Crocodile Dundee

In a lot of media, particularly film, there is a action/adventure trope or subcategory involving a man of adventure pairing up with a "city girl". It isn't always done well. but when it is it makes for some fun, memorable films. Some popular examples of this in the 1980's were Romancing the Stone, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and of course Crocodile Dundee.

Released in 1986 Crocodile Dundee, a bit to my surprise, was the #2 movie overall at the U.S. box-office that year just behind Top Gun. The film stars Paul Hogan as Michael "Crocodile" Dundee, a man who is something of a living legend in Australia. He is visited by a journalists named Sue Charlton (played by Linda Kozlowski) who is eager to learn Dundee's story and write about it for the newspaper back in New York. After a few days in the outback Sue convinces Dundee to come back with her to New York City to continue the story. From there it's a pretty standard, well done, fish-out-of-water movie and they fall in love by the end.

I've liked this movie ever since I was a kid and rewatching it again today, I still found it very entertaining. It's not a complex story and there aren't any dramatic plot twists. It's just a fun, breezy, hour and forty minutes with some likeable characters.
I give it a 3.5 out of 5

10 MOVIES THAT I LIKE BUT EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO HATE

Call it "bad taste". Call them "guilty pleasures". Whatever the reason, we all have those movies that we enjoy but that bombed with critics, audiences, or both. So, I've complied a list of 10 critical and/or commercial flops that, even though I recognize their faults, I enjoy.

#10 The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 40%

IMDB Score: 6.0/10

-This movie completely cracks me up every time I watch it. I'll be the first to admit that its crass, immature, occasionally nonsensical humor is not for everyone. However, anytime I show it to someone that I think may like it, they act like I've lost my mind. 

 #9 Last Action Hero (1993)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 34%

IMDB Score: 6.8/10

-This isn't one of Arnold Schwartzenegger's best movies, but it's not his worst either. I like the concept and think it's a fun movie overall. Plus, the film has an awesome soundtrack.

#8 Chappie (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 32%

IMDB Score: 6.8/10

-I was actually surprised most people didn't like this one. I walked out of the theater pretty pleased with the film and that opinion hasn't changed after multiple viewings. I genuinely like it better than Neil Blomkamp's other, more well-received, films.

#7 Swordfish (2001)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 26%

IMDB Score: 6.5/10

-Boasting a cast of Hugh Jackman, John Travolta, and Halle Berry is enough to make this a worthwhile watch. Yeah, Travolta is hamming it up a bit too much but that kinda adds to the film in my opinion.

#6 Sucker Punch (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 23%

IMDB Score: 6.1/10

-The big criticism I always hear about this film is that it's all style and no substance. That's mostly true, but some of the visuals are pretty cool and sometimes that's all I need. Occasionally while writing this blog, I put Sucker Punch on just as something I can glance over at for a few moments.

#5 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 20%

IMDB Score: 5.8/10

-It's a big, dumb, cheesy movie and I get a kick out of it. Far too often people try to make serious movie adaptations of video games, but this film knows what it is and embraces it.

#4 City Heat (1984)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 20%

IMDB Score: 5.5/10

-It's a crime-comedy set in the 1930's, starring Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds. I don't care if critics hated it, this is right up my alley.

#3 The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 17%

IMDB Score: 5.8/10

- "I'm waiting to be impressed." It's not only a line Sean Connery says in the movie, but also what general audiences were uttering about half way through the film. Sure the plot is thin and the characters are underdeveloped, but I had fun with it.

#2 The Mummy (2017) 

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 15% 

IMDB Score: 5.5/10

-It was supposed to be the first film in a cinematic universe, but instead it doomed the whole thing. The main criticism is that they focused too much on setting up future movies that they forgot to make this one good. However, maybe it's because I like Mummy movies, or because I'm a Tom Cruise fan, or because I'm just an idiot, or perhaps some combination of all those things, but I really like this movie.

#1 RoboCop 3 (1993)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 3%

IMDB Score: 4.0/10

-I can't argue that this is a good movie but, it's not that bad. No, it didn't live up to the previous two films and yes, it was a box office flop. However, there are some positives; Officer Anne Lewis' death is a bit of a gut-punch and an effective, emotional moment. Also, the film does follow up on the events from the previous films and, though it isn't the most compelling story, at least they tried. Plus, there are robot ninjas and Robocop gets a jetpack.

A Look Back At "The Mummy" Movies

There have been a ton of movies that have featured mummies over the years. And in that slew of films between the 1932 Boris Karloff classic and the 2017 Tom Cruise one (that no one except for me seemed to like), exists a trilogy of films starring Brendan Fraser. Now, none of these were big critical hits but, the first two were mostly well-received by audiences.

The last of the Brendan Fraser 'Mummy' films came out back in 2008 and because it's been ten years since that series ended, I thought it would be a good time to look back and see if the movies hold up. Also, I'm going to keep this limited to the just the 'Mummy' films, so the 'Scorpion King' spinoff movies will not be included.

What works: Although after rewatching all of these I think it would be hard to argue in favor of any one of the three films being a legitimately great piece of cinema, it's hard to deny that they are a fun bunch of adventure flicks. Brendan Fraser is solid as the likable jerk Rick O'Connell, there is a nice balance of action and comedy, and the supporting cast is (mostly) good. Also, I like the musical score in all of the films, particularly the main themes from the 'The Mummy' and 'The Mummy Returns'.

What doesn't: The CGI effects in these films are really bad. Some will argue that the films came out in 1999, 2001, and 2008 respectively so they don't look great compared to today's standards. However, as someone who saw all of these when they were first released in theaters, a lot of the effects were subpar even for the time. Additionally, each of the three films carries a runtime of about 2hrs and they all feel a bit too long. Like most trilogies, there is one movie that is clearly the weakest of the bunch, and the runt of this litter is 'Tomb of the Dragon Emperor'. It doesn't involve an Egyptian mummy, most of the jokes fall flat, and they weren't able to convince Rachael Weisz to come back, so they just recast Evelyn.

Overall, despite some problems, I still think this is a fun trilogy of films. Are they going to go down in history as all-time classics? No, but if you haven't seen then in a while then they are worth revisiting.


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If you enjoyed this there is, I did another 'Look Back' at the Hellboy films (you can check that out by clicking HERE). 

Tomb Raider (2018)

Movies based on video games are usually pretty bad, but I think they broke the curse. Now, I'm not going to lie, I was in the the bag for this movie when I saw the first preview. I like the 'Tomb Raider' games, I love action-adventure movies, I think Alicia Vikander is a good actress, and even though they're not good I enjoyed the two Angelina Jolie films... so take this review with a grain of salt.

Now, without spoiling the plot for anyone planning to see this movie, here are a few thoughts I have about this one: Alicia Vikander kills it in this movie. It's easy to be on board with her from the get-go, and she was definitely a great casting choice. There are some really cool action scenes, but the pacing in this film has a few issues. It's overall an exciting adventure film but there are one or two spots where it starts to drag a bit. The effects are mostly solid with only a couple of CGI shots that look like they could've been done better.

Overall, I give this one a recommend. I had a lot of fun with this film and the issues I did have are just minor nitpicks. It's probably one I'll end up picking up on Blu-ray when it comes out.
A solid 4 out of 5.


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10 Steven Spielberg Movies Everyone Should See

The latest entry in this ongoing series focuses on Steven Spielberg, one of cinema's most famous Directors. As always, rather than a "Best of" or "Top 10" this is more of an overview highlighting some of the notable movies of a person's career. Also, at the bottom of this post I'll leave a link to all of the other '10 Movies Everyone Should See' posts.


#10 Bridge of Spies (2015)

This is the 4^th pairing of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks (the previous three films being ‘Saving Private Ryan’, ‘Catch Me If You Can’ and ‘The Terminal’) I wasn't sure about this one going in but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a pretty outstanding Cold War, espionage movie.

#9 Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Well acted, engaging story, great musical score, and massive success at the box-office.
This big hit (along with Jaws) helped catapult Spielberg to top of every studio's Director list.

#8 Lincoln (2012)

When you pair up an all-time great actor in Daniel Day-Lewis with an all-time Director you can even turn a film about Abe Lincoln into not only a financial success but also a multiple (2) Oscar winning film.

#7 Saving Private Ryan (1998)

There are a ton of WWII movies for anyone looking to watch one. The fact that this one often rises towards the top for a lot of people says a lot. It's a really solid film.

#6 E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982)

I've seen this one multiple times over the years and there's no way it should be as good as it is. Kids fly on bicycles, the alien is basically a bumbling child, none of the acting is amazing... In the hands of a lesser filmmaker this is a crappy movie, but Spielberg made it a classic.

#5 Schindler's List (1993)

This period-drama about the Holocaust won 7 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director, and it's easily one of Spielberg's most critically acclaimed films.

#4 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

The film that launched one of cinemas most beloved characters, Indiana Jones, still holds up pretty well. While it's not my favorite Indiana Jones movie (that distinction belongs to 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) it's impact is undeniable.

#3 Jaws (1975)

It's one of cinema's greatest summer blockbusters and one of the only legitimately good shark movies ever made. All you have to do is say the word "Jaws" and most people will immediately think of this early Spielberg classic.

#2 Minority Report (2002)

This one also appeared on my list of '10 Tom Cruise Movies Everyone Should See' (which you can check out by clicking here) and while it's not as famous as a film like  "Jaws" or  "E.T.", I think it's a great, tension-filled movie that is definitely worth checking out if you've never seen it.

#1 Jurassic Park (1993)

Early on as I started rewatching a bunch of these films for this list, this one jumped to #1. Everything I like about different Spielberg's films come together in this one. You get adventure, memorable characters, great special effects that still hold up, and an interesting story that's easy to get fully invested in.

Have a suggestion for a '10 Movies Everyone Should See' list?

Leave it in the comments below, and if you want to check out the other other entries in this series you can find them all by clicking Here.

10 Tom Cruise Movies Everyone Should See

With Tom Cruise's latest film having just come out recently (You can check out my review of that here: 'The Mummy' 2017) it seemed like a good time to add a new entry to my '10 Movies Everyone Should See' series. I have previously written similar posts about Sean Connery, Tom Hanks, Alfred Hitchcock, and others and I'll leave links to those at the bottom of this one. If you're not familiar with how I make these lists, they aren't necessarily a 'Best Of' or 'Top 10', It's merely 10 films that I feel would be the best representation of someone's total career.


#10 Knight and Day (2010)

'Knight and Day' isn't a fantastic movie, in fact parts of it are kinda dumb. However, I think the goal the filmmakers were shooting for was to make a fun, action-filled, romp with a couple bankable movie stars. That is exactly what they achieved.

#9 The Last Samurai (2003)

If you like war movies then this one has some pretty good battle scenes between those who still practice the ways of the ancient Samurai and a Japanese military that is trying to adapt to the type of weaponry the U.S. was using at the time. I thinks it's also one of Tom's more complex performances.

#8 Risky Business (1983)

The oldest movie to make this list, 'Risky Business' was a breakout film for Cruise and it's still a pretty entertaining watch.

#7 Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

You won't find many sequels on Tom Cruise's filmography but, the 'Mission: Impossible' series has been going strong since '96 and this one is certainly in the discussion for best 'Mission: Impossible' film.

#6 Far and Away (1992)

The plot is a little thin and Tom's attempt at an Irish accent is a bit dodgy but, it's directed by Ron Howard, there's some really good cinematography, a solid John Williams score, and great chemistry between the two leads.

#5 Days of Thunder (1990)

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.

#4 Rain Man (1988)

Even though most people associate Cruise with action movies, he is capable of putting in solid performances in critically acclaimed films as well. The best example of this is the multi-Oscar winning film 'Rain Man' (winner of the 1989 Oscars for Best Picture, best Screenplay, Best Leading Actor: Dustin Hoffman, and Best Director: Barry Levinson).

#3 Mission: Impossible (1996)

The first film in the 'Mission Impossible' franchise may not have as much over the top action as some of the later entries in the series but, its still a really enjoyable flick.

#2 Top Gun (1986)

If I were just ranking film quality, then 'Top Gun' wouldn't have landed as high as #2. However, it is one of Tom Cruise's most iconic roles. Yes, parts of it are dumb and cheesy but it's also just an overall fun movie.

#1 Minority Report (2002)

It was a bit of a close call on some of these and there were a few films that I went back and forth on. That was not the case with the #1 spot. I think this one is hands down the best film starring Cruise.


Honorable Mentions: A Few Good Men (1992), Jerry Maguire (1996), Jack Reacher (2012), and Edge of Tomorrow (2014)


 If you have a suggestion for another "10 Movies Everyone Should See" leave it in the comments below.

Also, check out these other entries:
 10 Sean Connery Movies Everyone Should See
10 James Stewart Movies Everyone Should See
10 Alfred Hitchcock Movies Everyone Should See
10 John Travolta Movies Everyone Should See
10 Tom Hanks Movies Everyone Should See
10 Chuck Norris Movies Everyone Should See 
10 Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies Everyone Should See

Spider-Man: Homecoming

It's no secret that we are living in something of a golden age for comic book movies. With even more obscure characters getting a lot of love at the box-office, it's no surprise that the big Hollywood decision makers keep green-lighting films about the most marketable of all superheros; Spider-Man.

Just within the last 15 years we've had Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and now Spider-Man: Homecoming. So, is it really worth spending you're hard earned money to see yet another Spider-Man movie? Yes, because this time I think they nailed it. I'm not going to give a bunch of spoilers away because this film is new and I do think it is worth going to see.

  

Now, for starters, the previous five Spider-Man films have ranged from good to awful. Both Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield have taken up the role of the title character and both received mixed reviews. The general consensus is that Maguire didn't fully capture the Spider-Man side of the character and Garfield wasn't a believable Peter Parker. This time around they got it right, as Tom Holland was a great casting choice. He's believable as both a high school age Peter Parker and as Spider-Man, making it easy to become fully invested in this character. The supporting cast of Peter's friends and classmates is solid, Marisa Tomei is great as Aunt May, and Robert Downey Jr. delivers the goods as Tony Stark like he always does. However, the real standout in the film is Michael Keaton as the Vulture. It's easily one of the best villain performances in the MCU.

Which brings me to my next point; this is a Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Previously, because of Sony holding the movie rights, Spider-Man films have existed off in their own little world. Now, we have the extra complexities of Spider-Man wanting to become an Avenger and prove himself Tony Stark. Being part of a movie universe that includes Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, etc. allows this film to have a simple story without the need to make it about saving all of New York city. The film does have some good action and spectacle, but for the most part it all takes place Queens. It's established that the Avengers will save the world, Peter should just focus and on being a "friendly neighborhood Spider-Man" and that really works in the movie favor.

Overall, the movie is fun, it has a lot of heart, and it exceeded my expectations. If you're a Spider-Man fan then you're going to have a ton of fun watching this one. It's by far my favorite Spider-Man movie to this point, and I highly recommend it.

I give this one a 4.5 out of 5.

If you'd like to see how I think Spider-Man: Homecoming stacks up against the other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you can check out my complete MCU rankings by clicking here.

Wonder Woman

'Wonder Woman' is the latest attempt by DC Comics and Warner Bros. to get the ball rolling on a successful, cinematic universe that they hope will rival what the folks at Marvel Studios have been doing since 2008. 'Man of Steel' was underwhelming, 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice' was overstuffed and kinda boring, and 'Suicide Squad' was just a mess. So, is Wonder Woman the shot in the arm the DCEU needs and is it a film worth checking out? The answer to both is 'Yes'... for the most part. 

'Wonder Woman' is the best this extended universe has to offer thus far. It's not perfect but the good outweighs the bad. I did enjoy it being set during WWI as most movies set during a World War opt for WWII (probably because everyone knows the Nazis were bad, and that makes for an easy good vs bad dynamic). I think Gal Gadot was a great choice to play Wonder Woman and the rest of the cast is good enough. Also, in contrast tosome of the previous DCEU entries this isn't a bleak, gloomy movie. There are action scenes that aren't in the dark or the rain, and there's even some comedy that works. However, while the scenes with Wonder Woman kicking ass are genuinely entertaining, the rest of the film is pretty average. 

Overall, if you like comic book movies (which I do) then this is probably a good one to check out, but if super heros aren't your thing then this isn't a 'must-see' that's going to blow you away. 

I give it a 3 out of 5


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Today's Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

I went into this one with pretty low expectations. The first Pirates film in this franchise was a bit better than I expected back in 2003, but the Johnny Depp/Jack Sparrow flamboyant drunk schtick has grown old over the years. 

This one is more of what you'd expect going in; Johnny Depp swaggering about and finding himself in over the top ridiculous situations. It's done just well enough to be moderately entertaining, but the film overall is a bit underwhelming. Unfortunately, the other main characters are so dull that the drunken slapstick and predictable gags are the glue that holds the film together. The plot is pretty much par for the course; there's some curse and, for some reason, this is linked to Capt. Jack Sparrow. There are also some pacing issues and I found myself checking the time more than once.     

Overall, if you like the other 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films then you'll like this one. It's probably not the worst one. 

I give it a 1.5 out of 5.

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Kong: Skull Island

 
1933's King Kong isn't just one of the great movies of the 1930's, but it's also become one of the all-time classics. So, is this new Kong movie as good as the original? No, not even close but, I wasn't expecting it to be. There have been numerous films over the years featuring the fictional giant ape and this one isn't the worst. As with my previous review; Logan (which you can check out by clicking here), I'm going to avoid giving a lot of plot details since this is a new movie. Instead, this will be my overall reaction to the film and some of the thoughts I had while in the theater.

First off, if you like giant monster movies then you probably don't need to bother with the rest of this review. Just go see the movie because there are tons of giant creatures, most are pretty threatening, and most of the CGI looks pretty good. In addition to Kong, there is a giant octopus, giant spiders, lizard-like creatures they call "Skull Crawlers", and more. Kong fights a few of theses other beasts and some people get eaten, mostly what you'd expect but done in an entertaining way.

The basic plot of Kong: Skull Island is just that, Basic. People go to Skull Island, immediately encounter Kong, and the rest of the film is them trying to get off the island. That's the whole movie in a nutshell. Now, this film does have a pretty solid cast including Tom Hiddleston, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, and  John C. Riley among others. Some of theses actors where put to good use in the film; I thought John Goodman was solid and, John C. Riley was good for a few laughs even though the introduction of his character drastically changed the tone of the movie. Tom Hiddleston's character was pretty bland which was a shame, and unfortunately Brie Larson who plays a photographer does pretty much nothing except snap pictures. I thought while the film was going on that a connection between Hiddleston's character and Larson's would develop but it never really did. Maybe because they were both pretty dull and one-dimensional. 

The most interesting human character by far is Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard (played by Samuel L. Jackson). After Kong kills some of his men, Packard takes it personally, and he goes on an insane hunt for revenge. At one point in the movie I thought to myself 'They could've titled this Samuel L. Jackson vs. King Kong'. It was an over-the-top performance but it was also fun to watch.

Overall, it's the big, dumb, fun, monster movie I sort of expected it to be. I was hoping for something a bit better but, I was still entertained. I'm glad I saw it but, I don't foresee myself ever really feeling the need to rewatch it.
I give it a 2.5 out of 5.


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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.


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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.


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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.

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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.


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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. 


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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.