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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bloodsport (1988)

****

This film was an absolute classic from my youth, this and The Karate Kid, they were known as the greatest martial arts movies in our household. It was definitely long overdue for a rewatch and I felt in the mood too.

This was even better than I remembered it being, in my opinion Van Damme has never been better. Sure, Kickboxer, A.W.O.L., Sudden Death, Hard Target and No Retreat No Surrender are all excellent films but it's in Bloodsport where he comes to life.
It's short on character development and leaves the film to rest on it's fights which is the greatest thing of all. Bolo Yeung who plays Chong Li is the meanest bastard i've seen in a long time, genuinely terrifying.
I also loved the relationship between him and Donald Gibb even if they do get a little too close for my liking towards the end of the film.

It has been years since I saw this the first time and it has really been an eye opener, it's made me want to revisit Damme's back catalogue for one, and oter martial arts movies for two. I still need to revisit all of the Karate Kid movies and make time for my Enter the Dragon first viewing too.
This is an incredibly pleasing movie and i'm glad to report that it still holds up.

Kick-Ass (2010)

****

I've lost count of the amount of times i've revisited this one, sometimes not all the way through. It's just a movie to throw on when you need cheering up. This time I was showing it to my 9 year old Niece.
I checked with Simon Bates first before screening, he was fine about it.

My brief thoughts on the film from last time: http://whatvivaviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/kick-ass-2010.html

I love this movie!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

****

I hadn't seen this one in quite some time and I can remember not being that impressed by it all. It was showing on TV last night so I thought why not give it another shot.

Although i'm not blown away by the film, it was much better on a second viewing. Fincher is a masterful director and if I ever come across another one of his films that I slightly dislike i'm at least going to give him the courtesy of a rewatch, just to make sure. That means a screening of The Game will be arranged real soon.

The story is fantastic and one that you can really get behind, my only problem is that it's a little bit slow and overlong, but then again considering the story it kind of has to be, I guess.

A really good if not great film for me. There are much better films in Fincher's back catalogue to see first but this one should never be overlooked, it's a spectacle.

After Hours (1985)

*****

I hadn't seen this movie for about 10 years so I figured it was long overdue for a revisit. That and the fact that I had screened The Night Before a few days earlier, it certainly got me wantinh to see this again

Scorsese is known as a master of many genres but not many people associate him with comedy, and it's just a shame that he never ventured back into the dark side of comedy becuase this one is a real classic. It's hilarious, has an unbelivable amount of grade A cameos and features a magnificent central performance from Griffin Dunne. I think we've all had one of those memorable nights when you harmlessly go into town looking for a good night out but everyhting seems to go wrong, except this is the worst night ever imaginable.

A classic black comedy of the highest order.

Judgment Night (1993)

*****

A personal top 20 movie of all time for me. I have seen it more than a hundred times and I never tire of it.

A few years had passed before my last screening and just as I was heading off to bed, it comes on BBC1. What was I going to do? It would be a crime to miss it.
It's like The Warriors for the 90's. You've got 4 guys who have to bop their way back home from the middle of nowheresville against some of the meanest American gangsters. Cuba Gooding even sports a brown leather jacket and Stephen Dorff has the exact same pair of black gloves that Ajax has, and he's the rogue one of the group.
Some of the scenes are really tense, the classic one that always sticks in my mind is where they all hide in the carriage of a train on a deserted track. The carriage is full of tramps and in order to pay for their silence, the group have to give away all of their valuables. It's one of those where you dare'st move yourself at home, in fear of Leary finding you. Then of course you have the roof scene with Piven tring to negotiate with the gangsters who are after them.
I can literally quote 80% of the script and do most days. The soundtrack is incredible too, rarely bettered.

For me it's one of the most star studded, underated movies ever released. Did it even get a cinema release? If you haven't seen it, correct that right now.

Splash (1984)

****

A classic film from my youth but not one that I remember a whole lot about, other than the fact that Daryl Hannah was a mermaid in it. It's been about 15 years or maybe even more since I last saw this one so it was well overdue for a revisit.

I'll watch any movie with Tom Hanks or John Candy in and that goes double for any released in the 80's. Add to the mix an absolutely stunning Daryl Hannah and Candy's SNL right hand man Eugene Levy and you've got yourself some sure-fire gold there. Directed by Ron Howard too? I'm in dreamland.

I'm happy to report that I still love this movie, in a similar way that I love Mannequin. It's that fantasy romance that draws me in, almost dream state, like the movies we all want to make in our heads.

Hanks is hilarious and to pick one scene in general would be very harsh but in the case of the spoon at the restaurant, I can't help it. "Nice earrings."

It's a childhood classic and one that still holds strong enough today.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World (2010)

*****

My favourite movie from all of last years releases. A truly magical film!

The film is littered with other movie references, manistream and obscure. Some are finding Cera a little too much of late but I happen to enjoy most of his films and early TV work.

I can remember walking out of the cinema and talking about this film all the way home, I can't remember the last time a film gave me such a huge buzz and grin. I love the fact that a movie like this was crafted by and English director.

An epic of epic epicness indeed.

Twelve Angry Men (1957)

*****

Sadly, cinema lost one of it's brightest lights this morning with the news that Sidney Lumet had passed away. As soon as I heard the news I knew there was only one film to screen tonight.

My Dad first showed this one to me as a 12 year old with very basic knowledge of film, but my eyes had a rude awakening as soon as the film opened up.
For me this is Lumet's masterpiece. The script is fast and timed to perfection, the acting is second to none and the execution is simply breath-taking. Over 50 years since it was first released and it's still recognised today as one of the greatest movies ever made. You can't help but get sucked into the story and you almost feel like the twelth man on the jury,

It's a work of magic, simple as that. Check it out!

High Fidelity (2000)

****

A personal favourite and major point of reference for me. So imagine my horror when my Wife dropped the bombshell that she hadn't seen it. Before she even finished the sentence I was already out of my chair heading for the movie room, I picked up the tape and she experienced the magic.

I have always loved this movie, and as a fellow collector I can really relate to the John Cusack's character. His love for all things vinyl is exactly the same as mine for VHS. The way he organises his shelves to the way he's always ranking them in order of top 5, it's just like my collection.
In my opinion this is one of Jack Black's best performances. Although not a major part in the film he is still integral to the key funny scenes and superb finale, which probably launched his career. The cameos are fantastic in this too, from Tim Robbins to Joan Cusack to Catherine Zeta Jones etc.
I'm a huge Cusack fan, most notably his 80's work but this one is a cracker that I like to revisit a lot.

This is just one of those great break-up movies that can proudly stand among the likes of Almost Famous, Swingers and so on. I don't need to say much more as you're all probably aware of it's greatness, unlike my Wife. But that has now been corrected.

The Social Network (2010)

*****

Behing Scott Pilgrim from last year, The Social Network was my other favourite movie of 2010. I saw it a week earlier than most as it was part of a Mystery Movie Monday screening but I can still remember how buzzed I was when I walked out of the cinema.

This was my first revisit of many but it still left the same impression on me, David Fincher is a genius and this film can go down alongside Zodiac as a modern day masterpiece. This may one day rise to my all time top 10 list but for now it will just have to be happy receiving a 5 star rating.
I doubt there is a movie fan left on earth who hasn't seen this movie at least once, but if you're one of those people, amend that great mistake now. This film will blow you away in both performances and script.
Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and even Justin Timberlake are fantastic in the central performances and the score is amazing too. Loved it!

Babes in Toyland (1986)

**

My Mom used to work for Sony BMG when I was little and she would always bring back VHS tapes from the label RCA. Over the years we'd constantly watch the same films over and over like The Monster Squad, Ghostbusters and alike but there was always one film that I could never remember the name of. The only thing I knew about it was that it featured a shop on the corner of a street and it was really snowing. I knew deep down that with only tose two fragments of a memory i'd never be able to track the movie down, litte did I know that my Sister would be the one to locate it. After years and years of racking my brain I asked her and she said Babes in Toyland. Quite bizarre considering she's the worst person in the world when it comes to movies.

I couldn't wait to screen this one as part of my Sunday screenings, hoping that it would bring back some memories and put me in a good mood. Sadly this only goes to further strengthen the fact that some films are better left in the past, remembering them for how they made you feel back then.
Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves do their very best here but the acting overall is atrocious, as is the story really. The songs are cringeworthy already without the lips sync added. Imagine an 11 year old Drew singing like a 40 year old woman? It's not great on the old ears, let me tell you.

It's a shame that this film is terrible because the opening 10-15 minutes show a great deal of promise. I can't believe that imdb show a run time of 90 minutes, because the version I had was on for almost two and a half hours! And man did it drag.

Sideways (2004)

*****

Not as rewatchable as something like Swingers but certainly one of my all-time favourites. Paul Giamatti excels as the down and out manic depressive while Haden Church completely steals the show with this carefree ways and wily charms.
It's almost a year to the day that I visited theSanta Barbara wineries and this film brings back so many memories. I even ate in the same restaurant and drank in the same wine testing huts as the pair.
This is expertly written and wonderfully acted throughout that I find it almost impossible to believe that anyone could dislike it, it's like poetry in motion. Seek it out if you happen to be among the very select few that have missed it. Wonderful film!

I've seen this film quite a few times now and it's funny because like a fine wine, this film really does get better with age.

Meet the Parents (2000)

***½

I've always liked this film but my wife had never seen it, despite watching the other two instalments. It had probably been about 5 or 6 years since the last time I had so it was due a rewatch.

I'm one of the rare people who actually get a kick out of the three MtP movies. I love this one, enjoyed the second, and like the third more than the average Joe. It has aged a little but it's still funny in parts, you can't dampen the comedy of that water-volleyball scene for me.

It's nothing spectacular but it's a fun little family comedy.

Bad Boys (1983)

*****

This was one of my all time favourites from when I was younger but I hadn't seen it in something like 8 years or more. I also wanted to show it to my wife seeing as though we have the quad poster on our wall.

It still holds up today. The acting is at times raw but you're talking about something that was filmed in 1982/3 and it mostly featured young newcomers, so it was to be expected. The other negative I have is the score, for me it just doesn't fit in with the movie at all apart from the opening credits and final scene. The plus points are the leads, Sean Penn as Mick O'Brien and Esai Morales as Paco Moreno. Both of whom are perfect for the roles. The guards are played brilliantly too and you even get the likes of Ally Sheedy, Alan Ruck and the permtastic Clancy Brown thrown in for good measure. That boy sure did have one magnificent head of golden hair.

The plot is gritty but simple, you have O'Brien who accidentally kills Paco's brother after a failed robbery attempt, and Paco who rapes O'Brien's girlfriend (Sheedy) in revenge. O'Brien has already served a bit of time in the juvenile facility when Paco is transferred there, and it's only a matter of time before the two come face to face in a breathtaking final showdown.

I still adore this film. It has aged over the years as expected but it's still one hell of a piece of work. It's a really underrated film and one I cannot speak highly of. Check it out!