Fast X (2023) and The Killing Fields (1984)

I recently watched these two movies in the last month (The Killing Fields was actually a re-watch for the third time; it goes without saying that it's a great classic film that I highly recommend!). 

These two movies have almost nothing in common except for one scene where the main characters find themselves needing to create a passport in a desperate situation. 

If you've seen The Killing Fields, based on a true story, then you may remember the heartbreaking scene where the American journalists (including Sam Waterson and John Malkovich) rush to create a passport for their endangered Cambodian colleague Dith Prahn (Haing S. Ngnor) so he can escape imprisonment by the rebelling militia. Sadly, the journalists can't develop a decent photograph / passport fast enough and can't help him escape, leading to Prahn's four years of enslavement in the death camps of Cambodia.

In Fast X, the young son of Dom and his uncle (John Cena) escape the bad guys by creating a passport using digital photos and a printer in a matter of seconds in the trunk of their car. I couldn't help but think of how people 50 years ago would or could use the technology we have today.

Fast X is what I'd call a "dumb fun" / guilty pleasure movie. Almost every situation is pretty ridiculous, especially the ending (spoiler alert). The writers have a challenge to explain how Giselle (Gal Gadot) is back; was she hiding all these years by Mr. Nobody? Did she not die at the end of Fast 6, falling out of that plane? If she survived with bone fractures, paralysis, or loss of limbs, it would make a little more sense, and an action hero with a disability is something we haven't seen in this series yet. Or is she Giselle's long lost twin sister? Two years is a long time to wait for the answer! But they have me hooked!

I liked Rita Moreno's cameo in the beginning, but why was she all by herself visiting? When an abuela (grandma) comes to visit doesn't she normally come with at least a caregiver / sister / aunt / cousin or two? How about bringing in some additional characters/cameos? Gina Rodriguez could play cousin Myra. Or Bad Bunny could play Cousin Jaime. 

By the way, when the bad guys come breaking down the walls and doors of the house to attack Dom's family, I was hoping Rita Moreno wasn't still in the house. I must have missed the scene where she left because I thought she was still in there. Bad / choppy editing in my opinion.

I liked that Dom's young son has a bigger part now that's a little older, and is able to take part in the action some more himself. I think this series is going in the right direction by setting up the next generation of heroes!

Also, Laura from Laura's Misc Musing also enjoyed this movie, too! Read her review at her blog here. 

   

The Karate Kid Parts 1-3 (1984-89)

I watched all of the first 3 movies and really enjoyed them! I hadn't seen the first in over 30 years so it was an enjoyable rewatch. The movie holds up pretty decently. I think one of the secrets to not make a film look dated is to avoid showing alot of technology like phones, camera, radios and tvs. There's not much of that in this movie so it appears more timeless. I really liked Part II and their trip to Okinawa. The scenery and music were great and I liked the love stories in the movie and the storm at the end that causes the corrupt landowner to have a change of heart. Part III spotlighted Miyagi's bonsai tree store and the "secret tree' he had hidden at the bottom of a steep cliff. That was a pretty amazing development. He also reveals something that he hadn't said before in the movies, that his heart would be empty without the young Daniel character. It was fate that they met, like many great friendships. 

I got a better sense of how merciless the "kobra kai" students and their teachers are. And now I know why the TV show has been popular using the same characters. I never saw the show but my friend was telling me that it's basically a new generation of students doing the same thing. I'm not sure I'm really that interested in it, and the drama. I guess I don't really care for the characters that much. They're a bunch of racist assholes in the movies and don't really care to spend more time with them. I asked my friend if Ralph Macchio's character Daniel still has the car that Miyagi gave him, and learned that he does, and that the Daniel character is now teaching his son the ways of the master. That's about all I really care about in the saga. 

Jaws 2, Jaws 3, Jaws: The Revenge

I re-watched these three sequels recently -- my verdict is that they did not age very well, especially Part 2 and Part 3 - I found those to be so dull and boring to watch. 

As for Part 2 - Who cares about the people on Amity Island? I mean, really? Give us some characters to like or care about besides Chief Brody. Or his kids. At least make them interesting. The Mayor is a jerk--- it would've been really satisfying to see him get eaten by the shark. 

Jaws 3 is also very dull. The characters aren't interesting, not even Dennis Quaid. Louis Gossett is supposed to play a greedy corporate type, but I wasn't sure if I was supposed to like him or not. I kind of like the idea of a shark attacking a theme park - think of all the various situations that could happen--but there's not much to it. The best part only happens in the last 10 minutes when the shark breaks through the glass - it should have happened 2 hours sooner. I always remember - Jurassic World (2015), which handled suspense and thrills at a theme park much better.

To my surprise, the Jaws sequel I enjoyed the most out of these three was the most critically panned one - Jaws the Revenge. It's almost universally panned as one of the worst movies and sequels ever made. Except by me. I found I actually liked it on this re-watch. I first saw it when it came out in theaters in 1987, and at the time, I didn't think it was great, but I didn't hate it either. There is some subtle adult humor and dialogue by some of the characters - including the marine biologist (Mario Van Peeples) that went right over my head at the time; I was only about 11 years old. I liked Peeples' character, and also liked the diversity of the cast which is really refreshing. And I liked the Brody widow/mom/grandmom and Michael Caine relationship - it was totally believable that he would be interested in her. He's such a good actor that he's good even in a crappy movie.

As for the shark stuff. Well I dunno about that. I do like that the Brody mom finally leaves Amity and goes to live somewhere else. But another killer shark following her and attacking her family even after she moves??? You really have to turn off part of your brain to enjoy this film I think. 

There is a spiritual/magical/mystical element to it that I kind of liked, and wished was explored more in this film. From what I read, the original plan was to have someone put a voodoo curse put on the Brody Family and have a shark attack them no matter where they go. That would actually explain a whole lot about this movie. But that specific element \got cut from the film, unfortunately. Apparently, the novelization of the film has the curse in place. 

One thing I didn't like - the ending...it's really bad - it's not clear what happens to the shark. That's the worst thing about it in my opinion. I guess it's good that no other Jaws movies were made after that. And hopefully these sequels are lessons to future filmmakers on how to make good sequels and avoid bad ones.

Still, out of all the Jaws sequels, Jaws:The Revenge is my favorite.

On Golden Pond (1981)

On Golden Pond is a film that I never thought I would enjoy watching because as a young person, I never thought I could identify with the characters or story. But in recent months I've been seeking out films dealing with reconnecting with one's parents, as I've been faced with reuniting with my own birth-father after many years of estrangement (this may likely be a topic of another blog post or two in the future...). My reunion experience has been difficult for me to discuss with other family members; it was a very emotional experience. I have an older relative who has expressed disagreement with me reconnecting with my birth-father because of his abandonment of my mother and I. The difficulty I've had with communicating with certain family members has made me feel as if there's something wrong with me, and that I'm the only one who has trouble communicating with family members; this personal experience has affected me so much that I've even had to take some time off from blogging for a long time as well.

I knew of some of the main themes of On Golden Pond, including reconnecting with your elderly parents/relatives, but it's only been in recent days that I felt ready to watch the film.

The main character, Norman Thayer, played by Henry Fonda, has a cranky, stubborn, and blunt personality that rubs people the wrong way; that becomes clear as we see him interact with several characters at the start of the film. For many of us, if we meet someone like that, we might likely not want to be friends with them. However, one person who loves him dearly is his devoted wife of over 40 years played by Katherine Hepburn. Her character is very interesting and ultimately inspiring because she demonstrates by example how to have to patience with him, and we understand through her character that the Fonda character has flaws, and is not perfect. He's having memory problems, and is slowing down, and at one point almost accidentally burns their New England summer cottage down, their cottage on the lake "Golden Pond". I have relatives that live near a lake in suburban Chicago, and it's not too unlike Golden Pond, so I could imagine what life is like for the characters.

The other characters in the film all have to deal with Norman in their own way, including his daughter Chelsea (Jane Fonda), who is very busy with her career in Los Angeles yet finds the time to come to visit her parents at the cottage after many years. After she arrives, Norman, always an overbearing father, makes her feel like a child again. I've felt the same way when I visit older relatives. I have a relative who is 87 and can say some embarrassing and hurtful things, and can make me feel like a child at holiday gatherings.

There's a poignant scene in the film where Chelsea has a heart-to-heart talk with her mom, saying how she wishes to be friends with her father, and wishes they could be more compatible. But her mom reminds her that Norman is a man of 80 years old, and that we need to accept him as who he is and tries to encourage her to not be so disagreeable with her past. "Life goes on", she says. "Get on with it."  It's a reminder to me when I relate to my own older family members, as their personalities are theirs and will not change.

There's also a great sequence in the film where Norman takes Chelesa's soon-to-be-stepson out on the lake to go fishing, and they have a great time trying to catch a legendary elusive fish. Norman isn't really such a bad guy after all; he's really a hero to the members of his family.

I was really amazed to learn that the film (and the play it was based on) was written by a young man (Ernest Thompson) who was in his 20s at the time. That's fascinating to me because the characters are much older, and complex.

All of the characters in On Golden Pond are ones I could either identify with or are ones that remind me of real people in my own life, and after watching the film I now feel as if I'm not alone in my familial plight. For these reasons, I consider the film to be a very inspirational one to me personally, and I hope you have a chance to enjoy it sometime too if you haven't seen it.

Steel Magnolias (1989) and Educating Rita (1983)

Last year I went to see the stage play of Steel Magnolias at a local repertory theater, and I loved comparing it with it's 1989 film counterpart. In the case of Magnolias, the film -- in my opinion -- is far better than the stage version. For one thing, there's no way you can top a cast like Sally Field, Shirley MacClaine and Julia Roberts. Also, I love how the movie breaks out of the beauty shop and explores the entire town and introduces the viewer to all the other people in the women's lives, including the suitor who charms Shirley.  And I loved Shirley's dog in the film; a nice touch. And this has got to be one of of Dolly Parton's best movie roles and the part suits her well.  A few years ago, another TV-film version came out starring Queen Latifah and Alfre Woodard and is on my to-see list.

Another stage play I saw recently was Educating Rita; I had seen the 1983 film version, one of the first movies I ever watched on a VHS tape. If you don't remember that movie, it's about a middle age professor (Michael Caine) who tutors a young, unschooled married hair stylist (Julie Walters) who dreams of becoming more cultured; in the process they change each other's lives (a premise reminiscent of Pygmalion or My Fair Lady). It's an inspiring tale, filled with witty dialogue and many references to great literature. The movie version is delightful - Caine and Walters are top-notch and deserved their Oscar nominations. And I like how the movie breaks out of the professor's office setting, taking you inside Rita's house and inside the saloons where the professor frequents. However, the movie feels dated, especially the synthetic music score. On stage, it's a different experience - only the two main characters; in the production I saw, the actors were outstanding, especially the actor who played Rita, a challenging part that she knocked out of the park. I hope she gets some local award recognition. Alas, this may be an example of where there play is actually better than the film.

Rocky 1-5, Rocky Balboa, and Creed

To celebrate the release of Creed this fall, I rewatched all of the Rocky movies on Blu-Ray. here's my take on each one, with my favorites being the original Rocky, Rocky III, and Rocky Balboa (followed by Rocky II, V, Creed, and IV).

Rocky (1976)
On this re-watch, what stuck out to me the most was how lonely Rocky is, and how he really doesn't have any family. Even on Thanksgiving Day, he has no where to go except by Paulie and Adrian's. He keeps a photograph of his parents in his apartment, but we don't learn much about them or the details of his growing up. It made me want to see a movie about a young Rocky growing up; maybe someone will make that movie one day. Another thing that I hadn't noticed before is a photo of Paulie in his younger days when he was in the Navy.

Rocky II (1979)
Picks up immediately after the last movie, and we get a rematch between Apollo Creed and Rocky. In the meantime Rocky gets a job hauling meat and raising a newborn son after marrying Adrian. His proposal in the zoo by the tiger cage is classic: "I was wondering if you wouldn't mind marrying me too much?" One of my favorite parts of the movie is when Mickey has Rocky chase a chicken, which Rocky does with Donnie Creed in Creed (2015).


Rocky III (1982)
Great montage in the beginning showing how Rocky becomes champion of the world, set to the "Eye of the Tiger" song. Then Rocky prepares to fight Clubber Lang (Mr. T) and is trained by Apollo when Mickey dies. Fun movie and it's great to see Apollo and Rocky become friends. There's a private fight at the end of the movie between them, and we as the audience never learn who won until 2015's Creed, when Rocky reveals that Apollo won. I also love the painting at the end of the movie, which ends up in Rocky's restaurant in Rocky Balboa and Creed. We assume that it was painted by Paulie. I also had forgotten that this was the movie where the "Rocky" statue was unveiled. Wow - that's been up for over 30 years!

Rocky IV (1985)
My least favorite of all the films, but it is still fun to watch especially the final fight between Rocky and the Russian boxer played by Dolph Lundgren. I didn't like the actor that played Rocky's son; he just isn't convincing to me that he's the son of Rocky and Adrian.


Rocky V (1990)
I like this movie, and it really does feel like an early 90s film thanks to the soundtrack. Rocky has to deal with some health issues and is faced with retirement. But a young boxer comes to visit him seeking a mentor, and Rocky slips into the "trainer" role for the first time. I also liked the subplot involving Rocky and his "rocky" relationship with his son (played very good by Sage Stallone, rest in peace). Another subplot involves Rocky losing all of his wealth and having to sell off everything in an auction. It seems almost unbelievable that these types of things can happen to a superstar, but sadly it does happen---for example, Burt Reynolds recently had to do the same thing due to his many debts. I liked the streetfight at the end too, even though we don't get Rocky in the ring.  Another thing I liked is the flashback scene with Rocky and Micky, which is really sentimental but gives us a little bit more of a glimpse into their relationship.

Rocky Balboa (2006)
This movie is the most sentimental of all the Rocky movies, but that's exactly why I love it. The final fight scene is cool, but what I love the most about the movie is all the other stuff happening leading to that fight. For starters, we learn that Adrian died, and that Rocky started a restaurant business and named the restaurant after her. The restaurant looks like an awesome place to visit, by the way. Rocky even allows his old rivals to come and work there part time. I like how a minor character from the first movie - "Little Marie" - steps back into Rocky's life and we get to see what became of her. Finally, it's interesting to see how Rocky's son doesn't follow in his father's footsteps. Instead, he works for a corporate firm in downtown Philly, which is exactly what Rocky wanted to do in Rocky II. After the events of Rocky V, it's not surprising that the son doesn't become a boxer.

Creed (2015)
Not a bad film; and it's packed with an emotional punch. I enjoyed it and would watch it again, even if its story seems very similar to the original 1976 Rocky and a little bit of 1990's Rocky V as Rocky becomes the trainer and doesn't box. Michael B. Jordan gives a good performance as "Donnie" Creed - who seeks mentorship from Rocky and calls him "uncle". Early on in the movie we see Donnie working in an office - and getting a promotion even - but decides to become a fighter full time. I liked the relationship that blossoms with the girl he meets in his apartment, and how he helps Rocky deal the health issues he's facing. My favorite scene in the movie happens right before the final fight sequence--when Rocky and his training team walk out to the ring from the locker room with Donnie. It's a long walk that takes maybe a minute or two but the camera shows them as if we are following right behind them the entire way. That's a cool shot; the cinematography in general is very good. It's also nice to see Rocky at work in his restaurant again. One of the saddest moments in the entire film is when Rocky explains to Donnie that his son had no interest in boxing, moved out of town, and started a new life in Vancouver. It made me think that Rocky is so alone in the world, without much of any family nearby. And here comes Donnie, who becomes a long lost "son" who is almost like the boxer"son" that Rocky always wanted. And sure enough, I left the theater wanting to see more of this saga. And surely more Rocky! Maybe another movie? If that happens, I would definitely go see it.  It would be really cool if we get to see Rocky's son again, and maybe be introduced to Rocky's grandson (or daughter).

Gloria (1980) by Cassavetes and Trucker (2008)

At the beginning of Gloria, a young boy escapes from the mob after his entire family is killed; the killers want the boy, too, but Gloria (Gena Rowlands) steps in to protect him.

The movie was filmed entirely on location in New York, which is almost a third main character.  At one point I caught of glimpse of a Barnes and Noble bookstore, which was neat to see. And in the subway there's a billboard for a radio station with Kenny Rogers' picture on it (he was a big deal in that period of time).

It took some getting used to the actor who plays the orphan. As I understand, the child was not a professional actor, and not the best actor, either. Apparently he "won" a "Razzie" for Worst Supporting Actor that year, unfortunately.  It really does feel like the child was miscast, and he usually feels unprepared and unmotivated to act or deliver his lines. However this might have been a smart casting choice on the part of director John Cassavetes. Since the character's entire life is shaken to its core in a matter of minutes, there's an edge to the boy, and after awhile I got used to him.

In Peter Bogdanovich's book "Movie of the Week", Peter talks about how John Cassavetes - the film's writer-director - originally wanted Peter to direct and Barbra Streisand to star. Barbra didn't want to do it because she didn't think anyone would believe her in the role.

Gena is great Gloria, a complex character that is fascinating to watch. There's a touching scene in the middle of the film when Gloria takes the young boy to a cemetery and teaches him the importance of saying goodbye. She says to him (paraphrasing), "Your parents are not here, but you can still talk to them here. Pick any stones - those look like nice ones. Say whatever comes to your heart". The scene made me break down emotionally. Gloria cares about the boy even though she's connected with the mob herself.  She has a sense of decency.  The ending of the film is also a tearjerker.

I also watched another movie with a similar mother-son theme, Trucker from 2008. It stars Michelle Monaghan as a young trucker who is reluctantly reunited with her 10 year old son when the father becomes terminally ill.  After a number of arguments, the two both learn to accept each other. This film also has a few heartbreaking scenes including one involving the sick dad (Benjamin Bratt) trying to explain to his son he is going to die.  I recommend this movie, which co-stars Nathan Fillion as an unhappily married man who loves Michelle.

Here's a 2023 review of this movie from the blog Laura's Misc Musings. 

Another review from Flickers In Time (blog)

The Right Stuff (1983)

The new sci-fi / space movie Interstellar has been one of the most talked-about films of the year; but if one stops to consider, there would be no Interstellar without the events depicted in 1983's The Right Stuff,  the true story of the space race and the first American astronauts, IE the "Mercury Seven".

The film spans about 20 years, from the late 1940s to the mid 1960s as we get to see how test pilots such as Alan Shepard (Scott Glenn) and Gus Grissom (Fred Ward) handle their new lives as astronauts.

In his Movie Guide, Leonard Maltin writes, "it is a long movie, but never boring" with "exhilarating moments". My favorite scene is when John Glenn (Ed Harris) first orbits the globe. It's an awesome moment in a great film about real heroes.

I love how each character becomes memorable in his or her own way, even the minor characters such as the military recruiters played by Jeff Goldblum and Harry Shearer.  Veronica Cartwright  has a small role but is very memorable as one of the test pilots' wives; in one scene she suffers a breakdown when she realizes she wont be able to meet President Kennedy and his wife.   Also excellent are Dennis Quaid, Barbara Hershey, Pamela Reed, Kim Stanley, Kathy Baker, and Sam Shepard as record-setting test pilot Chuck Yeager (1923 - ). Intelligently directed by Philip Kaufman.

The film earned Roger Ebert's and Gene Siskel's pick as the  #1 Film of 1983.

Read Roger Ebert's essay on The Right Stuff in his "Great Movies" series:
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-right-stuff-1983

The Lonely Guy (1984)

This post is my contribution to 1984-A-Thon hosted by Forgotten Films. Click here for a list of all the participating blogs in the blogathon.

1984's The Lonely Guy is one of my favorite Steve Martin films, along with Planes Trains and Automobiles and Roxanne.

This movie (originally panned by Ebert but enjoyed by Siskel - watch their TV review from 1984 here) is a romantic comedy with lots of amusing sight gags and a bit of dark humor. Neil Simon is credited as one of the screenwriters.

In honor of its 30th anniversary, I've come up with 30 reasons why I enjoy this film.

1. Steve Martin's performance. My favorite moment in the film might be when he's interviewing for an apartment and has to answer all the landlord's questions in rapid succession.  Comic brilliance.  

2 The opening credit song Love Comes Without Warning by America and theme music by Jerry Goldsmith. Cheesey, but it seems to fit this era.

3. How it satirizes self-help gurus and dating in general (albeit dating in the 1980s). A well- known 80s' relationship guru of the time - Dr. Joyce Brothers - even agreed to make a cameo appearance.

4. The running "lonely guy" gag. Martin's character lives in a society where single, hopeless-romantics are stigmatized with that label. To enjoy this movie, I think you have to buy into this  premise.

5. The opening scenes giving us a brief history of lonely guys through the ages, such as the caveman who always had to spend New Year's Eve alone. 

6. All the visual humor. For example, when Martin goes apartment hunting, one of the apartments he visits is half underwater!

7. In the memorable restaurant scene, a spotlight shines on Martin after he orders a table for one! Martin sits down and asks the waiter, "Could you turn off the spotlight?" The waiter goes *snap* and off goes the light. Even Roger Ebert who hated the movie enjoyed that scene. 

8. Charles Grodin as Martin's sad-sack best friend. Grodin is a great sidekick to Martin, and creates a memorable character who is sort of like a  human "Eeyore" from Winnie the Pooh. Martin is the more upbeat and ambitious of the two, and they make a great  screen pairing. 

9. In one of my favorite scenes, Martin visits Grodin who has life-size cardboard cutouts of celebrities in his apartment (1980s-era celebrities, of course). A police officer comes by the apartment and painfully admits that he's a "lonely cop" and wants nothing more than a life-size cut-out of Gene Hackman (who of course played a hero cop in The French Connection).

10.  The scene where Martin meets Iris (Judith Ivey) in the diner, and how Iris can immediately tell that he's a "lonely guy". 

11. After the first meeting, Martin loses Iris' phone number and forgets her name. Martin frantically calls almost every almost everyone listed in the phone book. "Hello is there a Doris there? How about Bess or Tess?"

12.  The subway scene. In a classic scene, Martin is riding on a NY subway, looks out the window and suddenly sees Iris. He then grabs a can of spray paint from a gangbanger to write a message on the glass, impressing the gangbanger who exclaims: "Man, you are one baaaad backwards writer!"

13. How Martin's character is a greeting card writer, and the funny greetings he comes up with. I bet that this was the first time the occupation has ever been depicted on film, years before 500 Days of Summer featured a character with the same occupation.

14. The fact that it was directed by Arthur Hiller - who helmed one of the 1970s' most popular romances, Love Story.  He adds a touch of sentimentally that gives the film heart. I like how when the lovers daydream about each other, the scenes are superimposed on free-frame shots.

15. The New York setting, and all the scenes in Central Park. 

16.  The rooftop scene, where Martin cries out for Iris and is joined by other guys on rooptops crying out for women they lost.

17. Martin meets a girl in a bar and starts to tell her how much he wants a real serious relationship, and after a long emotional pitch by Martin, she reveals that she's just looking for sex. 

18. Martin and Grodin pop in VCR tapes of crackling log fires or scenes of fish swimming in an aquarium.

19. Martin and Grodin both buy ferns and treat them like real people. I've never been able to think of ferns in the same way again.

20. Martin visiting his psychiatrist. He rings the doorbell, and the doctor says, "Talk into the box". Martin bares his soul while a nosey neighbor listens to all.

21. The chess scene where Grodin plays chess with a computer that talks back.

22. Martin's fast-talking landlord. 

23. Crooner Steve Lawrence singing "Isn't it Romantic?". You can't have him in a movie without a little singing.

24. How Martin's character finds success with his best-selling book, "A Guide for the Lonely Guy" yet still struggles with his relationships.

25. Martin dressed as Chaplin at a costume party.

26. Grodin watching a sci-fi movie all by himself at another party. 

27. The channel surfing scene. Toward the end of the film, Martin has a disturbing vision of wasting his life away on the couch watching TV, and is thrown into the garbage. He suddenly  jumps off his couch, looks at his remote as if it were a loaded pistol and tosses it to the ground. It's a hilarious moment.   

28. Martin's own personal police escort as he runs to find Iris.

29. The very last scene of the movie. A great pay-off for Grodin's character, and a happy ending that leaves me smiling every time I see it. 

30. Seeing all the outdated technology.  The Lonley Guy feels like it was made a half-century ago or more, as characters use antiquated technology like typewriters, push-button phones, address books, and VHS tapes. No one uses cell-phones or does any texting, tweeting, online dating, or facebooking.   

But this nostalgia factor is one of the reasons why I love The Lonely Guy, and other movies from the 1980s.

If you feel the same, be sure to check out more movies from 1984 in the 1984-A-Thon hosted by Forgotten Films.

The Conjuring (2013) and Poltergeist (1983)

Last weekend I went to see The Conjuring, a new thriller now in theaters. I was curious about it because I heard good things from other bloggers and reviewers, and was intrigued that it was inspired by true events surrounding a real haunted house and the ghost hunters (a real-life couple) who investigated it in the 1970s.

This is a well-made motion picture that I'm highly recommending. It's the kind of movie that gets scarier and scarier as it progresses, and might not be everyone's cup of tea. But every now and then some of us are in the mood for a good "haunted house movie", and this film really raises the bar. I'd say it's destined to become something of a memorable classic in years to come. There are terrific performances by Vera Farminga and Lili Taylor, who deserve some sort of recognition come awards time next year. Especially Lili Taylor - what her character has to endure in this film is gut wrenching.

The children in The Conjuring have demanding roles, too. There are 5 young girls and each has a unique "encounter" in the house. Needless to say, there is alot of screaming.

The investigators in The Conjuring are played by Vera Farminga and Patrick Wilson, a husband-and-wife team. At the start of the movie, they are giving a lecture, and we immediately understand that they are always "in demand". As the movie progresses we learn about their history investigating paranormal events, and about their relationship together.  And they make a lovely couple on screen; the movie is just as much about their love and endurance as it is about the family in the house. If you like investigator "couples" like the ones on "The X-Files" or "Bones", then you might like this movie.

I found The Conjuring to be an impressive film and highly recommend it.

I was also in the mood to rewatch Poltergeist on DVD the same weekend. I saw that movie on television when I was about 10 and will never forget how much it scared me, and how much fun it was to talk about with my classmates the next day. I don't remember the scene with the parents smoking marijuana, though - that part must have been edited for television or flown over my head back then.  A couple of take-aways from my rewatch: I really liked how the cemetery fitted in with the whole haunting situation. And I liked how technology was used to record the ghosts - that was very creepy.  (The Conjuring features innovative audio and video recording techniques, too). I forgot how integral Beatrice Staight's character was in the movie; she plays a scientist at a local college who visits the house. I really like the scene she has when she consoles the young boy.  And her campus office looked like the same one that the paranormal investigators played by Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd had in Ghostbusters. 

The children in Poltergeist are memorable - who can forget Carol Anne and how she "talks" to the ghosts in the static on the TV. By the way, seeing all that "TV static" made me nostalgic for that again; I guess we'll only see that in old movies now. By the way, there is even a quick shot of television static in The Conjuring, which may or may not be an homage to Poltergiest. (Conjuring is set in the early 1970s, and we also see the children watching Brady Bunch, too).

The clairvoyant in Poltergiest is played by Zelda Rubenstein, who passed away a few years ago. Her character in this film has to be one of the most memorable characters in the history of horror cinema, if not cinema. As soon as she comes on the screen, you know the ghosts are going to get their asses kicked.

I also rewatched Poltergiest II: The Other Side (1986) and Poltergiest III  (1988) for the first time. I don't have much to say about them except that they are both inferior sequels. The last time I saw Part II was in the theaters more than 25 years ago and the only scene I remembered was the part where the boy's braces attack him; that scene is ingrained in my brain for life. Everything else about the film is pretty awful, especially the preacher ghost who's something of a ripoff of the Robert Mitchum character in Night of the Hunter. Part III is even worse; the name "Carol Ann" is screamed or yelled over 100 times and is totally annoying unless you are playing a drinking game.

Ellen Burstyn in Resurrection (1980)

After an severe auto accident, Ellen Burstyn's character has a glimpse of the afterlife while she is be operated on in the hospital. She experiences "seeing the light", which many people report when they are near death.

Unable to walk, she moves in with her father and grandmother (Eva Le Gallienne) and begins a new life in a new community. She meets other sick people in town and discovers that she is able to heal their illnesses, and is also able to feel the pain of their sickness as well. Her legs also miraculously heal.

The grandmother attributes the phenomena to the work of a higher power. Ellen is skeptical; I like the line where she says "I'm not the Holy Ghost...and I'm not exactly the virgin Mary either!" That's about as comedic as the film gets, as it's more drama than comedy.

Some of the townsfolk are skeptical as well, and psychologists want to run tests on her. But she wants to help the community, and even sets up revival-style tent meetings. Well-intentioned, she never exploits the people.

I've been wanting to see this movie for a long time, and it is now available to watch online streaming on Youtube. Ellen Burstyn delivers a good performance; the film is all about how her character deals with the new situations she is faced with after the car accident that kills her husband. Does she really have the power to heal? Well, the movie actually leaves it open for you to decide. I personally don't believe in faith healers, but I do believe that certain healings are sometimes unexplained. Ellen's character even says, "I can only heal 30% of the time". 

Maybe that's the point of the movie, to think about what causes this phenomenon. 

I think a 1990s movie with John Travolta called "Phenomenon" was somewhat similar, but I haven't seen that movie. It might make for a good double feature with this one.

Co-starring Roberts Blossom (Home Alone) as her father and Sam Shepard and Richard Farnsworth as kind townsfolk. A great cast!

The Man With Bogart's Face (1980)

In the 1970s, actor Robert Scacci gained fame for his uncanny resemblance to Humphrey Bogart. For a while, he was cast in all kinds of commercials and TV shows. And then someone had the idea to actually cast him in a movie playing - what else? - Bogart. Well, sort of. He doesn't actually portray him; he just plays a lookalike. That movie became The Man With Bogart's Face, released in 1980, and the running gag throughout the film was his resemblance to the iconic star.  Not only does Scacci have Borgart's face, but also his voice and mannerisms, and his wardrobe includes a 1940s-era trenchcoat.

And throughout the movie he's constantly referencing old movies and movie stars (and radio programs, too!).

The character even changes his name to "Sam Marlowe" and becomes a private eye!

The character of Sam Marlowe in this film sort of becomes Bogart in an unusual way that's oddly fascinating to watch. After awhile I forgot I was watching an impersonator and it felt as if Bogart was brought back to life in 1980.

The character's motives are not fully explained, but whatever they are, we get the point - he loves Bogart. Pop singer Michelle Phillips plays the love interest that Sam falls for. She looks just like Gene Tierney, which prompts Sam to say things like "she has the same face that tempted Tyrone Power in The Razor's Edge").

There are cameos from a number of Bogart contemporaries such as Mike Mazurky, Victor Sen-Young (from Across the Pacific), and Yvonne DeCarlo.  Henry Wilcoxian (age 75 at the time) plays a bookstore owner. My favorite is the cameo by George Raft, who has the best line in the film: "I've come across guys like this before".

It's a bit silly, and not a great movie, but it's fun to watch once. Filmed all around Los Angeles, it's largely forgotten today.  I liked the cameos and co-stars: Olivia Hussey, Pat Buono, Herbert Lom and Franco Nero.

I don't know what Gene Tierney or Lauren Bacall thought about this film at the time.

Robert Scacci is still living today. He hasn't been in anything notable in years.

Hackers (1995) and War Games (1983) and Q&A with John Badham

Seeing WarGames again after about 25 years was great fun! It's  impossible to watch it today without reflecting on how far technology has come, and how rare it is to see pay phones! The movie is a time capsule of that era, a little bit of nostalgia for all who attended last night's screening at the Egyptian Theater. I had forgotten so much about the film that it was like watching it for the first time. Just LOVED that video arcade scene in the beginning - brought back SO many memories!!!

Regardless of the technology, it's a great story. And has a great cast of characters. I think my favorite part was when Matthew Broderick asks his computer geek friends for help. That's a great part, and the audience loved it. A number of recognizable actors appear in very brief scenes, including Maurey Chaykin (one of the geeks), Michael Madsen and James Tolkan.

It would have been a very different film in the hands of another director, according to John Badham (73) was in attendance and talked about the film, and how he got involved with the project. There were a number of good questions from audience members, including one from my friend who asked him what he thought about the previous-released direct-to-video film WarGames 2 and the proposed "remake". Badham said he had "no comment".... He wasn't involved in "Part 2" (I didn't even know there was one) and isn't involved with the remake. Someone else asked him if any politicians contacted him about the film, and he said there was a special dinner and screening in California back in '83 with some Senators;  that was about it. 

Someone in the audience was a huge fan of Badham's film American Flyers, which was filmed in LA; it's a movie I've never seen but is in my queue. 

After the Q&A, the second film in the double feature was Hackers (with Angelina Jolie) which has numerous references to WarGames and is also sort of a time capsule (no one uses cell phones, floppy disks still being used, etc)  The less said about that one the better. Let's just say I fell asleep during it. 

E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial (1982) 30th anniversary screening

The other day I went to see a 30th anniversary screening of the film ET; it was an outdoor movie event "under the stars", which is usually always a fun experience, even if the movie isn't so great. This was the very first time I've ever seen ET in its entirety;  I've always avoided it over the years and never got into the whole craze.

Suspending my disbelief, I bought into the idea that the alien was smart enough to build a communication device to contact his planet, even in the pre-internet, pre-cell phone days of the early 1980s (what a feat!).

Also I liked the bonding with the boy and the alien. Its fair to say that this movie -unlike its subsequent ripoffs - has a heart, in more ways than one. On a sidenote, Henry Thomas, the actor who played Elliot hasn't vanished into obscurity; he has a new independent movie out where he will portray country music legend Hank Williams Sr (due to premiere in cinemas this summer).

ET has forever captured on film many of the same toys I played with as a kid. I spent countless hours with that Speak-N-Spell. What an awesome toy that was!!  So this brought back some memories!

The version of the film that was shown - I learned later - was the 2002 director's cut, with some additional scenes and some added CGI technology (mostly effects that further animate the alien creature). The GCI didn't fool me; I recognized it right away. However I mistakenly thought the part where the alien watches John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in The Quiet Man was a deleted scene until I learned that it was in the original. A neat part.

The 2002 DVD (2 discs) has a ton of features that I haven't watched yet.

Summer of 1982: films released

A link to a list:

Summer of 1982: 15 Classic Films Turn 30 list

Wow. I just saw this list and thought to myself: 30.

Could it be 30 years? Hard to believe.

Thief (1981)

Directed by Michael Mann. James Caan plays a diamond thief who wants to pull one last job before he retires for good.

After spending over a decade in jail, the last thing he wants is anything to backfire.

Willie Nelson has a small role as his mentor who is still in jail.

Caan also wants to settle down (with Tuesday Weld) and adopt a baby, but gangster Robert Prosky steps into the picture and assumes to control his life. But not for long...

Filmed in Chicago.

Clash of the Titans (1981 and 2010 versions)

Fondly remembering the older version, I went to go see the new Titans over the weekend and enjoyed it. Special effects have come a long way in 30 years and the time was right for an update. I think I like this movie better than the original, when I first saw it on a black-and-white television when I was a kid.

What do I most remember about the 1981 version? Of course, the Medusa sequence. The original was pretty scary when I saw it as a kid. Even if I knew the snakes in her hair were all made out of clay (maybe seeing it in B/W added to the fear). As an adult, this new version was even more terrifying, with her long slithering tail and killer gaze.



There is a really good cover story in this week's Entertainment Weekly. I learned that the director of the remake, Louis Laterrier thought the same as I did when he re-watched the 1981 original: "It was a better movie in my memory". When I now watch the 1981 film, I can't help but think that Laurence Olivier (Zeus) and Burgess Meredith chose to do this just for the money. Other renowned actors such as Maggie Smith and Claire Bloom give the film a fragment of respectability.

The original movie is still OK with me, but it's does seem dated with its stop motion animated creatures. But before CGI, that's the best we could do.


In the new film, we also have a number of well known stars playing the gods: Liam Neeson is Zeus, and Ralph Fiennes is Hades.

Interestingly, they both were in Schindler's List. In that film, as you may recall, Fiennes also played a demonic character.



The new Titans is a bit darker, and is more intense. Some who have seen it in 3D have been complaining, saying there are no cool effects. I went to see it in 3-D and I didn't think it wasn't all bad. Plus, remember that back in the 1950s they only had paper 3-D glasses (not nice plastic ones we have now), and those kids lined up to see a matinee of "The Blob" would love to see such action like this today.

In the new version, Perseus (Sam Worthington), the son of Zeus, is motivated by revenge rather than his love for Andromeda, who is to be sacrificed to the "Kraken" monster. Worthington is OK, but I would have rather seen someone else play this. He seems like he doesn't want to be in this movie.

And instead of the chirping stop-motion "Bibo the Owl" creature that accompanied Perseus in the original, we now have a beautiful guide by the name of Io, played by Gemma Arterton.

For a great review and comparison between the two versions, check out Monty's post at his awesome new blog dedicated to TV and movie superheros, Hero Worship.

Tender Mercies (1983) and Crazy Heart (2009)

Note #1: There are some "spoilers" in this double-review.

Note #2: This is the last in a two part series on alcoholism (yesterday's review was Mad Wednesday)

So, just a few weekends ago, Jeff Bridges won his first Oscar for "Crazy Heart" which has been generating alot of buzz for months. Reviewers continue to draw comparisons to the 1983 classic "Tender Mercies" starring Robert Duvall as "Max Sledge": both movies tell the story of famous (although fictional) country stars who want to leave music behind, but just can't quit. And both have their share of demons, including the bottle.

My main interested in seeing "Crazy" was to find out if it is just an imitation, which they say is the sincerest form of flattery. So last weekend, I went to a local neighborhood theater to check it out. It was a matinee, so the price of admission was thankfully only five dollars. I was expecting alot of "aw, come on" similarities between this and the older, Bruce Beresford-directed film. And sure enough, it did have them. Here is my checklist:

• Washed up and broke country singer (check)


• Still has legion of fans (check)


• Sought after by reporter (check)


• Meets single mother and falls for her and the kid (check)


• Attempts to reconnect with his long lost kin (check)


• Tries to sell some of his songs while trying to keep up with the latest in country music (check)


• Puts down the bottle (check)

Also, I was surprised to find out that it also features Duvall himself in a supporting role as the fishing buddy of protagonist Bad Blake, played by Bridges. Bad Blake travels through the southwest alone in his truck looking for bar gigs in between drinks. One night while he's onstage, in the middle of a song, he excuses himself to go out in the alley to puke in a garbage can, only to return to the stage with a stained shirt and slurred voice. His behavior is that pathetic, and it only gets worse later on. I'd say for much of the film, it's very much a story about a trash talking alcoholic singer who is pretty much winging it through life; it's not until the very end of the film - and his closest relationships end - that he starts to sober up and look ahead to a more promising future.

As co-producer, Duvall obviously found alot to like in this film. As I was watching it, I was looking for that, and even imagined this film as a "sequel" of sorts to "Mercies", and seeing his supporting character as an older version of Mac Sledge. It's hard not to think that; in one scene he encourages Bad Blake: I know, I've been there before.

"Crazy Heart" was based on a 1987 novel, and directed by first-time director Scott Cooper, a supporting actor who's had mostly bit parts over the years. But he does get a very good performance out of Bridges, whose character is hard to like.

The best part of the movie is the music. I love country music and loved all these songs, and I was convinced that these were real hits by this former star. There is a young rival, played by Colin Farrell, who is obviously modeled after pop-country star Keith Urban. Even though Bad Blake is of the Kris Kristofferson generation (Bridges even resembles him a bit) he finds time to sing on stage with the younger act; in one exciting scene they both play to a sold-out crowd in a huge ampitheater. You feel like you're at the concert.

"Crazy Heart" has even been compared with "The Wrestler"; there are some scenes where Bad Blake has a few close calls, and I became convinced that he only has a few years to go. It ends with him happy with his career and new life, even though he's still alone.

"Tender Mercies", written by the late Horton Foote (who won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay) is a film that tells a different story. Max doesn't struggle with drinking throughout the duration of the film like Bad Blake. In the very first scenes, he has already begun to settle down with his new family and has quit drinking. Max finds comfort in his renewed faith, his new family, and his music; he's sought after again by record companies and bands, and he has to deal with it all, especially the musical success of his ex-wife (Betty Buckley), also a singer. All of the main characters are very self reflective throughout, which I think makes this film the classic that it is. Life - and making peace with oneself - is one main theme; death - and it's meaning - is another. Another good performance in this is by the underrated actor Wilford Brimley, who was in lots of 1980s hits, including Cocoon (I think he should have won the Oscar, not Don Ameche). And the young actor who plays Max's stepson Sonny is so good; I was surprised to learn that this was his only film. Sonny never met his real dad, who may or may not have been killed. But he learns to love Max like a father; the ending scene stays with you for a long time and is an inspiring, tender if you will, moment on film. I didn't want this movie to end. With "Crazy Heart", I was glad it was over, I must say. My friend and I left the theater saying to each other "haven't we seen this film before"?

In closing, I highly recommend the 1983 movie, and highly recommend the CD of "Crazy Heart" if you like country music.

BONUS:

Here are the best songs from "Crazy Heart" (they should have been nominated for Oscars):

The Patricia Neal Story (1981, Made-for-TV)

My favorite film starring Patricia Neal (b. 1926) is The Subject Was Roses (1968). In my opinion, she delivers one of the finest film performances of the decade.

Roses was her "comeback film" role.

In between Hud (1963, for which she won the Best Actress Oscar) and Roses, Ms. Neal suffered three life threatening aneurysms, all in 1965.

She was pregnant at the time, and was even filming a movie, John Ford's 7 Women. (Anne Bancroft stepped in to fill her role in the picture).

In this fine biographical TV-film (first televised in the United States in December 1981), the actress' rehabilitation process is portrayed. Pat had to learn how to walk and speak -- and to live -- again after her coma. If you watch the film, be prepared to be moved by Glenda Jackson's (b. 1936) remarkable, Emmy-nominated performance.

Dirk Bogarde (1921-1999) also gives an intense performance as her supportive and loving husband, British writer Roald Dahl, and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his moving portrayal. And if the name Roald Dahl sounds familiar, it is because he wrote the original "The Fantastic Mr. Fox", which was just adapted into a stop-motion animated film last year and is up for an Oscar this weekend.

Television actress and model ("All My Children") Sydney Penny, only 10 years old at the time, plays one of their daughters.

Veteran character actress Mildred "Millie" Dunnock (1901-1991), a friend of Ms. Neal's in real life, portrays herself in the film, in a very candid performance which required her to play herself as she felt at the time: scared, and at times, hopeless.

It's an emotional film. In one scene, after Pat is released from the hospital, she's back at home recovering and is watching the Oscars, longing to be there in person to present.

The film, though inspiring, is also somewhat bittersweet in hindsight: Neal and Dahl divorced in 1983 (after thirty years) due to his infidelity.

Ms. Neal, now age 84, continues to act and make public appearances.

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) and A Christmas Carol (2009) with Jim Carrey

Mickey's Christmas Carol is a 24-minute animated short, that was first released in U.S. theaters in December 1983 (it opened in the UK two months earlier). It was accompanied by the re-release of 1977's great adventure classic "The Rescuers". I didn't see it in theaters at the time, but did watch it on TV when it was televised for the first time in the mid 80s. My cousins recorded it on their new VCR and let me borrow the tape. Needless to say, I have fond memories of watching this over and over. Nowadays I cannot watch any version of this classic tale without thinking of Scrooge McDuck (voiced by Alan Young). Scrooge McDuck was a minor comic book character in Disney comics since the post-war years of the 1940s, and this was his biggest hit - the perfect role for him. This was also the very first theatrical cartoon featuring Mickey Mouse in 30 years, since 1953's The Simple Things (watch The Simple Things now on You Tube). Mickey plays Bob Cratchit, and Donald Duck plays Fred. Characters from classic Disney animated shorts and features have supporting roles, including Jiminy Cricket as the ghost of Christmas past, and Mr. Toad as Fezziwig.

"Mickey's Christmas Carol" was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Short in 1983, but lost to the 3-1/2 minute claymation "Sundae in New York" - featuring an Ed Koch caricature singing the old Sinatra tune while prancing around the city - arguably one of the great injustices in the history of the Oscars! (Watch Sundae in New York now on You Tube --- you decide which film should have won!) Oh well, let me get off my soapbox now, and present "Mickey's Christmas Carol". Enjoy!

Watch Part 1:



Watch Part 2:



Watch Part 3:

---

Postscript:

On Thanksgiving night last Thursday, I went to see Robert Zemekis' new version of "A Christmas Carol" in 3-D, from Walt Disney Pictures. Overall I was impressed, enjoyed the aerial and street shots of London. Jim Carrey's Scrooge was entertaining, but seeing him as all 3 ghosts of Christmas past got a bit tiresome after awhile.

A scaled-down Scrooge the size of a rat (in one sequence) was an interesting element. And I must say, I'm happy to see 3-D making a comeback. Trailers before the movie included no fewer than 4 movies to be released in 3-D next year.

Throughout the film, though, I could not help but be reminded of my favorite all time version of Dickens' classic --- "Mickey's Christmas Carol".