Movie Review: The Brothers Grimm

The Brothers Grimm

Fairy tales ought to entertain and teach a parable principle. This tale of scary woods and con men turned story tellers just left me going eh. Matt Damon and the late Heath Ledger star as a pair of traveling tale tellers who get caught up in the mythos of a town with a real problem. Both actors have better films to watch. Try looking through their resumes and find something enjoyable.

Myrtle Point, Bandon and Coos Bay have a copy of this DVD.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0355295/
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Movie Review: My Fellow Americans

My Fellow Americans

How far can ya go wrong with Jack Lemmon and James Garner!? Not very. I love this ex presidents go on an action adventure road trip film. It makes me laugh to the point of wetting myself. Of course it's far fetched and silly, but I don't care. Throw in Dan Aykroyd as the current president and I'm just sent to snickery heaven.

Lemon and Garner are on the run from an NSA agent bent on framing them. When they thwart that plot, the agent tries to kill them. Keep a careful eye on the vice president.

Check out North Bend for the DVD and Bandon has a VHS copy.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117119/

Buy it on Amazon
My Fellow Americans

Documentary Review: Bushisms

Bushisms

David Letterman has a skit he calls "great moments in presidential speeches." that plays clips of George W. Bush flubbing up all the time. Because Murry is a huge fan of Letterman, I've seen lots of these. Though some of them were new, for the most part the setup and snarky commentary by Al Franken and Jacob Weisberg added zero content.

I have no problem with going after Dubya, I just expect to be entertained and amused. If you REALLY want to see it, look in Myrtle Point.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429714/
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Break Time

I did watch a bunch of movies over the weekend, but Sunday and Monday I took a computer break. I'll write extra reviews later. I so needed the time away from the keyboard. Once I took a whole month off IRC. That was serious. This time I just blocked my desk with seed selection for starting.

Ok, chatty enough for now. I'll be back on track soon.

Movie Review: Brother's Keeper

Brother's Keeper

This documentary tells the story of Delbert Ward and how he was put on trial for the death of his brother. These simple farmer folk didn't understand all the attention. Locals tended to ignore them until Delbert was accused, then people who would not give them the time of day, raised funds to defend the accused murderer.

It's unclear why the authorities were so determined to go after this guy. They could be my neighbors. If I ever have the unfortunate situation to be accused of a crime, I hope I am swift enough to say "lawyer NOW."

Bandon has the DVD.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103888/
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Movie Review: Baraka

Baraka

You may call this film a gem of sight and sound exploring global humanity as the filmmakers have. I just call it a bore. They purposely didn't provide any context for the sights and sounds and that totally frustrated me. I want to know who these people were, the context of the chants, where and why they're doing what they do or did.

I LOVE the world and all the variations people spin into their own lives. When I travel, I love to eat and drink local cuisine and listen to local music. Heck I love living on the Oregon Coast because of the sights, sounds and food. When an image I recognized popped on screen, it gave me comfort to know something. I want a story.

Bandon, Coos Bay and North Bend have copies of this DVD

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103767/
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Movie Review: Spanglish

Spanglish

My whole reason for this blog began because I found some really neat movies at the library. Sometimes, like this film, I'm not that thrilled to check out. Low expectations seem to be a game I play with myself. It's amazing how much of a thrill it is when it turns out to be something I really enjoy.

Though Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni get top billing the story is truly stars Paz Vega.
A Mexican woman and her daughter leave their country looking for a better life. She heads north to Los Angeles where she finds work helping a rich Chef. His rude wife treats her own daughter like crap and begins influencing Vega's daughter.

Sandler's understated performance helps the film along, and all I can guess is the director reigned in his exuberant personality. A subtle relationship forms between him and the Mexican woman. Though they never raise to an affair they do seek comfort in trying to counteract his wife's influence on both their daughters.

Murry asked if Cloris Leachman got an Oscar for her performance. He feels she deserved one. She plays the rude wife's mom.

I guess the quality of this story confused the marketing people and they billed it as an Adam Sandler film. Big mistake. Please get this film. Dora, Myrtle Point, North Bend, Powers and Bandon libraries all have copies.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371246/

Buy it on Amazon
Spanglish

Download it from Amazon
Spanglish.

Movie Review: Burglar

Burglar

Wow, IMDB and I diverge yet again. This Whoopi Goldberg comic action flick has more going for it than you'd expect. Whoppi witnesses a murder during a burglary. The killers then start chasing our heroine. I know the plot is a little passe, but I just like to watch it.

Coos Bay has the DVD.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092710/
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Movie Review: Appointment for a Killing

Appointment for a Killing
Beyond Suspicion

Though this TV movie has somewhat low production values, the true story nature of it kept my interest for the whole two hours. While I haven't known anyone so sociopathic as to plot to kill people the way this dentist did, Corbin Bernsen made me feel like I had. Markie Post and Kelsey Grammer also drew me into the story.

Bernsen plays a philandering dentist who cons his paramours into meeting men and plots to kill them for life insurance. His wife catches him with a woman in his dentist chair and divorces him. Later she finds out he killed his girlfriend's husband and his parents. A federal agent gets involved with a business rival is blown up.

Look in Bandon for this interesting true story.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106405/
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Movie Review: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

This cult classic makes me laugh and laugh. The plot is in the title, but I just love a few moments. Like the guy who tries to infiltrate the killer tomatoes and asks for ketchup. During the filming, something goes terribly wrong with a helicopter and it crashes. Not one to waste the moment, the filmmakers used it as a plot point.

I so don't get how the people off IMDB can't just love this film. YES, its' dumb. That's the point. Pop some popcorn and head on out to Myrtle Point Library and pick up this funny charmer.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080391/

Buy it on Amazon
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes - 25th Anniversary Edition

Three Dog Rviews

Since I missed yesterday, I decided to do a few reviews of some movies I disliked.

America's Sweethearts

Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal, and John Cusack are some of my favorites, yet they could not begin to save this lame story. Fake Hollywood films really need to have some pizazz to help us get into the thrill. Julia plays the former chubby and frumpy sister to mega star Catherine Zeta-Jones. Hello?? Switch it around and maybe it woulda worked.

Library:VHS; Coos Bay, Lakeside. DVD; Coquille, Lakeside, Bandon.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265029/

Anything Else

I try not to let someone's personal life change how I feel about films they make, it's just that Woody Allen creeps me out. That said, I'm really confused about how this film has any merit whatsoever. I like writer types, yet when Hollywood tries to tell their stories, they just seem dull. I don't care that this guy who hooks up with someone ELSE'S girlfriend and then is surprised she cheats on him. Like DUH. Jason Biggs and Christina Ricci don't mesh as a couple even for a minute.

Library: VHS; Coquille, Coos Bay. DVD; Lakeside, Bandon

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313792/

Alf Bicknell's Personal Beatles Diary

I checked this out because Murry likes the Beatles and I thought it might be interesting too. OMG. Mr. Bicknell just goes around to sites and stands next to them and talks. It's like someone's travel highlights slide show. It could not be any more boring and any less insightful. I am ashamed that the library paid for this man capitalizing on his experiences.

Library: Bandon

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167031/
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Movie Review, Unleashed

Unleashed
Danny the Dog

Someone mentioned this film to Murry and he just happened to see it on the shelf. Jet Li plays the lead of a man raised in a cage and taught to fight like a dog. His "master" (Bob Hoskins) berates and threatens to kill him unless he fights. After a car crash, Danny escapes and begins to live with a blind piano tuner and his step-daughter. They teach him to be a human, but when they are threatened, Danny goes a bit wild and attacks anyone who would threaten his new life.

The library calls this Unleashed, but IMDB and elsehwere calls it Danny the Dog. Go for a walk and pick up a copy of this film in Coos Bay and BAndon.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0342258/
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Movie Review: Arthur and the Invisibles

Arthur and the Invisibles

Half live action, half animation this kiddie film left a lot of opportunities for a decent plot on the cutting room floor. Though that's just a guess on my part. A boy tries to help his grandmother save their home from a real estate developer who wants to tear up the land and put up condos. Granddad, of course an adventurer who finds mysterious African tribes, had disappeared months ago. He went on a search for rubies given to him by a pair of tribes. Arthur transforms into a cartoon miniature of himself and tries to find the gems and granddad himself.

Murry said this is some of the best work Madonna's ever done. Mia Farrow and most everyone else coulda phoned in their performance.

Shades of the Ant Bully. Though this one is a little better. Pick up the DVD in Dora.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0344854/
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Movie Review: Ali

Ali

Will Smith got a well deserved Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Mohammad Ali. While I liked this film my recollection of it is weak. I do remember that his conversion to Islam had a lot to do with friendship with people like Malcolm X (Mario Van Peebles) and the treatment of black athletes in the late 60s early 70s. I can't say I got any big insights out of the film.

Head on over to Morth Bend for the only copy of this DVD.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0248667/
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Movie Review: Airplane!

Airplane!

During the 70s the movie industry LOVED disaster flicks, among them a series about plane crashes, called Airport. Airplane! spoofs this genre.

My straight laced aunt and I went to see it in the theater when it came out . There's a scene where the stewardess has to "blow up" the auto pilot that had me rolling in the aisles. I have no idea what my aunt thought. The amazing cast includes Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Leslie Nielsen and Robert Stack goofing around making silly jokes for two hours. If you can't find something to laugh about during this film, I'm sorry consult a doctor.

Look for Barbara Billingsley offering to speak "jive" to the black guys. Truly one of the funniest sub titling scenes ever. Bandon has the DVD, Coos Bay, North Bend and Powers have VHS copies.

IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080339/

Buy it on Amazon
Airplane! (Don't Call Me Shirley! Edition)