4-Kane Reviews

Menace II Society (1993)

Gritty urban drama

[28 December 2023]

Menace II Society is a gritty movie with more carnage than Boyz N the Hood. The 1993 urban drama focuses on Caine Lawson (Tyrin Turner), a young man who witnesses his friend, Kevin "O-Dog" Anderson (Larenz Tate), murder the owners of a local convenience store. Orphaned since childhood, Caine has been raised by his grandparents in Los Angeles.

Throughout the movie, Caine deals with life in the projects. As expected, it's a risky lifestyle with gang violence and trouble with the law. But those who care about him, including his grandfather try to convince him to change his ways, warning him that unless he does so he could end up in jail or dead.

But that's part of what Menace II Society effectively points out. It's not only a question of whether Caine will live or die, but whether he cares about his fate.

Menace II Society is violent and gripping, but I recommend seeing it.

Magnum Force (1973)

Great Dirty Harry sequel

[24 November 2023]

Dirty Harry is a classic film, but Magnum Force is my favorite installment in the movie series. The sequel may be half a century old now, but it still holds up, thanks in no small part to the acting and the action scenes.

In a pre-Starsky and Hutch role, David Soul plays Officer John Davis, one of the vigilante cops. His character appears to have good potential as a police officer until his true colors come to light. It is up to Dirty Harry Callahan (brilliantly played by Clint Eastwood) to contend with John Davis and his fellow vigilante officers and put an end to their crime spree once and for all.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

A Star Trek movie that was meant to be made

[18 December 2022]

When Star Trek: The Motion Picture was released in 1979, the reaction from fans and critics alike was lukewarm. It's not a bad film, but it left a lot to be desired. Thankfully, whatever mistakes the producers made with the first Star Trek movie, they corrected in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. As a result, it is a sequel better than the original.

The movie is actually a sequel to the 1967 Star Trek TV episode "The Space Seed," in which Ricardo Montalban played Khan. In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Montalban reprised the role of the title character. Fifteen years after the events of "The Space Seed," Khan returns to seek revenge against Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), who is now an admiral, and his crew.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is an excellent entry in the Star Trek movie series. It was one that was destined to be made.

The Last House on the Left (1972)

A memorable '70s horror classic

[26 November 2022]

Before there was Friday the 13th, and before there was A Nightmare on Elm Street, there was The Last House on the Left. As of this user review, this 1972 horror classic is now half a century old. The film is a product of Sean Cunningham and Wes Craven, the future producers/directors of Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street, respectively. The collaboration of the two future slasher franchise filmmakers resulted in this movie.

Two friends are en route to a concert when they cross paths with a gang of thugs. The gang takes the girls to a wooded area and viciously attacks and kills them. They soon find refuge at a nearby house, unaware that it happened to be the home of one of their victims. When the homeowners discover who they really are and what they had done to their daughter and her friend, they give the thugs an unwelcome hospitality.

The Last House on the Left features Martin Kove, who later went on to star on the TV series Cagney & Lacey and in the Karate Kid movies.

Thief (1981)

James Caan's best '80s movie IMHO

[26 September 2021]

The 1980s had barely started when Thief entered movie theaters in 1981. In my humble opinion, it is James Caan's best '80s film. Caan stars as Frank, a thief who wants to leave his criminal ways behind in favor of a normal life with his girlfriend Jessie (Tuesday Weld). But Frank's desire for a normal life is hindered when the mob wants him to commit another heist. He goes along, but it puts him and everyone he cares about in jeopardy. Frank has to figure out how to leave the mob alive and save the ones he loves from danger. Written and directed by Michael Mann, Thief has clever explosions and features a pre-CSI William Petersen, who has a small role as a bartender. The film is a must-see, especially if you like neo-noir action movies.

Hard to Kill (1990)

One of the best Steven Seagal films

[31 December 2020]

One night, Mason Storm (Steven Seagal), a Los Angeles police detective, arrives at a pier to videotape a meeting between the mob and a shadowy figure with political aspirations. But he is soon spotted and flees the area. Unfortunately, he is intercepted by corrupt cops, who soon invade Storm's home. But the incriminating evidence is so discreetly stashed away in the house that they never find it. However, they kill Mason's wife, shoot at his son, and shoot Storm, believing him to be dead. But unbeknownst to the thugs, Storm is alive and in a coma. Storm's partner Lt. Kevin O'Malley (Frederick Coffin) orders the doctors to keep Mason's status a secret so that Mason can be safe until he recovers and provides answers to the case he was investigating.

Seven years later, Mason Storm wakes up from his coma. Realizing that he is still in mortal danger, he asks for the help of a nurse (Kelly LeBrock). When the corrupt cops learn that Storm is alive, they try to finish the job. The initially-skeptical nurse takes him seriously when some of her colleagues are murdered. She escorts him out of the hospital and hides him at a friend's home that she is housesitting. While in hiding, Storm recuperates and is soon reunited with Lt. O'Malley, who had been protecting Storm's son the past seven years by faking his death and giving him an alias.

Mason Storm discovers that the shadowy figure he videotaped was Senator Vernon Trent (Bill Sadler). He now must recover the incriminating videotaped evidence and contend with thugs who want to keep the truth about the corrupt Senator a secret.

Hard to Kill is, in my humble opinion, one of the best Steven Seagal movies. It has a lot of action, not to mention broken bones. If you like revenge action movies, Hard to Kill is worth your time.

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Excellent Star Wars sequel

[30 December 2020]

Movie sequels are often seen as an attempt to cash in on the original, but The Empire Strikes Back is not one of them. The films could also have been made as a retread of Star Wars, but it wasn't. Instead, it was designed to move the saga along.

After the events of Star Wars, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker and company are stationed on the snowy planet Hoth. Unfortunately, Darth Vader and the empire track them down and launch an attack on them. The rebels flee the planet. Luke enters the planet Dagobah, while the rest of the crew deal with TIE fighters and asteroids before reaching Bespin, where they meet Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams). On Dagaboh, Luke meets Yoda who trains him to become a Jedi.

The Empire Strikes Back is an excellent movie sequel that is actually better than the original. Not only does it move the story along, but we are treated with a twist regarding the truth about Darth Vader.

Home Alone (1990)

A wonderful holiday film by the late John Hughes

[26 December 2020]

If someone tells you to be careful what you wish for, you better take them seriously. After a tumultuous evening, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) wishes he didn't have a family. The next day, he gets his wish when, in all the confusion, his family unknowingly leaves for the airport without him. He has the house to himself and enjoys his alone time to the fullest. Meanwhile, Kevin's family is already on the plane trip to Paris, France when they realize Kevin was left behind. As the family tries to get back home as soon as possible, Kevin has to contend with a duo of burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), defending himself and his house against them while overcoming his fear of his old neighbor Marley, who has been the subject of false rumors.

The late movie writer/producer/director John Hughes made many great films, and Home Alone is no exception. Although I consider the Thanksgiving-themed Planes Trains & Automobiles to be the best holiday movie Hughes made, Home Alone is a wonderful Christmas movie.

Uncle Buck (1989)

One of John Candy's best films

[31 December 2019]

Uncle Buck is one of the best John Candy movies. In this 1989 film, he stars as the title character, a bachelor who is asked to look after his brother's three children while his brother and sister-in-law are out of town due to a family emergency. Buck is slobbish, but he soon displays a caring and responsible side. The movie was released one year before Macaulay Culkin, who co-stars as Buck's nephew, achieved greater fame in Home Alone. The late film director John Hughes made his share of great films, including The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Some Kind of Wonderful. Uncle Buck is another one of his many gems. It is a wonderful heartwarming comedy.

Licence to Kill (1989)

Timothy Dalton displays pure Bond in this movie.

[29 November 2019]

Licence to Kill is the second of two James Bond movies with Timothy Dalton playing the character. This film was released two years after The Living Daylights and shows Dalton portraying Agent 007 in a pure fashion. His friend Felix Leiter is attacked by thugs who have also murdered Felix's bride. This causes James Bond to seek retribution against the thugs, lead by drug lord Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi). His license to kill is revoked, but he is not easily deterred, so he vows to continue pursuing Sanchez and his gang until they are all taken out.

Of the two Bond movies with Timothy Dalton, The Living Daylights is good, but I generally like Licence to Kill better. It's a great revenge action movie. And if you like revenge movies, then Licence to Kill may be your cup of tea.

Sea of Love (1989)

Underrated thriller

[16 November 2019]

I agree with those who say Sea of Love is underrated. In fact, I consider it an underrated Al Pacino movie, as well as an underrated thriller. When you think of Al Pacino movies, The Godfather, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, and Scarface immediately come to mind, but not Sea of Love.

In Sea of Love, Al Pacino plays Frank Keller, a New York City detective who investigates a series of murders. A suspect named Helen Cruger (Ellen Barkin) soon enters the picture. However, against his better judgment, Frank becomes personally involved with her, putting himself in danger. Some evidence, including a gun, seems to implicate Helen in the murders, but it's a question of whether the killer is Helen or someone else entirely.

Sea of Love has a good cast. Along with Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin, the cast includes John Goodman, William Hickey, Richard Jenkins, and John Spencer (of The West Wing fame). If you like thrillers, give Sea of Love a chance.

They Live (1988)

Underrated science fiction movie

[30 December 2018]

They Live is an underrated sci-fi movie, not to mention one of the most underrated sci-fi movies of the '80s. The late pro wrestler Roddy Piper stars as Nada, a drifter who comes across a pair of unusual sunglasses that, to his dismay, reveals that not everyone around him is what they appear to be. Many of them are actually extra terrestrials in disguise intent on taking over the world. He must warn others, including Frank Armitage (Keith David), about the danger they are in. After Frank is finally convinced, he teams up with Nada to help expose the threat to the unsuspecting public before all is lost.

They Live doesn't take itself too seriously, but it is not supposed to. Overall, it is a good film. If you like movies that have a combination of action and science fiction, then you should see They Live.

Colors (1988)

An '80s crime drama film with a realistic depiction of Los Angeles street gangs

[16 December 2018]

When you think of crime drama movies from the 1980s, Colors may not immediately come to mind. The 1988 movie is often overlooked, yet it was well-directed by actor Dennis Hopper. Colors portrays Los Angeles street gangs in a grim but realistic light. The movie stars Robert Duvall as veteran police officer Bob Hodges and Sean Penn as his rookie partner Danny McGavin. As the former shows the latter the ropes, both officers must cope with the gang-ridden streets of Los Angeles. But keeping things under control is no easy task as gang members attack and kill one another.

In my humble opinion, Colors is a must-see.

Die Hard (1988)

One of the all-time best action movies

[23 November 2018]

Bruce Willis did a fantastic job as John McClane, a New York City police officer who takes on a gang of terrorists when they take over a Los Angeles high-rise. Alan Rickman was great as the menacing leader of the gang, and the inevitable final showdown between him and McClane is clever. Not only is Die Hard one of the best action movies of all-time, but it is also one of the most influential ones. The movie was so successful that it spawned four sequels and numerous copycats, such as Passenger 57 and Under Siege; the former is basically Die Hard on a plane and the latter is Die Hard on a ship. You cannot be a fan of action movies without seeing Die Hard. Plain and simple.

Silver Spoons (1982–1987)

Enjoyable '80s sitcom

[30 December 2017]

It's not very often that you come across a TV show, let alone a situation comedy, in which the father is portrayed as more childish than his son. Nevertheless, such a program came into fruition in the form of Silver Spoons, when it debuted on NBC in September 1982. Joel Higgins was perfect as Edward Stratton III, a wealthy man who discovers that he is the father of a 12-year-old boy named Ricky Stratton, played by Ricky Schroder. But who could have guessed that someone like Ricky Schroder, known for dramatic movies such as The Champ and The Earthling, would star in a sitcom? Regardless, Schroder was great as Ricky Stratton.

Silver Spoons is an enjoyable sitcom. The series ran for five years, on NBC from 1982 to 1986 and in first-run syndication from 1986 to 1987. It produced a total of 116 episodes. That was a good run. It has been over thirty years since the series ended its run, but I still have fond memories of it.

RoboCop (1987)

Robo-classic

[28 December 2017]

Alex Murphy is a police officer who is murdered by a gang of thugs, only to be brought back to life as a cyborg named Robocop. But his resurrection comes at a price: Alex Murphy is declared dead, his wife is legally a widow, his son is without a father, and he can no longer remember his family. But that's what effectively adds legitimate drama to this 1987 science fiction/action movie.

A product of Omni Consumer Products (OCP, for short), Robocop patrols the streets and fights crime. He eventually comes across the thugs who changed him forever, leading to an inevitable showdown. But he goes through other situations before the showdown, such as taking on a robotic machine known as ED-209.

Robocop is a classic - and I would call it a Robo-classic.

Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

Wonderful John Hughes film

[10 December 2017]

Does this movie live up to its name? If you ask me, the answer is yes. Written and produced by the late John Hughes, Some Kind of Wonderful is exactly what it is: Some kind of wonderful. Eric Stoltz plays Keith Nelson, a high school student and mechanic who asks a popular student named Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson) out on a date. But this is not without risks, as Amanda's narcissistic ex-boyfriend plans to create trouble for Keith. Unbeknownst to Keith, his tomboy friend Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson), the subject of lesbian rumors in high school, has feelings for him.

Many romantic movies of this ilk tend to provide the question of if the boy will get the girl. But the real question in this film is: Should the boy get the girl? That's what makes Some Kind of Wonderful so interesting to watch.

Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)

A hilarious movie. KnowhutImean?

[12 November 2017]

Ernest Goes To Camp is hilarious. Here we have Ernest P. Worrell working as a janitor at a summer camp and then getting promoted to camp counselor. As he guides a group of juvenile delinquents, the camp is in danger of being lost to a mining company. Undeterred, Ernest sets out to save the camp from destruction. The late Jim Varney was great as the klutzy but well-meaning Ernest P. Worrell. The late John Vernon did well as Sherman Krader, the corrupt mining company owner. This enjoyable movie is filled with slapstick humor and physical comedy.

The Rocketeer (1991)

Enjoyable action film

[31 December 2016]

The Rocketeer is a great action movie and fun to watch. Since it is set in the 1930s, the movie doesn't fail to effectively give it a nice '30s throwback look and feel to it. Bill Campbell did a good job as Cliff, aka the Rocketeer. Timothy Dalton's performance as the villainous Neville Sinclair, a Nazi in disguise, was a far cry from his role as James Bond, but effective nonetheless.

I read that there had been plans to make The Rocketeer a trilogy. It's too bad it never happened. It's hard not to wonder what might have been if the film had successfully spawned any sequels. But I would hope that we would have been given stories just as good as the original film, if not better.

In my humble opinion, no only is The Rocketeer is an enjoyable movie, but it's one of the best action films of 1991.

ALF (1986–1990)

Wonderful sitcom.

[24 December 2016]

ALF is a wonderful TV show. Watching that sitcom was a Monday night ritual for me during the four years (1986-1990) it was on the air. It was fun to see what kind of mischief the furry alien got into. But the Tanners were cautious, because not only did they have to protect their cat Lucky from the cat-eating alien, but they had to keep his existence a secret from everyone, out of concern for his safety and well-being. Inevitably, though, some people discovered him, but kept it a secret, too.

One of my favorite episodes is "Prime Time." That is the episode in which the Tanner family get a ratings system for their television set. When ALF learns that his favorite polka music show is doing poorly in the ratings, he rigs the system in order to save it from cancellation. As a result, the polka show hits #1 in the ratings. But that success is short-lived, because the Tanners inevitably find out about it and soon get rid of their ratings equipment.

The worst thing about the show was that it ended with a cliffhanger. In the Season 4 finale "Consider Me Gone," four years after the destruction of his home planet Melmac, ALF finally makes contact with his fellow surviving Melmacians and agrees to go with them to live on a new planet. Unfortunately, his attempt to leave Earth fails and the episode ends with Alien Task Force closing in on him. It was not intended to be the end of the series, though. The door was open for a fifth season, but NBC had a verbal agreement with the producers to commission a special that would wrap up the storyline if they decided against renewing the show. Not only was the show ultimately canceled, but NBC underwent a change in management that resulted in the verbal agreement being rescinded. Rival network ABC aired the post-series TV-movie Project: ALF in 1996, six years after the show's cancellation, but the absence of the Tanner family made it unpopular with many ALF fans. ALF creator/puppeteer Paul Fusco said in a 2012 interview that the late NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff admitted to him that the 1990 cancellation was a big mistake.

Again, ALF is a wonderful show. It is suitable for the whole family.

Unusual Suspects (2010–2016)

One of my favorite true crime shows

[30 December 2015]

Aside from Unsolved Mysteries, Unusual Suspects is one of my favorite true crime TV shows. Production-wise, the show looked cheap in its debut season. But when the show returned for its second season in 2011, it looked much better. One may see Unusual Suspects as something of a throwback to the 1980s. That might sound unfair, but I can see why it can be viewed as such. In fact, there are moments in the show where reenactments remind me of reenactments from the early seasons of Unsolved Mysteries, due to the look and feel. Unusual Suspects has nice production values.

If Unusual Suspects can teach us anything, it is that even your quiet and seemingly harmless neighbor can be a cold-blooded murderer. Sometimes, a person's public persona can be a stark contrast to who they truly are behind closed doors.

CSI: Miami (2002–2012)

David Caruso's successful comeback

[1 January 2015]

Needless to say, David Caruso paid a steep price (career-wise) for leaving NYPD Blue early in its second season in the fall of 1994. He traded his role of Det. John Kelly for a movie career that quickly fizzled. In 1997, he returned to television as the star of the CBS series Michael Hayes, playing the title character, but that show was canceled after only one season. In 2002, CBS came calling again, this time casting Caruso as Lt. Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami. After eight years in a career slump, Caruso's career had finally rebounded.

With many great Horatio one-liners and many great episodes, CSI: Miami proved to be a great and successful comeback for David Caruso. In contrast to NYPD Blue, CSI: Miami was a show that Caruso stayed with for its entire run. It ran for ten years, from 2002 to 2012, a few years longer than it should have (at least from my point of view). This is not to say that weren't any good episodes during its final years on the air, since one of my favorite episodes ("A Few Dead Men") was broadcast during the show's final season. It is just that the earlier seasons look generally better by comparison.

Regardless, I am proud of the show and its success. The series may have inevitably ceased production, but with over 200 episodes produced, it is guaranteed to live on forever both on DVD and in syndicated reruns.

The Big 4: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria (2010)

Epic concert

[31 December 2014]

To date, The Big 4 has to be the most epic concert DVD I have ever seen. It brings four thrash metal bands together for an epic metal concert show: Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica, and Slayer. Each group stands on their own as they take their turns on the stage to perform in front of a huge audience in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Joey Belladonna shines through as he sings Anthrax classics such as "Caught In A Mosh," "I Am The Law," "Medusa," and the John Bush-era "Only." Like Anthrax, the other bands made impressive performances in this concert, too. Slayer, in particular, delivers the goods with songs like "Angel of Death," "South of Heaven," "Raining Blood," and "World Painted Blood." Of all the highlights on this DVD, none are more significant than the bands (albeit minus Slayer's Tom Araya, Jeff Hanneman, and Kerry King) joining together on stage to perform to the Diamond Head song "Am I Evil?"

Awesome concert DVD - and one that no metal-head should be without!

Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)

A funny Christmas movie. KnowhutImean?

[25 December 2014]

I have been an Ernest P. Worrell fan since my teens and Ernest Saves Christmas is a funny holiday movie. After serving as a camp counselor in Ernest Goes To Camp, Ernest crosses paths with Santa Claus while working as a taxi driver in Florida. Santa is eager to retire from his job and pass the torch to his would-be successor, Joe Carruthers, the star of a children's television show. Ernest, along with a teenage girl he encounters, must help Santa fulfill his mission. Time is running out, as Christmas will be gone if Santa fails in his quest.

The late Jim Varney was funny and great as Ernest. His talent made the character shine through, especially in Ernest Saves Christmas.

Slayer: War at the Warfield (2003 Video)

Awesome metal concert DVD

[15 December 2013]

War at the Warfield is nothing short of awesome. But if it has any drawbacks, it is the absence of original drummer Dave Lombardo. However, Paul Bostaph still did a fine performance on the drums. Tom Araya, Kerry King, and the late Jeff Hanneman were all in great form.

In addition to performing such Slayer classics as "Raining Blood", "War Ensemble", "Dead Skin Mask", "South of Heaven", and "Angel of Death", they played some tracks from their then-recent album God Hates Us All, including "Disciple" and "Bloodline". The December 2001 concert opened with "Disciple" and closed with "Angel of Death".

War at the Warfield delivers the goods from start to finish. Evidently, readers of the now-defunct magazine Metal Edge agreed; following its 2003 release, the DVD won a Metal Edge Readers' Choice Award for "DVD of the Year" - and rightly so!