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Reviews
The Rockford Files (1974)
Classic 70s Show
Although Jim Rockford may represent the quintessential private eye (poor, heavily in debt, prone to get in car chases), he was a breath of fresh air considering the TV detectives who came before him (Cannon, McCloud, Barnaby Jones) that sported a hell of an office. Bucking the trend of well-dressed, well-off detectives, "The Rockford Files" presented the gritty, not-so-glamorous life and times of Jim Rockford, a pardoned ex-San Quentin inmate living in a dilapidated trailer on the beach.
James Garner is excellent as Rockford, making the character real and honest but also likable and charismatic. Supporting cast Noah Beery, Jr., Stuart Margolin, Joe Santos, and Gretchen Corbett are also great as Rockford's father Rocky, con artist Angel Martin, police station ally Dennis Becker, and on again-off again attorney girlfriend Beth Davenport, respectively.
The guest stars also pack a punch, like Lindsay Wagner (in the pilot), Alex Rocco, Abe Vigoda, Lauren Bacall, the late Isaac Hayes, Dionne Warwick, future film director Dennis Dugan (as detective Richie Brockelman) and future "Magnum, P.I." stars Tom Selleck, Larry Manetti, and Roger E. Mosley (Selleck as the anti-Rockford, Lance White).
The writing is realistic and not too dated by today's standards (although in one early episode, Jimmy asks a guy for a quarter to use a pay toilet!), and is as enjoyable as when it was first aired. Wholeheartedly recommended!
Death on the Nile (1978)
Succeeds well as a mystery
This whodunit, a sequel to "Murder on the Orient Express", succeeds well as a mystery, but not so well as a comedy, though it is a mystery first. My mother read the book and first saw this film in her native China when she was my age and she remembered it as "a bit scary"
Even though most of us see David Suchet or even Albert Finney as practically Poirot himself, Sir Peter Ustinov looks like he's clearly having loads of fun with the role, even if he doesn't resemble Poirot himself physically. David Niven plays his role as Colonel Race with class and Mia Farrow almost steals the show(boat) as the seemingly jilted Jackie. Angela Lansbury's a bit underused as tipsy Salome (pronounced SAL-OM-AE) Otterbourne but a pure delight to watch nonetheless. George "Ed Hocken" Kennedy also has a supporting role as Andrew Pennington, which he plays okay. Some say Lois Chiles does not play her role well as Linnet Ridgeway, I do not totally agree with this, as the character is firm and careful in her dealings and a strong businesswoman. Chiles kinda reminds me of Christina Applegate in appearance and a bit of myself in personality, though I have more enthusiasm in my voice. Bette Davis is in top form as Ms. Van Schuyler and Maggie Smith matches up well as her nurse Miss Bowers. The on-location filming in Egypt works beautifully also.
Recently I watched this with my mom, and she wasn't entirely wrong about the frightening parts. If you get scared by these parts, try what the people at Science World tell you to do at the Omnimax Theater when you get dizzy: shut your eyes, though you probably won't be too frightened if you watch "CSI" regularly. Overall, I give this great mystery a 7 outta 10, because a little bit more work could've been done on the comedy parts. I found Jackie's drunken liquor verses clever, by the way.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
Good, but has its flaws.
Okay, so the Space channel, with its numerous commercial breaks, wasn't the best channel to watch this movie, but I got a good taste.
First of all, this is the first Star Trek movie I've seen, so I'm not sure how different Kirstie Alley and Robin Curtis' performances were as Saavik. Most of the leads are great in their famous roles, though I kinda wanted to see more scenes with Uhura. I did like the "Mr. Adventure" scene with her.
Obviously, you're kinda itching to find out what my opinion on Christopher Lloyd's Kruge is. Well.... I kinda classify this role as not his best, nor his worst. I forgive him though, since this movie was before his most famous role (which I'm not going to say because you probably all know).
Leonard Nimoy (hopefully I'm spelling this right)'s directing isn't bad (really bad is probably what some think of Will Shatner's directing), but it's hard to find a distinct style of his in the movie. I do understand it was one of his first times as director.
I really love James Horner's score, giving the movie a whimsical but still sci-fi feel to the film, oddly leaving out the Star Trek movie theme (not the TV show theme), but thankfully not sounding too pretty in the scenes of danger.
Well, there you have it. And in case you're wondering... I prefer "The needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many" rather than "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few".
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Great Characters!
I first heard of this flick when my dad watched it on CMT two years ago. Back then, I didn't really get it. But not too long ago I watched it on Beta. And guess what? I chuckled, giggled, and laughed. Cleavon Little is fantastic as the charismatic Bart, Gene Wilder shines as the Waco Kid, Harvey Korman is delicious as Hedley (NOT HEDY!) Lamarr, and seriously, who can forget the late, great Madeline Kahn as the singing and dancing Dietrich spoof Lili Von Shtupp? Going from dead-on Dietrich to a female Elmer Fudd (but that's a good thing), she totally deserved that Oscar nod (although it was Korman's Lamarr who pretty much asked for one).
Anyways, if you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend this Mel Brooks' classic to the younger generation who's looking for a good laugh.
Arthur's Perfect Christmas (2000)
Arthur's Perfect Christmas Special
Well,first of all,Arthur's Perfect Christmas is mainly about the people of Elwood City trying to have the best Christmas ever.Many threads of accompanying stories are weaved into this fabric,like Francine trying to get Muffy to understand why Hannukah is so important to her,Arthur buying a glass bird for his mom,and Buster wanting to create a new holiday that's all about relaxing and doing what you want.Included also are looks into other holidays,like St.Lucia Day,Kwanzaa,and Hannukah.Great running gags too,like Binky making holiday desserts wrong(like unshelled pecans in pecan pie).A funny part is on Christmas Day,when D.W. sees Uncle Fred(who's visiting the Reads)shaving in red pajamas,she thinks she saw Santa Claus.When she runs to tell Dad,Fred leaves and Arthur goes in to pee.D.W. opens the bathroom door and sees Arthur,who then screams.Priceless(other than extremely funny!)!
Also,we get the Arthur's Perfect Christmas version of Crazy Bus:The theme song for Tina the Talking Tabby,a toy that D.W. desperately wants for Christmas.
Overall,this is the best Christmas special ever!The reason why no other Christmas Special is better is because this is from one of the best shows ever.
So celebrate with Arthur and the gang and get nauseated by Tina the Talking Tabby.10 outta 10.
Rabbit's Kin (1952)
Better Than Everyone Else Thinks
Sure,it's not the best McKimson cartoon out there,but the gags with Pete Puma actually made me laugh the first time I saw it.I loved the way Pete walked to Bugs and the little brown bunny when he was pretending to be the little brown bunny's mother,and the "How many lumps do ya want?" gag(s) is classic,especially the fact that Pete kept forgetting that he was going to be administered real lumps after saying "Oh,three or four..."
This cartoon's my brother's second favorite cartoon(next to "Hot Cross Bunny"),and almost every time I pull out The Looney Tunes Golden Collection to watch,he exclaims "Go to the Pete Puma one!"
Stan Freberg is an excellent voice artist and in the sense of best voice personality,Pete Puma is definitely the star of this cartoon(And I love Pete's unique laugh).I definitely recommend this to any Bugs Bunny fan who is a fan of obscure Bugs classics!
Boobs in the Woods (1950)
Ah just because I'm happy is no sign I'm Looney Tooney!
Judging by the title, you wouldn't think this is a WB cartoon. But of course, after seeing the great Daffy gags ("I'm the old man of the mountains!") and Porky's licenses (like a license to sell hair tonic to bald eagles in Omaha, Nebraska) you'll think differently. My favorite gag is when Daffy asks Porky if he has a marriage license, Porky says no, and then Daffy replies "Well, whaddya say you and me go steady?" Daffy's singing at the beginning of this cartoon is great too, singing on how it gives him a pain when people think he's nutsy. Every gag is great, and this is my favorite Daffy and Porky cartoon (my second favorite is Corn On The Cop) and I recommend this to any Daffy and Porky fan.
Hare Do (1949)
My Favorite Bugs Bunny Cartoon
Hare Do starts out with the all too familiar scene of Elmer Fudd hunting for Bugs.Elmer chases Bugs into a theater(which for some reason,has a separate theater cost for rabbits)and many great jokes and gags ensue,like when the theater management seems to have a message at the box office for Elmer,Elmer reports to the box office,and gets a pie in the face by Bugs Bunny.Another great gag is when Bugs keeps pulling up and down the intermission lever so the theater patrons keep trampling Elmer.But you'll love the ending,when Bugs disguises himself as an usher and escorts Elmer to a theater balcony and well..................I'll leave you to figure this out for yourself.I recommend this to anybody.10 outta 10.