbie Callahan), Andrew Rubin (George Martin), Bruce Mahler (Douglas Fackler), Marion Ramsey (Laverne Hooks), Brant Von Hoffman (Kyle Blankes), and Scott Thomson (Chad Copeland) Directed by Hugh Wilson (#445 - Blast from the Past)

Review
After doing a Schwarzenegger film, a few french films and Canada, it's time to get back to basics, such as this film. It is odd to mention that this was actually filmed in Canada (Hamilton and Toronto to be precise), I guess Canada is a reoccurring guest on this show, which I guess is fine, writing references to Canadian stuff is fun, especially hockey (Go Jets!). But let's get to the actual film, how is it? Eh...it's okay, I guess? The problem with the movie isn't related to the film, but the fact that it was released in 1984, the year that brought us Ghostbusters, This Is Spinal Tap, Sixteen Candles, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Top Secret!, and other various comedies (that I haven't reviewed yet, like Beverly Hills Cop). Police Academy is a mediocre movie that sometimes succeeds at jokes. The movie could be described like a breeze of wind, it comes and goes without much thought about it after it leaves. Of course that would be true if this movie didn't have six sequels, two TV shows, and a remake coming...probably. The cast is extensive, and I guess if I had to say who my favorite was, I'd say Bubba Smith only because his stoic performance is refreshing given the quirks of the other characters. The movie takes time to get going, and while may not make its mark most of the time, it at least tries to be funny, and Guttenberg and Bailey do at least share a bond of mutual dislike that deliver some hilarity. It's an okay movie that while it could be better, it at least could be entertaining when you're bored or depressed late at night.

Overall I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Tomorrow Never Comes.

Review #608: Tomorrow Never Comes.

Cast
Oliver Reed (Jim Wilson), Susan George (Janie), Raymond Burr (Burke), John Ireland (Captain), Stephen McHattie (Frank), Donald Pleasence (Dr. Todd), Paul Koslo (Willy), John Osborne (Robert L. Lyne), Cec Linder (Milton), and Richard Donat (Ray) Directed by Peter Collinson.

Review
One of my favorite scenes from this movie is when Oliver Reed's character randomly asks for a table and some beer in the middle of a hostage situation, and at one point, he's just sitting in the shade, taking his time as tourists watch him. I don't know why, but it's just hilarious, maybe it's the random nature of the scene, or the fact that Reed's just sitting there outside as a hostage situation goes on. Anyway, this is the second part of the Canadian double feature, and this was a Canadian-UK production, with a few Canadian actors (Burr, Ireland, McHattie) and a few British actors (Reed, George, Pleasence), in the cast, along with a rare acting appearance by playwright John Osborne. The movie was at filmed in Quebec, with the majority of the movie taking place in a hotel, or near a hotel for that matter. The movie has its moments of tension and actual suspense, and the real fun is wondering what will happen next, or who'll appear next. I was actually surprised Pleasence was in this movie, but he is, briefly and he is at least entertaining. Reed is fun to watch, he looks like a kid who didn't get a toy he wanted 40 years ago and just remembered the event, especially with those glasses (but I'm the last person who should make jokes about wearing glasses). He is enjoyable though, and the rest of the cast (save for Paul Koslo, who comes off as a thrill-seeking dunce) work well, especially McHattie, who is good at delivering tension. The movie is well made, and surprisingly dark especially at the end, but it is overall a good movie that is recommended for a day like this. 

Happy Canada Day, northern neighbor.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

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Movie Night: Back to God's Country.

Review #607: Back to God's Country.

Cast
Nell Shipman (Dolores LeBeau), Charles Arling ('Sealskin' Blake), Wheeler Oakman (Peter Burke), Wellington A. Playter (Captain Rydal), and Roy Laidlaw (Baptiste LeBeau) Directed by David Hartford.

Review
There are many notable people from Canada I didn't cover last year, such as Norma Shearer, Donald Sutherland, Seth Rogen, Dan Aykroyd (whose birthday is today), Michael J. Fox and even William Shatner, and so in honor of our neighbor from the north, I'm reviewing two movies having to do with Canada. 

The first is this film, the second oldest movie ever reviewed on this show, released nearly 95 years ago, and one of the earliest Canadian features, and the most successful silent film in Canada's history. Shipman helped to write the film (which was already adapted from a short story by James Oliver Curwood), and she stars in it as well. The movie lasts about 72 minutes, so it's a breeze to get through, and though the plot may be somewhat paper thin, it at least is enjoyable to watch, though a little music would have helped. The blue tint for night is good looking, and the scenery is nice, the cold near wasteland is fine for a film like this. Shipman is a fine hero to watch, and the rest of the cast is decent, this is overall a decent movie that while starting slow, does manage to entertain, and on Canada Day, I guess that's all that matters. 

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

The next film will be Tomorrow Never Comes, stay tuned, as it will be posted in a few hours. Go...Blue Jays?

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Movie Night: True Lies.

Review #606: True Lies.

Cast
Arnold Schwarzenegger (Harry Tasker), Jamie Lee Curtis (Helen Tasker), Tom Arnold (Albert Gibson), Bill Paxton (Simon), Tia Carrere (Juno Skinner), Art Malik (Salim Abu Aziz), Eliza Dushku (Dana Tasker), Grant Heslov (Faisal), and Charlton Heston (Spencer Trilby) Directed by James Cameron (#001 - Terminator 2: Judgement Day, #063 - The Terminator, #388 - Avatar, and #574 - Aliens)

Review
It figures we end the month on Schwarzenegger, and it's no coincidence that in two weeks this movie will celebrate its 20th anniversary. True Lies is a good action film, but also a decent comedy film, and part of the fun delivered is from Schwarzenegger, who as always is effective at delivering one-liners, and he is generally fun to watch. This is actually a remake of a French film, named La Totale!, but I haven't seen it, so it barely matters in context. Curtis is enjoyable, she doesn't have a bad scene in the whole movie, and it's fun watching her, along with Schwarzenegger. It's sort of strange watching Tom Arnold in this movie (whether you've watched Roseanne or not), and he does provide some hilarity, so he's alright, though it still doesn't make me want to watch The Stupids. Paxton is noteworthy, and amusing as a faux spy. The villain isn't really anything special, but Malik does at least try to make something out of it, and him trying to deliver a speech as the camera battery runs out is mildly hilarious. The action is fun, it's enjoyable and certainly satisfying. Cameron knows what he's doing with this film, trying to balance the action with some drama/comedy, and it works just right. Tomorrow, we begin July off with Canada.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Sandlot.

Review #605: The Sandlot.

Cast
Tom Guiry (Scott Smalls), Mike Vitar (Benny Rodriguez), Patrick Renna (Hamilton Porter), Chauncey Leopardi (Michael "Squints" Palledorous), Marty York (Alan McClennan), Brandon Quintin Adams (Kenny DeNunez), Grant Gelt (Bertram Weeks), Shane Obedzinski (Tommy Timmons), Victor DiMattia (Timmy Timmons), Denis Leary (Bill), James Earl Jones (Mr. Mertle), and Art LaFleur (Babe Ruth) Directed by David M. Evans.

Review
Yes, I know. I am aware of this movie's cult status, and I remember watching this movie a long time ago, though I never got to the end, so I get to connect to the past. And baseball films are usually enjoyable, so the movie has a good deal of promise. So how is the film? It's okay. Is it a classic? I guess so, but it all depends on what you define as classic. The Sandlot is slightly awkward (we all were like that once) and slightly fun, though the baseball action is more fun to watch than the interactions of the kids. Some of the cast are interesting, (Vitar, Leopardi, Jones, for all of his brief screen time), but others are just okay. Guiry isn't bad, I get the characterization of the new kid and how he develops, but eh, I still like Vitar better either way. He doesn't get much characterization, but he's fun to watch being the leader of a bunch of kids just playin' ball. The movie is more than just baseball, it's about these kids (and one big dog) and their summer in a time where there were only 20 teams in the majors (which means I can't make an Expos reference until 1969), and when baseball was at its era of dominance. The movie may not be a particularly great movie, but like Babe Ruth (played by a decent Art LaFleur) said, the legends never die.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Mighty Joe Young (1949).

Review #604: Mighty Joe Young.

Cast
Terry Moore (Jill Young), Ben Johnson (Gregg), Robert Armstrong (Max O'Hara), Frank McHugh (Windy), Douglas Fowley (Jones), and Denis Green (Crawford) Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack (#283 - King Kong)

Review
King Kong was a massive success (so good they rushed out a sequel named Son of Kong only 9 months later), and a few re-releases inspired RKO to make another movie about an gorilla, with Willis O'Brien supervising the stop motion effects, with Ray Harryhausen assisting him. The gorilla isn't as big or tall as Kong, but he is more sympathetic (I suppose) and he even gets a happy ending. King Kong had an aura of mystery for the first half mainly because of Skull Island and what it would be. Mighty Joe Young just flat out brings you to Africa without much tension, but I guess at this point trying the same thing twice wouldn't work. The actors in this film are alright, and for once there isn't a shrieking character, and Armstrong (who was Carl Denham in King Kong) is certainly persuasive in the role, he's a very lovable figure, and the most noticeable actor in this film. The effects are great, even if Joe isn't as intimidating as it may seem. The climax of the movie is well enough, it's not everyday you see a gorilla on a moving van. This is an alright movie that runs short but means well. The effects are probably better than the actors, but it at least is good looking, and in the end, I guess that's all that counts to having a good time.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Three Colors: Red.

Review #603: Three Colors: Red.

Cast
Irène Jacob (Valentine Dusseau), Jean-Louis Trintignant (Joseph Kern), Jean-Pierre Lorit (Auguste Bruner), and Frederique Feder (Karin) Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski (#601 - Three Colors: Blue and #602 - Three Colors: White)

Review
This is the last movie Kieslowski ever made, and the last color of this trilogy from France-Poland-Switzerland. Like the other two movies, Red is its own in terms of plot. It isn't as isolated as Blue or darkly comical as White, it is a more optimistic movie, a more passionate movie that utilizes its main two actors exquisitely. Jacob is interesting, but Trintignant is even more interesting to watch, his character grows as the film progresses, we first see him as just a bitter man who doesn't even care that his dog was run over, but eventually we learn more about this character, his former profession, and his secrets. And while that's happening, a subplot involving the other two actors and how their romance deteriorates so quickly. The movie has red hues, but it also has its own connections to the past two films, such as the bottle sequence. In Blue, Julie sees a lady is seen trying to put a bottle into a container. In White, a man is seen trying to put a bottle into a container as Karol watches, grinning. In Red, Valentine helps an old lady put the bottle into the container. This just shows the level of emotion that varies from film to film to film, as it goes from sadness to helping others, and the final scene connects the three up nicely. All three end in tears, and of the three Blue may be the most sad, but Red is the most poignant and the most fitting. All in all, the movies are well made, well acted, and are all important figments in a great trilogy.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Three Colors: White.

Review #602: Three Colors: White.

Cast
Zbigniew Zamachowski (Karol Karol), Julie Delpy (Dominique Vidal), Janusz Gajos (Mikołaj), and Jerzy Stuhr (Jurek) Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski (#601 - Three Colors: Blue)

Review
White (a film from France-Poland-Switzerland film) is more of a comedy/romance then Blue is, and while it may not be as good as Blue, it at least is enjoyable enough. The movie is connected to Blue due to one scene, which when watched in Blue didn't sound important, but in White, it's the first scene (first major scene, after the shot of the briefcases, which comes into play later) of the movie, and it serves as the springboard for the rest of the movie. The characters are quirky (Save for Dominique, who while being a theme for how saying and meaning love are two different things, is still a cruel person, though the ending validates her...sort of). Zamachowski (who I first thought looked like John Ritter) does a fine job, you can see how he changes from a mild mannered mook into a calmly ruthless fellow. His character goes through an arc, and it ends bittersweet for him. The movie itself is quirky. It has its moments of strange, but mostly fun humor. The movie takes a while to get interesting, but when it does, it is entertaining. Is it great? Probably not, but it at least is entertaining, it at least is good to watch, the movie has its moments of brilliance, and I guess that's enough.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Three Colors: Blue.

Review #601: Three Colors: Blue.

Cast
Juliette Binoche (Julie de Courcy Vignon), Benoît Régent (Olivier Benôit), Emmanuelle Riva (Madame Vignon), Florence Pernel (Sandrine), Guillaume de Tonquédec (Serge), Charlotte Very (Lucille), and Yann Trégouët (Antoine) Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski.

Review
Krzysztof Kieślowski was a Polish filmmaker that had directed numerous films for 20 years, closing out his career with a trilogy of films, the first being Blue, the second being White, and the last being Red (with this being a film from France-Poland-Switzerland film, with the first two languages being spoken in the movie). The movies are unrelated to one another in most ways, the movies could be watched in any order, but I'll start with Blue first anyway. It is fun to review world cinema films (preferably with no dubbing because it is fun to read subtitles), and Blue is a treat. This is a powerful movie that is beautiful to watch and listen to. It's a movie that reveals its layers over time, it becomes more then just about one character's attempt at cold solitude, it becomes something new, a wonderful movie that is emotionally charged, from sadness to isolation to passion. The movie has a good deal of blue tinges, such as blue beads, the water in the pool Julie swims in constantly, and so on. This is a movie that has so much effort put into it by the actors. Binoche is simply stunning in her performance, you can see the levels of development she goes through simply by her facial expressions, and she interacts with the cast nicely. This is a great movie that is incredible in its emotion and level of passion it inflicts. Blue and White share one scene, which is a crucial scene in the beginning of the next film, which I'll cover in the next review.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: City Lights.

Review #600: City Lights.

Cast
Charlie Chaplin (The Tramp), Virginia Cherrill (A Blind Girl), Florence Lee (Her Grandmother), Harry Myers (An Eccentric Millionaire), Al Ernest Garcia (His Butler), and Hank Mann (A Prizefighter) Directed by Charlie Chaplin (#353 -Monsieur Verdoux and #599 - The Kid)

Review
To close out this road to 600 Reviews, is a familiar face. Charlie Chaplin is probably one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, not only did he star in his own films, he was also the director, the writer, the producer and even the composer of the music for his own films. He starred in numerous films all throughout the early 20th century, eventually venturing into feature length films, and this is one of them. This was made just as sound films became popular, but Chaplin didn't care, he wanted to keep the silent charm of the iconic character, the Tramp. The movie has a neat premise that is simple yet easily compelling. Chaplin is a good director, but he is an even better actor. Watching him interact with everyone is pure joy, especially his first scene with Myers, which is exceedingly hilarious. Chaplin and Cherrill work well together, interacting perfectly together, and it adds a new layer to an already fun movie. The slapstick is fun to watch and extremely hilarious along with being memorable, especially the boxing match, for all of its silliness and charm. The whole movie is charming and warm, and the cast is just right. The final scene with Chaplin and Cherrill is absolutely perfect and is probably one of the best end scenes in motion history. This is a remarkable movie that is absolutely recommended for everyone, young and old, for happy or for the sad. Thank you for all of your support over the past 3 and a half years, and I hope for another 600 reviews.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Kid.

Review #599: The Kid.

Cast
Charlie Chaplin (The Tramp), Jackie Coogan (The Kid), Edna Purviance (The Mother), Carl Miller (The Father), Tom Wilson (The Policeman), and Henry Bergman (Night Shelter Keeper / Professor Guido) Directed by Charlie Chaplin (#353 - Monsieur Verdoux)

Review
This is one of the oldest films reviewed on this show (With only #435 - Mickey and #261 - The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari being older), and it's only fitting that it's one with Charlie Chaplin. He starred in, edited, wrote and directed this movie (later composing the music in a re-release fifty years later at 82!), which shows his talent reaches just beyond being a Tramp. Chaplin especially shows his worth in this film, which is not only a funny movie but also a very good drama. The movie has a fine balance, but an even better cast. Chaplin and Coogan mesh perfect together, they work as a team in both being clever window helpers but also as father and son (of sorts). Coogan (known to many for being the original Uncle Fester) was only six, and he still shines in this film, he certainly shows much emotion is those beady eyes. The movie has many moments of hilarity, such as when the Tramp "fights" a bully, or (my favorite) when the Tramp enters Dreamland. The drama in the movie makes an already good film into a great one, especially when the two are reunited after a rooftop chase. The Tramp is an endearing figure who is always entertaining, along with being a lovable character. This is a silent film I wholly recommend to everyone looking for a good laugh...or a tear.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Rescuers.

Review #598: The Rescuers.

Cast
Bob Newhart (Bernard), Eva Gabor (Miss Bianca), Geraldine Page (Madame Medusa), Michelle Stacy (Penny), Joe Flynn (Mr. Snoops), Jim Jordan (Orville), John McIntire (Rufus), Jeanette Nolan (Ellie Mae), Pat Buttram (Luke), James MacDonald (Evinrude), Candy Candido (Brutus and Nero), and Bernard Fox (Mr. Chairman) Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman & John Lounsbery (#250 - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh), and Art Stevens.

Review
I've done a few Disney films (#073 - The Lion King, #156 - Aladdin, #178 - Peter Pan, #230 - The Great Mouse Detective, #250, #373 - Cinderella, #387 - Lilo & Stitch, #390 - Pocahontas, #511 - The Three Caballeros, #579 - Frozen) on this show, and they usually are entertaining enough (except Pocahontas, but that's another story), and The Rescuers is no different. The animation is good (especially when they show the diamond), but the cast is better. Newhart and Gabor share a good rapport with each other, they are certainly a good duo (you can insert your Newhart joke here), and the rest of the cast is certainly entertaining, even Page and Flynn are a good pair of villains, I like how Medusa has not only a cool swamp-mobile, but two big alligators. Let's not forget she lives on a riverboat, which adds some more style points. The movie is short, but it is entertaining, and while it may have one too many songs, it at least is a cool adventure for everyone. So yeah, what's going to be the 600th Review, you might ask? The next review will give you a hint.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Rocky IV.

Review #597: Rocky IV.

Cast
Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Dolph Lundgren (Ivan Drago), Talia Shire (Adrian Balboa), Burt Young (Paulie Pennino), Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed), Brigitte Nielsen (Ludmilla Drago), Tony Burton (Tony "Duke" Evers), and Michael Pataki (Nicoli Koloff) Directed by Sylvester Stallone (#047 - The Expendables, #277 - Rocky II and #340 - Rocky III)

Review
When did the Rocky franchise went over the top? Rocky IV? I say that because Rocky III was the first movie where Rocky didn't fight Apollo Creed, instead he fought Mr. T. Oh, and Mickey dies because you know, reasons. But that argument goes out the window when the robot is introduced. Yes, a robot, which I guess would be fine except 29 years later, we're still waiting for robots. The foundation of silliness is cemented by James Brown and then planted fully into the ground with Ivan Drago, if that even makes sense. Going into this, I knew it would be silly, that it would probably the weirdest of the franchise. That, and it would have montages. Many, many montages. This is what parodies are made of, especially this movie. But is the movie any good? Probably. Look, it's a silly film with a lot of cheese and a lot of effort, and the performances are what they are, the good and bad. At this point, you know these characters and what they'll do and not do. You know Rocky will fight Drago despite people telling him not to, because reasons. The movie is like processed cheese: It's American, it can be used for almost anything, and it's easier to poke holes at it than Swiss cheese. Take this film for what it's worth: the silly, the silly and the bad.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Random Harvest.

Review #596: Random Harvest.

Cast
Ronald Colman (Charles Rainier), Greer Garson (Paula Ridgeway/Margaret Hanson), Philip Dorn (Dr. Jonathan Benet), Susan Peters (Kitty Chilcet), Henry Travers (Dr. Sims), Reginald Owen (Biffer), Bramwell Fletcher (Harrison), Rhys Williams (Sam), Una O'Connor (Shopkeeper), Aubrey Mather (Sheldon), and Margaret Wycherly (Mrs. Deventer) Directed by Mervyn LeRoy.

Review
Romantic films can be many things, they can be pleasant to watch and joyful, or they can be unbearable to watch. This film falls into the first category. Colman and Garson are an excellent duo, and they pair off well each other, they are just perfectly cast, and Colman does a great subdued performance. The supporting cast is fun to watch, even Una O'Connor (evidently she hams it up only in horror films), Reginald Owen is a charm to watch, it's just fun to watch the interactions between everyone. The plot is well crafted, a treat to appreciate. This is a neat little movie practically wrapped in gold paper. This movie is good enough to even be shown on TCM on Tuesday night, picked by none other than guest programmer Gene Wilder (squee!), and I can see why he picked it. It's a good flick to watch, even in summer, I suppose.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Never Say Never Again.

Review #595: Never Say Never Again.

Cast
Sean Connery (James Bond), Kim Basinger (Domino Petachi), Klaus Maria Brandauer (Maximillian Largo), Barbara Carrera (Fatima Blush), Bernie Casey (Felix Leiter), Max von Sydow (Ernst Stavro Blofeld), Edward Fox (M), Rowan Atkinson (Nigel Small-Fawcett), Gavan O'Herlihy (Jack Petachi), and Alec McCowen (Q) Directed by Irvin Kershner (#004 - RoboCop 2 and #114 - The Empire Strikes Back)

Review
Due to Kevin McClory's lawsuit over the rights of the novel Thunderball, he gained the filming rights of the novel, even after the movie was released, despite EON's attempts to stop it, and McClory would help produce a new version on the Thunderball story, with Lorenzo Semple, Jr (notable for developing the 1960's Batman TV show and Flash Gordon - #215) writing the screenplay. Connery was brought to play the role 12 years after he last played Bond in the spectacular disaster of a film Diamonds Are Forever (#280). The film was released 4 months after Octopussy (#360), the other Bond film from 1983. So which one is better? It's hard to discuss this movie. Of the six Bond films in the 1980's, this isn't the worst one, but it also isn't the best. Connery does good in his return to Bond, a little aged but a little more defined, and refined. The supporting cast isn't bad (though Atkinson is an exception), it's certainly better than Thunderball's cast, especially with Felix Leiter, who is more interesting to watch this time around. Basinger does well, she has at least some chemistry with Connery, and the dance scene is at least watchable. The villain is ever more interesting because he leaves an impression on you, though admittedly the scene where he plays against Bond in a video game is either an odd inclusion or just surprising, but then again the other Bond movie had Bond dress up as a clown, so pick your poison. The aquatic action isn't as annoying due to not there being as much of it, which is refreshing. The movie is actually pretty decent, not too bad, and it's a good way for Connery to have one last hurrah. There, I've reviewed all the Bond films, even the unofficial ones...for now.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Review #594: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Cast
Zero Mostel (Pseudolus), Phil Silvers (Marcus Lycus), Michael Crawford (Hero), Jack Gilford (Hysterium), Annette Andre (Philia), Buster Keaton (Erronius), Michael Hordern (Senex), Leon Greene (Miles Gloriosus), Patricia Jessel (Domina), and Inga Neilsen (Gymnasia) Directed by Richard Lester (#541 - A Hard Day's Night)

Review
The movie begins and ends on the same song, "Comedy Tonight", which sums up the movie. The cast is exceptional, especially Zero Mostel, who is just as wacky and fun as he was in The Producers. The movie may be a comedy, but it's also a musical, and while the comedy dominates most of the time, the songs aren't that bad, and Mostel is a decent enough singer for these songs. I realize that I haven't covered Buster Keaton on this show before, but at least I finally get to say something about him (ironically in his last film role), and what I would say is that he is certainly noteworthy despite not having too much screen time, he delivers a chuckle or two. The movie has a good deal of fun lines and zany motion that makes a wild but fun film.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Pirates of Blood River.

Review #593: The Pirates of Blood River.

Cast
Kerwin Mathews (Jonathon Standing), Glenn Corbett (Henry), Christopher Lee (Captain LaRoche), Peter Arne (Hench), Marla Landi (Bess Standing), Desmond Llewelyn (Tom Blackthorne), Oliver Reed (Brocaire), Andrew Keir (Jason Standing), and Michael Ripper (Mack) Directed by John Gilling.

Review
Christopher Lee (a regular occurring actor on this show) as the villain in a Hammer pirate movie? What could go wrong? As it turns out, a few things. The biggest problem is that the film is so dull. It feels so standard, like it's fulfilling a checklist of stuff without much excitement to it. The movie has one sword fight, and it's at the end of the movie, but by the time you get to the end you'll either be asleep or won't care. The actors are just okay, it's a shame that Lee is wasted in this movie, stuck in a ridiculous haircut that makes him look like Moe from the Three Stooges and an eye patch from your local dollar store. The pirates are the most interesting characters as our main character is just boring, and so is the rest of the non pirate cast. The action is sparse, but there sure is a good deal of dialogue. They do have a sword fight between two pirates...blindfolded, which sounds fun for about 2 minutes. This is just a mediocre/boring film that is just a disappointment. Stick to better pirate movies. Countdown to 600: 10, 9, 8, 7...

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Dementia 13.

Review #592: Dementia 13.

Cast
William Campbell (Richard Haloran), Luana Anders (Louise Haloran), Patrick Magee (Dr. Justin Caleb), Bart Patton (Billy Haloran), Mary Mitchell (Kane), Eithne Dunne (Lady Haloran), and Peter Read (John Haloran) Directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Review
This was the first mainstream film made by Francis Ford Coppola, and this was made only because Roger Corman had leftover money after making one of his numerous films (The Young Racers, which had some of the cast in this film), and Coppola made the story outline in about a day, with the production in Ireland. Corman did not like how the movie was after Coppola showed him the finished product, and so Corman demanded an additional death scene along with a prologue to be added, though the version I watched lacks the prologue. The movie has an eerie Gothic feel, with the castle being the backdrop. The plot is paper thin at times and sometimes odd, but in the end it all comes together to make a pretty well made movie. Coppola knows what he's doing and the cast does a fine job with the material. There aren't many murders, but at least the movie still enjoyable, even if the identity of the killer could be figured out by the halfway point. Take this for what it's worth, especially on this day, Friday the...13th. Yeah...Countdown to 600: 10, 9, 8...

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Wild Bunch.

Review #591: The Wild Bunch.

Cast
William Holden (Pike Bishop), Ernest Borgnine (Dutch Engstrom), Robert Ryan (Deke Thornton), Edmond O'Brien (Freddie Sykes), Warren Oates (Lyle Gorch), Jaime Sánchez (Angel), Ben Johnson (Tector Gorch), Emilio Fernández (General Mapache), Strother Martin (Coffer), L. Q. Jones (T.C.), Albert Dekker (Pat Harrigan), and Bo Hopkins (Clarence 'Crazy' Lee) Directed by Sam Peckinpah (#590 - Ride the High Country)

Review
Yeah, I should've known that I would review The Wild Bunch. I mentioned it previously in the last review, heck I even knew I was going to watch it before I finished my review of Ride the High Country. I was aware of the reputation this movie had, known for its violence, which was quite bloody, for a Western, the genre that normally treated the West like it was a happy place to be, full of villains easily taken down by the good guy. Peckinpah wanted to change all that. The movie begins and ends with violence, but the main point is to try and make it unsettling and according to Peckinpah, "twist it so that it's not fun anymore, just a wave of sickness in the gut." He succeeds with his goal, though it probably won't make people forget all the blood, which is very present all throughout. The action is well directed and the movie is well made, the flashbacks may not be set up always coherently, but they are at least decent to look at. The characters are outlaws, but we still can identify them as relics in an aging world where the West is slowing dying (in fact, one of the best quotes of the movie is about that: "We've got to start thinking beyond our guns. Those days are closing fast."), and the man hunting them down was once their friend. The whole gang of outlaws are still fun though, they may be outlaws, but they're still enjoyable to watch in their antics. The violence may be a bit unsettling (unless of course you can handle it), but it's very well shot and very well made, and Peckinpah certainly deserves credit for a movie that does all it wanted and a little bit more.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Ride the High Country.

Review #590: Ride the High Country.

Cast
Randolph Scott (Gil Westrum), Joel McCrea (Steve Judd), Mariette Hartley (Elsa Knudsen), Ron Starr (Heck Longtree), Edgar Buchanan (Judge Tolliver), R.G. Armstrong (Joshua Knudsen), Jenie Jackson (Kate), James Drury (Billy Hammond), L. Q. Jones (Sylvus Hammond), and John Anderson (Elder Hammond) Directed by Sam Peckinpah.

Review
Well, well, I'm finally doing a review of a Peckinpah film. I didn't know it would take this long to get to him, but hey, here we are. This was his second film (his first being The Deadly Companions), and he would direct only 14 films in the 22 years, from 1961 up until 1983, up until his death in 1984. Peckinpah is known for his eccentricities and range of violence of shown in his films, such as The Wild Bunch. But what about this film? This movie is more about the story of loyalty then about the action, and it works just fine. Scott and McCrea are brilliantly paired well against each other, and the way their friendship progresses throughout the movie is a useful part of what makes the movie work. It's not the rugged terrain, or the fairly decent action, it's the relationship between these two characters, and the others as well, about how the legends may fade, but their stories won't. The supporting cast is excellent, especially Hartley, who is certainly interesting to watch. This is on the whole a fairly decent movie that certainly shows the strengths of the good ol' Western. 10 to go to #600.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Wizard of Oz.

Review #589: Wizard of Oz.

Cast
Larry Semon (Scarecrow/Toymaker/Farmhand), Dorothy Dwan (Dorothy/Princess Dorothea), Bryant Washburn (Kynd), Oliver Hardy (Woodsman/Knight of the Garter/Farmhand), Josef Swickard (Prime Minister Kruel), Charles Murray (Wizard of Oz), Spencer Bell (Cowardly Lion/Rastus/Snowball), Frank Alexander (Uncle Henry/Prince of Whales), Otto Lederer (Ambassador Wikked), and Mary Carr (Aunt Em) Directed by Larry Semon.

Review
There was an earlier version of the Wizard of Oz? Yes, there was. Tons in fact. This isn't even the first one, there are other silent versions before this, all (loosely) adapted from the original novel by L. Frank Baum. This movie has the distinction of being written by (supposedly) L. Frank Baum, Jr and Larry Semon, who practically steals the show in this movie. And that's the problem considering this isn't the Scarecrow of Oz, it's the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy barely gets any screen time, especially in the last 40 minutes, when the movie is taken over fully by Semon, and occasionally Bell, who gets some moments, only for it to cut back to Semon, though I guess being the director means getting the opportunity to be in every scene. It wouldn't be as grating if the movie didn't pad itself by just not going anywhere, taking forever to begin the movie and taking forever to end the movie. It takes so long to get to Oz (again), and we're stuck watching slapstick over and over again. It's fun the first time, but it gets old really fast. The actors aren't bad, and if you look hard enough, you'll find Oliver Hardy, before he would gain fame as part of the duo Laurel and Hardy. The characters in this movie are bizarre in their actions, especially Hardy's character. The movie at least is colorful with the hues and the music is decent, but this is still a weird movie. You haven't lived life until you've seen a man flying through the air running away from lightening...and then he climbs into a house. Weird movies can be good, this is not. The setup for the movie by use of a toymaker narrator is either an odd way to setup the movie or just a lazy way. It could be both, given the nonsensical ending that leaves no proper conclusion. It's no wonder why this was a big failure (even bankrupting the studio), the movie is just not that good, and it suffers even more when compared to the more famous 1939 film, which knocks this right off the block. I'd recommend Return to Oz before I recommend this, at least the former is sensible. This is just a sad mess that can't comprehend itself.

Overall, I give it 4 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: All Is Lost.

Review #588: All Is Lost.

Cast
Robert Redford (Our Man) Directed by J. C. Chandor.

Review
All is Lost is unique in its setup, having only one character, one setting, and barely any dialogue, leaving Redford to carry an entire movie by himself. And he succeeds. Redford doesn't make the character just by dialogue, he makes the character his own by his actions, by how we watch him struggle with what's going on around him. Redford is still impressive to watch even today, especially when watching him try to call for help, which is both riveting and emotional. The movie may seemingly have a simple premise, but in that premise is layers of emotions that venture in. This is a remarkable movie, a movie that tries hard and succeeds in its main goal of excellence and telling a story.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Enter the Dragon.

Review #587: Enter the Dragon.

Cast
Bruce Lee (Lee), John Saxon (Roper), Jim Kelly (Williams), Ahna Capri (Tania), Shih Kien (Han), Robert Wall (O'Hara), Angela Mao (Su Lin), Betty Chung (Mei Ling), Geoffrey Weeks (Braithwaite), and Bolo Yeung (Bolo) Directed by Robert Clouse.

Review
This was the first Chinese martial arts film to have been produced by a major Hollywood studio, which was written by Bruce Lee, who was already famous across Asia due to such films as The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, and Way of the Dragon, and this made his legacy spread to the United States, although he would die before the movie would be released. So how is the movie? Really really good. The movie kinda feels like a comic book, with loads of action, a fortress with a villain who (spoiler!) has a claw hand with a row of mirrors, and let's not forget the tournament. In fact, one of the lines in the movie references this, and that's another strength, the effectiveness of the actors. Lee is awesome in both acting and kicking the snot out of henchmen, and Kelly and Saxon are great together when teamed up. The action is a sight to behold, staged by Bruce Lee himself, and it looks great to watch. The villain isn't exactly anything new, but his claw is awesome. The one part of the movie at least everyone knows is the hall of mirrors sequence, which is not only cool, but also really well directed by Robert Clouse. It's a chilling and effective scene, and the fight scene that accompanies it is also good. This is, to be perfectly honest, an awesome movie. Go watch it even if purely for the action, and you'll come out entirely satisfied.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Alien 3.

Review #586: Alien 3.

Cast
Sigourney Weaver (Ellen Ripley), Charles S. Dutton (Dillon), Charles Dance (Jonathan Clemens), Brian Glover (Harold Andrews), Ralph Brown (Aaron), Paul McGann (Golic), Danny Webb (Morse), Lance Henriksen (Bishop II), and Tom Woodruff, Jr. (The Alien) Directed by David Fincher.

Review
"No one hated it more than me; to this day, no one hates it more than me."
That quote came from the director himself, David Fincher, director of Alien 3, which is probably the unluckiest installment of the franchise. Where did all the trouble begin? Aliens was a massive success, and naturally the studio wanted a sequel, two in fact, but with Hicks the main focus instead of Ripley. The idea then fizzled out as an array of writers tried to deliver a satisfactory (to the studio) script, to the point where after all the scripts were rejected, the producers had to write the screenplay themselves, meshing parts of some of the other writers scripts (most notably the prison planet idea), and having to complete the script while filming started. Also there was interference by studio executives that meddled with the film, which made Fincher angry to the point where he has actually disowned the film.

So yeah, after all that trouble, how is the film itself? It's a sad mess of a movie, that's for sure. The first problem of the movie? How did the egg get onto the escape ship when there was no sign of any aliens on board? It's a plot hole that is quite literally made in the first minutes. Oh, and the characters you cared about in the last film? All dead. Yes, they are shamelessly killed off, without any sense of care, but on the plus side it sets the tone for an extremely depressing movie. The movie tries to set its own tone, trying to be its own. And it just doesn't help the movie much. The big problem is that all of the characters are disposable, Dutton is the only interesting new character, maybe because he lasts the longest, or because Paul McGann (insert your 8th Doctor reference here) isn't in it enough. It's not that we want the characters to die, we're just waiting for them to, which they do. It's not that I don't like the film because it's not like Aliens, I don't like it because it's just a slog of a movie to get through. Now granted it is hard to make a sequel to a franchise that has had two great movies already, but Alien 3 just doesn't cut it. It tries and fails at being something new. The deaths in the movie are not awful, but they certainly are predictable, and the four legged alien looks more silly then threatening, it's the movements that kill it. The shots with the motion camera as the alien chases the crew is ridiculous in its concept, only making you wonder how this franchise fell so far. Weaver isn't bad in this film, but not even she can save this train wreck. The movie at least knows when to end, and boy does it end spectacularly. There is an Assembly Cut for this movie that has more footage, but more doesn't necessarily mean better. Just stick to the first two, and watch this one if you want to be depressed.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Top Secret!

Review #585: Top Secret!

Cast
Val Kilmer (Nick Rivers), Lucy Gutteridge (Hillary Flammond), Christopher Villiers (Nigel), Jeremy Kemp (General Streck), Omar Sharif (Agent Cedric), Peter Cushing (Bookstore Proprietor), Michael Gough (Dr. Paul Flammond), and Warren Clarke (Colonel von Horst) Directed by Jim Abrahams (#028 - Hot Shots! and #375 - Hot Shots! Part Deux), David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker.

Review
This is the first film reviewed on this show directed by the famed ZAZ trio (though I've reviewed two films of one of the three already), who are more well known for directing Airplane! and The Naked Gun. So how does this film hold up? If you love sight gags and love a dose of charm with an exceptional cast that's not too long, you'll love this film. Val Kilmer meshes well with the cast and he also seems to be a decent singer as well, the rest of the cast is certainly memorable (especially Omar Sharif, whose last scene consists of him being stuck in a crushed car...and surviving), and it is nice to see Gough and Cushing, even if it is brief. The sight gags are fun and brief, and this is a movie that is entertaining enough to last 90 minutes, which is perfectly fine for a Friday night on Summer break.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Review #584: X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Cast
Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier/Professor X), Michael Fassbender and Ian McKellen (Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto), Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Halle Berry (Storm), Nicholas Hoult and Kelsey Grammer (Hank McCoy/Beast), Ellen Page (Kitty Pryde), Peter Dinklage (Bolivar Trask), Shawn Ashmore (Bobby Drake/Iceman), Omar Sy (Bishop), Daniel Cudmore (Colossus), Evan Peters (Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver), Fan Bingbing (Blink), Adan Canto (Sunspot), Booboo Stewart (Warpath), Josh Helman (William Stryker) and Anna Paquin (Rogue) Directed by Bryan Singer (#008 - X-Men and #010 - X2: X-Men United)

Review
It's been a while since I've reviewed a X-Men film (The two I just listed along with #010 - X-Men: The Last Stand, #042 - X-Men: First Class), but here we are once again. This is a movie that tries to connect two timelines of this franchise and make them work (that and try and fix the problems of X-Men: The Last Stand), with the main connection being Jackman. With such a big cast and such a tall task, does this movie meet up to code? Of course. The movie manages to have good action scenes and a dynamic cast that you (mostly) forget all the confusing aspects of this movie (such as Cyclops being alive, but a quick Internet search always helps), and this is certainly an excellent X-Men film. The cast is good, though I'm still wondering how Cyclops gets more lines (2) then Rogue (0, which is a shame). Quicksilver is such an awesome character that is fun to watch, even if he's in the movie only for a few minutes, as Peters does a fine job overall. McKellen and Stewart don't get much time together, but they are fine as always. McAvoy and Fassbender are marvelous (see what I did there?) together, they work so well against each other, especially McAvoy, whose character undergoes so much change and still rocks a nice haircut. Dinklage does a good job being more than just a bad guy the X-Men fight to stop, and he shines among all the cast. This is a movie that certainly packs a punch when it comes to action, and it is excellent to watch, especially when backed up by a good cast like this. Is it a perfect movie? No, but it is a good, if not excellent comic book movie that certainly works in the right categories.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)

Review #583: The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Cast
Basil Rathbone (Sherlock Holmes), Nigel Bruce (Dr. John H. Watson), Richard Greene (Sir Henry Baskerville), Wendy Barrie (Beryl Stapleton), Lionel Atwill (Dr. James Mortimer), John Carradine (Barryman), Morton Lowry (John Stapleton), Eily Malyon (Mrs. Barryman), and Barlowe Borland (Frankland) Directed by Sidney Lanfield.

Review
I had previously reviewed an adaption of the classic novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (#272 - The Hound of the Baskervilles - 1959), which was excellent and such. So how does this film made 20 years beforehand fare? To be honest, I actually have read the novel (big shock, right?), and the movie manages to do a fine job in cramming the story into a small 78 minute window. The story flows well with the novel, not making drastic changes (The fate of the villain is left unknown, but leaving a little ambiguity as opposed to the novel doesn't hurt), and the landscapes look haunting and beautiful. The supporting cast is decent enough, but the main attraction is Basil Rathbone in his first movie as Sherlock Holmes, which he would play for 13 more films for seven more years alongside Nigel Bruce as Watson. Rathbone is certainly fun to watch deduce the crime, though it is debatable on whether if Bruce's somewhat bumbling performance is endearing enough to work or somewhat annoying. Whatever the case, the movie is simply excellent in its portrayal of the novel and manages to work on such a short time scale. Check this one out, then check out the 1959 film to see what all the fuss is about.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Godzilla (2014).

Review #582: Godzilla.

Cast
Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Lieutenant Ford Brody), Ken Watanabe (Dr. Ishiro Serizawa), Elizabeth Olsen (Elle Brody), Juliette Binoche (Sandra Brody), Sally Hawkins (Dr. Vivienne Graham), David Strathairn (Rear Admiral William Stenz), and Bryan Cranston (Joe Brody) Directed by Gareth Edwards.

Review
It may have taken a while to get to another Godzilla film (#167 - Gojira), but I finally got around to it. And what better way to review a Godzilla movie then the latest one? Imagine being in the theater, a packed house after waiting an hour (or so) in line and then a while longer with trailers and such (The Giver film sounds like it'll be awful, Edge of Tomorrow reminds me of Groundhog Day for some reason, etc, but you get my point), the movie premieres. And the biggest cheer of the audience in the whole movie? When Godzilla uses his atomic fire breath. Heck, even I cheered for that because some things are just too awesome to say in words, so we say them in claps. The movie itself is good and certainly deserves a sequel. The cast isn't bad (though I wish there was more Bryan Cranston in it), our main character is okay even though it seems the cast gets more screen time then the monster himself, Godzilla. The movie seems to want to build tension and wait, so it cuts the first two monster fights (along with waiting an hour to show Godzilla) so we don't see much and then relents and shows the final fight, which is fantastic. Godzilla looks fantastic, looking incredibly imposing, and the roar is just great to listen to. Gareth Edwards does a great job directing as well, making me hope he returns for a sequel. The movie may take a while to getting what makes Godzilla awesome, but the payoff is excellent enough to leave you wanting more.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Forrest Gump.

Review #581: Forrest Gump.

Cast
Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump), Robin Wright (Jenny Curran), Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan Taylor), Mykelti Williamson (Bubba Blue), Sally Field (Mrs. Gump), and Haley Joel Osment (Forrest Gump, Jr) Directed by Robert Zemeckis (#317 - The Polar Express and #352 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit)

Review
Forrest Gump is a movie that could be loved for its cheerfulness and epic way of storytelling or easily to deride for its over sentimental nature that make for an overrated movie (It could be argued by many that Pulp Fiction deserved the Best Picture Oscar more then this film, but that's neither here or there), but it is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. For me this is an alright movie, a movie that is certainly interesting and certainly endearing, especially with its performances. But he best performance for me isn't by Hanks, it's by Gary Sinise. Why? Because Sinise's character development from a character with a so called pre-determined destiny to a bitter vet who still manages to encounter Forrest is interesting to watch and his speech about how Gump cheated him out of his destiny is very dark but perfect for Sinise. It's not that I don't like Hanks as Gump, but after a while it doesn't hurt to admit that Sinise brings a layer of needed darkness to the movie and that his character is certainly welcomed in a film such as this. The rest of the cast is fine and quirky, the characters are about as whimsical as you expect (Save for Wright and Sinise, which is a good thing because too much whimsical would probably kill the movie), but oh well. The movie is certainly appealing, and I recommend at least one viewing to see what all the fuss about. Or (again) to see who deserved the Best Picture award more, but at least watch the movie.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Best Man.

Review #580: The Best Man.

Cast
Henry Fonda (William Russell), Cliff Robertson (Joe Cantwell), Lee Tracy (Art Hockstader), Edie Adams (Mabel Cantwell), Margaret Leighton (Alice Russell), Ann Sothern (Sue Ellen Gamadge), Shelley Berman (Sheldon Bascomb), Gene Raymond (Don Cantwell), Kevin McCarthy (Dick Jensen), John Henry Faulk (Governor T.T. Claypoole), and Richard Arlen (Senator Oscar Anderson) Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner (#347 - Planet of the Apes)

Review
It's sort of hard to talk about this movie because when it all boils down to it, this is an okay movie. Fonda and Robertson are exceptional, especially when they share a scene, but Lee Tracy is even better, he steals the show and makes it his own in his final performance as he just dominates the movie with a commanding presence. The movie itself is alright, full of supporting characters that either are tolerable or just forgettable, though at least Kevin McCarthy is decent. This is more of a curiosity of a time different from now, but relevant in some ways that surprise even me.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Frozen.

Review #579: Frozen.

Cast
Kristen Bell (Anna), Idina Menzel (Elsa), Jonathan Groff (Kristoff), Josh Gad (Olaf), Santino Fontana (Hans), Alan Tudyk (Duke of Weselton), and Ciarán Hinds (Grand Pabbie the Troll King) Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee.

Review
Frozen is a movie that after watching it, feels like a classic. The songs are the first shining moments as they flow so well with each other and make a powerful feeling of fun. The characters are likable, they are fun to watch interact with one each other, especially Olaf, who is fun and certainly enduring, though Elsa is a brilliantly written character that is given her moment to shine. But most of all, the story is really well crafted, it's a really creative tale. The animation is wonderful, especially all the shots of ice because it looks so beautiful. Is the movie really great? Only time will tell, as movies come and go, but classics never fade from our memories, which is also what I say when trying to get "Let It Go" out of my head.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Beethoven's 2nd.

Review #578: Beethoven's 2nd.

Cast
Charles Grodin (George Newton), Bonnie Hunt (Alice Newton), Nicholle Tom (Ryce Newton), Christopher Castile (Ted Newton), Sarah Rose Karr (Emily Newton), Debi Mazar (Regina), Chris Penn (Floyd), Ashley Hamilton (Taylor Devereaux), Danny Masterson (Seth), and Catherine Reitman (Janie) Directed by Rod Daniel.

Review
The sequel only happened due to the first movie's unexpected success (A family flick about a cute dog that's a success? Shocking.), as the main cast returns once again. The movie isn't really anything special, but boy does it try to top the cuteness factor of the first flick with not one, but five new dogs (characters, but whatever) in tow. Grodin is clearly having fun with this role, as do Hunt and the others in a movie that just seemingly goes through the motions of being a family flick with the tinges of teen romance, the dog slapstick humor, people falling into mud, the list goes on. The movie is at least enjoyable, if not just a bag of cliches rolled into one. But yes, the puppies are cute and destructive, so take this movie at your own risk.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Beethoven.

Review #577: Beethoven.

Cast
Charles Grodin (George Newton), Bonnie Hunt (Alice Newton), Dean Jones (Dr. Varnick), Nicholle Tom (Ryce), Christopher Castile (Ted), Sarah Karr (Emily), Oliver Platt (Harvey), Stanley Tucci (Vernon), David Duchovny (Brad), and Patricia Heaton (Brie) Directed by Brian Levant (#491 - Jingle All the Way)

Review
Beethoven is a strange idea to begin with because no only was this produced by Ivan Reitman, this wasn't released in the 1980's. Of all the decades that had story ideas, the 80's had the weirdest, and Beethoven is right up that alley. The 90's? Maybe not as much, but let's get to the question of this review: How is this movie? The movie is probably more cute then good, all because of one big St. Bernard. Charles Grodin is a fun actor to watch because his facial expressions to this weird plot of a movie and his timing is just right. The dog is just a dog, growing from small ball of cuteness to a hug tub of stuff, and he is certainly charming...for a dog. The rest of the cast (insert your David Duchovny X-Files joke here) isn't bad, they certainly work well with each other. The movie has some quirky moments, and while it isn't really that funny, it's a decent family flick, harmless to say the least.

And yes, I will review the sequel soon.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.