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The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
A Favorite Adaptation
The Muppet Christmas Carol probably wouldn't be on the top of any major lists for best Christmas films to watch every year, but it has always been a favorite of mine. It's a fun and interesting way to introduce children to the annual story of Bob Cratchit and Scrooge, without scaring them with the live action versions that are frankly, a bit dark. And who wouldn't like to see Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge, it's probably one of the best roles he's ever played in his entire career. He nails every scene and is likeable.
The Muppets have their respective roles as characters from the story as well, with Kermit as Bob Cratchit and Miss Piggy as Mrs. Cratchit. And then, you have Gonzo and Rizzo telling the story and narrating from the sidelines, which makes for its own funny moments and mishaps. Sam the Eagle as one of Ebenezer's schoolteachers in a flashback, and Fozzie Bear as Fozziewig, Ebenezer's old boss.
Even the musical numbers are catchy and you'll want to sing along with each one. If you didn't like a Christmas Carol before, you will after you see the Muppets give their rendition. It truly is a marvelous work, and you'll realize it's not just for children, even as an adult, it can be enjoyed and cherished and passed on to the next generation.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Say It Three Times!
With absolute certainty, Beetlejuice is the best film that Tim Burton has ever given us, and we appreciate that. They say original is always the best, and Beetlejuice is a timeless classic of gore and lore. It's funny, scary, dramatic and you can't help but sing along and feel nostalgic watching the film nearly 40 years later. And it's hard to believe it's been that long!
Everyone in this film was so young in 1988. Michael Keaton, who played Beetlejuice himself, had already been around and in various movies by the time he was cast. Geena Davis was a rising star and overshadowed Alec Baldwin, which would never happen today. Winona Ryder is still around. So is Catherine O'Hara, but she's a Tim Burton favorite and also well known as Kevin McAllister's mother from the Home Alone films. Of course, Jeffrey Jones has become infamous for reasons of his own undoing and no one speaks his name, he's essentially the Voldemort of Hollywood.
Anyway, Beetlejuice was and still is a huge success. It was so popular into the early 1990s that an animated series was created for children, much like the Real Ghostbusters. There were rumors and talk of a sequel ever since this film was released in 1988, but nothing ever came to fruition until the early 2020s, then it became serious. Even Michael Keaton was up for a sequel and by the time a sequel was greenlit, he was in his early seventies.
My Cousin Vinny (1992)
An Unexpected Hit
My Cousin Vinny was an unexpected hit when it was released in 1992, an no one expected a comedy to garner an academy award nomination, much less a win for Marisa Tomei. This film essentially launched her career and made her a sex symbol for years to come. Joe Pesci was great in the movie too, he shows his comedic side well, playing the snarky Vinny from New York.
The movie is full of character actors, both old and new, including Fred Gwynne who plays Judge Chamberlain; he was known as Herman Munster on TV to the previous generation. And Lane Smith as Prosecutor Jim Trotter is no stranger to the screen either, he was in a slew of comedy films during the 1990s, both with Eddie Murphy and Pauly Shore. Of course there's Ralph Macchio as Vinny's cousin Bill, but most people know him best from his time with Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid.
Director Jonathan Lynn definitely has a knack for picking out a great script and cast, and then putting the two together to create some real honest to goodness Hollywood magic. My Cousin Vinny is a true modern comedy classic that even Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, The Stooges or even the Marx Brothers would have been proud to call a favorite.
270 | Two Seventy US Election (2018)
Great Educational and Learning Tool
Two Seventy isn't just a game, it can be utilized as a great tool of education and learning, especially for those who are uninterested in politics or the process of presidential elections in the United States. This is a very regional game, and anyone outside the United States probably wouldn't understand the election process, but it's still a fun strategy game nonetheless. And that's basically what the game is about, strategy and where to spend your campaign dollars for the most votes and beat your opponent to become the President of the United States.
This is a free to play game, but you are able to purchase extra characters to use as your preferred candidate of choice, or you can do a monthly subscription for a small fee and have every eligible candidate available. Other than the real candidates running for election in 2020 and 2024, the developers have also added Betty White, Santa Claus and even Frosty the Snowman to name just a few. In theory, you could run an election with John Quincy Adams opposing Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. Who will win?
Download today and find out who will win 270!
Wonka (2023)
Quite Different To Say The Least
Finally saw Wonka and I have to say that for the first five to ten minutes of the film I just couldn't get into the story. Then it began to get more interesting. I knew going in that it was a prequel to the Gene Wilder led film from 1971, and I also knew that it could never live up to the standards that Wilder set for Willy Wonka. It's just impossible.
Try as he may, but Timothee Chalamet just isn't as charming or as whimsical. Creating an origin story for a character like Willy Wonka, I'm sure was no easy task, as it rarely ever is for works of fiction that's beloved. The musical numbers and dancing were also a detour from the original film. The tone of Wonka is lighter and more family friendly than the original, and less frightening than the Tim Burton version.
Overall, the story was decent and the depiction and delivery were good. The sets were beautifully done, and the special effects were on par. I was amazed that Hugh Grant played the Oompa Loompa.
BeamNG.drive (2013)
Awesome Simulator
If you're looking for a car game or you like simulator games, this is one of the most realistic in terms of damage and real time. The only downside at the time of this writing is that the game is only available on PC, and not on console. And you have to have a high end graphics card and plenty of CPU to play the game because it takes some memory, but it's worth it.
The game was first released in 2013, but even in 2024 is still one of the most popular games for PC, and is very highly rated on Steam. It does have game controller support through Steam with Xbox or Sony gamepads connected with Bluetooth, which makes the game mechanics easier to use.
There are a lot of vehicles to use in the game as is, but there are also mods that can be downloaded and used. There is talk of a career mode, but you can do missions within the game, even in free roam. The location maps are quite expansive, and there are about ten that come standard, including deserts, cities, beaches and forests.
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
I'll Have What She's Having
When Harry Met Sally is a true modern classic. Honestly one of Rob Reiner's best films and it had some big names attached, like Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby. Even Reiner's mother makes a cameo in the infamous diner scene with the quote "I'll have what she's having" after Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal discuss orgasms. Steven Ford even has a small role as Joe, the one-time boyfriend of Sally.
The interviews with the couples that are interplayed between scenes in the movie make you fall in love with Harry and Sally and want them to fall in love with each other as well. The speech that Harry gives to Sally on New Year's Eve is one of the most memorable scenes in cinema history, and was even used and hilariously recreated in an episode of Scrubs in 2004 when Turk and Carla marry.
It is hard to believe that the film was rated R in 1989 though, as by the standards of 2024, it would almost be PG or PG-13, as it doesn't seem at all that bad, but changing values I guess. It's still considered a classic, and it's hard to believe that the film is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.
Once Upon a Deadpool (2018)
Kidnapping in PG-13
The whole idea was to re-edit the second Deadpool film in order to make it more family friendly and allow more people to see the film in theaters, so instead of simply just editing out profanities and major drug use, they added kidnapping. Fred Savage's kidnapping! And apparently Brad Pitt was also kidnapped too, but that can't be confirmed. The premise of Deadpool telling his story to Savage in the bedroom set of Princess Bride is very comical, especially when Deadpool breaks the fourth wall.
At one time, IMDb didn't consider this title as it's own standalone film and only an alternative to Deadpool 2. I'm glad to see they finally added the film as it's own entity, because it is, even Rotten Tomatoes recognized it. It's not just a directors cut or an extended version of the film after all, it's akin to Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
In Your Dreams!
When it comes to slasher films, there's none better than the original Nightmare on Elm Street from 1984. It launched the career of Johnny Depp and reinvigorated the slasher craze that lasted into the 1990s. From the mind of Wes Craven, a master of horror, Nightmare on Elm Street is literally your worst nightmare come true. The killer, Freddy Krueger, who preys on his victims in their dreams has a very dark backstory that the parents of Springwood, Ohio don't want to talk about or remember.
Robert Englund gives an excellent performance as Freddy in the first Nightmare on Elm Street, he's creepy as hell. Heather Langenkamp and Johnny Depp as the neighborhood sweethearts Nancy and Glenn. The special effects are pretty gruesome for the time. And the final scene leaves you wondering if it was all just a dream, or is the nightmare just beginning on Elm Street?
Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much (2017)
Have Your Prices Spayed and Neutered
This was a well meaning documentary that somewhat missed its mark. When I first started viewing the film, I thought it would be more about the multiple times that Theodore Slauson was on the show and his appearance on stage. I didn't realize it was about a whacko that took Theodore's advice and then proceeded to almost get the show shut down. I thought that Theodore's story was way more interesting and had bits of romance and intrigue itself.
Terry Kniess used Theodore for his own fame and gain. The only good that came from the outcome of the whole Terry Kniess fiasco was that The Price is Right changed the way it presented its pricing games and offered prizes. They became more random, which I think made the show better and made the audience have more respect for the show after the fallout.
The documentary also focuses a small part of its time on the people on the show, like longtime host Bob Barker and producer Roger Dobkowitz, who was let go after Drew Carey took over hosting duties. Dobkowitz blames Carey for his departure from the show and Carey is not presented in too positive of light I might add. Whether or not he is or isn't, Drew Carey is made out to be the villain of The Price is Right.
Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story (2001)
The Way Mini Series Should Be
Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story was one of the last great epic mini series that Hallmark made for network television. Starring Matthew Modine as a modern day Jack whose family owns and runs a construction company. When the company Jack owns is excavating a site, they find the body of a giant. The original elements still exist, the Beanstalk and the golden goose. Jack must now decide if he truly believes in the long told family story of the fairy tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. It's a great twist on the classic story.
Jack's visit to the Giant world is nothing like what he's heard. And the golden goose has been stolen from their world, but where is she? Why was she stolen? And who could have profited? When Jack returns to his world, years have passed in the human world, but it's only been one day for him. Will he find the truth? And can he set things straight?
Halloweentown (1998)
Campy TV Halloween
Back when Disney wasn't afraid to air television films for holidays other than Christmas, there was Halloweentown with Debbie Reynolds as a witch and a grandmother who reveals to her grandchildren their true identity and destiny. Meanwhile, the kids have an overbearing mother who for reasons she doesn't discuss, hates Halloween and won't even let the kids trick or treat.
After the children learn the truth from their grandmother, they travel to Halloweentown against their mother's wishes and find themselves getting into mischief. They meet Kalabar, who they believe to be a friend of their mothers from childhood, but things aren't always what they seem. Will the kids make it back home?
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Best Deadpool Yet
I was very pleased by the latest film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and was very satisfied that they decided not to do a straight PG-13 rated film. I think we were all fearing that outcome. It was really awesome to see Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds together onscreen finally playing their signature characters, along with cameos from other distant and forgotten Marvel characters in the Void. Characters like Blade, Elektra, and even the Fantastic 4. Of course, the multiverses of Deadpools was great, especially Deadpool Kid and Mary Puppins, loved that one.
It was really cool that Reynolds got Wesley Snipes to appear as Blade, especially since that series was released by another studio. And Jennifer Garner as Elektra, wow, but why not Daredevil? They missed an opportunity there.
The whole fight scene between Deadpool and the TVA is worth the watch, it's extremely hilarious. Well, technically Wolverine does help Deadpool fight them I suppose!
The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
It Rescued the Disney Animation Studio
At the time this film was being considered in the late 1980s, while production was still going forward on Oliver & Company and The Little Mermaid, the Disney Animation Studio was on the brink of closure under then CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. The studio was hemorrhaging money from box office failures of the early and mid 1980s, especially after The Black Cauldron failed to gain a family audience because of its PG rating and overly dark toned nature.
The Rescuers Down Under was part of a renaissance of new ideas and direction that began after The Little Mermaid was a box office smash hit. In the midst of the Disney Renaissance, Katzenberg was removed as CEO, and Michael Eisner was installed. Sadly, the Disney Renaissance only lasted until the late 1990s. But the animation studio had been saved and was no longer in danger of being dismantled thanks in part to a film about two little mice.
I guess you could say Miss Bianca and Bernard saved more than Cody, they saved Disney animation for future generations. And this Rescuers film is far superior compared to the original 1977 Rescuers film. For one thing, the animators didn't insert dirty pictures into the frames of this film! Plus, who doesn't love John Candy as the voice of Wilbur.
17 Again (2009)
A Trip Back in Time
Watching Zac Efron in 17 Again in the year 2024 is like taking a trip back through time. Fifteen years ago, Zac Efron was still a young, fresh faced kid new on the scene, direct from working over at Disney on his huge hit movie High School Musical. Matthew Perry was somehow still riding high off his starring role on Friends. And Thomas Lennon was known well enough to co-star in a theatrical released studio film. What a difference fifteen years can make.
The three stars of the film work in great sync together to bring the story to life. I really did enjoy watching Thomas Lennon over-exaggerate with his character on how to properly "peacock" with trying to pick up women. He was definitely the most comical part of the film. Efron was not bad either for his first big non-Disney feature. And as big of a fan I am of Matthew Perry, he is nearly forgettable in the film unfortunately.
Destroy All Neighbors (2024)
Bloody Fresh
As far as Shudder horror goes, this one is really out there. The special effects must have been 90% of the budget. If the kid from Sixth Sense could see dead people and grew up to be a serial murderer, this is the result you'd get. The entire movie after the first twenty minutes makes absolutely no sense and it continues to get even weirder.
Thomas Lennon co-stars in this black musical comedy that's darker than the bad jokes it tries to get across. Some of the things I noticed is that this movie is like a bad, a very bad Muppet movie, like Happytime Murders on crack! The studio were Will records his music has a funny name that Star Wars fans would get a kick out of, it's called Industrial Sound & Magic.
Alex Winter plays Vlad, the neighbor who is the first to die in a series of unfortunate events that culminates in a literal death metal album being produced by Will. The landlady is outrageous, both before and after her demise. The deaths and confrontations that lead to the deaths are all completely over the top.
Blank Check (1994)
A Kids Dream
When you're an eleven year old kid, you dream of having all the money in the world. The dream comes true for Preston Waters when he's handed a blank check after a bicycle accident. A million dollars sounds like a lot of money to a kid, but it really doesn't go a long way, which Preston soon finds out. Just be forewarned that filling out a blank check is a crime itself, which isn't why the FBI is on Preston's tail.
Special agent Shea of the FBI, working undercover at the bank starts to suspect that Preston and his "boss," Mr. McIntosh (Preston's alias) are crooks who stole the money and laundered it with the bank manager. Tone Loc gives a raucous performance as Juice, the middle man in the money laundering scheme. Miguel Ferrer plays the actual crook, who ends up taking on the alias of Mr. McIntosh and Michael Lerner is the bank manager handling the scheme.
In recent years, there has been controversy surrounding this film and the kiss that Shea gives to Preston. In 1994, no one had a second thought about it being scandalous. It's a family comedy and it's not inappropriate.
The Trouble with Harry (1955)
Hitchcock and Comedy?
It's hard to believe, but Alfred Hitchcock wasn't exactly known for his comedies, which makes The Trouble with Harry all that more special. It's zany, it's completely off the wall, it's also morbidly funny and it's a Hitchcock film. At a time when he was known for very suspenseful films like Rope and The Man Who Knew Too Much, which both starred James Stewart, Hitchcock directed this classic black comedy about a dead man named Harry that is more trouble than everyone needed.
There are also hints of romance throughout, some were even risque for the 1950s; for instance Forsythe's character tells MacLaine's character that he'd like to paint her in the nude. Romance seemed to have played a major theme throughout the films Hitchcock made, as there is some mention or allusion to romance in a majority of his work.
A very young Shirley MacLaine made her debut in this film, alongside Edmund Gwenn, John Forsythe, and Jerry Mathers. Mathers would forever be known as Beaver Cleaver in his own right just two years later when he starred in his own television series Leave It To Beaver.
Despicable Me 4 (2024)
Film Good, Blu-ray Value Sucks
I wasn't expecting much out of the sixth overall installment in the Minions franchise, but I can honestly say that I was very much surprised and glad that I sat through and watched the whole film. Aside from Steve Carell being the ultimate voice of Gru (no one else could ever be Gru), I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Will Ferrell was also starring in this installment. Ferrell's character, Maxime Le Mal, an old foe of Gru is reminiscent of Megamimd, another animated villain that Ferrell once voiced.
The story was good, the animation is still superb and of course the Minions are what it's all about. If you laugh at least once or twice during the film, you'll enjoy yourself. It's definitely a great film to watch with the family.
I have to say that whoever's idea it was to market the home video releases like they did should be ashamed. Disney is still releasing their Blu-rays with a dvd in a combo pack, but Universal is a little more greedy. Disney's Inside Out 2 Blu-ray/DVDs are $25, Despicable Me 4 Blu-ray is $25, so where is the value?
Air (2023)
Amazing
This is truly an amazing film detailing the creation of the Air Jordan and Michael Jordan's subsequent shoe deal with Nike that made them both a household name. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are damn good in this film, their best since Good Will Hunting in my opinion. Affleck playing Phil Knight was very believable. Viola Davis playing Michael's mother was also a great fit, as I read it was at Michael Jordan's insistence that she play the role and no one else. It was also great to see Chris Tucker again, and to know that after all these years, he's not missing any longer! And it's just not an Affleck/Damon film without a scene where they argue.
For a period film set in the 1980s, the writers and producers did their due diligence, as did Affleck. The hairstyles are definitely on target for the time period, I was especially intrigued by Jason Bateman's look. And the music soundtrack is one of the best compilations for a film I've heard in years, right up there with Forrest Gump. The one thing that I did find odd about how this film was directed and shot was the fact that they obscured or deliberately didn't show the face of the Michael Jordan character. I know the focus wasn't exactly about the man himself, but why the obscurity?
Overall, I thought this was a great film, well made despite what I previously stated about the obscurity issue. Affleck definitely has come a long way since his younger days.
Saw X (2023)
Saw X (Saw 1.5)
This was an interesting insertion into the Saw/John Kramer universe. The premise reminded me of what happened with Andy Kaufman when he was duped into similar circumstances. And this is scarily something that seems to happen all too often in today's world, and it's sad that people prey and take advantage of sick and dying people just to steal their money and basically give them nothing in return. A miracle was all John Kramer was looking for, and he thought he found it based on another person's testimony that had once been in a cancer group with him.
There are plenty of heartfelt moments during the first half of the movie, but like any Saw movie, there are twists and turns that take the story in a whole other direction. When John wants to thank those who've helped him and he returns to the facility, everything isn't as it seems. Was he dreaming, or maybe he made it all up in his head? In the end, it's all manipulated, but then again, that's life.
The chronology of this story happens between the first and second film.
They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way (1978)
How Much Does a Tim Conway?
A riotous laugh out loud comedy written by and starring Tim Conway as a bumbling police officer who goes undercover in a Georgia prison with his partner with strict orders by the governor that only the three know about the whole deal. Comedy ensues when the current governor, the only man who knows the two policemen's true identity dies. Richard Kiel co-stars as another inmate at the prison and he towers over Conway and dwarfs him in every scene they share.
While the policemen are undercover, the warden needs emergency dentistry and that just happens to be the specialty of Conway's undercover counterpart. That whole scene is a replica of a scene Conway did with Harvey Korman on the Carol Burnett Show. Conway's character even manages to stick himself with the needle multiple times just like he had with Korman. However, it wasn't as funny here as it was when he and Korman did the bit together. Dub Taylor plays the warden, and he's nowhere as amusing.
But for some slapstick fun and a few funny scenes with Tim Conway that are reminiscent of his role in the Apple Dumpling movies, you might also like this one.
RoboCop (1987)
The OG and the Best
When it comes to RoboCop, there is no better than the original film from 1987, directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Peter Weller as the eponymous cyborg. Having not watched the film in some years and just recently re-viewing my DVD copy after there was no internet service after Hurricane Helene, it brought back fond memories of childhood and the movies I grew up with. First of all, I can't believe I watched this as a young child and didn't have nightmares. And I definitely didn't remember all the faces who made appearances, like Kurtwood Smith (who later would play Red Forman on That 70s Show), and Ronny Cox (Sgt Bogamill from Beverly Hills Cop).
Whatever happened to good action movies? This was a great movie, well written, and had plenty of action and just enough violence and gore, and not completely over the top like the sequels. If you don't see the second or third films in the original trilogy, you wouldn't be missing much, but make time to see this one, it's the best.
Luo Xiao Hei zhan ji (2019)
It's No Ghibli!
The animation used in The Legend of Hei is very vibrant and colorful, but the style reminds me so much of Goku or Dragonball Z; and is definitely not up to the same level or standards as the Studio Ghibli films. The fact that this is a story about good vs evil and superpowers and the hero had to choose who lives and who dies gives rise that they may have taken some ideas from Superman, but maybe not. That might just be a coincidence. It's probably not a movie to be shown to smaller children as it is rated PG-13 and does show quite an abundance of fighting; although looking at the cover art and the little cat, it looks pretty harmless.
If you're into anime or foreign films, this is definitely a movie you might want to see, especially if you don't mind reading the captions at the bottom of the screen. If not, then they do have an English dubbed version but the words are completely different, but it may be easier to follow. Legend of Hei definitely didn't hold my attention as much as Ponyo or Red Turtle.
Uncut Gems (2019)
Sandler's Foray into Drama
Blown away is probably the best way to describe how to feel after seeing Uncut Gems and the tremendous performance that Adam Sandler gives was definitely Oscar worthy but he was snubbed for even a nomination by the academy. After years of making comedy films and being the clown of cinema, Sandler tried drama for a third time, and a third time was the charm apparently.
Critics raved about this film upon release, and audiences made it a success. In my opinion, Uncut Gems is a much better drama than Sandler's first foray into the genre with Spanglish, which was pretty mediocre and not taken seriously at the time. In his second drama, Reign Over Me, about a man living in New York and having lost his family on September 11th, Sandler was taken more seriously, and it was a very dramatic subject. Uncut Gems is Sandler's best dramatic role thus far.
Uncut Gems is well written, directed and acted. It should have won awards, but comedians are rarely taken seriously when they take dramatic roles when they have a history of comedy films, especially those that are considered low brow like Billy Madison and even the animated Eight Crazy Nights, that by today's standards wouldn't be able to be made at all. Hopefully Sandler and the Safdie brothers will make a second film together one day.