Movie Night: A Fish Called Wanda.

Review #428: A Fish Called Wanda.

Cast
John Cleese (Archie Leach), Jamie Lee Curtis (Wanda Gershwitz), Kevin Kline (Otto West), Michael Palin (Ken Pile), Maria Aitken (Wendy Leach), Tom Georgeson (George Thomason), and Patricia Hayes (Mrs. Coady) Directed by Charles Crichton.

Review
It has been 25 years to the day that this film was released into theaters (U.S. and Canada theaters anyway, it wouldn't be released in the U.K. until months later for some reason), and it was a major hit when it first came out, with Kevin Kline garnering a Best Supporting Actor award at the Oscars and the film also had other various nominations, but enough about that, how is the film? It's pretty good. The actors do pretty well, and Kline does steal the show after a while, but Curtis and Cleese do manage to keep the focus going, and Palin slides in and does a well job, given his character and all. The story itself isn't lost to stupidity, or to disgusting gags with no point or too much vulgarity unlike some recent comedies, the story in this is coherent, it actually flows well without a misstep, the actors and the story matter, and the comedy comes in later, this movie could actually work as a drama, but the comedy is abundant enough to work as a comedy as well. And the film isn't dated, it could still be believable after 25 years, and when a film can do all that, clearly that is an accomplishment, which it was 25 years ago and still is today.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Magnificent Seven (1960).

Review #427: The Magnificent Seven.

Cast
Yul Brynner (Chris Adams), Eli Wallach (Calvera), Steve McQueen (Vin), Horst Buchholz (Chico), Charles Bronson (Bernardo O'Reilly), Robert Vaughn (Lee), James Coburn (Britt), Brad Dexter (Harry Luck), Vladimir Sokoloff (The Old Man), Jorge Martínez de Hoyos (Hilario), and Rosenda Monteros (Petra) Directed by John Sturges.

Review
The Magnificent Seven is a western style remake of the 1954 film Seven Samurai, which was directed by Akira Kurosawa, a legendary director who had directed 30 films in over 50 years of work. As for this film, the rights were bought for Seven Samurai, and Sturges was brought in to direct, with filming occurring in Mexico, and Elmer Bernstein composing the music score. As for my opinion on the film, it's a well made production. Brynner is effective, doing a fine job in one of the main roles. Eli Wallach is an effective villain, and when he and his bandits meet the Seven about an hour in, the scene is tense, but effective. But Steve McQueen nearly steals the show and while he does have too many lines, he is memorable in his role. The rest of the actors do very well, such as Charles Bronson, but especially James Coburn, who may not say much, but keeps a stone cold image that works well. The scenery is effective, given the tone of the film. This film is entertaining, with good directing by Sturges, and the music score by Elmer Bernstein is one of the best music scores made for film. It's a bittersweet film, and it is an excellent western.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Major League.

Review #426: Major League.

Cast
Tom Berenger (Jake Taylor), Corbin Bernsen (Roger Dorn), Charlie Sheen (Ricky Vaughn), Margaret Whitton (Rachel Phelps), James Gammon (Lou Brown), Rene Russo (Lynn Wells), Bob Uecker (Harry Doyle), Wesley Snipes (Willie Mays Hayes), Charles Cyphers (Charlie Donovan), Chelcie Ross (Eddie Harris), Dennis Haysbert (Pedro Cerrano), and Andy Romano (Pepper Leach) Directed by David S. Ward.

Review
Major League may not bring too much of new things to the table that other sports films like The Natural or 42 have, but it has its own way of trying to reach the level of enjoyment that it mostly gets right. It has its moments of being funny, and while it is sometimes crude in approach, it is excusable because the characters are endearing after a while.  The actors are alright, Berenger and Bernsen do good, Sheen steals the show, but Bob Uecker of all people has memorable moments, even for an announcer, the one liners are memorable It feels dated at times, with the old, now demolished stadiums (Milwaukee County Stadium was used for filming, though it was used only because the stadium that is actually depicted (Cleveland Municipal Stadium) was too busy for filming), the uniforms and other such things, But this film has some charm, it feels close to home, there's always that team that just feels down on times, especially Cleveland teams, and while the idea of comeback is somewhat cliche, there's always something to try and make different about it, and while sports films do run into one another a lot, this breaks that mold, if only slightly.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Pacific Rim.

Review #425: Pacific Rim.

Cast
Charlie Hunnam (Raleigh Becket), Idris Elba (Stacker Pentecost), Rinko Kikuchi (Mako Mori), Charlie Day (Dr. Newton Geizler), Burn Gorman (Dr. Hermann Gottlieb), Ron Perlman (Hannibal Chau), Heather Doerksen (Sasha Kaidanovsky), Ellen McLain (Jaeger AI), Robert Kazinsky (Chuck Hansen), Robert Maillet (Aleksis Kaidanovsky), Max Martini (Herc Hansen), and Diego Klattenhoff (Yancy Becket) Directed by Guillermo del Toro.

Review
Pacific Rim is the third in my walks to my movie theater, and when the film started, the audience had grown from a handful to a near room full. After I left, I kept that in mind while trying to form my opinions into one singular review that didn't say the same thing over and over again. And what did I think of this film? It was pretty awesome. Was it a great film? No, but for 2 hours, it was entertaining, and yet it didn't feel like it had been too sacrificing in the characterization, in fact I liked the characters, they were written alright, and the actors were good, such as Hunnam, Elba, Kikuchi, and even the supporting cast. They were likable, they were useful and they all had a purpose in this film. But of course, the main thing about this film is the Jaegers and Kaiju, who are grand in scale, but grander when battling each other. The battle scenes look beautiful, and they bring an epic scale, truly grand in scale. This film is about 80% battling, 15% on characters and about 5% manic energy. It even manages to bring a chuckle or two out of me, and this did a far better job of spectacle than the Transformers films ever did. But nevertheless, this is a pretty good film. It may take spectacle over characterization, but really did anyone not expect that? My main reason for watching this was because of the fact I could see giant robots fighting monsters and not have it all be a great dream. Instead, it is brought to life by Guillermo del Toro, who does a wonderful job. Truly, this one deserves the hype, and it deserves a watch, for the grand spectacle and the fun that it delivers. Truly, I did not waste my money watching this.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown

Review #424: Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown.

Cast
Duncan Watson (Charlie Brown), Bill Melendez (Snoopy/Woodstock), Stuart Brotman (Peppermint Patty), Jimmy Ahrens (Marcie), Gail M. Davis (Sally Brown), Melanie Kohn (Lucy van Pelt), Liam Martin (Linus van Pelt), Greg Felton (Schroeder/Camp announcer), Kirk Jue (Bully), Tom Muller (Franklin/Another Bully), Jordan Warren (Another Bully), and Jackson Beck (Brutus) Directed by Bill Melendez (#295 - A Boy Named Charlie Brown and #298 - Snoopy, Come Home) and Phil Roman.

Review
Once again I'm reviewing a Charlie Brown movie, and I was satisfied with the last two, so what could go wrong here? As it turns out, this is an okay film that while feeling awfully short does have its moments. Once again the voice actors are different, except for Bill Melendez who is probably the only one to star in all of these Peanuts films, as the other actors are different, they being child actors and all. The child actors are alright, mostly consistent with their characterization, though Peter Robbins will always (for me anyways) be the definite Charlie Brown. Melendez does good, Snoopy and Woodstock always being a delight. It's alright in characters, but sometimes it makes you wonder why Charlie Brown hasn't gone insane or simply moved away from the seemingly destructive group of "friends" that manage to even ruin his leadership of a boat race, for pete's sake. The bullies are typical, bullying for no real reason and boasting ad nausea, but at least the ending satisfied me. The animation is okay, but it is a bit of downgrade from the last two films, but at least the story works alright (even though in one scene it is snowing even though they are in vacation) and it does have some laughs, even for a short (70 minute) length. Charlie Brown and Snoopy were usually my favorite characters, a "lovable loser" is a good one to like, though I always imagined he kicked that football, no matter what.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: A Woman of Affairs.

Review #423: A Woman of Affairs.

Cast
Greta Garbo (Diana Merrick Furness), John Gilbert (Neville Holderness), Lewis Stone (Dr. Hugh Trevelyan), Johnny Mack Brown (David Furness), Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (Jeffry Merrick), Hobart Bosworth (Morton Holderness), and Dorothy Sebastian (Constance) Directed by Clarence Brown.

Review
In the six (#256, #261, #330, #349, #400, #415) previous 1920s films I've reviewed here, all of them have been silent films (either involving clowns, vampires, Caligari, a thief, Americans, or pilots), and they seem to run together somehow, a recurring theme. This film breaks that trend, this being a romantic drama, with newcomers for Movie Night, such as Greta Garbo (notable for doing 28 films before retiring at 35), John Gilbert (a notable silent film star who did have star in talkie films briefly), and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr, who was a film star much like his father, this being a fine opportunity to have reviewed father and son, which I can only remember one other time doing, with Michael and Kirk Douglas. Anyway, this film is enjoyable enough, and it flows well, not running too long or too short, and the actors do convey emotion pretty well, not failing in their attempts to convey the story rather than having the title cards do it for them. It's a noteworthy film that I do recommend to anyone who wants a good time regardless of the year it was made, which I suppose is enough.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Fortune Cookie.

Review #422: The Fortune Cookie.

Cast
Jack Lemmon (Harry Hinkle), Walter Matthau (William "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich), Ron Rich (Luther "Boom Boom" Jackson), Judi West (Sandy Hinkle), Cliff Osmond (Chester Purkey), Lurene Tuttle (Hinkle's mother), Harry Holcombe (O'Brien), Les Tremayne (Thompson), Lauren Gilbert (Kincaid), Marge Redmond (Charlotte Gingrich), and Noam Pitlik (Max) Directed by Billy Wilder (#106 - Some Like It Hot and #194 - Ace in the Hole)

Review
It was fun to watch the last two Billy Wilder films reviewed here, and so I came into watching The Fortune Cookie with a lot of optimism. I wasn't that disappointed. Lemmon and Matthau play off each other well, and it's usually fun to have actor reappear in these reviews, especially Matthau. Ron Rich does a good supporting job, likable and enjoyable. Judi West (who apparently only made two other films) is alright, and she works alright when combined with Lemmon, which I suppose is enough. There are fun moments, with some funny bits and most of that is generated either by Lemmon, Matthau or both combined, which works out pretty well, and it gives the film a bit more depth, along with warmth. It manages to override the 90 minute cliche of comedies, which I gladly endorse as long as the comedy works, which it does. It has its moments, and 2 hours isn't much to ask for, so I recommend to give this film a shot. You won't regret it.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Palm Springs Weekend.

Review #421: Palm Springs Weekend.

Cast
Troy Donahue (Jim Munroe), Connie Stevens (Gail Lewis/Jane Hoover), Ty Hardin (Doug Fortune), Stefanie Powers (Bunny Dixon), Robert Conrad (Eric Dean), Andrew Duggan (Police Chief Dixon), Jack Weston (Fred Campbell), Carole Cook (Naomi Yates), Jerry Van Dyke (Biff Roberts), Zeme North (Amanda North), and Bill Mumy ('Boom Boom' Yates) Directed by Norman Taurog.

Review
Welcome back everyone, it's morning time (for me and a good deal of others), and another review is at hand, this time I'm reviewing...a beach party film. Ah yes, the beach, where most go to avoid the sweltering heat to encounter sweltering sand, possible sea sickness and a long drive to and back. But hey, I guess anything goes in the 1960s, so I won't put it past them. The acting is okay, nothing too special, though it is interesting to note that Bill Mumy (famous for appearing in the classic Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life") is in this, and he's not too bad. The scenery looks nice for 1963, and there is some enjoyability involved and some sort of effort was made into this film, which I guess is enough for most. It's a beach party sort of film that is either enjoyable or middle of the road sort of thing. It has its shares of laughs and oddities all in all.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Incredible Shrinking Man.

Review #420: The Incredible Shrinking Man.

Cast
Grant Williams (Scott Carey), Randy Stuart (Louise Carey), Paul Langton (Charlie Carey), Raymond Bailey (Dr. Thomas Silver), April Kent (Clarice), and William Schallert (Dr. Arthur Bramson) Directed by Jack Arnold.

Review
This film was based off the novel by the late Richard Matheson, who wrote the screenplay for this along with several films, novels and TV episodes such as The Pit and the Pendulum (1961), The Raven (1963), the novel I Am Legend and the 1964 version, Somewhere in Time, Duel, The Comedy Terrors, numerous Twilight Zone episodes...and Jaws 3-D. But nevertheless, The Incredible Shrinking Man benefits from a fine screenplay by Matheson, who keeps the plausibility levels high and the watchability even higher. The acting is alright, and Grant Williams is the best out of everyone in the film, we see the emotion he goes through, and it comes off as believable. The effects are the cornerstone of this film, and they look convincing, especially for the time this was made, and the scene where Williams' character is attacked by the cat is really good. This is a fine film, and I applaud Matheson for his work on this film.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Key Largo.

Review #419: Key Largo.

Cast
Humphrey Bogart (Frank McCloud), Edward G. Robinson (Johnny Rocco), Lauren Bacall (Nora Temple), Lionel Barrymore (James Temple), Claire Trevor (Gaye Dawn), Thomas Gomez (Richard "Curly" Hoff), Harry Lewis (Edward "Toots" Bass), John Rodney (Deputy Sheriff Clyde Sawyer), Marc Lawrence (Ziggy), and Dan Seymour (Angel Garcia) Directed by John Huston (#081 - The Maltese Falcon (1941), #094 - The Misfits, #224 - Casino Royale (1967)

Review
Once again I have the chance to review a film directed by John Huston, and one with Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson, who I loved in The Cincinnati Kid (#273), with Laura Bacall and Lionel Barrymore, who I last reviewed in America (not everyday you review a star who stars in silent and talkie films), so this was irresistible. And it did not disappoint. The main four (Bogart, Robinson, Bacall and Barrymore) all do respectable jobs, but Claire Trevor stands out among the rest, especially when she sings a capella in front of everyone, a moving scene. This film has a tense pace going, never letting go of its roots, having a climatic ending and a good directing job by Huston once again.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Blob (1958).

Review #418: The Blob.

Cast
Steve McQueen (Steve Andrews), Aneta Corsaut (Jane Martin), Earl Rowe (Lt. Dave), Olin Howland (Old Man), Stephen Chase (Dr. Hallen), John Benson (Sgt. Jim Bert), and George Karas (Officer Ritchie) Directed by Irvin Yeaworth.

Review
The Blob opens with probably the silliest of opening themes, and it doesn't really let up from there. It may feel familiar to other horror/sci-fi films (A (insert name here) from (insert name here) enters a small town by (way of transport - ???), (attacks/eats) people, and can only be stopped by (insert whatever here), the end), but unlike others, it's an independently made film (Which was released as a double feature with I Married a Monster from Outer Space), with Steve McQueen in his first leading role (though credited as "Steven McQueen"), who does an alright job. The rest of the actors do okay, though this film focuses more on the characters and the aptly titled blob, and I wonder if the cliche of not believing the person who tells you there's a monster until after they attack you is due to, gee I don't know, going alone and therefore being the only one to see it. Take the person you have with you and let them see the monster (and quietly gloat about it to the previous non believers later), but oh well. The special effects are okay, nothing too great, but they manage to fit a film with a title like this. The scene that probably most people remember is the Blob attacking the Colonial Theatre (while watching Daughter of Horror) as people quickly run out of the theatre, as the Blob oozes out. Its a film that has a somewhat hokey feel delivered fast and cheap, yet it has a irresistible charm, especially in color, which makes the reddish blob stand out more. Take it for what its worth.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Powerpuff Girls Movie.

Review #417: The Powerpuff Girls Movie.

Cast
Cathy Cavadini (Blossom), Tara Strong (Bubbles), E.G. Daily (Buttercup), Roger L. Jackson (Mojo Jojo), Tom Kane (Professor Utonium), Tom Kenny (Mayor, Narrator, Li'l Arturo, Snake, Cha-Ching Cha-Ching, and Mitch Mitchelson), Jennifer Hale (Ms. Keane), Jennifer Martin (Sarah Bellum), and Jeff Bennett (Ace, Big Billy, Grubber, Baboon Kaboom, Go-Go Patrol, and Hacha Chacha) Directed by Craig McCracken.

Review
The Powerpuff Girls was admittedly a show that most people born around the 90's/2000's do remember (Unless of course there's a certain type of people who don't have the cable television to watch the show until much, much later), and the show even had its own film, with the original cast and everything. The film doesn't depend on people to watch the show because this film just so happens to be a prequel to the series. The actors and actresses from the show all reprise their roles for the film, which is a good thing. The film doesn't last too long at only 70 minutes, but this film at least makes a case for even needing to exist, and while it may have violence that could be debatable for criticism, there is effort made into making this, and the animation looks good, an improvement from the show, and that makes sense being on the big screen and all. It's a decent film that has its moments, for the most part.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Review #416: Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Cast
James Cagney (George M. Cohan), Joan Leslie (Mary Cohan), Walter Huston (Jerry Cohan), Richard Whorf (Sam Harris), Irene Manning (Fay Templeton), George Tobias (Dietz), Rosemary DeCamp (Nellie Cohan), Jeanne Cagney (Josie Cohan), and Eddie Foy, Jr. (Eddie Foy, Sr.) Directed by Michael Curtiz (#125 - Casablanca)

Review

Patriotic in its approach and with newcomer to Movie Night - James Cagney, this is a grand attempt at making good patriotism and making a good biography. Cagney does an electrifying job, dancing, singing, acting, done with care and well refined. The rest of the actors including Walter Huston, do well, making a mark. The directing works, and the music and songs flow well, hitting the spot, and making for good entertainment. This film was released just after Pearl Harbor, in 1942, and I understand this gave a new boost of patriotism, which was well needed. Happy Birthday to the United States of America, which is 237 today.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

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Movie Night: America.

Review #415: America.

Cast
Neil Hamilton (Nathan Holden), Erville Alderson (Justice Montague), Carol Dempster (Nancy Montague), Charles Emmett Mack (Charles Montague), Lee Beggs (Samuel Adams), John Dunton (John Hancock), Lionel Barrymore (Capt. Walter Butler), Arthur Donaldson (King George III), Charles Bennett (William Pitt), Frank Walsh (Thomas Jefferson), Frank McGlynn Sr. (Patrick Henry), and Arthur Dewey (George Washington) Directed by D. W. Griffith.

Review

The first film to be reviewed with D. W. Griffith, America was at the last parts of his directing career, and this film wasn't much of a success in 1924. Is the film any good anyway? Sort of. The facial movements aren't bad, but Hamilton and Alderson don't exactly do the best job. The battle scenes are alright, and the film tries in the history department, looking decent. The film has a length that I imagine some audiences in 1924 might not have liked, over 2 hours at about 140 minutes, and sometimes it feels slow, but if you want a film that has some patriotism, this might be for you, even if it is a bit dated.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

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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 Patriot.

Review #413: The Patriot.

Cast
Mel Gibson (Benjamin Martin), Heath Ledger (Gabriel Martin), Jason Issacs (William Tavington), Joely Richardson (Charlotte Selton), Chris Cooper (Harry Burwell), Tcheky Karyo (Jean Villeneuve), Rene Auberjonois (Oliver), Lisa Brenner (Anne Howard), Tom Wilkinson (Charles, Lord Cornwallis), and Peter Woodward (Charles O'Hara) Directed by Roland Emmerich (#193 - Independence Day)

Review
The Patriot boasts authenticity in costumes as they do look very nice, and very well made, the filmmakers even consulted the Smithsonian on advice, and it does look like there was real effort made into this film, especially given it's massive attempts at being a Revolutionary film, which isn't easy to do. This film manages to last over 2 and a half hours to try and tell a story that while sometimes veering into melodrama, does manages to be coherent. Whether this is a good film or not depends on what you want in this film. Action? The film has plenty of it, axes and weapon fights about. But if you want a film that has compelling villain that isn't one dimensional, you won't get that. It is not Issacs' fault, he's just the actor reading the lines that make this one dimensional character who is written to be evil without much thought to it. The rest of the actors are alright, and Mel Gibson tries his best. While this isn't a perfect film by any means, it manages to entertain, and it does a better job than Emmerich's previous film, Independence Day, so if you want some roaring action for July 4th and have time on your hands, I suppose this could work for you. Just take it in consideration.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

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Movie Night: With Six You Get Eggroll.

Review #412: With Six You Get Eggroll.

Cast
Doris Day (Abby McClure), Brian Keith (Jake Iverson), Pat Carroll (Maxine), Barbara Hershey (Stacey Iverson), John Findlater (Flip McClure), George Carlin (Herbie Fleck), Alice Ghostley (Molly), and Jamie Farr (Jo Jo) Directed by Howard Morris.

Review
This is a irony in away, my first review of a film with Doris Day, and this film happens to be the last film she ever did. And with that, if Day wanted to go out with a bang, she goes out with a courteous taking of a bow, with a smile. This is a decent with decent length and fine characters that do at least develop with some comedy that does works, this being a family comedy that does have some warmth to it. The actors are alright, not too bad, with Day being the best of them all, having a certain warmth along with a bit of depth. It's a fairly decent family flick that works alright and could feasibly be watched by families any time, any day, without much trouble.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Herbie: Fully Loaded.

Review #411: Herbie: Fully Loaded.

Cast
Lindsay Lohan (Maggie Peyton), Justin Long (Kevin), Matt Dillon (Trip Murphy), Michael Keaton (Ray Peyton, Sr), Breckin Meyer (Ray Peyton, Jr), Cheryl Hines (Sally), Jimmi Simpson (Crash), and Jill Ritchie (Charisma) Directed by Angela Robinson.

Review
I had put this film on the back burner for a while, trying to find some sort of reason to watch it, or an excuse not to watch it. And then I couldn't find a excuse not to watch it, so to get it out of my head and to also pass the time (or waste, which ever word you per fer), I decided to watch and review it. And...it's exactly what I thought it would be despite my childhood memories of it. I watched this occasionally years before I reviewed films, and the film had a quirky quality to it, but as I realize years later, this is a film that will probably connect with younger audiences, but it won't really connect with older (and sometimes but not always wiser) audiences. Lohan (who I last reviewed in #204 - Freaky Friday) isn't bad, though I do wonder how Justin Long keeps popping up here (Planet 51, Galaxy Quest, DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Live Free or Die Hard), Dillon seems to ham it up playing the "villain", while Michael Keaton reminds me that even former Batmans need work. But in some ways, this film isn't helped or hurt by acting, it manages to be hurt by the level of absurdity, which I assume pleases the younger crowd. But my main questions throughout all of the film were this: Is Herbie...possessed? (And in that case would we need a car exorcist?) Is he alive? Does he eat? And why does it seem that he is a sentient being? Does he really need a driver at all? Why did he fall so far from fame? We do see a montage in the beginning, but it doesn't exactly explain why, it just shows us the earlier films were probably better than this. This is a mediocre film that tries hard to please some, and it that sense it works, but it'll baffle others.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Coming to America.

Review #410: Coming to America.

Cast
Eddie Murphy (Prince Akeem/Clarence/Randy Watson/Saul), Arsenio Hall (Semmi/Morris/Mr. Brown/The Girl), James Earl Jones (King Jaffe Joffer), Shari Headley (Lisa McDowell), John Amos (Cleo McDowell), Madge Sinclair (Queen Aeoleon), Paul Bates (Oha), Eriq La Salle (Darryl Jenks), Allison Dean (Patrice McDowell), Frankie Faison (Landlord), Vanessa Bell (Imani Izzi), and Louie Anderson (Maurice) Directed by John Landis (#328 - Trading Places)

Review
Landis and Murphy once again team up, and once again they do well. The beginning of the film works really well, and Murphy does a fine combination with Hall, and the two also play multiple character that also generate laughs. James Earl Jones is a fine actor, and he can also generate some laughs, stopping me from making endless Star Wars jokes...for a moment or two. Headley is a decent lead actress, and she and Murphy make an alright film couple. I like the film, but sometimes it can get a bit too sappy on its romance, not too sappy but at least the film is enjoyable, and while it could be argued the film could be even better, this is arguably a classic and Eddie Murphy is a lot of fun. It has been 25 years, which is a welcome milestone for any film.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz.

Review #409: The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz.

Cast
Richard Dreyfuss (Duddy Kravitz), Micheline Lanctôt (Yvette), Jack Warden (Max Kravitz), Randy Quaid (Virgil Roseboro and Lenny Kravitz), Joseph Wiseman (Benjy Kravitz), Denholm Elliott (Peter Friar), Henry Ramer (Dingleman), Joe Silver (Farber), and Zvee Scooler (Grandfather) Directed by Ted Kotcheff (#025 - First Blood)

Review
To close out Canada Day, I decided to review this film from 1974 (have decided that reviewing Prom Night [1980] would be nonsensical), with familiar actor Richard Dreyfuss as the main lead. I already have watched Dreyfuss in American Graffiti and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which were both good. This film is where Dreyfuss gets to shine even more, perfectly acting a character who (at least I hope) is perfectly unlikable (though ironically, he believed his performance was terrible), in someways a parallel to Goin' Down the Road, both films cover the spirit of people trying to succeed in a cold-hearted world, with its small benefits and its disasters. Lanctot is alright, but Randy Quaid (Who I last saw in Independence Day, which wasn't exactly good) is better, he manages to blend well into the film, not going over the top, a subdued but fine performances as two characters. The rest of the cast are good, and it is always nice to see Denholm Elliott, no matter what he does. This is a well-made film that manages to have really good scenery but even better filmmaking, a sad film that has biting comedy at times, but it does not veer from its course, keeping itself in check, and managing to be an excellent film.  

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

And that is the last film for Canada Day, I hope you enjoyed my attempt to give Canadian films some spotlight, because at least I did.

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Movie Night: Goin' Down the Road.

Review #408: Goin' Down the Road.

Cast
Doug McGrath (Peter McGraw), Paul Bradley (Joey Mayle), Jayne Eastwood (Betty), Cayle-Lorraine Sinclair (Selina), Nicole Morin (Nicole), and Pierre La Roche (Frenchie La Roche) Directed by Donald Shebib.

Review
Goin' Down the Road feels like a documentary with its film style but it doesn't sugarcoat the characters, it doesn't try to overly happy, it nearly borders on depressing, but it is cohesive and it does manage to tell a useful story. The acting blends in with the film tone, rugged, but useful, This isn't a cheery little optimistic film; it tries to deliver lessons that uses Canada in the landscape to give more of a feeling and more of an edge to the film. The directing is alright, as this film flows well and it also runs well, not going on too long or too short. This is a really good film, and Canada should be proud of this film, for all that it is worth in its emotion and all of its pride, which is something to say about.

Can Canada succeed once again? (This is Part III of my four film review special for Canada Day 2013).
Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

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Movie Night: Why Shoot the Teacher?

Review #407: Why Shoot the Teacher?

Cast
Bud Cort (Max Brown), Samantha Eggar (Alice Field), Kenneth Griffith (Woods), Chris Wiggins (Lyle Bishop), Michael J. Reynolds (Bert Field), John Friesen (Dave McDougall), and Gary Reineke (Harris Montogomery) Directed by Silvio Narizzano.

Review

There are quite a few Canadian connections with this film, which features filming in Alberta (doubling for Saskatchewan while Silvio Narizzano, a Montreal native, directed.

This comes right up my alley for Canada Day. So how is it? It's a decent film that starts off a bit slow but chugs hard with a lot of effort. Bud Cort is a good actor in this film and carries this film along for a good chunk of the film. While the scenery is nothing much to look at it, this film does have some comedy and a good dose of drama to keep itself in check, managing not to be too outdated but keeping itself in tone, not forgetting its roots, which is a good thing.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

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Movie Night: Whispering City.

Review #406: Whispering City.

Cast
Helmut Dantine (Michel Lacoste), Mary Anderson (Mary Roberts), Paul Lukas (Albert Frédéric) and John Pratt (Edward Durant) Directed by Fedor Ozep.

Review
Ah Canada, America's neighbors of the North (unless you live in Alaska), the creators of hockey, the second largest country in the world, home of ten provinces and three territories from British Columbia to Quebec. There are Canadians known for film, such as James Cameron, Norman Jewison, Jim Carrey, David Cronenburg, and Mary Pickford (the last two listed I will cover in more detail in reviews in the future), so in light of Canada Day, I decided to review a few Canadian films, and Whispering City...is one of them. Filmed in Quebec City and with a limited cast, A fun fact is that Whispering City was filmed in English and in French. The film itself runs at about 90 minutes and it flows okay, not going on for too long in dialogue, and the actors don't do too bad, doing alright in a noir from the north. It is kind of a curious film to watch as it is easy to find and   the scenery isn't too bad, especially when Montmorency Falls is shown, a crucial part in the film. This is a decent well manner film that tries hard and manages to be a success in its own right, for all that is and all that it is worth, which I suppose makes sense.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

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Movie Night: The Reluctant Debutante.

Review #405: The Reluctant Debutante.

Cast
Rex Harrison (Jimmy Broadbent), Kay Kendall (Sheila Broadbent), John Saxon (David Parkson), Sandra Dee (Jane Broadbent), Angela Lansbury (Mabel Claremont), Peter Myers (David Fenner), and Diane Clare (Clarissa Claremont) Directed by Vincente Minnelli.

Review
Good morning (or night) everyone. This is probably the first film review on this show done in the morning rather than in the afternoon, or at night, but why does this matter? Eh, I don't know, I suppose to make review that accompanies this seem less weirder. This is the first film here on Movie Night starring Rex Harrison, a former stage actor and also a film actor for over 40 years. His performance seems easy to sum up: Talk dialogue easy to forget and then drink while the rest of the film goes on. But around the middle the film starts to give Harrison something to do, he starts to have something to do, and the character (though mixed) isn't too bad. Kay Kendall (who would sadly die at only 32) is okay, but her character is kinda odd. She doesn't want her (step)daughter to like this normal-ish, decent young man, but she'd wants her to like an awkward, boring, weird young man. Maybe it makes sense to someone else, but it doesn't have too much sense to it. But the rest of the actors aren't too bad, they aren't too cliche, and sometimes the film does generate laughs, not from cliches, of course. It seems weird at times and it may like it goes in circles, but it does have some enjoyability, and I imagine it will be better than that remake. But hey, what do I know.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Anderson Tapes.

Review #404: The Anderson Tapes.

Cast
Sean Connery (Duke Anderson), Dyan Cannon (Ingrid Everleigh), Martin Balsam (Tommy Haskins), Ralph Meeker (Captain Delaney), Alan King (Pat Angelo), Christopher Walken (The Kid), Val Avery (Socks Parelli), Stan Gottlieb (Pop Myer), Garrett Morris (Police Sergeant), Paul Benjamin (Jimmy), Anthony Holland (Psychologist), Richard B. Shull (Werner), Conrad Bain (Dr. Rubicoff), and Margaret Hamilton (Miss Kaler) Directed by Sidney Lumet (#035 - 12 Angry Men and #036 - Network)

Review
There have been seven reviews on Movie Night in which Sean Connery starred in the film, consisting of the six James Bond films he did from 1962-1971 (#150, #278, #298, #335, #354, #279) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (#170), so reviewing a film different from those is a welcome addition, especially when directed by Sidney Lumet, who hasn't gotten too much attention from me, though I loved 12 Angry Men. The Anderson Tapes manages to a decent thriller, and it does have its level of suspense, along with music by Quincy Jones, which is allright. Connery himself does a good job, as he manages to break out of the James Bond typecasting, doing something new, and it works. A fun fact in this film is that Christopher Walken makes his acting debut in this film and Margaret Hamilton makes her last acting appearance. The wire tapping and camera thing may seem a bit dated, but this film still works even in this day and age, and the thrill aspect of the film is toned enough to have an effect today. A fairly decent thriller with some more than decent actors and fine directing.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Moonwalker.

Review #403: Moonwalker.

Cast
Michael Jackson (Himself), Joe Pesci (Frankie "Mr. Big" LiDeo), Kellie Parker (Katie), Sean Lennon (Sean), and Brandon Adams (Zeke "Baby Bad" Michael) Directed by Jerry Kramer and Colin Chilvers.

Review
This is a rare experience to review an anthology film, where instead of one composite plot, it is split into multiple stories, for one film. What's more rare is to review one with Michael Jackson, who's only other film credits are The Wiz, cameos, and This Is It, so there's slim pickings, but oh well. Moonwalker is more of a music video anthology film, with six segments and having two of them having some resemblance of a plot. The acting (and that might be a stretch to say) is okay, but it is nothing too special, probably to make sure the music isn't overshadowed, though Joe Pesci isn't exactly convincing as a villain, reminding me of Yosemite Sam for some reason. The music is good though, but it doesn't link the film at all, giving the film an appearance of disjointedness. Jackson was a fine performer and he seems to try hard, though I do wonder why the song "Leave Me Alone" is used. It's a weird film as well, but after Jackson turns into a car, ...it all seems to feel normal, even with the pop robot. It's not too much of an ego trip, and it does have some enjoyability, with all its weirdness. Take it for what its worth.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Rush Hour 3.

Review #402: Rush Hour 3.

Cast
Jackie Chan (Lee), Chris Tucker (James Carter), Hiroyuki Sanada (Kenji), Yvan Attal (George), Zhang Jingchu (Soo-Yung), Noémie Lenoir (Geneviève), Youki Kudoh (Jasmine), Tzi Ma (Solon Han), Max von Sydow (Varden Reynard) Directed by Brett Ratner (#012 - X-Men: The Last Stand, #305 - Rush Hour, #306 - Rush Hour 2)

Review
The first film had its flaws, but it had some enjoyability and wasn't too standard of a buddy cop film. The second had some moments of laughter, but substantially less than the first one with the directing making the film louder, weirder, and not as funny as the first film. The third? Mostly laughless, mostly pointless, but more importantly: mostly forgettable. Chan is a fine actor, but not even he can save the film. But not even Tucker is why the film flounders, by this point it's expected that he's...erm, vibrant. but the main problem with the film is that it either tries to hard to be funny or to be serious, and it flounders with both. It doesn't have much charm in terms of acting and the comedy feels awkward. Max von Sydow appears in this (for about 5 minutes), and his performance makes me wonder how he went from Flash Gordon to this, but even in Flash Gordon he had more screen time. This might be enjoyable for some, but for others it just isn't that funny or necessary.

Overall, I give it 4 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: TerrorVision.

Review #401: TerrorVision.

Cast
Chad Allen (Sherman Putterman), Diane Franklin (Suzy Putterman), Mary Woronov (Raquel Putterman), Gerrit Graham (Stanley Putterman), Bert Remsen (Grampa Putterman), Jon Gries (O.D.), Jennifer Richards (Medusa), Alejandro Rey (Spiro), Randi Brooks (Cherry), and Frank Welker (Hungry Beast Alien) Directed by Ted Nicolaou.

Review
This film boasts...no recognizable actors playing cliched characters. Actually I take that back. The actor voicing the monster is more recognizable, but anything Frank Welker does usually is easy to guess. But hey, sometimes a film with actors that at least have Wikipedia pages can have success, like the movie Sweet 15 (#070), though that wasn't a monster movie. And...it's mediocre. It certainly does boast film footage from other films, from Robot Monster to The Giant Claw, but that only reminds me that both of those films were terrible. This feels intentional, with the monster effects actually better than the characters and the story teetering on mediocrity. Trying to describe the acting is like trying to describe a rock, it's way too easy. The film runs short at about 90 minutes, which by now feels really familiar. It does manage to entertain some sort of audience and it at least manages to be better than Leprechaun or the 2010 version of A Nightmare of Elm Street, which is...some sort of comfort.

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Thief of Bagdad (1940).

Review #400: The Thief of Bagdad.

Cast
Conrad Veidt (Jaffar), Sabu (Abu), June Duprez (The Princess), John Justin (Ahmad), Rex Ingram (Genie), Miles Malleson (Sultan of Basra), Morton Selten (The Old King), Mary Morris (Halima), Bruce Winston (The Merchant), and Hay Petrie (The Astrologer) Directed by Michael Powell, Ludwig Berger, and Tim Whelan.

Review
The Thief of Bagdad is a remake of the 1924 version (reviewed previously - #399), and in some ways the two films are alike, but in other ways they are different, and that is a good thing. The two films differ in sound, in color, and other various things (such as the Prince and the Thief being different characters rather than one) but they both seem to carry the magic of fun, as a tale as old as time. Conrad Veidt is a brilliant villain, who I've covered before in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (#261) and Casablanca (#125), and he works well. Sabu is a fine actor, not annoying or dull, more an actor in development as he already was acting at 13, but he would sadly die at the age of 39. A good actor nonetheless. Duprez and Justin are fine romantic leads, not too bad or too cliche. The supporting actors (like Rex Ingram) are decent, and they do add to the film's depth. This is a film with many ambitions and many ideas. The effects are great because they are groundbreaking for the time, a blue screen (also known as green screen), developed by Larry Butler which gives the film a new level of spectacle, much like how the 1924 version did with its own effects. This film has good ideas which also inspired Aladdin (#156) as I mentioned before. This is a delight for both children and adults, as it manages to have a good heart and a well enough attempt at entertainment. A treasure trove for everyone. I'd like to say it has been a fine thing to review for 400 films, and I am sure there is more to come for me and you. Thanks to everyone who has been reading, and I hope you keep reading as I hope I watching films.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Thief of Bagdad (1924)

Review #399: The Thief of Bagdad.

Cast
Douglas Fairbanks (Ahmed, the Thief of Bagdad), Snitz Edwards (His Evil Associate), Charles Belcher (The Holy Man (Imam) / Narrator), Julanne Johnston (The Princess), Sojin Kamiyama (Cham Shang, Prince of the Mongols), Anna May Wong (The Mongol Slave), Brandon Hurst (The Caliph), Tote Du Crow (The Soothsayer), and Noble Johnson (The Prince of the Indies) Directed by Raoul Walsh.

Review
The Thief of Bagdad provides a few firsts for Movie Night, the first film from 1924 reviewed here, the first film with Douglas Fairbanks (Who also wrote and produced this film) on here, and the first film on here directed by Raoul Walsh, who directed many films in six decades. How is the film though? It's a fun tale, to say the least. The film (Who some might recognize is freely adapted from One Thousand and One Nights) has a good enough story that manages to not feel stretched, not feeling too short or too long at 140 minutes. The actors don't speak, but they do have actions and movements to them, and Douglas Fairbanks uses the action to his advantage swashbuckling excellently as the rest of the actors do a fine job, keeping the film from falling off balance. The production design by William Cameron Menzies is extraordinary, a new thing at the time. The effects work well, looking state of the art for the 1920s, especially given that Fairbanks wanted his epic to look and work well, which while being expensive (At the time) to make, was a success back then and it still is today, spawning two remakes and also the film Aladdin as well. This is a film of spectacle, that manages to work brilliantly. There's only one more thing to review...Countdown to 400 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Last Hurrah.

Review #398: The Last Hurrah.

Cast
Spencer Tracy (Frank Skeffington), Jeffrey Hunter (Adam Caulfield), Dianne Foster (Maeve Caulfield), Pat O'Brien (John Gorman), Basil Rathbone (Norman Cass, Sr), Donald Crisp (Martin Burke), James Gleason (Cuke Gillen), Edward Brophy (Ditto Boland), John Carradine (Amos Force), and Willis Bouchey (Roger Sugrue) Directed by John Ford.

Review
It's been a while since I reviewed a film from the 1950's, and given that Spencer Tracy is in it (Whom I've reviewed before in #139 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, #228 -  Inherit the Wind, and #231 - San Francisco), it had some intrigue for me. How was this film? It was alright. Tracy has a good performance and it is once again fun to see Tracy in a main role as he always seems to carry an aura of presence which works well especially for a film like this. The rest of the actors are fine, with some noticeable supporting star power of Basil Rathbone and John Carradine, who are at least recognizable. The film has some merit and it does have warmth that grows on as the film keeps going. This is the first film that I've reviewed from John Ford, who had directed numerous films for nearly 50 years, and he does a fine job. here. It's a decent film that has the benefit of Spencer Tracy to go with it.

Countdown to 400 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2...

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Youngblood.

Review #397: Youngblood.

Cast
Rob Lowe (Dean Youngblood), Patrick Swayze (Derek Sutton), Cynthia Gibb (Jessie Chadwick), Ed Lauter (Murray Chadwick), Keanu Reeves (Heaver), and George Finn (Carl Racki) Directed by Peter Markle.

Review
Sports films aren't exactly my fortay, but I figured I might as well do one, so why not a hockey film since hockey's still going on with the Finals. That, and I haven't reviewed much of Rob Lowe, or Patrick Swayze. Is this film any good, or is just an 80s relic? Mostly the latter. It has it's weird moments, trying to be comedic that ends up getting in the way of the drama the film also tries to set, being a bit unbalenced. That goes for the hockey as well, which can be good, and Lowe does skate well, but the film then switches to fighting mode, which reminds me an awful lot of Rocky, which doesn't work well. Even though fighting in hockey is commonplace, having good hockey plays is more common, and combined the two just don't mesh. The acting's okay, mostly reminiscent of usual sports film acting. Lowe is allright, not too bad. The film spirals, it has its allright moments but it clunks where it doesn't need it, being disjointed, but mildly entertaining. Countdown to 400 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3...

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Iron Man 3.

Review #396: Iron Man 3.

Cast
Robert Downey, Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), Don Cheadle (James Rhodes/Iron Patriot), Guy Pearce (Aldrich Killian), Rebecca Hall (Maya Hansen), Ben Kingsley (Trevor Slattery), Stephanie Szostak (Ellen Brandt), James Badge Dale (Eric Savin), Jon Favreau (Happy Hogan), Ty Simpkins (Harley), Paul Bettany (J.A.R.V.I.S.), William Sadler (President Ellis) and Miguel Ferrer (Rodriguez) Directed by Shane Black.

Review
In Review #372, I reviewed 42, but this was never the original purpose. I went to the movie theater (big shock, I actually got out of the house), and because Iron Man 3 was sold out, so I picked 42 on the spot. 42 was a fine film, but it always bugged me that I missed Iron Man 3 on that day. 37 days later, I went to the movie theater to go see Iron Man 3, to complete the cycle of the Iron Man films I've reviewed (#135 - Iron Man, #334 - Iron Man 2) and to see if Shane Black could do a good job directing as he does writing (He screenwrote #355 - Lethal Weapon, #356 - Lethal Weapon 2, and #357 - The Last Boy Scout) for a film like this. So was it worth the wait? Yeah, pretty much. Robert Downey, Jr does a great job once again, evolving the character more, but still keeping just like we like Stark. Paltrow works well with Downey, given the amount of screen time, which is alright. Cheadle does well, consistant as always. Guy Pearce (Who I never had heard of until this film) does a fine job, not too bad a villain. As these films evolve, the villains get harder to beat, a bit more detailed after a while, which works well. I liked Ty Simpkins, not a bad child actor overall. Kingsley is allright, even if I think he's a bit underused for the film. The action works well, and the level of spectacle is at an all time high. The story flows allright, not doing too bad. This film is slightly better than Iron Man 2, not better than the first film, but still a good way to continue this film series. I do wonder if there will be a fourth one though. But at least now my..movie journey is complete. Countdown to 400 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4...

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Maltese Falcon (1931).

Review #395: The Maltese Falcon.

Cast
Bebe Daniels (Ruth Wonderly), Ricardo Cortez (Sam Spade), Dudley Digges (Casper Gutman), Una Merkel (Effie Perine), Robert Elliott (Dundy), Thelma Todd (Iva Archer), Otto Matieson (Joel Cairo), Walter Long (Miles Archer), and Dwight Frye (Wilmer Cook) Directed by Roy Del Ruth.

Review
As it turns out, the 1941 film version of the Dashiell Hammett novel was not the first adaptation, as this 1931 film was made first, though it would soon languish into obscurity, even being called Dangerous Female after the 1941 film was released. But my question before watching was would it be any good. And...it's not exactly good, but it has some sort of merit. Trying to compare this and the 1941 film is liking trying to compare a work of art by Picasso to a painting by a beginner, it's just not fair to compare because as I said in my review of the 1941 film, "The film has a style to it that helps the film makes its case for a good film, if not already from the acting. The story's good, making you interested in it for the entirety of the film." From what I've heard, the two films are pretty close to the novel, different in some ways, and this version feels like the 1941 version, but not too much. Maybe it's just me, but when I was watching I thought I heard a crackly noise that kept going in the background for the rest of the film, but that could just be me. The actors are alright, and the sets do look well. The film shows its age at points, and while this isn't a great film in most sense, this at least should watched once, either before or after the 1941 film. Take this for it's worth, no matter the consequences. Countdown to 400 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5...

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Bride of Frankenstein.

Review #394: Bride of Frankenstein.

Cast
Boris Karloff (The Monster), Colin Clive (Henry Frankenstein), Ernest Thesiger (Doctor Pretorius), Valerie Hobson (Elizabeth Lavenza), Elsa Lanchester (The Monster's Bride and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley), Una O'Connor (Minnie), E.E. Clive (Burgomaster), O.P. Heggie (The Hermit), Douglas Walton (Percy Bysshe Shelley), and Lucien Prival (The Butler), Directed by James Whale (#069 - The Invisible Man, #072 - Frankenstein)

Review
This is a film I've wanted to review ever since I reviewed the first film 567 days ago. I wanted to review this because this sounded really intriguing, with Whale directing once again, and Karloff back in the role that made him famous. After watching this, there's doubt about it, this is a good film. Better than the first? Possibly. Karloff is given more to do with the character, The Monster gets to have a new level of depth to him, which adds to the film. Clive does well, even if his role is considerably downsized, which is understandable. Ernest Thesiger does a memorable job as Doctor Pretorius, having a level of morbid charm, especially when he dines in a cemetery, and he's a good villain. There are too many memorable scenes to count, but one that I find to be brilliant is the scene involving Karloff and O.P. Heggie, which both develops Karloff's character and is a well made and entertaining scene, with a bit of irony included, as the only person who doesn't scream at the sight of the Monster is the only who can't physically see him. The Bride pops up about...10 minutes before the film ends, played by Elsa Lanchester, who also plays Mary Shelley in the opening scene, which is a somewhat ludicrous scene. The Bride looks memorable, thanks to the effects by Jack Pierce, but honestly I think more time was spent on making the character than the time the character has on screen, which is a bit odd given the film is called Bride of Frankenstein. The supporting cast is alright, even if Una O'Connor is a bit annoying. Not as much as in The Invisible Man, but just a bit. But nevertheless, the film has good moments combined with brilliant directing, which work really well to make a film that arguably could be up to the level of the first film. Countdown to 400 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6...

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Return to Oz.

Review #393: Return to Oz.

Cast
Fairuza Balk (Dorothy Gale), Brian Henson (Jack Pumpkinhead), Sean Barrett (Tik-Tok), Nicol Williamson (Dr. Worley/Nome King), Jean Marsh (Head Nurse Wilson/Mombi), Denise Bryer (Billina), Lyle Conway (The Gump), Pons Maar (Lead Wheeler), Emma Ridley (Ozma), Piper Laurie (Aunt Em), Matt Clark (Uncle Henry), and Justin Case (The Scarecrow) Directed by Walter Murch.

Review
Released 46 years after the classic The Wizard of Oz (#159) (though there have been several films based on Oz in that span), and 234 reviews after I did my take on the film, I decided to review this, and why not considering summer's around the corner, so it's like a "return" for me. I don't like doing puns that much though...Anyway, this film has been called "dark", "depressing", and "cult classic". Are any of those words true? It is all a matter of opinion. But frankly, I like this film. Dark? Sure, but the Wizard of Oz had its moments of terror as well, what with the Flying Monkeys and all, so that criticism is on a slippery slope to begin with, but then again I like some dark elements, and it works allright in a land of Oz such as this. It is somewhat depressing...in the beginning. If the film had been less dark, it would be called out for being too similar to the 1939 film, and because it went dark, it gets called out for being too much not like the 1939 film, so it can't win either way with some people. It isn't as bleak as it could be because at least there is a sense of determination, a sense that these characters are worthy to be invested in, and while the Wheelers could be terrifying for young kids, it won't be as much for older ones, so that criticism doesn't have much of a leg to stand on. Plus, the Nome King effects are really good in my mind, and it shows a level of creativity, and the character is wicked enough to be a good villain, not Wicked Witch wicked, but oh well. The acting is good, even from a young child actor such as Fairuza Balk, a good choice for Dorothy. The five (Balk, Henson, Barrett, Bryer, Conway) are not exactly as great a group as the original, but at least they come close enough. This may have its oddities, but that doesn't mean it should be forgotten, as it is indeed a cult classic. Take it for what it's worth. Countdown to 400 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7...

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Happy Feet.

Review #392: Happy Feet.

Cast
Elijah Wood (Mumble), Brittany Murphy (Gloria), Robin Williams (Ramón and Lovelace), Hugh Jackman (Memphis), Nicole Kidman (Norma Jean), Hugo Weaving (Noah the Elder), and Carlos Alazraqui (Nestor) Directed by George Miller (#380 - Mad Max)

Review
Happy Feet to me is a bit of an odd shell compared to other animated films. But hey, I have a soft spot for weirdness as long as it works out well and manages overcome awkwardness. Does this do that, or not is the underlying question. And it...mostly does. It starts out okay, even if it contains my least favorite cliche of the moment where "the character different from everyone else" is embarrassed which goes slowly and annoys me, but that could just be a matter of opinion. The film gets better as it goes on, skipping over speed bumps, and having an entertaining value to it, with some good dancing, which was done by motion capture, which isn't creepy, as it shows that motion capture does have some benefits. Elijah Wood does good, certainly a million times better from his last performance reviewed here (#363 - North), and Murphy does well. Robin Williams does stand out, even more given he plays two characters, and he does an alright job, not annoying, just fine. The animation is good, as it does a good job being a centerpiece, but no the whole thing to, a developed animated film that works well, and it can be entertaining, with some fine song choices all in all. Countdown to 400 Reviews: 10, 9, 8...

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Review #391: The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Cast
Chris Sarandon (Jack Skellington), Danny Elfman (Barrel, and the singing voice of Jack Skellington), Catherine O'Hara (Sally, Shock), William Hickey (Doctor Finklestein), Glenn Shadix (Mayor of Halloween Town), Ken Page (Oogie Boogie), Ed Ivory (Santa Claus), and Paul Reubens (Lock) Directed by Henry Selick (#189 - Coraline)

Review
It's a Tim Burton film without Tim Burton, and yet it manages to be a Halloween and a a Christmas film, along with creating a imaginative world that is also a good enough musical. It is original enough to overcome any "doubts" over a film such as this. Sarandon and Elfman do good, and after a while, the actor and singer combine to just be one single character, and it is excellent. O'Hara does good as well acting, and she is a good pair with Sarandon, which makes for a stronger film. The songs work well, and it helps that animation is top notch, which makes a dynamic film. That, and Oogie Boogie is a good, if not...awesome character. Delectably evil, and yet still with a aura of coolness, which contributes to the dark, but somewhat cheerful tone. It's a film that knows what it wants to do, and it fulfills it to the easiest extent, brilliantly and effectively. Countdown to 400 Reviews: 10, 9...

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Pocahontas.

Review #390: Pocahontas.

Cast
Irene Bedard (Pocahontas), Mel Gibson (John Smith), David Ogden Stiers (Governor Ratcliffe), John Kassir (Meeko), Russell Means (Chief Powhatan), Christian Bale (Thomas), and Linda Hunt (Grandmother Willow) Directed by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg.

Review
A Disney film that tries to use actual history and not so much fantasy in a good way, right? Eh...no. In a way, this is a Disney film muted in approach, noticed especially with the...non talking animals. This in a film where the leaves are like mail to people and where a grandmotherly tree talks to the main characters. The characters are okay at best. I find it odd that this film was told like a romance film, which is awkward given the fact these two in real life had no romance whatsoever.The acting is alright, even if it's a bit over the top, especially with Ogden Stiers. It's odd how Disney can make a film that has great looking animation especially in the design of the environment, yet fail at history. The film's history feels off even without a Google search. Much like the previous review (#389 - The Babe), this has inaccuracies to boot, and while some songs are decent, that doesn't help the film rise up to other, better Disney films. Maybe it's just me, but this is one that could be skipped. You might as well watch The New World, at least that looks like it could be more accurate. At least the Native Americans had a happy ending, what with them having peace with those Englishmen, it's not like they would ever get attacked by them ever again, nope. Disney treats history like a dirty rag, very poorly. Countdown to 400 Reviews: 10....

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Babe.

Review #389: The Babe.

Cast
John Goodman (Babe Ruth), Kelly McGillis (Claire Hodgson Ruth), Trini Alvarado (Helen Woodford Ruth), Bruce Boxleitner (Jumpin' Joe Dugan), Peter Donat (Harry Frazee), James Cromwell (Brother Mathias), J. C. Quinn (Jack Dunn), Joe Ragno (Miller Huggins), Richard Tyson (Guy Bush), Ralph Marrero (Ping Bodie), Bob Swan (George Herman Ruth Sr.), and Bernard Kates (Colonel Jacob Ruppert) Directed by Arthur Hiller.

Review
This film is loosely based off the life of George "Babe" Ruth, and when I say loosely, I mean really loosely. While John Goodman sounds like a good choice for Babe Ruth, he doesn't give Ruth much likability. Ruth comes off more as a unlikable belligerent player then someone to root for. The baseball scenes are alright, even if half of it is just baseballs going off the wall. The accuracy...is not even close. Ruth wasn't just a home run hitter, for the first few years of his career, he was a pitcher, which in the film is barely even mentioned. This film probably has more myths included than actual facts, and combined with the general lack of enjoyability / laughs from John Goodman (who can be funny), who seems weighed down from the script, which in effect drags the character. The rest of the actors are overshadowed, which I suppose makes sense given the title being "The Babe", but a little bit more memorability would have helped. Overall, this film is plagued by inaccuracies so easy to find that there are sites dedicated to pointing those out, the acting is mediocre save for Goodman who tries his best, and the nail in the film's coffin is the general lack of fun. The film could be fun for some, but sometimes it's a little awkward and sometimes mean spirited. It's a disappointment that this fizzles, presumably into obscurity. Rather than being a home run, it's a strikeout.

Overall, I give it 3 out of 10 stars.