Born To Be Wild

It is funny sometimes when a movie you thought was awesome in your youth actually turns out to be a movie that is just decent at best.  Ten years ago, I would have told you that Domino is one of the greatest action movies ever made.  Ten years later, I will tell you that the action in the movie is good, the performances are great, but overall Domino is not very good.  This is a shame because I have such a love and appreciation for Tony Scott's work as a director.

Domino is the story of Domino Harvey and her life as a bounty hunter.  To be honest, I found this movie to be quite slow and boring.  The performances and the action scenes, particularly the shootout at the top of the Space Needle, are what kept me invested.  In the end, I was glad for it to be over.  There are some flaws in the movie.  For some reason, every time Domino (Keira Knightley) tells us about a new character we see a flashback of that person's life.  That is not necessary at all.  Also, there are many parts of the film that are shown in slow motion.  Slow motion works when you put it in the right places, but not when it is used throughout the movie.  Also, there is part in the movie when they crash their R.V., and after they escape Domino and Choco (Edgar Ramirez) immediately start having sex right in the middle of the desert.  WHAT?!  That makes absolutely no sense at all.  Another thing is that, in the aforementioned shootout, why is it so dark at the top of the Space Needle?  How are they able to see each other, much less shoot each other?  When you add all these things to an already boring movie, the result is not very good.  However, most of the performances are stellar.

Keira Knightley electrifies the screen as Domino Harvey.  She kicks ass, has a smart mouth, and is completely fearless.  I always enjoy it when an actor/actress goes against type, and Knightley does so with such ferocity.  She disappears into this role just as she always does.

Mickey Rourke plays Ed Moseby.  He is the leader of the pack, and Rourke does not have to do much convincing to make us believe that.  He remains cool and focused even in the face of death.  This is honestly one of the best pieces of acting I have ever seen from Rourke.

Edgar Ramirez plays Choco.  Choco has a soft exterior, but that is just a cover for this wild beast of a man that will shoot your arm off without any hesitation.  Unfortunately, there is no motivation behind the character.  He is just there as Ed Moseby's sidekick, and he really has little to do throughout the movie.

The late Tony Scott is the director of Domino.  Long before J.J. Abrams started using lens flares, Tony Scott was bringing us his own signature flashy style of directing.  The camerawork, again particularly in the action scenes, is amazing.  Unfortunately, Scott gets too caught up in his own style and does too much with it which diminishes the quality of the movie.  That being said, Domino is an incredible rare misstep for the highly under-appreciated and under-rated Tony Scott.

As I said before, Domino is an average movie at best.  If you are one of those movie fans like me who collect entire collections of an actor's/director's work, then I would recommend Domino to complete your Tony Scott collection.  However, if you are a fan of Tony Scott's other films you probably will not enjoy it.

Dude, What The Hell Did I Just Watch?

I had never seen Dude, Where's My Car before and it is probably best that I never watched it at all.  The funny thing is, I had a gut feeling that I was going to hate it.  Dude, Where's My Car is so monumentally bad that it makes you want to watch an awesome movie immediately afterward.

Dude, Where's My Car is the story of two stoners who wake up after a night of partying and cannot remember what happened. To begin with, the transitions are just god-awful and make no sense.  Plus, if Jesse and Chester are so dumb, how the hell do they know how to speak Japanese?  Also, they have a dog that smokes weed?  Really?  You want to know what is dumber than that?  At one point they think their dog is dead.  Well, in one shot the dog's eyes are closed and in the next shot they are open!!  That is just terrible editing.  Also, saying variations of the same phrase over and over again is NOT....I repeat...NOT FUNNY!!!  The jokes are not funny, one of the character's voices sounds dubbed, and the twins do not even look like twins.  Their bird dies too, although we never actually see how.  There is also an awful music video in the movie, and there are labels that introduce every new character.  Also, having a blind kid swing at a baseball all by his lonesome is not funny.  It is very, very stupid.  Oh, and there is this group of gorgeous women who are looking for Jesse and Chester but every time they find them, they leave.  WHAT?!  Finally, Fabio's girlfriend from earlier in the movie attacks them at the very end which made absolutely no sense at all.

Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott play Jesse and Chester, respectively.  I have never been a fan of Kutcher, and this movie reminds me of that.  Both actors are clearly trying way too hard to be funny.  They end up coming off very stale.  I guarantee you that the only ones who think they are funny are themselves.

Danny Leiner is the director of Dude, Where's My Car.  I am not sure what was going on in his head, but it clearly was not much at all.  There is no story to this movie at all.  It is just a jumbled, garbled mess.

Dude, Where's My Car is one of the worst movies I have ever seen.  It is a metaphorical punch to the brain for 80 minutes.  I cannot and will not recommend this movie to anyone.  Ever.

A Movie That Has The Key To Our Hearts

I remember seeing Robin Hood: Men in Tights when I was in high school, and I thought it was one of the funniest movies I had ever seen.  Also, for some reason it still remains to this day the only Mel Brooks movie I own in my collection.  It is a movie that hearkens back to the days when spoofs were actually good and ruled the box office.

Robin Hood: Men in Tights is not only a spoof of Robin Hood, but more specifically Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner.  It is a fantastic, hilarious romp through the forest that is full of gags that never get old.  There is also a Mel Brooks cameo in the movie that is just as hilarious as the entire movie.  Come to think of it, there are a number of cameos in the movie by legendary comedians.

Cary Elwes is one of my favorite actors.  He can do comedy and drama extremely well.  I own 7 or 8 movies that he is in, and every time I watch him I smile.  He is suave, lethal and brave as Robin of Loxley.  There are a couple of sword fights in the film that, for anyone who has seen The Princess Bride, feel very nostalgic.  Elwes is perfect in the role, and his comedic timing is brilliant.

The legendary Mel Brooks is the director of Robin Hood: Men in Tights.  Mel Brooks is one of those directors that I am very familiar with even though I have not seen many of his movies.  You would think that a movie filled with gags would get boring after a while, but Brooks makes sure those gags are well-timed.  I know that Robin Hood: Men in Tights was one of the last films he directed.  I would love to see his earlier work, and maybe he will choose to direct sometime in the near future because the spoof genre definitely needs him.

Robin Hood: Men in Tights is a fantastic and hilarious movie.  It is one of the greatest spoofs of all time, directed by one of history's great directors.  I am so happy to own this movie, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Bump In The Night

I just watched this movie called Trick ‘r Treat.  Good horror movies, even decent horror movies, are hard to come by these days.  I was pleasantly surprised with this movie because it hearkened back to the glory days of horror flicks.

Trick ‘r Treat tells four interwoven stories that all occur on Halloween.  I was very impressed with the way the four stories in the movie inter-weaved with each other.  I typically do not like it when a movie flashbacks to “Earlier…” in the story, and then fast forwards to “Later…”, but with Trick ‘r Treat this was actually a very useful storytelling device.  This movie also pays tribute to the horror movies of the 80’s because of the whole “have sex and get killed” plot device. 

Michael Dougherty is the director of Trick ‘r Treat.  I mentioned earlier that this movie reminded me of the days when horror movies were actually great, and that is absolutely true.  The way things are framed, and also the way objects occupy the frame, feels very natural and does not feel predictable at all.  There is a genuine creepiness to this movie that makes you feel uneasy.  There are also quite a number of well-timed jump scares that will make you wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. 

Trick ‘r Treat is one of the better horror movies I have seen, especially these days.  It has the classic horror feel to it, so do not watch it in the dark.  If you are a fan of 80’s horror, you should definitely check this one out.

Going Against Guidelines

Good Morning, Vietnam is the movie that makes me miss Robin Williams the most.  It is the ultimate Robin Williams showcase which is why I love it so dearly.  It is a movie that makes you laugh, but it can also make you cry.

Good Morning, Vietnam is the story of Adrian Cronauer who shakes things up on the radio waves in Vietnam.  We clearly see at the beginning of the movie that the radio broadcasts are quite boring and very monotone.  As soon as Adrian Cronauer arrives, Vietnam’s airwaves are filled with his energetic comedy that gives the country a completely different vibe.  If you keep a keen eye, you can catch the cutaway to the radio loudness meter being overblown that signals Cronauer’s arrival.  I love the fact that Cronauer’s superior officers do not like his humor except for the man who hired him, General Taylor.  Cronauer knows this too, which leads to some brilliant rebelliousness.  There is also a moment in the film where “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong is wonderfully set against the violent backdrop of the conflict of Vietnam.

Robin Williams plays Adrian Cronauer.  He is tour de force in this movie, perhaps more than any other movie he is in.  While this movie is certainly driven by William’s comedy, there are also a number of wonderful moments where he displays his talent as a dramatic actor.  We see that Vietnam is a bit of a culture shock for Cronauer.  He has never seen violence like this, and it is hard for him to deal with it.  In a moment of brilliance, he reports “unofficial” news on the air.  Why?  Because he was there.  It DID happen.  However, the army does not want the world to know how violent the conflict in Vietnam really is.  This leads to a couple of moments where Cronauer says that he is tired of being told what he can and can’t say.  These are ironic moments from an actor who got his start in stand-up comedy, where you get away with saying almost anything.

Barry Levinson is the director of Good Morning, Vietnam.  He does a very good job of capturing the culture and the violent world of Vietnam.  He also realizes that Robin Williams is the focal point of the movie.  You really get the feeling that Levinson put a microphone in front of Williams and just let him go.

Robin Williams gives one of his greatest performances in this movie, and I am sure he is rocking the airwaves up in the Big House.  I miss him every day, almost as if I have lost a member of my own family.  Good Morning, Vietnam is a classic, and if you have not seen it you should do so immediately.

I'll Have The "Total Destruction" With A Side Of Cheese, Please

Well, chalk up another movie on the “heard of but never seen” list.  I just watched Demolition Man for the first time.  I love action movies, so I was very much looking forward to watching it.  Overall, I was pleased with the film.

Demolition Man is the story of an officer who gets revived out of suspended animation to hunt down an old enemy. I liked this movie.  Personally, I do not always need action movies to be on the level of “Terminator” or “Rambo”.  I am perfectly happy sitting in on a Saturday night and watching movies like Judge Dredd, or in this case Demolition Man.  Demolition Man is a great example of an average, cheesy action flick.  When I say it is average, I do not mean that in a degrading way.  This is a movie that does not pretend to be anything more than what it is.  It does not take itself too seriously, and there is nothing wrong with that.  That being said, I think this movie could have done without the cheesy hand gestures.  I understand that the people of 2032 do things a bit differently and have never experienced violence, but to suggest that they have never shaken a person’s hand is just ridiculous.  Also, at one point Sandra Bullock’s character gets security footage for John Spartan because he asked for it…even though we never actually seem him ask her to get it for him.  This is a minor plot hole that honestly did not detract from my enjoyment of the movie.  Speaking of enjoying the movie, there is actually a B-story involving Denis Leary that is integrated quite well alongside the main story.

I have always been a fan of Sylvester Stallone because of the “Rambo” series and the “Rocky” series.  The man is a legend, and to think anything less would be disrespectful.  He helped usher in an era of action movies, and we should all be thankful for that.  In Demolition Man, he plays John Spartan.  Spartan is a man out of time, not familiar with the era that he lives in.  Knowing this, Stallone actually brings a wonderful sense of humor to the role that I honestly did not know he had.  Typically in a movie like this another character would provide the levity, but seeing Stallone do it is quite pleasantly surprising.  At the end of day, though, it is always great to see Stallone do what he does best: cause mayhem and destruction as only he can.

Wesley Snipes is someone that I have also been a huge fan of for years.  In this movie, he plays Simon Phoenix.  Phoenix is a one-man killing machine, which is perfect for Wesley Snipes.  He oozes charisma and confidence, so much so that you might actually find yourself rooting for him.  It is also great to see him unload his 5^th Degree Black Belt on his victims.  Also for all you EXPENDABLES fans like myself, the final showdown between Stallone and Snipes is awesome, even though this movie was released years before.

Marco Brambilla is the director of Demolition Man.  He does a good job of blending the cheesiness with full-blown action.  He also captures the look of the future very well.  I love the designs of the vehicles and buildings. This movie is also edited to perfection thanks to the legendary Stuart Baird (I’m not kidding, look him up). 

If you want to have the guys over for pizza one night and watch a movie, Demolition Man is a great choice.  It has great action, great humor, and even a couple inside-the-industry jokes concerning some future Expendables.  I would recommend this just for the star power of Stallone and Snipes alone.  

Let's Go To The Mall

Mallrats is a movie I had not heard of until I started following Kevin Smith’s work.  While this movie failed financially at the box office, it has since become a cult classic and a favorite among fans.  While I personally think it is Smith’s weakest film, I still enjoy the movie very much.

Mallrats is the story of two friends who go to the mall after their girlfriends break up with them.  One of the things I enjoy most about this movie is that it is a time-capsule movie.  Everything about Mallrats oozes the 90’s.  This movie is also special because it reminds you that at some point in your life it was cool to just go to the mall and chill.

Jason Lee plays Brodie and Shannon Doherty plays his girlfriend, Rene.  The character of Brodie is one that was ahead of his time back when Mallrats was released in 1995.  Brodie is a man who loves comics, however comic book readers were looked down upon in those days, unlike today when they are at the top of the pop culture totem pole.  He is also a lazy idiot who goes to the mall and worships it like a shrine, and has no clue that he has a great girl to call his own.  Jason Lee does not have to try too hard to play this character because he is essentially playing himself.  Rene wants a man who has ambition so she starts seeing this rich prick who owns a store at the mall.  However, she does feel bad for leaving Brodie because she really did love him.  Shannon Doherty is one of the best things about the movie.  You really believe every word she says to Brodie, and you also want her to find someone better than Brodie even though the two are made for each other.  I enjoy characters like that, and Doherty plays it perfectly.

Claire Forlani and Jeremy London play Brandi and T.S., respectively.  Their relationship is similar to Brodie and Rene’s.  T.S. is an asshole so Brandi breaks up with him, and it is only after some major soul-searching that T.S. realizes that Brandi is the one for him.  I like the fact that T.S. professes his love for Brandi on TRUTH OR DATE in front of complete strangers.  It takes guts to do something like that.

Mallrats is a cult classic in every sense of the word.  Again, while it failed financially at the box office it did prove that Kevin Smith can handle a multi-million dollar production.  If you are fan of Kevin Smith, you should definitely check this one out.