subego Reviews

Mystery Men (1999)

This movie is just great fun!

[7/10 · 1 March 2011]

I thought this movie was simply a good time, without the sometimes serious undertones that inhabit more well established "superhero" movies. I am especially in awe of the relationships that develop between the stars of the film. It was said that much...if not most...of the dialog was improvised, giving the cast a chance to really play off of one another scene by scene. This tactic works well with regards to how they relate...and ultimately become friends over the course of the film. this could actually even be compared to another movie which shares similar motifs: "Galaxy Quest." This becomes a movie of ultimate redemption by the underdogs - not by the use of any inherent REAL superior powers, but they succeed simply because the cast in BOTH movies eventually live up to what they believe to be their destinies...by the belief in themselves!

Most of the movie-going public and critics alike panned "Mystery Men" right out of the gate, which is a shame. I have watched this picture multiple times and find new, subtle nuances that make this just a pleasure to behold. if you desire a movie to just lose yourself into with no expectations of and groundbreaking epiphanies, THIS is the film for you!

Tombstone (1993)

For Val, a role of a lifetime

[9/10 · 2 May 2010]

I wont review the film here as it has all been said before. I did want to praise Val Kilmer's portrayal of "Doc" Holiday. Throughout the entire film, his acting and character embellishments are so nuanced and well done that by movies end, we feel his loss in a very personal way. Credit must also go out the the costumers and make-up artists for their contribution to the overall effect of his role. All the way through the film, he looks sickly, pale and world-weary. His mannerisms and intensity of gaze profoundly establish this character as a focal point in this production. But as for what I started this off with, I consider this role as probably the very best for Val Kilmer. It required subtlety and careful restraint and made the viewer believe that we weren't watching an actor merely regurgitating lines and hitting their foot-marks. I, for one, was entranced by the carefully studied body language and facial expressions...the sweaty desperation of a man who sensed his own mortality but strove to enact his own justice for justices sake. This was just very well done!

Signs (2002)

Vastly underrated!

[8/10 · 2 January 2010]

First off, lets dispense with all this hooey about this movie being a failure...both critically and according to box office receipts. Sure, the reviews weren't as grand as those of M.Nights previous works...but the same could be said of most directors...the George Lucas sagas, Francis Ford Coppola's "Peggy Sue Got Married" as opposed to his "Godfather" movies. Like everything in this big world, success and failure are cyclical. With regards to profits? well, it has made back its investment many times over...can the same be said for "Matrix Revelations?"

OK, now to brass taxes: This movie is great for several reason, not the least being that it does what it initially sets about to do...build suspense, create drama, and finally, crescendo and resolve. I suppose if there is a complaint, and this I will freely admit, it is that the plot threads at times take too long to develop. This has been a quibble with many of this directors films. It isn't necessarily a bad thing. With a movie such as "The Sixth Sense" the languid pace accentuated the thrill of discovery. But in "Signs" the slowness of development serves to hinder the overall feel of the film...which is to say that what should have been a very tense last half hour, gets sidetracked with explanation too often.

That aside, however, I thought this movie was a near masterpiece of the genre. The web of characters are all drawn convincingly to a very satisfying conclusion. The movie is rich with convincing portrayals and though slow in developing, the plot elements are well thought out. I think that this film suffered from some questionable promotion...and that its audience was perhaps expecting something more fast paced and typically "Hollywood" in presentation. But that's OK, let those who expect the typical grumble about it...I am perfectly content enjoying something that uses style and cunning to build tension rather that an explosion every ten minutes ala Michael Bay.

M*A*S*H: Abyssinia, Henry (1975) Season 3, Episode 24

Radar's premonition?

[10/10 · 4 November 2009]

SPOILER: Though this isn't my favorite episode, I will admit it is the one with the most emotional impact of all of them by far. The one thing that struck me when watching this for the umpteenth time was that I seemed to see it in a different way. I contend that when Henry looks through the chopper canopy to see a saluting Radar nearly in tears...that the writers and producers intended this as a hint that Radar somehow knew what was going to happen to him. Much is made throughout the entirety of the first 3 seasons that, not only do Henry and Radar share an intensely close, almost paternalistic bond, but also that Radar does indeed know things in advance of their transpiring...hence the nickname. Since they had already said their goodbyes earlier in the episode, this display of affection...with its profoundly sad air of finality, leads me to believe the writers used his possible premonition as a plot devise. Regardless if true or not, this was extremely effective storytelling and a prime example of how a simple plot twist or single line of dialog can change the entire complexion of an episode...or a character for that matter.

Zombieland (2009)

Oh yes....just a great bloody ride!

[9/10 · 2 October 2009]

I have 3 words for this movie: BEST CAMEO EVER! This movie was very very well done with just the right mix of gore, plot and humor. To build a zombie movie strictly on a foundation of drama and horror is to invite disaster. Sure there have been movies to do that well, The original Night of the Living Dead, for example, 28 Days, and even I am Legend. But more times than not if taken too seriously, a zombie movie without an element of humor just tends to be grim and joyless and just not much fun to watch. Zombieland was just a great film that was infinitely enjoyable on multiple levels!

One of the things I found most interesting was the lack of back story given in the setup. The country is overrun by zombies with very few survivors, yet the electric, gas and water still work. We are given a brief history of the outbreak and aftermath but besides that, very little further information. I suppose it is just a given with the movie makers that the major utilities are on autopilot and will simply continue to run until any vital machinery gives out. It is not a bad supposition, and makes for a more colorful and visually exciting world, but it does strain credibility somewhat. Aside from that minor detail, everything else was as nearly perfect as it can be for a film such as this. The casting was brilliant! Woody Harrelson was simply perfect as the efficient and effective zombie killer. Jesse Eisenberg was a great in his role as his nebbish traveling companion...though at times his mannerisms were reminiscent of other actors whose stock in trade are similar. By that I mean that you could have dropped Michael Cera or Topher Grace (as Eric Foreman) into the role as "Columbus" and it would have been a seamless replacement. This isn't a bad thing, but rather a bit predictable.

OK, to sum up: Fantastic movie that was just fun to watch. One of the first movies that I didn't adjourn to the parking lot to have a smoke at some point...and that is high praise. Usually you can see a dull spot or lull in the story from a mile away and can therefore pick a spot to have a smoke without missing anything vital. With this movie, I didn't find anywhere that I felt I could take that quick smoke break. I knew that the pacing of the film was such that as soon as a slow point did appear, it was going to be here and gone just THAT quickly. Again...not to spoil is for anyone, but, BEST CAMEO EVER! and that is all I shall say. When you see the movie, you will know of whom I speak.

Four Brothers (2005)

Great movie, great premise, great acting and great fun!

[9/10 · 12 July 2009]

This movie excels for one simple reason: realistic interplay between the entire cast. I am sure you have read many of the other comments listed here so I wont bother rehashing them here. I just have a few observations on why this was not only a great action movie...but also remarkably heartfelt. Mark Wahlberg gives a convincing performance as the family's lost cause. What is amazing is that we root for him to "win" even though the character really has no redeeming quality's save one: his love and devotion to his family. He and adoptive brothers, as well as a childhood friend turned policeman with whom they share a measure of respect and trust, all interact on a totally believable and nuanced level not found in many movies. The dialog and delivery, as well as the physical interplay between them all, becomes the linchpin on which this film hangs. They are brothers in every sense of the word, complete with petty arguments and intimate familiarity. For me, this makes the entire movie!

It also helps that there is a viable antagonist in the character of Victor Sweet. It would have been very easy to paint him as a stereotypical thug boss, but directer John Singleton deftly paints him with a different brush, making him a villain of almost unbelievable arrogance. In Sweet we have an adversary for the brothers that heightens the level of building animosity and tension between everyone...brothers and opponents alike.

It is also nice to see a story that plays itself out in the heart of a cold Detroit winter. In most films of this nature, the settings are invariably either warm and sunny or bleak and rain soaked. The discomfort of in-climate weather makes for a more interesting backdrop...especially during the car chase where there are hazards for both the pursued and the pursuers are obvious and exciting!

So, to sum up, I thought this was a great movie! There are so many ways that this could have turned out differently, and a misstep in any area, be it direction, characterizations, or pacing, could have rendered this as just another revenge flick...yea, it would still be "good," but certainly not the believable urban drama that are the final results of this movie.

Oh, yea, one more thing, the filmmakers did an incredible job with the soundtrack and song placement! Using Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man" was genius! Behind every song, the filmed scene thrived and bloomed simply because the mood setup was so well done. Watching Mark Wahlberg silently break down to music that mirrors the drama so closely was almost breathtaking...and remarkably effective!

Get Smart (2008)

what a wonderful surprise this movie turned out to be!

[9/10 · 29 June 2009]

I am finding it difficult to put into words how much I enjoyed this film! When I first heard rumblings of this movie being made, I received the word with some skepticism. Just seeing how other remakes turned out...such as "Bewitched" "The Beverly Hillbillys" and "The Dukes of Hazard," made me cringe, therefore I honestly expected Get Smart to be on par with those titles. In truth, the only reason I went to see is was for Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway.

Ultimately, however, the reason this movie resonated not only with me but my fellow movie goers can be summed up in one word; "Faithfulness." The films writers stayed faithful to the spirit of the original television series...not only with regards to the level of acting and satire, but more importantly the inherent nature of the characterizations. Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 (not to mention the Chief) were great well defined characters. In the original series, for instance, Max was great simply because, despite his bumbling nature and seeming ineptitude, or perhaps because of it, he still got the job completed.

Steve Carell does the portrayal proud...on the one hand being humorously incompetent (the airline bathroom scene) while at the same time assuming the role of the Bond-like super agent,(the train tracks scene,) that he is in his heart of hearts.

Anne Hathaway is absolutely perfect as Agent 99! She serves as not only the perfect foil for Max, but as a complimentary experienced missing half to the former desk jockey turned field agent that is Maxwell Smart.

Kudos also go to Alan Arkin for his take on the "Chief." truth be told, the original Chiefs role in the series was not nearly as well defined as those of the other main cast members. There were great moments to be sure, but in the original show, to me anyway, he seemed more of a long suffering employer who often grew annoyed and exasperated with his agents...but endured the torment because they brought results. Alan Arkins characterization draws more on the physical comedy and less on dialog to tell a story. With few words spoken the viewer still gets the very real sense of the almost fatherly affection that the Chief holds for Max, as well as the unspoken respect and admiration that Max displays for him in return. These moments in the film are a testament to the high level of the physical performance of comedy and drama, carried out with subtle, nuanced skill that few actors can successfully convey.

So, to sum up: Great remake of an often overlooked milestone series from televisions history. Unlike other re-imaginings of bygone shows that sorely lack both proper casting and inspired execution, "Get Smart" accomplishes both of these important aspects admirably! Again, though, the main reason it all pulls together so nicely for this movie is because of the faithfulness the filmmakers have shown to the subject matter. I would imagine that there was much temptation on the writers part to add their own personal stamp or slant in order to make it their own. But that, unfortunately, does not necessarily make a better movie...as evidenced by the mass of remake failures that litter the cutout bins of every video store. Thankfully, those responsible for this gem resisted that considerable temptation, the result being a simply wonderfully reverent, thoughtful and genuinely funny film!

Cotton Candy (1978 TV Movie)

surprisingly mature film making from a remarkably young Ron Howard

[9/10 · 2 June 2009]

Look...yes this movie is dated, silly and at times sickeningly sweet, but darn is it ever fun! I was a kid when this was first aired, and not surprisingly just starting out on the bass guitar myself, so ANYTHING that remotely had anything to do with music on television in those dark days before MTV was very welcome. Watching it now, of course, I see how cheesy it was, but I also realized how well it was done. It is easy to look at Ron Howard now and take for granted that he always had talent but who, at that time, could have foreseen how far his career path would have taken him? It is actually quite remarkable to look at this film and see how ambitious it actually was. Not only did he direct the movie to tell an interesting and fun story, but from a technical standpoint, he had to deal with film making situations that demonstrate how much faith the network put in him to pull this off. I am sure that it must have been difficult for him to, not only direct large crowd and concert sequences, but also do it while being nearly the same age as all of the actors themselves. There have been many rock and roll movies made over the years. Some have been great (8 mile, Almost Famous, This is Spinal Tap,) some have been simply good and fun (Rock and Roll High School, Eddie and the Cruisers,) and some have been terrible (You cant Stop the Music, Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.) But Cotton Candy is a R-n-R movie that tells a heartfelt story and simply entertains. It is nothing terribly fancy, mind you, but since I don't think that Ron Howard was trying to change the world with this movie, its shortcomings can easily be overlooked when weighed against its fun-factor!

Star Trek (2009)

My worst fears were left unfounded...the movie is AWESOME!

[9/10 · 9 May 2009]

Wow...that is all I can muster...wow! Look, I am a die hard trekkie through and through. I am a fan of all the series' and mythology (except possibly "Enterprise") but still have to rate the original series as my top choice. I am also a purest with regards to Trek history and timelines...which is to say that I grow irritated when newer series' decide to do things like include the Borg even though, officially, they are introduced in the 2nd season of Next Generation, but somehow they end up in Enterprise, which is set 100 years before the ORIGINAL series. Those kinds of liberties are the things that can kill any good will that may have possibly been generated in me for series's like that.

That is why I initially held a certain amount of apprehension with regards to the movie. Of course I was going to see it regardless, but I retained a healthy dose of skepticism about how they were going to pull off the feat of having all the primary members of classic Trek meet on the Enterprise, as opposed to how conventional Trek history dictates their collective histories unfold separately. I was very satisfied with how this was resolved...it was cleverly conceived, plotted and written! It never seemed like a half-assed attempt to throw the disparate elements together in the hopes of having it somehow come together.

The characterizations were probably the greatest strengths of the movie. In particular, for me, Karl Urban as McCoy and Simon Pegg as Scotty were absolutely priceless and spot-on! Urban was especially believable as the younger, but still cantankerous "Bones." He not only bore a striking physical similarity to youthful DeForest Kelly, but his vocal mannerisms and facial expressions were so accurate as to be almost frightening!

OK, to sum up, new Star Trek movie = an unparalleled YAY! My worst fears...the ones of this being a lame, uninspired, tacky and confusing rip-off appear unfounded! This is a welcome edition to universe of Star Trek and I sincerely hope that we can enjoy this ensemble for many years to come!

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Q Who (1989) Season 2, Episode 16

my favorite!

[10/10 · 5 April 2009]

How I love this episode! Of all the Next Generations, this episode is still my favorite. Words cant describe the chill that went down my spine when they first encounter the Borg in the engine room. I think what I enjoy the most about it is the fact that the producers, writers and directors seemed to be working in complete harmony with regards to every faucet of the shows production. Comparatively, there is also very little background music, which to me only heightened the tensions inherent in the scenario. In an old issue of a European film magazine, they once had an issue dedicated to ST:TNG where they had a brief synopsis of every episode as well as behind the scene stories. With regards to this episode, it was said that Patrick Stewart actually grew angry with some members of the crew because they were goofing around and not taking things more seriously. He stated that it was a particularly difficult episode to do because of the themes introduced...and the fact that for the first time there was a large number of crew killed in the storyline. He thought the fact that they were encountering an enemy that had the capability to defeat them...and was actually on the verge of doing so before Q interceded...had a profound impact on how the mood of the shoot progressed.

As for myself, I enjoyed it so much because of those very reasons! In the entire history of Star Trek and through all of its incarnations, the rosy, happy or optimistic nature of the shows sometimes tended to overwhelm. This seemed to be a very realistic encounter...especially when you consider that the vast majority of the episodes or films that introduce a new species or culture invariably resolve in a very optimistic manner. Q Who simply, but effectively, went the other way and showed us a reality in which the Enterprise, and the Federation itself, was NOT up to the challenge and was very nearly doomed.

Like the episode, "Yesterday's Enterprise," all was not well in the universe and there was death without reason or purpose...as there is in real life. It was the first time that the Enterprise and crew had simply run out of options and/or hope of survival...and it was that theme that made the episode so strong.

For Your Consideration (2006)

not on par with the rest of Christophers Guest's other brilliant works

[12 March 2009]

I enjoyed this film very much...so let me get that out of the way at the outset of this comment. I thought the subject matter was great, the cast as usual was phenomenal and the direction was first rate. The problem I have with this is that it seemed very disjointed and uneven. The ending struck me as too abrupt and with little of the joy felt at the ends of the other films by this ensemble.

I think that, for me, it was the trying to give everyone in the cast a meaningful part that kills the film. Many of the actors are veterans of Saturday Night Live, and it is with that history in mind that I make this observation. In the first 5 years of that show, with its original cast, whenever a sketch was written that called for the entire cast of players to be involved, it was referred to as a "garbage pail" sketch...which meant that it was an easy way to include the less used actors along with the most popular of the troupe. In those sketches, however, many of the roles were merely walk on parts or those that had a minimum of lines. Sure, they were still in the scenes, but the parts lacked finesse or subtlety and generally involved the actors playing stereotypical caricatures, such as secretaries or doormen or the like.

"For Your Consideration" reminds me of just such a sketch...an hour and a half "garbage pail" sketch. Like a snowball, over the years this repertory company's ranks have swelled in numbers. Unfortunately, it seems that there are just too many in the cast now to utilize them all effectively. They are trying to pull it off...in this movie, everyone has something to do, but many of the characters lack depth or story. It also doesn't help that while the repeating cast members in these films have expanded in numbers, the movies running times haven't expanded in length. Perhaps given an extra half hour or 45 minutes to the running time would serve to flesh out some of these only partially realized characters. If nothing else it additional time would at least give us more of a story to ponder. As I said before, this film in particular seemed incomplete by the end. I saw the conclusion from a mile away though...much like an old Twilight Zone episode where you just KNEW that it would be some odd, ironic twist in the conclusion. Yes, that was much of the charm of "For Your Consideration," knowing that there was going to be a fall for some if not most of the characters, but the transition to the revelations were clunky and only semi-cohesive.

I love Christopher Guest! I think his all of his ensemble cast's...especially Eugene Levi, are true treasures to not only the world of film, but to comedy as a genre! I found this movie to be no exception to my opinion of his and everyone's collective efforts. I just feel that this movie in particular is lacking in many of the qualities that have made his other films nearly masterworks.

Duets (2000)

Wonderfully mediocre!

[6/10 · 10 March 2009]

Yes I know, its a movie about the world of amateur singers and the disparate personalities that flock from around the country to win the big jackpot. If you are reading this then chances are that you have already seen the movie so there is no need to rehash it now. The one thing that I truly enjoyed, however, was the absolutely believable friendship that develops between the characters of Todd Woods and Reggie Kane. Sure, there are other good aspects of this movie, such as surprisingly good acting from Huey Lewis and a very low key, quirky representation of his daughter, played by Gwenneth Paltrow. This movie didn't enchant the critics upon its release...and judging by its box office performance, not much of the country either...but there is something very sublime about, not only the subject matter, but also the method in which this movies elements were pieced together...much like a dramatic jigsaw puzzle. What really made this movie special for me though was the ending. Reggie Kane's final performance and the aftermath...especially with regards to Todd's wife, almost made me weep. I found it very moving and genuine in its execution, and the low-key nature if the acting simply enhanced those qualities. So, to sum up: mediocre movie that has some really great nuances that combine to make a movie that, though slow and draggy at times, makes up for those lapses with the end results. P.S. as usual, Paul Giamatti is perfect! Everything that he gets involved with...with the possible exception of that "re-envisioned" Planet of the Apes...ALWAYS is made better by his presence!

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Yesterday's Enterprise (1990) Season 3, Episode 15

an interesting "what if"

[15 December 2008]

I have often thought that it would have been great had the writers of this episode added one simple detail: what if the Enterprise C or the Enterprise D had dropped a log recorder buoy as the rift were closing and before the time line was corrected? There have been precedents of this happening in past episodes, In the original series, "The Cage," the reason Capt Pike investigates a planet is because they find a ships recorder floating in space. In other episodes, Capt Kirk has copies of the ships log jettisoned when he felt they were soon to be destroyed.

In this scenario, since both Enterprises' know that the future in which they came to meet was not supposed to take place, either one of them could have left a record of their existence in THAT reality. This would have come in especially handy since in future episodes Capt pichard is confronted by someone who is a direct result of that momentary confluence of the two time periods from this episode.

The Librarian III: The Curse of the Judas Chalice (2008 TV Movie)

just good fun!

[10 December 2008]

How I love these movies! Sure, there is nothing groundbreaking or revolutionary about them, but the combination of humor (Jane Curtain, Bob Newhart,) Good direction (jonathan Frakes,) and a good solid lead (Noah Wyle,) just makes for enjoyable television. One of the most wonderful things about the series is that it doesn't presume the lowest common denominator on the part of the audience's intellect. It seems to be a series full of historic references that are designed to be aimed at people who can appreciate them.

I very much enjoy the whole setup to the characters themselves. They are each given delightful backstorys that are fun as well as convincing. I have seen this compared to the Indiana Jones movies. While I agree with that in concept, I think there is a certain playfulness in these movies that the more serious...and far more expensive...Indian Jones films lack. My only regret is that these movies only come out every couple of years. I think that it would be great if this were turned into a regular series...or at least a few of them each year. These movies, to me, make up for the wasteland that is most of "normal" television programming.

King Ralph (1991)

Great escapist "what if" movie

[7/10 · 24 November 2008]

I LOVE this movie! I know that when it came out it was largely ignored...by both the critics and the movie going public...but I found this film to be just simply fun to watch...a wonderful movie to just get caught up into. It has no pre-texts of social or political idealism. It doesn't try to solve the worlds problems with it's message. And it doesn't aim to make us, the viewers, think overly hard about where the movie is leading us. It does, however, present us with totally believable characters who we quickly become emotionally invested in. Sure the opening plot structure is contrived but that is half of the charm of the film's setup. It is a good absurd introduction to the twists of the movie.

I must confess, being half Cherokee Indian and half English, I was drawn to this movie if for no other reason than I had always heard about that half of my family's history and imagined who they were and how they lived. As an American, I have also fallen prey to my own sometimes myopic world view. King Ralph was an enjoyable way to contemplate the place that a monarchy holds in the hearts of their countrymen.

I don't believe that there is anything inherently wrong with having a movie that doesn't try to enlighten or enrage us. I have always felt that too often Hollywood tries to insert a message or moral slant to a project just because they believe that to not include one makes the movie seem shallow or silly. I say whats wrong with having just a fun movie? To me King Ralph was just such a movie. Of course it had smatterings of political overtones and touches of social commentary, but I feel that this was used to propel the story rather than to try and impart some deeper philosophical meaning to us.

Can't Stop the Music (1980)

so so so so so so so so veeeerrrrrryyyyy bad!

[2/10 · 24 November 2008]

Whenever this movie is on, I simply cannot turn the channel, so wretched it is! I think the thing that I love about it the most is the fact that the "band's"(and I use that term VERY loosely,) target audience seems to be lonely, middle aged women. All throughout the movie, those are the people that are helping them along the way and they are the ones who are joining them onstage for their dance numbers. Now I realize that the disco movement in music was a very safe form of artistic expression. I mean, you wouldn't find women such as this helping out the Dead Boys or Ramones. I am also sure that since the director, Nancy walker, was a middle aged woman herself, she probably reasoned that she was "hip" and therefore all women of this age were just as much into the disco scene as she was.

The other thing that I found just astounding was the totally unrealistic portrayal of the music industry. One moment these guys are "practicing" in a makeshift, backyard set-up with car speakers for a PA system, the next they are in the recording studio. Not only are they in said studio but, wow, there just happens to be pre-recorded music for them to sing to for these original compositions. I know that lightening does occasionally strike and a smalltime band is discovered and launched into their careers very quickly. But for this to happen to the Village Persons after practicing a total number of...hmmmm...how many times according to the movie? Oh yea.....ONCE? Well, all I can say is realism must not have been a priority for Ms. Walker.

There are also a few things that are just downright irritating about this movie though...the first being the fact that Steve Gutenberg has a smile that NEVER leaves his face! OK, a person that is THAT happy ALL the time was just, well, annoying. The 2nd is the fact that there is a man that dresses in a Native American headdress wherever he goes...and this is before the Village Persons came together as a "band." As a Native American myself I was a little put off by that...and I am not the type to get upset over such trivialities either. For instance, I don't get upset about the Cleveland Indians logo or the Washington Redskins name. But a man who wears that garb as a meaningless costume is a bit much. Finally, Bruce Jenner's acting is well beyond bad. I got a chill every time he appeared on the screen because I knew that I was going to feel embarrassed FOR him, on his behalf! Where as other people yell at their televisions when their sports team is doing badly, I was screaming for him to EMOTE, REACT, or merely LOOSTEN UP! It was simply painful!

For pure, unadulterated and wide-eyed terrible movie watching pleasure, you simply cant beat this film! It has everything required for such label: simplistic and unconvincing plot, acting so bad that wood and ham are embarrassed to be compared to the cast, atrocious dialog - both in writing and in it's delivery, and, sadly, direction that has no ambitions of being the least bit complex or challenging. It is like watching a movie through a very long, very fast viewmaster, but without the 3-D stereo vision!

Hot Hero Sandwich (1979–1980)

great Saturday night live-esquire kids show!

[11 May 2007]

It is a shame that more people didn't catch this show as it is one of the overlooked gems of television. As a kid, my parents just got me my first bass guitar for Christmas the year this came out and I was self-taught by playing along with the music from this and other television concert shows. It was really exciting for me, in the day and age before MTV, to be able to see the bands you liked playing great music. But it was also fun to have skits that were very much like Saturday Night Live, but without the heavy political and underground overtones. I would wake up Saturday mornings, plug my beginner bass into my homemade amp...waiting for that tell-tale electronics buzz to let me know I had power...and I would patiently wait for the theme song to start. I would play along with the theme song, the house band, and the musical acts like a kid possessed, not really knowing how to play music yet but doing my best to keep up! Of course, not all the bits were winners, but that could be said of any original musical/comedy/variety show, right?