Who’s the man???
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Ok! It’s time for the new review on the podcast this week! Hope you can have a listen.
Since this wacky superhero film came out, it’s been all the rage with comic lovers as well as Marvel movie fans. I am both attracted to it and deflected, I sat down to record an episode to try and explain why. Conflicted is a good adjective for how I feel about this film.
Title: Deadpool
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
MPAA Rating: R
Year: 2016
Director: Tim Miller, known for “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.”
Top Billed Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller
Brief Synopsis: A former military dynamo turned reckless mercenary is transformed into having a superpower.
My Word to the Wise: Add another film to the Marvel superhero franchise. It mocks formulas but is formulaic to a fault. As far as Marvel films go, this is more fun than they are usually allowed to be. It’s definitely fun but not what I had imagined. The reviews made it seem like something apart from Marvel, it’s not.
Spoilers may follow in the rest of this review.
Ryan Reynolds does a good enough job in this Marvel film that sets out to be more gritty than the rest. He’s delivering jokes almost from credits to credits. It’s funny, for a while. I don’t mean to judge like a puritan, because I ‘aint one fo sho, but it seems like the producers wanted nudity, excessive blood, and reckless profanity throughout this movie, that appeals mostly to teenage boys. It’s so obvious they’re doing it you almost expect Deadpool to address the age group in one of his asides. By the way, there are many asides which is new for these movies.
I would like to see Deadpool take on Iron Man. This is partially because I never liked the Iron Man’s false bravado. I know the audience would root for Deadpool because, quite frankly, he way more crazy. I went into this movie not knowing how locked in to Stan Lee and the gang it was. The reviews I read seemed to hint at a superhero outside of the commercial loop. I saw that in about the first 1/3 of the movie. After they explain how Deadpool came to be, it because just another Marvel/X-Men/Avengers for me. They act like they are making fun of the genre with clever writing but Deadpool is just a slightly different incarnation. I hope I’m not bumming anyone out who wants to see it. It is certainly a lot of fun as any Marvel film is. Many buckets of fake blood gave their lives for this film and there’s a lot of nude scenes. I don’t recall seeing those in a Marvel film before. Trust me, I’m not complaining, just being real.
The teenage boys, ages 11-19 will love this film. The older ones will be mildly entertained. Based on the ratings out there in the strongholds: Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB, it’s a “great film.” I suppose I agree with them. There’s a lot more on my mind bout this film but I’ll let it come out in comments on other people’s reviews. I really wanted to love this movie but after all the hoopla and watching it, I just like it. I have a platonic relationship with it. Will I see it again? Probably not. It has nothing on an intellectual level I’m afraid. Because it tried too hard to make fun of a genre that it was itself (it didn’t seem to know that) it lost a star. I have movies that “try.” Because I felt the R rating was sought out of indifference for the ten boys who make up the main audience, it lost another star. It’s definitely worth seeing though and damn funny at times. In closing though, I do not feel it lives up to the hype it’s receiving as “something different” in a superhero movie.
A lot of my friends loved this movie. If you agree or disagree , please let me know.
Yep, it’s time for the Monday episode. We post a one here every Mon and Thu. Have you seen this film? It’s a cool little indie horror that really gets you thinking about what happened in the Chernobyl disaster. Quite scary and quite interesting. Good combo! Listen to my 5 minute review below. Not a perfect film but I recommend it!
Chernobyl Diaries (2012)
R | 1h 26min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller | 25 May 2012 (USA)
Six tourists hire an extreme tour guide who takes them to the abandoned city Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. During their exploration, they soon discover they are not alone.
Director: Bradley Parker (as Brad Parker)
Writers: Oren Peli (screenplay), Carey Van Dyke (screenplay) | 2 more credits »
Stars: Jesse McCartney, Jonathan Sadowski, Olivia Taylor Dudley
A blogger level film critic doesn’t enjoy many all-expenses paid things. I read about Roger Ebert being sent to Cannes year after year. So far, that ‘aint happening here. But I can write and podcast stuff about movies here and get it off my chest. That is gratifying. I hope you enjoy. Listen in the player below to my audio movie review of “The Visitor” and a little banter as I am wont to do.
This is a fun movie I did an audio review of and I’m super happy to share this episode with you. One more banterism for you: what do you sppose movies would be like if we stopped paying money for comic book films? Just a thought. No judgement (at least not much). Now, to intro the epsiode:
I review this 70’s drive-in oddity. Episode includes a “bird walk” on the meaning of left and right wing that sort of flew in out of nowhere. I recorded and mixed this one on vacation at Stateline. You’re welcome.
The Visitor (1979)
Stridulum (original title)
R | 1h 48min | Horror, Sci-Fi | 21 November 1980 (USA)
The soul of a young girl with telekinetic powers becomes the prize in a fight between forces of God and the Devil.
Director: Giulio Paradisi (as Michael J. Paradise)
Writers: Luciano Comici (screenplay) (as Lou Comici), Robert Mundi (screenplay) (as Robert Mundy) | 2 more credits »
Stars: Mel Ferrer, Glenn Ford, Lance Henriksen
(A written and audio review) This is a last minute surprise for thriller/horror made in 2017. I watched it in utter delight, a really great film. Of course, I decided to share my enthusiasm with my voice, here on the podcast. I hope you enjoy. Listen to the episode on this film below. Below that is my written review.
Most Beautiful Island (2017)
1h 20min | Drama, Horror, Thriller | 3 November 2017 (USA)
Most Beautiful Island is a chilling portrait of an undocumented young woman’s struggle for survival as she finds redemption from a tortured past in a dangerous game.
Director: Ana Asensio
Writer: Ana Asensio
Stars: Ana Asensio, Natasha Romanova, David Little
(A written and audio post) Great comedy like this doesn’t just fall out of the sky. Much should be remembered about how the three directors worked for years to build a style of comedy in a theater group they would later mold into the 1980 film Airplane! In addition to being laugh-a-minute hilarious, it also stands as evidence that hard work pays off in Hollywood. Listen to my audio review below and/or read the written one below that.
“A man afraid to fly must ensure that a plane lands safely after the pilots become sick.” -IMDB
Robert Hays Ted Striker
Julie Hagerty Elaine Dickinson
Leslie Nielsen Dr. Rumack
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (as Kareem Abdul-Jabaar) Roger MurdockJim Abrahams, David Zucker
Comedy
PG
Wed 02 Jul 1980 UTC
88min
IMDB Rating: 7.8
The directors of this film, David and Jerry Zucker as well as Jim Abrahams Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker (abbreviated ZAZ) made something to be quintessentially proud of here. They had worked on the Kentucky Fried Theater group together so they had a lot of experience riffing and coming up with improv stuff before they ever directed any movies. John Landis took their humor they had developed and made it into a film called The Kentucky Fried Movie. It is full of dichotomous humor juxtaposing serious settings and scenes with surreal and slapstick humor. Watching the Landis film yields all sorts of influences seen in Airplane! It is a lot more racy however, specifically in its nudity.
This film stars Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty and features Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Lorna Patterson. There are several other cameos by then well-known actors and celebrities. Robert Hays, the lead actor, was an unknown at the time. He does a good job but his role is more of a cog in a larger machine of comedic actors. Leslie Nielsen is by far the most memorable actor in the film. He had been in loads of episodic television as well as films like The Poseidon Adventure. Though he hadn’t done comedy before, Airplane! showed the world he was a closet comedian.
The film is a fairly simple plot derived from the 1957 film, Zero Hour! Note the exclamation mark in both titles. His serious look helps the deadpan humor work so well. The rest of the cast is side-splitting making the film a must watch for any filmcritic or lover of films.
As a kid growing up in the 80’s, this film was alluring to me. Older kids would talk about it and how their parents let them see it. After all, there is a bare breasted woman in it for about 2 whole seconds (the scandal!). Unfortunately I didn’t see it until after I was 10. I don’t recall my exact age but I know it was in my teens. It was the funniest film I had ever seen. Others have come close since, but I think it still hovers around that ranking with me still.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It’s no wonder Airplane! is one of the worlds funniest films. Its three directors took years to hone their comedic skills and work together. Finally, they put their own money up to pitch the idea to movie studios. After persistence and hard work, the film was made and it remains to this day one of the most exciting and funny films ever made. I recommend it to anyone and everyone.
10/10
(A written and audio review) Visuals and live-stage timing make this film a beautiful colorful musical trip. Listen to my review from my podcast or continue reading below.
Across the Universe (2007)
PG-13 | 2h 13min | Drama, Fantasy, Musical | 12 October 2007 (USA)
The music of the Beatles and the Vietnam War form the backdrop for the romance between an upper-class American girl and a poor Liverpudlian artist.
Director: Julie Taymor
Writers: Dick Clement (screenplay), Ian La Frenais (screenplay) | 3 more credits »
Stars: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson
This is a film telling of many Beatles songs woven into an entrancing film that will leave you breathless yet singing. (Is that possible? Maybe)
Julie Taymor, director, does an outstanding job here and it’s no wonder since her accolades include directing “The Lion King” on Broadway. It was wise of the film financiers to pick a person so versed in dance and music because this is a flm that includes all of it. The charater Lucy is played by Evan Rachel Wood. She moves from the midwest of America to New York. Jude is played by Jim Sturgess. He’s a welder that can’t seem to get a break. As an actor, he can really sing and I bought his scenes hook line and sinker.
Visuals and live-stage timing make this film a beautiful colorful musical trip. I enjoyed every minute of it. One neat aspect was the way some songs are interpreted in new ways for us. An upbeat song on the album might be presented as slow, somber, and thoughtful. The Vietnam war figures into it masterfully, even when the images and subject matter are definitely “not for kids.”
Bono of U2 fame plays the walrus and I have to say, being a staunch defender of Walruses in cinema, I approved heartily. If anyone can make that song work in a film, it’s Bono.
Recently I saw a professional cover band of the Beatles and I was entranced. You really can’t miss when their music is involved. If you like Beatles songs, or are interested in the music of the Beatles and they are new to you, this love story/drama is a great way to enjoy “the lads.” And remember the message, “All You Need is Love!” I recommend Across the Universe in the musical film genre as:
10/10
(A written and audio review) As if being fully normal in 5th grade isn’t hard enough, add facial deformity to the mix and you’ve got a boxing ring set up for bullies at the public school. Listen to my episode on this film below, read the written below the player.
Wonder sets you up for a warm, emotional experience by introducing the family. This family has adapted to its child’s deformity and really feels nothing shocking when they see him every day. He’s been home-schooled since Kindergarten and the beginning of the film marks his trip the 5th grade, the first public school he’s ever known.
The director (hard to pronounce his name) Stephen Chbosky did The Perks of Being a Wallflower which painted an odd portrait of a coming of ager. It was a good film with a gritty comic sense to it. This film is not like that in the sense that it is not gritty and dark in any way. It paints such a squeaky clean family and school it reminded me of an after-school tv special or a Hallmark movie. Well, it wasn’t as bad as a Hallmark film but n that direction.
It has a feel good sense to it so I recommend it to families and kids seeking a “lite” experience. I would have liked to have gotten into the mind of Auggie a bit more.
9/10
(An audio and written review) A friend who lives in England told me there isn’t much interest in American political scandal. I hope that’s true because some of our stories here in the US are embarrassing.
The conservatives wiretapping the liberals. It sounds like a cartoon movie, a joke if you will. Folks, lest we forget Watergate, it happened. This films gives a solid background of how it was discovered, reported, and used to take the president out of office.
All the President’s Men (1976)
PG | 2h 18min | Biography, Drama, History | 9 April 1976 (USA)
“The Washington Post” reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncover the details of the Watergate scandal that leads to President Richard Nixon’s resignation.
Director: Alan J. Pakula
Writers: Carl Bernstein (book), Bob Woodward (book) | 1 more credit »
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Jack Warden
Director Alan J. Pakula gave us “Sophie’s Choice,” an incredible piece of film. How would YOU choose? That’s what the world keeps asking wherever it’s shown. I don’t usually pay attention to the producer’s name but they do provide the money and they have some input as far as that goes. So, having said that, he produced “To Kill a Mockingbird” in 1962. If you haven’t seen this classic movie you must. If you have, I’ll just let that sink in a minute.
…
Okay, back to the review:
There’s a new movie out called “The Post” that people are saying is a sequel to this. It isn’t but both are based on real life events. “The Post” is also an excellent film that details the way the press uncovered a government coverup of the atrocities and losses in Vietnam. It’s similar in the way it depicts the government trying to pull the wool over the eyes of its citizens. I don’t think it’s too far off to compare the themes of these films to what’s going on with the sitting president now. “The Post” is up for best picture and I really enjoyed it but this review is about a film that came long before it. Log live the press I say!
Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford play in “All the President’s Men” the two reporters that broke Watergate. They act out their lines among many actors you know nd love now though they looked a lot younger then. The way these two men play these roles makes this film a feat and something to study for future generations. Whether you like American scandal history or not, this is an incredibly engaging film. I give it a 10/10.
