tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56365662024-03-07T17:04:13.794-05:00Thoughts That Get Stuck in My HeadHumor, entertainment, and geekery.<br><i>Still #1 in Colbert Fan Fiction!</i><br>Looking for my books? Fly on over to <a href="https://bysuelondon.com/">bysuelondon.com</a>.Sue Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12820606642097170654noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636566.post-33091068271134723752012-03-05T15:16:00.005-05:002012-03-05T15:40:22.773-05:00Back in Time Review: The Mothman Prophesies (2002)<script charset="utf-8" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=ss_mfw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822/US/thougthatgets-20/8001/276a0b18-cad9-4d36-809a-7fc9fc097941" type="text/javascript">
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We all have "those" movies. The ones that we return to again and again even though we can't always explain why. The Mothman Prophesies isn't a great movie. It's good, but not great. And the actors don't exactly put it over the top. I'm not much of a fan of Richard Gere, I like Debra Messing but she isn't in it much. It is the first film where I noticed Laura Linney, who I adore, but she isn't in it a ton either. The really standout performance is the crazy guy played by Will Patton (won't ruin it for you, but you'll know who I mean) and he isn't in it the whole time either. If you read the real accounts it isn't really "true" to those stories, so it's not the crypto-nerd points. It's just... everything. It's a quiet, subtle movie that slowly reaches up and takes hold of you the way that all classic horror stories do. It gives you more questions than answers, more chills than thrills. But it all adds up in a way that will probably make leave all the lights on when going to bed.<br />
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The Mothman Prophesies is loosely based on some mysterious reports in the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia back in the 1960s. Residents reported having seen a large (often seven feet tall) man-shaped being with wings and glowing red eyes. All of those reports seemed to come in advance of a catastrophe in the town. <br />
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From a plot perspective they make a good choice with having the main character be a high-power investigative journalist -- John Klein played by Richard Gere. That career (and some other personal things) make his drive to figure out what's going on very believable and create a thread that the real accounts don't have. John Klein arrives at Point Pleasant under somewhat mysterious circumstances and that also makes his quest for the truth have some weight.<br />
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What's particularly enjoyable to those of us who watch so many things like this is that the Mothman is just downright different. You get to a point where you're tired of vampires, werewolves, and ghosts. Mothman is something else. I could write a whole post about what the Mothman might be, but don't want to ruin it for you if you haven't seen it yet. So watch it now and we can discuss it on <a href="http://twitter.com/cmdrsue" target="_blank">Twitter</a>!<br />
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<b>The Commander's Rating:</b> Four out of five Vulcan salutes.<br />
<b>Pros:</b> A creepy, thinking-person's horror movie with an unusual supernatural phenomenon based on real accounts from the 1960s. If you're a Gere fan I think this is one of his most engaging performances. Laura Linney (Connie Mills), Alan Bates (Alexander Leek), and Will Patton (Gordon Smallwood) all turn in highly engaging performances. <br />
<b>Cons:</b> Not the right film if you are looking for a scream a minute. Also, maybe you don't want to get the Mothman's attention.<br />
<b>Recommendation:</b> Late night fare so that the quiet creepiness can really get to you. Be prepared to be intrigued. For your convenience here's the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothman" target="_blank">link to the Mothman wikipedia entry</a> but I suggest you watch the movie first since they didn't follow the accounts very closely and I think foreknowledge would just be distracting. And as a caution here's a <a href="http://arcanehour.blogspot.com/2011/08/mothman.html" target="_blank">link to our own Mothman experience</a>.Sue Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12820606642097170654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636566.post-72238564170770627732011-12-19T07:00:00.000-05:002011-12-19T07:00:18.169-05:00Guest Back in Time Review: Basic Instinct (1992)<br />
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<b></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">by Izzy Woods </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">This movie was meant to shock you and wasn’t
for the faint hearted. From the opening scene where a woman murders her lover
with planned precision, you know you’re going on a roller coaster ride that
will be more than a little uncomfortable.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
Behind the Scenes of 'That Scene'</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Looking back over history now, the one scene
that has taken up 99% of the talk over this movie isn’t even agreed upon by the
two people involved. Director Paul Verhoeven said that actress Sharon Stone was
ready for the scene where she would cross her legs, giving her interviewers and
the audience of millions opportunity to wonder if she was wearing any
underwear. She wasn’t, but this must be the most replayed frame by frame scene.
Some still aren’t sure after a dozen viewings.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Though there’s no doubt that it has placed her
in the vaults of must-see movies, Sharon Stone tells a different story. She
said she didn’t know anything about the director’s choice of how to play the
scene until it was too late. Ms Stone said she didn’t mind the nude scenes in
the movie, but was disturbed by the murders, not just because of the numbers of
murders, but the way people were killed, as though voyeurs were watching.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">The crew confirmed that body doubles not used
for the many nude scenes. That didn't ruin Ms Stone’s reputation as she
appeared to lose her clothing regularly throughout the movie, a fact not lost
on her new found male and female fans.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Interestingly, Michael Douglas and Sharon
Stone were nowhere near the top of the list to play the leads for the movie,
but after seeing the screenplay, most well known names of the day refused to
sign on.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Lesbian Controversy</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">This brings us to the argument over whether
the movie portrayed lesbians as evil killers or just killers who happened to be
lesbian. Lesbian and gay activists tried to disrupt during shooting of the film
in San Francisco and enthusiastically demonstrated wherever the film opened in
theaters.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Paul Verhoeven had to back down and revert to
the original screenplay as he tried to make the portrayal of the actresses ever
darker. Writer<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Eszterhas"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Joe Eszterhas</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">had a collection of
hits under his belt when he was contracted to write<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103772/"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Basic Instinct</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">. The
writer was paid $3 million. The director removed him but then didn’t agree with
the second writer (over the explicitness) so they went back to the original
Eszterhas version.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">The Story</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">To center on the controversy is wrong. The
movie is quite brilliant. The writer slaved over every word and none are out of
place. The movie may require a second viewing just to check who did commit the
murders. It’s easy to miss the clues and though it appears to show the audience
who was guilty, it isn’t actually confirmed, so it could be open to
interpretation.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">The movie tells the story of a writer and a
killer. The killer acts out the murders from the writer’s back catalogue. The
writer is so manipulative that the detective investigating her falls for her
not knowing if she is in fact, the murderer. Not only does she keep the
detectives on a leash, but the audience too.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">The sex scenes are quite graphic, erotic for
many, leaving nothing to the imagination. Writers are taught to show and not
tell their story. It feels as though the audience is in there with the
copulating couple.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
Box Office Success</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">The movie was an outstanding success. It took
almost $400 million at the box office (this is around twenty years ago) and
became one of the top DVD sellers of the decade. Interestingly, as Sharon Stone
was new to top salaries, her half a million dollar check was just a small part
of the $50 million budget, but this movie alone quadrupled her salary
overnight, giving her plenty of capital for going on<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.iglucruise.com/world-cruises"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">World Cruises</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">on vacation.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">A Disappointing Sequel</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">You had to wait 14 years for<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0430912/"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Basic Instinct 2</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">, which
really wasn’t worth the wait. Only Sharon Stone returned from the first movie
and she hadn’t lost anything in the intervening years. The movie didn’t get
good reviews, although if you can get through to a third viewing, it will grow
on you. However, there is no doubt that it cannot match the heights gained by
the<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.basicinstinct.org/"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">original</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">, which stands in
history as one of the great movies to see. </span></div>Sue Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12820606642097170654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636566.post-44673249852404217762011-08-15T21:07:00.001-05:002011-08-15T21:35:20.169-05:00Back in Time Review: Waynes World (1992)<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Waynes-World-2/dp/B000MGBSJE?ie=UTF8&tag=thougthatgets-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Wayne's World / Wayne's World 2" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000MGBSJE&tag=thougthatgets-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thougthatgets-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000MGBSJE" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />It's probably because I'm of a certain age, but I have Wayne's World codified into my brain. We turned it on tonight and even though we haven't watched it in five to ten years we still use upwards of 90% of the dialog in our conversations. (Quite often I have to keep myself from using asking "Did you ever find Bugs Bunny attractive when he put on a dress and played a girl bunny?" at inappropriate times. Although when that would be appropriate I'm not sure, but there are at least people who expect me to ask it periodically.)<br />
<br />
My favorite sub-plot is Glen, the manager of the donut shop who always seems on the edge of a psychotic breakdown (which edge of it you're never quite sure). <br />
<blockquote><b>Glenn</b>: I'd never done a crazy thing in my life before that night. Why is it, that if a man kills another man in battle it's called heroic; yet if he kills a man in the heat of passion, it's called murder? </blockquote>The movie is also filled with dorky fun references to 70s and 80s pop culture, like a complete reenactment of the "Laverne and Shirley" TV show opener. And a Gremlin (the car, not the movie creature). Plus lots of rock, including the best Bohemian Rhapsody scene ever, at least the best one to not include Freddie Mercury.<br />
<br />
And remember: I love you, man. No, I mean I really, really love you, man. (Just say thank you.)<br />
<br />
<b>The Commander's Rating:</b> Five out of five Vulcan salutes.<br />
<b>Pros: </b>Silly and quotable script, although it's possible you had to "be there" in 1992 to really enjoy it like we do. But to me the scenes with "If you think you have to spew," "No Stairway," and "We're not worthy" would be funny to anyone.<br />
<b>Cons:</b> Corny, if you don't like that. And 90s rocker hair. <br />
<b>Recommendation: </b>Goofy fun, excellent for a late night<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">. And these days there is a pretty good risk you'll just go ahead and start your own Wayne's World type show, even easier now in the age of the internet than with the local cable broadcasts from the movie.<br />
</span></span>Sue Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12820606642097170654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636566.post-57138569642723571252011-03-28T07:00:00.090-05:002011-03-28T20:27:37.804-05:00Back in Time Review: Cutthroat Island (1995)<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cutthroat-Island-Blu-ray-Geena-Davis/dp/B00275EDYA?ie=UTF8&tag=thougthatgets-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cutthroat Island [Blu-ray]" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B00275EDYA&tag=thougthatgets-20" /></a><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thougthatgets-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00275EDYA" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />It really bothers me that <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cutthroat-Island/dp/B000JIN3FM?ie=UTF8&tag=thougthatgets-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Cutthroat Island</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thougthatgets-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000JIN3FM" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> is considered one of the biggest box office flops of all time because it has the same sensibilities as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Caribbean-Trilogy-Seven-Disc-Blu-ray/dp/B004D8P230?ie=UTF8&tag=thougthatgets-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Pirates of the Caribbean</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thougthatgets-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004D8P230" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />. Was it a box office failure because the main character was a strong woman? Was it just because it didn't have the same Disney brand and backing that POTC did? Does it really all come down to Johnny Depp being wacky? In my mind the Morning Star and Black Pearl are sailing the Caribbean seas together with a very similar sense of place and goofy, witty banter.</span></span><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cutthroat-Island/dp/B000JIN3FM?ie=UTF8&tag=thougthatgets-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Cutthroat Island</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thougthatgets-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000JIN3FM" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> we are following the story of <b>Morgan Adams</b>, a pirate captain played by Geena Davis, as she and her crew adventure to find a treasure hidden by her grandfather. The map to the treasure is in three pieces. Morgan inherited the first piece from her father but her pirate uncles hold the other two. As you might expect in a pirating family, trust runs low and double-crossing runs high. Morgan purchases a slave, the educated con-man <b>William Shaw</b> (played by Matthew Modine), to help interpret part of her map that seems to be in Latin.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">Since I think that this is an eminently quotable movie and IMDB does a poor job of highlighting that, a few of my favorites:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><b>Shaw, during their escape through the streets of Port Royal:</b> A ship! I find myself being fired upon by an entire ship! </span></span><br />
<br />
<b>Morgan, watching Shaw's swordplay: </b>Very pretty, Mr. Shaw.<br />
<b>Shaw:</b> Thank you, ma'am! I had the good fortune to study with a Grand Master in Vienna.<br />
<b>Morgan:</b> Now, stop diddling and kill the man. <br />
<b>Shaw:</b> Kill him? Bless me, we never got to that. <br />
<i>Morgan pushes his elbow so that the sword runs through the man. </i><br />
<b>Shaw:</b> I see.<br />
<br />
<b>Morgan, while Shaw is digging a bullet from her hip:</b> Clumsy squab. I was supposed to torture you! <br />
<br />
<b>Morgan, upon proof of Shaw's duplicity:</b> Since you lie so easily and since you are so shallow, I shall lie you in a shallow grave. <br />
<br />
<b>The Commander's Rating:</b> Five out of five Vulcan salutes.<br />
<b>Pros: </b>Piratical hijinks. Geena Davis at her toughest (she's one of the few actresses I take seriously when she throws a punch). The good-looking Matthew Modine (much like Val Kilmer, he has a variety of looks). A likable cast of pirate side-kicks on the Morning Star: Mr. Glasspoole, Mr. Blair, Bowen. And the always entertaining Trotter (we still call out "Trotter" in the house sporadically).<br />
<b>Cons: </b>Corny puns and jokes. Some of the dialog is stilted. Some logic flaws, the kind that are typical for action movies. Frank Langella was a bit too over the top, mostly scripting issues not his acting.<br />
<b>Recommendation:</b> We think this is a fantastic movie for when you are hanging out on the weekend or on vacation. It is family friendly and goofy fun. We actually played our VHS tape until it broke, have played the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cutthroat-Island-Geena-Davis/dp/B000NQRR1G?ie=UTF8&tag=thougthatgets-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">dvd</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thougthatgets-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000NQRR1G" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> endlessly, and look forward to getting the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cutthroat-Island-Blu-ray-Geena-Davis/dp/B00275EDYA?ie=UTF8&tag=thougthatgets-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Blu-ray</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thougthatgets-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00275EDYA" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> soon.Sue Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12820606642097170654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636566.post-36554147979122897042011-02-28T07:00:00.002-05:002011-02-28T07:00:11.559-05:00Back in Time Reviews: Mortal Kombat (1995)<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thougthatgets-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0790729997&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>If you're of a certain age you spent a lot of time in arcades "back in the day," and one of the games you played was Mortal Kombat. You loved it so much that Hollywood decided you'd love a movie about it, too.<br />
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Yeah, not so much.<br />
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It's not a BAD movie...well, maybe it is. But along with its badness there is a certain quirky likability. It's the dorky, sweet cousin you wouldn't want to live with but is fun to visit.<br />
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How do they turn a violent fighting game into a feature length movie? With a contrived situation, of course. The <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113855/">IMDB short description</a>: "Three unknowing martial artists are summoned to a mysterious island to compete in a tournament whose outcome will decide the fate of the world." (Cue the cheesy, intense music. Then scream "MORTAL KOMBAT!")<br />
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Fortunately there's plenty of action, some clever lines, and enough beefcake/cheesecake for the casual movie watcher to stay entertained. Most of the special effects look dated but in some ways that just adds to its dorky charm (similar to Voyages of Sinbad). We consider it a guilty pleasure like the empty calories of a chocolate bar.<br />
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<b>The Commander's Rating:</b> Three out of five Vulcan salutes.<br />
<b>Pros: </b>Mindless action flick (if that's your mood). Wacky humor. Talisa Soto. Robin Shou. The best exercise soundtrack this side of "Jock Jams."<br />
<b>Cons: </b>Christopher Lambert (Seriously? He's the ancient Japanese god of thunder and lightening?) Dorkiness.<br />
<b>Recommendation: </b>A fun watch when you don't have anything better to do - like wash the cat, do some laundry, watch some paint dry... Ok, it's better than that. It's fun when you're in the right mood.Sue Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12820606642097170654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636566.post-85661730616520578212011-02-21T07:00:00.061-05:002011-02-21T07:00:03.536-05:00Back in Time Reviews: Keeping the Faith (2000)<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thougthatgets-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00003CXHG&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Do you have a movie that you totally love but it feels like <span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">no one else you know feels the same way? One of those movies, for me, is "Keeping the Faith." Hubs likes it but I *LOVE* it. Starring Edward Norton, Ben Stiller, and Jenna Elfman, and directed by Edward Norton, any well-boiled-down synopsis starts to sound like a joke: "A priest, a rabbi, and a blonde walk into a bar..."</span></span> Well, ok, actually it starts with the priest going into the bar, but you see where I'm going here.<br />
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The center of the conflict is a love triangle. Father Brian and Rabbi Jake have been best friends forever, but back in middle school they had a third musketeer, the athletic, aggressive Anna Riley (not just a blonde, but a Mick - the joke just keeps going) who had to move away when they were all young teens. Now she's back in town and looking to reconnect with her former best friends. Romantic sparks start to fly.<br />
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<br />
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What makes this movie work is Norton's gentle touch as the director. Although the humor could be outrageous it is done in a sweet, teasing way rather than over the top. Although many of the topics are rife with emotional conflict (family pressures, betrayal, deciding whether to leave the priesthood) they are navigated with an integrity that honors the underlying issue without wallowing in melodrama over it.<br />
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</span></span>Sweet, sweet movie<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">.</span></span><br />
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<b>The Commander's Rating:</b> Five out of five Vulcan salutes.<br />
<b>Pros: </b>Gentle humor. Anne Bancroft, Eli Wallach, and Milos Forman in supporting roles. Enough "best guy friends" scenes (basketball, etc.) to keep men from categorically hating it as a chick flick.<br />
<b>Cons: </b>It might be subtle to the point of bland, depending on your tastes. Guessing not everyone will roll on the floor laughing over the Rabbi trading cards the way I did. <br />
<b>Recommendation: </b>Excellent for girl's night, for any man with emotional depth, or to snuggle with your significant other if they are up for a romantic comedy that includes a priest.Sue Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12820606642097170654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636566.post-50642037390268808752010-12-13T07:00:00.085-05:002011-02-16T21:29:40.747-05:00Back in Time Reviews: Galaxy Quest (1999)<i><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thougthatgets-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001S86J0I&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>"<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">Articles on sci-fi films should focus on the deep philosophical roots of the work, not the creepy sexualized fan culture it inspires." ~ <a href="http://twitter.com/FakeAPStylebook">Fake AP Stylebook</a></span></span></i><br />
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<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">The great thing about Galaxy Quest is that it's a geek tv show inside a geek movie all covered over with a fondant of satire. The basic concept is that a short-run 80s science fiction TV show called "Galaxy Quest" is living a half-life in the convention circuit, like Star Trek in the 70s and Battlestar Galactica in the 90s. (Yes, feel free to cite other examples in the comments: Lost in Space, etc.) There is the friction among the cast members that you would expect in such a situation - inequality of their star power, the serious actor who feels this has ruined their career (think Alec Guiness), the co-stars who seem trapped in this life and sort of aimless. The twist comes in when the lead actor Jason Nesmith (a la Bill Shatner) who played Commander Taggert on the show (a la Captain Kirk) tells his co-stars that he has actually been on an alien ship - and that the aliens believe they are really the characters from the show. Without giving too much away we can just say "hilarity ensues." Sort of a modern geekling <i>Comedy of Errors</i>.</span></span><br />
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<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thougthatgets-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002MU4NL8&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>When I consider the impact of movies one of the metrics is "quoting." Do I still quote this movie 11 years later? Oh, heck yes. Pretty much every character has a line worth repeating at some point. You will find yourself teasing your friends in tense moments with Guy's, "</span></span>Did you guys ever WATCH the show?" Frustrations at work will be met with Gwen's voice in your head saying, "Look! I have one job on this lousy ship, it's *stupid*, but I'm gonna do it! Okay?" <br />
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<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">One of my other metrics for a movie is the number of high profile actors. As you may have noticed often there is an INVERSE relationship between the number of 'stars' and the quality of a movie. Somehow Galaxy Quest manages to defeat this curse. Which stars am I talking about? Probably some of your favorites. Tim Allen (voice of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story), Sigourney Weaver (Ripley from Alien), Alan Rickman (Snape in Harry Potter), Tony Shalhoub (Monk from the TV show Monk), Sam Rockwell (Zaphod Beeblebrox in the latest Hitchhiker's Guide - not his best role, but one of his sci-fi ones), Daryl Mitchell (Dexter on The John Larroquette Show), Enrico Colantoni (Eliot from Just Shoot Me!), Patrick Breen (Reggie from MIB), Missi Pyle (Mrs. Beauregarde in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), and Justin Long (pretty much every movie that's come out for 10 years, also the Mac in Mac vs. PC ads). And that was just listing one thing from each actor's resume. I could write a whole page on Alan Rickman alone (or, as Kevin Smith calls him, Hans-f'ing-Gruber).</span></span><br />
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<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">So, in summary - hilarious geekgasm of a movie. Highly recommended.</span></span><br />
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<b>The Commander's Rating:</b> Five out of five Vulcan salutes.<br />
<b>Pros: </b>Every last little bit of it. Concept, script, actors - it's all brilliant.<br />
<b>Cons: </b>If you aren't a geek you won't get it. If you haven't been to a science fiction convention you won't get parts of it. <br />
<b>Recommendation: </b>If you're a geek and haven't seen this, GET ON IT. If you're not a geek but know a geek, watch it to understand them a little better through the power of humor. If you're not a geek and don't know a geek, well, you're probably not reading this blog. <span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><br />
</span></span>Sue Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12820606642097170654noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636566.post-20824189708488144552010-07-19T16:42:00.005-05:002011-02-16T21:29:40.748-05:00Back in Time Review: Sneakers (1992)<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thougthatgets-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00008OE4W&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Unbelievably, we missed this one when it came through the theater. I say its unbelievable because, in the first place, look at the cast: Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, etc. Second, it was basically a spy mystery movie which is always entertaining. And third, we used to see just about everything and I love Robert Redford and SERIOUSLY HOW IN THE HECK DID WE MISS THIS? Fortunately, a cousin came for a visit and recommended it. Just one of the many reasons why family is important.<br />
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Our hero Marty, portrayed by Robert Redford, is a bit of a rebel. He's always stayed a few steps ahead of the law - even working as a security consultant - but this time he has gotten into a bit more trouble than he expected. Can he, along with his ragtag group of security freelancers (plus his ex-girlfriend), stay far enough ahead of the bad guys to avert an international disaster?<br />
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<b>The Commander's Rating:</b> Five out of five Vulcan salutes.<br />
<b>Pros: </b>The cast, as mentioned above, which also included an earnest version of River Phoenix and an entertaining cameo by James Earl Jones. Plus David Strathairn, Mary McDonnell, Ben Kingsley, and Stephen Tobolowsky. (Seriously, there are so many great actors that I've probably overlooked someone.) The film also has a great sense of humor, mostly manifested as those quips and eccentricities of a tight-knit group.<br />
<b>Cons: </b>That they didn't turn this into a fun series or at least do a sequel. <br />
<b>Recommendation: </b>An excellent movie for watching with friends because it is all about the friend vibe. Well, and international espionage. But if you have a group of friends like mine that's sort of the same vibe. An excellent follow-up movie if you want to make a day of it is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spy-Game-Widescreen-Robert-Redford/dp/B00005JKBC?ie=UTF8&tag=thougthatgets-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Spy Game</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thougthatgets-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00005JKBC" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, where Redford really is a spy.Sue Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12820606642097170654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636566.post-72779258907061204922010-03-01T07:00:00.000-05:002011-02-16T21:29:40.749-05:00Back in Time Reviews: Thunderheart (1992)<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&nou=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=thougthatgets-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=B001AR96BG" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
Certainly you have some movies in your life that are "those movies." You know, the ones that you return to time and again because they hit the sweet spot where they both resonate with you as well as being identified with a particular time in your life. For us Thunderheart is on that list.<br />
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Set against a sweeping background of the South Dakota badlands and the questionable federal involvement in Native American communities, the story is really about FBI Agent Ray Levoi (Val Kilmer) coming to terms with himself. He just happens to do it in the middle of a very complex mystery where death is on the line and with Native officer Crow Horse (Graham Greene) snapping at his heels while providing snarky commentary. Although the writer John Fusco doesn't have the Native cred of, say, Sherman Alexie (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/6305428417?ie=UTF8&tag=thougthatgets-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=6305428417">Smoke Signals</a>) he does an honest day's work of researching and writing about a controversial subject. (And technically with his Italian heritage Fusco is at least as Native American as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Eyes_Cody">"Keep America Beautiful" actor</a>.)<br />
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<b>The Commander's Rating:</b> Four out of five Vulcan salutes.<br />
<b>Pros: </b>Graham Greene, Sheila Tousey, and the good-looking version of Val Kilmer. Sam Shepard does a great job, too.<br />
<b>Cons: </b>The plot does some harsh things to likable characters. And you'll spend the rest of your life wondering why the talented Sheila Tousey (Maggie Eagle Bear) didn't get more leading roles. <br />
<b>Recommendation: </b>A great flick for a casual evening at home with loved ones and a bowl of popcorn. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll wonder about the truth of the underlying plot. (AFTER you watch the movie come back and check out <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Trudell">the guy who plays Jimmy Looks-Twice</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_Movement">real ARM</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Ridge_Indian_Reservation#The_1970s:_Protest_and_violence">what happened in South Dakota</a>.)Sue Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12820606642097170654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636566.post-41373207913422065392010-02-15T07:00:00.142-05:002011-02-16T21:29:40.750-05:00Back in Time Reviews: The Cutting Edge (1992)<iframe align="left" frameborder="1" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" padding="1px" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&nou=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=7C00FF&t=thougthatgets-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=B000CCBCAI" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
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With the Winter Olympics upon us it seemed like the right time to share one of our favorite little movies: <i>The Cutting Edge</i>. Since it came out in 1992 it's probably older than many of this year's competing athletes... and perhaps hasn't aged as well. But if you enjoy campy, funny little romantic sports movies then Kate and Doug's story might just be the ticket for you. <br />
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The tag lines "The King of the Rink is about to meet America's Ice Queen" and alternate "The Ultimate Love/Skate Relationship" are good demonstrations of exactly how campy the movie is willing to be. But when you get past that you discover a genuinely funny little gem that focuses on two competitors who, disappointed at the 1988 Olympics, team up to compete in 1992. The twist is that Doug Dorsey is a blue-collar hockey player while Kate Moseley is a blue-blooded second generation Olympic figure skater. Easily anticipated friction ensues.<br />
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<blockquote><i> I'm sure there's nothing I do that you'd find exciting. I don't open beer bottles with my toes, I don't sit around and count what's left of my teeth, hey, I don't even enjoy a good tractor pull. It's been a limited existence, but I've gotten used to it.</i> ~ Kate</blockquote>The movie relies on <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446702/">Moira Kelly</a>, as Kate, being able to balance an acid tongue with ingenue vulnerability, confidence with anxiety. Kate is actually one of my favorite heroines because of Kelly's ability to pull that balance off and it has left me wishing that Kelly had been cast as a lead in more movies.<br />
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To play against Kate's volatile personality the adorable Doug, played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000665/">D.B. Sweeney</a>, only seems to have the two speeds of mellow and angry. With the fussy, pushy Kate of course being able to tip him over into anger a bit more often than would naturally be the case.<br />
<blockquote><i> If it was forty below and that button meant the difference between a long satisfying life and a cold horrible death from hypothermia, I still wouldn't give you the satisfaction!</i> ~ Doug, after Kate nags him to button the top button of his skating outfit</blockquote><b>The Commander's Rating:</b> Four out of five Vulcan salutes. (Admittedly it's a sentimental favorite.)<br />
<b>Pros: </b>Humor, sports-related humor, quotable lines.<br />
<b>Cons: </b>Some seriously 90s hair and clothes, moments of campy humor, moments of even-more-predictable-than-usual plot points.<br />
<b>Recommendation: </b>Fun movie to watch with your sweetie or any friends who really, really like ice skating. A good option to feel Winter-Olympic-y without having to watch Curling.<br />
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Notes on sequels: There were two sequels and neither had the heart that the first one did.Sue Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12820606642097170654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636566.post-79745517155746662032010-02-11T21:42:00.001-05:002010-02-27T12:22:22.757-05:00Thoughts That Get Stuck in My Day of the Week<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Does this blog post <a href="http://cmdrsue.blogspot.com/2007/01/new-year-new-ttgsimh.html">look a little familiar</a>? Yes, it's time for a change to our lineup. Like so many things lately, this is coming a bit late to be considered a "New Year" change; but better late than never I always say. There are changes to Monday, Tuesday, and Friday while the rest of the week stays pretty much the same. The change I'm most excited about are the plans for Friday (yes, this is the requisite teaser to scroll down). Feedback is always appropriate so make comments.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">MONDAY IS MOVIE DAY:</span> Do you know what we do all weekend? Watch movies (and tv shows) that's what, so on Monday we'll be ready to tell you all about it. There will be old stuff, new stuff, borrowed stuff, and blue stuff. (Ok, we're a G-rated blog, it won't be very blue. Unless Stitch or the Genie from Aladdin count.)<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">TUESDAY IS COMEDY DAY:</span> Do you love the comedy like we do? Just a few minutes ago we tromped out in the cold while reciting Steve Martin's bit about kitty handcuffs. Come by on Tuesdays to check out a funny video or song. Or if you can't remember a particular comedian or bit then maybe we can help you out.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">WEDNESDAY IS WRITING DAY:</span> It's still all about writing! Fiction, non-fiction, screenwriting, writers' blog roundups, and updates on our writing pursuits. Come sit at our round table, have some coffee or tea, and do your best Dorothy Parker impersonation. <br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">THURSDAY IS TOYS DAY:</span> A day for all sorts of geek interests like internet games, new toys from <a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/">ThinkGeek</a>, updates on the D&D campaign... that sort of thing. Also reports on other bloggers who have posted fun things on their blogs (so drop me a tweet, email, or comment when you have something good).<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">FRIDAY IS FRESH VOICES DAY:</span> Extending the writing theme into another day where we will post interviews with aspiring authors under the theory "it is that which is nurtured that grows." Feel free to recommend Fresh Voices to be posted on the <a href="http://twitter.com/#/list/cmdrsue/fresh-voices">Twitter List</a> or featured on the Thoughts.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">SATURDAY IS POP DAY:</span> Pop psychology (yes, we will try to contain all of the personality tests and pop psych ruminations on a day when you're not likely to come by, isn't that kind of us?), pop culture, and sometimes soda pop. If you like all this stuff as much as we do then come by and let's entertain each other.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">SUNDAY IS GOD AND CHEESE DAY:</span> We will explore deep thoughts on philosophy, spirituality, or if nothing else occurs to us - cheese, in a bit of an homage (fromage?) to G.K. Chesterton.Sue Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12820606642097170654noreply@blogger.com2