The War Boys - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Very strange film.Let me say that the title is deceptive as is the buzz on the internet about it.It's not a war film unless growing up is war,nor is it a gay film unless a man and woman kissing is forever to be called a heterosexual film.Its a weird mix of coming of age and aloofness set in the border between Mexico and the US.Usually these "where am I and what am I doing with my life",have been urban city films for the most part.There have be a few exceptions and this is the best of the lot in that respect.Here we have 3 guys who in HS called themselves"the war boys"because they chased"beaners"for fun and reported them to the border patrol.It's strange that one of them,Victor Rasuk as Greg,is hispanic himself and admits he would do anything to "fit in" so he could "get out". Brian J. Smith as George is white trash with hispanic"kid sister"he doesn't like because she's different,wonderfully played by Cheyenne Serano as Cat.Finally the third is Benjamin Walker as David,the son of a well off and not so much liked "business man" Peter Gallagher     as Slater .The gay theme comes from a long hidden but final coming out between George and David. While this may seem shocking and "earth shaking"it's minor compared to what happens as a result of a boredom and "getting back at dad"scheme that goes horribly wrong. Other more  familiar themes are older woman Micaela Nevárez as Marta,last chance for love with younger boy Greg.Stuff we've seen before but in different contexts and not with such catastrophic end results caused by their own indifference while coping with getting by because of  the silly prank they pulled to get back at David's dad Slater.It's not a film for everyone and many might not even check it out because of preconceived notions.That would be YOUR mistake.
The ending is haunting and will stay with you for quite a while.One of the independent films well worth the effort.Only short coming is the lack of real drug cartel dangers of todays world.Released in 2009 it runs 100 minutes and I took 1 star off for the lack of reality ignoring the drug aspects today.Trailer URL follows the picture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI0riw7BeYU

Mean Streets - 3 stars out of 5 stars

It was great when it came out but it doesn't stand up over time.Martin Scorsese wrote and directed and his 2 main stars Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel  may never have been better.However the rest of the cast is "b"level and act that way.In the end,you really don't care about the characters as you do in say,"The Godfather"plus it looks like it was made 40 years ago,oh,I forgot,IT WAS.However the music is of the time as is the "feel"Not as good as "Saturday Night Fever"you get the feel this was to be his future if  you followed that films logic.Anyway,it is required viewing once for historical and film history.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.Released in 1973 it runs 112 minutes and I took the 2 stars off for the reasons I mentioned.

The future is set for Tony and Michael - owning a neighbour- hood bar and making deals in the mean streets of New York city's Little Italy. For Charlie, the future is less clearly defined. A small-time hood, he works for his uncle, making collections and reclaiming bad debts. He's probably too nice to succeed. In love with a woman his uncle disapproves of (because of her epilepsy) and a friend of her cousin, Johnny Boy, a near psychotic whose trouble-making threatens them all - he can't reconcile opposing values. A failed attempt to escape (to Brooklyn) moves them all a step closer to a bitter, almost preordained future. Written by Dave Cook <cookd@mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca> 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCwjzn0CncA

The Rose - 3 stars out of 5 stars

A strange film.On one hand we have the "Divine Miss M" playing "The Rose",a compilation of many types of female singing stars.On the other hand,another film making excuses for those who mess up a promising life.Released in 1979 it runs a long 125 minutes and the music is not as good as one would have thought.Thus 2 stars off. It's just a movie that allows the "Divine Miss M"to show why she my be the best live performer around while having a script about folks we really don't care about such as a messed up small town performer goes big and can't handle it with a mean old manager and questionable relationships.Not very interesting.Still,I recommend a view just for the "Divine Miss M".
Trailer follows the pix and a IMDB summery below.

Bette Midler plays "Rose", an artist strikingly similar to Janis Joplin. The film follows Rose's career during her last tour. Her rock and roll lifestyle of Drugs, Sex, and Rock and Roll and constant touring lead her to an inevitable breakdown. Written by R. John Berggren <jberg@nina.pagesz.net>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXpMJrFwaik

Switch ( 1991 ) - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Blake Edwards makes very "adult"comedies.I've already done"10".Now we do "Switch".Another film that other films have the same name but I'm not aware if they are remakes or different.This film is different then most in its genre. The theme is,dead person comes back in another body before they can"move on".Not new, done many ,many times before and since. However Edwards has a way of mixing his "message"into comedy like no other.I've put the IMDB summary below and it seems straight forward yuks.Not so fast.There is a message about "gays"being as sensitive yet flawed as are we all are.Also a very subtile yet strong right to life message that is the true punch line of the movie after a gay ride through hypocrisy.Very intelligent and as funny as it sometimes is,you'll discuss the movie later.My only real complaint was the "walking in heels"joke is dragged on to long as is a few others.However thats a small price to pay for the punchline.I didn't see it coming till it came!!!! Hint,if no baby,then hell it is.Must see it you like something funny that you don't feel stupid after watching.Good cast but better story.I only took the 1 star off for the over played jokes and really very adult themes.Not a family film by any means.Trailer URL after the pix.Released in 1991 it runs 103 minutes.

A sexist, chauvinist pig gets his just desserts when his angry ex-girlfriends murder him and he is reincarnated as a woman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIYltNqXVHA&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLB364EDAB66591ED3

Paul ( 2011) - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

There seems to be a few films with the same name but all different shorelines.This film was released in 2011 and runs 104 minutes.There are a few parts I dislike,that's why I took 1 and 1/2 stars of, but overall its worth a view.Its sort of a nerds trip to ET's world when ET is a stoner and a mess up like them.In this case the nerds are two Brits visiting Comic-Con in San Diego, to then  go on the "US Alien road trip".It's a fair take on the old story line and a good cast is what drew me to it.Anyway,trailer follows pix and a IMDB summary below.Comedy again is a very personnel taste.For me this film is only good once.

Two sci-fi geeks take a pilgrimage to America's UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who brings them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. For the past 60 years, an alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) has been hanging out at a top-secret military base. When he discovers he's been taken prisoner, the space-traveling smart ass decides to escape the compound and hop on the first vehicle out of town - a rented RV containing Earthlings Graeme Willy (Simon Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Nick Frost). Chased by federal agents and the fanatical father of a young woman that they accidentally kidnap, Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling escape plan to return Paul to his mother ship. And as two nerds struggle to help, one little green man might just take his fellow outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes. Written by Universal Pictures 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXG3yNw1R2w

Source Code - 4 stars out of 5 stars

A friend told me to check this film out so I pushed it to the top of my list.Well played !!!!
This film can be best  described as "7 days"meets"groundhog day"on the way to "Star Trek".7 days was a little known sic - fi series about sending a person back in time one week to change something bad.And of course Groundhog day was a classic comedy about relieving a day over and over.The Star Trek I refer to is the newest movie from J.J. Abrams,where Vulcan is destroyed while Kirk and Spock are hardly out of the academy.All three  are various takes on  quantum mechanics, a major revolution in physics .Go to college or take classes or just read up on this subject.It would help to understand the TV and movies as well as THIS movie.In this movies take on the subject we use terrorism,the military and a soldier in Afghanistan.I won't explain the plot,I posted a IMDB summary below.However I took 1 star off because there are inconsistencies in how the theory is applied ,such as IF a new time line is set there should be no contact with the others.AH but say some studentsof this theory,thats where "deja vu" comes in.Maybe so,but not for me.Still it did try to explain as much as one can,a unprovable theory and put it in modern action terms.Deja vu is the feeling you've been somewhere when you clearly haven't before.Or as Yogi said"it's deja vu all over again"I thought Jake Gyllenhaal was fine as the soldier caught in the 8 minute loop that is central to the movies take on the subject matter.Vera Farmiga was well suited to the role of the military"handler"and Jeffrey Wright was suited as a truly egotistical if not misguided project boss.Michelle Monaghan was fine but her role was little more than eye candy.Released in 2011 the film runs only 93 minutes.Trailer URL follows the pix.Do check it out.Even with its flaws its well done.

An action thriller centered on a soldier who wakes up in the body of an unknown man and discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMdBJ_W4wYE

Quiz Show - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

A little better film than I expected.Robert Redford directed and produced but did not appear in this interesting but finally unimportant film about something no one cares about nor should they in todays far more complicated world.As one co-conspirator  said at the end,and I paraphrase,after all we're not criminals. We just give the people what they want.
See this film is about something that DID happen in the 1950's when game shows were ratings grabbers for the networks.On network allowed it show to be rise to the top of the ratings chatty any means nessacary. In this case actually giving the answers to the contestant of choice to garner ratings.So yes,who really cared and there were bigger issues of the day far more important like communist hunting and civil rights abuse.History will keep this scandal were it belongs,on the back burner.What is interesting however is again its NBC which is the"bad"network.These days they edit news to sway a point,then they edited contestants.They show a history of distortion like no other network in history.FOX news bashers should take note of a indisputable fact on this point.Released in 1994 its too long at 133 minutes and a who really cares story.Thus the 1 and 1/2 stars off.It's should be viewed once for historical relevance and little more.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.

An idealistic young lawyer working for a Congressional subcommittee in the late 1950s discovers that TV quiz shows are being fixed. His investigation focuses on two contestants on the show "Twenty-One": Herbert Stempel, a brash working-class Jew from Queens, and Charles Van Doren, the patrician scion of one of America's leading literary families. Based on a true story. Written by Tim Horrigan <horrigan@hanover-crrel.army.mil>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOSnYt9k4kM&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLF01F26FDDC2F2B46

Rob Roy - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1995 and running a TOO long 138 minutes the slightest recommendation for this film.See it for the cast,period drama and Irish landscaper.2 and 1/2 stars off for the length and well I just didn't "feel"it.Maybe its chemistry but I was bored to tears.So its "I've got nothing better to watch"film.Trailer follows the pix and IMDB summary below.
OK Tim Roth was cool………

In the highlands of Scotland in the 1700s, Rob Roy tries to lead his small town to a better future, by borrowing money from the local nobility to buy cattle to herd to market. When the money is stolen, Rob is forced into a Robin Hood lifestyle to defend his family and honour. Written by Rob Hartill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANb_y93XL7s

Drive Angry - 3 stars out of 5 stars

This film is violent,irritant,sexist,racist and totally unbelievable !!!!!
I LIKE THIS S - - T!!! Nick Cage is the best in the world at making trash characters fun and silly and a real forbidden pleasure to enjoy.The plot,who really cares ??William Fichtner,Billy Burke,and Austin's own,Amber Heard,who can wear those  daisy duke cut-offs ,are the able supporting cast.If you have to have a plot,its, guy escapes from hell to save his grand daughter from a cult while persued by a "devils"laws man and is aided by southern trash babe with nothing better to do with her life.Like I said,does it really matter??
Car chases,shootouts,blowing things up,some nudity,Thats what matters,and this film does deliver.Just part your reality at the door.Released in 2011 and running 104 minutes,Cage playing a grand dad can still bring it and Amber can act,a little,while wearing little.
2 stars off for extreme violence and irrelevance.3 stars added for extreme violence and irrelevance and Ambers daisy duke cutoffs.Trailer URL follows the pix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4scfLJeDHHk

Steel Sharks - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

This film is more interesting today than when it was released in 1997.However it's still fighting WW11,not todays enemy as the script would like you to believe.Still a good sub film is hard to find.Add to it Navy Seals and its watchable one time.The plot is simple. Civilian  scientist is kidnapped and the seals have to rescue him.Good stuff.The problem is that its Iran military not terrorists and the seal team sent to rescue him does but is captured itself and put on a Iranian sub which then plays "tag"with a US sub sent to extract the team after its mission.Some good navy footage as the Navy cooperated in the filming.Carriers,planes and subs,OH MY !!!! Still its good to boo the Iranians and cheer the seals even if it rings like fighting the "last"war instead of the one to come.Gary Busey plays Cmdr. Bill McKay,the USN subs captain with just enough aplomb to make you wonder if he's going to go off.Billy Dee Williams as Adm. Jim Perry head of the fleet, is really under-used and the rest of the cast is ok but not well known then or now,including the actors who played the seals.If you have nothing else to do, watch it.It's well made just not plausible.It's only 94 minutes and a trailer URL follows the pix.50/50 film,thats why I took 2 1/2 off and left 2 1/2 on.Plot believability is the negative.Subs and Seals,the positive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-8eEvisLMw

Hackers - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

It's not a classic film,or great cinema but its fun and I laughed.Would i watch it multiple times,no,would I recommend one view,yes,no matter who you are.First,why I take 1 and 1/2 stars off.Silly story.Some poor over the top acting by some,and pretty people aren't computer geeks.That still leaves 3 and 1/2 stars to see it.Released  in 1995 and running 107 minutes,I wanted to see Alberta Watson,a hottie from my youth,playing a MOM of a teen aged hacker, and also a very young Angelina Jolie as a hacker.No way SHE would EVER be nerdy and she wasn't no matter how many times she worn a NJ Devils hockey jersey.Now the less said about the acting,the better,Not terrible but down to the level of the silly script.
Two funny small roles by Marc Anthony and Penn Jillette added to the limited enjoyment.
What I did like was the CGI hacker effects,cool for 1995,like the bastard son of Tron,much better then Wargames. If your young you'll like it more than folks my age,but I still chuckled,it wasn't a nasty lying film,but just silly fun.IMDB summary below and Trailer URL link after the pix

A young boy is arrested by the US Secret Service for writing a computer virus and is banned from using a computer until his 18th birthday. Years later, he and his new-found friends discover a plot to unleash a dangerous computer virus, but they must use their computer skills to find the evidence while being pursued by the Secret Service and the evil computer genius behind the virus. Written by Alexander Lum <aj_lum@postoffice.utas.edu.au>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql1uLyuWra8

Hesher - 3 stars out of 5 stars

There is a old plot line for movies based on the old saying about "pick yourself up and start all over."In this case the messenger almost killed the message.Joseph Gordon-Levitt is so menacing as Hesher the films title character that he may scare you off in the first 40 minutes or so.He almost did that to me. That would be sad because the message is delivered in the most startling way that shows its still valid.So I take 2 stars off and warn you at the outset,its a roller coaster ride.Strap in if you take this ride.What drew me to the film was Piper Laurie who is the catalyst for the message and Natalie Portman who is under used but also caused key message movement.
Its a basic story of a family ripped and broken by a death and the survivors are spiraling downward.Into this pool of self pity and loathing enters a real scary dude who just moves in to the garage and then the "family"That would be Hesher. First you think he's going to kill them all,then you think he going to make you WISH he kills them all. I did say roller coaster???The film takes awhile rolling up and down with the 3 family members,a father sinking in self pity,Rainn Wilson,and angry young son,Devin Brochu,and a grandmother Piper Laurie.I saw this movie ONLY because of her.She had my heart as a youngster after seeing"the Hustler"and playing a grandma now,well I am grandfather so……….
First curve is we meet Natalie Portman     as Nicole,a young nothing of a teen or 20 something who saves the young boy from a ass whipping by a bully and becomes a crush of his.Anyway,finally through his own bullying Hesher forces the father and son to move on after grandma died,in a really well done movingly but "raw"final scene.
This is a fine, well done, off beat message film of renewal ,but might turn off more than half of you by it language and tough themes.Its really not a white trash meth survives and thrives film at all.Give it 40 minutes before you bale,and most of you probably will bale.
Released in 2010 it runs 106 minutes.Trailer URL follows the pix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkKjafEIebw

Man of the House ( 2005 ) - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Comedy is a personnel taste thats why I haven't reviewed that many.However I am very old school and Tommy Lee Jones and Cedric the Entertainer,how could I resist.
Not to be confused with another film with the same name.
The plot is also Texas based so again topical for a newbee like myself.Released in 2005 and running 100 minutes it even has a cameo by Rick Perry !!! Funny sidelight.None of the actors in this film but one or two with minor small parts and Tommy Lee are from Texas.But hey,how many in Austin,weird city of the world,are really from Texas??The plot summary is below.Its a standard comedy/drama about witness protection from a unknown killer who happens to be a rouge Federal agent.Not new,but casting is key.Tommy  pulls it off as a bad ass and the 5 young actress are good enough to play dumb without looking stupid.Christina Milian,Paula Garcés,Monica Keena,Vanessa Ferlito and Kelli Garner.Of course any film you add Cedric the Entertainer gains stature as well.In this case as a ex con turned preacher.My only issue is no real  background development as we would like to know more about Tommies and Cedric characters and how they met.So 1 star off for a less than great script,but 4 stars for funny execution.Trailer URL after the pix and a IMDB summary below

Texas Ranger Roland Sharp is assigned to protect the only witnesses to the murder of a key figure in the prosecution of a drug kingpin -- a group of University of Texas cheerleaders. Sharp must now go undercover as an assistant cheerleading coach and move in with the young women. Written by Anonymous 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a39EYIVPAhE

Black and White - 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

What has Allan Houston,yes the ex Knick BB player,Claudia Schiffer,yes THAT supermodel,Mike Tyson,yes,pre tattoo,Brooke Shields,all growed up,Ben Stiller,unfunny,Robert Downey Jr.,unintentional funny,Scott Caan,really like his dad,and unknown rappers and everyone was just out for a paycheck??? This TERRIBLE MOVIE.The only reason to get 1/2 star was to see the cast and 4 1/2 stars for the crap they made for a paycheck.Released in 1999 mercifully its only 98 minutes long.This it only the third movie I reviewed that stunk and like the other two it was the cast that made me see it.So if you see it you just threw 1 1/2 hours of your life away.Nothing rings true as I former NY guy this is not real !@!!!!
If you want a summary of this crap see the trailer after the pix and  the IMDB summary below

Set in New York City, Black and White features several losely related stories centering on a pair of documentary filmmakers, Sam and her husband Terry, in following a group of caucasian teens, Raven, Charlie, Will, Marty, Wren and others who try to fit in with Harlem's black hip-hop crowd who include gangster rapper Rich Bower and his music partner Cigar in landing a recording gig, as well as college basketball player Dean who is conflicted on taking a fall on a game for shady gambler Mark Clear who has hidden agenda for Dean and Rich. Written by <pataygs@voicenet.com>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heLsk6jv_hk

3 A.M. - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Spike didn't write or direct but he did produce through his film company the truly urban NYC film about a reign of terror against cab drivers and the stories of some of them.Not really my kind of film but it does capture working nights and getting by with honest yet under appreciated work in the hell hole that can sometimes be the city that never sleeps. 
If your a true new yorker you'll find it interesting enough.If your not,you might as well pass it by.Released in 2001 its a short 88 minutes and I took 2 stars off for the simple limited appeal storyline.The acting as always in a spike related film is standout.This cast is headed by     Danny Glover and Pam Grier and a interesting turn by Michelle Rodriguez with cameos by Clyde Fraser and Spike.the simple serial cab driver murder plot is just a excuse to examine working people at night in NYC and the grit that it can take to make a hard honest living.It's ok but if your not a new yorker you probably won't enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DblJJIME5s4

Event Horizon - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

There is a deep,mystical and highly metaphysical theory about "black holes" amongst many others.That is that they are the gates to hell itself.Disney studios once produced a silly poorly made,for them,children film called"Black Hole"Sadly this film attempts to tackle the same question in a far better made,and definitely adult, but still incoherent slow version of the same theory.There is but one reason to see this 1997 film that runs 96 minutes and that, is to attempt to see this theory brought to the screen. Disneys film is livelier but silly to no end,this film is slow,plodding and boring, till halfway through,Perhaps its the subject,as its deep and hard to grasp.Anyway,its cast tries hard and the filming is state of the art so the effects are believable.Its just that they kinda strike out anyway.See if you want a DEEP thought picture.Pass if you want to be entertained.
Trailer follows the pix and a IMDB summary below

A rescue crew investigates a spaceship that disappeared into a black hole and has now returned...with someone or something new on-board.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pugTKXUUlGk

Jaws - 3 stars out of 5 stars

The most uneven film I've seen,in a good way.Long and tedious yet suspenseful and scary.Finally a climax of man against underseas beast that has yet to be equaled.For those reasons it doesn't stand up to repeated viewing and its long,124 minutes and dated released in 1975.Still worth a view for that climax.The film also brought respectability to a scare genre that seemed real.The beech party gone terribly wrong.Directed by Steven Spielberg of a screen play by Peter Benchley  it scared a generation from going into the water.
The 3 men who finally track this killer shark down are Roy Scheider,Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss.For historical film reference its a "bucket list"must see picture,warts and all.Trailer URL follows pix and a short IMDB summary for the 1 or 2 who haven't heard of this flawed classic.

When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and grizzled fisherman set out to stop it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9DCAbPmvHQ

The Hindenburg - 3 stars out of 5 stars

A interesting take on the first live real time media covered disaster.In 1937 the Zeppelin,Hindenburg burst into flame over Lakehurst NJ while docking killing around 40 people and causing a spectacular fiery  distraction caught on film and broadcast live on the radio.This film starts with a b&w newsreel that explains the Hindenburg and then goes into the movie and storyline of a plot that blew it up rather than a act of God,ending with b&w filming mixed with the real footage of the disaster. In between its all color,like the Wizard of Oz..The story is rather long,125 minutes, and contrived about reluctant Zazi's and a German resistance???Not really believable at all.Thats why  2 stars  off along with the length and b&w footage at the end.Released in 1975 it should have been able to avoid that.The good stuff is the cast.George C. Scott,Anne Bancroft,Burgess Meredith,Rene Auberjonois,just to name a few.I recommend it only for disaster and period piece  film fans.Trailer URL below the pix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJBKLIi1XLM

25th Hour - 5 stars out of 5 stars

Damn you Spike.Never cared to care about folks who have it all and piss it away,NEVER.
Somehow,Spike has done it again.YOU made me care and feel sorry.Damn you,now I have to watch these kind of pictures.
A list cast and story that only a New Yorker will understand.Again,one of the best film makers of our time took a story about a Irish white boy drug pusher who got caught,and made us see NY through the eyes of a someone who lost it all.What ,thats all???
NO,NO SPIKE IS A FILM MAKER.The opening scene is shot against the 2 blue light beams from the pit of the WTC.Later 2 of the characters have a scene in ones apartment overlooking "The Pit"The man has made us see that as we understand the loss of the tragedy perhaps our humanity will lets us see this 2 bit punks throw away life.
Lofty as the ideal is,acting is what pulls it off.Edward Norton plays Monty Brogan,the punk who blew it.Into the plot now.Brogan has to report for a 7 year prison term as he was busted for potion of drugs.The movie is basically the last day he will spend with family and friends as he prepares to report to prison the next day. The opening scene is a flashback as well as 2 or 3 other short flashes and a fabulous fantasy "Texas"scene at the conclusion.
In between we meet Monty's girl Rosario Dawson as a 17 year old when he first met her in a park after making a sale,Naturelle Riviera,a Puerto Rican. One of his 2 best friends he will spend that last night with,Philip Seymour Hoffman as a shy withdrawn and sexually frustrated HS teacher,Jacob Elinsky ,and Barry Pepper as Frank Slaughtery his other boyhood friend and now successful wallstreater.Add to that fine supporting roles by Anna Paquin as a HS student and Brian Cox as Monty's dad.Finally a small but impactful role for Tony Siragusa as Kostya Novotny,Yes,that ex NFL player TS !!!!
The mixing of the tragedy of 9/11 and the tragedy of a wasted life are brought home by a great film maker and great actors.
Scorsese and Spielberg,WHERE'S SPIKES OSCAR!!!!!!
Oh did I mention a good score,both some original and some popular.Can you say Springsteen?? Trailer URL follows the pix.The film released in 2002 and runs a perfect 135 minutes.I HATE YOU SPIKE FOR MAKING ME LIKE THIS FILM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-WuU7w3FCk

Platoon - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1986 and running 120 minutes,this is the film that showed what Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe could be as actors as well as a slew of others who went on to bigger roles like,Forest Whitaker,Johnny Depp,Kevin Dillon,John C. McGinley,and it goes on.Truly a wonderful cast,but the story,not so much.Judge for your self on what you know before you see the film because Oliver Stone,the writer and director ALWAYS has a point of view to film.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.

Chris Taylor is a young, naive American who gives up college and volunteers for combat in Vietnam. Upon arrival, he quickly discovers that his presence is quite nonessential, and is considered insignificant to the other soldiers, as he has not fought for as long as the rest of them and felt the effects of combat. Chris has two non-commissioned officers, the ill-tempered and indestructible Staff Sergeant Robert Barnes and the more pleasant and cooperative Sergeant Elias Grodin. A line is drawn between the two NCOs and a number of men in the platoon when an illegal killing occurs during a village raid. As the war continues, Chris himself draws towards psychological meltdown. And as he struggles for survival, he soon realizes he is fighting two battles, the conflict with the enemy and the conflict between the men within his platoon. Written by Jeremy Thomson 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEv4ZfV72Rk

Mooz-lum - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Growing up thru the turbulent 60's I witnessed the"black muslim"movement and was intrigued with it.Then came 9/11 and my fears were of a new race war threat that was bearably avoided back in those years.So it was with not a little trepidation i viewed this film.Drawn to it by Danny Glover I left amazed by Evan Ross and Kimberley Drummond.
Released in 2011 and running 99 minutes,some might feel who cares?? That would be their lose.For this is actually 2 films in one.First it is a coming of age film about a young man who has to come to grips with his past and future.To understand that his past,though rough and hard to understand, is none the less part of who he is and will always be. Second it is a film about not being "white middle class" in the US and still living and trying to enjoy what the country has to offer.It's hard to embrace till you slowly are drawn into the characters of brother and sister of a broken home,one embracing the past and the other running from it.The acting is so intensely gripping you are hooked after 5 minutes.
I only took 1 star off because this won't have"mass"appeal,but I liked it.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary is below.

Amid a strict Muslim rearing and a social life he's never had, Tariq (Evan Ross) enters college confused. New peers, family and mentors help him find his place, but the 9-11 attacks force him to face his past and make the biggest decisions of his life. Written by Anonymous

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DRvfVbnUrg&ob=av3n

Cadence - 4 stars out of 5 stars

This film is NOT for everyone but its a little gem for me for a couple of reasons.One is the pairing of Charlie Sheen as Bean,the center character and his real life father Martin Sheen     as McKinney,the protagonist in the film.Art imitating life perhaps??? The second is the storyline.Tempting though it may seem,this is NOT a prequel to "Platoon"even at the ending of the film we learn Bean is heading for Vietnam. Bean is NO  Chris Taylor !!!!.
The real surprise is Laurence Fishburne as Stokes.Basically the plot is wise ass Bean winds up in the stockade run by McKinney who is white and the inmates are black and well you begin to see the idea.The song"chain gang"will never sound  like the Sam Cooke song of your youth again,that's where the title"Cadence"comes from.See the film just for that alone!!! I took 1 star off for the toughness and brutality of the story as it truly is not for everyone.But if you like military pictures that are not just battles,this is a slice of military pie form you.Trailer URL follows the pix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1R90m3gW54

Ferris Bueller's Day Off - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1986 and running 103 minutes,this film is just OK.I don't get the fascination with it after all these years.It doesn't stand up fashion wise and its just an smirky wise ass kid playing hooky for a day and bugging his sister he could get away it.Well maybe I do see THAT part:)Thus a 50-50 2 and 1/2 stars.What is good is the acting. Even Charlie Sheen and Ben Stein have small parts!!!!However it is still Matthew Broderick as Ferris's picture.Trailer URL after the pix and a IMDB summary below.

Ferris is a street-wise kid who knows all the tricks. Today he decides to take the day off school. When Ferris takes the day off, so must his best friends, Cameron and Sloane. Cameron is reluctantly persuaded to borrow his father's Ferrari, and together they hatch a plan to get Sloane out of class. Suspicious dean of students Ed Rooney knows all about Ferris, but can never catch him. Ferris' sister Jeanie is also frustrated that Ferris always gets away with his tricks and she doesn't. Furthermore, Ferris is an 'angel' in his parents eyes. It's Ferris' day off, he's out to enjoy himself, and he does!. Written by Rob Hartill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-P6p86px6U

Three and Out - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Now known as "A deal is a deal"this film was released in 2008 and runs 108 minutes.
Very off beat story that I was drawn to because of Colm Meaney,I'm a big fan.Anyway the acting is so-so for the rest of the "B"cast and the story is truly "black"comedy.Its so convoluted just read the IMDB summary below.I rated it a 50-50 to see because its off beat but be warned,its not really well made or acted and the story mat be considered insulting to many.Only for "black"comedy fans or Colm Meaney fans:)

Paul is a London tube driver with dreams of a cottage in a bee-loud glade. He's told that if his train strikes and kills one more person this month, he'll get a large severance, enough for the cottage. So he offers £1500 to Tommy Cassidy, a down-and-out Irishman, if Tommy will walk in front of Paul's train come Monday. He gives Tommy the cash on Friday. Wanting to ensure that Tommy honors the deal, Paul accompanies a cleaned-up Tommy on his trip (in a new suit and a hired car) to make things right with family he hasn't seen in eight years. Can Tommy, an inveterate gambler, make anything come out right? And what about Paul - can this suicide pact fulfill his dreams? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5m_nL8jas4

A Guy Named Joe - 3 stars out of 5 stars

As a child Steven Spielberg was moved by the love story in this war film so much he based his film"Always"on a similar concept.However we are reviewing this film and it has a very major flaw.Released in 1943 and running a long 120 minutes,the war follows the German conflict and we had seen on December 7th 1941 just what Japanese aircraft carriers could do and later in 1942 we used them to attack Tokyo in the" Dolittle "raid,  so I can forgive the writers at the time,believing the Germans also had carriers.However thats why this film has problems "standing up"over time,the Germans had no carriers.Thats the reason I had to take 2 stars off,and b&w and length.The cast is "a"list for that era headed by Spencer Tracy.Its also a "fantasy"film because there was the horror of a second world war in 25 years and this film played to the "afterlife"as a refuge for the times.Corny today perhaps and maybe thats why I didn't care for "Always"but it fits in times of world stress.Be warned,its not on DVD to my knowledge but I had the VHS tape:)Trailer URL below the pix and a IMDB summary below.

A sentimental, patriotic (if not propagandistic) Hollywood fantasy about a dead World War II bomber pilot, Maj. Pete Sandidge who becomes guardian angel to another pilot, Capt. Ted Randall, guiding Randall through battle and helping him to romance his old girlfriend, despite her excessive devotion to Sandidge's memory. Written by Lew Amack (LAlawMedMBA@aol.com)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRKRb7qjCus

Waiting for Dublin - 3 stars out of 5 stars

There is one major flaw in this picture and many will never forgive it.It's like in the great film "A man called Joe"later remade and updated as"Always".In the original a pilot is shot down attacking a "German "aircraft carrier.For those non students of the war,there were no German aircraft carriers.Well in this film Al Capone was in jail in 1931 NEVER to be released for a New Years eve party during WW11 to make the bet this films stakes its premise on.So IF you can get over that major flaw,is a kinda fun film,as much as WW11 can be fun.Now you see why I take 2 stars of this 2007 release that runs but 84 minutes.
But back to the story that is interesting and off beat.A bet is made that this young pilot will or will not become a "ace"during the war,which means shoot down 5 planes.He crash lands in Ireland being a plane short of his goal, and then finds out a german plane and pilot are also there.Ireland being a neutral country will intern them in Dublin for the duration.However our pilot meets a lass and a blind WW1 vet and together with his english co-pilot hatch a plot to shoot the German plane down and get his "ace"standing.Add to the mix in a german  agent out to kill the german pilot,well it does get silly for a war time film.The cast try but is "b"at best.So if your looking for the off beat,you can do a lot worse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQO3FWXeU-Y

The Blues Brothers - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1980 and running long at 133 minutes,this movie is rather dated and has no decent story.Thus 1 and 1/2 stars off.BUT 3 and 1/2 stars to see !!!.Why?? Well for starters its a historic first in the sense that a Saturday Night Live comedy routine   was expanded to a full length movie.This has now been done a number of times,but none better than this first film.The problem is to make a movie out of a 5 minutes prime time act.What director John Landis and star and co-writer John Belushi choose to do was concentrate on the music.The list of soul and blues singers just might be the best ever on film including a big band leader,Cab Calloway.But the best number is early on by Aretha Franklin.Throw in Ray Charles,James Brown,John Lee Hooker and a underutilized Chaka Khan,you begin to see the talent assembled.Actors included in small parts, Carrie Fisher, Twiggy,Steve Lawrence,Paul Reubens,Henry Gibson,John Candy and many more,some not even credited,like Mr T.Eye candy for sure along with the music.Ah,but the story is week but who cares???Trailer URL follows the pix and IMDB summary below.Oh sorry,THE GREAT Dan Aykroyd,is the other "Blues Brother".

After the release of Jake Blues from prison, he and brother Elwood go to visit "The Penguin", the last of the nuns who raised them in a boarding school. They learn the Archdiocese will stop supporting the school and will sell the place to the Education Authority. The only way to keep the place open is if the $5000 tax on the property is paid within 11 days. The Blues Brothers want to help, and decide to put their blues band back together and raise the the money by staging a big gig. As they set off on their "mission from God" they seem to make more enemies along the way. Will they manage to come up with the money in time? Written by Sami Al-Taher <staher2000@yahoo.com>  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaAEp3MxC0w

For The Boys - 4 stars out of 5 stars

The "Devine Miss M"is never better,in fact maybe held back some in this slightly long epic of a song and dance duo spanning from WW11 to the 1980's. Released in 1991 and running long at 138 minutes my main issue besides length is that it can be very uneven in spots.Like the ending awards show segment.By then they are just old and not funny or talented anymore.And otherwise short as with Vietnam segment where she loses her son.Ah but when the movie is on,it sings.It's rare another artist can upstage the Beatles with their own music,Miss M does JUST that with "In My Life"and the total film soundtrack is wonderful.The Devine Miss M for those not in the know is Bette Midler ,who plays Dixie Leonard. Surprisingly good  James Caan  plays Eddie Sparks the other half of this duo.I say surprisingly because he seemed such a "bad"guy in prior roles and not the song dance type,who knew??The rest of the cast headed by George Segal as Art Silver,Dixie's uncle and the guy who created the duo is outstanding as well. If you like generational movies and musicals,check it out!!!Trailer URL follows the pix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gkkgaiRZ9Y

The Boondock Saints - 3 stars out of 5 stars

A very violent and bloody "cult" crime film,not for everyone.Released in 1999 and running 109 minutes I took 2 stars off for the story and violence and relative "b" cast.Still,if you like crime and retribution with the now in vogue boston/irish themes you might enjoy this.I liked it,but it spawned squeals and this first one is rough enough for me.I found the tv man on the street interviews about the pros and cons of vigilante justice during the closing credits very provocative.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summery below.The casting of Ron Jeremy in a bit part adds to the "cult film"status.


Two Irish brothers accidentally killed mafia thugs. They turned themselves in and were released as heroes. They then see it as a calling by God and started knocking off mafia gang members one by one. Willem Dafoe plays the detective trying to figure out the killings, but the closer he was to catching the Irish brothers, the more he thinks the brothers are doing the right thing. Written by KevinYang(meowdragon@hotmail.com)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydXojYfCF3I

Bridesmaids - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 2011 and running a mite long at 125 minutes this is actually a better film than I hoped.Comedy as I've said before is subjective and much of the film is not to my tastes BUT that said,Kristen Wiig again shows why she is the successor to Gilda Radnor as americas funny sweetheart.The rest of the cast is ok but it IS Kristens picture NOT Melissa McCarthy's whose fine as the "fat"girl,but really,fat over Kristen,I don't think so.
Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below,Special shout out to Jon Hamm as Ted,a real  pig and cad as Kristen's lover.2 stars off for length and not a very believable storyline. 

Annie (Kristen Wiig), is a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), and a group of colorful bridesmaids (Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper) on a wild ride down the road to matrimony. Annie's life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian's maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she'll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you'll go for someone you love. Written by Anonymous 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNppLrmdyug

The Longest Day - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

The story of the D Day invasion of Normandy during WW11 is gripping but flawed.Released in 1962 it runs a very long 178 minutes and takes almost 1 hour to get going.Ah but when it does,its great.Thats why I took 1 and 1/2 stars off.1/2 for b&w another half for length and 1/2 for the subtitles over the german military scenes.
The cast is AAA+ ( sorry almost all male )for the time and so its unfair to name a few.Some of the fun is spotting big stars in small roles.Other than that there is little to say but thats its a must see for WW11 buffs and those who like star filled movies.Trailer URL follows the pix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqFn_pM5QxU

Full Metal Jacket - 4 stars out of 5 stars

Stanley Kubrick's 1987 film that runs 116 minutes is both engrossing and controversial in its treatment of the vietnam war and marine boot camp.Thus 1 star off since I wasn't a marine nor a vietnam vet.That said,its a hell of a ride. Lines like"me love you long time"and others like"only steers and queers come from Texas"first were uttered in this film,and many many more.It's also sometimes hard to watch but thats Kubrick,he never pulls a punch.If you want a little insight into that era,try this film.Noteworthy performance by a real ex marine drill instructor turned actor by this film,R. Lee Ermey as Gny. Sgt. Hartman.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.Great music soundtrack from that era as well.

A two-segment look at the effect of the military mindset and war itself on Vietnam era Marines. The first half follows a group of recruits in boot camp under the command of the punishing Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. The second half shows one of those recruits, Joker, covering the war as a correspondent for Stars and Stripes, focusing on the Tet offensive. Written by Scott Renshaw <as.idc@forsythe.stanford.edu>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAvWQa64B8M

Lifeboat - 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

From the year of Titanic we jump ahead roughly 30 odd years.It's WW11 and a ship has been sunk and a lone woman,Tallulah Bankhead as Constance 'Connie' Porter , in a fur coat and a run in her stocking is taking pictures of the wreckage floating by from a "Lifeboat"in which she is the only passenger.Such is the opening scene of this 1944 film directed by the great Alfred Hitchcock.Before you think this is some sort of crazy mental early Hitchcock weird movie,remember its was written by John Steinbeck !!!1
No what we are about to watch is the greatest survive at sea movie ever made.The only reason I took 12 star off is because its in b&w.As the film continues one after another survivors are picked up till the boast has 9 passengers,including the captain of the german sub that had sunk the ship everyone was on but managed to also sink the sub as well.
Thats the setting for suspense but there is comedy as well as Connie loses all her earthy possessions  she had managed to save.The film is remarkable on many levels with  "a"list cast from that time.There is no trailer i can find,but I have posted a scene instead and a IMDB summary is below.

In the Atlantic during WWII, a ship and a German U-boat are involved in a battle and both are sunk. The survivors from the ship gather in one of the boats. They are from a variety of backgrounds: an international journalist, a rich businessman, the radio operator, a nurse, a steward, a sailor and an engineer with communist tendencies. Trouble starts when they pull a man out of the water who turns out to be from the U-boat. Written by Col Needham <col@imdb.com>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMtiqQEc85Q

Curdled - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1996 and running only 88 minutes,this is a violent bloody "black comedy"from Quentin Tarantino's film company although he didn't personally do the film,his sick sense of humor is present else the film never could have been made.The films cast is "b" level to be sure but so is the film,thus 1 and 1/2 stars off.Its a drive in sort of horror film from the 60's only much smarter and witty and with a nice twist at the end.If you like your horror with some wit,check it out.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.   

Gabriella, a Colombian immigrant, is obsessed with understanding violent crime. The current string of murders by "The Blue Blood Killer" of affluent Miami socialites provides her with fodder for her scrapbook of death. She lands a job with a post-murder cleaning service and during a Blue-Blood clean-up job, discovers evidence that police have overlooked. Written by Amy Searls <searls1@marshall.edu>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgNXkUUZ6vU

Moneyball - 5 stars out of 5 stars

OK I'm a Brad Pitt but boy BUT this is a hell of a movie.It's sports but a whole lot more.There is a honor and pathos to the story that if we haven't gone thru a similar challenge ourselves,we wish we had.
Billy Bean ( Brad Pitt) had a short career as a ball player rather than going to college.A decision he made for money and learned a bitter lesson from.You see he never made it big and, well ,college went by the boards.He married but that didn't last,however he remained extremely close to his young daughter, Kerris Dorsey who play Casey Beane.She was a scene stealer.Jonah Hill  as Peter Brand,Billy's new assistant,shows he more than a drunken du-fuss and might really be a actor !!! Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Art Howe as a manager who was NOT on board but reaped the benefits .
Back to the story.After losing to the Yankees in the playoffs,and losing his top players to free agency,Billy buys into new computer stats developed by Peter to find the right players to rebuild the team with on a shoestring budget.
Its a hellava story and at the end after setting a all time consecutive win streak and STILL losing in the playoffs,Billy turns down a all-time recored offer from the Red Sox and stays with Oakland.The Red Sox win the series 2 years later using Billy's ideas and Billy's still in Oakland,still trying.Trailer URL follows the pix.The film was released in 2011 and runs a engrossing 133 minutes.A perfect 5 stars because its far more than a sports movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgh6HQSM1gM

A Night to Remember ( 1958 ) - 4 stars out of 5 stars

A alternative to the mega hit "Titanic"by Cameron.This earlier film is based on true accounts and is gripping as well as moving.Released in 1958 and shot in b&w it still holds up fairly well but at 123 minutes may be a might long.Thus 1 star off for length and b&w.Still Kenneth More as Second Officer Charles Herbert Lightoller ,the storyteller,has always been a fav of mine.Trailer follows the pix and IMDB summary below.See it if you want a idea of what really happened that night.

A successful attempt at an even-handed portrayal of the White Star Line's (later part of Cunard) luxury liner R.M.S. Titanic's sinking from the standpoint of 2nd Officer Charles Herbert Lightoller, himself the most senior of the ill-fated ship's Deck Officers to survive the disaster. (Lightoller later went on to distinguish himself as a line British Naval Officer during the First World War and served as a Senior Naval Staff Officer (convoys) during WWII. Between wars he owned and operated a successful family business producing pleasure craft.) His own survival of the sinking, along with several others, is shown atop one of the liner's two "collapsible" lifeboats which was capsized in floating off the liner as it sank. The picture depicts then known facts (c1958) as reported after the sinking; such as the woeful lack of adequate lifeboats, the ship's band playing true to the very end... Written by drew_wallner@verizon.net 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEbr-FRI10U

Heaven's Gate - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

When this film was released in 1980 the movie critics called this the "worst"movie ever made.It's not THAT bad.I give it my bearly watch 2 1/2 stars because it's TOO long at 140 minutes.and the story is short.The real story is the old settlers vs cattleman saga of that era.The filler is a warped love story invoking a whore,gunman lawman and bar keeper.
That said its a sprawling canvas of the wide  open spaces that was Wyoming and great acting even if the story was stretched almost to boring.When the big show down comes it was,in a way,worth the wait,maybe. Kris Kristofferson as James Averill  was never better.
Christopher Walken as Nathan D. Champion was never more sane.Jeff Bridges as John L. Bridges was never more obscure,Sam Waterston as Frank Canton was never more evil,John Hurt as Billy Irvine never more irrelevant and Isabelle Huppert as Ella Watson may have been the most interesting of the bunch on many levels.A few other early roles by better known actors today like Richard Masur and Mickey Rourke and Brad Dourif.
Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.

Michael Cimino's bleak anti-western based on events in 1890s Wyoming. Sheriff James Averill attempts to protect immigrant farmers from wealthy cattle interests, and also clashes with a hired gun, Nathan Champion, over the woman they both love, Ella Watson. Both men find themselves questioning their roles in the furious conflict between wealthy landowners and European immigrants attempting to build new lives on the American frontier, which culminates in a brutal pitched battle. Written by Bernard Keane <BKeane2@email.dot.gov.au>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shs6ZboDwSQ

Guarding Tess - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Surprising movie with Shirley MacLaine as Tess Carlisle,window of a former US President and a surprising understated Nicolas Cage as Doug Chesnic,head of the secret service detail assigned to protect her. Released in 1994 and running only 96 minutes its no classic but its a little fluff when your always getting hammered in many movies.Funny and witty with a little suspenseful ending,its good escapist fun in a washington world that sorrily needs it.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.Worth 3 1/2 stars for fluff.  

Doug is a Secret Service Agent who has just completed his stint in charge protecting Tess Carlisle, widow of a former U.S. President, and close personal friend of the President. He finds that she has requested that he not be rotated but instead return to be her permanent detail. Doug is crushed. He wants off her detail. She is very difficult to guard and makes her detail crazy with her whims and demands. Doug returns with no idea of how to continue dealing with her. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net> 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPAmy4XO_tE

Time Bandits - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1981 and running 116 minutes this film is like a acid trip from the 60's.Bad music from George Harrison and half of Monty Python + a movie LOST in time.The acting is boorish and the plot silly.Maybe it worked in 81 as everyone was still high from the 60's but now it doesn't translate at all and dwarves??? If you want a flash back to a different time and values maybe,but now,no.Trailer URL follows pix and a IMDB summary below.2 and 1/2 stars for what could have been.

Kevin, an imaginative child, goes on a time-travelling adventure with a bunch of treasure-hunting dwarves, who have "borrowed" a map to the Universe's time holes from The Supreme Being. Written by Stewart M. Clamen <clamen@cs.cmu.edu> 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwnjENpIyq0

Excalibur - 4 stars out of 5 stars

In this wonderful version of "King Arthur"we get a darker version with incest,infidelity,betrayal,lust,patricide and still a tale of Honor and morality that has become known as the time of "Camelot"What a cast and yet the main part of Arthur played by     Nigel Terry takes some time to warm up to.That plus the 140  minute length caused me to take 1 star off.Still this 1981 version focus on the sword as a symbol of right and that who wields it,is well worth the time.It stands well against the CGI crap in theaters today.Hey,a young Helen Mirren as Morgana,half sister of Arthur is worth seeing in of itself.Small parts in the beginning by Gabriel Byrne as the bad guy father of Arthur and Liam Neeson as his envied enemy are to short sadly.Finally Nicol Williamson as Merlin is both sinister and sad.MUST see if you like sword and sorcery.One of the most rousing scores for this sort of movie as well.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary is below.

The myth of King Arthur brought once again to the screen. Uthur Pendragon is given the mystical sword Excalibur by the wizard Merlyn. At his death Uthur buries the sword into a stone, and the next man that can pull it out will be King of England. Years later Arthur, Uthur's bastard son draws Excalibur and becomes king. Guided by Merlyn, Arthur marries Guenivere and gathers the Knights of the Round Table. Arthur's evil half-sister Morgana sires a son with him, who may prove his downfall. Written by Greg Bole <bole@life.bio.sunysb.edu>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emF-m9qnF5o

The Last Man on Earth - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Released in 1964 and running only 86 minutes this is my favorite film based on the Richard Matheson book"I am Legend"The movie is not as scary as Romero's "Night of the living dead"but the story is every bit as thought provoking.My main issue is the feel is sort TVish and off course b&w thus the 1 and 1/2 stars off.However,Price excels as a man who has to survive against the vampires all by himself .
The ending is remarkable and a bit unsettling and not in a horrific way.
A must see once if your into post vampire/zombie/apocalypse films.Trailer URL below and IMDB summary below.

Dr. Robert Morgan is the only survivor of a devastating world-wide plague due to a mysterious immunity he acquired to the bacterium while working in Central America years ago. He is all alone now... or so it seems. As night falls, plague victims begin to leave their graves, part of a hellish undead army that''s thirsting for blood...his! Written by Jeremy Lunt <durlinlunt@acadia.net> 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4mYireNvcg

Treasure Island - (1950) 3 stars out of 5 stars

"If sailor tales and sailor tunes, storm and adventure, heat and cold. If schooners, islands and maroons and buccaneers and buried gold, and all the old romance retold exactly in the ancient way can please as me they pleased of old the wiser youngsters of today... So be it!" Robert Lewis Stevenson

There are a few versions of this movie and even a few TV series and a new movie in production I understand.And why not?? Unlike the silly pirates of the Caribbean series of movies,this story is based on a real novel a classic,by Robert Lewis Stevenson rather than a kids ride at a theme park.My issue with this film version,the one I grew up on,is its a little dated and looks like it was shot mostly in doors or on sound stages with only a few scenes outdoors.Its also very slow moving thus 2 stars off.Released in 1950 it runs but 96 minutes.What really makes this movie memorable is the classic performance of Robert Newton as Long John Silver  and the way a very young Bobby Driscoll as Jim Hawkins plays to him rather than being cutesy and trying to steal the film.It is after all a Disney film.So if you want to see a good pirate film with limited action but a classic story of growing up,see the film.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.

Enchanted by the idea of locating treasure buried by Captain Flint, Squire Trelawney, Dr. Livesey and Jim Hawkins charter a sailing voyage to a Caribbean island. Unfortunately, a large number of Flint's old pirate crew are aboard the ship, including Long John Silver. Written by Patchy Groundfog <strat@ix.netcom.com>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVX5ZfTcGNU

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

A very strange film to review.On one hand,the casting,Paul Reubens,of Pee Wee Herman fame ,is Amilyn a vampire servant to Rutger Hauer as Lothos,the leader.Both interesting calls here.Reubens may be my favorite part of the movie. Donald Sutherland as Merrick ,a old teacher of future vampire slayers and even future academy award winner Hilary Swank as Kimberly,a dipsy girlfriend of Buffy.However Kristy Swanson as Buffy,the title character and Luke Perry as Pike,her boy toy leave me cool.Almost lost is David Arquette as Benny,Pikes friend turned into a vampire.So the casting is wild and the script can be termed as Valley girl beats up vampires rethinks to PMS.As comedy goes,its a personnel taste but the slowness of Buffys tumbling skills can be termed over camp and loses all believability of any seriousness in the outcome in her battles with the evil doers.  We must remember this film did spawn a very successful and long running TV series.I however can only rate it bearly watchable as I don't really know whats meant to be camp or believed.Thus 2 and 1/2 stars off.Released in 1992 it is also short at only 86 minutes.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.


Buffy Summers has the lifestyle any young woman could want. Cheerleading, dating the captain of the basketball team, and copious amounts of time spent shopping with friends. She had no idea of her true calling until a mysterious man named Merrick approached her and told her that she is the Slayer; one woman called to defend the world from vampires. Reluctant to concede to the fact, Buffy soon learns that Merrick speaks the truth and so begins to take her new life seriously while trying to maintain the sense of normality her life had once been. With her best friends slowly abandoning her, Buffy finds solace in the town outcast, Pike, who knows very well the terrors that have arisen. Together, they combat the forces of the old and powerful vampire, Lothos, who has his eyes set on Buffy. Written by Vampire-Sharpshooter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnZkV_aR_9w

Rio Bravo - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

It has been said that John Carpenter drew inspiration from this film when he did "Assault on percent 13"There are some simualatries so perhaps but Howard Hawks directed this typical good vs bad and heavy odds western with a A+ cast.Released in 1959 and running a little long at 148 minutes it's still a fine old west morality play staring John Wayne,a surprisingly good Dean Martin,and a rare film appearance of Ricky Nelson and a early Angie Dickinson,classic Ward Bond and many more.I remember when HBO started, this film played 3 or 4 times a day,every day.It was a mainstay of early programming.So see the trailer after the pix and a IMDB summary is below.My only issue is the length of the film and it takes a long time to get to the good parts:)So I took 1 and 1/2 stars off for that.

A small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a cripple, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTVdVEvAAqA

Blade Runner - 4 stars out of 5 stars

A movie that has to be seen more than once to"get it"and I think I finally got it,thanks to the new battlestar galactic TV series.The cylons in that TV show that I love are based on the replicants from this movie and NOW I get it somewhat.There are many levels to this movie, all dark, and when it first came out in 1982 running 117 minutes,I couldn't see the story for the darkness.Now I believe I can. The cast is A+ starting with Harrison Ford but what woke me to Battlestar and the Cylons was the casting of Edward James Olmos as a cop in this movie.Talk about circle of life.My only problem with this story is the cynicism of the "bladerunner"works against the horror of the replicants,a problem I thought Battlestar handled poorly as well.Thats a tough issue to deal with when you have to face the demon you created yourself..That's the reason I took 1 star off.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below

In a cyberpunk vision of the future, man has developed the technology to create replicants, human clones used to serve in the colonies outside Earth but with fixed lifespans. In Los Angeles, 2019, Deckard is a Blade Runner, a cop who specialises in terminating replicants. Originally in retirement, he is forced to re-enter the force when six replicants escape from an offworld colony to Earth. Written by Graeme Roy <gsr@cbmamiga.demon.co.uk>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPcZHjKJBnE&feature=fvst

Gangs of New York - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

Ever see a movie and than wonder what you just saw ? A fine sprawling depiction of Manhattan NY in 1963 ending with the little remember Civil War draft riots broken by the Union army.Historically a beautiful film.Than whats wrong?Maybe its the cast.Leonardo DiCaprio,too pretty boy.Cameron Diaz just doesn't fit here,and Liam Neeson was killed off in the beginning.Daniel Day-Lewis does work but he's the only stand out.For such a sprawling drama we need a more riveting cast to match.Martin Scorsese did a fine job of creating the right time and feel so if for no other reason,see it for the historical context.
released in 2002 its too long at 167 minutes and for the wrong cast I take off 1 and 1/2 stars.Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.

1863. America was born in the streets. In this movie, we see Amsterdam Vallon returning to the Five Points of America to seek vengeance against the psychotic gangland kingpin Bill the Butcher who murdered his father years ago. With an eager pickpocket by his side and a whole new army, Vallon fights his way to seek vengeance on the Butcher and restore peace in the area. However this is more said than done. Written by Omar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRKx7hd3X9k

Lethal Weapon - 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

It's easy to poke fun at Mel Gibson but we should not forget the good films he made because he grew up to be a idiot.The Lethal Weapon series of films are the finest of the"buddy"cop films ever made and like most franchises the first is the best.Released in 1987 and it runs 110 minutes,the only thing is its' slightly dated thus I took 1/2 star off.
Danny Glover as Roger Murtaugh ,the sane one in this buddy duo,became a star from these films even though he had been around for a few years.Playing a straight man doesn't always translate to success  but Danny adds a respectability to a tough second banana role in this case.Personally I think these lethal weapon films are Mel's best work for the range he brings.This first film bares its all.From wanting to kill himself in the beginning to willing to die for a new friend at the end."All emotions are in play "to quote from Star Trek.Me,not in this  film:)Watch a trail blazing film with quotes like "well I haven't killed you yet"when Rodger after a close call asks Mel 's character Martin Riggs if he's killed anyone today.Yes Rodger is too old for this but may we never be:)
Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.Oh good supporting roles and shout out to Gary Busey     as Joshua,the bad guy and loved seeing that great wall of sound singer Darlene Love as Trish Murtaugh  in a dramatic role,although she does more in the future installments of this franchise than in this first one.

A veteran cop, Murtough, is partnered with a young homicidal cop, Riggs. Both having one thing in common, hating working in pairs. Now they must learn to work with one and other to stop a gang of drug smugglers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxB69wonwXg