Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 3rd, 2005
I can sum up this entire film in a single word; lame. There is nothing sadder than a comedy that is not funny, and this is certainly that. Bad acting, bad jokes and the feel of an 80's comedy makes this film the very definition of lame. Imagine Blind Date without the humor. Now add blatant rip-offs from Basic Instinct and Fatal Attraction. Throw in some bad jokes and you're ready to go.
The plot has something to do with a hotel bellhop who impersonates people for entertainment, and tells ...is coworkers that he knows famous people. He poses as a man who has a date with a famous model, and then once he is on a date with her, she turns crazy and starts murdering people. Sound absurd? It is, and this is only the beginning. I can sum up my feelings on this film in four words; don't waste your time.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 3rd, 2005
Married With Children was something of an anomaly among the pantheon of breakthrough television shows throughout history. Shows such as Archie Bunker and Roseanne broke through the stereotypes of the television family, and showed life much more as it really is in most American households. What made Married With Children especially unique is that while those other shows often-times made very real comments about society through their laughter, this program mainly focused on the American mal.... Al Bundy didn't ask for much; merely an occasional home cooked meal, a nice quiet place to rest his feet at the end of a long day, and the love and respect of his family, for which he worked such long hours. While other shows went to great lengths to show that life is not all Ozzie and Harriet, Al Bundy made an argument for the days of Ozzie and Harriet. With all the stresses and rudeness in modern society, can't we just go back to the old days, when a man could come home after a hard day and at least have some control over life in his own home?
Of course, the answer to that question is a resounding “no”, and the meeting of those two philosophies is the basis for the humor. Still, though, it is not every day that viewers come across a show that makes an argument for the simple decency and morality of times gone by through making an endless series of crude and off-color jokes. There is much more to this series than meets the eye at first glance. Underneath all that basic humor, there is a work of genius, for those that are willing to look a little deeper.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 3rd, 2005
With Six You Get Eggroll is special for one reason. Other than the politically incorrect title, the movie features the last film appearance by Doris Day. Too bad she couldn’t go out with a bang. I will admit: I like Doris Day. The Man Who Knew Too Much is a great film. And all that “Pillow Talk” stuff. C’mon, it’s fun. But let’s get to the Eggroll, shall we?
With Six… starts off as a fairly realistic romance/comedy. Day plays Abby McClure, the owner of a construction company (...). She’s also single with kids. Enter Jake, played by Brian Keith. He’s also on the lookout for a partner. But, naturally, complications arise; and one of these complications is Jake’s overly protective daughter (played by a very young Barbara Hershey). However, the obstacles that keep Day and Keith apart get increasingly “wacky”. Hippies and motorcycles come into play; it’s not a pretty sight. It’s sad when a 50’s icon tries to be “with it” in the late 60’s. But, on a happier note, George Carlin (in his first movie appearance) shows up for some fun.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 27th, 2005
Synopsis
After being the hunk of the moment on E.R., George Clooney came out of the starting blocks as a film actor in a few films, ranging the gamut from cult favorite (From Dusk ‘Til Dawn) to somewhat critically praised (The Peacemaker). He was also played the starring role in the film that put the Batman franchise on life support. One of his first smart acting choices came in Out Of Sight, directed by Steven Soderbergh, before Soderbergh became the Hollywood flavor of the mont... with Traffic and Erin Brockovich. His female co-star was Jennifer Lopez, whose most notable films at the time were Money Train and Anaconda. The pair was surrounded by an outstanding cast that included Don Cheadle (Boogie Nights), Albert Brooks (Mother), Luis Guzman (Punch Drunk Love) and Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction), to name a few.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 27th, 2005
Synopsis
While some sketch shows like The Ben Stiller Show and Mr. Show have managed to touch on the Cops parody with their material, the only one that does it regularly now is a show that uses it for inspiration.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 27th, 2005
Synopsis
Vincent Price is in definitive creepy form as a millionaire who invites an oddball group of characters to spend the night in a sinister house. If his guests survive, they will be paid $10 000. Price is at war with his wife, and it is pretty clear that each would love to see the other dead. Strange events start occurring in the house, with one young woman in particular being driven to the edge of hysteria by one monstrous apparition after another.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 26th, 2005
Synopsis
Peter Finch plays Umberto Nobile, an Italian general and explorer who is haunted by his disastrous attempt to fly over the pole in a dirigible in 1928. In the present day, sleepless, he summons the ghosts of his crew and the people affected by the disaster to sit as judge and jury, and the film then proceeds to tell the tale in flashback. When the dirigible crashes, Nobile and his men are marooned on pack ice, while rescue attempts are met with one tragic setback after another. Among those s...arching for Nobile is Roald Amundsen (Sean Connery).
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 25th, 2005
Synopsis
This is the biopic of Irish painter and writer Christy Brown. Born with crippling cerebral palsy, he retained movement only in his left foot. His body is a cage for his mind, and at first, only his mother believes that he is an intelligent being. When, as a child, he spells “MOTHER” on the floor in chalk, this is the breakthrough moment, and we follow him through the triumphs and frustrations of his adult years.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 24th, 2005
It sometimes becomes quite challenging to write a review of a television show release in the mid-seasons. The opening season of the show has plenty to talk about, and the final season wraps things up, but what about season six, say, of an eleven season show? What is there to say then? “Well, this season involves the same characters doing the same stuff they have been doing for years.”
Lucky for me, this is a mid-season set that has something to talk about. Something big. Something the whole nation was talking...about in the 80's. Who shot J.R.? Yep, this is the season. J.R. Ewing had established himself as a classic villain by the time this season started, and as the episodes rolled on, J.R. was successful in double-crossing nearly every character on the show, no matter how minor. At the time, characters in these kinds of shows didn't get shot, so imagine the shock when viewers sat down for the season finale of one of the top shows in primetime, and out of nowhere, “bang!” Viewers were left in shock for the entire off-season, wondering who was left holding the smoking gun as the credits rolled. This is probably the biggest cliffhanger in the history of television. Relive the fun with Dallas – The Complete Third Season.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 23rd, 2005
Synopsis
Aspiring singer Ashanti (there’s some imaginative casting for you) and her pet Toto (Pepe the king prawn) are transported to Oz by a tornado. The story then plays out in familiar form, with the roles of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Wicked Witch of the West being essayed by, respectively, Kermit, Gonzo, Fozzy and Miss Piggy.
