Born on the Fourth of July
rating: *****
review: This is where Oliver Stone helped define the morality of the US as a quagmire of polarizing views we've yet to emerge from, with Tom Cruise finding his voice as the innocent turned cynic.
Glory
rating: *****
review: Hollywood begin embracing black actors in this iconic look at the mixed rewards of integrated armies in the Civil War, the search for redemption that as of today continues.
Dead Poets Society
rating: *****
review: For a generation, this is what the legacy of Frank Capra looked like, an impossibly inspiring figure whose greatest supporters are the students who make him a hero. Arguably the late Robin Williams' greatest film and the one most likely to be identified as anything but.
Batman
rating: ****
review: The modern superhero flick begins to emerge, missing only one thing: the chance to view the superhero as anything but a loner freak...But then, the director is Tim Burton.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
rating: ****
review: Still to my mind the perfect Indiana Jones flick, with the rugged professor matching wits with his own father instead of glory or a girl. Still notable for showing a glimpse of the man River Phoenix might have become, very much, well, Indiana Jones.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
rating: ****
review: Terry Gilliam kind of merges the lessons of Time Bandits and Brazil by letting the supporting cast, including a young Uma Thurman, take over.
Field of Dreams
rating: ****
review: Where Dead Poets Society leaves off, Field of Dreams picks up, with masculine hero worship embracing fatherhood again.
Do the Right Thing
rating: ****
review: Spike Lee emerges with a voice ahead of his time, literally presenting a pressure cooker situation and letting it play out.
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
rating: ****
review: A teenage comedy ahead of its time, about as close an answer to Back to the Future as anyone's come, leaving out any semblance of science to just let the fun settle in.
The Abyss
rating: ***
review: The mature James Cameron begins to emerge.
Henry V
rating: ***
review: Kenneth Branagh introduces the Bard to modern cinema.
When Harry Met Sally...
rating: ***
review: A chick flick that became a cultural touchstone but maybe reaches too far.
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
rating: ***
review: A far more noble effort than fans have yet to admit, but also the time the franchise embraced the Star Wars fix of the decade.
Back to the Future Part II
rating: **
review: Incomprehensibly attempts to duplicate the first one by doing everything in reverse.
Earth Girls Are Easy
rating: **
review: Jim Carrey plays a supporting role in this wacky movie about aliens getting a crash course in human culture.
Kickboxer
rating: **
review: About as basic a movie in this genre as you can get, but still a relatively entertaining one.
Who's Harry Crumb?
rating: **
review: Recommended for fans of John Candy.
K-9
rating: **
review: From that brief period where Jim Belushi looked like he might be taken as seriously as his brother.
The Little Mermaid
rating: **
review: This Disney breakthrough is best remembered for its songs.
All Dogs Go to Heaven
rating: **
review: Pleasant enough for children. But seriously, what was with all the dogs from this period?
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
rating: **
review: A special effects movie that inspired Hollywood to go way, way overboard.
Ghostbusters II
rating: **
review: No one says how great this one is. It just kind of exists.
Weekend at Bernie's
rating: **
review: Such a nutty concept it can't help but be memorable. Notice I didn't say good.
Akira
rating: **
review: Japanese anime is something you either really get or scratch your head at. Witness its popular American debut.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Monday, February 8, 2016
1988 Capsule Reviews
Big
rating: ****
review: Hollywood finally figures out what to do with Tom Hanks.
U2: Rattle & Hum
rating: ****
review: U2's chances of becoming the next Beatles fizzled when US audiences didn't respond kindly to this doc featuring the band's efforts to embrace the native culture. But it's essential for fans, and anyone still looking for great music and the next big thing.
Die Hard
rating: ****
review: Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman are actually more memorable than the movie that made their careers.
Young Guns
rating: ****
review: The perpetual battle to make Westerns popular again gave the Brat Pack one of its battles, and they ran with it quite memorably.
Talk Radio
rating: ****
review: Oliver Stone tackles something that only got bigger in the years ahead. But it was a noble effort.
Beetlejuice
rating: ***
review: Honestly, I think it'd have more cultural staying power if it had been a cartoon.
A Fish Called Wanda
rating: ***
review: The adult comedy kind reached a definitive turning point with this one.
Rain Man
rating: ***
review: Dustin Hoffman so often went to the character well, he kind of predicted the arc of Johnny Depp's career without anyone noticing. And then Daniel Day-Lewis had to go and prove how much critics would love it if he only picked dramatic parts...
Eight Men Out
rating: ***
review: If it had featured Shoeless Joe Jackson more prominently, it might seem more distinguished.
Au Revoir, Les Enfants
rating: ***
review: A foreign film! This French flick about a teacher forced to leaves his students behind during WWII is either a litmus test for how much you'll like this sort of thing, or proof that maudlin entertainment exists in every language.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
rating: ***
review: Probably would have been more significant had it starred, say, Bugs Bunny.
Willow
rating: ***
review: Kind of like the fantasy version of Star Wars. From a certain point of view.
Coming to America
rating: ***
review: I think this is where Eddie Murphy took the template for much of the rest of his career.
The Land Before Time
rating: ***
review: Launched a direct-to-video series that probably dulled its impact over time.
Gorillas in the Mist
rating: ***
review: Lifeless if exquisite.
Stand and Deliver
rating: ***
review: This is kind of classic '80s looking for that moral voice.
rating: ****
review: Hollywood finally figures out what to do with Tom Hanks.
U2: Rattle & Hum
rating: ****
review: U2's chances of becoming the next Beatles fizzled when US audiences didn't respond kindly to this doc featuring the band's efforts to embrace the native culture. But it's essential for fans, and anyone still looking for great music and the next big thing.
Die Hard
rating: ****
review: Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman are actually more memorable than the movie that made their careers.
Young Guns
rating: ****
review: The perpetual battle to make Westerns popular again gave the Brat Pack one of its battles, and they ran with it quite memorably.
Talk Radio
rating: ****
review: Oliver Stone tackles something that only got bigger in the years ahead. But it was a noble effort.
Beetlejuice
rating: ***
review: Honestly, I think it'd have more cultural staying power if it had been a cartoon.
A Fish Called Wanda
rating: ***
review: The adult comedy kind reached a definitive turning point with this one.
Rain Man
rating: ***
review: Dustin Hoffman so often went to the character well, he kind of predicted the arc of Johnny Depp's career without anyone noticing. And then Daniel Day-Lewis had to go and prove how much critics would love it if he only picked dramatic parts...
Eight Men Out
rating: ***
review: If it had featured Shoeless Joe Jackson more prominently, it might seem more distinguished.
Au Revoir, Les Enfants
rating: ***
review: A foreign film! This French flick about a teacher forced to leaves his students behind during WWII is either a litmus test for how much you'll like this sort of thing, or proof that maudlin entertainment exists in every language.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
rating: ***
review: Probably would have been more significant had it starred, say, Bugs Bunny.
Willow
rating: ***
review: Kind of like the fantasy version of Star Wars. From a certain point of view.
Coming to America
rating: ***
review: I think this is where Eddie Murphy took the template for much of the rest of his career.
The Land Before Time
rating: ***
review: Launched a direct-to-video series that probably dulled its impact over time.
Gorillas in the Mist
rating: ***
review: Lifeless if exquisite.
Stand and Deliver
rating: ***
review: This is kind of classic '80s looking for that moral voice.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
1987 Capsule Reviews
Wall Street
rating: *****
review: Michael Douglas's Gordon Gekko became an icon for the so-called Greed Decade, and deservedly got the sequel treatment over Charlie Sheen's character in Money Never Sleeps. And we haven't really learned anything, alas.
The Princess Bride
rating: *****
review: So beloved by fans but critics are still reluctant to embrace it. Still, a classic.
Spaceballs
rating: ****
review: The point where Mel Brooks became better known for satirizing specific films than genres, and where critics, sadly, deserted him. But this is still a classic in its own right.
The Untouchables
rating: ****
review: Kevin Costner becomes a leading man thanks to a rousing gangster flick that's actually about dismantling the bad guys for a change.
Lethal Weapon
rating: ****
review: Hollywood originally embraced Mel Gibson as a loose cannon. So it's kind of ironic that he was eventually dismissed as a loose cannon. Unlike Bill Murray in Ghostbusters, a lead character who ends up lost in an ensemble concept, this one's clearly about Gibson but remembered as a buddy flick. Which ends up very well for sequels, actually.
Full Metal Jacket
rating: ***
review: Stanley Kubrick's last fan favorite movie is far less entertaining a study of war than his previous Dr. Strangelove. If you were to ask what the unifying theme of his films is, it's what he thought audiences expected of him during that particular period.
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
rating: ***
review: You can see it in all the films of the period, Hollywood struggling to find a new moral center. This attempt to make Superman that center kind of backfired spectacularly.
Masters of the Universe
rating: ***
review: History hasn't been kind to it, but I guarantee a kid would still love it today.
La Bamba
rating: ***
review: Poor Lou Diamond Phillips discovers that everyone loves him when they know what the heck he's doing. But otherwise struggles to remain relevant. Not as iconic as the earlier Buddy Holly Story, but still worthy of note.
Critical Condition
rating: **
review: Madcap Richard Pryor. Seemingly specialized in roles where he was required for a bug-eyed performance.
rating: *****
review: Michael Douglas's Gordon Gekko became an icon for the so-called Greed Decade, and deservedly got the sequel treatment over Charlie Sheen's character in Money Never Sleeps. And we haven't really learned anything, alas.
The Princess Bride
rating: *****
review: So beloved by fans but critics are still reluctant to embrace it. Still, a classic.
Spaceballs
rating: ****
review: The point where Mel Brooks became better known for satirizing specific films than genres, and where critics, sadly, deserted him. But this is still a classic in its own right.
The Untouchables
rating: ****
review: Kevin Costner becomes a leading man thanks to a rousing gangster flick that's actually about dismantling the bad guys for a change.
Lethal Weapon
rating: ****
review: Hollywood originally embraced Mel Gibson as a loose cannon. So it's kind of ironic that he was eventually dismissed as a loose cannon. Unlike Bill Murray in Ghostbusters, a lead character who ends up lost in an ensemble concept, this one's clearly about Gibson but remembered as a buddy flick. Which ends up very well for sequels, actually.
Full Metal Jacket
rating: ***
review: Stanley Kubrick's last fan favorite movie is far less entertaining a study of war than his previous Dr. Strangelove. If you were to ask what the unifying theme of his films is, it's what he thought audiences expected of him during that particular period.
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
rating: ***
review: You can see it in all the films of the period, Hollywood struggling to find a new moral center. This attempt to make Superman that center kind of backfired spectacularly.
Masters of the Universe
rating: ***
review: History hasn't been kind to it, but I guarantee a kid would still love it today.
La Bamba
rating: ***
review: Poor Lou Diamond Phillips discovers that everyone loves him when they know what the heck he's doing. But otherwise struggles to remain relevant. Not as iconic as the earlier Buddy Holly Story, but still worthy of note.
Critical Condition
rating: **
review: Madcap Richard Pryor. Seemingly specialized in roles where he was required for a bug-eyed performance.
Saturday, February 6, 2016
1986 Capsule Reviews
Salvador
rating: ****
review: Oliver Stone in his first major film, tackling major issues right from the start, beginning the Serious Film renaissance he'd continue to lead for the next decade. Also, this is where you realize how odd it is that James Woods ended up lost in the acting shuffle later.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
rating: ****
review: Star Trek travels to the 20th century for a message- and comedy-heavy film, plus kind of wraps up the trilogy begun in Wrath of Khan. This was the most popular film of the franchise for years, but it begins to show its age.
Stand by Me
rating: ****
review: The first great Stephen King movie, and the clearest indication of how special River Phoenix could have been, but in hindsight also perhaps about how far you can push child actors and get away with it.
An American Tail
rating: ****
review: Doesn't get near enough credit for helping spur the animated renaissance Disney would officially launch a few years later.
Top Gun
rating: ****
review: The moment Hollywood figure out it could do event movies without aping Star Wars.
Platoon
rating: ****
review: Oliver Stone again, full of acclaimed war weariness, but not to the level of Apocalypse Now. More like Terrence Malick's Thin Red Line.
Highlander
rating: ****
review: Because these films have never breached cult status, they don't get enough credit. The first is the best, in which Sean Connery finds unexpected new life as a colorful wingman.
The Name of the Rose
rating: ***
review: Speaking of Connery, this is a wonderful sendoff to his leading man career.
Three Amigos
rating: ***
review: Kind of ahead of its time as a comedy, in our era where it's far harder to be a single headliner and instead being lumped in groups.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
rating: ***
review: It's tough to imagine that such a simple concept achieved iconic status, kind of new school fans adopting old school flavor without even realizing it.
Aliens
rating: So many filmmakers have tried to elevate this franchise to Star Wars status, and so many have failed. Here it's James Cameron.
Manhunter
rating: ***
review: This original cinematic incarnation of Hannibal Lecter has its partisans. But it doesn't have Anthony Hopkins.
Labyrinth
rating: ***
review: There are a lot of big names attached to this movie. But its achievement is still nowhere near, say, Princess Bride.
The Karate Kid Part II
rating: **
review: Honestly, all I remember is that Daniel continues what he was doing last time.
Crocodile Dundee
rating: **
review: Australia enters the pop culture.
Space Camp
rating: **
review: Space for kids!
rating: ****
review: Oliver Stone in his first major film, tackling major issues right from the start, beginning the Serious Film renaissance he'd continue to lead for the next decade. Also, this is where you realize how odd it is that James Woods ended up lost in the acting shuffle later.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
rating: ****
review: Star Trek travels to the 20th century for a message- and comedy-heavy film, plus kind of wraps up the trilogy begun in Wrath of Khan. This was the most popular film of the franchise for years, but it begins to show its age.
Stand by Me
rating: ****
review: The first great Stephen King movie, and the clearest indication of how special River Phoenix could have been, but in hindsight also perhaps about how far you can push child actors and get away with it.
An American Tail
rating: ****
review: Doesn't get near enough credit for helping spur the animated renaissance Disney would officially launch a few years later.
Top Gun
rating: ****
review: The moment Hollywood figure out it could do event movies without aping Star Wars.
Platoon
rating: ****
review: Oliver Stone again, full of acclaimed war weariness, but not to the level of Apocalypse Now. More like Terrence Malick's Thin Red Line.
Highlander
rating: ****
review: Because these films have never breached cult status, they don't get enough credit. The first is the best, in which Sean Connery finds unexpected new life as a colorful wingman.
The Name of the Rose
rating: ***
review: Speaking of Connery, this is a wonderful sendoff to his leading man career.
Three Amigos
rating: ***
review: Kind of ahead of its time as a comedy, in our era where it's far harder to be a single headliner and instead being lumped in groups.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
rating: ***
review: It's tough to imagine that such a simple concept achieved iconic status, kind of new school fans adopting old school flavor without even realizing it.
Aliens
rating: So many filmmakers have tried to elevate this franchise to Star Wars status, and so many have failed. Here it's James Cameron.
Manhunter
rating: ***
review: This original cinematic incarnation of Hannibal Lecter has its partisans. But it doesn't have Anthony Hopkins.
Labyrinth
rating: ***
review: There are a lot of big names attached to this movie. But its achievement is still nowhere near, say, Princess Bride.
The Karate Kid Part II
rating: **
review: Honestly, all I remember is that Daniel continues what he was doing last time.
Crocodile Dundee
rating: **
review: Australia enters the pop culture.
Space Camp
rating: **
review: Space for kids!
Friday, February 5, 2016
1985 Capsule Reviews
Back to the Future
rating: *****
review: This is one of those classics that achieved its status by combining iconic elements and in the process becoming iconic. Kind of like Ghostbusters the year before but having nailed everything instead of just kind of establishing it.
Brazil
rating: ****
review: Terry Gilliam's first real work of cinematic genius fails in only one regard: Jonathan Pryce was perhaps too perfect a lead. He's just not memorable as a lead, and so everything that happens around him, or to him, becomes less than it could have been.
Return to Oz
rating: ****
review: As perfect a representation of L. Frank Baum's original Oz vision as we've gotten so far.
After Hours
rating: ***
review: Martin Scorsese achieves more or less what Terry Gilliam did in Brazil, only to far less of a point.
Rocky IV
rating: ***
review: The realism of the franchise dissipates in this blockbuster installment that saw Sly Stallone's hero kind of merge with his other big '80s hit, Rambo.
Once Bitten
rating: ***
review: Jim Carrey's journey to stardom would take another decade after years of work like this, in which he's not the star so much as the guy reacting to situations as wacky as he'd eventually become.
Lifeforce
rating: **
review: No, you don't need to think of this movie in terms of early Patrick Stewart or naked vampires, but it probably doesn't hurt.
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
rating: **
review: I've sometimes thought of this as the most satisfying of the original Mad Max movies, only because it develops the world to a more universal degree, but really, it's the full Hollywood version, a relic of '80s action movies inspired by Star Wars. And just not up to snuff.
Cocoon
rating: **
review: Notable for being that movie where old people are relevant.
Santa Claus: The Movie
rating: **
review: Notable for that movie that tries to put so much magic into Santa that it actually sucks the magic right out.
The Goonies
rating: **
review: This movie is well-loved by those who grew up with it. But otherwise seems like a relic when watched by others. We've all got movies like this in our favorites.
Teen Wolf
rating: **
review: I remember watching this years ago. But I don't feel particularly compelled to watch it again. More or less Michael J. Fox doing a teenage Shaggy Dog.
rating: *****
review: This is one of those classics that achieved its status by combining iconic elements and in the process becoming iconic. Kind of like Ghostbusters the year before but having nailed everything instead of just kind of establishing it.
Brazil
rating: ****
review: Terry Gilliam's first real work of cinematic genius fails in only one regard: Jonathan Pryce was perhaps too perfect a lead. He's just not memorable as a lead, and so everything that happens around him, or to him, becomes less than it could have been.
Return to Oz
rating: ****
review: As perfect a representation of L. Frank Baum's original Oz vision as we've gotten so far.
After Hours
rating: ***
review: Martin Scorsese achieves more or less what Terry Gilliam did in Brazil, only to far less of a point.
Rocky IV
rating: ***
review: The realism of the franchise dissipates in this blockbuster installment that saw Sly Stallone's hero kind of merge with his other big '80s hit, Rambo.
Once Bitten
rating: ***
review: Jim Carrey's journey to stardom would take another decade after years of work like this, in which he's not the star so much as the guy reacting to situations as wacky as he'd eventually become.
Lifeforce
rating: **
review: No, you don't need to think of this movie in terms of early Patrick Stewart or naked vampires, but it probably doesn't hurt.
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
rating: **
review: I've sometimes thought of this as the most satisfying of the original Mad Max movies, only because it develops the world to a more universal degree, but really, it's the full Hollywood version, a relic of '80s action movies inspired by Star Wars. And just not up to snuff.
Cocoon
rating: **
review: Notable for being that movie where old people are relevant.
Santa Claus: The Movie
rating: **
review: Notable for that movie that tries to put so much magic into Santa that it actually sucks the magic right out.
The Goonies
rating: **
review: This movie is well-loved by those who grew up with it. But otherwise seems like a relic when watched by others. We've all got movies like this in our favorites.
Teen Wolf
rating: **
review: I remember watching this years ago. But I don't feel particularly compelled to watch it again. More or less Michael J. Fox doing a teenage Shaggy Dog.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
1984 Capsule Reviews
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
rating: ****
review: The follow-up to fan favorite Wrath of Khan is, to my mind, better, with a greater emphasis on the characters who make it matter, better understanding of their psychology, and the risks they're willing to take. The only problem is that Christopher Lloyd, while at that point arguably the best actor to play a Klingon, is no Ricardo Montalban.
Ghostbusters
rating: ****
review: Bill Murray in his first iconic starring role, with a lot of stuff working around him that kind of took on a life of its own, which oddly makes it easy to forget that this is a Bill Murray film, and therefore mutes its impact.
The Terminator
rating: ****
review: More apocalyptic than the Mad Max movies and more inevitable in its ending, which may actually explain its appeal, and why in 2015 both franchises had new installments, and the popular results went the other way. This was a good way to kick off the story. But the next one's better.
The Neverending Story
rating: ****
review: So many fantasy films of the decade try to compete, but this is the one that gets what kids actually wanted to see.
Amadeus
rating: ****
review: Not until Shakespeare in Love did Hollywood (and the Oscars) figure out again that history can be incredibly charming.
Romancing the Stone
rating: ***
review: The very beginning of the movies took on Indiana Jones with their own satisfying, if less iconic, takes.
The Muppets Take Manhattan
rating: ***
review: All of the Muppets movies start to blend together at a certain point. But they're all amusing to fans.
The Last Starfighter
rating: ***
review: Honestly, if they'd left out the framing story of the kid being really good at a video game, this would age a lot better.
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai
rating: ***
review: Honestly, how could this not develop a cult following? But it's just so gonzo that it was doomed to translate poorly otherwise. Like Last Starfighter, a version of Star Wars as understood and/or interpreted by others.
Dune
rating: ***
review: This was kind of someone realizing that Star Wars kind of did exist before 1977, but in a story that just plain isn't as good.
The Karate Kid
rating: ***
review: Very much of its time, when the public in general was finally catching up with the late Bruce Lee...
Splash
rating: ***
review: A true fish-out-of-water tale featuring the young Tom Hanks before anyone realized what to do with him (incredibly, fish-out-of-water became his trademark, but this movie literally about that didn't even realize it).
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
rating: ***
review: Pretty good, in a generic Indiana Jones kind of way.
Revenge of the Nerds
rating: **
review: People who don't want to like popular things rag on The Big Bang Theory all the time by claiming it patronizes more than celebrates nerds. But that's...kind of what this popular thing did. And no one particularly points that out...
Supergirl
rating: **
review: The biggest crime this movie commits is that it has Peter O'Toole in it, and I can't for the life of me remember him in it. Darned if that's not reason enough to watch it again, but still...
rating: ****
review: The follow-up to fan favorite Wrath of Khan is, to my mind, better, with a greater emphasis on the characters who make it matter, better understanding of their psychology, and the risks they're willing to take. The only problem is that Christopher Lloyd, while at that point arguably the best actor to play a Klingon, is no Ricardo Montalban.
Ghostbusters
rating: ****
review: Bill Murray in his first iconic starring role, with a lot of stuff working around him that kind of took on a life of its own, which oddly makes it easy to forget that this is a Bill Murray film, and therefore mutes its impact.
The Terminator
rating: ****
review: More apocalyptic than the Mad Max movies and more inevitable in its ending, which may actually explain its appeal, and why in 2015 both franchises had new installments, and the popular results went the other way. This was a good way to kick off the story. But the next one's better.
The Neverending Story
rating: ****
review: So many fantasy films of the decade try to compete, but this is the one that gets what kids actually wanted to see.
Amadeus
rating: ****
review: Not until Shakespeare in Love did Hollywood (and the Oscars) figure out again that history can be incredibly charming.
Romancing the Stone
rating: ***
review: The very beginning of the movies took on Indiana Jones with their own satisfying, if less iconic, takes.
The Muppets Take Manhattan
rating: ***
review: All of the Muppets movies start to blend together at a certain point. But they're all amusing to fans.
The Last Starfighter
rating: ***
review: Honestly, if they'd left out the framing story of the kid being really good at a video game, this would age a lot better.
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai
rating: ***
review: Honestly, how could this not develop a cult following? But it's just so gonzo that it was doomed to translate poorly otherwise. Like Last Starfighter, a version of Star Wars as understood and/or interpreted by others.
Dune
rating: ***
review: This was kind of someone realizing that Star Wars kind of did exist before 1977, but in a story that just plain isn't as good.
The Karate Kid
rating: ***
review: Very much of its time, when the public in general was finally catching up with the late Bruce Lee...
Splash
rating: ***
review: A true fish-out-of-water tale featuring the young Tom Hanks before anyone realized what to do with him (incredibly, fish-out-of-water became his trademark, but this movie literally about that didn't even realize it).
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
rating: ***
review: Pretty good, in a generic Indiana Jones kind of way.
Revenge of the Nerds
rating: **
review: People who don't want to like popular things rag on The Big Bang Theory all the time by claiming it patronizes more than celebrates nerds. But that's...kind of what this popular thing did. And no one particularly points that out...
Supergirl
rating: **
review: The biggest crime this movie commits is that it has Peter O'Toole in it, and I can't for the life of me remember him in it. Darned if that's not reason enough to watch it again, but still...
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
1983 Capsule Reviews
Return of the Jedi
rating: *****
review: Surprisingly, a lot of Star Wars fans think about this conclusion to the original Star Wars trilogy the way they do about the prequels, or possibly even The Force Awakens. I've never understood that. It's clearly the most '80s of the originals, full of action the way the previous two were filled with set-up and set pieces. This is the payoff of the first two in every way, and wonderfully succeeds in my view.
Superman III
rating: ****
review: Honestly, the worst thing about this movie is Lana Lang's annoying kid Ricky. Everything else is pretty awesome, including Richard Pryor's Gus Gorman, who's a heck of a lot better than Ned Beatty's Otis, just as Robert Vaughn's Ross Webster is a better Lex Luthor than Gene Hackman's...Heresy, I know. And the internal conflict Superman faces is a lot more Superman than his external conflicts in the first two...I think this is one of those movies where people were so heavily invested in the previous installments that they can't allow themselves to see it for what it is. It doesn't help that this is pretty close to what an adaptation of an actual comic book would have looked like at that time.
Scarface
rating: ***
review: Al Pacino became such a polarizing figure around this time, it was no doubt because he dared to break the method formula and thrust himself fully into a cartoon role, another stark contrast between the '70s and '80s in prime display.
Monty Python's Meaning of Life
rating: ***
review: I think this one's disappointing only in the sense that after two complete movies, the boys went back to what they'd been doing in a TV series that at that point was kind of beside the point for anyone but diehards. Otherwise it's a regular hoot.
Trading Places
rating: ***
review: Dan Ackroyd and Eddie Murphy in a movie they both had to make to legitimize their movie careers, kind of exactly what Bill Murray ended up specializing in about a decade later. The problem is they kept going for easier material until it was too late, and so here we are today, with one of them still showing up regularly, and the other two struggling away.
The Right Stuff
rating: ***
review: I always want to like this one more, but the lack of a true lead makes it difficult. Otherwise the kind of movie that needs to happen more often, but becomes increasingly rare. We don't care enough about our own history, no matter how sensational. Spectacle is now the stuff of fiction and tabloids.
Risky Business
rating: ***
review: Tom Cruise burst onto the scene. But now it's about all there is to talk about, and pretty much boiled down to him dancing in his underwear. It's really weird that he stopped trying to be likeable.
The Curse of the Pink Panther
rating: **
review: This was the first time anyone tried to find out if the franchise could work without Peter Sellers. At this particular point...what's the point?
rating: *****
review: Surprisingly, a lot of Star Wars fans think about this conclusion to the original Star Wars trilogy the way they do about the prequels, or possibly even The Force Awakens. I've never understood that. It's clearly the most '80s of the originals, full of action the way the previous two were filled with set-up and set pieces. This is the payoff of the first two in every way, and wonderfully succeeds in my view.
Superman III
rating: ****
review: Honestly, the worst thing about this movie is Lana Lang's annoying kid Ricky. Everything else is pretty awesome, including Richard Pryor's Gus Gorman, who's a heck of a lot better than Ned Beatty's Otis, just as Robert Vaughn's Ross Webster is a better Lex Luthor than Gene Hackman's...Heresy, I know. And the internal conflict Superman faces is a lot more Superman than his external conflicts in the first two...I think this is one of those movies where people were so heavily invested in the previous installments that they can't allow themselves to see it for what it is. It doesn't help that this is pretty close to what an adaptation of an actual comic book would have looked like at that time.
Scarface
rating: ***
review: Al Pacino became such a polarizing figure around this time, it was no doubt because he dared to break the method formula and thrust himself fully into a cartoon role, another stark contrast between the '70s and '80s in prime display.
Monty Python's Meaning of Life
rating: ***
review: I think this one's disappointing only in the sense that after two complete movies, the boys went back to what they'd been doing in a TV series that at that point was kind of beside the point for anyone but diehards. Otherwise it's a regular hoot.
Trading Places
rating: ***
review: Dan Ackroyd and Eddie Murphy in a movie they both had to make to legitimize their movie careers, kind of exactly what Bill Murray ended up specializing in about a decade later. The problem is they kept going for easier material until it was too late, and so here we are today, with one of them still showing up regularly, and the other two struggling away.
The Right Stuff
rating: ***
review: I always want to like this one more, but the lack of a true lead makes it difficult. Otherwise the kind of movie that needs to happen more often, but becomes increasingly rare. We don't care enough about our own history, no matter how sensational. Spectacle is now the stuff of fiction and tabloids.
Risky Business
rating: ***
review: Tom Cruise burst onto the scene. But now it's about all there is to talk about, and pretty much boiled down to him dancing in his underwear. It's really weird that he stopped trying to be likeable.
The Curse of the Pink Panther
rating: **
review: This was the first time anyone tried to find out if the franchise could work without Peter Sellers. At this particular point...what's the point?
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