Disliked Films I like (Ongoing Chronicle)
They may not be the best, funniest, most exciting or well written, but these are the motion pictures that, despite their faults, I found myself pleasantly surprised by, and even growing quite fond of.
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- DirectorSimon WestStarsNicolas CageJohn CusackJohn MalkovichNewly-paroled ex-con and former U.S. Ranger Cameron Poe finds himself trapped in a prisoner-transport plane when the passengers seize control.Never stopping for a hamfisted message unlike 'The Rock', 'Con Air' is testosterone-pumping 90s action cheese at its most potent. And I love every single overworked and silly second of it!
- DirectorRussell MulcahyStarsAlec BaldwinJohn LonePenelope Ann MillerIn 1930s New York City, The Shadow (Alec Baldwin) battles his nemesis, Shiwan Khan (John Lone), who is building an atomic bomb.How ironic the character who inspired Batman would have his film labelled a knock-off of the 1989 film. Doesn't change the fact that, aside form solid production values and a game cast, David Koepp offers one of his liveliest and wittiest scripts here.
- DirectorSimon WincerStarsBilly ZaneKristy SwansonTreat WilliamsThe Phantom, descendent of a line of African superheroes, travels to New York City to thwart a wealthy criminal genius from obtaining three magic skulls which would give him the secret to ultimate power.Though simple and undemanding, 'Phantom' is a good adaptation of the legendary character (one of the first to wear the trademark spandex and domino mask outfits of superheroes), boasting a fun little adventure.
With some good set pieces and a cast embracing the inherently old fashioned nature of the material (Billy Zane as a smiling, charming do-gooder, while Treat Williams wonderfully chews up scenery like a termite as the slimy businessman-villain, Drax), Wincer's adventure will fit any adventure-fix very nicely. - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDustin HoffmanRobin WilliamsJulia RobertsWhen Captain James Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy.For every person who says their kids were bored, another says they were just fine. As for me, I love the faux-Technicolor/theatrical aesthetics, the two leads and even the core story of rediscovering your inner child.
- DirectorStephen HopkinsStarsMichael DouglasVal KilmerTom WilkinsonA bridge engineer and an experienced old hunter begin a hunt for two lions after they start attacking local construction workers.A great contradiction of a film, 'The Ghost and The Darkness'' main gimmick, killer lions, lack any real menace or scares. And yet somehow, the film still manages to hold my attention.
This is thanks in part to lush production values with some gorgeous shots of the African savannah, Jerry Goldsmith' thrilling and pounding score, and pretty decent chemistry and performances from its two leads. - DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsRobert De NiroKenneth BranaghHelena Bonham CarterWhen the brilliant but unorthodox scientist Dr. Victor Frankenstein rejects the artificial man that he has created, the Creature escapes and later swears revenge.Melodramatic for sure, but fast paced and rather beautifully mounted. Among a fairly strong cast, DeNiro is the gem; a very underrated 'Monster', balancing the line between menace and sympathy.
Also, it easily has one of the most gorgeous and vibrant horror scores ever composed. Patrick Doyle is a true mast. - DirectorLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsEmile HirschMatthew FoxChristina RicciYoung driver, Speed Racer, aspires to be champion of the racing world with the help of his family and his high-tech Mach 5 automobile.This is about as close to a live-action version of a 60s cartoon as you'll get, both in its pros and cons: exuberant visuals, some great racing sequences and a game cast are offset by a limited, one note story, archetypical characters with the bare basics of character and some really forced commentary on the underhanded nature of the automobile & racing business.
- DirectorGore VerbinskiStarsJohnny DeppArmie HammerWilliam FichtnerNative American warrior Tonto recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid, a man of the law, into a legend of justice.There is so much I have to say about how wrongly maligned this film was. However, for that, I already have this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlfo5rwlL1c
It says all I need to, and at great length too. - DirectorRobert AltmanStarsKenneth BranaghEmbeth DavidtzRobert Downey Jr.A lawyer uses his power to help his lover put her father behind bars, but when he escapes, they are all in danger.Among Robert Altman's most underrated films, I really, really dig this sleazy, sweaty and atmospheric tale of deceit and manipulation in the Deep South.
- DirectorStephen SurjikStarsMike MyersDana CarveyChristopher WalkenThe inseparable duo try to organize a rock concert while Wayne must fend off a record producer who has an eye for his girlfriend.Sure, it's not as fresh or zany as last time, but it still has more than a handful of hearty laughs to offer.
- DirectorAmy HeckerlingStarsMichael KeatonJoe PiscopoMarilu HennerSet in the 1930s, an honest, good-hearted man is forced to turn to a life of crime to finance his neurotic mother's sky-rocketing medical bills.One of the more forgotten 80s spoof films, this work both as a solid parody of classic gangster films and all their melodrama, as well as a decent standalone comedy about a wacky crime racket.
- DirectorJ. Lee ThompsonStarsRichard ChamberlainSharon StoneHerbert LomFortune hunter Allan Quatermain teams up with a resourceful woman to help her find her missing father lost in the wilds of 1900s Africa while being pursued by hostile tribes and a rival German explorer.A quasi Indy knock off-spoof, this is 80s adventure cheese at its finest. And the cast and score aren't half bad, actually.
- DirectorGary NelsonStarsRichard ChamberlainSharon StoneJames Earl JonesAllan Quatermain once again teams up with Jesse Huston where the discovery of a mysterious old gold piece sends Quatermain looking for his long-lost brother, missing in the wilds of Africa after seeking a lost white race.Just more of the same. Perhaps even tackier and goofier.
- DirectorArthur HillerStarsRod SteigerValerie PerrineJohn MarleyOne of comedies true originals - the master of wit and good, mean fun, the curmudgeonly, and very original, the legendary W.C. Fields' is wonderfully portrayed by Rod Steiger in this off-beat biopic.Rare, but if you can get it, it's an amusing and dark little tale of the private life of a famous comedian and his troubled love.
- DirectorStephen HerekStarsCharlie SheenKiefer SutherlandChris O'DonnellFrance, 1625: Young d'Artagnan heads to Paris to join the Musketeers but the evil cardinal has disbanded them - save 3. He meets the 3, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, and joins them on their quest to save the king and country.Sure it may be watered down from Dumas' classic, but at least it has a charm to it and a likeable cast. And it's not full of video-game-y junk like the 2011 version.
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsCary ElwesRichard LewisRoger ReesA spoof of Robin Hood in general, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) in particular.Sort of a critics vs. audiences affair, Robin Hood is one of the less well received yet fondly remembered of Brooks' many offerings. And why not? It's got more than few hearty chuckles in it.
- DirectorWalter HillStarsJeff BridgesEllen BarkinJohn HurtThe early career of legendary lawman Wild Bill Hickock is telescoped and culminates in his relocation in Deadwood and a reunion with Calamity Jane.Sure, some of it plays like an Oliver Stone wannabe with the tinted flashbacks, but it's short and has a terrific cast at its disposal. A neat little curio to see the roots of 'Deadwood', which Walter Hill also had a hand in.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsAnthony HopkinsJulianne MooreGary OldmanLiving in exile, Dr. Hannibal Lecter tries to reconnect with now disgraced F.B.I. Agent Clarice Starling, and finds himself a target for revenge from a powerful victim.It's not trying to be an intense thriller like Silence. It's instead a grand guignol, indulgent farce, with one of Hans Zimmer's most elegant and operatic scores to match.
- DirectorJoel SchumacherStarsGerard ButlerEmmy RossumPatrick WilsonA young soprano becomes the obsession of a disfigured and murderous musical genius who lives beneath the Paris Opéra House.'Twilight' makes you really appreciate how much this still at least felt like the classic story it drew from. Sure, some of the lovey-dovey is hokey, but good songs and some atmospheric direction still matter.
- DirectorRob CohenStarsBrendan FraserJet LiMaria BelloIn the Far East, Alex O'Connell, the son of famed mummy fighters Rick and Evy O'Connell, unearths the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin -- a shape-shifting entity cursed by a witch centuries ago.The weakest and silliest of the Sommers trilogy, 'Dragon Emperor' still makes for some slick, if nonsensical, summer fun. The final battle near the Great Wall is of special note.
- DirectorJohn GuillerminStarsJeff BridgesCharles GrodinJessica LangeA petroleum exploration expedition comes to an isolated island and encounters a colossal giant gorilla.It's written by the same man who created the 60s Batman series, and stars The Dude. Need I say more?
- DirectorFrank MarshallStarsLaura LinneyTim CurryDylan WalshWhen an expedition to the African Congo ends in disaster, a new team is assembled to find out what went wrong.One of the great cheesefests of the 90s, Congo manages to be a capable action film and a totally nonsensical slice of wacky sci-fi/adventure, sesame cake and all!
- DirectorHugh HudsonStarsAl PacinoDonald SutherlandNastassja KinskiA trapper and his young son get pulled into the American revolution early as unwilling participants and remain involved through to the end.One that has improved with age, 'Revolution' may be a little fragmented, but it still has a grand sense of scope, beautiful music, and solid performances. If you can, get the double pack with the 'Revisited Cut'.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsTom CruiseNicole KidmanThomas GibsonA young Irish couple flee to the States, but subsequently struggle to obtain land and prosper freely.Melodramatic and overblown to be sure, but it's still quite a feat. It's vast in scale, varied and despite the accents, the performances still bring in the emotions.
- DirectorMichael CiminoStarsKris KristoffersonChristopher WalkenJohn HurtDuring the Johnson County War in 1890 Wyoming, a sheriff born into wealth does his best to protect immigrant farmers from rich cattle interests.Forget all of the bad history and butchered cuts issued by MGM over the years, get the new 'Restored' Director's Cut on Blu-Ray, and experience an ambitious epic that has seldom since been repeated in cinema.