Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 18th, 2006
After the MTV show Jackass closed production, MTV scrambled to try to find a show that would secure the ratings that Jackass had been doing for so many years. What resulted from that scrambling? The moderately entertaining Viva La Bam which features a majority of the Jackass outcasts and ‘losers’. Since this is the review for the fourth and fifth seasons, one can imagine that Viva La Bam did succeed in finding that audience that would make MTV more money.
While the show original...y began by finding the stars adjusting to their new found success and stardom, the show slowly has become less and less funny as the years drew by. The main reason lies in the editing room. The editing of the show almost makes the characters look cartoonish causing the viewer to lose focus on what the show was originally about. The show was very funny because it was a type of insanity that was sporadic giving the show a unique feel from Jackass. Episodes in this season seem to almost have that sitcom feel to them, which is NEVER a good thing.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 18th, 2006
After the MTV show Jackass closed production, MTV scrambled to try to find a show that would secure the ratings that Jackass had been doing for so many years. What resulted from that scrambling? The moderately entertaining Viva La Bam which features a majority of the Jackass outcasts and ‘losers’. Since this is the review for the fourth and fifth seasons, one can imagine that Viva La Bam did succeed in finding that audience that would make MTV more money.
While the show original...y began by finding the stars adjusting to their new found success and stardom, the show slowly has become less and less funny as the years drew by. The main reason lies in the editing room. The editing of the show almost makes the characters look cartoonish causing the viewer to lose focus on what the show was originally about. The show was very funny because it was a type of insanity that was sporadic giving the show a unique feel from Jackass. Episodes in this season seem to almost have that sitcom feel to them, which is NEVER a good thing.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 14th, 2006
Synopsis
I was amazed that a film starring three Academy Award winners (Robert De Niro (Raging Bull), Kathy Bates (Misery), F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus) would be so ignored and passed over by the movie going public. Based on a novel by Thornton Wilder and adapted for the screen and directed by relative unknown Mary McGuckian, the film recounts a tragic incident where several people fell to their death from a bridge collapse. A monk by the name of Brother Juniper (Gabriel Byrne, The Us...al Suspects) tries to piece together the lives of the people involved in the accident, to determine if it was a larger act of divine intervention.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 11th, 2006
Synopsis
For fans of comedy, the influence that the original “Not Ready For Prime Time” players on Saturday Night Live was indelible, but did not deter from enjoyable sketch comedy after the group left in 1980. Sketch comedy was being done at an equally accomplished level with the Second City players, some of whom Lorne Michaels recruited for the initial cast of SNL. Those that remained provided some hysterical moments and quality comedy.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 11th, 2006
Synopsis
I’ve long held the somewhat chauvinistic belief that female stand up comedians are simply not funny. I’ve given people like Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Poundstone and Margaret Cho as much unbiased time as I can give, and I just don’t laugh at them. Their sense of humor is softer than any comparable male comedians, and is far more subtle. Does that make me a cro-magnon male with a large forehead? Probably.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 8th, 2006
Synopsis
Lenny Baker is a young Jewish lad (based on writer/director Paul Mazurksy himself) who dreams of being an actor. The time is the early 1950s, and Baker moves from Brooklyn to Greenwhich village to make a name for himself. Every conceivable element of Beat life in the Village is present, and Baker encounters all sorts of characters (including a young Christopher Walken and Jeff Goldblum). He must also deal with complications in his relationship with girlfriend Ellen Greene, and his domineerin... mother (Shelly Winters).
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 8th, 2006
Bad News Bears is not necessarily a fine film, but it is a lot better than the host of other remakes Hollywood has thrown at us as of late. Billy Bob Thorton stars in the film, and I quote, “as a drunk who makes a living killing rats to live in a trailers.” The film seems to take his character from Bad Santa and the football coach in Friday Night Lights and seems to merge the two. However, neither of his tactics in either film are used in the film. This results in the audience liking his characte... more than he probably likes himself.
The original 1976 film starred the late Walter Matthau. Thorton’s performance in the film seems to be holding a candle to Matthau’s. Thorton just seems to find more of a sad tone in his character of Morris Buttermaker than Matthau did. His team is called the Bears, which is only around due to a lawsuit that feels the Little League discriminates. The attorney Liz Whitewood (Marcia Gay Harden) demands that the league except all players. This results in the typical sport film’s cliché. His team gets ALL of the terrible players including a black kid, two Spanish speakers, an Indian, a kid who seems to be too little to even hold the bat, and one kid who is in a motorized wheelchair. As you can possible assume from this cliché, is that NONE of these players can play the game.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 7th, 2006
Synopsis
Well with this particular incarnation of reality shows, beautiful people show us common folk how tough it is to look pretty. The wonders of being paid thousands of dollars to get up and dress in clothes that you won’t wear because they’re either ugly or too expensive. People like Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks trying to illustrate that fashion and glamour is tough, demanding work is simply silly. Now bear in mind, this point of view is from a bitter, bald and dumpy looking guy whose idea of fashion is m...king sure that he wears comfortable socks before getting into sandals.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 6th, 2006
Peter Weir’s Gallipoli is a remarkable film. Starring an inexperienced model, who was only intended to be used for a photo shoot to promote the picture and shot on a small budget, this film's longevity and frequently attained levels of excellence could have never been predicted. That doesn't mean Gallipoli will be turning up on any all-time best lists any time soon, as the first half has a tendency to drag its feet. However, a solid hour two punctuated by one of the most haunting images I have seen in a...war film elevates the material from slow-paced and dragging to something that actually works, and is certainly worthy of recommendation. Mark Lee, the model-turned-actor mentioned above, stars opposite Mel Gibson, and delivers a performance of such credibility that no one could have ever guessed he didn't know the first thing about acting. In fact, he holds his own with the already seasoned Gibson, and the two make a believable pairing as a couple of naive young men hungry for adventure, who make the mistake of seeking it during the First World War. Their paths lead them to the disastrous real-life battle of Gallipoli, where strategic incompetence led to the senseless slaughter of a great many Australian soldiers.
The sense of pride in one's country is always there, and the movie seems to endorse such a feeling. However, the anti-war message is never far from the surface, and it wells up prominently in the third act like blood from a liver wound that reappears as quickly as it’s washed. Still, it's anti-war without being partisan, and remains true to all the soldiers, who gave their lives for their country, their beliefs, and most importantly, their mates. Weir's directorial style also provides the film with two strong legs, and has since been imitated in every great modern war film, especially Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan. The underwater shrapnel scene of Gallipoli is recreated with equal skill and effectiveness by Spielberg, but let's remember: Weir did it first. And Weir's constant use of exterior locations, while nearly achieving overkill status from time-to-time, demonstrates the director's expert sense of landscape and scope. It's a beautiful picture to watch, but not always one to entertain. However, hang with it through the first hour, and you'll be blown away by the crescendo of fear and violence Weir's film has reached.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 5th, 2006
Synopsis
Sometimes, you’ve gotta watch something because you’re waiting for a new satellite dish to be installed, plus your better half wants to see a Bond movie. Then I pulled out Never Say Never Again. Call it an "unofficial" Bond movie I guess. And I’ve always watched this pretty much before when I’ve seen it on TV. But I watched it this weekend, and it just seemed really dated to me. Or maybe dated isn’t the word. But for someone who’s watched the Austin Powers movies numerous times, boy oh boy d...es this seem like a bad parody!
