Small Soldiers (1998) Review

Title: Small Soldiers
Year: 1998
Director: Joe Dante
Country: US
Language: English

To combat the incredibly popular Toy Story (1995), Dreamworks Studios made their own film about toys coming to life called Small Soldiers. Directed by Joe Dante (The Goonies) this 90's cult classic feels like a fever dream in regards to how odd it is. Commander Toys (lead by Tommy Lee Jones) recruit demented Barbies to fight humans to the death. O.K then...

When missile technology is used to enhance toy action figures, the toys soon begin to take their battle programming too seriously.

Small Soldiers holds up fairly well, mainly because it pays homage to other famous flicks before it. We get a dose of Patton (1970), Gremlins (1984) and Transformers (1986). Its use of animatronics was/is impressive; it would be nice if Hollywood used more of these practical effects in current pictures. 

The cast consists of some heavy hitters, which include;  Denis Leary, David Cross (pre Arrested Development)  and Phil Hartman. Small Soldiers was Hartman's last role; his comedic genius is on full display here. The film's soundtrack is fun, I enjoyed belting out War! What is it Good for? in the theatre as a child. 

Small Soldiers is a fun dose of 90's nostalgia. It's a trippy picture that will have you laughing throughout. It's not a deep movie by any means, but it certainly deserves its cult status.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) Review

Title: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Year: 1968
Director: Ken Hughes
Country: UK
Language: English

Based on the 1964 children's book Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magic Car  by famed Bond writer Ian Fleming, this loose adaptation. released from United Artists, sought to rival Disney's latest live action ventures. Unfortunately it was not commercially or critically successful at the time. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has gained a cult following in the decades since its release. 

A down-on-his-luck inventor (Dick Van Dyke)  turns a broken-down Grand Prix car into a fancy vehicle for his children, and then they go off on a magical fantasy adventure to save their grandfather.

Written by Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and scored by the Sherman Brothers (The Jungle Book) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a quirky musical that has impressive choreography, imaginative set design, and delightful cinematography. The film does spectacle very well. 

Unfortunately Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has a very slow start to set-up the adventure. It's two and a half hours long, but 30min could have been cut from the first hour and nobody would miss it. The practical effects are also pretty dated, keeping the picture from being truly timeless.

This picture makes a great family double feature with Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) Chitty Chitty is not a film I seek out, but I have good memories from watching it as a child. 

Beetlejuice (1988) Review

Title: Beetlejuice
Year: 1988
Director: Tim Burton
Country: US
Language: English

Three years after his feature length directional debut, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Tim Burton's Beetlejuice hit theatres and became a box office success. It earned $80 million worldwide, with an initial $15 million budget. Burton's visual presentation was unique for the time and had mainstream audiences flocking to see his auteur style. 

The spirits of a deceased couple (Geena Davis & Alec Baldwin) are harassed by an unbearable family that has moved into their home, and hire a malicious spirit (Michael Keaton) to drive them out.

Beetlejuice's gothic cinematography and nightmare-infused sets are a sight to behold. Danny Elfman's score is memorable, adding to an already surreal atmosphere. The practical effects used, which include claymation, puppetry and DIY props, are refreshing to look at given the CGI heavy mainstrean films of today. 

Beetlejuice straddles a fine line between being fun comedic camp -  and being absolutely terrifying. As a child I smiled at the Banana Boat (Day-O) dinner scene, then winced when our two protagonists slowly decayed during the creepy exorcism scene. 

Michael Keaton's performance as the titular character is memorable, perhaps his best role. This movie is certainly a worthwhile viewing, albeit I do think Tim Burton's style has become a bit dated and his status as a "great" director has fallen out of favour.

Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) Review

Title: Pirates of the Caribbean
Year: 2003
Director: Gore Verbinski
Country: US
Language: English

There wasn't anything like Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) when it came out. Due to the commercial failure of  Hook (1991) pirate stories had fallen out of favor with Hollywood. Pirates wasn't just a typical pirate action movie however; it was a ghost story mixed with romance and comedy, based on a dark ride that debuted in the 1960's. The movie shouldn't have worked, but it spawned a billion-dollar franchise. 

Blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) teams up with eccentric pirate "Captain" Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) to save his love, the governor's daughter (Kiera Knightley) , from Jack's former pirate allies, who are now undead.

The film's set design - using practical sets with pirate ships and old timey towns - is visually impressive. The CGI is leaps above nearly every film of the early 2000's. The direction and choreography are remarkable as the many battles and ensuing chaos are very well organized in regards to presentation. 

The writing in Pirates of the Caribbean is underrated. The plot is fairly simple (pirates need coin to remove curse) but its engaging because there are so many well done turns and character arcs. The acting is exceptional. Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow is immortalized as an iconic character. 

While I am unimpressed with Pirates of the Caribbean's sequels, I must admit that this (Curse of the Black Pearl) is an outstanding feature that deserves all the acclaim it gets. It's a very fun movie that I would recommend to anybody. 

Pete's Dragon (1977) Review

Title: Pete's Dragon
Year: 1977
Director: Dan Chaffey
Country: UK
Language: English

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) is known as the best example of combining live action with hand drawn animation in film, but the practice has been around since at least Anchors Aweigh (1945). In-between those Walt Disney made a creative disco-era children's film called Pete's Dragon. 

In this film, an orphan boy (Sean Marshall) and his magical dragon Elliot come to town with his abusive adoptive parents in pursuit.

Pete's Dragon was a modest commercial success, albeit less commercially and critically successful than Disney's previous live action/animation mashup Bed Knobs and Broomsticks (1971). It underwent a very long development phase, originally conceived as a two part television series in 1957.  Thankfully it was changed to a musical; albeit none of the music is memorable. 

Disney's dragon picture has a lot of charm and whimsy, but it held back by a meandering plot that slows to a crawl whenever Elliot is offscreen. Elliot is quite a technical achievement for 1977; the animation interacts quite fluidly with the live actors onscreen. Elliot is quite an adorable character who functions as the film's heart. I can see why children of the 70's would have loved Pete's Dragon. 

Though it does have a pacing issue & the songs are lackluster, Pete's Dragon is worth an initial viewing because it does a lot with the technical limitations of the day. Watch it in terms of film history and witness the slow progression of "live" animation. 

The Flash (2023) Review

Title: The Flash
Year: 2023
Director: Andy Muschietti
Country: US
Language: English

To be frank, I'm not a fan of the Snyderverse (Batman vs. Superman, Justice League) and I was delighted to hear that The Flash wouldn't be directed by Zack Snyder. This picture is much lighter in tone and has a, dare I say, fun atmosphere. These DCEU movies work best when they go all out on fan service. 

Barry Allen (Ezra Miller)uses his super speed to change the past, but his attempt to save his family creates a world without super heroes, forcing him to race for his life in order to save the future.

The best parts of The Flash involve a heavy dose of Nostalgia. Warner Bros. paid Michael Keaton $10 million to reprise his Batman (1989) role. Whenever Keaton is in outfit we get a snippet of Danny Elfman's imposing score. He proves that he is still a great actor, stealing every scene that he is in. 

The Flash has a budget of $200 million, but you wouldn't believe it if you saw the awful CGI. A scene early in the film, involving falling babies, looks like it was designed using a PlayStation 2. The effects make the characters look rubbery and unappealing. It's worse than The Scorpion King. 

I do like the film's theme, about how superpowers can't solve every problem, albeit I am a bit tired of multiverses and time travel in Hollywood. Ultimately I think The Flash is unfocused, but it was a nice change from the brooding slow-mo Snyder. 

Teen Wolf (1985) Review

Title: Teen Wolf
Director: Rob Daniel
Year: 1985
Country: US
Language: English

In the 1980's Michael J. Fox was a hot commodity thanks to his role in the popular TV series Family Ties. It was the second most popular TV show in the US, next to The Cosby Show. The leap to cinema was inevitable if he were to become a household name. During an eight month window (Dec 1984 - April 1985) Fox worked on Family Ties, Back to the Future and Teen Wolf. 

Average 17-year-old high school student Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox) is about to discover his family's unseal hereditary condition. 

Teen Wolf (1984) capitalized on a pop culture fascination with Werewolf stories. Michael Jackson's Thriller was the most requested video on MTV & An American Werewolf in London (1981) did very well in the box office. It had a miniscule budget that had no room for special effects. Its odd premise (a sports horror comedy?) did not please reviewers, but it was released after Back to the Future and the film was able to coast on the star's success. 

Teen Wolf is a corny, dorky movie that would have flopped, like Teen Wolf Too, if not for the endearing charisma of its star Michael J, Fox. His onscreen presence makes it somewhat worth sitting through a werewolf movie wherin the transformation doesn't change the character in any notable way. He's harrier and better at basketball? Are werewolves known for their basketball abilities?

80's comedies are all pretty dated, but they are considered "classics" because that decade didn't have many "great" movies. It's a very low bar that somehow Teen Wolf (1985) makes. It's a fine film, but you could be watching Back to the Future instead. 

Revenge of the Nerds (1984) Review

Title: Revenge of the Nerds
Year: 1984
Director: Jeff Kanew
Country: US
Language: English

You know how they say "They don't make them like this anymore!" in reference to how good a movie is? This can be said about a lot of eighties movies, but in regards to how bad they are. These purvey comedies directed at teens, like Porky's, are pretty dated and extremely cringe-worthy for audiences of the 2020's. 

At Adams College, a group of bullied outcasts and misfits resolve to fight back for their peace and self-respect.

Presently nerd culture is very much the mainstream. Comic conventions & Marvel movies make a tremendous amount of money every year. Revenge of the Nerds was made during a time when "nerd" was very niche. It's a very raunchy film with loads of nudity and questionable humor. It has some charm and at times can be very heartfelt. 

Revenge of the Nerds is very 80's in terms of technology, style, music and attitudes. The main song is chock full of 80's synthesizer. For better or worse, this is a time capsule movie that will instantly satisfy your nostalgia. I wasn't even alive in the 80's, but I felt transported to that time period when watching this movie. 

You could do a lot worse than Revenge of the Nerds if you want to indulge in 80's comedy. It is dated and quite a few of the jokes fall flat, but it can be a fun "turn your brain off" indulgence. Watch it if you don't have any Bill Murray on hand. 

Ride the Wild Surf (1964) Review

Title: Ride the Wild Surf
Year: 1964
Director: Don Taylor
Country: US
Language: English

Beach movies were an inexpensive fad, popular among teenagers between the late fifties to mid sixties. The formula was essentially to throw in young buff guys & mix them with perky young girls, film them in exotic locations, and be provocative enough to intrigue hormonal youth. There was no nudity, no innuendo and no sex, which made them acceptable for parents. 

Ride the Wild Surf (!964)finds three young men arriving at Hawaii's Weimea Bay with the intention of conquering the biggest waves in the ocean; while there, they meet some girls who keep the nights interesting.

During the Summers of 1963-1964 the waves in Hawaii's beaches were exceptionally large, Tourists from all over the globe travelled to Hawaii to surf this rare phenomenon. The Director, Don Taylor, sought to capitalize on its popularity and shot Ride the Wild Surf on location. The film's production was fairly short & it hit theatres at the height of Hawaiian tourism. 

Ride the Wild Surf is a fun "turn your brain off" movie. The comedy is a bit goofy, but it never ventures into being dull or offensive or stupid. The plot carries some thrills as we're never quite sure if our characters are going to make it through the day unscathed. 

As said in previous reviews, Beach movies like Ride the Wild Surf are fun escapism. They will certainly lift your mood if you're having a bad day. It's very worthwhile to seek these movies out. 

How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965) Review

Title: How to Stuff a Wild Bikini

Year: 1965
Director: William Asher
Country: US
Language: English

In 1965 The Beatles and The Beach Boys were household names, each influencing the younger generation with psychedelic sounds that challenged the status quo. It was a feel good time and along with feel good music there were feel good Beach movies. How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965) was a 60's time capsule. 

Frankie (Frankie Avalon) has been stationed in the South Pacific and is worried Dee Dee (Annette Funicello) could cheat on him.  Employing a witch doctor (Buster Keaton) and his crew, Frankie sets out to try to keep Dee Dee his by creating a perfect woman named Cassandra (Beverly Adams) who quickly attracts the attention of marketer Peachy Keane (Mickey Rooney),

What is a "Beach movie"? They are part-musical, part-comedy and part-nonsense. They aren't critically or commercially successful, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini has a 4.0 rating on Rotten Tomatoes. They were popular with teenagers who wanted an after-school escape. They were the "Netflix and Chill" of the day for date nights. 

How to Stuff a Wild Bikini sounds risque, and you'd see a lot more bikinis than in most flicks, but even at the time it was pretty tame. It has an incredibly low budget, but its real beach scenery (rather than using sets) adds to the fun and free atmosphere. 

In very small doses I enjoy "beach films" like How to Stuff a Wild Bikini. They do a very good job at distracting  you from real-world concerns & lowering stress levels. 

Kill or Cure (1923) Review

Title: Kill or Cure
Year: 1923
Director: Hal Roach
Country: US
Language: English

Grifters selling "medicinal cures" is as old as society itself. Coca- Cola originated as a drug laced treatment for a variety of issues. By the 1920's there were plenty of laws in place to prohibit such advertisement, but peddlers still broke through. In present day gullible consumers are just as susceptible to falling for "natural" cures, usually involving crystals. 

Kill or Cure stars Stan Laurel as he tries to hock patent medicine, but finds himself at odds with the public and the police. 

The film acts as a series of short skits tied together by Laurel's self-employment efforts. It is a time capsule of 1920's life; displaying a society that is quite different from our own. Kill or Cure is a little meandering, but has enough genuinely funny gags to keep its audience interested. 


It's quite interesting to see a silent comedy that isn't a Keaton, Chaplin or Lloyd, Stanley Laurel is just as recognizable, being one half of Laurale & Hardy, albeit he is solo in Kill or Cure. He has great comedic timing and proves to be a decent actor. This film proves he wasn't reliant on Oliver Hardy to make a good living. 

Kill or Cure is dated compared to Safety Last (1923), but its subject natter will always be relevant. It should be seen by those who are enthusiastic about silent cinema. 

Trainwreck (2015) Review

Title: Trainwreck
Year: 2015
Director: Judd Apatow
Country: US
Language: English

Amy Schumer is a very divisive comedian. Some find her comedy innovative, while others accuse her of stealing material from dead comedians. I find that her jokes are too reliant of self-deprecating fatphobia and I'm more bored than amused by this. I do like Bill Hader and he also stars in Trainwreck (2015), so I decided to check it out. 

Amy Townsend (Amy Schumer) gets drunk and stoned frequently in her pursuit of indiscriminate sex, She does not believe in monogamy. Can her new boyfriend (Bill Hader) change her mind?

In 2015 Schumer's version of femininity was somewhat innovative for the Silver screen. We rarely saw women who were as bawdy, brash and juvenile as their male counterparts. Too often women were portrayed as the "wet blanket". Schumer, as well as the film Bridesmaids, helped tip the scale in Hollywood. 

Unfortunately Director/Producer Judd Apatow turns Trainwreck into a conventional movie about joining the establishment. In every movie he makes, the character must learn that FAMILY is most important. It slows the pacing of the picture, removes the fun, and makes the picture a bit too sentimental. The change in emotion can be abrupt and awkward. 

Trainwreck has a fun beginning, followed by a plodding journey towards mediocrity. I would  recommend watching the hilarious John Cena scene and then turn off the movie on a high note. 

Three Ages (1923) Review

Title: Three Ages
Year: 1923
Director: Buster Keaton
Country: US
Language: English

 Three Ages was Buster Keaton's first film as producer, director and star. The film is a lighthearted, comedic take on D.W Griffith's landmark epic Intolerance. The structure of Three Ages, three stories revolving around a similar theme, allowed Keaton to cut the picture into three shorts if the feature length version was a flop. It was a hit and remained intact. 

Buster tells of love and romance through three historical ages: the Stone Age, the Roman Age, and the Modern Age.

Three Ages has some pretty good set design. The Roman Age section looks like a Cecil B. Demille production akin to Ben Hur (1925). The stunts, particularly in The Modern Age are innovative and risky. Keaton actually missed a planned jump and injured himself during the making of the picture. The humour in The Stone Age was best; I laughed when Keaton tries to woe a girl that is 3x his size. 

Not everything works in Three Ages however. The stop motion is extremely dated. The pacing is rough at times, sometimes crawling to a snail's pace. The humour is sparse; this is clearly not Keaton at his best. 

I wouldn't recommend Three Ages until you've seen the majority of Buster Keaton's filmography. The film can be forgiven for being mediocre (for Keaton) because it is his first time directing and producing. From a historical perspective it's very inspiring to see the beginning of his road to success. 

Lampoon's Vacation Series (1983-1997)

Title: Lampoon's Vacation Series
Year: 1983-1987
Director: John Landis
Country: US
Language: English

The Vacation series is a comedy series starring Chevy Chase, which is based on Director John Hughes short story in National Lampoon Magazine called Vacation 58'.  Each film is about a vacation that goes awry due to the stupidity and poor luck of the patriarch of the Griswold family. They all follow a similar plot formula & all have a similar quality of humor. I'd rate them all the same. 

In Vacation (1993) the Griswold's go to Wally World, but a series of mistakes ensure and the family finds themselves in trouble. 

In European Vacation (1985) the Griswold's win a trip to Europe, but a series of mistakes ensue and the family finds themselves in trouble

In Christmas Vacation (1989) the Griswold's plan "the most  fun-filled old fashioned family Christmas ever!", but a series of mistakes ensue and they find themselves in trouble

In Vegas Vacation (1997) the Griswold's plan a family trip to Vegas, but a series of mistakes ensue and they find themselves in trouble. 

Christmas Vacation is easily the best of the four. It is the highest grossing and highest rated among critics & public audience. It is the most accessible and most relatable. Not everyone has been to Europe or Vegas, but we all have a family that we love- but can't stand in long periods of time. 

Randy Quaid's gross uncle character works most effectively here. His character is less of a cartoon-like redneck and more down to Earth. I actually empathized with him when he said he couldn't afford presents due to financial situation. 

Christmas Vacation works because it takes very familiar situations, such as having dinner with family, and exaggerates the outcome to comedic fashion. The humour lands more often than in Vacation, Vegas & European. It is less reliant on juvenile humour and focuses more on slapstick and pratfalls. 

Chevy Chase is the main reason to watch these films. His great comedic timing and onscreen charisma improve their quality. I loved sticking around to see his over-the-top meltdowns. Overall Christmas Vacation is worth repeat viewings, while Vacation, Vegas  & European are fun first viewings but are fairly forgettable. 

Animal House (1978) Review

 Title: Animal House
Year: 1978
Director: John Landis
Country: US
Language: English

Animal House (1978) was the first over-the-top raunchy comedy that I saw in my youth. It excited me. It was such a daring, anything goes, "fun" movie that didn't seek to "teach" my anything. I would smile with Bluto (John Belushi) and yell "Toga! Toga! Toga!" The scene where the horse had a heart attack left me in stiches from laughing. 

At a 1962 college, Dean Vernon Wormer is determined to expel the entire Delta Tau Chi Fraternity, but those troublemakers have other plans for him.

Animal House is the most popular, highest grossing film that National Lampoon has made. The picture embodies an "us vs them" anti-authority attitude that remains relevant 45 years later. Faber College Administration represent the bourgeoisie, yuppie Wall Street sycophants whose rigid conformity threaten to kill the American Dream. Delta House is the part of America that is disillusioned, but still anti-establishment (think Occupy Wallstreet, BLM etc.) . 

Animal House is a very liberating movie that is more intelligent than it gets credit for. The screenplay was fresh for its time; the dialogue was consistently funny throughout its run-time. The soundtrack improves the film's party atmosphere. Belushi's acting is often imitated, but one-of-a-kind in how iconic it is. 

Needless to say, some of the humor does not translate well in 2023. One scene, in which Bluto contemplates raping a girl who is asleep, is downright creepy. I can't believe they weren't demanded to remove that part. Overall it's a fine film that is more politically challenging than most viewers will realize. 

No Hard Feelings (2023) Review

Title: No Hard Feelings
Year: 2023
Director: Gene Stupnisky

Country: US
Language: English

A good romantic comedy has two characters who are flawed, but ultimately charismatic, intelligent, dignified and down to earth. In Sleepless in Seattle Tom Hanks' flaw is his difficulty in overcoming grief. Anybody can relate &we want to see his life improve. No Hard Feelings doesn't have such characters- and the premise is hard to get behind because of how creepy it is. 

On the brink of losing her home, Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) finds an intriguing job listing: helicopter parents looking for someone to bring their introverted 19-year-old son (Andrew Feldman) out of his shell before college.

This woman won an Oscar!? Produced by Jennifer Lawrence, No Hard Feelings is the raunchy R-Rated Romantic Comedy that would have been a success in the era of Wedding Crashers (2005) but is very out of place in 2023. The film's poster says "pretty awkward", which is how I would describe the "comedy". It's awkward and feels quite dated. It would be like making Porky's (1981) in the present. 

The film's running gag is Jennifer Lawrence acting sexy & the male protagonist being too awkward to notice. It's a gimmick that runs its course fairly quickly. The tone is all over the place. Sometimes it wants to be a foul mouthed edgelord comedy and within minutes it wants to be a sentimental drama. 

Ultimately No Hard Feelings is a decade too late to shock cinemagoers. It's crude, but we've seen this before and we have moved past it. Not a laugh to be had, 

Tom Jones (1963) Review

Title: Tom Jones
Year: 1963
Director: Tony Richardson
Country: UK
Language: English

Henry Fielding's The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling was widely admired when it was first published in 1749. It was a risque tale of sexual adventures that the church thought was corrupt. Tony Richardson's 1963 film adaptation, Tom Jones, broke box office records and won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It was not without critics, who thought the picture was too sleazy for the time.


The film is about the romantic and chivalrous adventures of adopted bastard Tom Jones (Albert Finney) in 18th-century England.

Tom Jones is the raunchiest, randiest film to win Best Picture. It's offbeat, quirky and charming. It is a film that perfectly captures the British Invasion of the 60's, the rise of the Sexual Revolution and the growing importance of free love. It is a remarkably feminist picture as it's the female pictures pushing sexuality and engaging with our horny main character on their own terms.


The cinematography and photography in Tom Jones are quite innovative at the time. Star Wipes, made most famous in Star Wars, can be seen 14 years earlier. Though set in the 18th Century, the director admitted he "shot everything as if it were happening today." The score too adds to the overall debauchery.


Tom Jones' influence can be seen in a variety of popular mainstream cinema; from Star Wars to Monty Python to Austin Powers. It is a vastly underrated Best Picture winner; a surprise hidden gem for those who haven't seen it. I adored this movie.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) Review

Title: How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days
Year: 2003
Director: Donald Petrie
Country: US
Language: English

Romantic comedies hit a high note in the 1930's, peaking with It Happened One Night (1934) and Bringing Up Baby (1938). The genre lost favour with post-war (1945+) audiences and didn't become mainstrean commercial hits again until the 80's with When Harry Met Sally (1989). These pictures stayed strong until the 2000's when a string of box office bombs, combined with the rise of superhero films, made the genre Hollywood poison. 

Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey) is an advertising executive aho, to win a big campaign, bets that he can make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days. Andie Anderson (Kate Husdon) makes a bet with her boss that she can lose a guy in ten days. Berry and Andie meet not knowing of each others' hidden agendas. 

How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days has an intriguing concept, but its execution is poor. Rom Coms, like Sleepless in Seattle, work because the characters are relatable & down to earth. Their worlds feel "lived in" (Tom Hanks has a life beyond talking to Meg Ryan)  and they look like an every-person in terms of fashion, transportation etc. Both our main characters are intolerable dishonest jerks who we struggle to empathize with. The characters' world feels hollow & without much depth. 

Loosely inspired by Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long’s 1998 self-help book with the same name, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days is mired in regressive tropes about dating that were cringe back in 2003 & even more dated decades later. I saw it in the theatre when I was 12 & I felt really bad for women who wanted to see themselves in Hudson's character. 

I must admit that there are some genuinely funny moments in the film, but they are overshadowed by the more tedious groan-inducing moments. The miniscule amount of charm in How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days does not make up for the difficulty of sitting through its runtime. 

Gigi (1958) Review

Title: Gigi
Year: 1958
Director: Vincente Minnelli 
Country: US
Language: English

Vincente Minnelli's last notable work, Gigi (1958) was a critical and commercial success at the time of its release. It won nine Oscars at the Academy awards, including Best Director and Best Picture. In present time Gigi is fairly morally suspect, especially with a song like "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" headlining the picture. Much of the film will not date well with time. 

Weary of the conventions of Parisian society, a rich playboy (Louis Jordan) and a youthful courtesan-in-training (Leslie Caron) enjoy a platonic friendship which may not stay platonic for long.

Gigi is as charming as it is creepy. On one hand we are treated to lavish production, gorgeous costuming and remarkable cinematography. Its use of color, which was used sparingly at the time, was beautiful. On the other hand this is a story about a middle aged man grooming a 16 year old mistress. The only memorable song "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" comes across as quite predator. 

Gigi was able to hold my attention with its miraculous interpretation of 1900's Paris. It had a better sense of the time period than Moulin Rouge (2001). I found Gigi herself quire endearing, her character arc was fairly satisfying albeit I highly doubt women presently would consider her empowering. 

Like Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady, the men in this picture are quite unlikable, don't dance and talk-sing their way through musical numbers. Gigi is a hard film to review because it's a very problematic - yet entertaining picture. For better and for worse "They don't make them like this anymore!"

The Return of the King (2003) Review

Title: The Return of the King
Year: 2003

Director: Peter Jackson

Country: New Zealand

Language: English

In 2001 my dad & I had gone to the theatre together to see Fellowship of the Ring. I was greatly impressed by Tolkein's novels, but my dad went into the film blind. When the film ended he said "That's it!?  I sat here for 3 1/2 hours and only saw half a movie!?" I smirked, "Dad, this is only the first of THREE movies."

In this Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.

Winning 11 Oscars, including Best Picture,  The Return of the King changed cinema forever. It made mainstream fantasy popular; It introduced Hollywood to performance motion capture; It pushed special & practical effects by leaps and bounds; It encouraged movie studios to take risky gambles on previously "unfilmable" material. Indeed nobody thought the Lord of the Rings Trilogy could be filmed, but Peter Jackson proved them wrong. 

The special and practical effects of Return of the King remain impressive two decades later. Gollum remains my favourite motion capture character. The set design is awe inspiring; Howard Shore's score is memorable and adds to the atmosphere of each scene. The costumes, cinematography and acting are all terrific. 

"I can't carry the ring Frodo, but I can carry you!"

I love all the scenes with Frodo, Sam and Gollum. If there's anything negative I can say about Return of the King it's that I don't think the characters have satisfying character arcs. Aside from Sean Bean, our heroes aren't morally complex. Sam is good in Fellowship ^& he remains good. I also think Lord of the Rings has contributed to a few bad Hollywood practices such as separating films into "parts" (ex. Dune Part 1)  and oversaturating Cinemas with fantasy violence. 

I also really despise the trilogy's insistence to extreme close up on Elijah Wood's eyes whenever he is in trouble. Choose another shot!

Due to Peter Jackson's trilogy, Lord of the Rings fandom has extended beyond the cinema & become an entire generations' Star Wars. The Lord of the Rings trilogy started strong with Fellowship of the Ring & ended strong with Return of the King. 

Marty (1955) Review

Title: Marty 
Year: 1955
Director: Delbert Mann
Country: US
Language: English

Often you will hear the cliched saying "They don't make them like they used to!" and in Marty's case they'd be right. This understated romance picture just isn't made anymore. Romance movies in our present time are either oversexualized melodramas or over-the-top comedy. This film takes it time with a budding romance and is quite refreshing in doing so.

A middle-aged butcher (Ernest Borgnine) and a school teacher (Clara Snyder) who have given up on the idea of love meet at a dance and fall for each other.

One of only three movies (Marty, The Lost Weekend & Parasite) to win Best Picture at the Oscars & Palm D'Or at Cannes, Marty was adapted by Paddy Chayefsky from his 1953 teleplay. Directed by Delbert Mann, the production captures the lonely lives of the lower-middle class as they seek to find love and meaning. It is a very well directed, written and acted film. 

Ernest Borgnine has been in a vast amount of movies, but his greatest role is in Marty. He brings an honest vulnerability to the role that makes him endearing to his audience. He is perfectly cast. He and Clara Snyder have incredible chemistry together. We can't help but fall in love with them both. 

Oscar Winners are known for being long, big budget spectacles but Marty is the exact opposite. It's a brief 90 minutes and manages to tell an remarkably powerful story without relying on any visual effects. More movies like this please.