Animal House (1978)

Animal House (1978)

A legendary, groundbreaking and influential comedy that will be around for a long time. Animal House has been ripped off, copied or borrowed from by almost every college comedy (and many normal comedies) made since. While watching you’ll see scenes from Van Wilder, Old School, Road Trip, Porky’s, Accepted, and so on.

The story seems like a clichéd and replayed story but that’s because now, 30 years after, it is, however for its time it’s very original. The writing and characters are hilarious and the acting is better than in most college comedies. Although Tim Matheson, Peter Reigert, Thomas Hulce and all the other more main characters are all funny in their own way and all give good performances this film would have been nothing without John Belushi. Belushi is more of a minor character but steals the film with his hilarious lines, facial expressions and actions. The way he chooses to deliver his lines add even more humor to the already funny writing.

Animal house is one of the last comedies to come out before the 80s ruined comedies, and oddly enough it is partially Animal House’s fault. I'm not saying that all 80’s comedies are bad, but I feel most are. Porky’s, Police Academy, Weird Science, Real Genius, etc, they’re all seem to be the same style and not very funny but are still considered classics. Even the 80s comedies I do enjoy like Airplane and Caddyshack still have the same feel to them but are just funnier. Many of the films (still through the 90s and 00s) force nudity in to films where it is unnecessary and doesn’t add any humor usually. Animal House sort of brought on that kind of comedy, but did it better than almost all of them, even the nude scenes are funny, not just there to bring guys in.

Its truly a influential film, let alone comedy. Although it may be the responsible for inspiring some terrible films over the years, it has also inspired some of the best. It should be remembered and honored as one of the most important comedies of the 70s and of film history.

9/10

Anchors Aweigh (1945)

Anchors Aweigh (1945)

5 word Summary

2 sailors look for dames

Anchors Aweigh is a fun comedic musical but it does have some issues. The story itself is fun and funny, however I don’t think most of the songs were that great, which isn’t good for a musical. The dances were great but the music could have been better. One song I did like is the one done with Jerry the Mouse. The piano playing by Jose Iturbi is also very good and entertaining.

Gene Kelly plays the same roll he usually does, so its nothing special for him but he is still great. Frank Sinatra I think did much better, and showed his ability to play different roles. He usually plays a confident, smooth ladies man where in this film he plays a character who is awkward and shy, far from his best work but its good for his early work. Most of the minor characters are played well too.

The highlight of the film is definitely the dance with Jerry the Mouse, it kind of has no real point to be in the film, it works, but seems unnecessary. It’s a great dance and a great song and a very unique scene that hasn’t really ever been copied or redone

The movie by itself has some great laughs and is definitely worth watching, especially if you are a Gene Kelly or Frank Sinatra fan. It seems to be a little longer than it need to be but as long as that doesn’t bother you its great.

8/10

American History X (1998)

American History X (1998)

5 word summary

Former Neo-Nazi tries saving brother

American History X is a fantastic story of a ex Neo-Nazi skinhead who has changed his ways and is now trying to stop his brother from going down the same path that he went, which ended with him in prison.

There is a large list of things that made this film so great. To start off the directing and editing. Showing the past when Derek was a skinhead as black and white, and the present as color, was a great idea. Not doing that would have been fine but since they did it, it really added a sense of darkness. It’s the way he wants his life and his country, colorless, and it feels more depressing. All the acting was great, Edward Furlong, Ethan Suplee, Elliot Gould, everyone really gave believable and some of their best performances.

I didn’t add Edward Norton in that group because he deserves extra attention for his role. Its amazing. The way he gives his lines, his body language, his facial expressions, everything is remarkable. The scene in which he kills the man for breaking into his car for instance, the look on his face is terrifying, so much pride and anger and accomplishment all shown in that one look as the cops show up. There are scenes with him as a skinhead talking about how bad immigrants, jews and blacks are and you just believe that’s how Edward Norton feels, cause he just sells it so well its hard to believe hes acting. Then, he gets out of prison and his thoughts have changed and again you believe everything he says. Personally I think the scene that he shines the most in is when he’s yelling at his old friend Cameron at his party, telling him to stay away from him and his brother, that scene alone makes me wonder how he didn’t win the Oscar that year.

American History X is such an important film. In a time when many feel racism isn’t as much of an issue anymore this film shows that it is still real and shows the terror that it can bring. Although I doubt any extreme racists have seen this film and changed their way, it seems like it should. Derek learns the errors of his way, and we see it happen. We see how terrible white people and black people can be, but we see how good they can be too. It shows how racism is just ignorance and stubbornness, not knowing about other races and not wanting to. Derek never really knew any black people, he just thought he did, when he finally starts talking to Lamont (the black man he works with in prison) he sees he’s his only friend in that prison, not the other Nazis but a man who, before then, he would have wanted dead.

American History X is one of my all time favorite films and I think most people would agree that its one of the best. Its drama at its best; touching, moving, sad, gritty, powerful and beautiful. A must see by everyone

10/10

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters (2007)

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters (2007)

The film starts off with a bang. A musical intro by the band Mastadon makes the movie seem like its going to be awesome. Though I really really hate that band the song is the best part of the movie, its hilarious. As the rest of the film roles on it gets less funny, it starts good, but slowly it starts to be to long. It shows how important it is for the show to be only 15 minutes long.

As a huge fan of the show, I saw the Aqua Teen movie in theaters. At the time I was somewhat disappointed, but like most of the episodes, the second or third viewing is better. If you are a fan of the show and didn’t like it the first time, try it again. On the other hand if you don’t like the show don’t even bother, its not going to win you over.

One of the things that make it not really work, in my opinion, is its like the first 2 episodes (which I'm not a big fan of.) The Aqua Teens actually have a mission to do, or go trying to solve something. I know the original point of the show is they are crime solvers but the show works a lot better as them just sitting around and having things happen to them. Since the movie starts with them doing nothing really, its pretty good, The second half however when they go looking for things its starts to slow.

The film is funny, it’s just wasn’t as good as the show, but if you are into the show its worth watching,

8/10

Accepted (2006)

Accepted (2006)

5 word summary

College rejects start fake college

After being rejected from every college Bartleby decides to make a fake college to fool his family. A problem with the fake website lets everyone and anyone get enrolled in the college. When everyone starts showing up for their first day of school Bartleby decides to go with it and run his college in a new way.

To start off Accepted is very funny and its also much different then many college comedies. Most college comedies tend to make the whole film about sex and drugs. This film has a point that it sticks to, its fun, but it doesn’t loose track of its moral. It shows how messed up the college system is. How students pay their tuition and take the classes they have to, not the classes they want to. Fraternities treat people terribly, students get stressed, and how everything is a race and it doesn’t pay off for everyone. Many of the points are made while showing Bartleby walking threw the colleges. Other points are made by Lewis Black during his rants.

Justin Long’s performance is one of his best. He is really funny and sarcastic in a way he isn’t in most roles. Lewis Black, though his performance is the same as his stand up, is hilarious and is an important part of the film. Jonah Hill has the best role in the film, he’s hilarious and possibly the funniest he has ever been, even close to Superbad. Almost all the really funny lines come from him and without him the film wouldn’t have been as good

It’s a good, new style of college comedy that was needed to freshen up the otherwise clichéd and predictable genre. A lot of cheap laughs but still a pretty smart comedy.

8/10

All the Presidents Men (1977)

All the Presidents Men (1977)

5 word summary

Reporters help uncover Watergate scandal

This film is a history lesson put in a much more entertaining way than any teacher could. Really it doesn’t seem like the film should be entertaining even while watching it, but it just flows so nicely. The pace never really slows, it just stays interesting, almost like it’s a thriller more than a drama.

When you put 2 of the greatest actors in film history together with such a well written script and a director that can get such great emotion and performances out of scripts and actors such as in this or Sophie’s Choice its not really a surprise

It won 4 Oscars that year, however I almost feel It was cheated. Personally, I think All the Presidents Men is a better film than Rocky and should have also taken best picture. Then again I like Network more than Rocky and Taxi Driver more than all of them, so really it wasn’t a great year for the Osacars. I also feel it deserved Best Director over Rocky as well.

This is one of the few movies that are based on a true story that are better because its true. Anyone who wants a entertaining history lesson, and anyone who likes Dustin Hoffman or Robert Redford should watch this film. It is one of the best films ever made. It’s very informative and very entertaining which isn’t very common in the film world.

10/10

The Animal (2001)

The Animal (2001)

5 word summary

Loser cop gets animal power

Now I don’t wanna sit here and lie and say this is a good movie, because its not, and it deserves the low ratings that it has. However, it does have some cheap fun laughs such as the reverse racism, and sniffing peoples butts, and John C McGinley. And if you’re young like I was when I first saw it, or drunk you probably will find some humor in it. If you are looking for a good movie look elsewhere.

If you like Rob Schneider films such as Deuce Bigalow, The Hot Chick, Benchwarmers, then most likely you will enjoy this film, if you hated those films you will definitely hate this one because it is probably the worst out of those four.

So again it does have some good, cheap jokes and is humorous at times as long as you can look past the bad acting. Have a few beers and perhaps you will enjoy it.

7/10

One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest (1975)

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (1975)

Truly one of the greatest films ever made.

Jack Nicholson is put into a mental institute when he pretends to be insane to get out of going to prison. While there he uses the patients to help him pass the time. he plays cards and basketball and kind of tries helps them more than the nursing staff does. While hes there we wonder “is he really crazy?” or would we all act like that in his situation?

Nicholson seemingly wants to be a hero to these people, he wants them to like him so that he can change things, however making “crazy” people change their routine isn’t easy. Really I don’t feel like he really ever was a hero to anyone he just got desperate and more and more depressing. The more he tried to help his fellow patients the more he was driven mad.

One issue I have with the film, well not really with the film but the way people have received it is how Nurse Ratched is played off as the bad guy. In my opinion she did her job and in no way was overly strict or mean or anything like that at all. She seemed to do her best to keep order and did it the way it should be done. Really Nicholson’s character is the bad guy in my opinion. He tried to throw everything off and in a way made the patients worse, by throwing off their routine

Jack Nicholson’s performance is, in my opinion, his best ever. It was a role I don’t think anyone else could do as good and a role I can’t see him ever being able to top. As the say, he was born to play it. Danny Devito also did a great job, though a very small role I think he did fantastic, as well did most of the patients, and Louise Fletcher in the role of the Nurse Ratched

This film really did deserve the 5 Oscars it got that year. Personally I also would have given it cinematography over Barry Lyndon.

Forman got seemingly everything out of all the actors and had everything go right. It was some of the best directing in film history.

The film is at times funny, at times sad, at times tense, it has everything that makes up a good drama. It should continue to be watched and enjoyed for years and years.

10/10

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

5 word summary

Friends travel time for history

To give the good news first, the film is a fun adventure comedy, unfortunately it is also an annoying adventure comedy as well.

When I was younger I remember enjoying this movie and so I watched it again recently and didn’t realize how bad it was. With the obvious time travel paradoxes aside, since they come with any time travel movie, the film has just too many problems. Bad acting, that are shared with bad writing to make the acting seem even worse, lame directing and lame attempt to sneak in a history lesson, that I'm guessing is missed by most viewers.

It is at times funny, I wont deny that, however the main characters are overwhelmingly annoying that its hard to care about the funniness. One example is how Bill and Ted always speak together, saying the same thing. Here and there would be okay but they really over did it.

The film is watchable, you just really have to be in the mood, or have enjoyed it since the 80s.

6/10

Across the Universe (2007)

Across the Universe (2007)

One of the best musicals in decades. The story by itself even without the songs would have been a great love story, but when you add songs by the Beatles it turns from great to fantastic.

At times the film gets a little weird, but at times the Beatles get really weird so its excusable. There’s really no bad I can talk about the film besides that. The acting was great, the singing, the writing, the directing, everything worked well together. Its powerful and beautiful and deserves more attention.

One thing I was worried about going in that they were gonna cheapen some of the songs. Usually I don’t think anyone else should ever touch a Beatles song, because usually they’re already perfect. However, they really stayed true to the songs, yet still made them their own

Anyone who enjoys musicals, and more so, anyone who enjoys the Beatles, should really love this film.

9/10

Ghost and the Darkness (1996)

Ghost and the Darkness (1996)

5 word summary

Man-eating Lions Terrorize African village

The Ghost and the Darkness is very interesting movie. It’s based on a true story, but really who ever knows how much of that story is true. The story of 2 lions attacking the workers of a rail road and the hunt for those lions by Patterson are both known true and not necessarily that exciting. However, how clever and seemingly hell bent on killing Patterson and the other men the lions are almost brings this movie into a Horror genre than just the adventure/thriller.

Director Stephen Hopkins did a very good job at building tension and really making this a heart pounding thriller. The problem however with the film, and what knocked down the rating for me, was the acting. Val Kilmer, who can be good, and Michael Douglas, who can be amazing, both had mediocre performances at best. Kilmer didn’t seem to care about the film or his character. Douglas almost over acted but it still was poor.

With the acting aside it was a very enjoyable film. A real thrill ride. Its one of the best films I’ve seen about killer animals, besides Jaws of course. The fact that it’s “based on a true story” brings a sense of terror not usually accompanied with similar films.

Like I said its no Jaws, but it’s better than Anaconda

8/10

All About the Benjamins (2002)

All About the Benjamins (2002)

5 word summary

Enemies team up against criminal

A cool film. Ice Cube plays a similar character that he does in most of his films, the hard ass smart ass, but it works well with his role. Mike Epps also plays about the same as usual, but it also works really well. They both have pretty good comedic performances which along side the action directing makes a decent/ tolerable action comedy.

Its not a fantastic film by any means, and though I said they had good comedic performances, the acting wasn’t that great. Personally I think Eva Mendes and Tommy Flannigan acted better, but they still weren’t at their best. The directing and writing is also nothing special, it works here, but that’s about all you can say about it

All about the Benjamins is a pretty average and predictable action comedy but it was fun and funny. If you are a fan of Next Friday and Friday After Next, you will probably enjoy this “fourth installment.” It’s very similar in style and definitely similar performances by Cube and Epps.

7/10

The Killing (1956)

The Killing (1956)

5 word summary

Crooks plan on robbing racetrack

a Film-Noir thriller brought to us by Stanley Kubrick, and personally my favorite of his films. It’s a different style film than a lot of or his later movies. Its not really in the same style as like Clockwork, Full Metal Jacket, Paths of Glory, and so on.

the Killing is dark in more than one way. It obviously shows the darkness of humans, as most Kubrick films do and as well as most film-noir. The cinematography also is very dark. It is similar to that of a black and white Godfather, just a minimum of light, from a lamp or whatever.

As always Kubrick’s directing is fantastic. I don’t have anything bad to say about it. Just everything is straight to the point but doesn’t seem forced. Everything works great together, the dialogue, acting, music, and cinematography makes it a really beautiful film.

****spoilers****

Once the plan is in motion and all the characters are doing their job the film starts getting pretty tense. Everything starts to go wrong, like the guy with the rifle has to deal with the man working the parking lot, and gets shot. After they finally get away and Clay has to leave with the money it seems like the film still has quite a bit left. It doesn’t seem like we can conclude anything anytime soon. Then when the money spills onto the runway your heart stops, you feel like Clay standing there watching. He can’t do anything. We just feel shocked and have to walk away.

Nothing accomplished, but everything lost.

****end spoilers****

So I don’t really have that much to say about it other than how wonderful everything is.

The film should be enjoyed by everyone, especially Kubrick fans and film noir fans

Children of the Corn (1984)

Children of the Corn (1984)

5 word summary

Murderous children take over town

When I started the film I was interested. Children that kill people are great tools for horror movies in my opinion. Exorcist, The Omen, Pet Sematary, etc. Children of the Corn started off seemingly the same. The kids kill all of the adults and live in the cornfield and so on. A couple show up and try to save the kids that are “non believers.” For a little bit, after maybe 15-20 minutes it gets a little slow but I live through it. Then it gets alittle more interesting with the whole religion thing. Showing how all the kids are just crazy religious folks who do what their leader says, showing how dangerous religion is… and then it happens…

****spoilers****

The movie goes from this good slasher/horror like film about killer kids and then it just throws all that good stuff out the window with some weird supernatural **** that in my opinion ruined the movie. Weird static ball things that crawl through the ground and explode the cross and whatnot… then kills the leader but brings him back all zombie looking. I don’t know it just seemed like the writer just gave up and needed something to finish the story quick and threw in something dumb and crazy.

It turned it from a unlikely but possible scary story to something dumb and supernatural. It would have worked with it being supernatural the whole time or not at all, don’t just add it at the end, it seems lazy.

****end spoilers****

in the end i guess it is a new horror classic and probably has been quite influential to the genre, i just have a problem with how they ended it, which ruined the earlier parts i did like.

I wouldn’t really recommend this film to anyone unless you really enjoy horror films or have heard of it and you’re curious. Or I guess if you really like Stephen King’s horror books or movies, I just feel it wasn’t his best. I wouldn’t go out of my way to see it.

5/10

Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)

Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)

5 word summary

Aliens turn zombies against humans

I don’t understand how this movie got so popular. It’s not good and its not that bad. I watched this expecting a terrible film that I would sit and laugh at, but really I just sat back and watched it. I didn’t enjoy it but I didn’t think it was as miserable as everyone has said. I found old horror films like Attack of the Giant Leeches or The Creeping Terror much worse and much more deserving of criticism. The directing and acting is no worse in Plan 9 than most of the other low budget horror/ sci-fi films of the time that I’ve seen, I'm just confused as to why this one got the spotlight

Directing, acting, writing etc, all are tolerable but it’s just not bad enough or good enough to really enjoy that much. It’s a little boring, but really, as I mentioned, it is tolerable.

I wouldn’t recommend this film to anyone unless you are a big Ed Wood fan or you just want to see what all the fuss is about.

5/10

Joe Dirt (2001)

Joe Dirt (2001)

5 word summary

White trash searches for parents

Kind of a hard movie to rate, because it really isn’t that good but I do enjoy it. It’s a dumb adventure comedy but it is funny. David Spade isn’t a great actor but he as comedic actions. Much like other of his movies (Tommy Boy, Dickie Roberts, Benchwarmers, Black Sheep) his performance isn’t believable or well done but its usually funny enough to look past.

It has some fun cameos and decent supporting cast, and some pretty hilarious lines and scenes. Christopher Walken was hilarious and almost more memorable than David Spade.

It stays pretty constant all the way through, it has a bit of a drop off towards the end but other than that. So if you start watching it and after 15 minutes you don’t think its funny, I think its safe to say you can turn it off, cause it’s the same kind of comedy the whole way.

If you are a fan of David Spades work this is a decent one that you will most likely enjoy this. The comedy and style of Joe Dirt is closer to that of Benchwarmers and Dickie Roberts than Tommy Boy and Black Sheep.

7/10