Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town stands as the best of the stop-motion animated Christmas classics. Featuring the talents of Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, and the Westminster Children’s Choir, the casting is quite extraordinary. While delivering bags of letters to Santa to the North Pole a postman recount the story of how Santa Claus became the renowned figure he is. The storytelling is especially clever and does a good job at interweaving various pieces of Santa Claus lore (the red suit, flying reindeer, Christmas stockings, etc.) into the plot. Also, the animation is remarkably well-done and is charming in an old-fashioned way. Additionally, the music is used to great effect and includes such catchy songs as “First Toy Maker to the King” and “Put One Foot In Front of the Other.” Whimsical and fun, Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town is an enjoyable tale that taps into the magic of childhood.
Ghostbusters II tries to recreate the same magic that the original had, but falls short. Having been bankrupted by lawsuits, the Ghostbusters have gone their separate ways, but are brought back together when a new supernatural threat rises. The story takes an unconventional but interesting turn, yet still tries to repeat all of the same notes from the first film. Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis deliver solid performances again, but the whole film comes off as a retread of the first one. The plot’s just not as tight this time, and as a result it feels a little sloppy and rushed. Still, Ghostbusters II is a fun and action-packed film that delivers a lot of laughs.
The Bourne Identity is an exciting espionage thriller from director Doug Liman. The story follows Jason Bourne, who wakes up with no memory of who he is but soon makes some disturbing discoveries leading him to believe that he’s a professional assassin. The cast is excellent, and includes Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, and Clive Owen. Additionally, the script is especially well-written in how it builds the suspense and mystery as to who Bourne is and what happened to him. Plus, Liman does an exceptional job at directing the action sequences, and keeps the film intense and energetic. The Bourne Identity is an outstanding action film that helped to bring gritty realism to the spy genre.
Universal continues their “monster rallies” in House of Dracula, bringing together Dracula, the Wolf Man and the Frankenstein Monster. The story picks up several years after the events of House of Frankenstein, where a now freed Dracula seeks the renowned Dr. Edelmann for help in curing his vampirism, and by happenstance Lawrence Talbot also comes looking for the doctor in hopes of a cure to his lycanthropy. The performances are all fairly good, and John Carradine gives a compelling depiction of Dracula. However, the film is rather uneven and has difficulty handling the various character stories. House of Dracula is fun and entertaining, but doesn’t quite meet its potential.
Universal brings all their classic monsters together for the extravaganza House of Frankenstein. The story follows an escaped mad scientist who runs across the Frankenstein Monster and the Wolf Man (among others) while looking for Dr. Henry Frankenstein’s scientific journals. Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney Jr. lead the cast and deliver excellent performances. However, the writing is rather weak and seems a bit gimmicky and contrived in how it brings together the Universal Monsters. Still, House of Frankenstein delivers what it promises as Dracula, the Hunchback, the Wolf Man, and the Frankenstein Monster are brought together for an epic adventure.
Dracula is a classic Universal Monster Movie that brought Bram Stoker’s horrific tale to the silver screen. Bela Lugosi dons the cape and gives an iconic performance as Count Dracula. And, the sets and matte paintings are quite impressive and still hold up; creating a surreal and nightmarish atmosphere. However, the story has been streamlined to make it more of a battle between Dracula and Van Helsing. For the 1930s, Dracula is a strong and frightening film that’s especially well-crafted.
“Yippee-ki-yay, motherf***er!” The epitome of ‘80s action films, Die Hard is a smart, adrenaline-packed film that became the measuring stick for all others action films for the next decade. When terrorists seize Nakatomi Plaza and takes hostages, off duty police officer John McClane finds himself cutoff and trapped inside the building, and has to find a way to foil the terrorists plot in order to save his wife. Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman both give excellent performances; and their characters (John McClane and Hans Gruber) continue to top the lists of best movie heroes and villains. Additionally, director John McTiernan does a great job at building suspense and tension, and delivers some amazing (and iconic) action sequences. Die Hard is a landmark film that is a definite must see.
Winner of 11 Academy Awards and one of the highest grossing films of all time, Titanic is a cinematic masterpiece from writer/director James Cameron. While searching the Titanic wreck for a fabled lost diamond treasure hunter Brock Lovett receives a call from a woman claiming to be a Titanic survivor who wore the diamond the night of the sinking, leading him to fly her out to his ship to tell her story. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Bill Paxton, and David Warner, the film has an impressive cast that gives strong performances. And, the script does an incredible job at engaging the audience and transitioning between the present day story and the ship’s voyage; so much so that the audience forgets the tragic fate that awaits the ship. Additionally, the special effects are extraordinary, creating some extremely powerful scenes that are both mesmerizing and haunting. Also, the level of detail in the costuming and set recreations is exceptional, and James Horner’s score is tremendously evocative, featuring Celtic, ethereal tones that are remarkably resonant. Delivering an unforgettable experience, Titanic stays with the audience long after the credits roll.
One of the most inventive tellings of A Christmas Carol, Scrooged is hilarious holiday fun. In a clever play on the Dickens classic, television network president Frank Cross gets “Scrooged,” and is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas in an attempt to redeem him. Bill Murray gives an outstanding performance as Frank Cross, and is backed up by a superb supporting cast that includes Karen Allen, Bobcat Goldthwait, John Glover, and Carol Kane. Scrooged is an incredibly entertaining take on A Christmas Carol, and modernizes it for a new audience. “Yule Love It!”
Lon Chaney, Jr. takes up the mantle of Dracula in Universal’s third installment of the series, Son of Dracula. The story continues in America as a young heiress to a southern plantation falls under the thrall of the mysterious Count Alucard, who she met while touring Eastern Europe. Chaney does a fair job and has an on-screen presence that gives the film a certain mystique. Additionally, the film takes the story in an interesting direction and has a few unexpected twists. Son of Dracula is smart and well-crafted, with a fresh take on the Dracula story.
Universal’s classic Frankenstein is a groundbreaking horror film that stands as one of the greatest films ever make. Mary Shelley’s immortal tale is adapted for the silver screen and tells the story of Dr. Frankenstein’s obsession to create life, and the consequences that follow when his creation goes awry. Boris Karloff gives a truly outstanding performance as the Monster, making the character both terrifying and sympathetic. Additionally, the makeup and set designs are captivating, and create a dark and Gothic visual style. But in addition to offering thrills, the film explores controversial themes surrounding science and morality. Frankenstein ushered in a new age of horror films and spawned one of the first major franchises of the genre.
“How can the same sh** happen to the same guy twice?” Right?! Die Hard 2 suffers (as so many films do) from the sequel syndrome: more of the same, and bigger. John McClane finds himself facing off with terrorists once again when a rogue military group takes control of the Dulles International Airport and holds the planes hostage, including the plane his wife is on. Unfortunately the film just tries too hard and comes up short; unable to meet the high bar set by the original. And as a result, it’s overstuffed with McClane tossing out jokes and quips left and right like a one-man comedy show, and three main villains involved in an overly complex terrorist plot. However, director Renny Harlin brings the action with some spectacular sequences. While Die Hard 2 has its problem, it’s still an exciting, action-packed adventure that’s extremely entertaining.
One of the greatest disaster films ever made, The Poseidon Adventure is an intense thriller that never lets up. In the middle of its transatlantic voyage the S.S. Poseidon capsizes on New Year's, leaving a small group of passengers to struggle for survival by climb through the bowels of the ship in an attempt to reach rescue. The all-star cast includes Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Roddy McDowall, Shelley Winters, and Pamela Sue Martin. The set designs are amazing, and really give the sense of being in an upside-down ship. The special effects are also especially well done; enhancing the film by adding suspense and a sense of danger. The Poseidon Adventure is a compelling and ground-breaking film that set a new standard for the disaster genre.
Charles Dickens and the Muppets come together in the most magical way to create a brilliant rendition of the beloved classic, A Christmas Carol. With Brian Henson at the helm, the Muppets brave a new world and deliver an enchanting film that’s inspired and charming. The Muppet Christmas Carol is a wonderfully fun and faithful adaptation that truly captures the spirit of the tale. What’s striking is just how faithful an adaptation this is; going so far as to include a Charles Dickens narrator (in the form of Gonzo the Great) who recites passages from the novel. But even more amazing, is how well each Muppet is tailored to a Dickens character; from Kermit as Bob Cratchit to Statler and Waldorf as the Marleys. And once more, the music is outstanding and is in perfect harmony with the mood and tone of the Dickens story. The Muppet Christmas Carol is the best adaptation of Dickens’ classic bar none, and is a touching and heartfelt film that carries the spirit of the season.
“I didn’t come to rescue Rambo from you. I came here to rescue you from him.” Based on the bestselling novel by David Morrell, First Blood is an incredibly compelling and provocative action film. When a small-town sheriff arrests a drifter for vagrancy, who turns out to be a decorated war hero, he ends up starting a war that he might not be able to win. Sylvester Stallone gives traumatized Vietnam veteran John Rambo real depth and emotion; delivering one of his best character performances. And, Brian Dennehy and Richard Crenna are also extraordinarily good, and are able to heighten the drama and add moral ambiguity to their characters. Dark and gritty, First Blood challenges the audience and addresses some important social issues that are still relevant today.
The Great Muppet Caper finds the Muppets at their best, as they have the uncanny ability to break the fourth wall and turn it into comic gold. Caper does this exceedingly well, all while delivering a solid, entertaining adventure. Kermit and Fozzie star as twin brother investigative journalists who travel to England to uncover who stole Lady Holiday’s diamonds. As per a Muppet movie, there are some great cameos (including a brilliant one by Peter Falk) and several fun musical numbers; such as '”Happiness Hotel.” An enjoyable watch for both children and adults, The Great Muppet Caper holds up remarkably well.
Jim Henson’s Muppets hit the big time in The Muppet Movie. In their first feature film the Muppets retell the story of how Kermit the Frog set off for Hollywood and found a group of friends who shared his dream of stardom. Like the television show, the film is full of witty, campy humor, and features a number of celebrity cameos from the likes of Steve Martin, Mel Brooks, Bob Hope, Richard Pryor, Orson Welles, and many more. Additionally, the musicals are immensely fun and entertaining, delivering such classics as “The Rainbow Connection” and “Can You Picture That.” Fun for all ages, The Muppet Movie is a wonderful family film.
The sad, pathetic Star Wars prequel series finally concludes with Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. It's what we've all been waiting for; Anakin Skywalker turns to the Dark Side, becoming Dark Vader, and proceeds to lead an attack against the Jedi. The acting is still awful, as are the script and the special effects. George Lucas once again shows his complete ignorance of the original Star Wars films, and commits some major continuity errors. That said, this is the most action-pack film of the series and delivers some spectacular lightsaber battles. While Episode III – Revenge of the Sith has its moments and is fairly entertaining, it's another disappointing chapter in a supposedly epic sage.
Steven Spielberg presents Gremlins, a hauntingly frightening, but tremendously hilarious horror-comedy. After receiving an exotic pet for Christmas called a Mogwai, Billy mistakenly breaks the rules for caring for it; causing it to multiple and turn into dangerous monsters that soon ravage the town. Featuring Phoebe Cates, Corey Feldman, and Judge Reinhold, the film has a pretty solid cast. Also, it does a good job at balancing the horror elements and with the themes of friendship and family. Additionally, the creature effects for Gizmo and the Gremlins (which have become iconic) are incredibly well-done, and Jerry Goldsmith’s score is phenomenal; “The Gremlin Rag” is a simple yet creepy theme that embodies the mayhem and the terror of the gremlins. Without the guidance of Spielberg, this film could have become just another B-movie, but under his helm Gremlins has both comedy and heart to go along with the scares.
Snoochie Boochies! Mallrats is a classic Kevin Smith film that’s outrageously fun and entertaining. In this follow-up to Clerks, Smith tackles mall culture as a group of college kids hangout and get caught up in all types of shenanigans. The film has an exceptional cast that includes Jason Lee, Jeremy London, Shannen Doherty, Ben Affleck, and Claire Forlani. Once again Smith delivers his trademark brand of humor and clever, witty dialog. However, some of the humor doesn’t work and Smith’s directing is still a little inconsistent. Yet despite its flaws, Mallrats is a hilariously entertaining comedy.
Based on the Clive Cussler best-selling novel, Raise the Titanic is an exciting Cold War thriller. While tracking down a shipment of a rare mineral with military potential, retired Navy captain Dirk Pitt discovers that it was lost in the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, leading him to propose the impossible…Raise the Titanic. It’s a fairly interesting story that’s full of mystery and intrigue; especially given that this fictional account of Titanic’s discover and raising was written before the real-life discovery in 1985. Additionally, the model work and set designs are rather impressive, as is the film’s score. Raise the Titanic is a little contrived at times, but it’s also a fun piece of pulp fiction.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is complete and utter garbage that is actually painful to watch. The story is beyond stupid; the Saga begins…with a taxing dispute?! And, the acting (if it can even be called that) is cringe worthy; which is surprising given the talent on hand (Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, Keira Knightley, Ewan McGregor, and Samuel L. Jackson), but somehow Lucas found a way to make their performances unbearable. Another cardinal sin of the film is the CGI effects, which are distracting and do nothing to enhance the film. Horrendously awful, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is ruinous to the Star Wars brand.
The spy thriller RED is an entertaining and action-packed adventure film. Based on a comic series, a group of retired spies come together after escaping a hit squad, and attempt to uncover the reason why they’re being targeted. The film has an excellent cast that includes Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Morgan Freeman, and John Malkovich, who all give great performances. The writing is also fairly good, and is able to balance the humor with the action quite well. Additionally, the action is really strong and gives the film a lot of energy; thought there are a few scenes that are bit ridiculous. RED has its weaknesses, but overall it’s an enjoyable and thrilling film that has plenty of laughs too.
The Dracula legacy continues in Universal’s follow-up film Dracula’s Daughter. Picking up where the last film ended, Von Helsing is charged with the murder of Count Dracula; meanwhile the mysterious Countess Marya Zaleska comes to London to see the remains of Dracula, looking to cure herself of his curse. This is a rather poor sequel that stretched the material and doesn’t have a clear story arc. Additionally, the film isn’t as well cast and no one is able to bring the level of charisma that Bela Lugosi did. There are some interesting things in Dracula’s Daughter, but it doesn’t have the dark and foreboding tone that made Dracula so compelling and terrifying.
Legendary comedy duo Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein in this lighthearted goofball comedy. The story follows two hapless delivery clerks who unwittingly stumble across Dracula’s scheme to unlock the secrets of Frankenstein’s Monster while transporting some crates to a local horror museum. Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, and Glenn Strange all return and reprise their Universal Monster characters. And the film does a surprisingly good job at being comedic without making fun of the Monsters. Abbott and Costello performer their usual vaudeville comedy routines while the Monsters deliver the mayhem. The plot’s a little weak, but overall Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is a hilariously fun romp that’s full of laughs.
Two of Universal’s biggest stars, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, team up for Son of Frankenstein. In this third installment of the series Dr. Wolf von Frankenstein inherits his family’s estate and decides to continue his father’s work when his father’s former assistant, Ygor, reveals that the Monster is still alive. Lugosi does an excellent job as Ygor; turning him into one of the most significant and popular characters in the Frankenstein canon. Additionally, the story is rather good and takes the series in an interesting direction. Son of Frankenstein is able to deliver a fresh and frightening new chapter into the series, while still being a smart and well-crafted film.
The Frankenstein story continues in The Bride of Frankenstein. The series gets a little meta as the storyteller joins the story with Mary Shelley revealing a horrifying second chapter to her tale; where Frankenstein’s colleague, Dr. Pretorius, blackmails him into continuing his experiments to create life by making a mate for the Monster. The film does a fairly good job at continuing the story, thought the plot’s a bit thin and there are some continuity issues. But once again the film is able to deliver some iconic and powerful scenes, and continues to address controversial topics. The Bride of Frankenstein is a well-crafted and suspenseful tale of horror that has become a masterpiece.
Director Ridley Scott brings a visionary new style to the Lecter series with Hannibal. The story continues as Clarice Starling finds herself once again assigned to the Hannibal Lecter case when one of his former victims, Mason Verger, attempts to manipulate Lecter into coming out of hiding. An all-star cast has been assembled, including Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman, and Ray Liotta. Scott’s directing enhances the film a great deal and sets just the right tone for the story. And, Hans Zimmer delivers an exquisite score that perfectly complements the surreal aesthetic. However, the storytelling’s a bit rushed and the plot’s too congested. Yet, Hannibal manages to delivers a suspenseful and intense film that’s full of chills.
He's back! Terminator 2: Judgment Day re-envisions the franchise and became the model for the summer blockbusters of the '90s. Writer/director James Cameron retcons the series and changes it to have a more hopeful message. With the retcon, there is now a second terminator who was sent back in time to kill John Connor as a child. And unlike the predestination theme of The Terminator, T2 changes the message to "no fate but what we make." Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton return, and are joined by Edward Furlong and Robert Patrick. Furlong is adequate as John Connor, but still brings a lot of the problems and annoyances that are typical with child actors. However, Robert Patrick is outstanding as the T-1000, and turns him into one of the most memorable and terrifying villains in sci-fi. There is a problem with the film going a little too commercial, with the Terminator getting paired up with a smartass kid who teaches him slang and to not kill, but this is more than made up for with tons of action and amazing special effects. Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a spectacular film that combines compelling science fiction drama with action/adventure.
Labyrinth is a bizarre and surreal fantasy tale from writer/director Jim Henson. In the film a young girl slips into a dreamlike world and must navigate a labyrinth that confronts her with her innermost demons. Jennifer Connelly gives a strong performance and interacts seamlessly with the puppet characters. However, it's David Bowie's inspired performance as the Goblin King that's most captivating. Aside from acting, David Bowie also wrote and performed several songs for the film that are absolutely spellbinding. There are some issues with the storytelling, but the puppetry is amazing. Even with its flaws, Labyrinth is an exceptionally imaginative and creative film that's a lot of fun.
