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50 First Dates
Before watching the movie:
As much as I lean into popular criticism of Adam Sandler, I have to admit I’ve been a little interested in this movie since it came out. It has to be pretty sweet if it’s a romantic comedy about a guy so dedicated to his relationship with a woman that he keeps getting her to fall in love with him every day. There’s usually at least a kernel of a good story in an Adam Sandler Comedy, at least the ones that don’t get immediately forgotten.
Continue readingKung Fu Hustle
Before watching the movie:
I have no idea what to expect. Apparently it’s a comedy, but the very little I read up front didn’t really give that impression outside from the “comedy” tag. So… I assume there is martial arts, and something about gang violence?
Continue readingDropping the Ball
This year more than any other year, I’ve been finding myself with less time or energy than I need to do a full review. I’m getting busier and older, but even so, I’ve still made at least some kind of post once a week, more Yesterdays and back catalog collections than ever before. Some of them were work I felt I did some good or at least fun writing with, but mostly, I consider them filler.
In that spirit, I’m dropping the ball one more time this year by counting down my ten favorite actual reviews of the past year.
10: Failure To Launch: one of the better romantic comedies
9: Funny Money: theatrical chaos
8: The Creation of the Humanoids: great concept, a little flat
7: Mr. Deeds: not your average Adam Sandler vehicle
6: Camp Nowhere: the best way to learn responsibility is to have nobody to answer to
5: Mad Money: it’s not stealing if it’s trash, right?
4: Earth Girls are Easy: I misjudged this movie so badly
3: Electric Dreams: quirky SF romcom review with a side of pretty good if ill fitting social commentary
2: The First Wives Club: don’t get mad, get it back
1: Julie and Julia: hmm, I wonder what I connected with here
I hope in the new year to have less filler but also more branching out with opportunities to make social commentary though movies. Maybe only ten people read this blog regularly, but I made a commitment to myself if nobody else, and I have no intention of just fizzling on this project.
Yesterday’s Movies needs to get away
There’s a lot of tension around here right now and we could all use a break.
Road to Bali: Ah, a couple of comedy buddies in a beautiful place, colonializing it up on very fake sets. Hm. That didn’t help.
Captain Ron: Are we sure this guy really knows what he’s doing? Maybe let’s book a cruise next time.
The Poseidon Adventure: Oh… nevermind then. Maybe a virtual vacation would be less of a nightmare.
Total Recall: …
Spooky taster
Why not head into the dark basement with some of these monstrous tales?
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
The Mirisch Company 1966.
Before watching the movie:
The two keywords that got me interested are “Blake Edwards” and “James Coburn”. There are quite a lot of WWII farces around by now, and I’m certainly no stranger to them, but a Blake Edwards farce sounds highly promising, and I’ve enjoyed James Coburn in comedies from the time as well.
From what I’ve seen, I’m not sure the title has much to do with how the story is told, unless all of the summaries I’ve read completely ignore a framing device. The unreliable narrator aspect shown on this poster is a good starting point for what I’d want to do with a story with a title like that, but I don’t expect to see it in the movie.
Continue readingOnce Upon A Scoundrel
Carlyle Productions 1974.
Before watching the movie:
I never heard of this before, but a Zero Mostel vehicle always sounds like fun. Even though I’m sure there will be many Mexican stereotypes abused for comedy here. Unless I’ve seen his Muppet Show appearance, it seems I’ve only seen two things Mostel ever did, and I ought to rectify that.
Continue readingHoliday delays
I attempted to do a review in this hectic week, but things fell apart on me at the last minute and now I don’t have anything to show for it. Regular updates will probably resume next week
Yesterday’s Movie Magic
There’s something special about summertime movies. Maybe it’s that the theater was the original air conditioned oasis, but it’s when all the biggest thrills and magical adventures are brought out for our enjoyment, as well as, this year, the reanimated husk of The Lion King. Like all areas of the human experience, the magic of the movies has been documented in the movies, here in realistic and fantasy flavors.
- The Majestic: a Macarthy-era drama about how a movie theater brings a small town together.
- Matinee: the thrillfest of the year sets off a Rube Goldbergian chain of events.
- Last Action Hero: Characters from a campy action movie come to the real world and find it’s a lot messier out here.
- The Purple Rose of Cairo: It’s so easy to get lost in a movie, but sometimes the movie comes to you.
