Movie Review: The Last Starfighter

The Last Starfighter

WARNING:This film may only entertain children and science fiction fans. ;) Seriously, this is a scifi fable about a young man who can't seem to find his way out of the trailer park he lives in. To pass the time, he plays a video game and reaches the highest level within the game.

It turns out, an alien decided to train soldiers to fight a galactic baddie through the games. Far out spacey fun ensues. My favorite part is when the replacement Beta Unit tries to figure out the relationship rules with the human's girlfriend.

Lance Guest stars but look for sweet performances by Dan O'Herlihy as Grig and Robert Preston. Maybe it's a stretch to call this a Gem, but I do love it and watch it frequently.

Dora has the DVD and many copies of the VHS tape in Coos Bay, Myrtle Point, North Bend, Lakeside and Bandon.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087597/

Byy the DVD from Amazon:
The Last Starfighter

Musical Review" Damn Yankees

Damn Yankees

I like Ray Walston. Just the story and songs kinda left me going EH. The one good song "whatever Lola wants" is ok, but overall, I just found it boring.

Tab Hunter as the lead didn't have the acting or singing chops for the role. Gwen Verdon did the best job as Lola. I also enjoyed seeing Jean Stapleton.

I know it's a classic musical. Give me Sound of Music any day.

Myrtle Point has the DVD with VHS available in Coos Bay and North Bend.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051516/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
Damn Yankees

Short Lived British TV Series: Dark Knight.

Dark(est) Knight

This appears to be a sword and sorcery knights of King Richard the Lionheart BBC series. I say appears, it was so dumb I didn't watch. I skimmed.

Keep in mind I am not a fan of the genre anyway. I found the Lord of the Rings trilogy dull and long. However, THAT had decent acting and plot. This, I just didn't care about anyone.

Maybe you would feel different. Check out the DVD from Bandon.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251504/

British TV Series: Coupling

Coupling

This British series has a lot of Friends like qualities, though it's much MUCH more about sex. Lets say it's a Friends meets Sex and the City.

Three men and three women trade stories and beds. They tried to do a version of this in the USA but it didn't work. The British actors and actresses just made the innuendo laden dialog work.

I've always had the best relationships with men I've asked out. I don't get why in media women have such a tough time walking up to someone and being direct. Ah, well, it's just a show.

Spread out the viewing over a couple days. It gets tiresome all at once. Season's one and two are in Bandon on DVD.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0237123/

Check the DVD from Amazon:
Coupling - The Complete First and Second Season

Movie Review: Catch 22

Catch 22

Plenty of great acting jobs in this film, too bad I didn't find it entertaining. Alan Arkin plays a soldier stuck on a tour of duty because they keep changing the rules for beling allowed to go home. He tries to get them to call him insane, but it doesn't work.

Look for Bob Newhart's break out performance as a character called of all things "Major Major. I dunno exactly what I didn't like. Maybe I just despise irrational farce, or the way it was put together. I can't really put my finger on it. Maybe it's just "war sucks" kinda stories are a bit of a "well duh" to my brain.

Coos Bay has the DVD.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065528/

Look on Amazon for more information:
Catch-22

Movie Review: Courage Under Fire

Courage Under Fire

I saw this in the theater when it first came out and really liked it. Meg Ryan impressed me with her ability to be a strong kick ass chick, plus play the role two ways as investigator Denzel Washington interviews people with different perspectives.

Fighting his own demons, Washington is charged with examining if Ryan's character deserves a posthumously award of the Medal of Honor. We have male/female politics, mixed with self doubt and the stresses of war. Decent acting all around. You'll really get to hate Lou Diamond Phillips egotistical bastard role.

Bandon and Powers have both DVD and VHS copies.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115956/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
Courage Under Fire

Movie Review: A Day at the Races

The Marx Brothers
A Day at the Races

The Marx Brothers crack me up. Even though I have trouble seeing a lot of visual comedy, their silly antics are easy to sort out. Groucho Marx gets top billing as a horse doctor hired in to help save a sanitarium next door to a racetrack.

Though really who watches a movie like this for the plot? Chico Marx shows off his voice antics contrasted with Harpo Marx doing all his silent antics. Margaret Dumont props up the whole silly mess with her straight woman routine.

Right in the middle of it all, there are two song and dance numbers. My favorite involves a bunch of black swing music singers and dancers. Our heroes try to hide from the mean ole track owner among the group. While I'm not sure about the black face routine the Marx Brothers do, the song and dance going on around them really jazzed up the film.

Grab your funny bone and heat out to Myrtle Point and North Bend for the DVD. If VHS is alls ya got, North Bend has a copy of this gem on tape too.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028772/

Grab this DVD from Amazon:
A Day at the Races

p.s. I so needed my break. Thanks for indulging me. I'd sure like to have a comment or two now and then. Just let me know what's on your mind.

Hey People

I'm incredibly sorry for flaking the last two days. I need a little break and I should have said before I just quit posting. I think I will just take the rest of this week off and collect my thoughts.

Apologies to you. Please have a look through the archives and see what interesting things you can find. I've written well over 400 reviews in the last year. There must be something that slipped past your radar.

Happy DVD watching..

Movie Review: Darlin' Clementine

Tall Tales and Legends
Darlin' Clementine

Shelley Duvall has tons of involvement in this made for children project but it's quite badly acted and unwatchable for adults. I don't know, maybe kids will like it, but I suspect not.

The library has much better films for the family with stories that wont bore the adults. Click on the "family" tab to the left and look through some of the better rated ones. I don't really understand why the 22 ratings on IMDB are so high, but whatever. I couldn't watch this.

Look in Myrtle Point for the DVD.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088622/

I really don't get it, Amazon also has some good ratings for this. Ah well. Buy it at your own risk:
Shelley Duvall's Tall Tales & Legends - Darlin' Clementine

Movie Review: Corrina, Corrina

Corrina, Corrina

Most Whoopi Goldberg movies entertain me and some, like this one, touch my heart. Corrina is brought in to take care of the house and the little girl of a man who's wife recently passed away. She draws the self imposed mute child out of her shell with charm and wit and teaches the father about love and hope.

Set in the era of bigotry, the white townsfolk talk about the black woman and white father/daughter getting along so well. They handle the interracial relationships with style and grace and make this a nice realistic experience.

Drop by Bandon for a DVD of this charmer.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109484/

Buy this DVD from Amazon:
Corrina, Corrina

Movie Review: The Core

The Core

So not everything about a movie has to be scientific and accurate, but at LEAST it has to not be so blindingly STUPID as to imply we've progressed to where we can "drive" into the Earth like this. But really it plays out very formulaic horror. The "monster" is the magma and pressure inside the bowels of our sick planet.

The effects are pretty. Lots of colors. Hot reds, yellows and oranges contrast against the blue glint of the metal ship. There are more interesting bad science movies, with a better plot and acting. Try Armageddon or Volcano.

The one and only DVD can be found in Bandon.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298814/

Buy this DVD from Amazon:
The Core (Widescreen Edition)

Movie Review: Coming to America

Coming to America

Eddie Murphy stars as an African prince (among other characters) who goes on a quest for a wife in the United States. Real life best buddy Arsenio Hall plays his faithful servant Semmi. He also acts out several other characters.

Looking on a map, the prince finds a town named Queens and heads out there to find himself a nice lady to marry. He falls in love with the daughter of his boss at "McDowell's" which looks strangely similar to a well known hamburger franchise with golden arches.

I liked the rather silly twist on Cinderella this film depicted. With Murphy and Hall each playing several characters, it gets funnier with each viewing. Make it a game of "spot the actor" and have some fun.

Wow only one copy of this DVD in Bandon.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094898/

Buy this DVD from Amazon:
Coming to America (Special Collector's Edition)

Movie Review: The Darjeeling Limited

The Darjeeling Limited

I tried to watch this film, honest I did. Three brothers take a train trip to I don't know where. India somewhere. Owen Wilson stars as a domineering brother to Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman.

I don't know which one gets it on with the Indian girl who works in the train, but it was all crass and stupid. I could care less about their lives and their trip. Maybe there's some hidden meaning unbeknown st to me.

Just gotta see it? Look in Bandon, Coos Bay and Powers.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0838221/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
The Darjeeling Limited

Movie Review: Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman

Just recently I saw an entertainment news story about how Julia Roberts had a body double for some of the more exposed body scenes. I'd heard this years ago, and I still think, so what? She had a enough guts to play a prostitute, though a well meaning heart of gold type.

After Richard Gere, inadvertently picks her up looking for directions, he decides to hire her to be his companion for a whole week. The rather mixed up pair fall for each other. Gere's character lives for raiding companies of their assets, but just can't relate to people on a deeper level.

Educating the fallen woman into polite social structures helps to soften his edges and remove the ice from next to his heart. She learns to start thinking of herself as worth more than a call girl.

This film leads me to think that people can change quickly when influenced in the right direction. Yes, I know it's fiction, I just liked the way they made me laugh and cry in equal amounts within the same two hour experience.

North Bend has the DVD and look for the VHS in Powers, Coos Bay, Lakeside, Bandon, Coquille and Dora.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100405/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
Pretty Woman (15th Anniversary Special Edition)

Movie Review: The Crush

The Crush

Fatal Attraction goes to high school. Cary Elwes moves into the apartment above the garage of Alicia Silverstone's parents. The girl falls for the cute writer and professes her undying love for him.

When he rejects her advances she tortures his girlfriend and tries to kill him. It's all horror movie style where we get to see all the freaky stuff but the main character has little support among the people around him.

Silverstone and Elwes do a passable job, but I just found it annoying and frustrating. Any person in their right mind would get out of trouble long before it gets to the point it does in this film. Lock your doors, be clear about boundaries and get out at the first sign of problems. Ah well, I guess it's a MOVIE right? Gotta drag up the drama from somewhere.

Pick up the DVD in either Bandon or Coos Bay.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106627/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
The Crush

Movie Review: Continental Divide

Continental Divide

John Belushi stars with Blair Brown as an unlikely pair who find love. Belushi's investigation into Chicago corruption forces him to leave town for a while. He decides to head up into the mountains to find a reclusive woman who studies bald eagles.

Mr. city mouse falls in love with Ms. country mouse and they try and sort out where they should live. Back in the early 80s era, conservationists worried for the survival of American eagles. I think this film was a way to show that issue in the wrapper of a romantic comedy.

I wish they'd picked someone more believable to portray this pair. Ah well, have a look in Bandon for the DVD and Coos Bay and North Bend for the VHS.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082200/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
Continental Divide

Not in the mood

I'll do two reviews tomorrow, Friday. Sorry

Movie Review: The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course

The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course

The special features for this DVD made me up the rating one level. The story and plot are inane and annoying, but I really laughed when I saw Steve Irwin dressed in lady's clothes doing a stunt.

Don't try this at home. I really don't know why they had to wrap the adventures in this story. Why can't they just catch animals and set them free or whatever as they do in their normal show? I guess they just couldn't figure out how to make a two hour feature with Mr. and Mrs. Irwin.

There are two DVDs at the library both called The Crocodile Hunter. One is the move the other is a collection of shows. I didn't' see the show collection, but I'm sure I'd rate it Soso as well. Collision Course is in Coquille and Bandon has both.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0305396/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
The Crocodile Hunter - Collision Course

Movie Review: Daisy Miller

Daisy Miller

I like Cybill Shepherd, but after a few seconds of seeing her speak in this rule, I was ready to strangle her. Maybe the character is supposed to be this way but she babbled on about every nothing she could find. When I got fed up and started fast forwarding through things, it was impossible to understand her at all.

I've seen Cloris Leachman do way better too. I'd have to say everything about this film annoyed me. Even the settings and dress seemed dull. I mean sure, it was bright and shiny but it just didn't make me want to look at the screen. I guess the Oscar people liked the costumes, they were nominated for best designs.

Bandon, Coos Bay and Myrtle Point have the DVD and look at SWOCC and Coquille for the VHS tape.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071385/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
Daisy Miller

Movie Review: A Cry in the Dark

A Cry in the Dark
or
Evil Angels

I'm amazed at Meryl Streep chameleon acting chops. She plays this character so real, it's tough to tell them apart. Sam Neill does well as her husband, too. These parents show the sad and confusing troubles that come from being accused of murdering their tiny baby.

They claim a dingo stole into the tent during a camping trip and took the baby. Authorities find the tiny body some time later and there's some confusion as to what happened. The mother, Lindy Chamberlain, is put on trail and convicted of murder. Later they find some clothing belonging to the baby, implying her innocence and she's released from jail.

Honestly, this isn't a film to "enjoy." Though the actors depict the sorrow and stress of the proceedings in a poignant and reverent way. We see these real people go through a real tragedy as if they are friends of ours.

Check Coos Bay, Bandon or Myrtle Point for the DVD.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094924/

Buy the DVD from Amazon:
A Cry in the Dark