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Post by slayrrr666 on Nov 23, 2009 11:21:56 GMT -5
Cars-2006
Now, while I haven't ventured into the Pixar cannon as much as some of you (the only other one I can recall off hand would be The Impossibles, which I thought was pretty good) so I don't have a whole lot here to go on in terms of rating this against the companies output, which seems to be the case I've read about this one here amongst the board-members, but I have to say it was pretty good. The racing scenes here are pretty cool, including the opening with all the destruction and pile-ups that form, and while there's not as many jokes or humor as there would usually tend to be in such a film, it still wasn't exactly a boring film as it mainly centers around a topic I have little interest in, so I consider that a positive. Probably could've used some tightening up in the middle as it tends to wander a bit with all the residents of the town, and it does tend to feel a little long at times, it's still not all that bad.
8/10
Airport-1970
I really don't have much knowledge of this series other than it's the serious side of the 'Airplane' cannon, and it does tend to show that on numerous occasions which tended to irk me a little, especially when it comes to the sheer number of subplots and goings on in here. That's not my usual comfort zone to have to deal with all those factors in a movie, so it did take a while for me to get into this one (also seeing so many faces I usually recognize but being a little younger than expected was a big surprise) made it somewhat easier, but it's still just not a normal movie I would indulge in. Trim some of the stars off, which would eliminate their subplots and giving it a leaner, more streamlined focus and I would probably be all over this one, though touching all those great effects at the end is entirely out of the question.
6.5/10
Airplane-1980
Now, for historical significance, this is probably the best spoof movie of all time, but as that means jack shit to me, I won't call it that (which incidentally goes to the Naked Gun films as I think those offer bigger, better laughs, which is the whole point) but that's not to deny that this one isn't just packed full of incredible lines, situations and gags that are right up my alley. Despite seeing this so many times I can quote it and get it 95% right, it doesn't dillute the hilarity of so many of the film's attempts at laughter, a true sign of lasting power. Sure, some are a little out-dated and definitely fit in with the times, but there's enough that sticks to wash those out of the memory to make way for ones that do. Still funny after all these years, I just don't call it the best one.
9/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Nov 23, 2009 12:33:55 GMT -5
Cars-2006 Now, while I haven't ventured into the Pixar cannon as much as some of you (the only other one I can recall off hand would be The Impossibles, which I thought was pretty good)... Er, I think you mean THE INCREDIBLES. You've never seen TOY STORY or MONSTERS, INC. or FINDING NEMO? |
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Post by slayrrr666 on Nov 24, 2009 11:02:41 GMT -5
Ok, so it's three. I've also seen Toy Story, don't know why that slipped my mind, but I haven't seen those other two yet, nor do I know all the ones they've done. I kinda lost track of animated movies after I got into horror films and haven't really seen any since I started watching them about ten years ago.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Nov 25, 2009 16:14:11 GMT -5
The two movies that most inspired the spoof, AIRPLANE!. Neither is very good, but both are hilarious if you're familiar with AIRPLANE!.
AIRPORT 1975 (1974)
A small plane and a Boeing 747 are involved in a freak mid-air collision, injuring the captain and killing the rest of the flight crew. Guided by the tower, a flight attendant is forced to take the controls until they can figure out how to get a new pilot on board to land the plane.
Pretty laughable sequel to AIRPORT with Charlton Heston, Karen Black, Gloria Swanson, Sid Caesar and George Kennedy among the cast.
The passengers include a sick little girl (Linda Blair) and a guitar playing nun. Hmm... sound familiar?
4/10
ZERO HOUR! (1957)
Tragedy strikes a passenger plane when the crew and many passengers are stricken with food poisoning, thanks to some bad fish. Former Air Force pilot, Ted Stryker (Dana Andrews), still carrying guilt over a failed mission during WWII, is the only one on-board who can possibly fly the plane, and who didn't eat fish.
If he's going to land the plane safely, Stryker must not only get over his war experience and focus, but be aided from the ground by a colleague from his war days.
Not only is this the exact plot that was used in AIRPLANE!, but writers/directors Jim Abrahams, David Zucker & Jerry Zucker even used entire chunks of dalogue from this flick for their version. Classic AIRPLANE! lines like, "I guess I picked the wrong week to give up smoking." and "You ever been in a cockpit before?", as well as many others, first showed up here. But the AIRPLANE! writers used it for laughs. Well, this one did too, but unintentionally. The dialogue and acting in this flick are so melodramatic and overwrought that even if you didn't have scenes from AIRPLANE! playing in the back of your mind, this would still be a pretty comical film.
This version even includes a little boy visiting the cockpit to hang with the flight crew and a doctor who was the basis for the Leslie Nielsen character.
Another little bit of useless trivia, Dana Andrews who plays Ted Stryker in this movie, also plays the pilot of the small plane that crashes into the 747 in AIRPORT 1975.
If you're a fan of AIRPLANE!, I strongly recommend this movie, you will get a big kick out of it, otherwise there's no real reason to see it, as it's not very good.
4/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Nov 27, 2009 11:07:07 GMT -5
THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX (1965)
After a cargo plane encounters a sandstorm and crashes in the Sahara desert, one of the survivors, an airplane designer, comes up with the idea of building a new airplane from the wreckage of the old plane. Besides facing doubt from some of the other men that it'll even fly, they must also deal with the fact that they are running out of food and water, and may not even finish in time.
One of those old fashioned "guy movies", with a good all-star male cast (James Stewart, Ernest Borgnine, Richard Attenborough, George Kennedy, etc.) and lots of arguing and in-fighting.
7//10
THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN (2005)
Based on the true story of Burt Munro, an elderly New Zealand man, who in the 1960's, finally fulfilled his dream of taking his customized motorcycle, a 1920 Indian, to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, and maybe try to break a speed record.
With heart disease threatening his life, a tattered motorcycle, and very little money, he made his way to the U.S. Along the way, he meets several people who are charmed by the naive New Zealander with the big dream, and help him to reach Utah. Once there, he encounters more obstacles, not the least of which are questions about the safety of his bike, ie: poor tires, no chute, no brakes, etc.
Anthony Hopkins, in one of his finest performances, plays Munro as a kind-hearted, happy-go-lucky guy, and if the real Munro was even half this charming, it's no wonder everyone wanted him to succeed.
A really good underdog tale, think "ROCKY on a motorcycle", and a nice surprise. Might be a little too sweet and sentimental for some, but I was totally caught up in this story.
8.5/10
And finally, the reason for this month's genre:
PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES (1987)
Trying to get home for Thanksgiving, marketing executive, Neal Page (Steve Martin), finds himself with an unlikely traveling companion, shower curtain ring salesman, and boisterous blabbermouth, Del Griffith (John Candy).
After finding out that their flight home has been canceled due to bad weather, they have to share hotel rooms and find other means of transport. Along the way, they argue, fight, insult each other, share some amazing, and hysterical experiences, and learn a little bit about each other and more importantly, themselves.
Martin and Candy were never better. Not only are they hilarious here, but they both show some real range in the dramatic sequences too. Charlie Chaplin would've loved this movie. A comedy classic.
10/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Nov 30, 2009 8:09:14 GMT -5
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974)
Famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney) traveling from Istanbul to England onboard the Orient Express, is asked to act as a bodyguard by a passenger who has been receiving death threats. Poirot declines and the passenger is found dead the next morning. Poirot starts investigating and discovers that several of the passengers on the train, as well as the murder victim, have a connection to an unsolved kidnapping case.
A little confusing at first, when all the characters and their relationships to each other, are being introduced and explained, and it's a little slow for my taste, but it soon settles into a decent murder mystery with everyone apparently a suspect. Finney is fantastic as Poirot and the cast is an all-star affair including Sean Connery, Michael York, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Anthony Perkins and many others.
6/10
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Post by slayrrr666 on Nov 30, 2009 11:17:07 GMT -5
Psychomania-1971
Pretty torn on this one, as it's got a lot I like about it and a lot I find very irritating. There's a lot of fun gang activities with them out on the bikes terrorizing the populace, which is the main point here once the supernatural angle takes a back-seat, and with a couple somewhat above-average car chases (better than expected for a horror film, but not so much when lumped in with other genres) are always fun, and the supernatural main story provides some good parts, especially with hallucinatory visions and seance scenes. The problem is one I've found far too often with British films of this period not coming from Hammer or Amicus: it's dreary slow and dull, with everyone talking about everything in a laid-back, almost bored manner which doesn't generate a lot of excitement in topics easily. Otherwise, this was certainly quite decent.
6.5/10
Joy Ride-2001
Now, as has been mentioned before, it's a rip on Duel, but it's still a pretty good one. The suspense is played up quite nicely here, with there being very little to the identity of the individual at stake and some of the games played being quite creepy. The action movie standards come in during the last half, with their being chases ontop of chases through corn-fields, buildings and more, which are certainly a lot of fun. Does have an air of been-there, done-that to it due to the similar story being played out, only now there's more victims to do it to, but it's still not all that terrible.
7.5/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Dec 1, 2009 8:23:20 GMT -5
SPEED (1994)
A young LAPD cop (Keanu Reeves) faces off against a mad bomber (Dennis Hopper) who has rigged a city bus to explode if it's speed drops below 50mph. Sandra Bullock plays a passenger who has to take over driving the bus when the real driver is accidentally shot.
One of the better DIE HARD type films, and one of the best action movies of the 90's. From the opening elevator rescue, to the extended bus chase that makes up most of the movie, to the climactic showdown on the subway, SPEED is a pretty relentless thrill ride. Only slowing down a couple of times to basically set up it's next action sequence.
A lot of fun, some great effects and stunts, and Reeves and Bullock have good chemistry.
8/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Dec 1, 2009 8:38:47 GMT -5
For no specific reason whatsoever, other than I feel like it, the genre of the month for December is...
WESTERNS
You know the criteria: Cowboys, Indians, horses, saloons, gunfights, etc.
Drama, action, comedies, etc. are all good as long as it's set in the Old West and has some or all of the usual Western themes and situations.
As usual, all movies have to have been theatrical releases. No made for tv or made for cable movies, ie: HBO, Showtime, etc., are not eligible. No television mini-series either.
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Post by slayrrr666 on Dec 1, 2009 11:00:11 GMT -5
SPEED (1994) A young LAPD cop (Keanu Reeves) faces off against a mad bomber (Dennis Hopper) who has rigged a city bus to explode if it's speed drops below 50mph. Sandra Bullock plays a passenger who has to take over driving the bus when the real driver is accidentally shot. One of the better DIE HARD type films, and one of the best action movies of the 90's. From the opening elevator rescue, to the extended bus chase that makes up most of the movie, to the climactic showdown on the subway, SPEED is a pretty relentless thrill ride. Only slowing down a couple of times to basically set up it's next action sequence. A lot of fun, some great effects and stunts, and Reeves and Bullock have good chemistry. 8/10 I thought that was incredibly overrated to be honest, which was why I didn't watch it. Not enough crashes and wrecks for my taste, and too long for the type of story offered without putting those into play. |
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Dec 3, 2009 8:28:55 GMT -5
I thought that was incredibly overrated to be honest, which was why I didn't watch it. Not enough crashes and wrecks for my taste, and too long for the type of story offered without putting those into play. Not enough crashes and wrecks? Ridiculous. I don't know how many cars they hit with that bus, not to mention the bus crashing into an airplane at the end and exploding, soon followed by the subway sequence with that ending in a spectacular crash as well. |
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Dec 3, 2009 9:14:46 GMT -5
THE SEARCHERS (1956)
John Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a soldier back home from the Civil War. He arrives at his brother's farm and soon after, his brother's family is massacred by Comanches, and his niece kidnapped. Ethan vows to find her and is joined by his 1/8 Indian nephew Martin in his search.
Beautiful scenery and landscapes, but I found the story slow-going and the acting a bit melodramatic at times.
6/10
THE OX-BOW INCIDENT (1943)
Two drifters (Henry Fonda and Harry Morgan) join a posse that has been formed to catch whoever murdered a local farmer and stole his cattle. They soon find three men in possession of the cattle, who can't produce a bill of sale, they are accused of the crime, and lynch mob mentality soon takes over. The rest of the film is mostly a battle of wills between the accused men, the posse members who want to hang them on the spot, and the few posse members who want to take them back to town for a fair trial.
Filmed in black and white and entirely on sets, which always makes movies seem more surreal. Plays out kind of like a Western version of another Fonda movie, 12 ANGRY MEN.
7/10
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Post by slayrrr666 on Dec 3, 2009 11:04:44 GMT -5
I thought that was incredibly overrated to be honest, which was why I didn't watch it. Not enough crashes and wrecks for my taste, and too long for the type of story offered without putting those into play. Not enough crashes and wrecks? Ridiculous. I don't know how many cars they hit with that bus, not to mention the bus crashing into an airplane at the end and exploding, soon followed by the subway sequence with that ending in a spectacular crash as well. To me, a crash should leave the cars, except for the lead vehicle since it has to keep moving, completely wrecked beyond operation. Just smashed and ripped to pieces with debris littering the way. Knocking off mirrors or breaking the windows/windshields doesn't do it for me. I like it when they're crushed and smashed, not like that. The airplane part is pretty much the only part you mentioned I did like, but I didn't get into the subway part at all. Just didn't feel it. |
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Dec 6, 2009 11:40:01 GMT -5
To me, a crash should leave the cars, except for the lead vehicle since it has to keep moving, completely wrecked beyond operation. Just smashed and ripped to pieces with debris littering the way. Knocking off mirrors or breaking the windows/windshields doesn't do it for me. I like it when they're crushed and smashed, not like that. Oh, that bus did more than just knock a few mirrors off or break some windshields, but either way, you crack me up. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969) Recounts the adventures of Butch (Paul Newman) and Sundance (Robert Redford), the two likable outlaws who robbed banks and trains. Until a posse gets hot on their trail and has them on the run. They finally make their way to Bolivia, where the posse catches up to them again, and our anti-heroes prepare to make a final stand. This flick is all about the charisma of it's two leads. They seem to be having a great time and in turn, the audience has a great time. A lightweight flick, but a lot of fun. 8/10 APPALOOSA (2008) Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen play Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, a couple of gunmen who are hired by the town of Appaloosa as marshal and deputy. A rancher (Jeremy Irons) and his thugs killed the previous marshal and his two deputies, so Virgil and Everett's first assignment is to restore law and order and bring the rancher to justice. Meanwhile, a widow (Renee Zellweger) with questionable loyalty and morals, has arrived in town and Virgil falls for her. This was a nice surprise, as other than the stars and the genre, I really didn't know much about the plot going in. This is the classic good versus evil story. Harris and Mortensen play well off each other, and Irons is a great villain. However, I thought the weak link was Zellwegger, who's character I never really bought into. 7.5/10 |
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Dec 7, 2009 9:03:59 GMT -5
A couple of lightweight westerns:
AMERICAN OUTLAWS (2001)
Jesse James (Colin Farrell) and Cole Younger (Scott Caan), the leaders of the James-Younger gang, are portrayed as Western-era Robin Hoods in this fast-paced adventure. They're a group of young ranchers who join forces to fight a corrupt railroad baron who has stolen the deeds to their farms.
Jesse and the gang are given the YOUNG GUNS treatment, where up and coming young actors are cast and the characters are almost heartthrobs.
Silly and not very realistic, but at least it was action-packed and over pretty quickly.
5.5/10
BAD GIRLS (1994)
Drew Barrymore, Madeline Stowe, Mary Stuart Masterson and Andie MacDowell play saloon prostitutes who go on the run after one of them shoots and kills a customer who was beating one of the others. They head north to make a better life for themselves, but unfortunately two Pinkerton detectives have been hired to track them. To make things more complicated, money that one of them had been saving, is stolen by her old partner and they must face his gang and recover their money before they can begin their new lives.
They're all fine as prostitutes, but only Stowe comes off as somewhat believable as a gunslinger, the other actresses, not so much. Especially Barrymore, who looks like she's acting at being tough, the cigarette dangling from her mouth and the squinty eyes make her look like Clint Eastwood's baby sister.
Silly movie.
4.5/10
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