Hellfighters

John Wayne stars as a firefighter named Chance Buckman in this 1968 film. 

It's not regarded as one of Wayne's best but, there aren't many films I've come across that are about people fighting oil well fires so, at the very least it's something different.

Chance is the head of an oil-fire fighting team and one day after containing a fire there is an accident that puts him in the hospital. Worrying that Chance may not make it, one of his men from his team Greg Parker (played by Jim Hutton) sets out to find Chance's daughter Tish. Despite getting off to a rough start, within a matter of days, Greg and Tish fall in love and get married. Shortly after, Chance, Greg, Tish, and Chance's ex-wife Madelyn (played by Vera Miles) are all out celebrating the marriage when a call comes in that there is a fire. So, it's back to work but now the dynamic between the two has changed with Chance knowing full well that the dangerous job is what caused Madelyn to leave him. While on their next job Greg's foot gets trapped under a collapsing steel structure and Chance rushes in to save him, and afterwards Chance decides to leave firefighting in favor of a office job. He and Madelyn try to give their relationship another shot but, when a fire in Venezuela gets out of hand, Greg calls up Chance for help and he doesn't hesitate to jump back into action.

Overall it's not great but, especially if your a John Wayne fan, it's pretty entertaining.

I give it a 2.5 out of 5.

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Ranking the X-Men Movies

 Well, it seems like the time has come to rank the X-Men movies. I've always loved the X-Men characters in the comics but, I find the films in this franchise to range from pretty good superhero movies at best, to barely watchable at worst. Now, I'm going to keep this to just the six films featuring the the actual X-Men team. So, spinoffs like the Wolverine solo movies and Deadpool aren't on this one. It's an interesting collection of films to compare because the films are also notorious for plot holes and continuity issues. That being said, here's how I rank them:

#6 X-Men: First Class (2011)

This was the first film to back track and show the formation of the X-Men many years prior to the events of 2000's X-Men film. Unfortunately, as with many prequels, this would start opening up plot holes and start really screwing with the continuity of the franchise.

#5 X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

There are moments in this one that were enjoyable but, overall, I didn't like the film. As with the two films in the franchise that proceeded this one, I'm not a fan of a lot of the cast and many of the effects are sub-par. Plus, the plot is all over the place.


#4 X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

It was close between the #3 and #4 selections, because I think both films are kind of a mixed-bag. However, the boring plot and the fact that I like the original cast better lead to this one falling to the #4 spot. Also, while having Hugh Jackman back is a plus, it kinda gets canceled out by having Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique being a main character again.

#3 X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

This one I think is often regarded as a much worse movie than it actually is. There are some dumb moments and some of the characters introduced in it just don't work (for example: Juggernaut was horrendous). On the other hand, I thought Kelsey Grammer as Beast was a good choice. It's still watchable.

#2 X2: X-Men United (2003)

 This was a good follow up to the original, and in some ways was the superior movie. It's fun and there is some decent action. It's not my favorite, but it's several notches above all of the previously listed film on this list.

#1 X-Men (2000)

 To me the original did it the best. It's not a perfect film but I thought the cast was solid, the plot was straight-forward, it kept me entertained throughout, and I think it's the most rewatchable of the bunch.


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Today's Movie: A League of Their Own

"There's no crying in baseball!"

Though not my favorite baseball movie, 1992's A League of Their Own is both fun and entertaining. It was also one that I debated placing on my "10 Tom Hanks Movies Everyone Should See" list (which you can check out by clicking here), but ultimately there were just too many movies that I didn't want to leave off.

The film is about a women's baseball league that is started up while many MLB players were fighting in WWII. The two main players the film focuses on are a pair of sisters from Oregon, a catcher named Dottie Hinson (played by Geena Davis) and a pitcher named Kit Keller (played by Lori Petty). They are recruited to the league by scout that is played by Jon Lovitz, and though he's only in the film for a short time, he provides a couple good laughs. They play ball for the 'Rockford Peaches' and are joined by woman from across the country played by Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Anne Ramsay, Megan Cavanagh, Tracy Reiner, Bitty Schram, and others. Their manager Jimmy Dugan (played by Tom Hanks) is a drunk, ex-MLB player, with a bad knee, and who doesn't initially even think the women should even be considered real baseball players, but he comes around in the end.There's a decent amount of comedy sprinkled throughout, and the chemistry among the cast works well enough that you buy into them being a team.

As the season goes along tension builds between the two sisters because, due to her baseball skill and good looks, Dottie becomes the star of the league and Kit is constantly frustrated being in her shadow. Eventually, Kit is traded and both the 'Peaches' and her new team the 'Racine Belles' meet in the world series. This is Kit's time to shine and in game 7 she scores the winning run, allowing herself to finally feel like more than just Dottie's kid sister.

Overall, though not great, I think it's a pretty good movie.
I give it 3 out of 5.


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Today's Movie: Days of Thunder

 

 

Days of Thunder is a 1990 sports movie with Tom Cruise playing Cole Trickle, a somewhat reckless, and too competitive for his own good, NASCAR driver. If you've ever seen Top Gun and thought "I'd like to see a version of this, but with race cars instead of fighter jets" then you'll probably enjoy Days of Thunder. 

In the film Cole is a young racer who's experience has primarily been in open-wheel racing and, after having a bit of success with that, he wants to make the transition to stock-cars. So, he's recruited by Tim Daland (played by Randy Quaid) to race for his team, and former crew chief/car builder Harry Hogge (played by Robert Duvall) even comes out of retirement to lead the pit crew. Early on a rivalry begins to brew between Cole and NASCAR veteran Rowdy Burns (played by Michael Rooker). The two crash and bang race after race, until one day there is a major accident and both men are hospitalized. Even while recovering, the two are bitter rivals; they race wheelchairs in the hospital and destroy some rental cars while on they way to a dinner with a racing executive. It's also around this time that Cole ends up in a romantic relationship with a neurosurgeon from the hospital named Dr. Claire Lewicki (played by Nicole Kidman). Cole ends up recovering from his injuries just fine but Rowdy, on the other hand, has to undergo brain surgery and he asks Cole to race the Daytona 500 in his place. Of course Cole wins at Daytona for a nice, happy ending.

 This isn't Tom Cruise's best movie and I wouldn't even call it a great film overall but, if you don't take it too seriously and just accept it as dumb-fun, then you'll probably be entertained.

I give it a 3 out of 5.

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Western Wednesday: In Old Caliente

 It's Wednesday! So, as always, today's movie is a Western.

In Old Caliente is a 1939 film starring screen legend Roy Rogers, as well as, Mary Hart, George "Gabby" Hayes and, of course, Trigger 'the smartest horse in movies'.

So what's it about?

Well, settlers are moving West to new the state of California, and Roy Rogers is there working at a Spanish estate. One day some bandits lead by the ranch's foreman, Sujarno (played by Jack LaRue), rob a wagon carrying gold that is actually headed to the ranch. When news of the robbery gets back to the ranch's owner, the word is that some 'gringos' were behind it. Well, the folks at the ranch immediately suspect Roy of tipping the robbers off and he's promptly fired. 

Later, Roy and Gabby (one of the settlers) team up to discover the bandits' hideout and they recover the stolen gold. Unfortunately, they only have it in their possession long enough to be framed for the robbery. The two are brought back to the estate, where they are imprisoned in the cellar. While stuck down there, Roy gets Gabby to join him in a duet of "We're Not Coming Out to the Dance Tonight" which is one of the highlights of the film. So, they have to make their escape and come up with a plan to clear themselves of the crime they've been falsely accused of.

 Overall, this is halfway decent flick, it's pretty entertaining and there are little comedic moments thrown in. If you like Roy Rogers movies then you'll probably like this one. 

I give it a 3 out of 5.

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Today's Movie: 360 (2011)

 360 is a film about several people from different backgrounds who are all simultaneously going through a complicated time. They've all reached a crossroads; a time when they need to decide which way they want to proceed in life. This is one of those films with a pretty large cast, as there are several different story lines going at once. The film jumps around form location to location a bit, going from Vienna to Paris to London to Colorado then back to Paris and Vienna. Throughout the film all of these stories become intertwined or, at the very least, loosely connected. 

In Vienna, a woman who has recently joined an escort service is given her first client, a businessman named Michael (played by Jude Law). Micheal is married to a woman named Rose (played by Rachel Weisz) who unbeknownst to him is having an affair with a man in London. That guy soon finds out that his girlfriend Laura (played by Maria Flor) has discovered the affair and left town. While on a flight out of London, Laura befriends an older man named John (played by Anthony Hopkins) who will later inspire a woman named Valentina to leave her husband... and these sort of connections keep going on and on and eventually all lead back to where the film started.

The film is well shot, and pretty well acted. The major flaw is that you have all these stories going on but, for the most part, none of them are particularly interesting. There are some good moments in the film but, the whole thing overall is a little dull and probably could've been cut down by 15-20mins.

I give this one a 2 out of 5.

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Today's Movie: Slap Shot

This is a personal favorite of mine. I'm a huge hockey fan and the late Paul Newman is one of my all-time favorite actors but, in addition to that, this is also a really good movie full of memorable characters and quotable lines.

1977's Slap Shot centers around a minor league hockey team called the 'Charlestown Chiefs', and their player-coach Reggie Dunlop (played by Paul Newman). Charlestown is a factory town on the decline and the Chiefs aren't very good, so the team's manager does everything he can to cut costs while simultaneously having the players participate in sometimes embarrassing promotions just to keep the team afloat. During yet another losing season, the team picks up a trio of enthusiastic players known as the Hanson brothers who play a rough and tumble style of hockey and start fights. Dunlop is initially reluctant to play the three brothers until one night he gets word that the team is going to fold after this current season. Being a better con-man than a player or coach, Dunlop convinces the team to start playing dirty, and to get into more fights to draw interest, eventually he lets the Hanson's loose and they become a force to be reckoned with on the ice. This tactic begins work, the Chief actually start winning, and fans start showing up to the games to cheer them on. With interest in the team growing, Dunlop plants a false story with a local sports writer saying that a retirement community in Florida is interested in purchasing the team, with the hope that the story will add to the teams confidence and hopefully lead to an actual sale.

Well, after trying for quite a while Reggie gets a meeting with the team's owner but despite the teams recent success she still has every intention of folding the franchise for a tax write-off. Disheartened by this news, Dunlop comes clean to his players about the team folding and the story about moving to Florida being made up. In the end, the Chiefs make it to the championship game and, because one of the opposing players punches a ref, they actually win. It's the perfect dumb-luck victory for a team that only started winning after they threw clean play and good sportsmanship out the window. I love it.

Start to finish I always have a lot of laughs whenever I watch this one. In my opinion, it's one of Paul Newman's best performances (which is saying a lot), and one of the all-time best sports movies.
I highly recommend it.

I give this one a 4.5 out of 5.

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Today's Movie: Fearless

Released in 2006, Fearless stars Jet Li and is loosely based on the life of Chinese martial artist Huo Yuanjia. The film takes place around the turn of the century, ending with Yuanjia's death in 1910. The plot isn't anything you haven't seen before but, it's done really well. As a child Huo Yuanjia wants to grow up and become a great martial artist and eventually he does, beating anyone who challenges him. The choreography and cinematography during these fight sequences and throughout the film is top-notch. 

The problem Huo runs into is his ego and arrogance. He runs up debts, treats his oldest friend poorly, and eventually picks a fight with and kills a rival martial arts master. As revenge, Huo Yuanjia's mother and daughter are murdered, and he immediately stops fighting and leaves his home in Tianjin. He wanders around for months and nearly drowns before being rescued and nursed back to health by a grandmother and granddaughter in a small village. 

While living in the village for several years, Huo learns compassion, patience, and the error of his ways. He eventually returns Tianjin a changed man, and tries to reconcile with those he had previously wronged. He finds that Westerners have taken advantage of a weakened China and Huo decides to return to fighting, but now it's in an effort to restore national pride. He even he founds the 'Chin Woo Athletic Association' in Shanghai with the help of his old friend Jinsun. In the end, Huo dies of poisoning during a fight that was setup in order to undermine his recent efforts, but instead his decision to fight up until the moment of his death is inspiring.

It's a really good movie, and if you're going to watch it and you have the time then I recommend checking out the 'directors cut' of the film; it's about 35mins longer than the theatrical version but, I think it's worth it.

I give this one a 4 out of 5.

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Today's Movie: What Just Happened

 

Released in 2008, What Just Happened is comedy-drama about a Hollywood Producer named Ben (played by Robert De Niro) who is going through his fair share of professional and personal problems. His latest film, 'Fiercely' (Which stars Sean Penn), is receiving a lot of push back after it's test screening because a dog is shot at the end of the film. Of course the film's director doesn't want to change the ending which causes concerns among studio executives. Ben is also having a hard time making a clean break from his ex-wife Kelly (played by Robin Wright) who is seeing a screenwriter named Scott (played by Stanley Tucci) who Ben has previously worked with. As if all that wasn't enough, the studio is threatening to cancel a film Ben is producing because Bruce Willis is unwilling to shave the thick beard that he has recently grown and his agent Dick Bell (played by John Turturro) is too scared to confront him.

For the most part the cast is pretty solid, Robert De Niro turns in a good performance but I wouldn't put it up there with some of his best. Bruce Willis, though not in the film a whole lot, provides a few laughs. Overall, the movie far from perfect and feels about 15 minutes too long with a few scenes that could've easily been cut. It's watchable but not a must-see.

I give this one a 2out of 5.

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Crazy on the Outside: Is It Really That Bad?

2010's comedy-drama Crazy on the Outside isn't a very well regarded movie, currently sitting at a whole 8% on 'Rotten Tomatoes', but is it really that bad?

Tim Allen stars in the film and I personally think it's one of his better performances. I realize that's not saying much as Allen isn't know for being in any cinematic masterpieces, but there are a few moments that are legitimately funny. Also in the film are Sigourney Weaver, Ray Liotta, J.K. Simmons, Kelsey Grammer, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Julie Bowen... So, there is a halfway decent cast that makes it worth watching.

The movie is about a recently released convict named Thomas Zelda (played by Tim Allen) who quickly realizes, as the title would suggest, that life outside of prison can be crazy. Thomas is determined to turn his life around and restart his fathers old painting business but comes across his share of obstacles along the way. His sister Viki (played by Sigourney Weaver) keeps telling little white-lies that makes things harder than they should be, his parole officer and eventual love interest Angela (played by Jeanne Tripplehorn) thinks he's just another ex-con that she can't trust, Thomas' old crime partner Gray (played by Ray Liotta) wants him to get back into what caused him to go to prison in the first place, etc. It's one of those everything that can go wrong does plots but it's not terrible. 

Overall, this one isn't as bad as it's reputation. It's not fantastic but, it's watchable and I got a few laughs out of it. 

I give this one a 2 out of 5.

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Today's Movie: It's Always Fair Weather

 Released in 1955 It's Always Fair Weather is a musical-comedy about three soldiers/best friends, Ted Riley (played by Gene Kelly), Doug Hallerton (played by Dan Dailey) and Angie Valentine (played by Michael Kidd) who have just finished serving in World War II together. Before going their separate ways, they meet at their favorite bar and vow to reunite exactly 10 years later at the same spot. 

There's a nice montage showing what they've been all up to over those years and how their lives didn't go quite as planned: Riley wanted to be lawyer, but instead has become a fight promoter and gambler. Hallerton, planned to be a painter, but ended up in advertising. Finally, Valentine who wanted to become a gourmet chef, is now owns and operates a hamburger stand.
 All three men keep their promise to meet at the bar years later and quickly realize that they don't have the same connection that they used to, and actually dislike each other. While at lunch, they encounter some people from Hallerton's advertising agency, one of which is including Jackie Leighton (played by Cyd Charisse), who Ted Riley is immediately attracted to. Jackie quickly gets the idea of putting the three men on TV as a feel-good piece on a show hosted by Madeline Bradville (played by Dolores Gray). There are a few obstacles and funny situations that come up along the way but, when all is said and done, they regain their friendship and it ends on a happy note.

Overall, this a really fun movie. The song and dance numbers are all solid, with the "Baby You Knock Me Out" and "I Like Myself" scenes being the two that I find particularly entertaining. If you're a fan of musicals, especially the classic MGM ones, then this is definitely a film worth checking out.
I give this one a 4.5 out of 5


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Western Wednesday: Jesse James: Lawman

It's Western Wednesday!

Now, I've reviewed some great Westerns on this blog. Films like True Grit, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid... Today's movie isn't one of those great Westerns, it's 2015's Jesse James: Lawman.
 One look at it and you may have the same initial reaction that I did, "Kevin Sorbo and Peter Fonda, well this should be halfway decent...". Well unfortunately, despite their names getting top billing, Sorbo and Fonda have pretty small roles in the film.

The film starts off with J. Dalton (played by Kevin Sorbo) telling a reporter that he is actually legendary outlaw Jesse James and he changed his name and started a new life after faking his death. The reporter is initially skeptical, and so Dalton proceeds to tell him the story of a time when Jesse James actually worked with a sheriff to help a small town. Cut to some years ago when younger Jesse James (played by Andrew Galligan) rides into that small town and is quickly recruited by the Sheriff to infiltrate the Killian gang that has been causing the town trouble. The thought is that the gangs leader, Hoyt Killian, would love to have someone of James' caliber as part of his gang, thus giving the sheriff a man on the inside. This plan is apparently fine with the town's Mayor (played by Peter Fonda) because he just wants his town to be safe and quiet. From there the movie doesn't offer up a whole lot, and it muddles around to a predictable end. Occasionally there is a cut back to the office where Sorbo is telling the reporter the story, but nothing all that interesting happens.

Whether you want to point to the lackluster acting, the poor editing, the flawed directing, or the lousy dialogue, this movie is as let-down from start to finish. I usually advocate for checking out any Westerns you find because I think it's an underappreciated genre, but you can skip this one.
I give it a 0 out of 5.


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Today's Movie: Knife Fight

Knife Fight is a 2012 political-drama that had a very limited theatrical released and, in terms of acting and production quality, it's more in line with a made for TV movie than a big screen flick.

The movie centers around a political strategy team lead by Paul Turner (played by Rob Lowe) as well as the candidates he's helping to get elected. Turner acknowledges that basically all politicians are flawed, but he's a master of spinning the news stories to their advantage. Turner trying to find ways to minimize the self-inflicted damage the candidates do to themselves and their election chances was the most interesting aspect of the movie to me. His current clients include Kentucky governor (played by Eric McCormick) who had an affair with an intern, a California senator (played by David Harbour) who is being blackmailed, and an idealistic doctor (played by Carrie-Anne Moss) who is running for govenor of Califorinia dispite having virtually zero name recognition and being told repeatedly by Turner that she is a long-shot candidate. Rob Lowe is good in the film but the rest of the characters are pretty bland. 

Overall, if you like films about politics and/or are specifically interested in what happens behind the scenes of political campaigns then you'll probably like this one. I was fairly entertained but, I didn't think it was a great movie. 

I give this one a 2 out of 5.

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Semi-Tough

 Semi-Tough is a 1977 sports-comedy staring Burt Reynolds, Kris Kristofferson, and Jill Clayburgh.

The film is about Billy Clyde Puckett (played by Burt Reynolds) and Marvin 'Shake' Tiller (played by Kris Kristofferson) who are old friends and teammates that play football for Miami. The two are also friends with the team owner's daughter Barbara Jane (played by Jill Clayburgh), and a bit of a love triangle forms. Barbara becomes involved with Marvin and he soon proposes. However, there is one small problem, he has just taken a sort of new age, self-improvement course called B.E.A.T and he leader of B.E.A.T. Friedrich Bismark (played by Burt Convy) warns that marriages don't last between people who "get it" and people who don't.

 Well, Barbara Jane is determined to make it work, so she attends one of the seminars hoping to "get it" and Billy Clyde, who also has feelings for Barbara Jane, enrolls in B.E.A.T. in order to understand what she is going through.After the training session, Barbara Jane feels guilty that she didn't get anything out of the course, and for awhile Billy Clyde pretends that Bismark's way of thinking really had an impact on him. There's also a cameo by Carl Weathers in there, and that's always a plus. In the end, Marvin can't marry someone who just doesn't "get it" and, Barbara Jane and Billy Clyde reveal their feelings one another and head off together.

Overall, I thought it was a good movie and I got quite a few laughs out of it. It's not Burt Reynolds' best movie but, it's definitely enjoyable.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5.

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Today's Movie: High School High

Released in 1996, High School High is a comedy staring Jon Lovitz and I had honestly never even heard of this movie until I stumbled upon it today.

The movie is about an idealistic teacher named Richard Clark (played by Jon Lovitz) who has taken a job at a run down, crime filled, inner city high school, and the film pretty much centers around the obvious jokes that you'd expect with this premise: All the students are over exaggerated stereotypes, the teachers all drink, Jon Lovitz tries to connect with his students by talking their lingo and he just sounds like a nerd... You get the idea.

On his first day, Richard meets Tia Carrere's character Victoria who will be this films love interest, the mean principle Doyle who he'll be working for, and Griff the former gang member/college hopeful/student he needs to get through to. As you can probably guess, this a parody of those inspirational teacher dramas like Stand and Deliver. Well, Richard soon turns the school around and earns the respect of the students, as well as, foiling the plans of a local gang that is trying to recruit Griff. In the end, everything works out and 6 of the students actually graduate high school.

So, is it any good?

  Well, the film currently sits at a whopping 13% on 'Rotten Tomatoes' and it's hard to argue that it should be rated too much higher. In general, I like Jon Lovitz and I think he's funny as a side character but, movies like this one prove why he's not the star of more comedies.

I got a few laughs out of it and it's not unwatchable by any stretch but, overall, the writing feels kind of lazy and there just aren't enough jokes that work to make this a really enjoyable movie.

I give it a 1.5 out of 5.

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Today's Movie: Cape Fear

Today's review is Cape Fear. (the 1991 Martin Scorsese remake, not the 1962 one)

 The plot here is simple but effective: A convict named Max Cady (played by Robert De Niro) has recently been released from prison after serving a 14yr sentence. His lawyer all those years ago was Sam Bowden (played by Nick Nolte) who, was so appalled by Cady's crime, that he buried evidence that might have lightened the sentence or even lead to an acquittal. So, Max is out to get his revenge on Sam, stalking and threatening him, his wife Leigh (played by Jessica Lange), and his 15yr old daughter Danielle (played by Juliette Lewis). Sam files a restraining order, hires a private investigator, pays a few goons to beat Cady up, and even tries fleeing on a houseboat... but it doesn't seem like anything can stop Max Cady.

Even though the original in 1962 was directed by John Lee Thompson, Martin Scorsese opted to give his version a very Hitchcockian feel. This makes the film an interesting hybrid of ideas and influences, and a pretty unique Scorsese picture. Aside from some pacing and camera angles, the music is the same Bernard Herrmann score from the original and the opening credits were done by Saul Bass (both men collaborated with Alfred Hitchcock on a few of his most famous films). 

Overall, I wouldn't call this one my favorite Scorsese movie, or even my favorite Scorsese movie featuring Robert De Niro, but it's a suspenseful thriller and all of the acting solid. I typically argue against remakes but, this is one of the examples of a remake done right.

I give this one a 4 out of 5.

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Western Wednesday: 6 Guns

It's another 'Western Wednesday' and this week's film is 2010's 6 Guns.

The plot to this one is pretty basic:

The movie is about a gang of murderous outlaws lead by Lee Horn (played by Geoff Meed) who seeks out a former sheriff named Will Stevens who killed his father. Upon finding him, the gang learns that Will has settled down and started a family. So, as revenge, Horn and his gang kills Will and his two sons, and rapes his wife Selina (played by Sage Mears). Of course Selina wants revenge and when bounty hunter Frank Allison (played by Barry Van Dyke) she sees her opportunity. Selina convinces Frank to teach her how to shoot a gun and, eventually, when Lee Horn's gang returns to town Selina gets her revenge with Franks help. There isn't much more to it than that.

Overall, this one is a slightly below average Western. Not terrible, but not great. The acting is ok with Barry Van Dyke giving the best performance. If you're a huge Western fan then you might want to check it out, but I wouldn't recommend it otherwise.

I give this one a 2 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a 'Western Wednesday'?

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Appaloosa
The Man from Utah
Young Guns 
The Big Trail

The Adventures of Robin Hood

Released in 1938, The Adventures of Robin Hood is one of those great, timeless, technicolor classics. Many have tried to replicate it's success but, nearly 80 years later, this one is still regarded by most as the definitive Robin Hood film.

 In terms of plot, it has all the Robin Hood elements you'd want; big exciting action scenes and sword fights, Robin and his Merry Men taking from the rich and giving to the poor, memorable performances, the famous archery contest, etc. Start to finish, it's full of action and adventure.

Now, all of that wouldn't amount to much without a great cast and this film definitely has that. Errol Flynn is fantastic as Robin Hood, flawlessly blending dashing charm with a bit of humor. But, a great hero also needs a great villain and Basil Rathbone just knocks it out of the park as Sir Guy of Gisbourne, he's the perfect foil to Flynn's Robin Hood. Along with them, Alan Hale as Little John, Olivia de Havilland as Maid Marian, Claude Rains as Prince John, Patric Knowles as Will Scarlett, Eugene Pallette as Friar Tuc and all the rest of the cast are solid in their roles.

 In addition, to all of that, the score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold is one of the all-time great film scores. With any review I write, I always try to point out both the good and the bad but this is one of those few films that I don't have a negative thing to say about.

Overall, this is a really entertaining film that the whole family can enjoy. If you've never seen it go check it out and, if you have seen it, do yourself a favor and rewatch it.
I give it a 5 out of 5.


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Today's Movie: The Man from Left Field

The Man from Left Field is a 1993 TV-movie directed by, produced by, and starring Burt Reynolds and, for something that it sounds like he was heavily invested in, Burt gives a pretty phoned-in performance.

The movie is about a drifter with amnesia that wanders into a small town one day, starts giving baseball tips to a little league team, and thus becomes their coach. None of the parents seem to have a problem with this, but that's besides the point. Anyway, this is a movie full of problems so I'll start with the team. This is the stereotypical, 90's, ragtag team of nonthreatening misfits: There's a short kid, a kid with glasses, a pudgy kid, a kid with a troubled home life, one kid that's actually pretty good at the sport, etc. Imagine a less interesting version of the kids from The Sandlot or Disney's The Mighty Ducks and that's this team. 

Along the way Burt Reynolds is teaching them life lessons and helping them with their problems, and all the while he can't remember any of his past. He also starts dating the mom of one of the players, she's played by Reba McEntire, and she seems like the only person who's actually trying in the movie. One evening one of the kids runs away, falls into a lake and, of course, Burt Reynolds saves him. The traumatic experience gives Burt his memory back, for some reason, and he remembers that he used to be a great Major League player and...also... a Doctor?! Why? I don't know, that part just comes out of left field (pun intended).

Anyway, you can probably guess how it ends, the team wins the big game against last years champs who are also a bunch of rich bullies and everyone presumably live happily ever after. It's not a good movie. In addition to the things I already mentioned, there are also some random awkwardly placed freeze frames, music that doesn't always seem to fit the mood, and some really cheesy writing.

Overall, it's watchable but not something I recommend.

I give it a 1 out of 5.

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10 James Stewart Movies Everyone Should See

There aren't many actors that have filmagraphy that boast as many great films as James Stewart. I've previously written list like this about Sean Connery, John Travolta, Alfred Hitchcock, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Hanks, and Chuck Norris, and easy part in creating this particular list was that I had so many quality films to choose from. Anyone who frequents this blog or has talked with me about movies knows I'm a huge fan of James Stewart and, unfortunately, there were so many good choices that I had to leave a lot of films that I really enjoy off of the list. Like all previous entries this isn’t necessarily a ‘Top 10’ but rather a list of films that is both some of my personal favorites and that I think best represent the person’s career.

#10 Rope -1948

"... You've murdered! You choked the life out of a fellow human being who could live and love as you never could, and never will again!"

You're going to find a couple of James Stewart-Alfred Hitchcock collaborations on this list, but that's bound to happen when an on-screen legend and one of cinemas best directors work together on a handful of films. This one is about two college friends who commit a murder just to see if they can get away with it. It's a simple plot done so well that it is, in my opinion, one of the great psychological-thrillers.


#9 The Spirit of St. Louis -1957

"The idea of committing suicide never crossed my mind except when I took this cigar"

There probably wasn't anyone more fit to play American icon Charles Lindbergh, than perhaps the greatest 'American every man' actor James Stewart. This biographical film focuses on the time leading up to Lindbergh's historic trans-Atlantic flight, as well as the flight itself. And even as someone with very little interest in aviation history, I still think this is a really interesting and entertaining movie.

 

#8 The Stratton Story -1949

 "I'm through gambling. Well, I found out what it's like to lose, and what it's like to win. Why keep at it?" 

This is one of my favorite Baseball movies (maybe I'll write a piece on all of those sometime). Stewart plays Monte Stratton, and it's the true story of a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox in the 30's who has his leg amputated after accidentally shooting himself in an offseason hunting accident, but against all odds plays ball again. It's a great film.

#7 The Man from Laramie -1955

"I figure this place owes me somethin' and I'm gonna make it pay" 

 James Stewart was in a number of Westerns over the course of his career, but while some of his most famous ones How the West was Won and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance are both really good films, they also starred Western legend John Wayne. This one is 100% a James Stewart picture and I honestly think it's just as good.

#6 The Shop Around the Corner -1940

"I think people who like to smoke candy and listen to cigarettes will love it"

I'm not usually the biggest fan of romantic-comedies but this film about two shop employees that can barely stand each other but, without realizing it, are falling in love through letters as eachother's anonymous pen pal is a really fun movie. Both James Stewart and Margret Sullavan are really good, and Felix Bressart cracks me up.

#5 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -1939

"...You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked. Well I'm not licked. And I'm gonna stay right here and fight for this lost cause. Even if this room gets filled with lies like these. And the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place. Somebody will listen to me" 

What can I say about this one? It's an all-time classic, well written, well directed, the whole package... but most of all, and this isn't something I claim very often, this is an important movie. On the surface it's just a film about an idealistic young Senator who goes to Washington D.C. and learns about corruption. It's both inspirational and cynical in many ways. I first saw it in school as a kid and, even though it's not always easy to get kids to sit and watch a black & white movie about government, I think it's something everyone should see at least once.

#4 Rear Window -1954

"...she didn't know she was going on a trip and where she was going she wouldn't need any luggage"

Look on any Alfred Hitchcock or James Stewart "Best of" list and you'll find this one near the top, it's a masterpiece. Stewart plays a photographer who, because of a broken leg, is confined to his apartment for a bit. So, he spends his days curiously watching his neighbors through his back window, but things get really interesting when he suspects one of those neighbors of being a murderer. It's a must-see especially if you like really suspenseful movies

#3 It's a Wonderful Life -1946

"What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word, and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down"

This one also made a 10 Christmas movies everyone should see list I wrote (you can check out that article here) and it's not just a great Christmas movie or just a great James Stewart movie, it's one of the all-time great films period.


#2 Harvey -1950

"Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say...'In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.' Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me."

Harvey is not the most critically acclaimed film on this list but, for me, it couldn't come in any lower than the #2 slot. Stewart is fantastic as Elwood Dowd, one of my all-time favorite characters across film history. There are very few actors that can play a man who's best friend is an invisible 6'-3 1/2" tall rabbit and still come off so genuine and sincere that you find yourself thinking that the people who don't believe in Harvey the rabbit are the one's with a problem.

#1 Vertigo -1958

"You shouldn't keep souvenirs of a killing. You shouldn't have been that sentimental."

I could go on and on about this one, but I'll keep it simple and if you want more check out a piece I wrote called "The Greatness of Vertigo". This is one of those films and performances where everything works and, no matter how many times I've seen it, the movie always sucks me in.

Honorable Mentions: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) , The FBI Story (1959), Broken Arrow(1950), Bell Book and Candle (1958), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991)


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La La Land (2016)

La La Land is the recently released musical starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. This was one of those films that I didn't necessarily have high expectations for, but I was looking forward to checking it out for sure.

 So, is it any good?

Well, it does come off a little bit of a pretentious a few times. That's not to say the movie isn't bad by any stretch, I actually really liked it but, there are moments when the songs and 'artistic vision' seems to take precedent over plot. It's a tricky balance that very few musicals walk flawlessly. The film contains a pretty basic story that you've seen before, you know where it's going, and there is a fair amount of romantic-comedy fluff.  However, I found myself willing to forgive some of those tired plot points because Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling both give such solid performances. Both of the main characters are likeable, and they do seem to have good on-screen chemistry. I thought the first 10-15mins or so were by far the weakest part of the film, but it gets on track pretty quick.

The song sequences are good, for the most part, and there's definitely a tune or two you'll probably find yourself humming as you leave the theater. The "A Lovely Night" scene in particular was one of the highlights of the movie for me. The cinematography throughout is solid and there are a few really outstanding moments.

Overall, I found it very entertaining. I don't think it's one of the all-time great musicals but, if you generally like that type of film, I say check it out.

I give this one a 4 out of 5.

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A Look Back At: Apollo 13

"Houston, we have a problem"

 

Released in 1995 and based on real events, Apollo 13 is one of those rare movies that I recommend to anyone and everyone who hasn't seen it.

If you are one of those who is not familiar with the film, it focuses primarily on the crew of NASA's Apollo 13 mission which was supposed to land on the moon. However, after an oxygen tank explosion, the astronauts aboard soon find that their spacecraft is low breathable air, experiencing power failure, and the mission is no longer to land on the moon but to make it back to Earth alive. It's one of those movies where even though you know how it ends, it's still a thrilling road to get there and it's very rewatchable as well.

 In addition to being a very compelling story, the film really succeeds on pretty much every level. Ron Howard who directed the film did a great job, the cinematography is really good, James Horner's score compliments the film perfectly, and the movie it's full of exciting moments, drama, tension, and humor. Add into that some great acting: this is one of the best performances of Tom Hanks' career (This one took the #3 spot on my "10 Tom Hanks Movies Everyone Should See" list that I posted in October) but, in addition to him, Gary Sinies, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Bill Paxton, and all the other actors in the film are all really solid.

Again, I highly recommend this one and I'd put it up there with some of my very favorite space-based films. I give this one a 5 out of 5.

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Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

I already talked briefly about this one in my Marvel Cinematic Universe piece saying, among other things, "...The characters are fine, and the story was alright but had some pacing issues". And that pretty representative of my overall feelings about this movie: I don't hate it, but I don't love it either, it's a mixed-bag. Rather than go into all the plot details, I'm just going to pick apart some of the good and bad about this one. 

First off, if you haven't seen it, it has a pretty big cast of characters: The Guardians are comprised of Star-Lord played by Chris Pratt who has a funny line here and there, but overall I think he's just OK in the film. One of the creatures joining him is Groot, who's gimmick is just saying "I am Groot" (a perfect role for someone with as little acting range as Vin Diesel). Along with Groot you have the wise-cracking 'Rocket' Raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper, and easily my favorite character in the film. Filling out the team you have Gamora played by Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, and they're both decent choices for their respected roles.

 The main villain of the film is Ronan the Accuser and I don't find him to be all that menacing but, I don't think that was actor Lee Pace's fault, I think it was just dull writing. There's also a little bit of Josh Brolin as Thanos but not enough to really comment on. Some of the other supporting characters are played by a decent cast made up of John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Benicio del Toro, Karen Gillian... and everyone is serviceable in their roles. The only one that stands out in a negative way is Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta, I prefer to fast-forward past all of his scenes.

Moving on past the characters, the plot revolves around a metal orb that contains one of the Infinity stones. This is a bit of a problem that pops up from time to time in the MCU; Thanos needs all of these Infinity stones for a future movie (Avengers: Infinity War) and sometimes it hurts the plot of the movie you're currently watching. Guardians of the Galaxy may be the worst victim of this. The film takes place in space with a unknown number of cool, epic stories that could be told, but the plot is instead beholden to the Infinity stone thoughline. It doesn't tank the whole film but, it makes what could have been a big, space adventure movie feel very small, and this is probably an even bigger issue if you don't follow the MCU and have no idea that Thanos is trying collect all six stones.

I know I'm ragging on this movie a lot but there are things about it I do like. Like I stated earlier the character of 'Rocket' Raccoon is my favorite in the film, I get a decent numbers of laughs out of the movie and most come from him. While there are some pacing issues here and there, the film contains a number of really fun scenes (the prison break scene being my personal favorite) and top-notch cinematography. There are definitely a few Marvel films I prefer over this one but, if nothing else, it's pretty entertaining.

I give this one a 3 out of 5.

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Western Wednesday: Appaloosa

Appaloosa is a 2008 Western directed by and starring Ed Harris and overall, it's pretty entertaining.

The movie follows a familiar plot but it's done well enough that it doesn't feel stale. The small town of Appaloosa is being terrorized by gang of men led by Randall Bragg (played by Jeremy Irons), who has recently killed the town's marshal and two deputies. So the local lawmakers hire the duo of and Virgil Cole (played by Ed Harris) and Everett Hitch (played by Viggo Mortensen) to be the new town marshal and deputy, and restore order to Appaloosa. There's some good chemistry between the two, but I found Everett Hitch to be the more likeable character. 

It doesn't take long for Cole to quickly starts up a romantic relationship with a woman named Allie French (played by Renée Zellweger), who is also new to Appaloosa. And right after that, one of Bragg's men comes to town and tells Cole that he will testify that he saw Bragg kill the former marshal. Following the trial, the movie starts to drag a bit to me. Cole and Hitch are transporting Bragg by train, when some hired guns that kidnapped Allie force them to release Bragg. Then Cole and Hitch have to go after them, and just as they catch up to the outlaws some Apaches attack, and so on. 

There's a good 15mins that could've been cut from the second half of the film in my opinion.

Eventually Bragg is granted a full pardon by the President, returns to Appaloosa, buys the hotel and claims he's a reformed man. However, Hitch discovers that Allie is secretly in a relationship with Bragg, and he challenges him to a duel. After drawing first and killing Bragg, Everett Hitch rides off into the sunset.

It's not a great Western, but it's good and the whole cast is solid. I'm not really sure if Jeremy Irons was supposed to be a likeable villain, but he was definitely my favorite part of the movie. It is a little slow at times but there are enough good qualities to make up for it.

I give this one a 3 out of 5.

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There Will Be Blood (2007)

Up until now I hadn't rewatched this film since originally going to see it in theaters and I had largely forgotten exactly why I liked it. I just sort of remembered it as being a good movie, but it didn't take long for it all to come back to me.

The plot is about a silver miner turned 'oil-man' named Daniel Plainview. He starts his own drilling company, but one day after striking oil, one of his workers dies in an accident and Daniel adopts the man's orphaned son.A few years later, Daniel is approached by a man named Paul, who tells him of an oil deposit under his family's property in California. Daniel quickly goes to work on acquiring all the available land and neighboring farms in the area, and soon oil drilling begins. There are a number of obstacles that get in the way, including an accident that leaves Daniel's adopted son deaf, and tension between Daniel and the small town's pastor Eli.

That's the basic setup and this is one of those films that, even if the plot doesn't sound all that interesting to you, Daniel Day-Lewis' performance alone is reason enough to check it out, because he knocks it out of the park. In addition, the cinematography is top-notch, it's well written, and I think it's a pretty compelling story. This probably isn't a movie everyone will get into but, if sounds interesting to you, I highly recommend it.

I give this one a 4.5 out of 5.

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Today's Movie: Tin Cup

Tin Cup is a 1996 sports/romantic-comedy movie starring Kevin Costner and Rene Russo. Costner has been in quite a few sports films over the years starting in the late 80's and while Tin Cup isn't a bad movie, I don't think it's as good as Field of Dreams or Bull Durham but it's better than say For the Love of the Game.

The plot centers around a former star college golfer named Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy (played by Costner) who never made it in pro golf because his stubbornness, arrogance, and lack of motivation always got in his way. McAvoy now owns a Texas driving range where he works with his friend Romeo (played by Cheech Marin). One day Roy is asked to caddy for golf pro David Simms (played by Don Johnson), but it isn't long before he starts pestering Simms to go for the big shot instead of playing it safe and he gets fired as a result. However, Roy decides he gonna get even, qualify for the upcoming U.S. Open, and beat Simms.

So, then you get the typical ups and downs you kind of expect: Roy seeks the help of a psychologist named Molly (played by Rene Russo) who happens to be Simms' girlfriend and, of course, they fall for each other. He also acts like a jerk to his buddy Romeo who then quits caddying for him, but they make up like nothing happened. The plot is pretty bland throughout a good chuck of the movie until the last 20-25mins. The U.S. open is underway, Roy is battling for 1st place, and everything comes down to the last hole. There is a water hazard near the green and all Roy has to do is play it safe, shoot for par, and go to a playoff. In most films, he would've have learned his lesson over the course of the film and finally play it safe, but not in this case. He goes for the big shot and the ball lands in the water. Stubbornly, he goes for it again, and again, and again, repeatedly hitting it into the water, until he's down to his last ball and he finally hits it onto the green and into the hole. He blew a shot at winning the U.S. Open because of pride and arrogance, but knowing he could make the shot and being determined to do so kind of makes it feel like a win.

Is it a great movie? No, but some of the comedy works and if you like the cast and/or you're a fan of sports movies then you'll probably be entertained.

I give this one a 2.5 out of 5.

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