"Wake Up, Ron Burgundy"
In the pieced together furthur adventures of local anchorman, Ron Burgundy, a crime wave at the hands of some vigilante bank robbers named "The Alarm Clock" strikes San Diego. Veronica Corningstone and Burgundy fight for the scoop, and chaos ensues.
This was obviously like an alternate version of "Anchorman". There are many similarities to the theatrical version, while this seemed comprised of alternate takes and cut scenes, sewed together to make a "sequel", which was actually going on at the same time as the original. That said, "Wake Up" still holds its own. It's still funny as hell, features even MORE comic greatness from Steve Carell, and the plot while silly, has a great ending.
"A Boy and His Dog"
Set in the not so distant future, America is coming off of World War 3, which lasted 5 days. Don Johnson plays a young survivor, who with his dog in tow, straggles across the barren wastelands in what was once his country. During his travels, he meets a beautiful young women, sniffed out by his talking genius of a dog. Under her spell, and he being the savior of mankind, she takes him to an underground society where he'll be stripped of his goods and used to procreate the human race 30 times over before he's killed.
This film was typical lmid 70's cult fluff. This, in a time where post apocalyptic films were all the rage, i.e. "The Omega Man", "Soylent Green", and the "Apes" movies. The acting was standard fare, the dialogue was fair, and the ladies were always attractive as can be. 70's mod type. The 3rd act of the movie was indeed VERY cult, and odd. A society of women, looking to procreate, along with the best of the best inhabitants.
Personally, I'd suggest skipping this one, just because it's a very empty movie overall, and the plot of each act is very thin, not to mention repetitive and boring. I've never been much on the films of the 70's, and this one didn't help matters.
The Fog (1980)
This is one of my 1st written reviews, I normally don't right them, because I sometimes have a hard time expressing them on paper, I do better in speech, but here it goes.
The Fog is John Carpenter's 3rd installment since Halloween. The Fog is about town and it's 100th Birthday, in which was also the day a man was murdered. His ship and crew all died by the wrecking of their hull while following a campfire. They come back to take revenge.
The beauty of this movie is that it's minimalist in the way it scares you, mainly due to the fog which keeps you in suspense. The Fog was a great suspense tool, and definitely made the horror element in this movie work. The Fog was more of an enemy than the actual murderer, which I suppose is why they called it the fog over something like Murderer from the sea for example they knew how to keep the movie in perspective. Although personally I would have preferred more of the murderer, which I think the movie may have lacked.
Jamie Lee Curtis's role in the movie was a lot smaller than I thought it would have been, which isn't to say that's a bad thing, because I'm not a huge fan of hers anyway but thought I might point that out for you Jamie fans out there.
It was a nice flick to watch with a pretty decent storyline and nice ending. I recommend it.
"Spun"
Ross is a college kid who hasn't yet got a grip on life. He's seperated from a girlfriend of sorts, whom he happens to owe $450, and frequents stripclubs. One day, Ross, a speed freak meets The Cook by way of his dealer, Spider. From there, he's become the personal taxi service of The Cook and all Ross' own newfound drug fiend friends. This is his story.
First and foremost, this is a drug culture film. While not exactly in the upper tier with "Fear and Loathing", namely due to the perverse nature at times of "Spun", courtesy of Rourke's "The Cook" character, it's still a gem of the genre, IMO. It's funny, wild, intoxicating, always intriguing, and at times a total mind****. Personally, everyone else said that "Sin City" was Mickey's big "comeback". Personally, I don't know that he ever really went anywhere. Perhaps people weren't looking in the right place? With every sarcastic yet cool line he uttered, every ass he kicked, and every hazy, drug induced roll of his big, almost completely dialated eyes, I couldn't help but smile. It was his movie, especially the over the top, patriotic speech about the importance of the female netherregions.
"Spun" was a wild ride, to say the least. Some very hip camerawork was the initial draw, same can be said for the sound effects. Yes, speaker ripping, ear piercing sound effects that complimented the movie quite well. Tack on some genuinely thorough character performances from John Leguizamo, Mena Suvari, and Brittany Murphy, and you've got a great little underappreciated number. Awesome supposrting cast, great mix of comedy, drama, and action/suspense all make "Spun" an honestly underrated and overlooked indie that, with time, will eventually get the exposure it deserves in a tough to please drug culture film circuit.
Hmmm...since it's around Halloween, I'll go ahead and review my favorite horror film, Texas Chainsaw Massacre:
The 70's was a decade full of cinematic classics across all genres. This is especially true in the horror genre which enjoyed huge success during this decade, which is where the modern horror film was born.
No film is more important to the modern horror film industry then the 1974 psuedo-gore classic - "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
The first shot is of a sizzling, rotting corpse sitting under the hot texas sun. You'd think with a start like that you'd know what to expect from this film. And there in lies it's brilliance. You know it's a horror film, you know what it's about, yet as the film progresses you are still shocked and terrified by the raw and honest manner in which the story is carried out.
The film starts with a quiet tone and atmosphere which almost immediately gives off a foreboding silence that gives the impression of a calm before the storm. You know something bad is going to happen, you can tell...but the film is so unique, and so strikingly different from other horror films you can't predict how or what exactly is going to happen.
The story is of 5 young hippies on a road trip in Texas, they run out of gas and go to a secluded house to try and find help and gas. What they find is TERROR! and lots of it.
It's done in such a way that you never know what's going to happen next. There is no pounding music to build the suspense and let the viewer know to expect something, there is no coherent reason behind the gruesome acts of carnage we see, and as a result they come out of no where and completely blind side you.
The scene that best exemplifies this is the scene where we first get a glimpse of leatherface. When he pops out with that mallet and smacks Kurt right in the head it leaves the viewer shocked and confused. We had no way of expecting that, and that feelings stays during the entire film.
It's raw in every sense of the word, it's brilliance lies in it's anti cinematic feel...giving it a grainy plausible atmosphere that doesn't accept the idea of "it's only a movie". It's to real, it feels like what you're seeing is not just a movie but simply peering into the world of an absolute maniac who kills for no apparent reason other then not knowing any better.
This brings me to the star of the film, and my favorite horror villain of all time - Leatherface. His animalistic yet childlike behavior makes him so much creepier and interesting then other slashers. He wears a mask of human flesh, he eats his victims, he kills without remorse...yet he feels innocent, like a child who doesn't know he shouldn't pull the cat's tail. He's scolded by his older brother and whimpers and cowards, he IS a child, mentally at least, and that's what makes him so disturbing. The idea that he doesn't know what he's doing is wrong. He's doing all he's even known, what HE thinks he needs to do to survive. He's vicious, yet innocent.
This is insanity at it's best. Never once do you feel bored or let down by the film. You are never able to tell what is going to happen next. With each passing scene you think you've seen the worst the film has to offer. And yet the next scene you find yourself more shocked and confused then you were the scene prior. This is truly a testament to Tobe Hooper's brilliance that seems to have been lost immediately after making this film.
In my opinion this is the pinnacle of horror films. It's the one that got me into the genre in hopes of finding another film that left me feeling as exhausted and drained as this did. While I never did find a film that affected me in a comparable way, I still can watch this film, after over a hundred times, and still get those chills I got the first time I saw it.
If you're aching for some Halloween viewing, then do yourself a favor and go rediscover this gem.
"A Better Tomorrow"
In action movie directing staple, John Woo's debut film entitled "A Better Tomorrow", the estranged Sung brothers are pitted against one another. One a cop, the other a gangster. Growing up playing "cops and robbers", their playtime favorite has become a reality. While the gangster contingent of the pair is trying to clean up his act for both himself and his brother, the outside pressures mount, luring him back to a life of crime. From there, a barrage of back-stabbing, double crossing, and faith testing situations bare down on the Sungs.
I viewed this as an introduction into what made Woo a household name. Sadly, it supported my suspicions of him as an overrated director, not garnering the claims that he was ahead of his time. There was an unique and somewhat sophisticated story to be built upon, but the action and violence was very pedestrian. There were graphic shoot-outs, typical mid 80's style flailing about, but nothing ingenuitive or inventive, in my opinion. Chow Yun Fat's character was a hard-ass who could hold his own, and was relied on to carry the movie to its American style violent, yet totally predictable end.
In short, if you want a Woo retrospect, this is the place to start, as dissappointed with the film as you may be. Another mindless action flick with unrealized potential.
"National Treasure"
The Gates family legacy was plagued with the clans treasure hunters always finding nothing more than more clues and roadblocks. Determined to reverse the supposed curse, Ben Gates (Cage) treks out to find a ship lost at sea, which holds the clues to a virtual treasure trove of artifacts, buried deep somewhere in the United States. The only catch is, he'll need to borrow the Declaration of Independence for a little bit.
It's been a long time since I've seen such a well rounded, solid, and engaging film that was rated PG. Action, comedic relief, some tense moments, and an cast comprised of well fitting characters and actors. "National Treasure" i believe had it all. A modern day "Indiana Jones" of sorts, this movie had brains, and you could actually learn and be entertained at the same time. A great balance I appreciated even more having just seen it the first time since in the theatres.
Nick Cage heads up the expeditionary crew, and although he's double crossed, his character's resolve gets he and his second mate through. Sean Bean plays another psuedo-baddie, where he's still likeable, but he's still an greedy, hardheaded buffoon. Boromir, anyone? Again, the supporting cast in Justin Bartha and Dian Kruger were stellar. Quirky dialogue, great chemistry, both of which helped this film literally FLY along without missing a beat.
There are always the unfounded "DaVinci Code" comparisons and the premature, judgmental "It's a Bruckheimer" movie quips that would detract you from the feature, but please, judge for yourself. Safe, fun, clean movies like this are just so scarece nowadays, which is right when we need them. Do yourself a favor and give this a look-see.
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers"(1956)
A major epidemic has struck Smalltown, USA. A doctor, played by the late great Kevin McCarthy observes his patients, complaining about paranoid delusions that their relatavies are "not themselves", so to speak. The good doctor comes to learn of an odd cloning process taking place under their very noses. Having stumbled upon the imposters, as well as these alien pod cloning devices, Miles tries to escape his own fate, which is to become one of the mindless, emotionless clones.
Now, like every good 50's Sci-Fi or Horror, there's an underlying message for you to chew on. In this film, communism, maybe even McCarthy-ism. Society being replaced with mindless, emotionless, and cold clones who answer "the alarm", which springs them into action against the non-conformist. There's some solid tension that is derived from this sub-plot, which isn't all that secretive. It's a very smart and effect thriller, and the subtlty in the science fiction element, conservative until the very end, makes it all the more real.
Had it been anyone other than Kevin McCarthy at the helm, whos brave, determined, and boisterious like many of his other roles, I don't see it as effective. The narrative angle of the film keeps things chronological, as it opens with him in police custody, telling his tale, which threatens to become an eerie realization in the end. Fabulous acting, a complimentary duo of storylines, and a brisk 80 minutes of sci fi in its finest hour make this one a must see for all ages who appreciate the genre.
"Phantasm"
The younger of two brothers, Mike, has his older brother in town to visit. Afraid to lose him, given his parents had recently parished, Mike follows his brother around constantly. One day his snooping leads him to a funeral, where Mike views "The Tall Man", who suspiciously takes the casket from the scene after the ceremony. Introduced to the Tall Man's realm, there they encounter the Phantasm, and much more.
Tonight marks my 3rd, and final viewing of the film. I can't enjoy it, and I never have, and seemingly never will. The elements of both genres are just too low laying and sporatic to view it as anything other than a DRAMA of sorts. The first half of the film is incredibly dull, with little palpable "suspense", and the rest fleshes out as a dated little thriller, with a few elements of schlocky horror, i.e. the blood draining sphere. The last 15 minutes hold the only worth in the entire film, with the gateway to a odd "limbo" world. The ending of the movie, much like the pacing, seemed familiar, having seen it in Carpenter's "The Fog".
All in all, it's not necessarily overrated, but to hold this film in high regard, it must have had some major impact on your life, otherwise, I'd hope you'd agree it's not much more than a horror novelty with a memorable character and a scene or two.
"SAW II" (2005)
Oh yes, there will be blood!
Detective Eric Matthews, after a long time of searching, has finally caught the Jigsaw killer. When he and a SWAT team ambush Jigsaw's lair, they find many television screens, revealing a game taking place. Eight people are trapped in a house, breathing in a deadly nerve agent. They must play by Jigsaw's rules and several games to attain the antidotes they need in order to survive by the time the house opens up. One of these victims, is Detective Matthews's son, Daniel. Another, Amanda, who had survived the horrifying jawbrace trap before.
SAW II is a sequel. SAW II was released a year after the first one. How could it be that it actually met the greatness and possibly preceded the original (other than if you hated the original)? I can't tell you whether this was better or worse than the first SAW because I honestly can't decide. It stays true to the original without it being totally different or a mere copy.
As the movie began, I had my worries that this wasn't going to be nearly as good as the original. SAW began so quickly and got right to the point with Adam waking up in the bathtub. SAW II begins with a neat little game, but continues for a while with policework, making it seem more like a Se7en sequel than a SAW sequel. However, once they find Jigsaw, the fun begins and doesn't end until the last frame.
Here, the audience is treated with more air-time for Jigsaw. His appearances in the first one were short and far between in order to keep the audience wondering who this mysterious man in a black cloak is. Now that his identity is revealed, we get to see more of him and get a little backstory of how John became Jigsaw. It wasn't just the cancer that inspired him.
One thing that pleased me going in to see this is that there are so many possibilities for this one. Instead of two men chained in a dirty bathroom throughout the entire movie, we have eight people who are free to roam an entire house. This helped in more ways than one. It helped the main plot to be more pleasing to the fans that loved Jigsaw's sick games because it resulted in a lot more of them. It also helped because the games were more spread out. Three games weren't clumped together. There was one game, retaliation, and then a search for another clue.
No one saws his foot off in this movie but there are cringe-worthy scenes to make up for it.
With the first SAW, you either loved the ending or you hated it. The ending in SAW II is just as shocking, with shocks building on top of each other, and have little to no plotholes.
Fans of the first SAW will certainly not be disappointed by this and will be crossing their fingers for a SAW III.