Wednesday 17 August 2011

The Gate (1987)

****
The latest Night Drop Box selection is this 80's unsees movie, been on my watch list for longer than I care to remember.

For starters I have no idea how this movie remained a 15 rating, it must have been terrifying to watch as a kid. Face melts and all sorts, that phone call early on got me, I thought that was genuinely creepy. You can conly applaud a low budget film in the late 80's that can muster up effects like that, truly old school.

I really did enjoy this one, I can see where Joe Dante got most of his ideas from for The Hole. It borrows elements from certain movies like The Pit while also managing the tough task of coming up with it's own ideas. I really enjoyed this one, a real creepy movie.

Monday 15 August 2011

Dance Academy (1988)

****
Wow! Another dance movie that I hadn't seen! Could this be true? It is!

I thought I had seen all dance movies the world had to offer but then along comes Dance Academy, a low budget movie based around the Fame, Flashdance and Breakin' scenarios.
This movie is like a wet dream for me, the dance scenes are phenomenal and the soundtrack is incredible. Yeah, so the acting is awful at times but what do you expect? In my opinion it only adds to the awesome feel of the movie.

This is no Heavenly Bodies or Girls Just Wanna Have Fun but it's pretty damn close. Next up on the screening list is War Dancing.

Thursday 11 August 2011

China O'Brien (1990)

***
After my recent craze on all things martial arts I came across the trailer for this movie, I have been unable to think of much else since. The VHS tape was delivered this morning.

I love it when movies decide to abandon all the rules of great filmmaking and go straight for the throat. In this movie you will find no acting skills, it's practically No Retreat No Surrender in that sense. But what it lacks in acting it more than makes up for in action. The fighting is spectacular, rigid as hell but most definitely spectacular nonetheless. I loved the bad guys too, they had me so worked up for a cheesy movie it's unreal, I was almost punching my projector screen they got me so mad.

This film is simply magical. If you like no holds barred all out action with very little sense of direction, this is the movie for you. Cynthia Rothrock is an angel sent down from heaven to entertain and kick some ass. She does both with a huge smile on her face. Seek it out now! I'm on the hunt for the sequel.

Dudes (1987)

***½
This screening is part of the Night Drop Box and was chosen at random by the world of Twitter.

I'm not a massive fan of Jon Cryer let that be said, and I never thought i'd find him slightly charming again since Pretty In Pink but I have to say he sort of won me over in this one. I love my cross-country road trip movies and this is no different. It has a dumb but fun plot and features some ridiculous acting and characters. Elvis singing at a Rodeo? Cowboy and Indian ghosts? Flea in another acting role? Weird to say the least but it oddly comes together to make for a very fun ride.

Like most of the CBS/FOX titles i've rented and purchased over the years this one has not let me down. Thanks for choosing it for me Twitter!

Tuesday 9 August 2011

Christine (1983)

****
One of the very few Carpenter movies that passed me by, this and Dark Star were the only two that I missed. You couldn't touch him in the late 70's to early 80's, the guy was on fire.

This movie is fantastic. Following on from the likes of Duel and The Car, Carpenter has made his very own killer car movie but with a twist, there is a face to the car. It's menacing in it's prey and relentless too, I love the fact that as it's speechless it uses the radio by way of warning, playing a tune with you in mind. It's genius!

I also loved the score too, besides the Dreamboats and Petticoats tunes that play throughout, you also get a slice of Carpenter's personal synth touch and it works wonders for the scenes.

It's an amazing piece of work and one which I benefited from holding on to. It's just got me craving for Dark Star now.

Monday 8 August 2011

The Witches (1990)

****
This movie used to terrify me as a kid yet I would seem to watch it every other weekend.

Thankfully it still holds up marvellously, the acting really is top notch. As soon as the film started the memories came flooding back. The convention scene is key to the plot and I find it quite amusing that they would use bald men instead of women, it's so blatantly obvious that you have to wonder if it was intentional.

The is a family fun movie and one which will always hold a very special place in my heart. Superb stuff!

Sunday 7 August 2011

The Jerk (1979)

*****
Again, it was time to educate my wife and what could be the funniest movie I have ever seen.

Carl Reiner and Steve Martin are a match made in heaven and you'll rarely see a better example of such magic than in The Jerk. It's a one man stand-up show in live action. Martin is hilarious and the lines just keep on coming. The hotel scene where he's in the bath is one of my all-time favourites, followed closely by the 'Cans' scene at the gas station. "And who's my favourite Gal?" - "Woof, woof!" - "That's right."

I hadn't seen this movie in over 8 years or more but it's still as funny now as it was back then, I was in stitches.

I'd find it hard to believe that anyone other than my wife hasn't seen this one so I won't even go there. This is just a timeless classic that in my opinion gets better with age. Perfect comedy.

Stand By Me (1986)

*****
After seeing Super 8 at the pictures yesterday it had me itching to rewatch this movie, it's such a childhood favourite of mine and one my wife had yet to see.

The cast in this movie is just simply incredible as is the plot, perfectly executed too. It captures youth like no other film. I was exactly the same at that age, my friends were the best and i'll never experience that feeling again. The Goonies, The Monster Squad are two very different movies to this one although that feel good experience remains. I love all sorts of coming-of-age films, stuff like The War and My Dog Skip, but there is one that stands out above the rest that i'd say is this films equal and that is Hearts in Atlantis.

It's sad to think that River Phoenix is no longer with us either, such a talented actor. What a wonderful story this film is and it's one i'll shpw my kids one day and hope they like it too, I know my wife did. Even if she prefers Super 8 to it.

Saturday 6 August 2011

Super 8 (2011)

*****
Hands down my most anticipated movie of 2011. Ever since that trailer hit the net I have been unable to think of much else.

This movie ticked all the right boxes, pulled all the right strings and most definitely lived up to the hype. I adored it. I wanted to make out with it. I came out feeling like i'd just seen a mash-up of The Monster Squad and Stand By Me. It's a classic 50's B-movie plot, retold in a late 70's fashion, modernised (sort of) to suit.
I loved the kids, every one of them were perfect for each role. You just sometimes have to sit back and admire talent like that, it was a pleasure to see.
I know this movie won't hit home with most as the expectation levels were set too high but talking as a guy who has talked little else about upcoming movies, I absolutely loved it.

I might just go and see it on the big screen again, I know i'll be buying the Blu as soon as it's released, and i'm a VHS fanatic! Amazing movie that made me feel like a big kid again.

Friday 5 August 2011

Too Much (1987)

**
Screened as part od the Night Drop Box.

The box art for this movie is fantastic, my mind instantly thinks Short Circuit and I am quickly transported back to my early rental days. The cover however overpowers the movie, it just never lives up to the promise.

I hated the girls face, felt the music was all over the place and the film very ordinary. I thought we were going to hear the girls narration the whole way through the movie but thankfully for my sanity she belted up, it was getting too much.

The movie starts rushed but towards the end of the movie it does start to level itself out and become genuinely intriguing. One major plus pointis the fact that I got to see alot of Japan, a place i'm dying to visit one day soon. Very creepy when the 'WE ARE FOR TOO MUCH!" starts to riot. - That needs to be seen to be believed. I was properly freaked out when that theme kept playing.

A lesson to parents everywhere, don't give your kids everything.

Wednesday 3 August 2011

Submarine (2010)

****
I love Ayoade and his acting work so I was very much looking forward to seeing him direct, especially considering Paddy Considine was on board too.

This has a fantastc feel to it, reminded me a lot of my other favourite British movies like A Room For Romeo Brass and Cemetery Junction (I know most hated that one). I loved the relationship between Oliver and his parents, the way he communicated with his mom was hilarious. Using quotes from her books and spying on her from the stairs. Genius!
I also loved the sweet relationship between him and Jordana, again it reminded me of other favourites like Nick and Norah and also 500 Days of Summer. I also tip my complimentary cap to Ayoade for the use of VHS, I wanna know where I can get my hands on one of Graham's tapes.

Beautiful story, well written and perfectly executed. I can't praise this one enough. Ayoade, i'm on board!

Super (2010)

***
I'm not a huge comic book reader but I do quite like my super hero movies, or even anti-super hero for that matter. I wasn't even aware that this film was in the planning stages let alone been made, Ellen Page always makes me want to part with money.

The only thing I can think of is that they held this film back due to the increasing amount of anti-superhero movies coming out on the back of the Kick-Ass success. Take Defendor for instance with Woody Harrelson, this is exactly the same type of movie as that but with a better script and better executed.

I'd say that if you like Ghost World and Defendor you'll like this movie. I can't think of a time when I would ever rewatch this which makes it sound like I didn't like it, that's not true, it does have a good feel to it and it was quite graphic in parts but it just didn't blow me a away like I thought it was going to. Both Ellen Page and Rainn Wilson were excellent, the Bacon was quite good too but I thought Liv Tyler was a little miscast.

Good but not great, with the cast on show I was expecting a little more.

Unknown (2011)

**
Billed up to be the next Taken, I was a little more than excited to see this movie.

First off, Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger are really great and without those two this would be a gigantic waste of anybody's time, because I thought January Jones was dreadful. Frank Langella weirdly pops up, similar to how Neeson shows up in The Next Three Days, and I thought he was quite flat too.
Apart from the acting of a select few, this is a pretty decent thriller and like Taken it gets going straight into the plot from the get go. I was intrigued by the story and was genuinely interested in how it was all going to pan out.

This film is sadly no Taken, or Taken 2. It's just a decent thriller that's fit to watch on a Sunday night when there's nothing better on TV. You won't leave thinking you've just seen something great but you won't feel bored or even agry that you watched it. Mainly for Neeson though, a major coup for the director to get him on bored.

Limitless (2011)

***½
The trailer had intrigued me with this film but other than that I was pretty clueless to it in terms of the reception and reviews. I quite like Bradley Cooper, he seems like a pretty likeable guy and has a good enough screen presence to carry a film.

Like many of my must-see's this year, this one didn't disappoint. It kept me entertained and gripped from the moment go. I was a little let down by the ending but it didn't affect my overall opinion of the movie. Bradley Cooper is superb in the role and Robert De Niro can actually hold his head up high for slecting a decent script, his talent has been left wanting with his previous efforts.

This one was never going to break down the walls of cinema but like a Tony Scott movie, it definitely delivered the thrills for me.

Hobo With A Shotgun (2011)

****
For some strange reason I had forgotten that this film was based on a fake trailer for Grindhouse, it was just completely erased from my memory. I did however manage to find out about the making of this movie while doing some random searching on imdb, and my mind was completely blown. I wanted to watch it like no other film in pre or post-production.

Fortunately unlike Machete this one absolutely lived up to the hype for me in the same way that it has for everbody else. I think the last 25 minutes of the film are it's most strongest scenes and definitely worth waiting for, the soundtrack is also incredible, so fitting. I loved the opening credit sequence on the train, it reminded me a hell of a lot of Ti West's House of the Devil, such a throwback. Rutger is immense throughout and normally I can forgive the bad acting as it's intentional, but the two brothers in this were just downright silly to the point of annoyance. It's very quotable though and don't be surprised if you're at work the next morning saying "I'd eat the peanuts out of her shit".
This movie was made with us home video loves in mind, I couldn't be happier to tell you that it works.

The latter half of the film is where my like turns to pure love, you can't help but not love it. I just can't wait to see what Eisener does next, the world finally has some raw talent to unleash on the rest of us.

Best of the Best (1989)

***
This movie started very strongly, that opening credit track was sensational. Sadly the movie took a bit of a nose dive right after and never recovered.

Now I love my martial arts movies, Bloodsport, Kickboxer, No Retreat No Surrender etc. but for the life of me I just could not get into this one like I should have. The characters were pretty lifeless, which is more than I can say for Eric Roberts's hair, gorgeous is how I would describe that. The acting isn't too bad and the fighting scenes are superbly and violently executed, especially the ones involving Tommy. I thought Penn's character was an asshole, the intention I know, but seriously? Come on.

The nail in the coffin for me was the final scene, the big fight off. I won't name names because it would spoil it for some but basically it's the dialogue and acting in those final few moments that sealed it's fate.
 James Early Jones was also very annoying, I wanted to drop kick his miserable ass throughout.

A very average martial arts movie that tries to pull above it's weight but just can't seem to break through. See Kickboxer instead, or any other Van Damme movie for that matter.

Sunday 31 July 2011

The Last Boyscout (1991)

*****
Another one my wife claimed to have not seen, cue the projector being switched on and the tape inserted.

By far my favourite Tony Scott movie and i'm a pretty big fan of his work, I love that we live in an age where a director who bases all his movies around guns and large explosions. I think with this one it's a little different, it benefits from a smart and hilarious script by Shane Black, suited perfectly to Bruce Willis's style of acting.

"Oh shit, we're getting beaten up by the inventor of Scrabble."

I've lost count of the amount of times i've seen this film, it's superb. Highly quotable too, you'll be repeating half of Willis's lines for the next month. I doubt there are many who have yet to see it so i'll just say if you haven't, correct it.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

*****
I don't really like superhero movies, with the exception of Nolan's Batman franchise and I don't read comics full stop. My expectations going into this one were fairly non-existent to say the least.

All of the above helped me no end. Clearly i'm not going to spoil anything here by giving away too much of the plot, but I was so impressed by the amount of balls this film had. It went in directions you never suspected, based on the superhero theme at least. I couldn't stop smiling all the way through, I literally had no idea that my skin could stretch that far on my face. I felt like a 10 year old kid who had just been given the keys to the candy factory. Chris Evans is amazing the rest of the cast are superb too, especially Weaving.

Needless to say this film is my favourite of 2011 by far. Hanna and Source Code will run it close after repeat screenings but I want to go and see this one again and again. It was fucking amazing, trust me!

Friday 29 July 2011

3:15 (1986)

****
This is one movie that I knew very little about. I purchased it for a few quid when I was about 13 from my local VHS market stall, it was in the big boxed Virgin release. After sitting on my shelf for the next year or so I decided to take it back down the market and trade it in for something else, little did I know i'd revisit a few years later and find out it was amazing.

This movie is like a mash-up of my favourites. There's the My Bodyguard element, the Three O'Clock High theme and even the gangs from The Warriors. Tie it all together with a great lead in Adam Baldwin, some of the worst gang members you'll ever see and then let the magic happen, with the amazing soundtrack playing throughout. Really though, the Cobra's are the most wimpiest of guys you'll ever come across and the little chubby guy who can't act is really annoying, I wanted to kick his ass. In fact most of the acting is terribly annoying in this but you forgive it because it's awesome.

I loved everything about this film and I can't recommend it highly enough to anyone. I've just got to try and track down that VHS again now.

The Great Outdoors (1988)

****
I've lost count of the amount of times i've seen this film, it could be nearing the 200 mark or even higher. It has seriously high rewatch value.

John Candy is my favourite actor of all time and Dan Aykroyd is hilarious, together they made one of the best comedies and instant feel-good movies of the 80's. Imagine my surprise when my wife dropped yet anohter bombshell on me, she hadn't seen it!
This is a highly quotable and very memorable movie that stays with you forever.

I don't need to recommend it to anyone because I don't know anyone that hasn't seen it (apart form wy wife), let alone dislike it. It's a classic.

Wednesday 27 July 2011

Wild Thing (1987)

**
Screening this as part of the #nightdropbox.

This movie is insane. It's basically a modern day (80's at least) retelling of the Tarzan story. A young child witnesses the murder of his parents at the hands of a lunatic and realising that he might be next, jumps into the river. After being raised by a tramp on the streets he has hardly any grasp of the English language and so communicates via TV commercials and radio voices. He falls in love with a woman who was attacked by a local mob boss, the same guy is the one who killed his parents and after realising this... The rest you'll have to see.

The soundtrack for this is pure gold. 80's electro synth at times with the odd classic track thrown in for good measure.

It's a decent film but highly forgettable.

Tuesday 26 July 2011

Bridesmaids (2011)

****
I had heard amazing things about this one, The Hangover for women some called it. I always end up going to the cinema for these types of films, missing out on the blockbusters.

I was so happy when all of the buzz turned out to be right, this film is hilarious. The main reason for that is the central and comedic performance from Wiig, she is the reason this film has been such a hit.
There are scenes in this which left me in bits and i'm finding that harder and harder to come by these days, films just aren't that amusing to me anymore. The plane scenes are the ones which tipped this one for me, unbelievably funny. "Stove?" "Are you an appliance?" Genius.

I would put this on a par with The Hangover. I can't speak for the sequel because I couldn't part with my cash for it so i'm waiting for the DVD released but definitely level with the first. I loved this film and I love Wiig even more now, she's also very hot.

Hilarious.

Monday 25 July 2011

Frankenhooker (1990)

***
The very generous @popmortem on Twitter donated this US tape to my collection, I finally had time to screen it.

This movie is batshit insane, beyond mental. Only in the eyes of Henenlotter could this be made.
First of all let me say how hot I think the final product is, Patty Mullen is unbelievably cute as Elizabeth Shelley. "Wanna date?" "Lonely?" " Got any money?"

I enjoyed the film a lot, never thought I would but it's a riot. Mullen (as well as being hot) is very funny and Lorinz is quirky enough to pull off the lead role, just. The story is beyond belief but blended with the humour element it somehow works, like Jackson's Braindead and Bad Taste.

No Retreat No Surrender (1986)

****
Nobody can prepare you for the awesomeness!

I had many rumours about this movie, not knowing which was face and which was fiction. Let me tell you that everything you hear about it is true and crammed into 90 minutes too.
The acting is beyond awful, the dialogue is pretty much non-existent but somehow it just delivers greatness on every level. Van Damme barely speaks and barely gets any screen time but when he's there he owns the screen, such a shame he plays the bag guy really.
Just when you think you have experienced the bad, the weird and the downright silly, in walks the ghost of Bruce Lee to train the young Jason. Now that is movie magic! His friend RJ is pretty great too, highly quotable.

The movie is terrible but in the way that I love, it just works. Also, check out the soundtrack when you get a chance, it compliments the film perfectly. This would go down excellently with a slice of The Last Dragon, double-bill it. Sho'nuff.

Sunday 24 July 2011

Wargames (1983)

****
It's time to educate the wife once again. She spotted this one among the collection and uttered the dreaded words... "What's this about then?". My heart sank almost too quick for me to grab the tape and insert it into the VCR.

I've always loved this movie but I had no idea that it was released two years before I was born! I grew up with this, Flight of the Navigator and The Boy Who Could Fly, they were always on TV and I would never miss them when they were. Matthew Broderick is immense in this, always makes me jealous when I see his tech setup in his bedroom. Ally Sheedy is smokin' hot here too, especially during jogging.

One of  my childood faves and happy to report that it still holds up very well indeed. Shame they're planning a remake, they just can't leave well alone.

Kickboxer (1989)

****
After screening the also magnificent Bloodsport a few weeks back, the martial arts bug has well and truly bitten me. Hard!

This film is breathtaking, absolutely stunning. As soon as you see Tong Po warming his shins up on the pillar in the changing room you know you're in for a treat. That guy is brutal.
JCVD is amazing too in this, especially when he's drinking the Black Death shots in the bar and then decides to get up and start dancing. I haven't laughed so hard in years, my jaw still aches. The training is very Rocky-esque, which I love, and the fight scenes are very well choreographed (by JCVD no less).
I love this film, truly love it, and I won't stop here either, i've got plenty more martial arts movies and JCVD movies planned.

If you are one of the unfortunates who haven't seen this one, get out there and track a copy down, you will not regret it. I would find it very difficult to pick a favoruite between this and Bloodsport, they're both special.

The Karate Kid III (1989)

***
It's time to complete my revisit of the trilogy.

After the terrible time I had with the second movie it almost put me off finishing the set, then I remembered that number III did at least have some redeeming qualities. Of which actual fighting was one.
Other than the first movie it's amazing at how little I remember of the other two, especially this. There is a fantastic bad-ass new guy on the scene in Mike Barnes and an even better villain in trainer Terry Silver. Those are the plus points. The low points are Macchio's acting, the obsession with the god damn Bansai trees and the exclusion of the "You're the best, the beeest. Nothing's ever gonna keep you down" theme tune. I hated Macchio in this one, he bounces all over the screen like he's forgotten how to walk.

Much better than the second instalment as there is actual Karate in this one but it's still nowhere near as good as the first, lost it's charm somewhat. Still a decent watch though.

Friday 22 July 2011

City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994)

****
Along with the first movie, this was another one that I used to rent from my local store.

This is still a great movie. It does miss the Kirby but the inclusion of The Godfather quoting Jon Lovitz was a bit of a masterstroke. I was 11 the first time I ever saw these movies back to back and I can still remember drawing maps with my best friend right after watching this one. We never actually went through with burying any items but you can see how this movie had us wrapped up in it's little charm.
Billy Crystal is on fire again and Stern chips in with the odd line from time to time too. I don't think it's as good as the first film but it's certainly up there and it's still a great feel-good movie. I love it anyway!

It's a great film and one that perfectly compliments and carries on the story of the first. Maybe one day we'll finally see that long awaited third...

City Slickers (1991)

*****
Last weekend I reshuffled my VHS collection around to make room for the new arrivals, this meant that certain films which were not clearly visible last time were now on show for everyone to see. My wife noticed this big box on the one shelf and asked if it was any good... Imagine my face! I immediately pulled it out and inserted it into the VCR.

This movie was one of my favourites as a kid, I used to rent this every other week from my local store Video Vision. I can remember being off from work with a sprained ankle for weeks and screening this every day along with Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I think I even went as far as screening it three times on the same day on a few occasions. I know that seems excessive but when you're down you always reach for the film that you know will cheer you up most, and for me City Slickers is just that. It's a hilarious feel-good movie and you'd be hard pushed to find better Crystal material anywhere else. Bruno Kirby and Daniel Stern are both perfect too as the best friends, it's just brilliant.

It actually surprised me by fairing better this time around, it's been quite a few years since I saw it and i've benefited from the break. My wife loved it too, so much so in fact that we're screening the sequel next. A film that I love almost as much as this one. We shall see how that holds up...

The Karate Kid II (1986)

**
Following right on from the other night's screening of the first, I thought it only fair to screen the sequel.

Within the opening 10 minutes it had become quite clear that I had only ever seen clips of this movie, i'd never actually sat down and watched it all the way through. I was instantly gutted thinking that I had missed out on an absolute classic, sadly this one isn't anywhere near as good as it's predecessor.
This movie is one long drawn out moral about honour, it feels more like a lecture than an enjoyable experience. Of course the odd bits of training are fun and the tension does build but... *SPOILER ALERT* to a rather dull anti-climax. I prefer my martial arts movies to have a showdown finale, something which I have come to expect from the many Seagal and Van Damme movies i've been subjected to over the years. This is all about Miyagi and his past, trying to tag on from the first movie but with limited success.

If you're tagging on to the Karate Kid franchise, at least make a movie about Daniel son and not of the trainer. I'll let you know how I get on with number 3 when I get to it, this has halted that as it was scheduled for next.

Wednesday 20 July 2011

Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985)

****
Rarely do 80's dance movies get anywhere close than the likes of Heavenly Bodies, an exception is made for this movie.

My head was moving from about the third minute and it barely stopped until that final credit rolled. The soundtrack (which I now own) is phenomenal. I thought Roller Boogie had a great soundtrack, this is right up there.

It was weird seeing a very young Helen Hunt and an almost horseless faced Sarah Jessica-Parker. Lee Montgomery who played Jeff was great, shame he hasn't done much since though. Ed Lauter showing up too? A very nice touch, very nice.

The film is a poison, once you get a little bit of it inside you, it takes control of your entire body and owns you. I loved it and plan on seeing it again and again as well as recommending it to others. If you love your dance movies with killer soundtracks then you have to see this, our life will always be that little bit darker for having missed it.

The Karate Kid (1984)

*****
A childhood classic that I hadn't revisited since my youth.

This film is still as masterful as it was back then. Elisabeth Shue is smoking hot, if not a little too hot and chunky for mere mortal Macchio. I had forgotten how young he looked in this.
The acting is pretty bad on Macchio's part to begin with but as soon as he starts his training, it's as if the film kicks up a few gears from bad-ass to kick-ass.

I still to this day hate every one of those Cobra Kai bastards, especially "Get him a body bag! Yeaahhhhh!".
It's hard not to fist pump during that final shot, it's best just to go with it.

My wife surprised when she said that it was possibly the first time she had seen it all the way through. If you're in the same boat, correct your errors and see this movie NOW! And if you have the others, see them too. It's an amazing trilogy. Just stay well clear of the Hilary Swank tank.

Lakeview Terrace (2008)

***
Samuel L.Jackson as a nasty neighbour? Where do I sign?

I'd heard good things about this movie for years but never bothered to check it out, but then there always comes that day when nothing is on TV and you'll check anything out, and be pleasantly surprised by it too. That was exactly the case with this movie. I'm a pretty big fan of Patrick Wilson's and he's great once again here, but it's Jackson who must take all the plaudits as the racist neighbour. He is so intense and scary  that you cringe at some scenes, you just can't help it. Especially when he's surrounded by Wilson's friends who have no idea how to take him.

The only flaw with this one is that you know exactly how it's going to pan out from the moment go. It is a little predictable but for me it doesn't harm the film that much, it is what it is and I had a good enough time with it.

A decent film that will fail to excite most but if like me there is nothing else on, you could do a hell of a lot worse.

Sunday 17 July 2011

The Go-Kids (1986)

**
This film is also known as The Quest and Frog Dreaming, I prefer The Go-Kids title and the UK box art.
This is also only my third Brian Trenchard-Smith movie.

Henry Thomas is a loveable kid and after the huge success of E.T. and Cloak and Dagger, I can see why most directors would want to cast him. My only problem with this one is that the story is quite weak, there's no real substance to it. If you were to base the movie on the cover above you'd think it was the greatest kids movie of all time, sadly this is not. I loved the relationship between Cody and his Guardian, it reminded me a lot of my youth (i'm still young). I was out roaming the woods and things by the age of 8 onwards, a littel dangerous now if you think back.

I guess I raised my expectations a little, it's still a decent film but it's not one i'll be pushing on people in a hurry. I still think Henry Thomas' best work came in the two other movies I mentioned.

Saturday 16 July 2011

The Midnight Meat Train (2008)

***
I had avoided this film since the day it came out, mostly because it stars Vinnie Jones.

This isn't a terrible movie, I was quite surprised about that. Cooper is great and Jones is bearable, not giving him a speaking role was a masterstroke. If only other directors could take the same approach.
The murders are good and inventive, a little CG heavy but still good. You'll also notice some cool cameos in this, from Ted Raimi to Mr.T. Well, from the new film anyway.

It's not a bad film overall, some good deaths here and plus it moves along quickly enough. I'd recommend it to most horror fans to be honest.

Just Like Heaven (2005)

**
I'm a pretty big Ruffalo fan and Reese Witherspoon also generally puts a smile on my face, a guilty pleasure I guess. Totally excluding Election from that though as there's nothing to be guilty about there.

I kind of expected a bit more from this one, I gotta be honest. It felt very sickly to watch and quickly lost all of it's early and promising charm. Yes, the two do a decent job as usual but I wasn't feeling the chemisty there, add to that the odd character that Jon Heder plays and it's a bit of a sweet mess. Having said that, I never at any point wanted to turn it off and the moments of charm were quite nice.

Overall it was a big let down but i'm not exactly sure what I what I was expecting. I couldn't honestly see myself recommending this to anyone soon or ever.

Friday 15 July 2011

Masters of the Universe (1987)

****
This was my pick for my wife, I was shocked when she told me that she hadn't seen it.

Regardless of what people think about this film, I genuinely believe that it holds up. It was another of my earliest video rental memories, rarely out of the VCR. Dolph Lundgren was the perfect choice to play He-Man and the casting of Frank Langella as Skeletor was nothing short of a masterstoke. It's a classic, even Courtney Cox looks like she can act in it. It has amazing characters, great make-up and brilliant set designs.

A movie that you could rewatch over and over again, a true 80's classic in every sense of the word. Massive fan of this movie.

Willow (1988)

***
My wife and I decided it would be a good idea to recommend a film to each other that we knew the other one hadn't seen, her selection was Willow. I had already taken a lot of stick for having not seen this movie, it was time to finally correct that.

While this is good it's certainly not great, and I can't help feeling that it was because I hadn't seen it as a child. Growing up with decent movies, like you'll see in the next review, really does help a film that is marketed for that demographic. Val Kilmer is great and so is the ever likeable Warwick Davis, with Joanne Whalley stealing every scene with pure beauty. That woman is a fox!

I'm glad that I finally had the chance to see this movie and it does have a lot of charm to it, I just don't think that I would ever revisit it.

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Private Road (1987)

*
Screened as part of the Night Drop Box returns.

The cover as you can see has great potential, i'd certainly never heard of it before. Sadly I could tell by the first few shots that this was going to be terrible. This could be turned into a fun little drinking game though, drink a shot every time you see someone play a musical instrument. Within the first 20 minutes or so you see a sax, a guitar, bass guitar, violin, drum kit and even a grand piano! It's insane.
The only fun part is when the hot maid walks in on Brad as he's naked, he runs back into bed and then she decides to give him some extra servicing, but that only lasts for a few seconds.

Is it me or was George Kennedy the luckiest guy to ever receive an Oscar? He just can't act.

The plot is paper thin too. A guy gets knocked off his motorbike by some 'tipsy' rich girl and then he blackmails the family for all it's worth. Kennedy is the father of said family and flashes the cash around like it's going out of fashion, even inviting an entire police squad into his exec lounge for dinner in an effort to save face.

Terrible plotless, pointless garbage. Avoid. A lesson to us all - never judge a movie by it's awesome cover.

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Labyrinth (1986)

****
I've gone months without revisiting old movies but lately I can't seem to stop.

There were many films when I was younger that I used to screen over and over and you've probably heard me talk about them before but this is definitely apart of that select group. Luckily it hasn't lost any of it's magic, as soon as Connelly steps into that Labyrinth the movie begins for me. It's pure fantasy, the worm on the wall who sounds like Peggy Mitchell, the bog of eternal stench, Hoggle, the list goes on.
I can even take Bowie seriously in this which is a minor miracle, if you can get past being transfixed by his mid region that is. Put it away!

The songs are still catchy and almost everyone who has seen the film knows the words, it's just one of those films that i'm sure was played in every household across the country. And once you've seen it, it's stuck with you for life.

I'm not a massive Jim Henson fan, Dark Crystal almost bored me to death but this one has so much more going for it than the puppet creatures. A work of pure skill and fantasy and one which needs to be seen young to fully appreciate. The best thing is, don't be afraid to revisit if you are, it still holds up magnificently.

One Wild Night (1991)

****
Another early rental memory for me. This was one I used to pay £1.50 for every other week from my local video store Video Vision. When they closed down I was only 13/14 and me having no pocket money had to ask my parents for the cash to purchase it, they did and it will never leave my side.

I'm obsessed with movies set in malls, stuff like Night of the Comet, Dawn of the Dead, Chopping Mall (Kill Bots), Mannequin and alike but this may be my favourite mall movie of them all (Dawn not included). It's so underrated and Whalley puts in his best performance for me, I can't get over the fact that most people have never heard of it let alone seen it. It's hilarious in parts and Connelly is hotter than ever, smokin' in fact. It's also very charming and the relationship between the two while they're locked in Target is great to see.

Watch out for the cameos too. You get John Candy and William Forsythe to name but two.
I can't recommend this one enough to anyone, it's quite fantastic and I wish more people knew about it.

The Monster Squad (1987)

*****
My Mom used to work for Sony BMG and in the building where she was situated there was a video library, and every week she would bring home RCA ex-rental tapes, like Ghostbusters, My Stepmother is an Alien etc. Well, this was one I used to ask for every week. So much so in fact that the case was severely battered by the time she left.

It's one of my earliest movie experiences and one of my all-time favourite movies, definitely a top 10 maybe higher. I find it amazing that so many people that I talk to have still not seen it, how is that possible? I recently showed it to my Niece and Nephews and now they can't stop talking about it either. My Dad has the original UK quad poster on his living room wall, I have the Mondo Tees poster on my wall, the movie goes right through the family. It's a classic! I even have the Stephen King Rules shirt.

The kids are loveable, the parents are fun, the special effects are out of this world and the plot is the kind of plot that only kids can dream up. Throw in a scary German guy and the Rock Until You Drop track and man, you've got yourself a hit Monsieur Dekker.

I love it, I love it, I love it and i'll continue to screen it every year like I do with so many other favourites. Please, if you're reading this and are among the small minority of people who still haven't seen it, SEE IT!!!

Oh, and it's highly quotable too.

Mannequin Two: On the Move (1991)

***
I love the first Mannequin, forget all the haters, it truly is one of the greatest feel-good movie of the 80's for me. Whenever I watch it i'm left with a huge grin on my face at the closing credits, the Starship track is cheesy but brilliant too.

I never wanted to watch the sequel, always feeling that it would tarnish my thoughts on the first, then a few friends told me that it was fantastic and well worth checking out so I did, and damn was I glad that I did.
Forget that the Mannequin used looks like January Jones, forgive the fact that the Starship track only plays once, forget that Cattrall and McCarthy aren't here etc. etc. You don't need them (you do but never mind) because Swanson and Ragsdale are worthy replacements. The story is loose, very loose but the feel is still pretty much the same. I had a great time with it, plus the soundtrack kicks almost as much ass the first one anyway.

Loved it and definitely glad that I got around to it, maybe I should start screening more sequels that i've avoided over the years. No, on second thoughts...

Tuesday 5 July 2011

Quick Change (1990)

****
"Whatta got? Shit in your ears"

This may not be an addition to the one-night movie list but it's certainly being added to the one-dayers.

I loved this movie. Bill Murray (Grimm) is perfect for the role, here he charms away and revels in his sarcastic best. Geena Davis was also great too, in fact I loved the entire cast, especially the cameos. You even get Stanley Tucci pop up in one great scene as a member of the mob. Genius.
It's a typical 90's movie but I feel ashamed to have missed it all this time, I guess I never realised (as dumb as it sounds) that it was a comedy. I always thought it was a heist movie, a serious one anyway. What an idiot!

This really is an underrated little gem and one which needs to be unearthed by many more people, I rarely hear this film crop up in conversation. There are some great quotes in here too, my favourite being "Please God! We need a cab! One lousy fuckin' cab!" spoken by Randy Quaid.

See this movie! It's light on actual laughs but it has enough heart to charm most.

No Strings Attached (2011)

***½
I think it's pretty common knowledge now that i'm a lover of all things rom-com. I'll happily sit there for hours and watch the latest Reese Witherspoon or Anne Hathaway movie, and do so with a huge rom-com grin on my face. I was no different with this one.

I honestly loved this film, it defied the basic sloppy rules of the genre and instead went for an edgier take, and that worked heavily in it's favour. I find it hard to believe but Portman and Kutcher reallyh do have great chemistry together on screen, a masterstroke by Reitman and/or his casting people for pulling that off.

It's funny, sweet and very charming and I can admit to liking every moment of it. Sure, the first 10-15 minutes are somewhat disjointed as it switches throughout the years from childhood to a meeting at college, to a meeting years later by the sea when they're all grown up, and then a random funeral. I wasn't sure what the film was trying to accomplish, besides back story but as soon as it kicks in fully it really starts powering on.
Kevin Kline is excellent in this too, an odd role but one which he excels in. The same cannot be said for the practically lineless Cary Elwes, an anonimous figure in the background of parties? He must be a close friend of Reitman's.

A really great film to just sit back and screen on a lazy Sunday or Saturday night. If there were a selection of movies to watch on a first date, this would come close to a perfect call.

Hall Pass (2011)

**
I was absolutely dreading this latest instalment from the Farrelly brothers. Growing up you couldn't stop me from laughing at their movies. It just seems like after Shallow Hal they blew it all, jokes and everything.

There are some great laughs though, from a Cuckoo's Nest reference to the shitty bathroom. Plus the assistant at the coffee shop is pure gold, especially when he cock blocks at a party and shouts at a random woman nearby. The toruble is, the good laughs are blended in with some really bad lines. It really only comes to life when the always perfect Richard Jenkins shows up and steals the show.
On a separate note, how ugly has Owen Wilson got? He's like the new Brendan Fraser. I know he's supposed to look like a family man but jeez, too far.

While it's still light years away from Kingpin (there best in my opinion), it is at least mildly amusing in parts. Which is more than I can say for The Heartbreak Kid.

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

***
Billed as an Inception meets The Bourne Identity, I was a little more than excited to see this one.
I won't say that I was disappointed as it certainly ticked a lot of boxes, but I just felt that it was a whole lotta confusion for nothing by the end.

The love factor is really strong throughout, not to the point where I was moved but I am a complete softy when it comes to a good romantic movie. Matt Damon is as good as he always is and Emily Blunt is passable at best, not a huge fan of her to be honest. I loved the plot and had a decent time with it overall but I doubt it's one i'll ever take out and say "you gotta see this movie!", it just doesn't have a very high rewatch factor.

Good but not great, certainly not forgettable but definitely not one i'd urge you to go out to rush and see.

Primer (2004)

***
What the fuck?

I have absolutely no idea what I just saw, and that's a very rare thing indeed. I doubt Lynch could make sense of this movie, a complete head fuck.

This is a fantastic low budget sci-fi movie and one which demands your full attention at all times, you can't even look away for one second or you'll face losing losing all control of the plot. I can't wait to see this movie again, not for some considerable amount of time of course but still.

I don't know what else to say... It's truly bizarre. It starts and ends very abruptly with a lot of talking in between but don't let that put you off, it's pretty fantastic.

Monday 4 July 2011

The Hollywood Knights (1980)

**
Yet another one-night movie that I was looking forward to.

Sadly this film didn't hit home for me. It was like an average mixture of Porky's and American Graffiti, it lacked any real substance. The relationship between Duke and Michelle Pfeiffer's character was non-existent, I couldn't see the point in that at all. The guy who was making all the lame-ass pranks was annoying to the point of nausea and those cops? Ahh, they were like those fools from Craven's Last House on the Left.
I didn't hate the film, I know it sounds like I did but I didn't, I just couldn't connect with it at all. It's only main redeeming quality was the fact that it was set in one night. Oh, and the cool radio station part. So two.

This wasn't for me but it has a strong following so don't let my thoughts put you off.

Sunday 3 July 2011

Trojan War (1997)

****½
I'm obsessed with one-night movies, there's just something about them which appeals to me. A while back I found @bobfreelander's list of his favourite one-night movies and to my shock there were a couple on there that I hadn't seen, this being one of them. So I did what comes naturally, I organised a screening.

This movie had only been on 5 minutes or so and I already knew that it was going to be for me. It has everyting you want; The love interest, the crazy cameos, the mishaps and chance encounters, the soundtrack, the list goes on. I was in love with Jennifer Love Hewitt a long time ago anyway but this just confirms my affection for her, she is hot in this movie, almost hotter than in Can't Hardly Wait. The cameos just kept coming too, you get Anthony Michael Hall as the "No free rides!" bus driver, David Patrick Kelly as a tramp, Danny Trejo as an obvious Mexican (albeit a less than very minor role), Mike Moroff, Lee Majors. I mean the list just goes on and on.

If you love your one-night movies like The Night Before, After Hours, Can't Hardly Wait etc. Then this is the movie for you. It's a fantastic feel-good movie and the rewatch value is very high too. I highly recommend this one.
The only other movie on the list that I haven't seen is The Hollywood Knights. Expect to hear about that screening fairly soon, as soon as I can track a copy down that is.