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Post by slayrrr666 on Sept 23, 2009 10:10:02 GMT -5
Sky High-2006
The teen son of two superheroes is sent to a special high school for like-minded individuals to learn how to control their new-found powers. This was a pleasant surprise, turning out to be quite decent and somewhat enjoyable at times, mostly due to a very intriguing premise that allows for a lot of pretty good gags to occur. From the initiation rituals to the training classes and the obstacle course that gets played up, it's somewhat entertaining during these parts of the film. The usual teen cliches that pop up in the second half are expected and don't really help the film much, just putting in an appearance due to contractual obligation over any sort of story-building substance, but the fact that there's a nice switch over to an action film for the final half makes it worthwhile. A couple of funny moments, including a scene-stealing cameo from Bruce Campbell is really appreciated. Better than expected.
7.5/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Sept 24, 2009 8:09:35 GMT -5
MEAN GIRLS (2004)
Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan), raised in Africa and home-schooled by her zoologist parents, has an eye-opening experience when she has to attend public high school for the first time. She makes friends with a couple of outcasts, but is soon drawn into hanging out with the Plastics, a trio of A-list, popular, and beautiful girls who look down on insulting anyone who isn't up to their level of looks, social popularity, or fashion-sense, which is pretty much everybody.
This ground was already kind of covered in the darker HEATHERS, but this is a clever and sometimes damn funny movie, with a strong cast and it doesn't always follow the usual high school movie clichés. Written by, and co-starring Tina Fey, with appearances by a few other modern-era SNL cast members.
7.5/10
ANIMAL HOUSE (1978)
The mother of all modern "slobs vs. snobs" comedies. In this case it's a war between two Faber College frat houses in 1962, the underachieving party animals of Delta house and the Waspy, snooty members of Omega house.
Lousy grades, out-of-control toga parties, road trips, and wild practical jokes, are the norm at Delta, but the Dean, fed up with their insubordination, is determined to fail and kick them out, even putting them on "double secret probation".
John Belushi steals every scene he's in as Bluto, one of the head Deltas, and the rest of the cast/characters, including Donald Sutherland as a pot-smoking professor, are very memorable.
A groundbreaking comedy classic.
9/10
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Post by slayrrr666 on Sept 25, 2009 10:15:33 GMT -5
High School High-1996
I've seen this one a couple times and it's pretty enjoyable, at least I think so. Definitely goofy and entirely stupid, which is how I like my comedies, with so much in here that makes me laugh it sometimes hurts. The lighthearted tone and jokey nature of everything is pretty much right on track for how it should be, considering the material, and while it still dips into cliches every now and then, it's still good enough to not make them stand-out so much.
8.5/10
Not Another Teen Movie-2001
Pretty much the forgotten forefather of the "___ Movie" genre, a series of films I have liked a lot in the past, this one is no exception. Even though I haven't seen most of what's being parodied here, the fact that I know what's going on makes it pretty enjoyable. Some of the jokes fall flat due to having to spoof a popular movie rather than just tell the natural story, and there's some that, while they accurately spoof the movie right, I just think were stupid, does hurt this one, but I can look past them and say it was an enjoyable if not spectacular entry.
7/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Sept 29, 2009 8:17:06 GMT -5
VAN WILDER (2002)
Ryan Reynolds stars as Van Wilder, a guy who has spent the last seven years in college and whose father has decided enough is enough and cut off the tuition money. In order to raise funds, and continue to stay in school, Van becomes a professional party thrower. Meanwhile, a pretty college reporter (Tara Reid) is tasked with interviewing the legendary Van Wilder.
A couple of gross-out "revenge" scenes are by far the funniest moments. The rest of the movie doesn't completely sink thanks to Reynolds who is really good in the title role, but overall it's a pretty standard school flick.
It's got the "NATIONAL LAMPOON'S" title in front of it, but this ain't no ANIMAL HOUSE or VACATION.
5/10
HEATHERS (1988)
Veronica (Winona Ryder) hangs out with a group of three girls known as The Heathers at Westerberg High. The Heathers are the most popular and the prettiest and of course, look down on just about everybody else. While Veronica appreciates not being one of their targets, she also realizes that they're not very nice people.
When she starts dating rebellious new student Jason Dean (Christian Slater) she finds herself involved in the murders of her enemies, covered up as suicides.
A high school comedy on the surface with a very dark tone throughout.
Slater does his best young Jack Nicholson impression, and Ryder continues her "poster girl for Goth chicks" run of performances that started with BEETLEJUICE before this, and continued with EDWARD SCISSORHANDS and DRACULA after this.
6.5/10
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Post by slayrrr666 on Sept 30, 2009 10:18:59 GMT -5
How High-2002
Two stoners get a hold of some laced marijuana and use it to score good enough grades to make it into Harvard, where they're more 'relaxed' living style converses with the stuck-up atmosphere there. Now, I'm not a fan at all of stoner comedy, I don't live the lifestyle and find most of the films in that genre to be more of a 'preaching-to-the-choir' type of film than anything else, which is what's on display here. Not a lot of stuff was funny without it being related to drugs or being being on drugs, a lot of situations weren't funny and this seemed more like you had to know who everyone was to get a lot of laughs (judging from the credited names, I'm guessing most of the cast were underground rappers, another style I don't get at all) and while there's a few familiar faces, it wasn't enough to keep me interested in this. I guess those that like this stuff will enjoy it though, just not me.
4.5/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Oct 1, 2009 12:24:09 GMT -5
Three John Hughes' 80's classics and a cheerleading epic round out the month for me.
FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF (1986)
Ferris Bueller (Mathew Broderick) a seemingly charmed high school senior with a sunny outlook on life, decides to skip school and brings his girlfriend Sloane and best friend Cameron along for the ride. They "borrow" Cameron's father's Ferrari, and over the course of the day, they eat lunch at a fancy restaurant, go to a museum, a ball game, hang out poolside, and Ferris even steals the show during a parade. However, on his trail and determined to prove that he's faking this latest illness, is suspicious Dean of Students, Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones).
One of John Hughes' best films. Great performances by the entire cast, including Broderick at his best, and lots of memorable dialogue.
Bueller? Bueller?
8.5/10
BRING IT ON (2000)
Torrance (Kirsten Dunst) has just been appointed captain of her high school cheerleading squad. After an injury forces them to replace one of the girls with tough gymnast (?) Missy (Eliza Dushku), they set forth to train to once again win the national championship trophy. Problem is, they discover that their current routine, as well as all the others they used to win the past championships, were stolen by their previous captain from an inner-city cheerleading squad.
Not that original, but some biting humor, and a good cast, made it better than I thought it would be.
6.5/10
PRETTY IN PINK (1986)
Andie (Molly Ringwald) is a sweet high school student who likes to design and make her own clothes, but is literally from the wrong side of the tracks, ie: the poor side of town. She falls for Blane (Andrew McCarthy) one of the rich kids. They try to make it work but will his rich friends try to keep them apart? And will her friend Duckie (Jon Cryer), who is harboring a lifetime crush for Andie, act like a jerk towards Blane? Take a guess.
This is my first time seeing this John Hughes teen film and I just didn't think it was that great. A bit more serious than most of his films and I just didn't find the story all that interesting. Nice performance by Harry Dean Stanton as Andie's dad though.
5/10
THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985)
Five high school students, all different personalities and from different backgrounds, have to spend a Saturday afternoon together in detention. While there, Brian the Brain (Anthony Michael Hall), Andrew the Jock (Emilio Estevez), Claire the Princess (Molly Ringwald), John the Stoner (Judd Nelson) and Allison the Misfit, get to know the real people behind the stereotypes and reveal more about themselves then they probably intended to.
Funny, touching and even a little introspective. The entire cast is fantastic, including Paul Gleason as the vice-principal who is supervising the kids and wondering where his life took a wrong turn.
8/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Oct 1, 2009 17:33:13 GMT -5
It's almost Halloween so it's time to get spooky.  The genre/category for October is... STEPHEN KINGThe writer whose work has been adapted into more films than any other living writer. Any film based on anything he's written, novels, short stories, novellas, etc., is fair game. Also anything that he's written directly for the screen is fine too. Because so much of his work has been adapted for tv, either as made for tv movies or mini-series, for this month only I'm also lifting my usual rule of everything having to have been a theatrical release. So, anything written by Stephen King is fair game. Can't remember every movie based on something he's written? Look here: www.imdb.com/name/nm0000175/ under the section marked "Writer". Also, even though the vast majority of his stuff is horror, there have been a few non-horror films based on his works and those are okay too. I'll announce the next genre or category on November 1st . |
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Oct 4, 2009 9:26:26 GMT -5
THE DEAD ZONE (1983)
Christopher Walken stars as Johnny Smith, a schoolteacher who is involved in a near-fatal car accident. He awakens from a coma to find out that 5 years have passed and that unfortunately, but not surprisingly, his girlfriend has moved on with her life, she is now married and has a child. What is surprising though, is that Johnny soon discovers that the accident has left him with psychic powers and he is able to see someone's future, or sometimes bits of their past, simply through physical contact.
The visions are sometimes a gift, helping to save a small child from a fire or even aiding in the case of a serial killer, but other times, as in the case of a smarmy politician whose hand Johnny shakes, they are frightening.
A good Stephen King story matched with the right director, David Cronenberg, and a topnotch cast (Walken, Tom Skerritt, Martin Sheen, etc.). One of Cronenberg's more mainstream films to be sure, the blood and gore are definitely kept to a minimum, but the film has good atmosphere and a sense of foreboding throughout.
7.5/10
NEEDFUL THINGS (1993)
The devil comes to Castle Rock, a small New England town, in the form of Leland Gaunt, a kindly old shop owner. His shop is called Needful Things, and in it, the townsfolk find whatever their heart desires. From a pristine Mickey Mantle baseball card, to an old high school varsity jacket. He requires very little money for the items, but he does ask that you do him a small favor, just a little prank, on their fellow townspeople. Soon, the little pranks escalate into acts of violence and eventually murder.
Max Von Sydow is terrific as Mr. Gaunt, and the main reason to see this one. He plays it just a little campy and as one of those, evil just below the surface, kind of characters. Ironically, Sydow played a priest trying to exorcise the devil in THE EXORCIST, and now the devil himself. Not to mention having played Jesus in THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD. He's got all his bases covered.
Ed Harris is also really good as the sheriff, trying to keep order in a town that is literally going to Hell.
6/10
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Post by slayrrr666 on Oct 7, 2009 10:07:41 GMT -5
Apt Pupil-1998
Based on a novella by King (and as a side note, what's the difference between a novella and a novel? Just curious) about the bond formed between a young teen and the school janitor who he later finds out was once a Nazi Officer and the trouble that follows once the secret comes out. It's kinda weird seeing King not do straight-up horror, and while there's definitely a sense of the macabre at work, I could just never get into this one. Perhaps due to the lack of horror and it instead being more of a drama with horrific themes or I've just never found the idea of a Nazi doing nothing scary or frightening, this one just felt very blah for me. No real energy or momentum in pacing hurt this one as well, and while there's definitely something at work within the story, it just fell flat for me.
4/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Oct 8, 2009 10:04:30 GMT -5
DESPERATION (2006)
Various travelers on a Nevada highway are arrested by a police officer (Ron Perlman) for various infractions. He gets creepier and more abusive and brings them all to the small town of Desperation, where he throws them in jail with no sign of releasing them. It eventually becomes clear that he is possessed by some sort of demon and he plans to use their bodies as hosts, as the current body is deteriorating and will have to be replaced soon.
Starts out very well, with an interesting story and characters, and an above average performance by Perlman, but the problem I had with it was the ending feels rushed. After a good amount of time, at a strong pace, is spent on the set-up, it seems like they raced through the ending, with characters getting killed off and barely being acknowledged. In this case, a little longer running time might have helped.
6/10
STAND BY ME (1986)
Four young friends in the 1950's, find out that a local kid's missing body has been discovered by some older boys near some railroad tracks, and they decide to set out on an adventure to find the body and maybe become local heroes.
Along the way they get into a few misadventures, have heartfelt discussions about their lives, hopes and dreams, and debate such important matters as Pez candy and the results of a fight between Superman and Mighty Mouse.
Director Rob Reiner (THIS IS SPINAL TAP, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, MISERY, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, A FEW GOOD MEN) added another feather in his cap with this nostalgic tale of friendship and lost innocence, and the four young actors all put in great performances.
Easily one of the best Stephen King adaptations.
8.5/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Oct 12, 2009 9:19:46 GMT -5
...as a side note, what's the difference between a novella and a novel? I forgot you asked about this. A novella is shorter than a novel, but usually longer than what is considered a 'short story'. King has released several collections of novellas and short stories. STAND BY ME, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, CHILDREN OF THE CORN, MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE and THE MIST all started out as either novellas or short stories. CHILDREN OF THE CORN (1984) A young couple (Peter Horton and Linda Hamilton) have a car accident and find themselves in a small town that seems deserted. They soon realize that all the adults have apparently been murdered by the children, and the kids are in a cult that follows a boy preacher and worships an evil force in the corn fields. The two main kids in the cult, Isaac and Malachai, are effectively creepy, and the opening diner scene, and the car accident are good moments, but overall, I thought this was a pretty mediocre flick, and mostly just silly. 4/10 THE MIST (2007) A freak storm hits a Maine town and the next morning a cloud of mist is seen approaching from the nearby mountains. Several townsfolk become trapped inside a supermarket when it is discovered that there are horrific and deadly creatures within the mist. The rest of the film is spent with the characters trying to come up with a means of safely escaping from the supermarket, while tensions continue to rise within the store, thanks mostly to a religious zealot among them. A really good old-fashioned B-movie with topnotch production values. A great cast, Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Andre Braugher, etc., some very creepy-looking creatures, good effects and some tension-filled moments, ala ALIENS and THE THING. I remember reading this story back in the Eighties and thinking then what a cool movie this would make, writer/director Frank Darabont doesn't disappoint. And even gives us a better, and way more shocking ending than the original story. Darabont is now three for three with the Stephen King adaptations having previously directed THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and THE GREEN MILE. Also, I watched the black and white version that is available on the second disc of the DVD set and it's pretty effective at really conveying that old "monster movie" feel that Darabont was going for. 8/10 |
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Post by slayrrr666 on Oct 14, 2009 10:10:11 GMT -5
Stephen King's Sleepwalkers-1992
A small-town woman gets involved with a strange man and his domineering woman, who each have a sinister reason for an extreme phobia towards cats. Despite the lame premise, this one wasn't completely terrible, at least it wasn't in it's uncensored form whereas here, censored for cable TV that at least let a little more blood through, this viewing wasn't all that great. It mostly tends to emphasize it's really slow opening as well as downgrade some of the violence towards cats, as the uncut one tended to have full-on views of cats having their heads twisted off or bitten and shaken like rag dolls due to the monstrous secret between the two, and here barely glimpsing the aftermath tends to dilute the fear of them since those scenes gave a hint of their power. The love-story aspect here does make for some decent comic relief but it does come off as hokey at times, and while it does have a spectacular finale where the violence is turned towards humans and the action and intensity picks up, the censored viewing of this one did hurt it somewhat.
Normally a 7/10, while here it averaged out to a 4.5/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Oct 15, 2009 7:38:11 GMT -5
CUJO (1983)
Donna Trenton and her young son, Tad, take her malfunctioning car to an auto repair shop located at a farm outside of town. The car completely breaks down when they arrive and unbeknown to them, the auto mechanic's pet St. Bernard, Cujo, has recently contracted rabies from a bat bite, and has already killed a couple of people. The mom and son are trapped in the car while Cujo stalks them outside and makes several attempts to get at them.
Takes a while to get going as we have to wait for the disease to really overtake Cujo, in the meantime, we see Donna and her husband deal with her extra-marital affair, and their son's fear of monsters in his closet. However, once it gets going, the tension almost never stops.
Dee Wallace (THE HOWLING, E.T.) is great in the role of Donna, a mother who will stop at nothing to protect her young son, and when push comes to shove, proves she can be as vicious as the rabid dog himself.
Scary because unlike a lot of horror films, it feels more like it could really happen. Sure, the rabies manifests itself a lot faster than it would in real life, and the dog doesn't behave exactly like a real rabid dog, but it's a horror movie and where would the terror be in a dog that loses control of it's limbs and bodily functions?
The book is even scarier and has a much darker ending, but this is a pretty faithful and underrated adaptation.
7/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Oct 19, 2009 8:02:46 GMT -5
NIGHTMARES AND DREAMSCAPES: FROM THE STORIES OF STEPHEN KING (2006) Disc 1
The first 3 episodes of the 8 episode mini-series based on Stephen King short stories.
This first disc includes: "Battleground", "Crouch End" and "Umney's Last Case". My favorite episode on this disc was by far, "Battleground", which follows a professional hitman (William Hurt) who finds himself under attack from a toy army. "Umney's Last Case" was okay, thanks mostly to a nice performance by William H. Macy as a 1930's detective, but I was just bored by "Crouch End", about an American couple lost in a spooky London town.
Overall score: 5/10
MISERY (1990)
Best-selling novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) crashes his car in a freak blizzard on a Colorado road, is critically injured, and is "rescued" by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), a former nurse, who also happens to be his "number one fan". She takes him back to her secluded farm where she starts nursing him back to health.
Unfortunately for Sheldon, Wilkes is also insane and not happy with Paul's latest book, demanding a rewrite.
A great movie with almost as many humorous moments as it has chills and shocks. Bates is fantastic and well-deserving of her Best Actress Oscar for this role, going from quirky and funny to totally off her rocker from scene to scene, but I have to also give major props to the underrated Caan, who has the less showy role, but plays it perfectly. Even in this incredibly tense situation his character keeps his sarcastic sense of humor and isn't afraid to "zing" Annie from time to time.
9/10
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Post by slayrrr666 on Oct 19, 2009 10:11:25 GMT -5
Stand by Me-1986
Now, this viewing here, while I readily admit was a good film, was unfortunately spoiled somewhat by, one, seen tons of spoofs and rips on the film before-hand, and two, having viewed the Family Guy episode making fun of this movie later in the day, so in essence, this one had somewhat of a "Exorcist" effect on me, having virtually seen the movie before watching it, and I came away from it more or less spotting the riffs on the scenes rather than getting sucked into the story like I would like. I did laugh aloud at some of the bickering between everyone, and while some moments where pretty tense, the fact that I caught myself noticing the other factors rather than getting into the film did prove to be a deterrent for me here. I do know this is a really well-made movie, which I can recognize, but due to the outside factors weighing in on the viewing, I wouldn't feel too bad about going into a second viewing of this one to try to get a better handle on it rather than spotting the riffs. I've already done that, maybe that will help me get into it easier.
I want to say 7.5/10 or above, but right now it's a 4/10. I'll amend this section later when I re-watch it.
Children of the Corn-1984
One of the many misses in King's catalog, mainly because this one here just doesn't work at all for me. Cult-based films are really only good when there's something dangerous at stake, and the fact that the majority of the film was spent thinking "Why would they be afraid of these kids, just beat the shit out of them" was certainly not doing this any favors. Very little scares, tame violence, not a whole lot of logic at all and some really stupid moments really down this one, which not even the climax can save. I much prefer the sequels here.
4/10
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