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Reviews
Today's Special (1981)
The BEST children's show ever made.
I'm serious when I say that too. I'm a 23-year-old male college student and there is no other children's show I want on DVD as badly as I want this one. Let's fight for a DVD release; it just needs to happen. If you haven't yet, please go to www.tvshowsondvd.com to vote for a release of this show (in season sets). This show has a small but devout cult following and that's something else that makes it great. It was one of the most magical things that I have ever seen. Everything from the songs and dances to the original storyline was amazing. I used to have most of these episodes taped when I was little, but I do not have those anymore. In the good old days Nickelodeon had great shows like these (and "You Can't Do That On Television"). I've always liked the quirkier children's show.
Good Day L.A. (1993)
Talk about annoying!
I seriously cannot stand this show. I've seen it a few times and I am done with it. The hosts are extremely annoying and cannot stop talking over one another. And the sexual double entendres and innuendos are nonstop. They also do not know how to conduct an interview. The celebrities usually end up in the middle of the interview with a "kill me now" expression on their faces. I pray to God they cancel this soon.
The Tuxedo (2002)
Why, Jackie, why?
My word, "The Legend of Drunken Master" was amazing! It blew me away! It makes me wonder how Jackie can stand making half of the American movies that he is making anymore! His older Chinese films are the best. Honestly, I did not stick around to watch the ending of "The Tuxedo," I had to walk out of the theater (which is something I never do). But, I did see 3/4 of it. There were absolutely no amazing action scenes. Jackie was made into too much of a special effect, when (I'm agreeing with Ebert here) he's the perfect special effect on his own! I was never wowed by the action, never engaged into what was going on and I never once laughed. Instead, I was bored silly and almost infuriated by the countless stream of sex jokes that we've heard and seen over and over again. So, if you want to see a great Chan action flick, see "The Legend of Drunken Master." If you want to see a great Chan buddy flick, see "Shanghai Noon." If you want to sit there in disgust at what Hollywood is putting Jackie through right now, watch this. (And you can also wait for the third movie in the tiresome "Rush Hour" franchise.)
db27
Blast from the Past (1999)
Poisonous gas in the adult bookstore!
When I walked out of the theater after watching this movie I was just elated. Something about this movie has the ability to make me feel great. I love the movie's idealism, its innocence. From its goofy beginning to the ending credits with Randy Newman singing. Yes, I am a 21-year-old college male and yes, most of my friends make fun of me for loving/owning this movie, but I don't care! Hugh Wilson has come a long way since "Police Academy"! (And thank goodness!) After spending his whole life in a bomb shelter with his "Leave it to Beaver" parents we watch as Adam (a 30+ year-old man) sees the world for the first time. He's a big, very-likable child who assumes that everybody shares his love of Perry Como. I must say, though, that the highlight of this movie for me had to be Dave Foley (from "Kids in the Hall" fame). If for nothing else, watch it for him. I also found him to be one of the most likable screen characters in recent memory.
I would say if you loved watching Dave Foley in "NewsRadio," then this is a must-see. It's hard to say just what makes this movie's naivete so contagious, but it works. It's far-fetched, it's cheesy, it's idealistic. It always has this goofy grin on its face that forces the viewer to just surrender and smile along with it.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
It's not easy having a good time...even smiling makes my face ache!
What a ridiculous movie. A high school friend recommend that I watch this. So, one night when home alone I decided to go up to the rental place and see what all the fuss was about. I sat there in horror as this innocent little love story turned into a movie about sex, rock 'n roll and more sex. I didn't know what to make of it, I only knew one thing...I HAD to watch it again. So, I did and I LOVE it! People say the plot is ridiculous, people say it's cheesy, people say it's pushing the boundaries (well, for the 70's, maybe). I say "DUH!" That's what makes it so much fun. If nothing else, watch it to see a very young Susan Sarandon in a role unlike any other she's played. (She's in her underwear for half of the movie and at one point sings a song entitled "Toucha-Toucha-Toucha Touch Me"). But, here comes the really strange part. I'm always telling people that I love this movie and they usually agree with me on that. Then I tell them I have never seen it with audience participation (although I'd like to) and they're like, "Oh....." I just like it as a straight (well, not "strai...", nevermind) movie. Finally, I must add that Richard O'Brien's music and Tim Curry's performance are definitely the highlight of this unique picture show.
Man on the Moon (1999)
I never thought I'd say this: Where's Tony Danza?
I found this movie to be absolutely mesmerizing. I had heard of Andy Kaufman beforehand, but I did not know his whole story. I thought he was absolutely hilarious! I loved all the jokes he played on the audience. After I saw this movie I fell in love with it. Then I checked all of the critics reviews and was surprised that critics did not like it more than they did. (Although Ebert was not one of them: He gave it 4 1/2 stars!) But, after I thought about it a little more I realized that that is what Andy Kaufman is all about! Of course a lot of the critics did not like it! Andy Kaufman is an acquired taste and a lot of people will never see the humor in him. I personally happen to think the man is a genius. But, at the same time, what a strange, strange, strange, strange man!!! And also, where the hell was Tony Danza?? Was he really that busy that he could not take time out to do the movie? (That really would have been a first!)
Addams Family Reunion (1998)
Lacks ALL the charm of the first two!!
This movie is so off the mark that it is extremely painful to watch!! I kept cringing while I was watching this movie because the first two were such comedic masterpieces. I did realize before I rented this movie that it probably wouldn't be that great, since it was a direct-to-video sequel and most of the original cast did not appear in it, but it was even worse than I thought possible! This definitely ranks among the worst movies I have ever seen. (This makes "The Mummy Returns" look like a work of art.) How could a movie with both Tim Curry and a big creepy mansion in it be so bad? It's never happened before! ("The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Clue" are both great!!) It saddens me to Curry stoop so low as to be in this picture. He is such a great actor, he just routinely picks bad movies to star in. Daryl Hannah and Ray Walston get the honor of being in two of the worst movies I have ever seen (they were both in this piece of garbage and "My Favorite Martian"...eww!)! To me everything in this movie fell flat. One could not help but compare them to the much superior cast of the first two. There was just no chemistry in this film! The characters were not nearly as polished.
(Daryl Hannah did not seem confident at all in her portrayal of Morticia!) Angelica Huston seemed much more natural playing the very dark character. The plot was extremely contrived and insulting to the viewer. It was just one big mess! Why were eccentric and annoying extended family members introduced and then discarded as if the filmmakers didn't follow through with their initial ideas of how to use them? What was up with the stupid metamorphosing dog that added nothing to the plot and just prompted the viewer to say, "Huh?"? That idea (just like the entire movie) was a half thought-through idea (meaning it just didn't work...AT ALL!). Whoever came up with that idea needs to be put in front of a firing squad. Plus, there were some major inconsistencies between this one and the first two! Whatever happened to the way Wednesday used to always torture her brother, Pugsley? In this movie they acted like they got along a lot better! She used to always manipulate him and boss him around. And why was Pugsley so huge in this movie? He was only half this size in the last two. Whatever happened to the youngest Addams, Pubert, who was introduced in "Addams Family Values"? Is this movie a prequel? And if this movie is a prequel, why weren't we informed? (Also, didn't Morticia have an eerie light shining on her eyes through the entire first two films? Why wasn't it present in this one?) All in all this movie never should have been attempted. It was extremely lame from the beginning and it kept getting worse and worse until we were begging for the lame special effects, horrible plot, idiotic dialogue, and absurd acting to just stop. After seeing this movie, I just want to erase it from my memory and focus on the first two, which I thought were thoroughly enjoyable. I honestly think that the people who made this movie came up with the title and then made the movie accordingly. I can just hear them saying, "Hey, I got it: 'Addams Family Reunion.' Now, that's a catchy title! Get it? 'Addams Family' ... 'Family Reunion.' It's brilliant! All we have to do is make a movie out of it!"
db27
PS Hey, did anyone other than me realize that in the three Addams Family movies there have been three different Grandma Addamses?
The Mummy Returns (2001)
Fun at first...then turns boring!
What a movie! I didn't especially like the first one all that well, but I thought what the heck, I'll give this one a chance. It's not that I didn't like the first one, it's just that it was only a mediocre movie. This is worse. After seeing this one, I'm sure not looking forward to "The Scorpion King" at all! I was hopeful during the first half hour of this movie because it wasn't that bad; I was actually kind of enjoying it. But, after a while I got really sick of the special effects and towards the end I was bored! Yes, I was BORED! This movie has WAY too many special effects. And they really aren't that impressive. Also, too many idiotic fight scenes! The sound of clanging metal drove my head crazy by the end of the movie. This movie wasn't extremely long, but it sure seemed like it! The plot (what little of it there was) got so ridiculous that towards the end I didn't care anymore, I just wanted to get it over with. Action is great when you stop and take a break from it every now and then, but when that's all a movie is, you just want to stop to breathe. Even James Bond takes a break for a drink every now and then (shaken, not stirred)! Also, WHAT was up with the Rock being in the movie less than 10 minutes?? He gets top-billing along with Fraser, yet he's hardly in the movie! They got me interested in his character at the beginning and that's all the screen time he got. (Well, he returned later on...kind of.) This movie also lacked any frightening scenes. The only thing frightening about this movie is the possibility that "The Scorpion King" may not be the last "Mummy" movie (especially since "MR" was record-breaking at the box office). And I will close with an excellent (and hilarious) point by Ebert: A man cannot outrun the sun (easily). If you don't know what I'm talking about, I urge you to see his review.
Spy Hard (1996)
Absolutely hilarious...
...And then Weird Al stopped singing! My recommendation would be to watch the opening credits and then stop it because it's just not funny. I've honestly never watched a parody movie that was less funny than this. None of the jokes worked!! If I were given one word to describe this movie it would have to be "lame." But, don't get me wrong! I usually love stupid humor! There was just something truly wrong in this case! Spend your time more wisely with "Airplane!", "Blazing Saddles", "Young Frankenstein", or, if you want more Weird Al, go for "UHF." But remember, the movie's NOT a complete waste: Weird Al's original song during the opening credits that indirectly spoofs James Bond is an instant classic!