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01/26/03
GREASE - is the word! The film version of the hit Broadway
musical about the fabulous '50s revived the musical genre, and made stars
of it's two leads, Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. This is the
measuring stick to which all-modern musicals must hold themselves.
Travolta plays Danny Zuko, T-Bird Tough guy who falls for sweet exchange
student Sandy, but can't let down the tough guy image. Full of great songs
and high energy, GREASE never fails to elicit fun. O, Paramount, why hast
thou forsaken us? Another classic given substandard treatment on DVD, the
only extra to speak of is a series of retrospective interviews with the
cast and crew. They're great and insightful, but could have been just the
tip of the iceberg instead of an ice cube. Also cool is a songbook with
lyrics, but if you don't know these by now, why are you even buying this
DVD?
GREASE -
Film - 
DVD - 
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE - Chris Columbus (MRS.
DOUBTFIRE) has created a triumph of movie making, based on the
international best selling book by J.K. Rowling. The film is a complete
fantasy adventure, in the same family as THE WIZARD OF OZ and WILLY WONKA
AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Young Harry comes from a dysfunctional family,
his parents having died when he was a baby. Now he lives with his horrible
Aunt and Uncle, and their retched son. But life for Harry is about to
change when a mysterious visitor arrives and announces Harry is a Wizard,
the son of two of the most powerful magicians in the world. What follows
that announcement is a fantastic adventure to Hogwarts school of
Witchcraft and Wizardry, as we are introduced to the teachers and
students, ghosts, trolls, three-headed dogs, evil sorcerers, and moving
staircases that inhabit it. A trio of new young actors plays Harry,
Herminie and Ron, (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grant) while
the staff is filled with such notables as Richard Harris, John Hurt, John
Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Maggie Smith, and Alan Rickman.
Columbus stayed incredibly faithful to the book, (the movie clocks in at 2
& a-half hours) and as a result, the movie is a lot of fun for all
ages. The two-disc set from Warner Brothers is just as magical as the
film, although most of the extras are more fun and games orientated for
the younger fans. Extras include a self-guided tour of Hogwarts, trailers,
games, DVD-ROM content, and more. HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE
Film -
DVD -
JOE SOMEBODY - Joe Scheffer (Tim Allen) is a loveable nobody, a
mild-mannered single dad who's unappreciated at the office. But when the
company Bully (Patrick Warburton) knocks him down in front of his
daughter, he decides to become somebody and kick some butt with the help
of a martial arts pro (an absolutely hysterical James Belushi). This is
nice, wholesome (try using that word in a movie review, Roger Ebert!)
family fare. It's not Tim Allen's best work, but it is very enjoyable for
what it is. And, since I happen to know one of the Production Assistants
on this film, I'd like to give him a shout-out. Patrick, take a bow! And
for all the rest of you, watch the credits closely for a PA named C.
Patrick Richardson, and think to yourself that you know someone who knows
someone who works in the movie biz. Kinda inflates your sense of self,
doesn't it? The DVD includes both Widescreen and Pan-&-Scan audio
commentary with director John Pasquin and Producer Brian Reilly, 4 deleted
scenes with optional commentary, a featurette on fight choreography, the
theatrical trailer and more.
JOE SOMEBODY -
Film - 
DVD - 
MOULIN ROUGE - Our story is set in Paris at the turn of the
century, and centers around a penniless writer played by Ewan McGreggor
(STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE) who falls madly in love with the Courtesan
Sateen, (Nicole Kidman, THE OTHERS). A case of mistaken identity leads her
to believe he is a wealthy duke interested in investing a large sum of
money to turn the brothel / dance club / strip joint into a theatre. John
Legizamo and Jim Broadbent costar. Like Baz Luhrman's other movies
(STRICTLY BALLROOM and WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO + JULIET) this one is a
ball of nervous, kinetic energy, fast pacing, quick edits, and exploding
color. It's an orgy of pop music disguised as a musical, but it would be
the musical that got kicked out of the category for hanging out with rock
operas like TOMMY and EVITA. It's epic in scope and breathtaking in its
visionary glory. The musical numbers weave their way through lyrics of
Elton John, U2, Madonna, The Beatles, David Bowie, Wings, Whitney Huston
and others, frequently all in the same song. If there's one word to
describe MOULIN ROUGE, it's Bohemian. Like it's hero, the film embraces
the universal themes of truth, beauty, freedom and love. The first twenty
minutes are almost painful to watch, and I'm sure hordes of Technicolor
technicians keeled over dead from heart attacks when Luhrman gave them the
first print of the film for processing. Inside the Moulin Rouge is chaos
akin to a star going nova, only louder, more colorful and more fun. After
the spots have faded from our vision from all the razzle-dazzle, the film
settles down and becomes more of a traditional love story, but like all
good love stories, has a tragic streak. The emotions are raw, the story
well told, and the actors are at the top of their form. (I'd like to take
an aside here to point out how unfair it is, that Ewan McGreggor is
handsome, can act, and has a great voice. His rendition of "Your
Song" will rank among the best, perhaps second only to Elton
himself.) MOULIN ROUGE is a brilliant film, a great musical, and an
experience not to be missed. A MUST SEE. Fox has put together yet another
fantastic 2 disc DVD set. Disc one includes a gorgeous anamorphic
widescreen print, 2 audio commentary tracks, one with Luhrman and
co-writer Craig Pearce on the writing, and one with Luhrman, production
designer Catherine Martin and dp Don McAlpine about the production, an
audio description/narration track for the blind, and "Behind the Red
Velvet Curtain" a MATRIX style "Follow The White Rabbit"
feature for behind-the-scenes information. Disc two contains an HBO making
of documentary, five character / actor featurettes, trailers, posters and
marketing blitz, three dance numbers from the film presented un-cut and
with multiple angles, interviews with Luhrman, Pearce, Martin, editor Jill
Bilcock, and choreographer John O'Connell, recording session footage,
"Come What May" music video by Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGreggor,
"Lady Marmalade" music video by Pink, Lil' Kim, Christina
Agulara, and Mya, "Lady Marmalade" performed live at the MTV
Awards, set and costume concept-to-film, abandoned concepts, simple yet
perfectly suited menus, and more.
MOULIN ROUGE -
Film - 
DVD -
WE WERE SOLDIERS - Based on the true events of one of the most
violent battles in U.S. History, Mel Gibson stars as Lt. Col. Hal Moore, a
born leader committed to his troops. His target is the la Drang Valley in
Vietnam, called "The Valley Of Death". Written and directed by
Randle Wallace (writer of BRAVEHEART) WE WERE SOLDIERS drops us in the
middle of the Vietnam conflict, and shows us the horror of war. But it
does so balanced with the heart-wrenching stories of those who were left
behind, the wives and families of the brave men who face death. Witness
the scene where two of the wives take over the job of delivering
condolences telegrams to the others. But like the wives back home and the
soldiers in the field, the story is told with reverence to the subject
matter. Yes, the battle scenes are relentless and unforgiving, but these
men are portrayed with honor and integrity, doing a job only they can,
facing incredible odds. We Were Heroes would be an equally adept title.
The DVD includes audio commentary by Wallace, 10 deleted scenes with
commentary, widescreen presentation, "Getting It Right"
behind-the-scenes documentary and more, but lacks the necessary punch the
film deserves.
WE WERE SOLDIERS -
Film - 
DVD -
01/04/03
Well, it's that time again! Sorry about the
promise of more reviews on the way, and then none forthcoming, but I've
been (and still am) fighting off that monster flu bug Captain Tripps you
keep hearing about! It is for REAL!
Anyway, this week's batch of reviews
comes courtesy of a friend, who suggested I do a bunch of guilty
pleasures. You know, the films that really stink that we all
secretly love! Unfortunately, I've already reviewed FLASH GORDON.
So I mined the vaults and found a bunch--more than I could possibly do in
one sitting. (I guess I just love bad movies.) So sit back,
relax and take a spoonful of sugar, cause it will help the medicine
go down. What I mean is, I'm sure you guys will enjoy one or more of
these films as well, and I may say some unkind things.... Uh, no.
Bank on it. I will say some unkind things. Just keep in mind
that these are films I love as well, even if I can't explain why. I
guess that will just make for some great feedback!
And thanks James, for such a great
idea!
1941 - Loosely based on a
series of true events, Steven Spielberg's comedy send up of World War II
centers around reports of a Japanese sub off the coast of Los Angeles.
As the story goes, the attack on Pearl Harbor sent LA into a state of
pandemonium fearing a Japanese invasion of the mainland. Writers Bob
Gale and Robert Zemeckis (The BACK TO THE FUTURE Trilogy) took that nugget
of an idea and embellish it with gusto.
The all star cast includes John
Belushi, Dan Aykroid, Ned Beatty, Lorraine Gary, Christopher Lee, John
Candy, Tim Matheson, Warren Oates, Robert Stack, Treat Williams, Slim
Pickens, Joe Flaherty and Nancy Allen, all screwball characters turned
loose to wreak havoc. The question is, how can a film with this kind
of star power in front of, and behind the camera suck so bad?
Part of the problem is the frenetic
pace, which starts fast, gets faster and never lets up. By the time
the film reaches the final reel, no locale is left standing, and you feel
as if you've participated in the demolition instead of just watching.
It also seems like instead of just playing the film for laughs, everyone
is REALLY trying to make you laugh. Knowing something is supposed to
be funny, and that same something actually being funny, is inherently
different.
It's obvious Spielberg was trying to
harken back to the screwball comedies of the 40's like BRINGING UP BABY.
1941 has all the elements, but none of the charm. For example, late
in the film a runaway tank crashes though a paint factory; an entire
sequence that seems to scream, "What else could we possibly have
happen here?"
But, for all it's shortcomings, 1941 remains one of my favorite movies,
for reasons even I can't explain.
The DVD is a director's cut, which
includes some truly funny additions, (just watch Slim Pickens interact
with the Japanese soldiers disguised as evergreens) as well as being THX
mastered. Other extras include Spielberg's home movies,
behind-the-scenes footage, outtakes, trailers, 1995 video interviews with
Spielberg, Gale, Zemeckis and John Milius, storyboards, production
photographs and more.
BEST LINE: This is actually more of a
sight gag, and one of the best. Pre AIRPLANE, even. Robert
Stack is addressing a group of paranoid civilians. In the
background, two people are fooling around in a plane and accidentally
cause a bomb to drop off the wing and roll across the tarmack, towards the
grandstand. "Let me say that again. There will be no
bombs dropped here."
1941
Film -
DVD -
THE AVENGERS - Based on the
hip, 1960's British secret agent television series that featured the suave
agents John Steed and the lovely Emma Peel fighting crime with style.
The movie version tries to be just as suave and hip, but instead comes
across as campy and bizarre. The plot has something to do with a
weather control device and a dash of cloning, but never really decides
what to do with itself.
Ralph Fiennes does a dapper job as Steed, Uma Thurman manages to pull off
Peel, but just barely, lacking most of the style the original series
versions had. But the reason to watch this movie is Sean Connery as
August De Wynter, the evil genius out to rule the world. I have
never seen an individual actor chew as much scenery as he does here.
He seems to relish over-acting every line given, as if sticking his thumb
up at all those "other" secret agent flicks he was in.
The DVD is a typical Warner Brothers
affair, with 6 theatrical trailers, & both widescreen and
Pan-&-Scan versions, but nothing else of note.
THE AVENGERS
Film - 
DVD -
HUDSON HAWK - Oh, the agony that is this movie! Quite
possibly the greatest film that almost was. Bruce
Willis plays Hudson Hawk, a cat burglar forced to steal a series of rare
Leonardo da Vinci artifacts that contain the secrets to alchemy--turning
lead into gold.
Great idea so far, but it begins to
get diluted when CIA bunglers lead by James Coburn get involved, and the
Vatican sends their own secret agent (Andie McDowell) to stop Hawk from
getting the da Vinci's. Okay, still plausible, but when you reveal
Sandra Bernhard as the villain the film screeches to a halt. Ugh that
woman makes my flesh crawl.
The problem is there are so many likeable moments in this movie.
Take Willis and partner Danny Aiello sneaking into a museum, calculating
how long the job will take, and then coming up with a song (Swinging On A
Star) to sing so they know how much time they have. That's
brilliant. Or Willis, falling out the back of an ambulance on a
gurney, speeding down the Jersey Turnpike and coming to a toll booth
marked exact change. (Which he conveniently has, and manages to toss
in the basket.) Damn funny. But is it a comedy, or an action
adventure, or what?
I'd really like to talk Bruce and a studio into making "The good
parts version" of this film, cause I understand what he was trying
for, and it could have been great.
The DVD sucks on features, and has one of the worst "redone"
cover art of any DVD.
HUDSON HAWK
Film - 
DVD - 
RADIOLAND MURDERS - Here, it's writer George Lucas' turn for a
non-funny comedy/mystery/adventure. Set in the heyday of live radio,
the story centers around station WBN and their debut broadcast night.
Someone is murdering the station employees one by one, and it's up to
station secretary Penny (Mary Stuart Masterson) and her estranged writer
husband (Brain Benben) to find out who-done-it.
The supporting cast of zanies includes Christopher Lloyd, George Burns,
Harvey Korman, Bobcat Goldwait, Ned Beatty, Corbin Bersen, Jeffrey Tambor,
Larry Miller, and Michael McKean. And once again, we are forced to
ask how can this much talent misfire this much? And again, some of
the same problems are present. A frenetic pace, a lot of overlapping
dialogue, and everybody trying too hard to be funny are the chief
culprits.
The special features… uh, oh. There are none. Never mind.
RADIOLAND MURDERS
Film -
DVD -
WILD WILD WEST - Will Smith,
Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh and Selma Hayek star in Barry Sonnenfeld's
(MEN IN BLACK) big screen version of the small screen's Wild Wild West,
about a pair of U.S. special agents tracking down a diabolical mad man.
What made the series work was the chemistry Jim West and Artemus Gordon
had on screen, and all the cool, James Bond type gadgets they had despite
taking place in the old west. Here, Smith and Kline's chemistry
seems forced, but the gadgets are still cool, namely, the 8-story steam
powered erector set tarantula featured in the climax. Obviously the
thing could not have been invented back then, but it looks
like it could have been. Suspension of disbelief is a big thing for
me in movies. As long as they give me one bit of plausability, I'll
buy it. The spider, of course, leads to some spectacular action
pieces.
Unfortunately, much of the
"humor" comes from racial barbs thrown back and forth between
Smith and Branagh, two actors I expect better from. Granted, some of
them are down right funny, but it still cheapens things. Worse,
Selma Hayek is given very little to do other than be on display, normally
something I wouldn't mind, but here it's totally unnecessary.
Interestingly enough, the DVD is a
good one from Warner. (Also one of the first. It's as if they
loaded up the first batch of titles, like this and THE MATRIX to sell the
format, and then dropped the floor out from under us buyers.) It
includes Will Smith's "Wild Wild West" and Enrique Iglesias'
"Bailamos" Music Videos, a making of documentary of the Wild
Wild West Video, the "HBO First Look: It's A Whole New West"
Documentary, audio commentary by director Sonnenfeld, 4 featurettes, a
stills gallery, DVD-ROM content, and more.
WILD WILD WEST
Film -
DVD -
XXX - Okay, forget for a moment the plot holes big enough to drive
a truck through. Forget also, the reality of physics like gravity.
Physics that would otherwise prevent our hero from pulling off stunts like
jumping a motorcycle over a house, a barbwire fence, and a guard tower, in
that order. And never mind the not-so-coy, not-so-subtle jabs taken
at the James Bond series--a series, I'd like to point out, that made this
film possible to begin with. Forget all of that, and what you have
left is actually a fun, involving action flick, the kind of dumbed down,
turn your brain off kind of thing that attracts the lowest common
denominator in moviegoers.
Vin Diesel stars as Xander Cage, an
extreme sports junkie who's on his third strike. Samuel L. Jackson
is the government agent who offers him a deal. To stay out of jail,
he must become an international spy. Uh-huh, right. Asia
Argento and Martin Csokas co-star. Diesel has the goods to be one of
the brightest action stars around, it's a pity he keeps being handed such
sub-standard fare as this and FAST AND THE FURIOUS. Jackson keeps
the movie grounded in a semblance of reality with his presence, but
overall, the movie is just a big set of action pieces strung together.
(One of which happens quite early in the movie, and despite the idiocy of
most of the stunts, is very well done and could be any other movies'
climax.) But, for all its shortcomings XXX is a lot of fun and worth
a watch, for it's truly a guilty pleasure.
The loaded DVD includes audio
commentary from director Rob Cohen, deleted scenes with optional
commentary, multi-angle deconstructions, featurettes, a making of
documentary, cast and crew BIOS, and much more.
XXX
Film -
DVD -
Okay, so next week I'll try and give
you a few of the big movies that I missed reviewing last year. Be
sure and start checking out the website for updated DVD release date info,
and don't forget OSCAR BLITZ is back up and running, (with over 7000
hits!) 'Tis the season for little gold men, so I'll start reviewing
some more of those films in later installments!
Thanks.
Shaun
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