Movie Review: Be Kind Rewind

PLOT:

In Passaic, NJ, Elroy Fletcher runs a video store in a condemned building he claims was the birthplace of Fats Waller. Fletcher goes on a Waller centennial trip, leaving his foster son Mike in charge of the store. Mike’s peculiar friend Jerry tries to sabotage a power station and nearly electrocutes himself, getting magnetized in the process. He inadvertently erases every tape in the store. Mike and Jerry hatch an plan to hide the disaster by making a homemade “Ghostbusters” to rent to a woman whom Fletcher will be phoning to check on them. Soon, with help, their homemade versions of films develop a cult following. Will this new business save the store and the building? What about Fats?

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Video store. Remember the days when we couldn’t just turn on our devices and have instant access to a vast library of films, but rather had to go to a physical location and search for the movie we wanted to see. Heaven forbid if all the copies were checked out and we would have to wait for one to be returned! *SIGH* I miss the video store. Interesting thing…this is set in modern day (I believe this was released in 2008?), which is way before the streaming wars. Netflix was still primarily a DVD by mail company (do they still do that?) and hadn’t forced Blockbuster out of business…yet. The video store in this film only features VHS, which I found interesting because most store, even the mom and pop variety, were completely on the DVD kick and exploring Blu ray at the time, if I recall. It was just a nice bit of nostalgia to see the VHS tapes on the shelves.

Fats. If you keep up with this blog, then it is fairly obvious that I am a jazz aficionado. That said, I will admit that Fats Waller is not one I’m particularly knowledgeable about. I’m not as bad as the kids in the film who when asked to name a Fats Waller song for some reason started singing Notorious B.I.G. and nursery rhymes, but I need to learn more about the man. To my knowledge, there aren’t many films on the subject of Waller, which is a shame because he does cast a huge shadow on the world of jazz. He may be a bit of a macguffin, for lack of a better term, in this film, but I can guarantee some folks went and read up and learned something about him after watching this picture.

DIY. For so many years, movie companies have had the monopoly on making movies. Today, anyone with a camera can make a movie and upload it to Youtube, Tik Tok, or wherever. Now, the idea is different in this film, at least until the end, but the same principle applies. These guys are making their own movies and putting them out there for people to see (because Jack Black’s character managed to get magnetized and erase all the tapes in the shop). At first, they do this just to keep the store in business, but as word of mouth spreads, it becomes a way to unite the community. How can you fault them for that?

What didn’t I like?

Gentrification. A secondary plot, that really doesn’t come into play fully until the last act, is the city’s desire to demolish the store and “improve” the neighborhood. Look, this is an older neighborhood and not the most aesthetically pleasing, but this is where this community lives. When cities want to “improve” these neighborhoods, all they do is kick everyone out so that they can build fancy apartments and/or overpriced stores in its stead. Nothing is put back the way it was and those that were kicked out are have to find a new home, despite having lived in the same spot for some 30, 40, 50 years. I applaud the film for touching on this topic, but the act and how the city officials were so callous and uncaring with is made me want to go in my TV screen and punch them in the face…or worse!

Close the store. In a pivotal scene from Clerks, Dante and Randall close the store to go on the roof and play hockey. While up there a string of characters consistently ask, “are you open”, despite the giant sign saying “back in an hour”. When Mike and Jerry (Mos Def and Jack Black, respectively) leave to film the “sweded” movies, I thought back to that. Now, it is shown that this store doesn’t do much business, but you never know when someone may come in, especially with the amount of time it takes to film a movie. We’re talking hours, just to make a 30 minute version of Ghostbusters. Maybe I’m reading too much into that, though.

Yes, you are the bad guy! Right as it looks like our heroes have pulled off a miracle and saved the store, enter a cameo by Sigourney Weaver as some sort of Federal copyright officer, I’m not exactly sure what her title is. She and her lackey seize all the sweded movies and take them outside to be destroyed, citing that little warning at the beginning of all videos. Depending on what side you’re on, she says something to the effect of “…and they thing we’re the bad guy” because the studios are losing thousands of dollars on these films (as if they don’t have enough money already). Copyright law is to protect intellectual property, such as black artists having their music stolen by the likes of Elvis, Lynyrd Skynrd, etc, not for movie studios to send lawyers and lackeys down at the slightest hint that they are losing money. Heaven forbid they don’t have a couple of $20 bills to light their cigars with!

Final verdict:

What did I think of Be Kind Rewind? At the end of the credits, there is a website address to see all the sweded videos from the film. If you search Youtube, there are a ton of sweded films, which is surprising because this was a modest hit at best. Not many people know about it’s existence. Personally, I dig it, but I like movies and jazz, so this is right up my alley. If you go into this with high expectations, you will be seriously disappointed. There is an independent comedy feel to this film that really makes it work and seeing the community unite to save the video store is sure to warm your heart. I highly recommend this to you and yours!

4 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Steel Magnolias

PLOT:

Pivoting around the lively Truvy Jones’ Louisiana beauty parlour, a tightly-knit band of friends, confront griefs, loss, life’s unforeseen tragedies and heartaches with what they do best: gossiping and sharing. The spirited diabetic and bride-to-be, Shelby; her always supportive mother, M’Lynn; Truvy’s gawky assistant, Annelle; the city’s curmudgeon, Ouiser; and the town’s former first lady, Clairee, are the warm Southern belles who know how to survive life’s challenges with their unwavering friendship. But when Shelby decides to conceive, things will turn upside down

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Sightseeing. Having attended college in the small town where this was filmed, I always enjoy seeing the familiar surroundings and marvel at how much they changed to make this fictional representation. For me, it is also a joy to see many professors and people from the city playing background roles. When this was made, I was still 5-6 years away from enrolling, so some of the folks were a bit younger than when I first met them. If you’ve ever had a movie filmed in your town, then you know the feeling, especially if you’re from a small town that never gets any publicity save for the occasional sports story or coverage of a festival.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry. I am heartless and pretty much devoid of all emotion. However, I can see how people would run the gamut of the spectrum watching this picture. There are numerous quotable lines (its a battle between Dolly Parton and Olympia Dukakis for the true comic relief) and the heartbreak that goes down in latter half of the film is enough to melt even the iciest of hearts. Not many films are able to pull off this mixture of emotions as most veer heavily toward one and when they attempt to try the other it falls flat. I give mad props to this picture for being able to pull this feat off. I wonder if the ladies this was based on (the original play is based on a true story) were actually like this.

Cast. Julia Roberts. Shirley MacLaine. Sally Field. Olympia Dukakis. Dolly Parton. Daryl Hannah, What a cast! Now, when I say that, keep in mind this was made in 1989, so Roberts was still an up and comer (Pretty Woman would be released the following year), Daryl Hannah is a few years removed from Splash, Dolly is still known more for her music than anything else, and Sally Field is still in shock that people like her. Having said that, it is amazing how well these women gel. From what I heard from locals that were around, they were often times seen eating (and drinking) together, which explains the comradery. It was a natural thing. I wonder if the ladies in the remake even bothered to talk to each other off-screen.

What didn’t I like?

Cause of death. In the first scene with all the ladies in the beauty shop, Julia Roberts’ character has an attack, for lack of a better term, that lets the audience know she is diabetic. Sally Field’s character is quick to point out how severe her condition is every chance she gets (I’ll get to her shortly). In the film’s denouement moment, if you will, Roberts collapses on her back porch, leaving her baby crying. Eventually her husband comes home and finds her. We don’t know how long she was out there or how long the kid was crying, but the refrigerator was open and food was cooking on the stove, so it couldn’t have been that long. This is followed up with the gut wrenching montage and scene in the hospital. I’ll leave it at that. Now, to my knowledge, one cannot die from type I diabetes if they are doing what they need to do. As far as we can tell, she was doing what she needed to do, just a little more stressed than she should have been. If you were seeing this for the first time, you wouldn’t know that she rejected the kidney her mother donated to her and that was the cause. This is glossed over in the film, sadly.

(Not a) Man’s world. Obviously, this is a film focused on the women. However, I have to take issue with how the men are portrayed. Not a single one of them is in a shining light type of situation. Shelby’s dad is a bit of an eccentric. Truvy’s husband lays around the house feeling sorry for himself because he can’t get work. The bartender that Annelle hooks up with is just whipped, shall we say. Perhaps Shelby’s husband comes out the best, but he’s such a non-character. Other than the moment he comes home and finds her, you wouldn’t even know he was there, save for the wedding (and his aunt’s cake making skills). Should any of the men in the film been promoted to more of a principal role? No, but they could have been giving something more respectable. Imagine if this was made current year and the roles were reversed. People would be raising hell because of how these characters were written.

Mother knows best. Many ladies I know complain about how overbearing their mothers are. In some cases, I have seen this up close and personal. Sally Field’s character, while well-meaning, fits that mold to a ‘T’. Maybe it is because I am not a mother, but surely she could just let her daughter live her life, rather than criticize and hover over her. That being said, she did come through for her when it came to donating a kidney and being a grandmother, so there is that. I don’t know, I guess because my mom was more encouraging this characterization is foreign to me.

Final verdict:

What did I think of Steel Magnolias? First off, I am a little biased as this is a film/story/play you cannot get away from when you attend college in this town. I think the theater department did it twice during my time there, if I am not mistaken. The amount of love and care that was put into this film from the script, to the authentic hometown feel (yes, that Christmas festival is real…just WAY bigger now). I may be a little biased, but there are few major problems with this picture. Sure, it is a bit of a chick flick, but everything can’t be a super macho, pecs out, guns blazing, blood gushing action film. I very highly recommend this very well made entertaining film. After you finish, think about making a trek to Natchotiches, La and seeing the houses up close and personal. Much of it is unchanged!

5 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Pearl Harbor

PLOT:

Pearl Harbor is a classic tale of romance set during a war that complicates everything. It all starts when childhood friends Rafe and Danny become Army Air Corps pilots and meet Evelyn, a Navy nurse. Rafe falls head over heels and he and Evelyn and Rafe hook up. Then Rafe volunteers to go fight in Britain, and Evelyn and Danny get transferred to Pearl Harbor. While Rafe is off fighting, suddenly one morning comes the air raid we now know as “Pearl Harbor.”

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Action. Say what you will about Michael Bay, he knows two things, action and beautiful women. I’ll get to the ladies a little later, but good googly moogly are these action scenes beautiful, particularly the titular attack. Bay does a great job of showing not only the CG expulsions, but also some practical ones, as well. The dogfight in the air is also something special, but being an Air Force brat, I’m a little biased. I do wish we could have seen some naval battles besides the bombing of carriers and the men going down with the ship, but that’s a personal preference and not a knock against the film.

Casualties of war. War is hell! While this film is far from the realism one can see in a film such as Saving Private Ryan, there are times when you feel the weight of what is going on. First, the first hour or so of the film is the calm before the storm, if you will. Every time we see the hospital, it is empty, save for one or two patients getting checked out. The floors and sheets are pristine and the windows are open with air flowing like its an air freshener commercial. Then the bombing happens and all hell breaks loose. No longer do we see this bright center of bliss, but rather a dark, blood soaked vision of horror. That is nothing compared to the scene where the men are stuck in the USS Arizona. As people are valiantly trying to get open it up and get them out before it downs, a couple of hands pop out. As the water completely consumes the compartment, we see these men leave this mortal coil. It is quite the sad sight. For those that enjoy seeing more suffering, earlier on it is shown these same men get stuck in the overturned ship. All this really shows how even though WWII is glamourized, this was a war and not fun!

Inspirational propaganda. FDR was probably the greatest wartime president this country has had. The man was a living inspiration, of that there is no arguing. There are a couple of scenes that are more legend than fact, particularly when he is talking to a defeatist room of military advisers. For those not familiar, Roosevelt was stricken with a case of polio and it confined him to a wheelchair. As each of these advisors are giving cowardly excuses for why the US should not retaliate against the Japanese, FDR backs up, locks the wheels of his chair and stands up, telling the room to “not tell what he can or can’t do [sic]”. It is obvious cinematic drama, but it works to really get the cause going. One can only wonder had he done that for real what the result would have been.

What didn’t I like?

Love and war. There are 2 major plotlines in this picture. One is the war effort, obviously, but the other is a love story. Now, alot of WWII stories and portrayals seem to be romanticized, but this one really takes the cake. I don’t really have an issue with the love stuff until it becomes a triangle complete with Ben Affleck’s character coming back from the dead, the pregnancy of Kate Beckinsale’s character, and the convenience of the bombing. This was just too much drama for me, not to mention it takes up way too much time. Cutting some of this out would drastically reduce the runtime of this nearly 3 hour film.

Attack on Cuba. I wasn’t going to bring this up, but when we meet Cuba Gooding. Jr.’s character he is competing in a boxing match. Quite noticeable is that he’s a light skinned man and all the other African American sailors are very dark skinned. Maybe that was coincidence, maybe it was done for a visual effect so that Cuba could stand out. I do not know. What I do know is that the film goes out of its way to let us know that Cuba’s character is more than a cook, only for him to have once scene where he does something (shooting down a plan with the ship’s gun) and that’s it. It appears that his character was a real person, which makes this “portrayal” even worse! Fret not, though Gooding had already played a historical Naval officer before this film and had the whole film (Men of Honor) to respectfully portray him.

Pretty nurses. Earlier I mention Bay’s penchant for casting beautiful women. There is no shortage of that here with Kate Beckinsale, Jamie King, Jennifer Garner, Sara Rue, and others. What is my issue with these women? Beckinsale is one the 3 main characters alongside Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett. Jamie King gets a small subplot with her dating and getting engaged to one of military boys before he meets an unfortunate end during the bombing. Jennifer Garner seems to be the comic relief, as well as the sensitive one, but she doesn’t seem to have much to do, which is really what can be said for all of them. Sure, we see them saving lives in the latter half of the film, but for the rest of the time, they are just (extremely) pretty faces. Nothing wrong with a little eye candy, but they should have something to do, especially if they have a profession where they are needed!

Final verdict:

What did I think of Pearl Harbor? This is not the film for you to watch if you are looking to write a paper on the attack. There are numerous historical inaccuracies. However, this is a fun film to watch, regardless. Bay is a masterful director when it comes to action and he has a hard on for the military, so this is right up his alley. For some reason, this film gets a lot of hate and I still do not know why. Action, drama, beautiful ladies, a swingin’ soundtrack…what more could you ask for? I highly recommend you check it out, particularly this Memorial Day weekend!

4 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Street Smart

PLOT:

Magazine reporter Jonathan Fisher, in danger of losing his job, promises to write a factual hard-hitting story of prostitution. But when he tries to get information from the subjects, he is ignored. So he ends up faking a well received story of a pimp, describing his life and crimes. But police think the story is of a real life pimp who is wanted for murder and start pressuring him to reveal the identity of subject in his story, and all he knows. The pimp the police suspect, also thinks the story is about himself, and wants to know what Jonathan knows, and who told him. 

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Not what you know. Morgan Freeman and Christopher Reeve are both legendary actors. Reeve is best known to many as Superman, while Freeman usually plays a calm, wise, often mentor type role in his films. Well, Reeve is again a reporter, but he’s not the squeaky clean Clark Kent type. Not only does he make up a story to keep his job, but he cheats on his girlfriend by starting a relationship with a prostitute. As far as Freeman goes, that cool, calm demeanor that he is well-known for is here, but this character is almost bi-polar with how quick he is to anger and, I have to mention, his pimp hand is strong!

Sympathy. Kathy Baker is Freeman’s top prostitute, at least she’s the one he seems to have around the most. She is also the one that I mention Christopher Reeve’s character having an affair with. When the audience first meets her, she is what you would expect from a prostitute. However, as the plot thickens, she becomes an integral part of the story. Even the antagonistic assistant DA picks up on how important she is and sets out to find her to aid in his case against Freeman. Without realizing it, the audience is made to feel for this prostitute. No, she isn’t a hooker with a heart of gold like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, but she is more human than many others of her profession we have met in television and movies.

Hard out here for a pimp. A film like this, which takes someone who knows little to nothing of life on the streets and inserts them there, is sure to garner some criticism for unauthentic portrayal. That said, the streets scenes don’t feel fake or manufactured. The stakes are real! This is New York in the 80s, so it wasn’t hard to make it a gritty, crime ridden ghetto, for lack of a better term. Throw in the way Morgan Freeman seems to rule with an iron fist, so to speak, and anyone would be scared to go to that part of the city. Good thing this is only a movie…or is Morgan Freeman a pimp for real? Hmmm…

What didn’t I like?

Keep your pimp hand strong. One of the reasons I even know about this film is the scene that I alluded to earlier where Morgan Freeman pimp slaps Kathy Baker after a party. It truly is something that you have to see to enjoy. Yes, I know that in today’s society that would never fly because it is offensive. Ignore the fact that a man just slapped the taste out of a woman’s mouth, the twitter mafia would get offended. You know that’s what would happen. Hell, I’m surprised no one has tried to cancel Freeman because of this film…yet.

Turn the music down. In the scene where Reeve is getting familiar, shall we say, with Kathy Baker in her room, the music is unusually loud, even though there is dialogue happening. I chalked this up to a mistake with the audio, but it happens a couple of other times in the film. Nothing wrong with putting Aretha Franklin and the other artists on the soundtrack on full blast, but turn it down when people are talking!

Lawyer up. The assistant DA in this film is a real piece of work, and not in a good way. He is obsessed with putting Freeman’s character away for murder, even though it was clearly self defense. Think of Peck from Ghostbusters II and turn him down to about a 7 (on a scale of 10) and you have this guy. Also, the judge judge…this guy just about lost it when he didn’t get the nonexistent notes and sentenced Christopher Reeve for contempt because “he wont have obstruction in his court”. There was also some stuff about it doesn’t matter if you appeal or not. I don’t know how judges work, but he seemed a bit too…high strung for something that isn’t as big of a deal as they are making it out to be. Now, if this was video evidence showing the murder, then I could understand. They both needed to calm down.

Final verdict:

What did I think of Street Smart? Well, it is a crime drama that isn’t as dark and serious as one would think. A couple of chuckles and light moments are to be had. Save for one scene in particular, I don’t recall any bloodshed. That doesn’t affect how this film turned out, but for those looking for a violent encounter, this will disappoint. For me, I found the film enjoyable, but a little on the slow side. Do I recommend it? I can’t really say yes or no. It depends on what your personal tastes are regarding pimps and hos.

3 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Transformers: The Movie

PLOT:

The Decepticons have invaded and taken over the Autobots’ home planet, Cybertron. The Autobots are determined to fight back and go to Autobot City on Earth for supplies. Decepticons hijack and take over the ship, resulting in a fierce battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, the result of which is devastating. A new threat to the Autobots appears in the form of Unicron, a massive planet-devouring transformer

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Improved animation. Saturday morning cartoon animation, particularly in the 80s, was not usually the best. More often than not, they recycled backgrounds, voices, etc, all as a way to cut costs. Bringing one of these shows to the big screen required an upgrade in how it would be made. It is more than obvious that time was spent adding detail to the characters. For instance, in an early scene where Optimus Prime is rolling through Autobot City, you can see the shine on his grill and the reflection of the Decepticons he runs over. A few minutes of extra work and detail went a long way!

New and old. As time has passed, it has become public knowledge that this film was made to discontinue most of the old toys and introduce the new batch. Nothing wrong with that, per se, but I do wish they would have found a better way to pass the torch, as it were. In the first few minutes of this film, many of the characters we became attached to in the original series were unceremoniously ended with one shot. On the flip side, the new characters, such as Hot Rod, Springer, Kup, the Junkions, Galvatron, the Quintessons, etc, are introduced without skipping a beat. Are they replacements for what we’ve lost? No, but they can form there own connections with the audience.

Soundtrack. From the opening rock beat of Lion’s cover of the Transformers theme to the whimsical strains of Weird Al’s “Dare to Be Stupid”, and culminating in the uplifting “You’ve Got the Touch” by Stan Bush, this soundtrack brings it all and really sets the mood for the actions on the screen. This is a soundtrack heavily rooted in the 80s and it is just as enjoyable nearly 40 years later as it was when it was originally released. Aside from the soundtrack, the score, by Vince DiCola, set the stage nicely for all the major and minor events that happen in this film.

What didn’t I like?

Mistakes. There are quite a few mistakes in the picture. I’m not talking like Galvatron’s orange cannon being purple in one scene, no there are scenes where dead characters appear out of nowhere, one of the Dinobots is missing for all but one scene, some colors are mixed up, etc. For a major motion picture such as this, these are mistakes that should not have happened. From my understanding, there was a bit of a rush in this production. That still doesn’t excuse all the mistakes. The people wants quality and most of these mistakes could have been avoided had they just taken a little bit more time, rather than slapping it all together.

Shark planet. As many times as I have seen this film, the scene where Hot Rod, Kup, and the Dinobots land on the planet of the Sharkticons just brings everything to a grinding halt, save for the universal greeting. Other than setting up the Quintessons as a bit of a threat for the upcoming season of the show, there really was no point to these scenes. Crash landing on the planet is one thing but this is the part of the film that stop short of grinding to a halt. Thanks goodness for the scenes happening on the planet of Junk.

Orson Welles. Sometimes actors will pass away before their final project is finished, or while it is in post-production, never seeing the final product. Some of these cases have resulted in their last film being horrible or forgettable. In the case of Orson Welles, who voices Unicron, I do not think it would have mattered had he lived to see this film’s release because the director had to re-record and mix his lines thank to Welles’s poor health. It makes one wonder how menacing Unicron would have been had Welles done this in his prime.

Final verdict:

What did I think of Transformers: The Movie? This is a film that holds a special place in my heart, as it is one the first films I saw in theaters. Also, being an 80s kid, Transformers were some of my go to toys. The film, on paper, isn’t really that great, but it does what it is supposed to do, introduce new characters, entertain, and sell toys. Each time I watch this film, I am entertained and my mouth waters for more. Do I recommend it? Yes, thought I am a bit of a fanboy, I highly encourage you to check this out!

5 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: The Rocketeer

PLOT:

Straight from the pages of a pulp comic from a past era, The Rocketeer recreates 1930’s Hollywood, complete with gangsters, Nazi spies, and the growth of the Age of Aviation. Young pilot Cliff Secord stumbles on a top secret rocket-pack and with the help of his mechanic/mentor, Peevy, he attempts to save his girl and stop the Nazis as The Rocketeer

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Meet the Rocketeer. We all know the Marvel and DC Heroes. Those that didn’t grow up with comics are sure to have become familiar with the character through the movies, I would imagine, but there other superheroes out there that don’t come from the major comics publishers. Of course there are those that are bit more in the spotlight, such as Hellboy and Spawn, but what about those that come from the pulp serials of the 30s and 40s. Heroes like The Shadow, The Spirit, The Phantom, and of course, The Rocketeer! Everyone I’ve mention so far has had a film, with varying degrees of success and critical acclaim. The Rocketeer is perhaps the one that received the best re-introduction (out of the pulp heroes, at least). The film does a great job of introducing us to his alter ego and slowly (as time allows) developing him into the titular character. We see him fumble and fail as he learns and that endears him to us as an audience, as opposed to if he just strapped on that rocket pack and automatically knew how to use it and fight the bad guys. Now that I think about it, when I finish typing this up, I may go track down some Rocketeer comics.

Old Hollywood. I am a fan of Old Hollywood. The glitz, glamour, talent, filmmaking, and even the scandals. As this is set in the 1938 Hollywood and the antagonist is an actor, they had to get the look and feel down. The magic of old Hollywood is none more apparent than when we see Jennifer Connelly’s character in that white dinner dress! She takes us back in time to a point where stars were stars, not political advocates. As this is Jazz Appreciation Month, I must also mention the soundtrack. Lots of big band jazz, which was the norm for this era. However, many films ignore that and use other genres where the artists’ grandparents weren’t even born, yet.

Lighten up. This film was released in 1991. Back then, people were allowed to have fun. Movies and TV shows didn’t make you want to slit your wrist because they were so dark and depressing. The light tone of this film probably wouldn’t fly today, pardon the pun, but that doesn’t make this a bad film. As I always say, dark works for Batman because that is who the character is, but try making Spider-Man or the Flash dark and you ruin everything about them, as they are fun loving characters, at least in comparison to Batman, Daredevil, Moon Knight, the Punisher, etc. Granted, I do know much about the comic origins of the Rocketeer, but from what I hear, the film got the tone down pat.

What didn’t I like?

Again with the Nazis? Yes, I realize this film takes place as the Nazis were rising to power, but that doesn’t mean we have to have them as the antagonistic threat. Sure, they could have been revealed as a mysterious power behind everything, much as the film does, but it just seems like everytime a villainous threat is needed for anything set in the 30s and 40s, its Nazis…or gangsters. Here we have both, but the gangsters are reduced to lackeys until they have a moment of clarity and patriotism. Who should have been the antagonist? Maybe a rival aviation company? A bigger role for the gangsters? Just someone who isn’t a Nazi.

Wardrobe change. The Rocketeer’s “costume” consists of a brown leather jacket and pants that pilots wore during this era. My problem with this is that Cliff runs around wearing the same thing. The film moves a little fast for the characters to pick up on it, but it is quite obvious. Not like Batman disguising his voice or Superman putting on glasses and changing his posture and attitude. Cliff is only missing the helmet. At the very least, he could have changed jackets!

Sinclair. Neville Sinclair. As far as villains go, I don’t have much of an issue with Timothy Dalton’s Neville Sinclair, other than the aforementioned reliance on using Nazis. So, what’s the big deal? Well, Sinclair is obviously based on Errol Flynn. Dalton captures the image that most people have of Flynn, a suave playboy, talented swashbuckling actor, Nazi spy. The latter was a rumor until the late 80s, if I recall, when it was proven false. For me, though, I have to wonder. There is a scene where they are filming a movie and an accident happens. When the dust is cleared, Clark Gable has been stabbed. It is implied that Sinclair may have done it, but nothing comes from it. I wonder if this was a bigger part of the original story, or if it was just a throwaway scene just so they could say that they had someone who was supposed to be Clark Gable (thought it is never said that is who he is).

Final verdict:

What did I think of The Rocketeer? This is a film that I fondly remember from my youth. Being an Air Force brat, I am drawn towards films about planes and aviation, add in the superhero factor and the Old Hollywood setting and this is still a pleasant watch for me. However, this is not a film without its problems. Most of which involve the limit of technology at the time and the lack of faith in comic book properties at the time. That said, this film has gone on to create a bit of a legacy. I understand there is a Disney show based on it now and there is a rumor about plans for a ride at one of the Disney parks. All that aside, this a fun popcorn movie filled with action, comedy, thrills, and even a love story thrown in for good measure. I highly recommend you give it a shot and have some fun. It is a much needed shot of joy in a world where superheroes seem to have forgotten what that is.

4  3/4 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Concussion

PLOT:

Will Smith stars in Concussion, a dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Omalu’s emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful institutions in the world.

REVIEW:

What did I like?

It had to be told. Each fall, we watch as high school, college, and professional athletes smash into each other at high speeds just to get an oblong piece of pigskin up and down the field for our entertainment. While I enjoy the game of football as much as the next guy, I am not oblivious to the bigger problem inherent to the game. Back in the 80s, there was an ad campaign using crash test dummies. There is a reason said dummies were used instead of human beings. Crashing into things at high speeds is not good for the brain. Will Smith’s character explains it best fairly early on in the film. Human beings do not have a protective boundary around their brains the way some animals do, thus, human beings are not meant to play football. I won’t go so far as to say that, but the danger and lingering side effects of doing so is something that has been ignored and/or covered up for years. Watching this film, I found myself wondering what else has been swept under the rug. 

Fresh out of laughs. Will Smith has done serious roles before, but they usually involve him cracking a joke or at least a smile. In this role, he is very stoic. Even when is being cordial to colleagues, the serious, stern look is on display. Smith has long been criticized his whole career for acting a certain way, that is to say every role being a version of the Fresh Prince. Yes, even all these years after that show ended, people are still saying that, and when he doesn’t they flip out. The man can’t win. In this role, Smith silences his critics with a powerful performance (I have issues with a couple of factors that I will touch on later) that should have been at least nominated for an Oscar, but I guess he wasn’t a slave, cancer patient, or in some role where he had to lose most of his body weight. 

NFL monsters. Football fans enjoy the NFL. How many of us actually know what a monster of a corporation it is, though? I think I have ever since I’ve been watching games. The way they have the disembodied voice emphasize how the game is the property of the NFL and can’t be broadcast without their consent has always been a bit on the foreboding side of things. That’s a tiny thing, though, compared to some of the other atrocities they do to stay on top. Covering up injuries, abandoning players, cutting off healthcare/pensions for retirees, etc. This list could go on! There was a film that came out a couple of years before this, Spotlight, that exposed the Catholic church and what it was doing to little boys. This film’s main purpose is to put the spotlight on what happens to football players that have concussions, but it also exposes how the NFL (mis)handled them for years.

What didn’t I like?

Black Panther you ain’t. In Black Panther, the entire cast, save for those not from Wakanda, spoke with an African accent. While not the best accents to be heard, they were at least believable. Will Smith’s accent in this film…well, the best thing I can say about it is that it is slightly above Eddie Murphy’s in Coming to America. Making matters worse is that his costar, the beautiful Gugu Mbatha-Raw, has a South African father, so she knows a thing or two about African accents. Also, this is a small personal complaint, Will Smith looks nothing like his role, Dr. Bennet Omalu. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but couldn’t they have found someone that favors him a bit more? Or was Smith’s star power more important?

Football. With the Super Bowl in our rear view mirror, I chose to watch this as a way to transition out of football season. Usually in football films we see actual football. If that is what you are expecting to see with this, you will be disappointed. Having said that, it is my fault for not reading the synopsis that this about the concussion protocol and not some team/player who gets a concussion, only to miraculously recover for the big game. Still, I would have liked to have seen Smith attend a game or two, especially since the film is set in Pittsburgh (they go out of their way to show the Steelers’ stadium in almost every shot).

Goodell-will. Roger Goodell has done a decent job as commissioner of the NFL. When he steps down/retires he’ll be remembered for…uh…spygate? bountygate? pandemic football? His legacy is beside the point. He is being blitzed in Congress near the film’s end by a guy we see a couple of times earlier in the film, Luke Wilson. Turns out Wilson is portraying Goodell. I have nothing against Luke Wilson. I think he’s a fine actor, but never in a million years would I cast him as Roger Goodell. If anything, put some age makeup on him and let him play the former commissioner, Paul Tagliabue!

Final verdict:

What did I ultimately think of Concussion? I mention the Super Bowl earlier. In it, Patrick Mahomes did everything he could to win the game, but he’s only one man. One man who got concussed a few weeks earlier and was magically cleared before the conference championship game. As the talk of what happens to players after football and current players suffering effects went on, I got to thinking about and wondered about the Chiefs superstar. That is what this film is meant to do, though. Make the audience wonder and question how healthy their favorite player(s) is/was and what they may have been suffering through. This film has it’s issues, but it is the message that really matters. I was locked on to my screen the whole time watching. I highly recommend this for the football fans.

4  1/2 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Star Wars: The Foce Awakens

PLOT:

30 years after the defeat of Darth Vader and the Empire, Rey, a scavenger from the planet Jakku, finds a BB-8 droid that knows the whereabouts of the long lost Luke Skywalker. Rey, as well as a rogue stormtrooper and two smugglers, are thrown into the middle of a battle between the Resistance and the daunting legions of the First Order. 

REVIEW:

What did I like?

New hope. For the most part, I am going to try and review this without the knowledge (and i use that term loosely) of the 2 films that followed this one. Having said that, let’s go back to 2015. No pandemic, everything wasn’t politicized, twitter wasn’t a cesspool proving how horrible the internet is, etc. Headed into the holiday season that year, one thing was really on everyone’s mind. What would the new Star Wars film look/feel like. It had been so long since the last one. There was so much hope and excitement going into this and, as I sat here watching it again, I felt that hope again. Oh, if only….

Finn. The initial marketing for this film seemed to focus on Finn, a stormtrooper who didn’t believe in killing and wanted to do what was right. Later in the film, and explored more so in the other entries of this trilogy, it is explained that he was orphaned and conditioned, like the other stormtroopers of this generation. I wonder why they stopped with the clones, though. Guess that is something covered in a book somewhere. Anyway, Finn is special not just because he’s a defected stormtrooper, but because he’s just a regular guy. No force powers, no special lineage, he’s definitely not the chosen one. He’s just Finn, a guy who wants to do what’s right. Couldn’t we use more characters like this in all media (and real life) today?

Reunited. One of the big things that circulated this film’s release was that Luke, Leia, and Han would be returning. How big those roles were was not discussed, but it was confirmed that they would be appearing, tying this trilogy to the original (holy) trilogy. While the passage of time is more than apparent on all of them (Father Time catches up to all of us), it was still great to see them back in the roles that made them stars or, in Harrison Ford’s case, springboarded him into superstardom. Even better is the fact that they weren’t just glorified cameos, they are actually part of the story (Luke is a cameo in this one, but the next film he more than makes up for it)

What didn’t I like?

What could have been. As I stated earlier, my aim is to focus on this film and not the sequel trilogy. That being said, there are so many things that are set up here and were never paid off. For instance, Finn wielding a lightsaber. The last I read/heard about this is that you have to commune with the force or be force sensitive. This film seems to set up that Finn, especially being an orphan, could possess some sort of connection to the Force, but that is never touched back on and he spends the rest of the movies simping, to use the current vernacular, for Rey. Captain Phasma…a female stormtrooper? with silver armor and cape? Surely she’s got to be bad ass, right? Truth be told, she has a couple of moments, but in the grand scheme of things, she’s just a glorified henchman. I’ve heard that she has some moments in the books, though. So there is that, I guess. So much potential, just in these two examples and there are many others that perhaps could warrant a post on their own, but because the director of the next film was such a non-fan and….wait, let me finish this review before I get on my soapbox.

Finn and Rey. It seems that there was a plan in place for Finn and Rey to get together in the long run. Spoiler alert…that didn’t happen. Why? I cannot tell you, other than the inconsistency of these 3 films. There is speculation that the powers that be were listening to those on the internet who wanted to “ship” Finn and Poe, but never pulled the trigger. A friend of mine has the theory that it was never going to happen between Finn and Rey because of the color of their skin. I don’t buy into that, then again, Finn was a major piece of the promotional material here in the US, but almost nonexistent when it went over to China. At any rate, the sparks are starting to fly as this film goes on, but we never see that again. Another what could have been, I guess.

Deja vu. When I watched for the very first time in the theater (remember those days?), I commented to my friend afterwards that this was basically a remake of the original Star Wars. I still hold to that. Many of the same beats are there. Chosen on on a desert planet, film starts with the antagonists, hotshot pilot enters fairly early on, bad guys torture individual, bad guys blow up planet(s), lightsaber battle at film’s climax, etc., etc.,etc. Does this make it a bad film? No, but one of things this franchise in known for…or used to be known for…is innovation. That is doing something different each time out. Say what you will about the prequel trilogy, they all standout in some way. Be it the pod races, Darth Maul, taking a chance with a character like Jar Jar, etc. Rehashing one of greatest films in all of sci-fi may not have been the best choice, and yet, it isn’t the worst thing to happen during the Disney era of Star Wars

Final verdict:

What did I think of The Force Awakens? Believe it or not, I actually like it. Yes, I have my criticisms, but most of those come from watching this after the trilogy has been completed *COUGH* ruined *COUGH* With that said, it is obvious that this film was setting up events down the road, but the outline was thrown out by the director of the next film who singlehandedly ruined the franchise. If I decide to review that one, be warned, it will most likely be more of a rant than anything. Back to this film, the story, while derivative of the og film works. The easter eggs that can be found throughout the film are a treat for the real fans of the franchise who can appreciate them. The acting isn’t the greatest but, let’s be real, everyone in these things either overacts or is very wooden. In the end, I would highly recommend this film, preferably as a stand alone flick.

4 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Stranger than Fiction

 

PLOT:

Everybody knows that your life is a story. But what if a story was your life? Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is your average I.R.S. Agent: monotonous, boring, and repetitive. But one day this all changes when Harold begins to hear an author inside of his head narrating his life. The narrator it is extraordinarily accurate, and Harold recognizes the voice as an esteemed author he saw on television. But when the narration reveals that he is going to die, Harold must find the author of the story, and ultimately his life, to convince her to change the ending of the story before it is too late

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Will power. Will Ferrell is primarily known as a manchild, physical type comedian. It is a rare sight for him to do a more adult-type role, let alone a serious one. Yet, here we are watching him shine and wondering could he have a career outside of comedy, or was this just a one time thing. We may never know, but one thing is for certain, he shows he is more than just a comedic buffoon. Come to think of it, I don’t believe he even cracks a smile until the end. Who would of thought this was to come from Ferrell?

Narration. Emma Thompson’s deadpan, matter of fact delivery of the narration fits her arc in the story. Not to spoil anything, but she narrates as if she is writing a story and Ferrell is the main character. There is just something about a proper British person narrating that makes everything, no matter how dire, better. Then again, I wonder what this would have sounded like with Samuel L. Jackson doing the narration. Can you imagine the amount of time he would have said “mother f—er”? Actually, it does pose the question, who would narrate if we were in Ferrell’s shoes?

Connection. Raise your hand if you think Ferrell is a sexy leading man? No one? How about the image of him hooking up with Maggie Gyllenhaal? A little more believable, but still a longshot. Well, that is what happens, but it isn’t done right off the bat. As a matter of fact, she hates him for coming in and serving her with an audit (she’s one of those government is evil types, btw). As the movie progresses, she does soften up. While I could have done with more development of that angle, it isn’t the main plot, but their connection was done organically and should be appreciated.

What didn’t I like?

Queen. I have been seeing commercials for Queen Latifah starring a TV reboot of The Equalizer the past couple of weeks. Never watched the original show, so I’m curious how she’ll compare to Denzel. I don’t see her in that kind of role, if I’m being honest. Still, she may surprise. The same kind of thing can be said for her role as Emma Thompson’s assistant in this film. This is a role the Queen should have had when she was first trying to break into acting, but at this later point in her career (let’s not forget she was nominated for an Oscar a few years prior) why is she playing a role where she is barely on screen, let alone does anything memorable. For me, I just think they could have grabbed someone off the street to do the same thing (and probably paid them much less).

Relationship. I already talked about Ferrell’s relationship with Maggie Gyllenhaal’s character, but what about the other people in the film. For the most part, he is a loner and a creature of habit (such a wonderful life!!!), but he does seem to have the one friend, Dave, who seems to live in an apartment designed by the people who created The Jetsons, or at least that vision of the future. In his attempt to figure out what is with the voices in his head, he is referred to Dustin Hoffman’s character, I forget his name at the moment. I have a slight issue with this in that is seems as if they would go on to be friends, but in reality they just seem to be doctor/patient. Why is this an issue? Well, the fact that he is opening up to someone when he has so very few people in his life. Perhaps I am just reading too much into it, though.

What brought this on? Here is the big question. Why is Ferrell hearing the narration? Is there some magical totem that he stumbled upon when riding the bus? Did he steal some voodoo priestess’ seat? Is it just random dumb luck? This is something that was never explained but it is mention that Thompson’s character has done the same thing to, I believe the number was 16, others makes me question if people just randomly go about hearing voices in their head from her shortly before they die. It is a small compliant, but one I wish they would have given an explanation for, even if it was some cheesy revelation during the credits.

Final verdict:

What did I ultimately think of Stranger Than Fiction? This is a surprisingly competent movie, which something you don’t often say of films starring Will Ferrell. Again, Ferrell’s turn as a serious actor is the most impressive part of this film. The story keeps you hooked wondering what is going to happen next. Maggie Gyllenhaal makes for a cute love interest, but that whole subplot would not be missed if it was removed. All in all, this was a decent film and I highly recommend it for a viewing or two.

4 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Blast from the Past

PLOT:

Adam Weber is the child of an eccentric inventor and his wife. Following a bomb scare in the 1960s that locked the Webers in their bomb shelter for 35 years, Adam Weber must venture out into Los Angeles and obtain food and supplies for his family. He meets Eve, who reluctantly agrees to help him out.

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Man out of time. This is the second time Brendan Fraser has played a character from another time, well he seems like it in this case due to being raised in a bomb shelter. The other time being Encino Man. I need to track that down and watch it again. It has been forever and a day. Anyway, Fraser completely owns the naivete of a 35 yr old man who has never seen anything but the bomb shelter he was born and raised in, taking the term “living a sheltered life” to new heights. For everyone else, it is just life as normal, but for Fraser, he is seeing everything for the first time and he brilliantly conveys that to the audience through an excitable mix of actions and facial expressions that he just naturally pulls off.

It was the 90s. I believe I was finishing high school or in the first half of college when this came out. In other words, I was still hitting up the club and bars most weekends, including one that resembles the Club 40s that they go to in search of a wife for Fraser’s character. In other reviews, and posts, that I have made on this blog, it is obvious that I am a fan of the 30s-50s era. However, I was the right age in the 90s to really appreciate the music, attitude, fashions, etc. Alicia Silverstone’s wardrobe isn’t as over the top as in Clueless. Mostly because she’s not a rich princess, but rather a struggling individual in her late 20s/early 30s. Having said that, the stuff she wears isn’t exactly 90s per se, save for the shoes, but the vibe is there. The modern (for the time) song used on the soundtrack really take me back, particularly to the retro swing era. Can we bring that back, please?!?

Little lady from Pasadena. Going back to Silverstone. When we first meet her, she talks about how guys like her character for her legs, butt, and hair. To which Fraser responds that he likes her eyes. I happen to agree with him, she does have great eyes. Her character is probably the only one that has any growth in the film. Sure, Fraser’s character evolves a bit, but she goes from being a cold bitch to the loving girlfriend you can bring home to mom. Not just any mom, a mom from the 50s!!!

What didn’t I like?

See the difference. When the Webers go underground in…I believe ’61…they lived in a nice suburb. As the years progressed, the suburb was bulldozed for a malt shop, which turned into a rock bar, then a biker bar, and finally a cult church of some sort in a skid row part of town. All the while, no one bothered to investigate the bomb shelter, but rather just paved right over it. Luckily, they were able to get out and back to the surface. That isn’t my criticism, though, but rather how the neighborhood went to hell in a handbasket. Given the tone of this movie, the worse we see is a porn shop and a tranny prostitute, but the impression I got is that this a bad part of town. I can only imagine what kind of horror these people would witness had they come up in present year. They’d probably go running back in and never come back up. Hell, sometimes I wish I could go down and do the same!

Call the cops. Near the film’s end, Silverstone’s character calls social services because she thinks Fraser is a threat. The night before he came clean about where he is from and asked her to come with him. In her defense, it would sound crazy if some guy you’ve only known for a few days asks you to go live underground with him, still there were other things that should have raised the proverbial red flag long before that. I don’t know, I have never understood that scene, especially when she rushed to call social services, but didn’t want them to call the cops. Did she want to be “safe from him” or not?

If I were a rich man. In an early scene down in the bomb shelter, Christopher Walken, who is Fraser’s dad, tells him that he bought some stock, but because the world has apparently been wiped out, they are no good. Fraser takes them and that is the last we hear of them until the final act. AT & T, Polaroid, and IBM stocks in the late 90s with the added interest from their purchase in ’58 made for billions upon billions. If this was present day, only the AT & T stock would still be worth something. My issue with all this is this coupled with the selling of baseball cards and the money he gets from his mother is how Fraser survives on the surface, but why is it the stocks weren’t even an afterthought until it was convenient? Sure, it makes for a feel good ending, but I just didn’t feel satisfied with how they were conveniently discovered and how Silverstone discovered that Fraser was telling the truth (after she scared him off and tried to have him committed).

Final verdict:

What did I think of Blast from the Past? This is one of those films that I first saw late at night in my dorm room, if I recall. The mixture of modern and retro really appealed to me then, and it still does now. The music is great, but the plot and comedy leave a little to be desired. Fraser is great and, while Silverstone is great to look at, she comes off as a wooden for most of the film. That being said, this is still an entertaining film. Is it the best thing ever? No, but often times the movies that people watch over and over aren’t. I highly recommend this one!

4 out of 5 stars