Valentine & Black History February Challenge (2 Viewers)

[PatW]

18 Adam (2009) (Netflix) :star::star::star::star: This story focuses on the romance between an aspiring young writer and teacher, and a young man who happens to suffer from Asperger's Syndrome, a more functional form of autism. Both leads gave believable performances but the outcome was predictable. It was quite apparent that this relationship wasn't a viable one. 19 Atonement (20007) (bluray) :star::star::star::star::star: I don't have too much to say about this film other than it's just as heartbreaking as the first time I saw it. This is pretty well a perfect film for me and though I watched it again for this challenge, it's not one that I'll watch again for a very long while. 20 The Back-up Plan (2010) (Netflix) Zero stars Jennifer Lopez is Zoe a young woman who wants to have a baby. Unable to find the perfect mate she decides on artificial insemination. On the day and after the procedure she meets a young man that she develops an interest in. God I hated this movie. The only interesting characters here were the dog, the grandmother and her fiance The worse scene in history award has to go the the birthing scene in the pool. I've seen a lot of bad movies but that scene was something else and relegated this film to bomb status.

 

[JohnS]

Watched I'm Gonna Git You Sucka for the first time. Really enjoyed this movie. It's one of those stupid funny movies. Chris Rock in the rib place is my favorite scene. Since Chris Rock is talking about making a sequel to CB4, I'd like to see a sequel to Sucka. Maybe call it Jack of Spades.

 

[Michael Elliott]

Top Gun (1986) :star::star::half: Blockbuster about hot shot pilot Maverick (Tom Cruise) who gets a chance to show his stuff against the best Navy pilots in the world but soon his ways are challenged by another flier (Val Kilmer) who thinks he's too dangerous to be trusted. TOP GUN contains many flaws but at the same time there's no way you can deny the fact that it's rather entertaining, features a terrific cast and of course it turned Cruise into a major Hollywood star. We'll start with the negative stuff first. The biggest problem is without question the screenplay, which is just way too predictable for its own good. I mean, there are several twists in the story but there's not a single scene that you won't see coming from a mile away. We're introduced to a hot shot, we learn about his sad past, we see him fall for a strong woman (Kelly McGillis), we see him lose strong woman, we see a tragedy, we see him give up and of course we haven't even gotten to the predictable ending. I'm not saying the story had to be something hard-hitting or ground-breaking but there's no question that something not so predictable would have been good. As for the good stuff, you certainly can't overlook the terrific action scenes that are perfectly directed by Tony Scott. The director really makes you feel as if you're on board one of these jets and there's no question that there's some tense action throughout. Another major plus is that the cast is simply terrific as there are so many future stars here. Cruise, as you'd expect, has no problem playing the hot shot who soon starts to question what everyone is saying about him. You also have Kilmer turning in a good supporting part, although you have to wonder if he really wanted to be doing this character. Anthony Edwards, Tim Robbins, Meg Ryan, Michael Ironside and Tom Skerritt add nice support as well. I thought McGillis wasn't the typical actress you'd find in a romance like this but there's no question that she's good in the part. The soundtrack is full of "B" summer hits that add a little camp value. TOP GUN certainly isn't a perfect film but at least it's entertaining and as I said, it's always fun see so many stars in early roles. Butterfly (1982) :star::star: Based on the James M. Cain novel, this film centers on the young Kady Tyler (Pia Zadora) who returns home to live with her father Jess (Stacy Keach) and soon she begins to seduce him. Yeah, you read that right. Zadora made history with this film as she won the Razzie Worst Actress award while at the same time winning the Golden Globe New Star of the Year award. You can read about the controversy behind the Globes win elsewhere but to say this film is normal would be a very big lie. BUTTERFLY isn't nearly as bad or as trashy as its reputation would have you believe. It's not a soft-core porn flick if that's what you're expecting but more of a romantic mystery that probably shouldn't have been made. Those coming to the film to see how horrid Zadora is are also going to be disappointed because I really didn't find her as bad as the film's reputation. It seems she just became a punchline after winning the Golden Globe and while she's certainly not great or even good here, there's no doubt that she's taken way too much heat for the performance. I thought she played that dirty teenager well enough for a film like this. What she lacks is certainly made up by Keach who is actually very good here. I thought he did a very good job at showing the conflict that his male/father character had over the sexual advances of his daughter. Another person who's "bad performance" reputation is somewhat of a lie is that of Orson Welles who plays a judge. I really didn't find him to be bad here and in fact I thought he was quite good and that his performance certainly had a wink to the viewer to it. The film falls flat on a few levels including the running time, which just goes on way too long. The screenplay itself just doesn't have enough interesting moments to help keep the thing entertaining from start to finish. Another problem is that director Matt Cimber just doesn't add enough spark or energy to the picture. BUTTERFLY will probably always been known as a disaster but I think its reputation is quite unfair. It's not a good movie but there are certainly much worse out there. The Champ (1979) :star::star: Remake of the 1931 film that got star Wallace Beery his Oscar. This time it's Jon Voight playing the washed up boxer taking care of his young son (Ricky Schroder) who decides to try and make a comeback so that he can do something good for the kid. Along the way he gets involved with his ex-wife (Faye Dunaway) who left him and the kid years earlier and he also can't escape his destructive nature. The original version of this story was quite good and of course it contained the now famous ending, which is pretty much kept here. Look, there's no question that the final five-minutes here are incredibly powerful but they still can't make up for the previous 116-minutes that are pretty manipulative and flat. There are all sorts of problems with THE CHAMP and while it's certainly not a bad movie it just doesn't have what it takes to overcome all the flaws. One major flaw is the screenplay. You can give the producers credit for not delivering a scene-for-scene remake but the new stuff they added simply doesn't work. This includes all the time spent with the horses as well as the relationship between Voight and Dunaway that constantly builds up. I really didn't care for their early conflicts and I certainly didn't care for the directions their relationship goes through towards the end. It's almost as if the filmmakers threw in a bit of KRAMER VS. KRAMER (which was released the same year) to try and sell a romance side. Another thing that doesn't work is some of the casting. Voight is one of my favorite actors and he delivers a good performance here but I think he was miscast. I think he's simply too smart and this comes across so the destructive nature of this character just doesn't suit him. I also thought Dunaway was good in her part but it probably should have gone to someone else. Schroder, on the other hand, clearly steals the film with his touching performance and he's certainly a knockout at the end. We get some terrific character actors in supporting roles including Jack Warden, Strother Martin, Arthur Hiller and Elisha Cook. Joan Blondell, in one of her final films, has a small part as well. Again, the ending is what this movie is known for and it's a great one. It's just too bad the rest of the film didn't live up to it and the countless manipulation scenes early on just don't work and they certainly miss the emotional connection that they try for.

 

[JohnS]

Eddie Murphy's Raw First time viewing. Definitely Eddie at one of his best moments.Lots of funny material. Wished we got that same kind of Eddie today. The opening sketch was my least favorite thing about the movie.

 

[JohnS]

Watched Boys and Girls (2000) First time viewing. Just a really bad romantic comedy. What makes this horrible is the script. But what do you expect when the writers are credited as "The Drews" I like Claire Forlani and that it was shot in San Francisco, with a couple great Golden Gate Bridge scenes. But overall it was just a weak script. No chemistry or interesting situations. It also had an odd dance sequence and a cringing end credit added scene with Biggs and Victoria Secret models. A year after Jason Biggs' American Pie success, they seemed to try to recreate it in someway here and failed.

 

[Michael Elliott]

Before Sunrise (1995) :star::star::star::half: American Jesse (Ethan Hawke) strikes up a conversation with the French Celine (Julie Delpy) on board a train and soon asks if she'd like to walk around Vienna for a day. Richard Linklater's film was a modest hit when it was released but overtime it's grown into a cult favorite and it's easy to see why. I enjoyed the film when I originally saw it theatrically but revisiting it all these years later makes me realize why it's so special. Obviously you've got the terrific screenplay but you've also got two of the most charming and real performances you're ever going to see. What's so amazing about this movie is that it really comes across as a documentary that has no screenplay and doesn't feature actors. The film really does seem like something from life that has an invisible camera just following around two people who just met and we see where the talking leads them. It's pretty incredible to think that this film works as well as it does because there's really nothing that happens here. The two people walk around talking and every once in a while they sit down somewhere and talk. It took a lot of courage for a film like this but in the end it really pays off. Both Hawke and Delpy turn in some of the best work of their careers and without their chemistry there would be no film. Again, this thing shouldn't have worked for so many reasons but the two stars are so flawless that you can't help but believe the relationship as it blooms. I really liked the way both of them got to make complete characters who aren't alike but they still enjoy their time together. Hawks was the real stand out here because he perfectly brings that charm and laid back coolness to the character. The screenplay gives the two a lot of different stories to tell and while not all of them are interesting, even the less interesting ones still seem like a real conversation you'd have. Throughout a lot of the film I think Linklater makes it so easy to follow because the viewer can see themselves having these same types of conversations with someone in their own lives. BEFORE SUNRISE is a cute little film that manages to be very charming and leaves a smile on your face as the closing credits start. Before Sunset (2004) :star::star::star::star: Nine years after the events in BEFORE SUNRISE, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) returns to Paris to do a Q&A for his book, which just happens to talk about that night in Vienna. Celine (Julie Delpy) winds up coming to the event and afterwards they've got a little over a hour to catch up on what's been going on in their lives. BEFORE SUNSET is clearly an improvement over the already very good first film but what makes this one here even more special is that it captures the magic of the first picture while at the same time taking a look at the darker issues in their lives. As with the first film, it's really amazing how director Richard Linklater managed to make this feel like a documentary that you're watching and not once do you see Hawke and Delpy as actors but instead you see them as real people that are simply being filmed by an invisible camera. The film manages to really make you believe that the story is picking up nine years after the previous film and I must say that the explanation for the ending of the first movie is extremely well handled. I'm not going to spoil what happened six months later but it's perfectly handled here. Even the first appearance of Celine is extremely beautiful and perfectly done. I really liked the dialogue here but I also like the fact that it once again comes across so real. I say this because I viewed this at the same age of the characters and I thought their feelings on growing older are so true. Hearing Hawke talk about his son and relationships is just something one can connect with and like the previous film the situations make you feel as if you could be the one doing the talking or at least you know someone like these characters. Once again both Hawke and Delpy are terrific together and really fit back well in their characters. There are more emotional or dramatic moments here and both handle them well. Linklater, who wrote the script with the two stars, keeps the film moving at a great pace and really manages to make one fall for the situation that these two are in. Mantrap (1926) :star::star::star: Romantic comedy about city girl Alverna (Clara Bow) who agrees to marry the woodsman Joe Easter (Ernest Torrence) just because he's different. She moves with him to the small town of Mantrap where she eventually meets a lawyer (Percy Marmont) on vacation and soon the two decide to run off. MANTRAP isn't a masterpiece in regards to its storytelling but there's no question that the entire cast is extremely good and help keep this thing entertaining. I think the weakest part of the story is the actual screenplay, which just isn't all that believable and especially the stuff dealing with the beautiful Alverna falling for someone like Joe. It's made quite clear throughout the picture that she's a major flirt so you really do have to wonder why she would settle on Joe. Still, this here really doesn't kill the film as the three leads are simply so good that you can overlook this flaw. Director Victor Fleming does an extremely good job with the lighter touches of humor and especially an entire sequence in the woods when the three characters come together again. This here happens towards the end of the picture but it's one of the best moments in the film. Torrence is extremely likable in his part of the rough looking man who lives in the woods. I thought he really brought a lot of joy to the character and you couldn't help but love him. Marmont is a bit stiff but this is a good way to play the character since he's the complete opposite of Joe. Eugene Palette is also extremely good in his few scenes. There's no question that the real star is Bow. She's so bubbly and energetic that she pops right off the screen and you can't help but find joy in her. There's also no question that she brings that sexy nature to the role and she also shows some pretty good comic timing and especially when she's constantly fixing herself up to try and get something off of whatever man is around here. MANTRAP isn't a complete success but fans of Bow or those just wanting to see what her sex appeal was all about will get plenty of it here. The Fast and the Furious (2001) :star::star::star: Brainless but entertaining action film about cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) who goes undercover to get inside the street racing crowd so that he can try to bring down a group hijacking semi trucks. He gets in good with Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew but of course they don't know his true identity. THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS isn't to be taken serious because if you did then you'd see one flaw after another in regards to the story itself. Like a lot of summer blockbusters, this one here has had way too many Red Bulls as every single scene is just over-the-top and has some testosterone going overboard. That's not to say this is a bad thing because there's no question that the film remains entertaining as a pure action movie as we're given some likable characters as well as some great racing scenes. I think most people are going to be coming to this thing for the fast cars and the various chases and this here is where the film won't let you down. There are some terrific stunt sequences, although I will admit that a few of them appear to be too much CGI and not enough actual driving. With that said, there are some great ones here including the ending, which I won't spoil here. It also doesn't hurt that we're given some characters that we can like even if I think the screenplay doesn't do a couple of them justice. Both Walker and Diesel are very believable in their roles as is Michelle Rodriquez, Jordana Brewster and even Ted Levine in his role. I will say at times it's somewhat hard to root for the main guys even though we do like this. This is especially true during the final sequence when the truck is being hijacked. Still, THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS is a fun ride as long as you don't expect some serious piece of art. The Great Gatsby (1974) :star::star: Francis Ford Coppola wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel about the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby (Robert Redford) who strikes up a relationship with a poor neighbor (Sam Waterson) so that he can get close to a former love (Mia Farrow) who just happens to be married to a man (Bruce Dern) also carrying out an affair. I haven't read the novel that this is based on but it seems most reviews state that it follows the story fairly closely. This is an absolutely beautiful film to look at and it contains some terrific performances but sadly the film is just way too dry and slow and in the end it becomes a chore to sit through. It's really a shame that the movie isn't better because there are some truly great things here. These include the wonderful costume and set designs that really do a great job at making you feel as if you're in the Roaring 20s. The atmosphere of the era is certainly right on the mark and this certainly helps the film. Another major plus is that we're given some terrific performances leading with Redford. He certainly has the looks for the part but I thought he also perfectly captured the more mysterious side of the character and the tragedy that follows him. Farrow was extremely light on her feet and this is a compliment and especially if you've seen any of the films from the era that this film takes place. Dern gives one of his best performances as the not-so-good husband and Waterson is also very effective in his supporting role. Karen Black is great as the mistress and you can't help but love Scott Wilson who plays her husband. Now for the negative stuff. You can start with the direction by Jack Clayton, which just never adds any energy or excitement to the film. It also doesn't help that the pacing is so slow that it really drags out the 144-minute running time. The film also manages to never fully make you have an emotional connection with the characters, which is really the heart of the story that you're missing. THE GREAT GATSBY is hard not to recommend because of the good stuff but by the time "The End" pops up you're going to be disappointed knowing that the elements were here for something special but it just never came together.

 

[Rick Thompson]

One I'm partial to on this next to last day of February is Only the Lonely: John Candy lives at home with mother (Maureen O'Hara) and finally meets the girl of his dreams (Ally Sheedy), a painfully shy young woman who works at her father's funeral home. A two ugly ducklings fine love story that also stars Jim Belushi, Anthony Quinn, Kevin Pollack and Milo O'Shea with a cameo by Macauley Culkin. It's the same basic situation as Marty, just a little more fleshed out. Written and directed by Chris Columbus.

 

[JohnS]

Watched two films that I've seen before. The Toy (1982) Getting some Richard Pryor films in, and had to get this one watched again. Always liked this film. Watched it numerous times when it played endlessly on HBO back in the day. It may not be his best film, but I find it very funny. Roxanne (1987) A great retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac with a funny script by Steve Martin. Lots of funny moments from either Steve Martin playing his character or the dimwits at the firehouse. A perfect movie for this time of the month.

 

[Michael Elliott]

Life is Beautiful (1997) :star::star::star::half: Oscar-winning mix of comedy and drama centers on Guido (Roberto Benigni), an Italian man who uses his style of humor to win a woman (INicoletta Braschi) he has fallen in love with at the start of WWII. They eventually have a son named Joshua (Giorgio Cantarini) and the three are eventually thrown in a concentration camp where the father uses that same humor to try and protect is son from the horrors of the Holocaust. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL is a rather unique film because it should have been a complete disaster. I mean, how do you really add laughs to the horror of the Holocaust? Writer-director and Academy Award winner for Best Actor Benigni manages to do just that and it's pretty remarkable what he was able to pull off. The film really does play as two movies with the first half being a romantic comedy and then we're thrown into the drama aspect once we enter the camp and the father must try and protect his son. This is a very far-fetched premise and there's no question that a lot of it is unbelievable but at the same time the film is just so charming and unique that you can't help but fall for it. The majority of the credit has to go to Benigni who manages to pull off a Chaplin by mixing laughs with politics, romance and drama. I was really impressed with his performance and you can see why he won the Oscar. He's so incredibly good no matter what he's doing. This includes the slapstick early in the film, the romance in the middle and of course the toughest job of trying to protect his son. The way the film uses the "game" to try and protect the kid was quite clever and you can just feel the urgency in Benigni's performance. Both Braschi and Cantarini are also extremely good in their parts. The movie also gives us a very touching music score that perfectly captures everything we're being offered. I'm not going to ruin the ending but it's incredibly touching in the way it plays out. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL isn't your typical romance and it's not your typical Holocaust picture, which pretty much means it's very original and quite daring but in the end it works.

 

[JohnS]

Romancing the Stone (1984) A fun romantic adventure movie. Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny Devito have great chemistry. I also love Alan Silvestri's score. The sequel was a big letdown and it's too bad that they never got the third movie going. "The Crimson Eagle", went into development but was never made. In this unproduced third picture, Jack and Joan go with their two children to Thailand and are blackmailed into stealing a precious statue. Amelie (2001) One of my all time favorite movies. A true masterpiece. Audrey Tautao is so pretty and adorable here. Beautiful colors and cinematography. Harmonious score. I love this movie.

 

[PatW]

Now this is maddening. I just typed up a long review of both Arsenic and Old lace and Bringing up Baby and my computer froze and I lost it. So just briefly since I want to get two more movies in: Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) ( dvd) :star::star::star::star::star: Just a perfect movie for me and probably my favourite Cary Grant film though I've enjoyed most of his work. This movie had a great cast of oddball characters from the two sweet old aunts who have a unique way of consoling their lonely boarders, to the patient cabdriver waiting outside for the newlyweds. Also great is the running gag of mistaking Mortimer Brewsters psychopathic brother as Boris Karloff played wonderfully by Raymond Massey. He comes complete with his own plastic surgeon (Peter Lorre). This is more a black comedy but the action is frentic and a person can get worn out by watching it. Highly recommended to those not allergic to classic movies. (my family) Bringing Up Baby (1938) (dvd) :star::star::star::star::star: Another fast-paced Cary Grant movie this time with Katharine Hepburn who plays a heiress who tries to capture and hold on to her man. This movie also has an odd assortment of characters each of them charming in their own way. Even the leopards and the dog ( is that Asta) did a great job. Another excellent screwball comedy that comes highly recommended.

 

[Rick Thompson]

Also great is the running gag of mistaking Mortimer Brewsters psychopathic brother as Boris Karloff played wonderfully by Michael Rennie.

Raymond Massey played Jonathan Brewster..

 

[PatW]

Raymond Massey played Jonathan Brewster..

Whoops, I knew that. I don't know what made me type Michael Rennie.

 

[Michael Elliott]

Song of the South (1946) :star::star::star: Young Johnny (Bobby Driscoll) goes to a plantation for the summer where he becomes friends with a young girl (Ruth Warrick). There on the plantation he meets Uncle Remus (James Baskett) who tells him stories of Br'er Rabbit and his adventures with Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox. SONG OF THE SOUTH is now a controversial film but when you really look at it you have to think that Uncle Remus is one of the most positive images of a black person from this era. Now I understand some are going to be offended by the stereotypes as well as some of the animation but I think the film still works well for adults. I think the best stuff involves the animation including the three animals. I thought all three of them were very well done and for the most part the animation is top-notch. I really liked the adventures of the three as Fox and Bear are constantly trying to catch Rabbit who always manages to out-smart them. The highlight of the film deals with a bee hive and this sequence is extremely funny. Another major plus is the performance of Baskett as Uncle Remis. I wasn't completely won over by all the live action stuff but there's no question that Baskett steals the picture as the soft-hearted Remis. The actor does an extremely good job bringing the charm and you just can't help but feel this character was one of the best roles for a black actor at this time period. Again, I'm sure many people are going to cry foul due to some of the material (Tar Baby for one) but at the same time it's always important to remember when this film was made. If someone doesn't want to watch the film because they find it offensive then that's fine. Pulling it from viewing on the other hand isn't fine because it does kill a chance for education but I'm sure this is something most people don't want because of their dimwitted views.

 

[PatW]

Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) (dvd) :star::star::star::star::star: This is a beautiful heartbreaking story of a romance between the ghost of a sea captain and an lonely young widow. Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney give superb performances in the title roles. The cinematography is just simply breathtaking at times. I had read somewhere a discussion about whether the Captain was real or just an imaginary figure created by a lonely woman. I am more than positive he was real or else the ending wouldn't have made a lot of sense. This is my favourite film of the 40's and I can't wait for it to come out on bluray if it ever does.

 

[PatW]

I won't have time to fit in another movie since I'm needed for a game of cards. I didn't watch as many as I had planned. Couldn't locate my copy of Doctor Zhivago. Total movies watched 26 Favourite new watch = Four Daughters Overall Favorite watch = Ghost and Mrs. Muir & Atonement ( tied) Worst movie watch = The Back-up Plan

 

[Michael Elliott]

The Last Exorcism Part II (2013) BOMB Shortly after the events in the first film, survivor Nell (Ashley Bell) tries to put her life back together as well as she can but she soon realizes that whatever was wrong with her is still there and coming back for more. THE LAST EXORCISM PART II is without question one of the worst horror films I've seen theatrically in a very long time. Year after year bad horror films are released but this here is at the very bottom of the barrel. After a quick look at the events in the previous film, we're introduced to an incredibly unscary pre-credit sequence, which pretty much tells you we're in for a dud. There's not a single thing that happens in this film that is scary. The majority of the attempted scares come from soft music playing before there's a loud bang with loud noises. This cliché is just so boring and so tiresome that you wish people would stop using it. Director Ed Gass-Donnelly deserves a lot of the blame because there's just nothing interesting here. The visuals are all rather boring and predictable. There's not a bit of atmosphere to be found anywhere. For a horror movie the lack of scares is a major disappointment but what makes them even worse is that they're all so poorly staged and delivered. The screenplay also deserves a lot of blame. As with the first film, this one here has a lot of character development early on. We see Nell struggling to get on with her life. We see her at work cleaning hotel rooms. We see her fall for a boy and we see her and her girlfriends going for walks. After a while you start to wonder if the filmmakers forgot they were making a horror film. I don't mind character development but none of the characters here are all that interesting and this includes Nell. Not for a second did I care what happened to her and I certainly didn't care to find out the secrets behind the first film. The performances aren't too bad but did you really come here for that? THE LAST EXORCISM PART II is a really horrid sequel to a decent movie. It's funny but the first movie came to a close with a horrid ending and then this film pretty much picked up that horrid and carried it to a new level. And don't even get me started on the ending here. **I wasn't planning to include this but it turned out to fit thanks to some voodoo.

 

[JohnS]

I hated The Last Exorcism. In time I will watch the sequel, but no rush to see it. My last movie for the February challenge is Brewster's Millions (1985) Another Richard Pryor movie that I enjoy watching. Will be seeing the original tomorrow.

 

[Aaron Silverman]

Closed out the month with an old favorite: Revenge of the Nerds. Romantic content? Try this on for size: Betty: "Are all nerds as good as you?" Lewis: "Yes. All the jocks ever think about is sports. All we ever think about is sex!" Atonement is an OK historical weeper for 2 hours, but is then transformed by one of the most stunningly awesome endings of all time. BTW, how much for one rib?

 

[JohnS]

Closing out my list with totals Romantic movies total= 15 Valentine TV episodes total= 9 Black History Movies total= 5 Black History TV episodes= 6 Best movie= Amelie Worst movie= Boys and Girls Favorite NEW movie watched= Vertigo