80's Month Day 28: Predator

In the late 1980's Arnold Schwarzenegger was at the height of his powers, and in 1987 the former 7-time Mr. Olympia starred in two films. One of those was The Running Man and the better of the two films was Predator. This is actually the 3rd Schwarzenegger film iv'e reviewed for "80's Month" and this one did appear on my "10 Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies Everyone Should See" list (you can check that post out by clicking here).

The movie is a fun and entertaining sci-fi/action flick, and the plot is pretty simple; an elite six-man team, lead by a man named Alan "Dutch" Schaefer (played by Schwarzenegger) is tasked with going into the jungle on a rescue mission. However, the team comes across a ruthless, super-hunter alien who, among other things, has the ability to camouflage itself to the surrounding environment. Eventually toward the end of the film you do get a good look at the Predator, and while it is a cool creature design, I think it's best that for much of the film you know the alien is there but you only see through the Predator's p.o.v, or a translucent figure against some trees. The Predator gradually begins killing off members of the team and, of course, in the end Schwarzenegger kills the creature.

The movie has some pretty good special effects and, alongside Schwarzenegger, both Carl Weathers (who plays Colonel George Dillon) and Jesse Ventura (as Blain Cooper) are both characters I really like in the film.

Overall, some good action, some quotable lines, a solid villain, and Arnold at the top of his game, makes this a worthwhile movie. I wouldn't recommend the sequel over the crossovers with the Alien franchise though.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5

Have a suggestion for a review?

Did you enjoy a full month looking back at films from the 1980's?

Leave a comment below.

80's Month Day 27: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Well, '80's Month' is quickly coming to a close and today's movie is 1982's The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. The film is based on a stage play of the same name (which I've never seen so I won't attempt to compare the two), and it's a bit of an odd but fun movie. 

 

The movie is about a whorehouse in Texas (as the title would suggest) which has been nicknamed the "Chicken Ranch". The Chicken Ranch, which has been a fixture in the community for years, is run by a woman named Mona (played by Dolly Parton) who just wants to run a nice establishment. She's involved with the town Sheriff, Ed Earl Dodd (played by Burt Reynolds) which only complicates matters later in the film. There are a few musical numbers in the movie and, while they're not those sort of stuck in your head all day tunes, some of them are pretty entertaining. The Sneakin' Around sequence in particular is a lot of fun. 

Well, despite this local brothel never causing any trouble and being generally excepted by the community, a "watchdog" reporter named Melvin P. Thorpe (played by Dom DeLuise) aims to rid Texas of this immoral establishment. Eventually, after butting heads with the Sheriff on numerous occasions, Thorpe does get what he wants in the end and the Chicken Ranch is shut down. This isn't one of the funniest Dom DeLuise roles, but I don't think it's really supposed to be. A lot of the funniest lines actually come from Ed Earl's Deputy (played by Jim Nabors).

Overall, if you like Burt Reynolds, Dolly Parton and the occasional musical number, then you'll probably have a good time with this one. I really like the movie, but I wouldn't call it any sort of masterpiece. It's one of those rare films that I'm really not sure how good it is but, I enjoy it. 

So, a 3.5 out of 5 seems like a fair rating.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

The Loss of Bill Paxton

 

 

Bill Paxton, a man who starred in dozens of films over the years, has sadly passed away at the age of 61. Probably best known for his film roles in the late 80's and through the 90's, whether it be in Twister, Aliens, Tombstone, True Lies, Titanic, or a personal favorite of mine Apollo 13, Paxton's presence in films will be missed.

80's Month Day 26: Spaceballs

"...Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb"

 

The 1987 Mel Brooks film Spaceballs is one of my all-time favorite comedies and one that I reference and quote pretty frequently. So, before '80's Month' was over, I felt I needed to get this one in.

The movie is a parody of nearly all things outer space/sci-fi related; from Star Wars to Star Trek to Alien and Planet of the Apes, and references to Transformers and Flash Gordon. 

The basic plot involves Planet Spaceball running low on breathable air and the Princess of the oxygen-rich planet of Druidia being kidnapped by Dark Helmet (played by Rick Moranis). The plan is to hold the Princess hostage until the King of Druidia (played by Dick Van Patten) gives the Spaceballs the code to his planets airlock and surrenders all the fresh air. In the hopes of getting his daughter back the King hires Lone Starr (played by Bill Pullman) and his mawg sidekick Barf (played by John Candy) to rescue her for which they will be paid a handsome sum of 1,000,000 'Space Bucks'.

The movie is full of fun character and wall to wall jokes. Mel Brooks, who plays both the President of Planet Spaceball as well as character Yogurt, gets a lot of laughs. Bill Pullman and John Candy play off each other pretty well, and I like Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa. But, the standout performance in the film is the of Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet. Every moment of screentime with this character is hilarious, and some of the exchanges between Dark Helmet and his second in command Colonel Sandurz (played by George Wyner) are the best parts of the movie.

Overall, if you like Mel Brooks comedies, or even comedies in general, then this one is worth a watch. I've seen it more times than I can remember and I still get a good laugh out of it.

I give it a 5 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day 25: Missing in Action 2: The Beginning

 Missing in Action 2: The Beginning is the 1985 follow up film to 1984's Missing in Action. This a prequel to the events in the 1984 film and, while this one didn't quite make the cut on my "10 Chuck Norris Movies Everyone Should See" list (which you can check out here), it is a solid action flick.
Interestingly, just like another 80's POW action movie (Rambo: First Blood Part II), this one isn't as good of a film as it's predecessor but does provide a bit more action.

In this one, Colonel James Braddock (played by Chuck Norris) is being held in a North Vietnamese POW camp. The camp is being run by a man named Colonel Yin (played by Soon-Teck Oh), who forces his prisoners to grow opium for a French drug runner. Throughout the film Yin is constantly torturing and toying with the POWs in hopes of getting Braddock to admit to list of war crimes. Braddock always refuses until one day a fellow POW comes down with malaria, and Braddock agrees to trade an admission of guilt for the necessary medicine. However, Yin tricks Braddock and instead gives the sick POW a lethal dose of opium. The enraged James Braddock promptly escapes, steals a bunch of weapons, and starts killing Vietnamese soldiers left and right while freeing fellow prisoners along the way. Eventually, It all comes down to Braddock versus Yin. They decide on hand to hand combat and, of course, Braddock beats him pretty convincingly. Then, with Yin down and unable to continue the fight, Braddock leaves and blows up the building.

It's an entertaining and enjoyable movie, especially for Chuck Norris fans. Is it one of the best action movies of the 1980's? Probably not, but I say it's worth checking out if you've never seen it.
I give it a 3.5 out of 5.


Have a suggestion for a review?
Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day 24: Rocky III

Obviously the third film in the 'Rocky' franchise, Rocky III was released in 1982. The film stars all of the keys actors from the first two films; Sylvester Stallone, Burgess Meredith, Talia Shire, Burt Young, and Carl Weathers, as well as introducing Mr. T as Clubber Lang (a character that only appears in this film).

The film picks up where the previous one left off, with Rocky being the Heavy-Weight Champion having recently beaten Apollo Creed in a rematch. However, this entry marks a bit of a turning point in the series for two main reasons; First off, Apollo Creed (played by Carl Weathers) isn't Rocky's opponent like he was in the previous two films, and second, Rocky's friend/manager/trainer Mickey Goldmill dies in the movie. Rocky early on loses a fight to a trash-talking challenger Clubber Lang, after being distracted by Mickey having a heart-attack. Afterwards, and for good reason, Rocky is pretty down, demoralized, and has lost the will to go into the ring and box without Mickey in his corner. However, his old rival Apollo tells him that the he can beat Clubber Lang if he gets back the "Eye of the Tiger" (a hunger and passion to win). So, Apollo trains Rocky, a friendship between the two starts to form, and pretty soon Rocky is ready for a rematch with Clubber. What follows is a middle of the road fight sequence with Rocky, of course, emerging victorious.

Overall, this one isn't my favorite 'Rocky' movie but I do enjoy it. Mickey's death is emotional, Mr. T is an entertaining foe, and the song "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor gets stuck in my head after each viewing.

I give this one a 4 out of 5.

...and if you want to read my ranking of all the 'Rocky' movies, you can by clicking here.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day 23: Die Hard

The 1980's gave us some of the most memorable action movies of all-time. Films like Predator, Escape from New York, RoboCop, Commando, Missing in Action, First Blood, and Lethal Weapon just to name a few. However, one of the best (and the one that made Bruce Willis an action star) is 1988's Die Hard. I wrote about this one briefly for my "10 Movies to Watch this Holiday Season" list in December of last year, because it is a 'Christmas Movie' (If you want to check out that list, you can by clicking here).

Now, I'm not going to go into the whole plot as Die Hard is one of those films that everyone has either already seen or they need to go see ASAP. The real brief overview is; a NYC cop named John McClane (played by Bruce Willis) travels to L.A. for Christmas with the hope of patching things up with his estranged wife. While he's there, some terrorists take over the skyscraper where his wife works and it's up to John to save the day. It's simple, straight-forward and, if you've never seen it, probably sounds pretty generic. Where the film excels isn't in having a brilliant one-of-a-kind story, but rather from being perfectly cast and having some great writing. 

The casting is all-around solid but, it's the two leads that really stand out. Both Bruce Willis as the wise-cracking hero John McClane and Alan Rickman as the villain, German-terrorist Hans Gruber, are great in their roles and compliment each other perfectly. Now, in addition to the cast the film benefits from the plot moving along at an exciting pace and some of the most memorable action movie lines and moments from the 80's. From "Yippie-Ki-Yay Mother F****r" to "Now I have a machine gun. Ho-Ho-Ho", the movie provides entertainment throughout.

Overall, If you haven't guessed, I love Die Hard and I highly recommend it.

I give it a 5 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day 22: The Man from Snowy River

 

 

Well, '80's Month' is quickly coming to a close and the last 'Western Wednesday' of the month is the 1982 Australian-Western The Man from Snowy River.

 

After his father dies, a young man named Jim Craig (played by Tom, Burlinson) leaves the mountains and heads to the lowlands for work. Jim then meets up with a one-legged miner named Spur (played by Kirk Douglas) and soon gets a job at Spur's brother's ranch (Spurs brother Harrison is also played by Kirk Douglas). One day a man named Clancy (played by Jack Thompson)  who used to be a friend of Jim's dad arrives at the ranch to lead a cattle drive alongside Harrison and some of the other ranch hands while Jim stays back. While Harrison is away, the beginnings of a romance start to form between Jim and Harrison's daughter Jessica (played by Sigrid Thornton).  Eventually when Harrison returns he get gets into an argument with Jessica, threatens to send her to a woman's college and tells her that he's going to fire Jim. Impulsively, the defiant Jessica rides off into the mountains where she is caught in a storm, only to be rescued a short time later by Jim.

 The film then explains the backstory of why the two brothers Harrison and Spur don't get along, which isn't anything too interesting. Jim then brings Jessica back to the Harrison ranch and, initially Harrison is grateful. That is until Jim tells Harrison that he loves Jessica,  something that naturally angers him. Well, Jim rides off and meets up with Spur who informs him that he struck gold and that Jim will receive the share that would've gone to Jim's father. Soon after, Harrison puts up a big reward for some horses that ran off and, of course Jim retrieves them, refuses the reward, tells Jessica he'll return for her someday, then he rides off back to the mountains.

Overall, it's a pretty well made film and the acting is ok, but it's kind of dull and you definitely feel every minute of the 1hr 40min runtime. It's fine but I don't recommend it.

I give it a 2 out of 5

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day 21: The Money Pit

80's Month continues with today's movie, 1986's The Money Pit.

Tom Hanks plays an attorney named Walter Fielding who, along with his classical musician girlfriend Anna (played by Shelley Long), purchases a large house for a fraction of it's estimated value. It seems too good to be true and, of course, it is. This is one of those comedy films where everything that can go wrong does and, while a lot of the time I'm not a big fan that type of movie, I get a few good laughs out of this one. So, the couple moves into the home and things quickly start falling apart; Walter starts repairing a step on the staircase and pretty soon the whole thing collapses, Anna turns on the water for the bathtub and sludge comes out, then that night during a thunderstorm the roof leaks in dozens of places, etc. 

Well, they soon realize there are just too many problems for them to handle so they start calling in  plumbers and carpenters and pretty soon the whole house is under major reconstruction. All the while  Anna's ex-husband, a conductor named Max Beissart (played by Alexander Godunov), is trying to get her to leave Walter. Jump to four months later and the constant repair work, which was expected to take "two weeks" (a running joke in the film), is taking it's toll on Walter and Anna's relationship and they decide that once the house is finished they're going to sell it and go their separate ways. Of course once the house is completed they make up and the whole ordeal, as hard as it was, is something they went through together.  

Overall, while I don't love the movie, I do find it pretty entertaining and anyone who has ever had to do any kind of home repair can definitely sympathizes especially with Tom Hanks' character. 

I give this one a 3 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day 20: Bull Durham

"Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls, it's more democratic" - 'Crash' Davis

80's Month continues with one of my favorite sports movies, the 1988 film Bull Durham starring Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins.

Costner plays Crash Davis a veteran minor league catcher that has been brought to Durham to help groom the Bulls' young hotshot pitcher Ebby LaLoosh (played by Tim Robbins) into a major-league caliber player. The two get off to a rough start and Ebby initiolly doesn't see the value of the lessons Crash is trying to teach him. Crash tries to get Ebby to stop thinking so much, and to trust the catcher and just throw the pitches he calls for. When Ebby ignores this, Crash tells the opposing player at-bat which pitch is coming next to prove his point. While this learning process is going on, a baseball groupie named Annie (played by Susan Sarandon) who every year chooses one player on the Bulls to be her lover and student, is also thrown into the mix. She ends up choosing Ebby for this year and the combination of her and Crash starts to payoff and by midseason. While Ebby, now nicknamed "Nuke", is turning into a dominant pitcher the relationship between Annie and Crash grows, and it soon becomes obvious that the two of them are a more appropriate match. Ebby "Nuke" Laloosh is eventually called up to the majors, opening up the opportunity for Crash and Annie to get together.

Overall, this one is a really enjoyable movie. It's well written with some good comedic moments sprinkled throughout, and 'Crash' Davis is up there with Rocky and Reggie Dunlop as one of my favorite fictional sports characters.

I give this one a 4.5 out of 5.


Have a suggestion for a review?
Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day 19: Coal Miner's Daughter

Released in 1980, Coal Miner's Daughter is a biopic about the life of country singer Loretta Lynn and is based on Lynn's autobiography. So, my guess is that the film holds pretty true to actual events.

Sissy Spacek stars as Loretta Lynn, she turns in a solid performance which lead to her winning the Academy Award for Best Actress. Alongside Spacek is Tommy Lee Jones as Doolittle Lynn, Loretta's husband who is several years older than her. Jones is pretty good in the movie, though I wouldn't say it's his best performance. 

The film starts of with a look at Lynn's humble beginnings, growing up poor in rural Kentucky. By her mid-teenage years Loretta marries Doolittle Lynn and before long she's the mother of several children. Doolittle urges his wife to sing at a local honky-tonk, and before long the two are traveling all around with Loretta singing in bars by night and visiting radio stations during the day promoting her record. Before long Loretta is a country music star, becoming good friends with Patsy Cline (played by Beverly D'Angelo) and regularly performing at the Grand Ole Opry. All along the way, Loretta and Doolittle go through numerous ups and downs, and the two have a less than ideal relationship.

It's a pretty good movie and is entertaining throughout.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

The Lego Batman Movie

I'm getting to this one a little later than I had originally planned, mostly because I've been posting all of those 80's movie reviews this whole month, but here's a quick review of The Lego Batman Movie.

Right off the bat, this one was what I was hoping for and what I hadn't gotten since Micheal Keaton; a thoroughly enjoyable Batman movie. Batman, as a character, is serious and dark but, in all fairness, is kind of  ridiculous as well. The Schumacher films were goofy, over the top, and tried to make ridiculous work, but they were not fun. The Nolan films were dark and serious and, while many people liked them, I found them at times depressing and boring. This one swings the pendulum back to over the top and ridiculous but, in contrast to Schumacher's live-action films, this movie is well written and a ton of fun. It takes all the seriousness, anger, and lonliness of Batman and turns it on it's head while both celebrating and poking fun at all things Batman. The voice acting is solid, and there's some funny original songs. 

Overall, if you're a Batman fan or liked The Lego Movie then you're more than likely going to enjoy movie. I had fun, I was laughing from start to finish and I definitely recommend checking this one out.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5.


Have a suggestion for a review?
Leave it in the comments below. 

80's Month Day 18: Urban Cowboy

It's John Travolta's birthday and, of course, it's also still '80's Month'. So, today's movie is the 1980 film Urban Cowboy, a movie that previously made my '10 John Travolta Movies Everyone Should See" list (Click here if you want to check out that post).

The movie stars John Travolta as 'Bud' Davis and Debra Winger as Sissy, and both are pretty solid throughout. Without going to deep into the plot, a good portion of the film takes place in a Houston country bar called Gilley's, and there is a lot of two-step and mechanical bull riding during the film's runtime. So, much of the drama revolves around Bud and Sissy's love-hate relationship, so that dynamic has to be believable for the film to work and I think it does. The two meet almost immediately after bud moves to Houston, they get married shortly after meeting, and start having problems almost as quickly. They split up, Bud starts dating a woman with a rich father and Sissy hooks up with an ex-convict... but, of course they get back together in the end.

 I find this one to be one of the most enjoyable of Travolta's early movies. I like it a bit better than Saturday Night Fever but not quite as much as Grease to give you a perspective of where I stand on movies in which he dances a good bit. I personally, also really like the music in this movie. It's not for everyone but the soundtrack features songs from Charlie Daniels Band, The Eagle, Kenny Rogers, and others.

Overall, it's an entertaining movie and I give it a 4 out of 5.


Have a suggestion for a review?
Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day 17: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

1989 was a pretty good year for movies, and some of my favorites of the 1980's came out that year. films like Batman, Field of Dreams, UHF, and today's movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. It's a bit of a close call between this one and Raiders of the Lost Ark but I tend to enjoy the third entry in the franchise a little more.

Harrison Ford reprises his role as the iconic Indiana Jones, but in this one he is also joined by screen legend Sean Connery who plays Indiana's father Henry Jones. As much fun as it is to watch Indiana's adventures in these films, it's Connery that pushes this one to the top of the group (this film was even on my list of "10 Sean Connery Movies Everyone Should See" which you can check out by clicking here).

Early on in the film Indiana learns that his father has gone missing while searching for the Holy Grail and, believing that his father must be in trouble after he receives Henry's 'Grail Diary' in the mail, he sets out to find him. Using the diary Indiana pieces together enough clues to find his father who has been captured by Nazi's. After the two are reunited the fun really starts: escaping the castle where Henry was held captive, a motorcycle chase, tanks, an aerial dogfight between the Joneses and German Luftwaffe fighter... and all throughout a really entertaining dynamic and great chemistry between Ford and Connery. Eventually they reach the temple where the grail is kept and, as with all Indiana Jones films, it's full of booby-traps, but Indiana does end up finding the Grail. Start to finish this whole movie is a ton of fun, it's a solid action-adventure flick, and it's definitely worth watching if you've never seen it.

I give this one a 5 out of 5.


Have a suggestion for a review?
Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day 16: All Dogs Go to Heaven

Today's 80's movie is the 1989 Don Bluth film All Dogs Go to Heaven. A childhood favorite of mine, the film features the voice talents of Burt Reynolds, Vic Tayback, Dom DeLuise, Loni Anderson, and others.

The movie starts with two dogs, a German Shepard named Charlie (voiced by Burt Reynolds) and a Dachshund named Itchy (voiced by Dom DeLuise) escaping from the dog pound. Charlie is a sort of smug con-artist type and Itchy is over excitable and often nervous so they're a fun duo.

After their escape, the two return to a casino formerly run by Charlie and his partner, a bulldog named Carface (voiced by Vic Tayback). The business has grown substantially in Charlie's absence and Carface, not wanting to share the profits, murders him. So, Charlie goes to Heaven, as all dogs do, and an angel tells him that a gold watch representing his life has stopped. Not quite ready to be dead, Charlie steals the watch and winds it, resulting in him returning to Earth. However, he's told that if he dies again, he will not return to Heaven. 

 

After returning to earth and reuniting with Itchy, they discover that Carface is holding a young orphan named Anne-Marie prisoner. She has the ability to talk to animals which has given Carface the advantage in rigging the odds on rat races and that's how he gained so much wealth in Charlie's absence. 

 So, Charlie and Itchy rescue the little girl with the idea that they can use her abilities to get revenge on Carface. Anne-Marie isn't interested in helping another greedy dog get rich, but Charlie convinces her that they plan to give their winnings to the poor and help her find some parents. Well, the trio begins making bets and pulling in the big bucks, Charlie and Itchy use the winnings to build a casino in the junkyard they live in, and Anne-Marie gets frustrated that they have yet too help the poor or find her a family. To keep her happy for a little longer, Charlie brings pizza to a family of poor puppies and their mother a Collie (voiced by Loni Anderson) at an old abandoned church. Eventually, Anne-Marie runs away and, of course Carface and his goons catch her. By this point you know how it's all going to end, if you hadn't guessed sooner; Charlie rescues Anne-Marie, sacrificing his own life in the process, Anne-Marie gets adopted, and Charlie's good deed is enough to get him back into Heaven.

Overall, as I stated at the beginning, this was a favorite of mine as a kid and I still was really entertained while rewatching it. The animation is pretty good and the filmmakers did a solid job in getting the right actors to voice these characters. It's not a perfect movie and there are a few parts I would've changed, but it's definitely worth watching.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day 15: The Long Riders

It's 80's Month. It's a Western Wednesday. It's 1980's The Long Riders

Above all else this film is unique in that it stars four sets of acting brothers; James Keach and Stacy Keach, David Carradine  Keith Carradine and Robert Carradine, Dennis Quaid and Randy Quaid, and finally Christopher Guest and Nicholas Guest. Now, you may be asking yourself 'Is the movie any good or is this just a novelty?'

Well, a bit of both. The movie is good but not all of the casting is ideal, in my opinion and the performances vary from really good to good enough. The Keach's, Carradine's, and Quaid's all play members of a gang with James Keach playing the leader Jesse James. One day, after a less than ideal bank robbery, Ed Miller (played by Dennis Quaid) is kicked out of the gang. The movie kind of meanders about a bit, but picks up and gets interesting again about 20mins later after a train robbery and the Pinkertons lead by a man named Mr. Rixley (played by James Whitmore Jr.) come after them. Around this time we're also introduced to Charley and Robert Ford (played by Christopher and Nicholas Guest respectively) who play a big role in the ending of the film. From there it's shootouts, a knife fight in a saloon, a bank robbery that goes very wrong (which leads to a pretty great action scene), and a solid ending.

Overall, it's an enjoyable movie and I found most of it really entertaining.

I give it a 4 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

 

80's Month Day 14: When Harry Met Sally

It's Valentine's Day and, while I've never been much of a fan of romantic-comedies, it only seems fitting that I review one today. So, I've picked one of the more tolerable one's, 1989's When Harry Met Sally starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan.

The film follows a lot of common romantic-comedy tropes and would probably be pretty dull and generic if not for a good chemistry between it's two leading actors. Additionally, having Billy Crystal makes it one the rare films within this sub-genre to actually be funny.  The movie starts with Harry (Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) meeting right out of college through Sally's friend who Harry happens to be dating and initially they don't really get along. After making the trip from Chicago to New York City the two part ways with no intention of seeing one another again. The film then jumps five years to a chance encounter the two have at an airport, and Harry doesn't remember who Sally is at first, but she's dating someone Harry knows and he remembers while on the airplane. Jump ahead another five years and this is where the film really gets rolling. Sally is fresh out of a long time relationship and Harry is about to be divorced. They meet up, talk about their failed relationships, and grow to be friends. They go through ups and downs together and they both try dating again but, because romantic-comedies notoriously predictable, you know they'll get together in the end.

Overall, like I wrote at the start, I'm not much of a fan of these types of movies. However, this one is well paced, pretty entertaining, and most of the comedy does hit the mark.
So, I give it a 3 out of 5.


Have a suggestion for a review?
Leave it in the comments below.
 

80's Month Day 13: Three Fugitives

Thirteen days into "80's Month" and today's film is Three Fugitives, a 1989 comedy-drama starring Nick Nolte and Martin Short.

The plot involves and convict named Daniel Lucas (played by Nolte) who has been in prison for 5yrs after committing 14 armed robberies. However, on the day he is released, he stops by a bank and gets taken hostage by an amature criminal named Ned Perry (played by Short) who is robbing the bank. Not a career criminal like Lucas, Ned is only robbing the bank to get money for treatment for his ill, young daughter, Meg.

Unfortunately for Lucas, a local detective (played by James Earl Jones) assumes that he must be in on the robbery due to his criminal history, and that the whole hostage thing is just an act. From here there are several car chases, all sorts of mishaps (like Ned accidentally shooting Lucas in the leg), a veterinarian with dementia who thinks Lucas is a dog, Ned constantly ignoring Lucas' expert advice, etc. Of course while avoiding the law, the two form an unlikely partnership primarily because Meg takes a liking to Lucas. Eventually, the trio makes a run for Canada and all appears to end well with Lucas saying goodbye to Meg while Ned is exchanging currency. However, Ned ends up being taken hostage by a bank robber in the same manner he originally kidnapped Lucas, and a classic 80's freeze-frame ending closes out the film.

While there are some good moments in the movie, I wouldn't call it a good movie as a whole. Nick Nolte is OK, and Martin Short gets a laugh or two but it's not either one's strongest performance.

If it sounds interesting to you then check it out but, overall, I don't recommend it.

I give it a 1.5 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day 12: UHF

"Right now I'd like to show you one of my favorite cartoons. It's a sad, depressing story about a pathetic coyote who spends every waking moment of his life in the futile pursuit of a sadistic roadrunner who mocks him and laughs at him as he's repeatedly crushed and maimed! Hope you'll enjoy it!"

 

 "80's Month" rolls on and today's movie has been one of my all-time favorite comedies since before I can remember. It's the 1989 'Weird Al' Yankovic film UHF.

The movie stars 'Weird Al' as George Newman, a guy who's overactive imagination leads to him having a hard time holding down a job and often causes problems between him and his girlfriend Teri (played by Victoria Jackson). One evening George's Uncle Harvey wins a run-down UHF television station in a poker game and he allows George to go run it. This ends up being the dream job for George as he now has an outlet for all his crazy, imaginative ideas. Along with his best friend Bob (played by David Bowe) and a janitor named Stanley Spadowski (played by Michael Richards) they fill the stations line-up with original shows like; 'Bowling for Burgers', 'Raul's Wild Kingdom', 'Town Talk' (which tackles big issues like "Lesbian Nazi Hookers Abducted by UFOs and Forced Into Weight Loss Programs"), 'Wheel of Fish', etc. But, the stations big hit is the show 'Stanley Spadowski's Clubhouse', a kids show that includes exploding train sets, drinking from a fire hose, and searching for a marble in a sandbox full of oatmeal. The rise of the UHF station and its success gets the attention of a major network run by R. J. Fletcher (played by Kevin McCarthy) who plans to buy the little station and turn it into a parking lot, thus eliminating the competition. So, George and all his buddies hold a telethon to raise $75,000 and to save the station. 

This is an odd-ball movie that was panned by critics when it was released, but has since developed a cult following. There are a ton of funny moments and, if you're a 'Weird Al' fan, you'll probably really enjoy all the wacky parodies. For me personally, there are very few other comedies that I get as many laughs from even after so many repeat viewings.

Plus, I can't forget to mention George and Bob's favorite snack the "Twinkie Wiener Sandwich" (hotdog, Twinkie, and canned cheese)

...it's actually pretty damn good

Overall, I probably like this movie more than most and it's one I highly recommend to everyone.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day 11: All of Me

'80's Month' continues with the 1984 comedy All of Me Starring Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin, and directed by Carl Reiner.

The movie is about an attorney named Roger Cobb (played by Steve Martin) who is at a bit of a crossroads in his life; he's 38, dating his boss' daughter and is dissatisfied with his position at work. One day he's tasked with making some final changes to the will of a rich, difficult woman named Edwina Cutwater (played by Lily Tomlin). Edwina plans to have her soul transferred into a young healthy woman named Terry but, due to a poorly timed accident, her soul ends up sharing Roger's body. So, now half of Rodgers body is under his control and the other half is under Edwina's. They bicker and argue and try to adjust while seeking out a mystical shaman-type guy that can correct this mess, and this conflict between them is where the majority of the comedy comes from. Eventually, as you can probably guess, Roger and Edwina start to get along, they get Edwina's soul out of Roger, and the film ends with Roger and Edwina (who is now in Terry's body) dancing together.

It's a decent movie overall, though a little uneven. Some parts are really funny and most of the comedy works, but in those few moments when it tries to add a touch of drama it misses the mark a bit for me. I give it a 3 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?
Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day10: Conan the Barbarian

"Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their women"

Today's 80's movie is the 1982 action flick Conan The Barbarian. Interestingly enough, this is both the second time an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie has been one of my "80's Month" reviews and this one also appeared on my "10 Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies Everyone Should See" list.

Schwarzenegger plays Conan who is, as the title would suggest, a barbarian. at a young age his village is raided and most of the people are killed, including his parents, with Conan being an exception. Instead he is taken as a slave and put to work pushing a big wheel around for several years. Once he's all grown up and super buff he's trained to be a gladiator and after a while he's freed. After a strange encounter with a witch, Conan decides to search for the man who killed his parents all those years ago Thulsa Doom (played by James Earl Jones). Along the way Conan befriends a thief named Subotai (played by Gerry Lopez) and a woman named Valeria (played by Sandahl Bergman). Eventually its revealed that Doom is actually the leader of a cult and he can also transform into a giant snake, as well as, shoot snakes like arrows... Yea some parts of the movie are pretty weird but it's entertaining and in the end, of course, Conan kills Doom.

Overall, it's a fun action movie with some quotable lines and the casting of a 30-something Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan couldn't have been more perfect. A big box-office success, the film also lead to a sequel, Conan the Destroyer, in 1984.
I wouldn't call this a great movie but I do enjoy it.
I give it a 3.5 out of 5.


Have a suggestion for a review?
Leave it in the comments below.

80's Month Day 9: Octopussy

With over 20 James Bond films dating back to the the early 60's, there is always debate among Bond fans as to which movie is the best. One movie that no one ever seems to argue in favor of is 1983's Octopussy. Already in his mid-50's by this point Sir. Roger Moore was getting a bit old for the part of Britain's top secret agent. For reference; Sir Sean Connery was 41 when his last official Bond movie Diamonds are Forever was released in 1971.

The plot, in short, involves James Bond being assigned the task of following a Russian general who is stealing jewels and relics, most notably a Faberge egg. This ends up leading Bond to a wealthy Afghan prince named Kamal Khan, and his associate, a woman named Octopussy (played by Maud Adams) who owns a n island exclusively populated by beautiful women. Eventually James uncovers a plot to force disarmament in Europe with the use of a nuclear weapon and, as in all Bond films, 007 foils the evil plan and saves the day.

 The action scenes, for the most part, are average at best and unfortunately in this one James Bond doesn't even have a gun for the majority of the film. Even those signature 007 one-liners, which when done right can result is some of the most memorable Bond moments, make up virtually all of Roger Moore's dialogue in the film. The lines aren't clever and overall it's the whole thing isn't that well written. 
Two of James Bond's gadgets in the movie include a fountain pen filled with acid (the pen cap is also a hearing device) and a small airplane that fits inside of a horse trailer and apparently runs on regular gasoline. Neither one is one are the silliest gadget in a Bond film, but they're not particularly awesome either. That being said, this film also contains the crocodile shaped personal submarine, which is simply ridiculous.

Just look at it... Someone thought this was a good idea.

Overall, I don't think Octopussy is the worst Bond movie but, it's pretty close and definitely not one I  recommend. I give this one a 2 out of 5. 


Have a suggestion for a review?
Leave it in the comments below. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe *Updated*

Back in October of 2016 I ranked the Marvel Cinematic Universe films worst-to-first based on a variety of factors; story, villain, initial viewing and rewatchability etc. But most importantly, the list is simply about how much I enjoyed one film over another. Since then, several movies have been added to the MCU with each one building on and often changing the impact of previous films. So, I've updated the rankings which is something I'll be doing after each new installment.

#19 The Incredible Hulk (2008)

This one, for me, is the most forgettable of the MCU films. Edward Norton and the rest of the cast are solid but the CGI doesn’t hold up well and the movie just isn't much fun.

#18 Black Panther (2018)

This one was a bit of a letdown for me and the main problem was 'Vibranium'. Up until this film the fictional element was extremely rare, and it was simply known in the MCU as the most durable metal on the planet. However, in this movie Vibranium can do whatever the plot needs it to do and there is a whole mine full of it. 

#17 Iron Man 3 (2013)

This one is a bit of a mixed-bag. Initially I didn’t care for it, probably because I had such high expectations going in, but over time and a few repeat viewings I’ve found a good number of things I really like in the movie.

#16 Thor: The Dark World (2013)

This sequel to 2011’s ‘Thor’ is a solid movie that just suffers from a forgettable villain. We get to see more of Asgard in this one, which is a plus.

#15 Iron Man 2 (2010)

This movie isn't bad,  and it's actually the film I've seen the most on this list, but at times it feels like more of a setup for future MCU films than an Iron Man one. On the plus side, War Machine and Black Widow are fun additions.

#14 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

While it is a really fun action packed movie, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.  I liked the larger roster of Avengers, but I didn't find Ultron all that menacing. 

#13 Thor (2011)

The film doesn't have the most compelling Marvel hero and it isn't the most action-packed of the bunch, but it's a solid entry and Chris Hemsworth is another example of great casting by the folks at Marvel. 


#12 Doctor Strange (2016)

This one isn't just entertaining but it's also visually captivating. Doctor Strange was never one of my favorite Marvel Comics characters, but that didn't hurt my movie going experience and I thought Benedict Cumberbatch was solid a Stephen Strange.

#11 Ant-Man

I was kind of surprised by how much I enjoyed this one when I first saw it. It’s a really fun movie. There is the one big MCU tie-in when Ant-Man comes across Falcon, but like ‘Iron Man’ the movie is able to stand on its own without relying too heavily on the rest of the MCU.

#10 Captain America: Civil War (2016)

There are a lot things I loved about it and a few things I didn't, but overall it's really entertaining. I would've liked to rank it higher, but there just wasn't enough to put it ahead of the others.

#9 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Just because it’s #9 doesn’t make it a bad movie. The characters are likeable, and the story is interesting. The biggest flaw is that Ronan the Accuser is an underwhelming villain that felt like nothing more than a place holder until a future Guardians film.

# 8 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

It's the culmination of 10 years worth of Marvel movies and, while that makes it a satisfying experience for MCU fans, it doesn't really stand on it's own as a film. There is a good chance that it moves up or down significantly on the list as subsequent films build on the events of this one.



#7 Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

It was time for Marvel to do something different with Thor and the Hulk, and in this action-comedy I think they knocked it out of park. This is easily my favorite of the 'Thor' films, and it holds up to repeat viewings.

  
#6 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

 I like the first 'Guardians of the Galaxy' film but it does have it's flaws and, while this one isn't perfect either, I did really enjoy it. A fun film with the characters you love from the first one, plus Kurt Russell. I definitely recommend it.

#5 Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

I probably like this one more than most people. I think it's a really fun and well done movie, especially since origin stories so often end up being boring.

#4 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Spider-Man's first solo film in the MCU was exactly what I hoped it would be. A fun, action packed film with a Peter Parker who actually looks like a high school student.

 

#3 The Avengers (2012)

There was nothing quite like seeing Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, Black Widow, and Hawkeye all fighting alongside one another for the first time on the big screen. It’s still one of the coolest MCU moments.

#2 Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

This almost made the #1 spot. It’s an action packed thriller, and one of the all-time best comic book movies. A great addition to the MCU.

#1 Iron Man (2008)

The film that started it all still holds up as my favorite. The plot isn't overly complicated, you can enjoy it for exactly what it is without the need to see any of the other films beforehand, and Robert Downey Jr. is excellent as Tony Stark.

How do you rank the MCU films?

Leave it in the comments below.

I post reviews of new and classic films all the time, so check back regularly or follow me on Twitter @jfrey87 for links to new content.