X the Unknown.

Review #837: X the Unknown.

Cast
Dean Jagger (Dr. Adam Royston), Leo McKern (Mac McGill), Edward Chapman (John Elliott), William Lucas (Peter Elliott), Peter Hammond (Lieutenant Bannerman), Anthony Newley (Lance Corporal "Spider" Webb), Ian MacNaughton (Haggis), Michael Ripper (Sergeant Harry Grimsdyke), Michael Brooke (Willie Harding), Frazer Hines (Ian Osborne), Norman Macowan (Old Tom), and John Harvey (Major Cartwright) Directed by Leslie Norman.

Review
This was a Hammer production that was distributed by Warner Brothers set in Scotland (filmed in England) released nearly 60 years ago in 1956, written by the same person behind The Curse of Frankenstein, Dracula (1958), The Revenge of Frankenstein, and The Pirates of Blood River (#593). It's evident that there was effort to make a competent science fiction flick, with a well rounded cast and some fine thrills presented about something lurking in a crack shaped like a Y. By the time the movie's half over, a theory (pretty much confirmed later on) on what the creature may be is presented that is competently delivered, for a sci-fi plot anyway. Radioactive muddy ooze is par for the course for the time period, though there isn't a sense of light-hearted tone to it nor the acting, which works well for its time. Jagger does a good job as a scientist, feeling believable enough. McKern and Chapman are also okay. The rest of the cast is serviceable enough for the plot, with no random side characters involved. The effects are pretty decent as well (what with it essentially being giant mud), and the stuff in the pit are also pretty well done. The ending is a bit weird, ending with some sort of ambiguity. On the whole, X the Unknown manages to flow well enough at 81 minutes that keeps itself in focus with a strange but useful premise. There are endless amount of science fiction films (British or not), but this might be right enough for someone looking for something decent of the genre.

On a unrelated note, my heart goes out those affected by the recent events in Italy, Turkey and Myanmar. I wish them the best of luck in recovering from these tragedies. 

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Kubo and the Two Strings.

Review #836: Kubo and the Two Strings.

Cast
Art Parkinson (Kubo), Charlize Theron (Monkey/Kubo's mother), Matthew McConaughey (Beetle), Ralph Fiennes (Raiden the Moon King), Rooney Mara (the Sisters), George Takei (Hosato), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Hashi), and Brenda Vaccaro (Kameyo) Directed by Travis Knight.

Review
In the two films I've reviewed done by the studio Laika (#189 - Coraline and #240 - Paranorman), they were both enjoyable and wonderfully made animated movies. Fortunately, this film continues that trend. This is an exquisite piece of work that manages to establish (and maintain) a dark sense of adventure and fantasy, with a fair cast of characters and gorgeous imagination and animation. Parkinson does a fine job in the lead role, giving this character the needed weight and depth to make him more than just a typical fantasy kid lead. Theron and McConaughey are also exceptional, managing to keep the movie on its heels, with a few moments of laughs between the trio as a whole. It's a fun movie, complete with enough of everything for everyone; mot to spoil anything, but this is also a movie that pulls enough strings and twists correctly as well. The stop-motion animation is wonderful to watch, managing to help make the world the movie builds to life perfectly, such as when the movie utilizes origami paper (a miniature warrior created by the paper is with the group for most of the film) to great advantage. Fiennes isn't in the movie until the last half of the film (with Mara being seen more often, playing the two sisters wickedly well), but he makes for a fine enough villain, with a climax that is pretty spectacular to watch as well. At 102 minutes, this is a fine film to watch, with exceptional marks in almost every subject. It's clear that there was a lot of labor and love put into this film, and I applaud them for making a movie as fun as this. Despite the limited amount of people at the theater for the film, this was still a good time.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Scared Stiff.

Review #835: Scared Stiff.

Cast
Jack Haley (Larry Elliot), Ann Savage (Sally Warren), Barton MacLane (George Markham), Veda Ann Borg (Flo Rosson), Roger Pryor (Richardson), George E. Stone (Mink), Robert Emmett Keane (Prof. Wisner), Lucien Littlefield (Charles Waldeck / Preston Waldeck), Paul Hurst (Sheriff), Arthur Aylesworth (Emerson Cooke), Eily Malyon (Mrs. Cooke), and Buddy Swan (Oliver Waldeck) Directed by Frank McDonald.

Review
Scared Stiff (also known as Treasure of Fear) is the kind of movie that falls into someone's lap if one is either bored enough or just stumbles into public domain territory, with this being a comedy/murder mystery. Haley (who appeared in just six more films after this) plays a bumbling chess reporter (of course he does) who is assumed to be a murderer due to a dead guy on the same bus being found with a chess piece near him (seriously), alongside the other weirdo passengers, including his girlfriend, a boy genius (who throws a smoke bomb into a room at one point), and his mentor professor. Hijinks (and I put that extremely loosely) ensue in a mystery lumpier than mashed potatoes. There is a subplot about retrieving chess pieces from an antique chess set from the 13th century, which seems better than the main character, actually. Do you like a bumbling character played for some sort of laugh? Well, you'll have to find a better movie. Haley isn't very interesting to watch, becoming tedious to watch after a while. There really isn't much energy to the cast, which just go through the motions of a sluggish script. There really is no chemistry between Haley and Savage. The killer is in the movie briefly, to the point where he has no defining characteristics. The length of the movie is 65 minutes, which is some ways is it's own relief. On the whole, there are countless other movies from this time period that are more interesting to watch than this, ultimately. It doesn't inspire many laughs, nor elicit any interest in the mystery, simply put. You know the people that remake movies and the ensuing reactions over it? Try remaking this and see what happens, which is a better idea than watching the movie.

Overall, I give it 4 out of 10 stars.

Terminator Genisys.

Review #834: Terminator Genisys.

Cast
Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Guardian), Jason Clarke (John Connor), Emilia Clarke (Sarah Connor), Jai Courtney (Kyle Reese), J.K. Simmons (O'Brien), Dayo Okeniyi (Danny Dyson), Matt Smith (Alex), Courtney B. Vance (Miles Dyson), Lee Byung-hun (Cop / T-1000), Michael Gladis (Lt. Matias), and Sandrine Holt (Detective Cheung) Directed by Alan Taylor (#827 - Thor: The Dark World)

Review
The Terminator franchise (#001 - Terminator 2: Judgement Day, #063 - The Terminator, #089 - Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and #090 - Terminator Salvation) is a strange one in terms of where the story goes in these films...and also the quality of the movies. The first two films are great movies, both being hallmarks in the sci-fi genre because of the high quality writing and entertaining action. The third movie was a mixed bag that felt unneeded. The fourth one was flat out uninteresting to watch. As for this film...it's certainly a strange one. It's clear the people behind this film saw Star Trek (#009) and tried to make their own version...and it could have worked. The idea of a Guardian Terminator protecting and raising Sarah might've have worked as its own thing, instead of shoehorning Kyle Reese into the dynamic. One of the biggest problems is that Courtney and E. Clarke don't have real chemistry together, and while no duo could really compare to the chemistry that Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn had in the first film, there is never a moment where they click together. He just doesn't give much to care about, resembling one of those blank slates in a fan-fic. Ultimately, this is a movie that is at best moderately entertaining but at worst just a bland retread, with a sequence mimicking the first film, and even a T-1000 (that is promptly beaten in less than 20 minutes) that is a bit laughable, for all the wrong reasons. It just feels weird seeing another film where they think they will destroy Skynet by doing X. I appreciate the idea of a retcon, but there really isn't anything presented here to demonstrate the need to have another film. There's no real style to the movie, nothing that you can really identify as memorable. Another problem is that there are no real stakes, with everything feeling predictable (in a way like the third film) and somewhat tedious. Schwarzenegger is as entertaining as ever, having better chemistry with E. Clarke than Courtney does. J. Clarke is pretty decent for what he's given to work with. The action scenes are pretty decent, though sometimes it comes off as a bit dull with regards to the colors. There really isn't much to the supporting cast, with Smith having barely any time to register a presence beyond occasional dialogue. It's a movie that works when it's about the action, but not so much when it's about the characters or story. Honestly, just stick to the first two films.

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Spaceways.

Review #833: Spaceways.

Cast
Howard Duff (Dr. Stephen Mitchell), Eva Bartok (Dr. Lisa Frank), Alan Wheatley (Dr. Smith), Philip Leaver (Professor Koepler), Michael Medwin (Dr. Toby Andrews), Andrew Osborn (Dr. Philip Crenshaw), Cecile Chevreau (Vanessa Mitchell), and Anthony Ireland (General Hayes) Directed by Terence Fisher (#257 - The Curse of Frankenstein, #258 - Dracula (1958), #272 - The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959), and #469 - The Revenge of Frankenstein)

Review
Believe it or not, this film was co-produced by Lippert Pictures (named for Robert L. Lippert, who would lead Regal Pictures a few years later) and Hammer Film Productions; most of you may know the latter though their horror films, which have been featured a few times on the show. Both of the companies had a deal in which the former would distribute the latter's films in the US, and vice versa in the UK, with this filmed entirely in England. As fun as the title or poster may seem (if you're into that sort of thing), the movie is actually a murder mystery, with the main lead being suspected of not only murdering two people, but putting them into a rocket that is spiraling the Earth. Naturally, footage from Rocketship X-M (#618) is featured during scenes with the rocket, because sharing is caring. There's obviously a bit of dedication to featuring some technobabble and moderately entertaining effects (and a bunch of gauges!), which is somewhat marred by a barely interesting plot. The cast is adequate for the material, for better or worse. Duff and Bartok are moderately entertaining, but there really isn't that much in terms of energy that can help the movie, which trudges a bit in a mystery that only goes somewhere with less than 15 minutes to go, with a twist that works if you actually thought someone would stuff bodies into a rocket. If you're looking for some sort of British thrill that's only 76 minutes long, I guess this works for you. It's okay, but nothing too spectacular.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Kronos.

Review #832: Kronos.

Cast
Jeff Morrow (Dr. Leslie Gaskell), Barbara Lawrence (Vera Hunter), John Emery (Dr. Hubbell Eliot), George O'Hanlon (Dr. Arnold Culver), Morris Ankrum (Dr. Albert Stern), Kenneth Alton (McCrary - The Pickup Driver), John Parrish (Gen. Perry), Jose Gonzales-Gonzales (Manuel Ramirez), and Richard Harrison (Pilot) Directed by Kurt Neumann (#618 - Rocketship X-M and #710 - The Fly)

Review
This was made on a low budget of less than $200,000 in less than a month by Regal Films, which was distributed by 20th Century Fox. Kronos is certainly an interesting sci-fi flick, with the big villain being a giant robotic accumulator that tries to absorb all the energy of Earth. This is the stuff that comic book plots are made of, but there really is something interesting about a giant battery attacking the Earth that is nicknamed "Kronos". It's not a movie with a giant mutated monster, or even aliens shown on screen, which sure is interesting for the time. The special effects are pretty good for the time. Sometimes the aerial shots look a bit hokey (such as when a helicopter lands on Kronos, or when it departs), but it's nothing too laughable. The shots where it moves are pretty special, though the sound effects it makes when firing is a bit silly. The cast is somewhat interesting, with Morrow and Lawrence having a decent amount of chemistry. Emery is pretty interesting to watch. There's no real traces of over dramatic acting nor cheese, falling in a standard but acceptable realm for most. This is a pretty little hidden gem that serves its purpose at 78 minutes that one can have fun with.

Unrelated to the review, but my heart goes out to those affected by the ongoing floods in Louisiana and the wildfire in California. It breaks my heart seeing people suffer like this, and I can't even begin to imagine what you are going through. Good luck to all of you.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Mrs. Doubtfire.

Review #831: Mrs. Doubtfire.

Cast
Robin Williams (Daniel Hillard / Euphegenia Doubtfire), Sally Field (Miranda Hillard), Pierce Brosnan (Stuart Dunmeyer), Lisa Jakub (Lydia Hillard), Matthew Lawrence (Christopher Hillard), Mara Wilson (Natalie Hillard), Harvey Fierstein (Frank Hillard), Scott Capurro (Jack), and Robert Prosky (Jonathan Lundy) Directed by Chris Columbus (#038 - Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, #117 - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, #118 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, #304 - Home Alone, and #310 - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York)

Review
Honestly, I hadn't seen this movie in years, in fact it might have been on a VHS, actually. It wasn't for lack of interest, it just never came to me. There are numerous movies about cross-dressing (#084 - Tootsie, #106 - Some Like It Hot, #637 - The Birdcage) along with numerous comedy-dramas, but Mrs. Doubtfire manages to be a fine movie that doesn't veer too much towards standardization due to the energy of its main lead. Williams, alongside some really exceptional (and award winning) makeup, manages to make the role his own, with these two characters being very distinct and interesting. He just weaves into these characters and voices well, though it almost gets a bit tiring near the end, but the dinner sequence is adequate. Field also does pretty well, managing to be likable in a role that could've turned out one dimensional or not as memorable, with her scenes with Williams being well handled. The kids don't have much screen time, but they're pretty okay. The rest of the cast do fine. The balance of comedy and drama is well enough, neither intruding too much on the other. At just over two hours it may be a bit too long, but Williams is enjoyable enough that it works. It's not too sentimental nor cynical, having a ending message (by Williams) that is pretty poignant. Does it always work? No, but it works just enough in part due to its main character(s) and a quirky charm.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Sausage Party.

Review #830: Sausage Party.

Cast
Seth Rogen (Frank), Kristen Wiig (Brenda Bunson), Jonah Hill (Carl), Bill Hader (Firewater), Michael Cera (Barry), James Franco (the Druggie), Danny McBride (Honey Mustard), Craig Robinson (Mr. Grits), Paul Rudd (Darren), Nick Kroll (Douche), David Krumholtz (Kareem Abdul Lavash), Edward Norton (Sammy Bagel Jr), and Salma Hayek (Teresa del Taco) Directed by Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon (#162 - Shrek 2 and #651 - Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted)

Review
Not to understate this too much, but this isn't a movie for everyone (hence the R rating, a first for a CGI animated film - by the MPAA, anyway), especially not for kids, obviously. It's definitely a different kind of animated movie, and I'm sure there's even plans (or new inspiration) to do more of these kind of films. As ridiculous as this movie was, it at least was an adequate in terms of quality and length (88 minutes). There is a semblance of plot in this movie, with regards to the food and a "Great Beyond" outside the store, amidst a bunch of easy jokes that are either funny for some, or just stupid. For me, it was a bit of both, but it works on such an absurd level of ridiculousness that fit fine enough. The opening minutes feature a song, no less, with about as much absurdities as one would expect (let's not forget about the song by a meat loaf). Here's how I would put this movie: I laughed numerous times, with barely an ounce of shame to that laugh.

The ending to the movie is certainly a strange one, and to explain it would sound downright weird. But it works on an absurd level of lunacy for me, even if it's not really exceptional at animation, but it certainly works better that if it had been in live action. Rogen is a well enough lead, and anybody who's seen him in a film before will know what they think about the movie. Wiig is also decent, and the supporting cast is pretty quirky enough, with Krumholtz and Norton having some interesting chemistry with each other, and Kroll being a fair enough villain. Hader is also a fine highlight. Animated movies are somewhat thought of as a kid's market, so the idea of one for adults isn't too terrible, considering the amount of ones made for the lowest common denominator. They both pander, but this one has some sort of goal in its potty mouth. It has its moments of entertainment, It's exactly what you expect, so take it for what it's worth. It also might be better with a friend or two, so you can comprehend the weird crudeness for yourself. I can't recommend it for everyone, but anybody looking for a quick time of something a bit different might like it. They might also look at their food a bit differently afterwards, however.
Okay, if you scroll over this text, here's the climax: The food murder people in the store and have sex.
Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Red Sonja.

Review #829: Red Sonja.

Cast
Brigitte Nielsen (Red Sonja), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Lord Kalidor), Sandahl Bergman (Queen Gedren of Berkubane), Paul L. Smith (Falkon), Ernie Reyes, Jr. (Prince Tarn), Ronald Lacey (Ikol), and Pat Roach (Lord Brytag) Directed by Richard Fleischer (#453 - Soylent Green, #460 - Doctor Dolittle, and #624 - Conan the Destroyer)

Review
Boy, is this one dull. It manages to make sword fights sound and look really boring, with no real sense of adventure to it, with a cast that can't liven material that ends in less then 90 minutes. It starts off with a spirit (looking as ridiculous as one would guess) giving our main character her powers, after she recollects the story of how she lost her parents to her (next time you replace a pet, tell them how the previous pet was replaced and see how that goes), with the opening sequence as a whole being somewhat ridiculous, which makes sense for a movie that never seems like it's trying hard enough. Nielsen doesn't really bring much to the character (based off the comic book character of the same name, who was inspired by the character Red Sonya in one of Robert E. Howard's short stories, named The Shadow of the Vulture) that isn't told to us. Sure, she can swing a sword fairly decently, but there never are any scenes where she stands out amidst the boring landscape and a story that feels padded. It makes sense that this came from the same director of Conan the Destroyer, considering both have the same caliber of hokey action and dull attempts at humor, with a kid prince no less. The effects are also nothing spectacular.

The "Icthyan Killing Machine" sequence is slow moving, never coming off as thrilling, though it almost comes off as cheesy due to Schwarzenegger riding on the "machine" in the water for a few moments. He doesn't have as much screen time as Nielsen (which makes sense, I know), but he is somewhat charming, in a cheesy way that is reflected especially in his scenes with Nielsen (there's one scene where they fight each other, and it's ridiculously dull and cheesy at the same time). One could say it's a quick film to get through, but that doesn't mean it's an easy film to get through, and the blame rests on a movie that either can't pull itself together and make these characters interesting or managing to make everything seem cheesier than it actually is. Bergman also does a somewhat laughable job as the villain, as one dimensional as paper, with motivations as random as it gets. I can't even tell which film is worse, this or Destroyer, though at least Arnold is in the latter one more, which I guess makes it slightly better. Red Sonja could've worked under better writing, but the movie as a whole is a mess of complacent numbness that only works for people looking for wooden characters.

Overall, I give it 4 out of 10 stars.

Suicide Squad.

Review #828: Suicide Squad.

Cast
Will Smith (Floyd Lawton / Deadshot), Jared Leto (Joker), Margot Robbie (Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn), Joel Kinnaman (Rick Flag), Viola Davis (Amanda Waller), Jai Courtney (Digger Harkness / Captain Boomerang), Jay Hernandez (Chato Santana / El Diablo), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Waylon Jones / Killer Croc), Cara Delevingne (Dr. June Moone / Enchantress), Karen Fukuhara (Tatsu Yamashiro / Katana), Adam Beach (Christopher Weiss / Slipknot), Ike Barinholtz (Griggs), and Scott Eastwood (GQ Edwards) Directed by David Ayer (#694 - Fury)

Review
Earlier in the year (April Fool's Day to be exact), I saw DC's attempts at setting up the Justice League with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (#788), which was...divisive to say. For me, it was a bad muddled mess. Four months later, Suicide Squad attempts to try and bring some sort of humor. It's strange that this review comes nearly two years to the day of when I saw Guardians of the Galaxy (#626), which was also a movie about lesser known heroes as a group, though this one is with villains. So how does this movie hold up? It's as about as muddled as the movie itself. In a way, it's as if someone read the Wikipedia page on Guardians of the Galaxy being successful with a bunch of characters not well known to everyone while skimming through exactly why it was so successful.

Yes, there are parts where the film has humor and some semblance of fun. But by the end of it, one will wonder exactly was edited in and out of the movie, though unlike Dawn of Justice, this movie is marginally better at that department, as well as being a decent, if not flawed movie. Smith does a fantastic job, with a good edge of charisma inside a character devoted to shooting people. Robbie certainly has a good deal of energy to her and the character, which either can come off as right for the film or just a tiny bit grating. For me it was a bit of both, sometimes helping the movie out but also sometimes making the movie a bit annoying, with a costume that veers on being entirely ridiculous (Hot pants? Must hurt after a while). Kinnaman is the straight man in all this lunacy, and he does a fine job in a role that could have been just played with blandness, having some fine moments with Smith while also having some sort of personality. Davis plays her role with no semblance of fakery, completely making for a compelling character trying to wring all these powerful people to do something for her, which works. Courtney is fine, but his character doesn't really get much to do in terms of character development, which could also be said for Fukuhara as Katana, though the latter is slightly more interesting to watch, what with the sword and all. Hernandez is pretty decent, having a surprising turn of characterization near the end that makes the character more than just a fire breathing dude. Akinnuoye-Agbaje, for all the brief times he speaks, is okay. Delevinge does okay, but she isn't given much time until the climax to try and shine, though the main cast overshadows her for the most part. Lastly, there's Jared Leto as the Joker, resembling Macaulay Culkin mixed with Hot Topic...who is the weakest part of the film, for the brief amount of time he was in (probably less than 10 minutes), mainly because his scenes derail the momentum along with having no real sort of charisma, coming off as a wannabe Joker. The scenes with Joker and Harley Quinn sometimes work, but honestly they're less compelling than the scenes with the actual squad. I understand the dynamic between the two, but I also understand that I could just watch Batman: The Animated Series if I wanted to see that dynamic not distract from the actual film. It's strange that the Joker kinda just disappears right before the climax, though if you don't like the Joker, it probably helps.

The action scenes are sometimes fun, but other times it feels muddled in grey/blue, with about as much shooting as one would expect. The effects are also fine, if not sometimes a bit distracting (especially with Killer Croc). Honestly, the movie is muddled between action and quipping lines, seeming like it's trying to emulate Deadpool (#779) at points, but it's also accompanied by a plot that's kind of muddled between recruiting the group (taking around 20-30 minutes) and a climax that plods at times. The music cues that accompany the film in the beginning somewhat work but also seem to be shoehorned in. The group does have at least some chemistry together, in a strange sort of way, considering the nature of their mission. Near the end, it even flashbacks to an earlier scene in a weird way to explain something that probably could've just been explained in dialogue only. Honestly, it either should've gone entirely gritty or go for something a bit more organic, but for me it's an average movie, being the ultimate take it or leave it kind of film that will work for some, but exhaust others. There is a mid-credits scene, which is fairly decent (look, not all movies need a credits scene, but it's a nice little bonus). Experiencing it in a movie theater with a bunch of friends is probably the best way to take the movie in the long run. That, or not paying more than five/six bucks to see it.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Thor: The Dark World.

Review #827: Thor: The Dark World.

Cast
Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Natalie Portman (Jane Foster), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Anthony Hopkins (Odin), Stellan Skarsgård (Erik Selvig), Idris Elba (Heimdall), Christopher Eccleston (Malekith), Jaimie Alexander (Sif), Zachary Levi (Fandral), Ray Stevenson (Volstagg), Tadanobu Asano (Hogun), Rene Russo (Frigga), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Algrim / Kurse), Kat Dennings (Darcy Lewis), and Alice Krige (Eir) Directed by Alan Taylor.

Review
In retrospect, Thor (#041) was an exciting (if not somewhat flawed) movie. It may have taken a bit of time to get rolling, but it had a fine enough climax and established Thor as a quality hero, with Hemsworth doing a fine job in that film. In the sequel, he is also excellent, even if the film around is not exactly as thrilling as before. Hemsworth is believeable as ever, and his chemistry with others in the cast being good highlights. Portman is alright, though it seems she really isn't given that much to do. Her scenes with Hemsworth are fine. Hiddleston is memorable as ever, with enough trickery and charm, highlighted by his scenes with Hemsworth. Eccleston (admist a bunch of makeup) isn't that great a villain (a problem one could say about other villains in the Marvel films), but he is at least somewhat threatening.

While the effects are pretty good (aside from times when everything seems to be photographed in blue-greyish), the plot doesn't really seem to gel itself well, particularly with the Aether, though the Loki-Thor parts do help the movie get back its footing. The action is alright, with the climax being fairly decent enough. The rest of the cast is fine enough. It may not be up to the caliber of the other Marvel films, but it is entertaining and I'm sure that others likely will like this film a good deal more than I did. Take it for what it's worth, a comic book film with some instances of flair that work in most of the right places.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult.

Review #826: Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult.

Cast
Leslie Nielsen (Lieutenant Frank Drebin), Priscilla Presley (Jane Spencer), George Kennedy (Captain Ed Hocken), O.J. Simpson (Detective Nordberg), Fred Ward (Rocco Dillion), Kathleen Freeman (Muriel), Anna Nicole Smith (Tanya Peters), Ellen Greene (Louise), Ed Williams (Ted Olsen), and Raye Birk (Papshmir) Directed by Peter Segal (#466 - Nutty Professor II: The Klumps)

Review
If you wanted to see a Naked Gun movie...just watch the first one three times. The movie will be the same, but compared to the two actual sequels you won't really miss much. Honestly, this isn't a bad movie by any means, but there is such an underwhelming feel to everything, from the execution of ideas to the general movie itself. No one really stands out, aside from the numerous cameos that come and go quickly. The opening sequence (spoofing the sequence from The Untouchables) is probably the best part of the movie, having fine timing shown by Nielsen, though the film never really gets any better from there. It's not even something to get worked up about its middling quality. It's not even so much a case of it being the third (and last) one, it simply isn't that funny. Nielsen is fine as ever, but he can't help a movie that relies on tired gags and not so quick gags. The dynamic between him and Presley isn't as prevalent this time around, with a good portion of the movie being between him and the trio of Ward-Freeman-Smith, which doesn't have much fun to it. The jokes that are present seem either verge on the thinly obvious side and the side of just not being that good of a joke. The sequence with Pia Zadora is quirky, sometimes being funny. Even the usual supporting cast of Kennedy and Simpson (in his final film, released less than three months before the murders and chase) are lacking. By the time the climax comes around, it's a frustrated sigh of relief more than anything. The only good thing is that it is at least better than Airplane II: The Sequel (#698), and I guess that says something. If you're looking for something with Leslie Nielsen...check for something else.

Side note: We just reached 20,000 views on this blog! I'm happy to hear that, and I thank anyone who's come to the blog over the past few months (and years).

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

50/50.

Review #825: 50/50.

Cast
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Adam Lerner), Seth Rogen (Kyle Hirons), Anna Kendrick (Katherine McKay), Bryce Dallas Howard (Rachael), Anjelica Huston (Diane Lerner), Serge Houde (Richard Lerner), Andrew Airlie (Dr. Ross), Matt Frewer (Mitch Barnett), and Philip Baker Hall (Alan Lombardo) Directed by Jonathan Levine.

Review
It's not so much that the movie has a good balance of comedy and drama, it's that it handles its subject matter with enough sensibility to be more than one might expect. The writing (by Will Reiser, who had also had cancer, with his experience being the basis for the screenplay) is what helps the film gain ground almost immediately, with the actors having good chemistry with each other. Gordon-Levitt is excellent, showing a range of emotions without an ounce of insincerity, and he is a likable (if not perfect, but understandable) lead. The scenes with him and Rogen are handled pretty well, having some laughs (including the shaving scene), but also some fine scenes of drama, especially near the end. Kendrick is enjoyable to watch (while one could question her decisions as a therapist, the suspension of disbelief is enough to alleviate for this film), having a quirky charm that works nicely (I also know someone who has a bit of stuff on the car floor whenever I hitch a ride with them, though some of that is school stuff). While her and Gordon-Levitt have some decent scenes together, the movie thankfully doesn't try to refocus as a love story near the end, keeping itself focused but also keeping true to these characters, without coming off as strange as something like The Bucket List (#640) was. There's a decent supporting cast, with my favorites being Frewer and Baker Hall, who (while not in the movie for long) provide some dry elements that fit well with the film. Before I repeat myself over and over again, I'll just say that it's a nice movie that keeps itself balanced, with an excellent cast being the forefront alongside a well handled plot.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Redux: Batman (1966).

Redux Review #177: Batman.

Cast
Adam West (Bruce Wayne / Batman), Burt Ward (Dick Grayson / Robin), Lee Meriwether (Catwoman/Miss Kitka), Cesar Romero (The Joker), Burgess Meredith (The Penguin), Frank Gorshin (The Riddler), Alan Napier (Alfred Pennyworth), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner James Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief Miles O'Hara), and Madge Blake (Aunt Harriet Cooper) Directed by Leslie H. Martinson.

Review
The original review gave the rating as a 6/10, but I felt in hindsight that it likely deserved a slightly more improved rating. While I could have just simply fixed the rating without much fanfare, I thought it made more sense to make a redux review instead, with a little bit of waiting to get the review to sync up with the 50th Anniversary of the movie's release. Interestingly enough, this film was released six months after the television series had premiered. In any case, I hope you enjoy this redux review. There will be a new review tomorrow, BTW.

Obviously, one must look at the time this was made as context for a movie that is wonderfully campy much like the show that it came from. For its time, the show (and the movie) are enjoyable in what they aspire to be, fun for all and without an ounce of awful pandering. They both aimed for entertainment and succeeded. Sure, it may seem ridiculous, but that's part of the fun. West and Ward have excellent chemistry together (as one would expect), and the Rouges Gallery (Meriwether, Romero, Meredith, Gorshin) also have an exuberant amount of charm as villains. The colors are bright and vibrant, such as with the Batcave. There are a good deal of silly elements from shark-repellent bat-spray (with rubber shark included) to Alfred wearing a mask while on a stakeout in the Batmobile, but it all feels welcome and is charming enough. It's a well crafted movie at about 105 minutes, not just being like a two-parter from the show. It manages to keep itself cohesive enough, and the fight scene at the end with the Dynamic Duo and the villains is entertaining enough, with everyone getting in on the fun. On its own, this is a movie wonderful in its cheesiness.

The 1989 film (and its sequel) shaped Batman in film to be darker than this film's interpretation (and more like the comics), with that mode still being the dominant form to this day. Batman Forever (but especially Batman & Robin) tried to emulate the show (in a sense), but the tacky artificial nature of the two films (more so for the latter) were not as fun as the original. Even after a half century, this movie, while not a high caliber film, succeeds in being what it wants to be for everyone, with a undeniable charm of its own.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Talk About a Stranger.

Review #824: Talk About a Stranger.

Cast
George Murphy (Robert Fontaine Sr), Nancy Davis (Marge Fontaine), Billy Gray (Robert 'Bud' Fontaine Jr.), Lewis Stone (William J. Wardlaw), Kurt Kasznar (Dr. Paul Mahler, aka Matlock), and Anna Glomb (Camille Wardlaw) Directed by David Bradley.

Review
I suppose you could classify this as a film noir. There are some shots in the film that are noteworthy to watch, but on the whole it is at best an okay movie. Gray is the main one the movie focuses on, and while at times he does okay at showing anguish, the rest of the time he comes off as either annoying or mean spirited, but then again this is a child actor we're talking about. There really isn't any mystery to it, coming off as a slog even at 65 minutes. I guess the lesson one could learn is how people aren't always what they appear to be (which you could learn in a book from fifth grade), but I think a better one would be to not go on a vendetta type of investigation and vandalize people's stuff just because you don't like them. The movie could be summarized like this: Mysterious guy moves into town. Kid's dog dies soon after. Vendetta investigation ensues. Kid finds his dog wasn't murdered. The end. Obviously there's a part about trying to keep the citrus from freezing, but it isn't much to talk about (also: while one could summarize almost any movie with a few sentences, I'm trying to demonstrate why I didn't particularly care for this film). There isn't much in terms of mystery (compelling mystery, anyway), or much of a lively cast (Murphy and Davis are manageable, but not given much to do), but if you're looking for a 50's film, I guess it works, though I could not get into it.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Zaat.

Review #823: Zaat.

Cast
Marshall Grauer (Dr. Kurt Leopold), Wade Popwell (The Monster), Paul Galloway (Sheriff Lou Krantz), Gerald Cruse (Marine Biologist Rex Baker), Sanna Ringhaver (INPIT Agent Martha Walsh), Dave Dickerson (INPIT Agent Walker Stevens), and Archie Valliere (Deputy Sheriff) Directed by Don Barton.

Review
The movie begins with a monologue by the main character, the mad scientist who wants to become one with the fish (or something to that extent) to create a underwater society and it certainly seems to set the tone of a strange kind of film. That, and the folk song that plays during the opening credits. Zaat (also known as Blood Water of Dr. Z, Hydra, and Attack of the Swamp Creatures, with the latter two being bootleg titles) was written, produced, and directed by Don Barton, who filmed the movie in Jacksonville, Florida, where he lived. After around 10 minutes of monologue and seeing him walk around a lab (or a basement, but who knows), he finally gets around to transforming into "Zaat", which is about as exciting as this sentence. Obviously, the suit for this sea creature hybrid could not possibly look that great....but man is it ridiculous to look at. It looks like something out of a schlocky TV show, with splotches of green fur for some reason. They might have been better off editing the movie so you don't see the monster. The footage of the real life fish manages to make look even more ridiculous, but the way the person in the suit stumble around is even more silly. I don't know how, but somehow the transformation sequence (and the ensuing scene where he swims around in his new form) manage to be boring to watch, seemingly having little energy, which seems to be the big key thing about this movie. One of the scenes has the monster get revenge on someone that wronged him before, with shots of fish cut into the scene, which only makes this scene even more jumbled.

It's clear the movie was made cheaply, but I still can't believe how unbelievably ridiculous it is, and one can't really see the effort if they are teetering on the edge of boredom like I was. So much time is spent with Grauer and his random monologues that border on hypnotic or dull, that we don't really get much from the rest of the cast, and the attack scenes aren't any better. The way the movie is lighted and filmed come off as unappealing to the eye, approaching the levels seen in films like Monster A-Go-Go (#756)...but that film didn't have a part an hour in where a bunch of youths sing folk music for included in the movie for no real reason at all. The movie may seem silly, but it barely lets you laugh too much, resembling the person at a party who tries to be serious on a topic he doesn't much know about (in this case: how to make a fun movie) who trudges on despite the flaws in his argument without letting you laugh out of pity. It actually isn't until 20 minutes before the movie ends that the heroes figure out who was the one in question behind the murders, because...it didn't occur to them, I suppose. This would've probably better off if if had been made in the 50's than the 70's (because I suppose the monster wouldn't look so weird in black and white), but even then this isn't much of a movie to begin with, and even the ending is a downer. Turning the movie off after it ends doesn't usually give any emotion for me, but this time around I felt glad about finally being done. If you like schlocky films, this most likely will be in your alley, but I am just glad to be done with a film as weird as it gets.

Overall, I give it 1 out of 10 stars.

Where the Boys Are.

Review #822: Where the Boys Are.

Cast
Dolores Hart (Merritt Andrews), Paula Prentiss (Tuggle Carpenter), Yvette Mimieux (Melanie Tolman), Connie Francis (Angie), George Hamilton (Ryder Smith), Jim Hutton (TV Thompson), Rory Harrity (Franklin), Frank Gorshin (Basil), Chill Wills (Police Captain), and Barbara Nichols (Lola Fandango) Directed by Henry Levin.

Review
Where the Boys Are is a movie that is moderately entertaining while also handling its plot threads fairly enough. Hart is a fine lead, managing to have chemistry with the others in the cast, especially Hamilton, and their scenes (the first starting with the latter marking a ? mark in the sand) are nice enough. As for the other three leads, Prentiss is alright, with her scenes (especially with Hutton) being relatively fine; Francis, while not given too much to do is at least okay, and she even sings the title song; Mimieux is fine, with she doing well in the climax that certainly surprises but also feels realistic, as shocking as it is. From his first scene (mentioned above), Hamilton has a certain type of watch ability that never really wavers. Hutton is goofy at times, but he is certainly is likable enough. There is at least some humor in it, with one scene involving somebody getting into a water tank, which as it goes on gets to be pretty amusing. It's not exactly anything great, but it is a nifty 60's movie that has enough beach and a semblance of decently crafted plot to be fairly entertaining.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear.

Review #821: The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear.

Cast

Leslie Nielsen (Lieutenant Frank Drebin), Priscilla Presley (Jane Spencer), George Kennedy (Captain Ed Hocken), O.J. Simpson (Detective Nordberg), Robert Goulet (Quentin Hapsburg), Richard Griffiths (Dr. Albert S. Meinheimer/Earl Hacker), Jacqueline Brookes (Commissioner Anabell Brumford), Anthony James (Hector Savage), Lloyd Bochner (Terence Baggett), and Tim O'Connor (Donald Fenswick) Directed by David Zucker.

Review
It's strange, I did not really notice that the 25th Anniversary of this film was 13 days ago until doing this review. Happy 25th.

The original film (#599 - The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!) was fast-paced slapstick slapstick comedy that worked exceptionally well, with Nielsen being a particular highlight in part due to his comedic timing. With the second (and a half) film, you could say mostly the same thing, just with a few diminishing returns. Simply put, if you enjoyed the first film, you'll at least like the second film a little. Even though the movie seems a bit more predictable with the jokes, there are at least enough gags that work, with a pace of 85 minutes that fits enough. Nielsen and Presley do well enough again, with a gag spoofing "Ghost" being pretty funny. The supporting cast is well enough, with Goulet and Griffiths being decent enough additions, having good chemistry with Nielsen when needed. I wish I could say more, but take my word for it: It's okay, but if one had to pick between the two Naked Guns, take the original. It at least is a decent comedy sequel, as opposed to other comedy sequels (#402 - Rush Hour 3, #496 - The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, and #698 - Airplane II: The Sequel), so take this movie for what it's worth.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Modern Times.

Review #820: Modern Times.

Cast
Charlie Chaplin (A Factory Worker), Paulette Goddard (Ellen Peterson, The Gamin), Henry Bergman (Café Proprietor), Tiny Sandford (Big Bill), Chester Conklin (A Mechanic), Al Ernest Garcia (President of the Electro Steel Corp), Stanley Blystone (Gamin's Father), and Richard Alexander (Prison Cellmate) Directed by Charlie Chaplin (#353 - Monsieur Verdoux, #599 - The Kid, #600 - City Lights, #759 - The Gold Rush, and #775 - Shoulder Arms)

Review
This was the first movie Chaplin did with dialogue and sound effects, though it is only used prominently for scenes at the factory, with his character remaining silent, save for one song (sung entirely in gibberish) at the end of the film, with inter titles used throughout the movie, at a time when sound films had become the norm. The Little Tramp (the character that Chaplin played in a good deal of his films, though it wasn't usually listed as such in the credits) had a charm that Chaplin felt would be lost if the character ever spoke on screen. From this point on, his films would be in sound, sans the Tramp. As for this movie, Chaplin once again excels at his own brand of slapstick comedy, with the drama aspects (with regards to the time this was made) being balanced well enough to make for a really influential movie that still fits even 80 years later. Chaplin always managed to make his character an easy one to root for, while still being easy to have a laugh for the things he gets into, such as when he tries to keep up with an assembly line, with hilarious results. Watching him on screen is always a treat, and the supporting cast is excellent, with Chaplin and Goddard having good chemistry together; Garcia and Bergman (two regulars of Chaplin films) are also pretty good highlights. The themes of the movie (namely the rise of the industrialization in a modern world) are weaved in excellently, managing to be told alongside the comedy without any troubles. I can't tell which Chaplin film (of the six featured on Movie Night) is the best at this moment, but Modern Times is certainly another Chaplin film that is perfectly handled with a dynamic that he did excellently. The movie ends with an uncertain future for the two characters, but there is at least a gleam of hope, even in what seems to be the most hopeless of times.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Battle Beyond the Stars.

Review #819: Battle Beyond the Stars.

Cast

Richard Thomas (Shad), Robert Vaughn (Gelt), John Saxon (Sador), George Peppard (Space Cowboy), Darlanne Fluegel (Nanelia), Sybil Danning (Saint-Exmin), Sam Jaffe (Dr. Hephaestus), Jeff Corey (Zed), Morgan Woodward (Cayman of the Lambda Zone), Marta Kristen (Lux), Lynn Carlin (Nell), Earl Boen (Nestor 1), and John Gowens (Nestor 2) Directed by Jimmy T. Murakami.

Review

It's no coincidence that I decided to pick this on July 7th. Roger Corman was behind the production of what was intended as "The Magnificent Seven (itself a remake of Seven Samurai) in outer space", with Robert Vaughn (one of the original Seven) even appearing as one of the mercenaries. Fun fact: George Peppard had apparently been considered for The Magnificent Seven (#427), but Yul Brynner was chosen as the lead instead. James Cameron did the special effects (such as the models) for the film, which are relatively decent for a B-movie like this. Battle Beyond the Stars devotes a good deal of its run-time to the recruitment to save the planet Akira, finally getting around to a battle between the two around an hour in a movie that just lasts over 100 minutes. When it does get to the action, Battle Beyond the Stars is certainly entertaining enough, appealing to anyone willing to overlook the cheesiness of it all, much like with Starcrash (#755), though this film is arguably better in quality. The cast is certainly interesting to watch; Thomas is a decent lead, though he does take some time to get used to. Vaughn (in the brief time he appears in) is interesting to watch, playing essentially the same role as he did in Magnificent Seven. Saxon (who merely wanted to live forever) is quirky enough as the villain, though he really doesn't get enough screen-time, apart from the end. Peppard is a fun enough kind of cowboy, with a few effective one-liners in him. Obviously the story and feel of the film is a bit familiar, but it has enough ridiculous aspects of cheese and charm to work on at least some level, depending on the kind of mood / preference one is up for. 

Apologies for the delay, internet troubles.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Rambo: First Blood Part II.

Review #818: Rambo: First Blood Part II.

Cast
Sylvester Stallone (John Rambo), Richard Crenna (Col. Samuel Trautman), Charles Napier (Marshall Murdock), Steven Berkoff (Lt. Col. Podovsky), Julia Nickson (Co-Bao), Martin Kove (Ericson), George Cheung (Lt. Tay), and Andy Wood (Banks) Directed by George P. Cosmatos.

Review
It really has been a long time since I reviewed a Rambo movie (#025 - First Blood), hasn't it? It wasn't entirely intentional, it just got lost in the shuffle over nearly 6 years and over 700 reviews later, but here it is, to end this Independence Day doubleheader. The movie was written by James Cameron, though Stallone also provided significant input as well. In a nutshell, it's a movie that for me is moderately entertaining, but not as good as the first film. It's an action movie without much in the way of developed characters, but it satisfies anybody looking for some action, while not insulting their intelligence too much. There is some sort of fun in seeing specialized arrows blowing up stuff. Rambo is Rambo, with Stallone excelling as the action hero he was in the 80's, purely simple. There isn't too much for the supporting cast to do, but Crenna and Stallone do have some good brief scenes with each other, along with him and Nickson. I really can't complain all too much about a movie that is simple, but to the point in its intentions, with Rambo having a little monologue at the end that does at least bookend the movie well enough. It's not a bad 7/10 movie, and I'm sure others enjoy it more than I do (which I can respect), so take it for what it's worth.

I hope you enjoyed this doubleheader for Independence Day, as I did watching these movies and writing these reviews.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Suddenly.

Review #817: Suddenly.

Cast
Frank Sinatra (John Baron), Sterling Hayden (Sheriff Tod Shaw), James Gleason (Peter "Pop" Benson), Nancy Gates (Ellen Benson), Kim Charney (Peter Benson III), Paul Frees (Benny Conklin), Christopher Dark (Bart Wheeler), Willis Bouchey (Agent Dan Carney), and Paul Wexler (Deputy Slim Adams) Directed by Lewis Allen.

Review
On Independence Day, I figured it would make sense to review a film noir with Frank Sinatra (playing the villain) and set in a small town named Suddenly, which is set up for a visit but also a possible ambush. Sinatra is introduced less then 20 minutes into the film, and from there he certainly fits the crazed role nicely. The small town is captured nicely, along with the nature of the characters inside this town, such as Hayden and his towering presence. It's interesting to see that the main villain and the sheriff were both veterans of the War (with the mother being a widow as well), which had only ended 9 years prior, and the two even exchange in a bit of banter over where they served about 10 minutes before the movie ends. Suddenly manages to keep a quick pace at 75 minutes, not overstaying its welcome, thanks to a cast that does a fine job at acting their roles out. Gates is alright, even if her overprotective character may seem a bit overreaching (not letting her kid go to a troop meet?) at times. Suddenly is a fairly decent movie that works as a quick thriller with a decent cast to boot as well.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Crimes of the Future.

Review #816: Crimes of the Future.

Cast
Ronald Mlodzik (Adrian Tripod), with Jon Lidolt, Tania Zolty, Jack Messinger, Paul Mulholland, William Haslam, and William Poolman. Directed by David Cronenberg.

Review
The 2nd part of this celebration on Canada Day ends with Crimes of the Future, the first time a David Cronenberg film has been featured on Movie Night. The movie was directed, written, produced, edited and shot by Cronenberg, born in Toronto. I can't say I remember the last time I watched an experimental film, complete with a bunch of unknown actors and Mlodzik as our narrator in a movie that certainly relies on imagery more than anything. But the main question is if the movie is any good? I suppose it all comes down to what you feel about watching something a bit different than the usual sci-fi fare. It lasts just barely over an hour, but to some it may feel much longer, depending on the amount of patience one has for something that is strange in its own right.

I'm not in the camp of going for movies just because they aren't in the mainstream, but I'm also not in the camp of outright rejecting something that doesn't appeal to everyone. I try to go into all the movies I see with at least some sort of open mind, and though I do admittedly differentiate in reviews of certain movies from time to time, there is an attempt to try and understand the effort taken in movies, even ones like this. The cinematography (also by Cronenberg) is decent, sometimes showing the strangeness of a world that may already be doomed. It's a twisted movie, with a mindset that does not skew towards what it wants to be, as strange and sad as it may be. If you are into movies of the experimental / art house genre that try to be something really different, you might be for it. I can't make myself give this a positive review, but it is at least a movie with effort. 

 Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

And with this ends another Movie Night on Canada Day. It is not my native country, but I felt that since it was close to my nation's Independence Day, it only made sense to try and include some Canadian films into the mix of the American celebration three days later. I hope you enjoyed the reviews.

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Starship Invasions.

Review #815: Starship Invasions.

Cast
Robert Vaughn (Professor Allan Duncan), Christopher Lee (Captain Rameses), Daniel Pilon (Anaxi), Tiiu Leek (Phi), Helen Shaver (Betty Duncan), Henry Ramer (Malcolm), Victoria Johnson (Gazeth), and Doreen Lipson (Dorothy) Directed by Ed Hunt.

Review
Another year, another Canada Day to celebrate. I've done reviews dedicated to Canadian films before (#406 - Whispering City, #407 - Why Shoot the Teacher?, #408 - Goin' Down the Road, #409 - The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, #607 - Back to God's Country, #608 - Tomorrow Never Comes, and #722 - The Changeling), but this time I decided to pick one a bit different from the previous bunch - a sci-fi film (also known as Project Genocide in the UK, with War of the Aliens and Alien Encounter being the two titles of the movie before being renamed to the one seen above). It was filmed in Toronto about UFO's, with First Canadian Place (the tallest skyscraper in Canada) being featured in one scene. Believe it or not, this is a hokey kind of sci-fi film, with telepathic aliens, a suicide device used as a superweapon, and multiple shots of ships looking like hubcaps. It only makes sense for all the aliens to be telepathic, because without it they would have to speak with each other, instead of just being dubbed in the booth, so Lee is sadly relegated to just being silent, save for his voice from time to time. Vaughn certainly fits into the movie well enough, not being over-the-top or underplayed, even in a movie without much standout acting.

I have to admit, a group called the "Legion of the Winged Serpent" is pretty unique sounding, even if it's just a bunch of aliens in black garb, apparently descendants of transplanted humans, whatever that means. There is something strange about all these proceedings, maybe it's the random suicides (by the device, but still random), or the way the plot moves. At least it's not a simple invasion movie, though the merging of UFO accounts (such as the garb and robot design) really mesh weirdly with the Intergalactic League of Races and their pyramid in the ocean of the Earth. I find it funny they made a Galactic Treaty about not attacking Earth, when the Serpents just ignore it anyway. The movie runs quickly enough at around 90 minutes, and while it is a hokey kind of sci-fi film released on the heels of Star Wars, but there is a certain charm to the ridiculous nature of a movie that tries to mesh a bunch of aspects together to make for a movie best suited for being watched with a little bit of ribbing along the way.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

The Simpsons Movie.

Review #814: The Simpsons Movie.

Cast
Dan Castellaneta (Homer Simpson, Abe Simpson, Groundskeeper Willie, Krusty the Clown, Mr. Teeny, Sideshow Mel, Mayor Quimby, EPA Officer, Itchy, Barney Gumble, Hans Moleman, Plopper, Burns's Lawyer, Rich Texan), Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson, Patty and Selma), Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, Todd Flanders, TV daughter), Yeardley Smith (Lisa Simpson), Pam Hayden (Maggie Simpson, Milhouse Van Houten, Rod Flanders), Hank Azaria (Moe Szyslak, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Comic Book Guy, Cletus Spuckler, Carl, Bumblebee Man, Dr. Nick, Chief Wiggum, Gabbo, Officer Lou), Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns, Smithers, Ned Flanders, Rainer Wolfcastle, Reverend Lovejoy, Lenny, Dr. Hibbert, Kent Brockman, Scratchy, Seymour Skinner, Otto Mann), Tress MacNeille (Medicine Woman, Colin, Cookie Kwan, Lindsey Neagle, Agnes Skinner, TV son, Mrs. Muntz, Elly), Albert Brooks (Russ Cargill), Marcia Wallace (Edna Krabappel), Russi Taylor (Martin Prince), and Maggie Roswell (Helen Lovejoy, Miss Hoover) Directed by David Silverman (#074 - Monsters, Inc.)

Review
I suppose this is a hard one to review in part because The Simpsons has been a culture phenomenon before and after I was even born, with no end in sight even after 25 years, and it was only fitting that a movie was made. The discussion of the series and its impact (and apparent decline) is one that will last even longer than this review, if not the next bunch. For me, I remember watching reruns of the show on local TV when I was growing up, but I haven't really watched that many episodes in the past few years, old or new. It's nothing personal, it's just I haven't had as much time for it. But I decided to watch the movie, in part because I wanted to end the month off with a review, and what better than the Simpsons?

While The Simpsons Movie could not possibly live up to any conceivable hype, it is at least an entertaining movie that succeeds enough to work. There is enough gags and enough of the family dynamic that helps it shine, even if it may be a bit short under 90 minutes. The animation is good, showing some excellent depth, such as the mob scene, or even when showing Alaska. The characters are faithfully brought to the screen, and there is some good scenes with them, such as when they are trying to escape the mob, or when Bart helps them escape from a convenience store by "drawing". I wish the movie had been longer, but I almost wish more that it was about something else. Granted, it does try to be more than just an extended episode of the show, but there's just something about it that feels missing. Sure, the environmental plot is fine and all, but it doesn't really seem to come off as meaty enough to leave much of an impact. The villain (played by Brooks) isn't terrible, but he isn't really anything that special either. The movie didn't need a cartoon-ish over-the-top villain, but I think it needed something a bit more defined. The scenes with Bart and Flanders are well-handled, and it is at least nice to see some sort of variation of Homer that actually seems to learn some sort of lesson, in a strange quirky scene no less. On the whole, The Simpsons Movie is passable enough, with the characters we all know and love in their own movie, and it pushes itself just over the edge to work.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Finding Dory.

Review #813: Finding Dory.

Cast
Ellen DeGeneres (Dory), Albert Brooks (Marlin), Hayden Rolence (Nemo), Ed O'Neill (Hank), Kaitlin Olson (Destiny), Ty Burrell (Bailey), Diane Keaton (Jenny), Eugene Levy (Charlie), Idris Elba (Fluke), Dominic West (Rudder), and Sigourney Weaver (Herself) Directed by Andrew Stanton (#155 - Finding Nemo, #222 - WALL-E, and #539 - A Bug's Life) and Angus MacLane.

Review
Once again, another trip to the local movie theater, this time with friends, which makes the 24th edition of the so-called (by me) Theater Saga a tad more fun. 

The easiest bright side to detect is that it doesn't hinder nor ruin the first film, even if it is easy to admit that this really isn't an very necessary sequel. For me, I'm not one of those people who lets nostalgia of the first film get to me, I just wanted to see if it would be a good animated film from Pixar. While it is not a perfect movie, I did at least have a good time with it. If you enjoyed Dory from the first film, you will be in for a treat (as evidenced by the title); I was surprised that it decided to follow up the first film and not simply just be one of those "X years later", where everything had changed (save for Nemo's voice, which makes sense). The cast is enjoyable, all having good chemistry with each other (one of my favorites is Ed O'Neill, whose ill-tempered nature contrasts well with DeGeneres' bright quirkiness), with the new characters being well suited for the movie. The animation is pretty good, as is the standard for Pixar, with enough diverse fish and colors to pop just enough. The movie did a good enough job to make me not think about exactly how long Dory was separated from her parents (or how a fish gets diagnosed with short-term memory loss as a baby) entirely too much. It's a bittersweet kind of movie that manages to be a fairly good continuation while also not being too much of a re-tread. It might not get you to cry, but it will most likely inspire some sort of emotion. Was it entirely needed? Perhaps not, but it is at least a sequel that does its job nicely.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Twister.

Review #812: Twister.

Cast
Bill Paxton (Bill Harding), Helen Hunt (Dr. Jo Harding), Jami Gertz (Dr. Melissa Reeves), Cary Elwes (Dr. Jonas Miller), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Dusty Davis), Alan Ruck (Robert Nurick), Jeremy Davies (Brian Laurence), Joey Slotnick (Joey), and Sean Whalen (Alan Sanders) Directed by Jan de Bont.

Review

Truth be told...This made Independence Day (#193, which also happened to be released 20 years ago) seem like less of a chore compared to this. Simply put, Twister is a popcorn movie, solely entertaining for the destruction set forth by the tornadoes. If you go into it looking for some sort of enjoyment from these characters or plot, you won't really get much from it, save for Hoffman, who certainly has enough quirky energy to stand out in a movie designed to just be a spectacle. Paxton is fine, but him and Hunt never really seem to have much chemistry that stands out among the tornadoes. Elwes is the "bad guy" of the movie (unless you count the tornado), complete with an accent that while not laughable is mildly entertaining. Let's put it this way: Giving the movie criticism for being what it aspired to be is tough, because it aimed for that goal and not much else. But for me, it was only mildly entertaining, because there comes to be a point when you get tired of tornadoes ripping stuff to shreds over and over again. The characters exist to give the movie a plot, barely registering as cliches. I guess something must be wrong (with either me or the movie) when only one major character dies in the whole movie, and it's the "corporate bad guy". If I don't care about the characters trying to get a research device into the vortex of a tornado (because they're bound to get at least one out of four), then why even bother with the movie? Because...the effects? I suppose so. It really is the ultimate take it or leave it movie. For me, it was just an average movie that wasn't as exciting as other movies designed to just do one certain thing, being just a movie that came and went as average as a weather report.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Big Hero 6.

Review #811: Big Hero 6.

Cast
Scott Adsit (Baymax), Ryan Potter (Hiro Hamada), Daniel Henney (Tadashi Hamada), T.J. Miller (Fred), Jamie Chung (GoGo), Damon Wayans, Jr. (Wasabi), Génesis Rodríguez (Honey Lemon), James Cromwell (Professor Robert Callaghan), Alan Tudyk (Alistair Krei), and Maya Rudolph (Aunt Cass) Directed by Don Hall and Chris Williams.

Review
Big Hero 6 is a welcome addition to the Disney films, while also being a highly entertaining movie due to its cast, animation, and its charm. Based off the comic book series of the same name, Big Hero 6 sets up its world and characters with near relative ease, from the wonderful visuals of San Fransokyo to the chemistry of the characters, there certainly is a great deal of care towards making this a fun ride, which works. Baymax (an inflatable robot made out of vinyl) is a wonderful character, even being charming when wearing armor, and Adsit makes the character fun to watch. Potter makes for a good lead as a full-fledged character, never coming off as unrealistic or offbeat (a 14 year old prodigy? I'll roll with it, because it is handled well, and there have been far weirder things to buy in films prior to and after this). The scenes with him and Henney that begin the movie help the movie gain footing, with fine character development...and Baymax as well. The movie has a nice enough story, not devolving into too typical territory, sticking out well. The animation is wonderful, having a great deal of flair and sharp colors, with the six heroes standing out nicely. Speaking of which, the rest of the cast is also enjoyable, from the comic relief of T. J. Miller (who does it quite well) to the rest of the group (such as Wayans Jr, the most normal and fittingly the most neurotic of the group - doing a fun job), with Cromwell being a decent enough villain. The movie flows nicely enough, complete with enough fun and funny moments to be easy to recommend for anyone.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Review #810: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Cast
Adriana Caselotti (Snow White), Lucille La Verne (Evil Queen / Witch), Harry Stockwell (The Prince), Roy Atwell (Doc), Pinto Colvig (Grumpy and Sleepy), Otis Harlan (Happy), Scotty Mattraw (Bashful), Billy Gilbert (Sneezy), Eddie Collins (Dopey), Moroni Olsen (The Magic Mirror), and Stuart Buchanan (Humbert the Huntsman) Directed by William Cottrell, David Hand, Wilfred Jackson (#178 - Peter Pan, #373 - Cinderella, and #683 - Alice in Wonderland) Larry Morey, Perce Pearce, and Ben Sharpsteen.

Review
In a year dominated by stories varying from joy to outright tragedy all throughout the world, one can only either let things get to them, or find an outlet to at least provide some sort of comfort. With that in mind, it's time for a new review, incidentally on the first day of summer, which I hope is some sort of entertainment for you. I hope you enjoy.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was both the first full-length cel animated feature film alongside the first full-length film by Walt Disney and his animators, which was distributed by RKO Pictures. This wasn't the first ever animated movie (there were eight before this one, with the earliest being made in 1917, though it is now lost), but it was the first American animated movie, premiering on December 21, 1937. At the time, this movie was referred to as "Disney's Folly", with people doubting that a man (and his animators) known for cartoon shorts could make a successful film. Obviously this movie was a massive success, but the history the surrounds it is quite interesting, and this movie quite obviously was the impetus for animated films that followed this one. The influence and grace that the movie had is what makes this a great movie; from animation to music, it set a standard that is still held true today.

For me, it had been years since I had seen this film (predating even this show), but even years later the movie still resonated with me. It's a universal kind of movie that works for any age, appealing with a unique kind of charm. I especially like when Snow White is comforted by the animals, with a showcase of the numerous kinds of animals from rabbits to the turtle, with the scenes afterward being wonderful. The movie is an adaptation of the tale by The Brothers Grimm, which prior to (and after) this film had been turned into a play and film (including one I touched on in 1916 - #768), with each adaption being its own kind of twist on the story. With regards to this film, it manages to be enjoyable on the animation, musical & story aspects, balancing itself nicely. It's a movie that moves quickly, running less than 90 minutes, but it does have time for songs, such as Heigh-Ho", "Some Day My Prince Will Come", and "Whistle While You Work", with a soundtrack (the first of its kind in America) being released the following year. The dwarfs are a key highlight, with their chemistry between each other and Snow White being fun, especially Grumpy. The Evil Queen is a fine villain, with the right voice by La Verne to give the film its edge. It really is hard to say more about a movie as universal as Snow White, but I can say that if one hasn't seen it, they definitely should, with no hesitation. This isn't me being on the Disney bandwagon (seriously, does everything have a bandwagon now?), it really is a movie one should see, for its influence and charm for all.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Sunset Boulevard.

Review #809: Sunset Boulevard.

Cast
William Holden (Joe Gillis), Gloria Swanson (Norma Desmond), Erich von Stroheim (Max von Mayerling), Nancy Olson (Betty Schaefer), Fred Clark (Sheldrake), Lloyd Gough (Morino), Jack Webb (Artie Green), and Cecil B. DeMille. Directed by Billy Wilder (#106 - Some Like It Hot, #194 - Ace in the Hole, #422 - The Fortune Cookie, and #641 - The Apartment)

Review
The inventive (if not quirky) device of narration by our freshly dead main character certainly sets the tone for what is at all counts a fairly well-made movie that was later added to the National Film Registry as a film noir. Nostalgia is something that we all encounter at least once in our lives, whether it be for a different past time or for our own past. Sunset Boulevard certainly expresses nostalgia in the form of Swanson's character, from her private movie theater that shows her silent movies to playing bridge with a few "waxworks" (played by three silent film stars of the era: Buster Keaton, Anna Q. Nilsson, and H. B. Warner). The transition from the silent era to sound led to new horizons but also the decline of a good deal of the silent stars that had graced the screen and the hearts of moviegoers as well. The cinematography by John F. Seitz is excellent, making the movie look very well shot, particularly the final scene, with Swanson seemingly fading into the glitz of the camera. There's a certain sort of allure that Swanson brings to her character that makes her irresistible to watch on screen - her banter with Holden is especially entertaining. Von Stroheim is also wonderful to watch in his attempts at appeasing this husk of a star, with all of the desperation and pity in full display. Holden does a good job at telling this yarn, with enough quips along the way. One of my favorite lines is about how people don't really know the writing it takes to make a movie, assuming that the actors make it up as they go along. There's a certain mythic quality to these actors of yesteryear that is hard to explain at times but is always present, with a presence as large as Norma Desmond. Sure, one could figure out who killed who soon enough, but it's the spectacle that gives the movie breath. It's a movie with much to remember, from the main trio to the dialogue ("I'm ready for my close-up" being one of them) that makes for a fine thing to watch.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

City Slickers.

Review #808: City Slickers.

Cast
Billy Crystal (Mitch Robbins), Daniel Stern (Phil Berquist), Bruno Kirby (Ed Furillo), Patricia Wettig (Barbara Robbins), Helen Slater (Bonnie Rayburn), Jack Palance (Curly Washburn), Noble Willingham (Clay Stone), Tracey Walter (Cookie), Jeffrey Tambor (Lou), Josh Mostel (Barry Shalowitz), David Paymer (Ira Shalowitz), Bill Henderson (Dr. Ben Jessup), Phill Lewis (Dr. Steve Jessup), Kyle Secor (Jeff), Dean Hallo (T.R.) Directed by Ron Underwood.

Review
On the 25th Anniversary of this movie's release, I decided that it would be a good idea to make a review for it and ultimately it turned out to be a great idea. City Slickers is not just a well-made comedy, it is also a movie with layers of drama that manages to give it enough weight to make for a truly entertaining film. The main trio (Crystal, Stern, Kirby) have good chemistry with each other, managing to share some good moments of screen together; one of my favorites is when they are talking about their best (and worst) days, mainly because we get a glimpse at what made them feel their happiest (along with their lowest), as they are trying to capture that spirit again. The movie never feels contrived in either its comedy or its drama, always managing to keep a balance. Naturally, the supporting cast is also a key highlight, with Palance standing out easily, with his first scene having him rope a character to a fence, complete with that chiseled look of his He plays the role with simply and effectively, without any ounce of fakery, and he certainly works well with Crystal, particularly when trying to deliver a calf. He doesn't have all too much screen time, but he is certainly memorable enough and excellent to the core, and his performance managed to snag an Oscar. There is a certain appeal to what these characters are going through, with them trying to use a dude ranch (disguised as a mythic kind of fantasy) to solve their problems, as weird as it may seem. You get to feel for these characters, while also having a laugh at the lines and gags that make up an enjoyable movie. I'd recommend seeing it, one for the jokes, and one for the other elements that give it much needed weight.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

The Alligator People.

Review #807: The Alligator People.

Cast
Beverly Garland (Joyce Webster / Jane Marvin), Bruce Bennett (Dr. Eric Lorimer), Lon Chaney Jr. (Mannon), George Macready (Dr. Mark Sinclair), Frieda Inescort (Mrs. Lavinia Hawthorne), Richard Crane (Paul Webster), and Douglas Kennedy (Dr. Wayne MacGregor) Directed by Roy Del Ruth (#395 - The Maltese Falcon (1931) and #432 - The Babe Ruth Story)

Review
With b-movies, sometimes you just have to lower expectations just a notch, and try to see if you can have fun, especially with a movie called The Alligator People. While it is a sci-fi monster film, it does try to utilize horror as well, with the framing device being the main character's recollection of previous events (done by two doctors), as strange as they are. Garland is the highlight, coming off as the most natural, while Chaney is certainly memorable in a villainous role that sometimes comes off as silly. Obviously, the movie has a few alligator people (due to an experiment gone wrong involving serum), with effects that are at least tolerable, if not a bit silly. My favorite is the climax, involving an "alligator person" with a head that reminds me of a Halloween mask. The movie runs at just over 70 minutes, but it feels a bit stiff when trying to actually get to the alligator people, and I do find it a bit funny that there's a laboratory right near a bayou of alligators. There is at least an ending that isn't too cliche, with the main character not being told that her tale is actually true. In any case, it's an okay movie, not too bad for anyone.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Wayne's World.

Review #806: Wayne's World.

Cast
Mike Myers (Wayne Campbell), Dana Carvey (Garth Algar), Tia Carrere (Cassandra Wong), Rob Lowe (Benjamin Oliver), Lara Flynn Boyle (Stacy), Michael DeLuise (Alan), Lee Tergesen (Terry), Dan Bell (Neil), Sean Gregory Sullivan (Phil), Brian Doyle-Murray (Noah Vanderhoff), Colleen Camp (Mrs. Vanderhoff), Kurt Fuller (Russell Finley), Chris Farley (Security Guard), Meat Loaf (Tiny), Frank DiLeo (Frankie 'Mr. Big' Sharp), and Ed O'Neill (Glen, the manager at Stan Mikita's Donuts) Directed by Penelope Spheeris (#238 - The Little Rascals)

Review
From the opening minutes, Wayne's World pulled me in, with the Bohemian Rhapsody scene being one of the first highlights of the film. There's something entertaining about seeing people listening to that song and enjoying themselves with such energy. Everything about the movie feels enjoyable, from Wayne (and sometimes Garth) talking to the audience and breaking the fourth wall to the numerous amount of gags played all throughout the film, including the ending(s). The characters are enjoyable to watch, with our main duo especially having great chemistry, right from their opening scene on the aforementioned show they host. Lowe is enjoyably smarmy, making for a neatly fit villain. Carrere is also a good highlight, even doing her own vocals for the songs; my favorite scene is when her and Myers share a conversation in Cantonese, with the subtitles on the bottom playing even after they stop talking. My personal favorite minor character is Ed O'Neill as Glen, who while only having a few lines manages to fit into a quirky environment like this, what with his observation on steam leaving out of a body. Alice Cooper makes a fine cameo appearance, in part because of his interaction with Wayne and Garth, who were certainly not worthy, but we at least were, enough to see a fun little scene. On the whole, Wayne's World has enough jokes and fun characters to make for a (wait for it) truly excellent movie.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

The Navigator.

Review #805: The Navigator.

Cast
Buster Keaton (Rollo Treadway), Kathryn McGuire (Betsy O'Brien), Frederick Vroom (John O'Brien), Clarence Burton (Spy), and H.N. Clugston (Spy) Directed by Buster Keaton (#757 - Seven Chances and #762 - College) and Donald Crisp.

Review
It's fun to cover another Keaton movie because it is always nice to see the deadpan humor alongside stunt work by Keaton himself, complete with sight gags and a reasonable amount of pacing. The Navigator doesn't have many cast members, but the dynamic between Keaton and McGuire works just fine. It's entertaining seeing the two of them try to run a ship without servants nor anyone else to help; at one point they even fly the flag signaling quarantine, while trying to lower a boat to the water. Speaking of which, the aquatic scenes are well done, with Keaton being a master even under a heavy suit. The ship itself is a good setting, and it is used well, with several gags (such as when they try to make food) utilizing the ship to good capacity. It's interesting how the movie seemingly feels relevant today; sure, people don't go on ships as much as they used to, but there is a certain feeling of watching people try to use technology (of any kind) and either dealing with it or taking time to find ways to use it right. The movie moves at a fine pace, not languishing while on the ship; at 59 minutes, it is a treat for anyone.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

National Lampoon's Vacation.

Review #804: National Lampoon's Vacation.

Cast
Chevy Chase (Clark Griswold), Beverly D'Angelo (Ellen Griswold), Imogene Coca (Aunt Edna), Anthony Michael Hall (Russell "Rusty" Griswold), Dana Barron (Audrey Griswold), Randy Quaid (Cousin Eddie), Christie Brinkley (Girl in Red Ferrari), John Candy (Russ Lasky), Eddie Bracken (Roy Walley), Brian Doyle-Murray (Kamp Komfort Clerk), Miriam Flynn (Cousin Catherine), James Keach (Motorcycle Cop), and Eugene Levy (Ed) Directed by Harold Ramis (#138 - Bedazzled, #208 - Caddyshack, and #342 - Groundhog Day)

Review
[Skip to the second paragraph if you don't want to read a recollection of the past]
It has been a while since the last Lampoon film I watched (#771 - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation), so I figured that this would fit with summer coming right up. From personal experience, I remember when me and my dad decided to drive all the way to Oregon years back (and vice versa). I was 14, but even with the problems that occurred (spark plugs problems, having to drive right straight through California* because we drove too far to the left in Arizona), it was still fun, if not with a few hurdles.

With this movie, I can relate to the frustrations of trying to have some fun on a vacation, but I also can have some laughs, which is what helps the movie, alongside a wonderful cast. Chase and D'Angelo have great chemistry along with good timing, coming off as natural, if not beleaguered. Chase does a great job selling this character, who clearly wants to have fun with his family, and it is fun (if not odd) to watch him gradually get more and more frustrated. It's an episodic kind of movie, expressed through their stops to different towns from St. Louis to Coolidge to (somewhere in) Arizona, all with a Wagon Queen Family Truckster, which is a great ugly car, complete with four headlights and wood paneling that would make a lumberjack blush. The music selection (Holiday Road, Blitzkrieg Bop) are also pretty good, fitting the movie well. Hall and Barron are also pretty good, making perfect examples of kids on a road trip, a weird road trip at least. The rest of the cast are also pretty memorable, such as Quaid and his bumpkin of a character that certainly endears to people who get to deal with at least one quirky relative every so often. There's a certain charm this movie has in that one can relate to (and giggle) with the experience in the movie, such as when they finally reach their destination, Walley World. Not to spoil much, but let's just say that it serves as a fine climax, complete with John Candy being added to the fray. For anybody looking for a vacation movie with all the stops of fun (and misery), I'd check this one out.

*Note: Nothing against California, which actually was pretty decent, if not a big state to go through. My highlight? Getting to drink Mr. Pibb for the first time. Hey, I was 14, give me a break.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Detour.

Review #803: Detour.

Cast
Tom Neal (Al Roberts), Ann Savage (Vera), Claudia Drake (Sue Harvey), Edmund MacDonald (Charles Haskell Jr), Tim Ryan (Nevada Diner Proprietor), Esther Howard (Holly, Diner Waitress), and Don Brodie (Used Car Salesman) Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer (#797 - People on Sunday)

Review
Detour (by varying accounts) was made on a low budget that was filmed in a few weeks with the movie being released by Producers Releasing Corporation, a low-budget studio that made and distributed their own films in the 1940's, making over 100 films before it was acquired by Eagle-Lion Films Inc, which merged into United Artists by the 1950's. But in any case, Detour has thrived over the 71 years since its release, even being added onto the National Film Registry (alongside other noirs previously reviewed on this show, such as The Hitch-Hiker and Shadow of a Doubt). Nearly half way through the movie, we are introduced to Savage's character with a bright theme as she is picked up by the main character on the road. It's a nice scene because the rest of her scenes depict her as a sharp tongued hostile contrast to Neal, with the two exchanging multiple times in banter that gives the movie a sharp kind of edge.

Neal plays the everyman kind of character well, and it's interesting to see him have to adjust to the ever changing nature of his situation, what with a man plopping dead on a rock and all, with narration helping to set the movie up quickly. It's a movie all about guilt, with a hero that seemingly traps himself into a situation that gets more precarious by the minute. The movie ends on a quote the essentially sums up the movie: "Fate, for some mysterious force, can put the finger on you or me, for no good reason at all." Neal is easy to relate to along with being easy to watch, with a unique sort of ending (Yes, the Production Code of the time dictated that murderers were to not get away with it...but the movie finds a way to get around it of sorts). Detour, despite only having a few characters to focus on, a low budget, and a short run-time of 67 minutes, manages to rise above b-movie status to become a winner, and I would recommend this film for anyone looking for a film noir to watch.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

In a World...

Review #802: In a World...

Cast
Lake Bell (Carol Solomon), Fred Melamed (Sam Sotto), Michaela Watkins (Dani Solomon), Ken Marino (Gustav Warner), Demetri Martin (Louis), Rob Corddry (Moe), Alexandra Holden (Jamie), Nick Offerman (Heners), Geena Davis (Katherine Huling), and Tig Notaro (Cher) Directed by Lake Bell.

Review
Trailers (whether you love 'em or hate 'em), are certainly an interesting form of promotion for movies, and the voice (or voices) for those trailers certainly try to help sell the movie. The movie starts by showing clips of Don LaFontaine, who (quite possibly) is the most well-known voice actor for trailers, with his popularization of the phrase "In a World..." being the namesake of this movie. Bell also wrote and directed this film, and I'll give her credit for making a movie that at its heart is inherently easy to get behind. It's a movie that is likable enough and it zings with enough barbs to make for a relatively fine film. Bell certainly is a fine lead, having enough charm along with fine comic timing that makes for an interesting character to watch, with her and Martin also having a good chemistry with each other. Melamed certainly does a fine job as well, and while I wouldn't call him an antagonist, he certainly makes for an interesting character to watch with regards to his scenes with him and his (full grown) kids. The characters in the movie are pretty well-defined, all having some sort of quirk or just something that makes you want to watch them. The movie tries to mesh the comedy and drama and while it doesn't always seem to work perfectly, it is at least a movie worth seeing once. Is it for everyone? Probably not, but I felt that it worked on enough levels to work for me.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Mission: Impossible.

Review #801: Mission: Impossible.

Cast
Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt), Jon Voight (Jim Phelps), Emmanuelle Béart (Claire Phelps), Henry Czerny (Eugene Kittridge), Jean Reno (Franz Krieger), Ving Rhames (Luther Stickell), Vanessa Redgrave (Max), Kristin Scott Thomas (Sarah Davies), and Emilio Estevez (Jack Harmon) Directed by Brian De Palma.

Review
Today is the 20th anniversary of the release of this film, and I decided to honor that by reviewing it, since it has been a while since I actually watched one of the five films (#128 - Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol). While I will admit I have never watched the television series Mission: Impossible, I went into the movie with the expectation of watching something that would at least be entertaining, not necessarily going into it expecting a completely loyal version of the show. As it turned out, that was probably the right idea, because the original cast did not exactly have a positive reaction to the movie, and Peter Graves (the original Jim Phelps) rejected the offer to play the role again. With all that in mind, the movie was still pretty good for me. Cruise does an excellent job, seeming very comfortable in the role, with his action scenes (and stunt-work) being enjoyable to watch. Voight, while not exactly up to Cruise's strength, is at least a capable villain, with at least some sort of motivation (honestly though I think I would probably take up a hobby instead of well, doing an elaborate ruse). Béart doesn't get much to do, but she is at least decent. My favorites are Rhames and Redgrave, with the former being cool to watch who works well with Cruise, and the latter being an interesting character who's not necessarily a villain, just a middle-man in all of this. The action is well done, being entertaining along with feeling real enough. The movie's story seems destined to try and twist itself almost too much, but it manages to come off as serviceable, with enough spy elements to make for what is at least a fine experience that has spawned four sequels in the 20 years that have passed since this movie's release

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Shadow of a Doubt.

Review #800: Shadow of a Doubt.

Cast
Teresa Wright (Charlotte "Charlie" Newton), Joseph Cotten (Charles "Charlie" Oakley), Macdonald Carey (Detective Jack Graham), Patricia Collinge (Emma Newton), Henry Travers (Joseph Newton), Wallace Ford (Detective Fred Saunders), Hume Cronyn (Herbie Hawkins), and Edna May Wonacott (Ann Newton) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock (#219 - Rope, #223 - North by Northwest, #446 - Spellbound, #447 - Psycho, #450 - Vertigo, #455 - Rear Window, and #553 - Strangers on a Train)

Review
Shadow of a Doubt benefits a great deal from being so tightly wound with suspense and thrills that never let up from beginning to end, the hallmark of a great film noir. Cotten is the first one introduced on screen, and whenever he appears he certainly has an alluring, likable charm, making for such a brilliant villain; when he lets out his other side (such as when he compares rich widows to fat wheezing animals) sneak onto the surface, it certainly makes for making this character very definable and very effective. Wright does a fine job as well, making for a great lead in that she has depth to her, not just being someone who happens to play onto all of these events; she has her struggles and her doubts about someone near to her, and it is all easy to relate and thus makes her character well defined. When she finally discovers the truth, it's a great scene because it finally culminates the clues sprinkled in beforehand (the inscription of the ring, ripping out a page of the paper, etc.), and the movie soon shifts into a game between the two Charlies. Wright and Carey share a good (if not extremely quick) rapport as well. The supporting cast is well done, doing their purpose and roles nicely, because they fit the movie well, being neither too distracting nor unhelpful to the plot. The final scene between the two of them is excellent, being a quick and effective climax that seals the movie neatly. Hitchcock described it as his favorite film, and it's evident that this really is one of his best films.

With that, 800 reviews have been written by yours truly in 1,979 days from December 20, 2010 to the present day. I am proud to have done this for over 5 years, and I am glad to have broadcast these reviews to all of you, wherever you are. I hope you enjoy this review, along with the previous and future installments of this show.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.