"Ferris Bueller, you're my hero."

Strive to be like Ferris Bueller

“How could I be expected to handle school on a day like today?”

One of my heroes from childhood has got to be Ferris Bueller. A kid who fakes being sick so he can have the most outrageous day off in the history of days off. How many times have you faked being sick so you could have a day off? I’m willing to bet that anyone reading this has done it at least once. But more importantly, what did you do with that day off? Ferris Bueller’s answer to that question is what makes him so cool.

“The question isn’t ‘what are we going to do,’ the question is ‘what aren’t we going to do?’”

In one day Ferris did more than most of us do in a month. Actually, he does a few things none of us will ever do. Why is that? Well maybe it’s because your best friend’s dad doesn’t own a 1961 Ferrari 250GT California. But what does your best friend’s dad own? Maybe you should think about taking it for a spin.

“A: You can never go too far. B: If I’m gonna get busted, it is *not* gonna be by a guy like *that*.”

How far are you willing to go? Ferris was willing to be the Sausage King of Chicago just to get a free lunch at a restaurant he would never get into otherwise. Ferris doesn’t let a little thing like not being the Sausage King of Chicago stop him. As far as Ferris is concerned, it’s not who you are, it’s who you want to be. Who do you want to be? Are you gonna let a guy like *that* stop you?

“Never had one lesson.”

Ferris plays the clarinet. He’s never been told how to play the clarinet and probably doesn’t play the clarinet in band class. He plays the clarinet because he wants to. It makes him happy. The horrible, squeaky notes (if you can call them notes) are music to his ears. What’s your clarinet? Why aren’t you playing it?

“I asked for a car, I got a computer. How’s that for being born under a bad sign?”

Ferris’ life isn’t all roses, you know? It’s not like life is perfect for him and that’s how he manages to have such a carefree life. Ferris has problems, like the rest of us. But Ferris doesn’t let those problems get in his way. On the contrary, he uses those problems to his advantage. What are your problems? Can you use your problem to improve your situation? Ferris did. Nine times.

“You’re not dying. You just can’t think of anything good to do.”

Ferris understands that boredom is our own making. And boredom leads to sickness. And sickness leads to fear. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate…wait a minute. Wrong movie. Scratch that. The point is, Ferris understands that the cure for just about anything is a good day off. Not just a day of not working or not going to school. But a day filled with Ferraris and art museums and fancy restaurants and baseball and clarinets. Maybe you’re not really sick. Maybe you just need to sing ‘Danke Schon’ in the annual von Steuben Parade.

“Live moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

"I admire its purity."

Where have all the good suspense movies gone?

A couple weeks ago I watched Alien again. As far as I’m concerned it is the quintessential suspense movie. Ridley Scott practically defined terror through suspense in his heart-stopping film about a terrifically evil Alien. And although the title character is the basis for the film, it only gets about a minute of actual screen time. When you compare this with today’s so-called ‘suspense’ films, well, there really is no comparison.

I have to agree with Alfred Hitchcock in that there is a distinct difference between ‘suspense’ and ‘surprise’. And I would also agree that most films continually confuse the two. Hitchcock uses the bomb analogy. Suppose two characters are having an innocent chat at a table. And suppose there is a bomb under the table, but neither the characters, nor the audience are aware of it. Nothing happens, and then all of a sudden ‘BOOM!’ The table explodes, the audiences screams, surprise is achieved.

Now let’s go back to the same situation but this time let’s tell the audience that the bomb is there. Perhaps the audience saw the bad guy place it there. And let’s allow the audience to see that the bomb is set to detonate at 1:00pm and let’s put a clock on the table. Now show the audience the same scene with the clock showing 12:45pm. That’s suspense.

The key is in having the audience become active participants in what is about to happen. They yell at the screen, telling the characters to stop talking about such trivial things, for there is a bomb under the table! And if the director is really good, like Ridley Scott, that bomb can go off and the audience will still be shocked and surprised, even though they knew it was coming.

Think of the air vent scene in Alien. We know the alien is in there. We’re even given a motion sensor showing the alien’s progress toward Dallas, the unfortunate crew member searching the air vent. Other characters are yelling that the alien is there. We know it’s coming. And yet when the moment happens, it’s pure terror. Why? I have a theory.

The unique concept of the Alien is that we really have no idea what it is. We hardly even know what it looks like. Granted, recent Alien films have shown us exactly what the alien looks like and how it acts. But when all we had was the first film, all we knew was that there was an alien…and that was about it. Ridley Scott knew what Franklin Delano Roosevelt knew – the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. The most terrifying part of a movie is terror itself. All Ridley Scott did was give us something to be terrified of, then he promptly hid it, rarely revealed it and never gave us any details into the motivations or workings of the alien. The rest was up to us and our own minds.

Most of my friends will tell you I’m not a big fan of horror films. It’s not that they scare me, it’s that they don’t scare me. They bore me. Sure, they probably have great moments of surprise and shock, but nothing has ever really lived up to the standard set by Alien. Granted, that could have a lot to do with my age at the time.

I first saw Alien when I was 10 or 11 years old. I was visiting family in Ontario and while staying at my Grandpa’s house I slept on the couch in the basement. This was totally cool for me because the couch was right in front of the TV and after everyone had gone to bed I could stay up late watching television. What a rebel I was!

One of the shows I discovered during my late night viewing was Alien. I had never seen it before then, although I had certainly heard about it. I caught the movie about half way through, right when Dallas is making his ill-fated journey into the air vents. Needless to say, I was scared silly. But I could not turn it off. I even had recurring Alien nightmares. But every time it was on TV I just had to watch. It terrified me and it was fantastic.

Sadly, the initial terror has long since worn off and I no longer have nightmares about aliens. But if I could go back in time and watch it again for the first time I would be overjoyed. Terrified, but overjoyed.

So the combination of innocent youth and the scariest suspense film ever created, in my opinion, were enough to effectively spoil my appreciation for any other movie claiming to be ‘suspenseful’ or ‘terrifying’. There just hasn’t been another movie like Alien. And sometimes I despair there never will be.

For now, I’ll just have to take pleasure in watching other people view it for the first time. Oh man, I can’t wait until I have kids.

In space, no one can hear you scream. But you can still read 'Alien' trivia.

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..."

This past Saturday was the date of the Ultimate Star Wars Ridiculathon 2006. Me and four good friends sat down at 9:00am and proceeded to watch all six Star Wars films, in chronological order. That’s right campers, over 13 hours of Star Wars! As I’m sure you can imagine, it was fantastic!

"The boy is dangerous. They all sense it, why can't you?"

With ample snacks and drink at hand we began with Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Obviously the prequel trilogy does not compare to the original films, but I liked this first instalment. The pod race scene is one of my favourites, especially since it looks and sounds so amazing. Jake Lloyd’s acting is pretty forced in most of the scenes and the use of CG effects is rampant. But in the end it was a great way to start the day and we all were looking forward to Episode II.

"Why do I get the feeling you're going to be the death of me?"

Of all the Star Wars films Episode II: Attack of the Clones is my least favourite. This one really looks like a cartoon. Way too many CG effects. And the relationship between Padme and Anakin really feels forced and cliché. After watching the rest of the films I can appreciate the events and emotions that Lucas is trying to set up, but it all feels too corny. Don’t get me wrong, it was great to watch. But I won’t lie and say it wasn’t good to have it out of the way either.

"It was you who would bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness!"

After a quick lunch, and the first barbecue of the year, we started up Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. This is definitely the best of the three prequels and really does a great job of setting up Darth Vader’s character. I was impressed with Anakin and could easily believe he would turn into the Dark Lord we’re so amazed with in Empire and Return of the Jedi. It’s a successful setup of the next three films, which is critical given their popularity and importance.

"I'm Luke Skywalker. I'm here to rescue you!"

Episode IV: A New Hope. This is where it all began and it was very interesting to watch it again in the context of Episodes I, II and III. Obi-Wan and Darth Vader really benefit from the back-story of the prequels. Several moments even made more sense than they did before. It’s totally believable that Vader would hop into a TIE-fighter and take on the Rebel attackers. One thing we learned from the first three films is that Anakin was not only a great pilot, but he loved it too. It was moments like these that made the day so enjoyable. And it only got better.

"Impressive. Most impressive."

We decided to skip dinner, thanks to copious amounts of snack food already consumed, and launched right into Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. My personal favourite of all the Star Wars films, Empire was better than ever. Darth Vader’s evil moments were that much more intense with memories of Anakin’s turn to the dark side only hours earlier in the day. His obsession with Luke was more understandable as well as his devotion and obedience to the Emperor. We also all agreed that Yoda was no longer playing with a full deck after spending so many years in exile on Dagobah. And the banter among the characters was as good as it got in any of the films.

"I am a Jedi, like my father before me."

By now it was 11:00 at night and we were ready for the final chapter, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Oddly enough, I had always thought of the title as referring to Luke alone. As in, the Return of one Jedi named Luke. Having watched the destruction of the Jedi in Episode III it suddenly occurred to me that the Jedi in Episode VI was much more ‘global’. Return of the Jedi Order is what is implied and it was an incredible concept given that we had just watched the Jedi get wiped out by Vader and the Emperor. Luke fulfils the prophecy and finally brings balance to the force. The final climactic battle was that much more intense as we had experienced the entire saga from beginning to end in one sitting.

We ended the day at 1:00am, right on schedule. I had expected it to be a really long day but it actually went a lot faster than I thought. Certainly much faster than the Lord of the Rings Extended Ridiculathon, which is actually shorter in terms of movie length. We all had a great time and my own appreciation for the Star Wars saga grew to new heights.

So, many thanks and congratulations to Vince, Dave, Scott and Brian for surviving the day! Vince, your shrimp-ring defrosting powers are weak. Dave, thanks for bringing a fine collection of memorabilia. Scott, tell Megan I'm sorry that you now have to spend all your money on a surround sound system. And Brian, I don't like sand either. An honourable mention goes to Anne and Helen for bringing even more delicious snacks. And last, but certainly not least, a big honourable mention goes to my wife, Shauna, who not only encouraged me to have a Star Wars marathon, but let us watch them ridiculously loud as well. Thanks angel!

Now I can start planning the next Ridiculathon. Will it be Lord of the Rings again? Perhaps Indiana Jones or The Matrix? So many wonderful choices. I love movies.

"It's like looking in a mirror...only...not."

A Few of my Favourite Movie Scenes

In recalling some of my favourite movie moments, I came to realize that they all follow a similar theme – expression. The look on the character’s face during a specific moment. A talented actor in a well directed scene can convey more meaning in a single look than others can with a page of dialogue. The downside of trying to blog about those kinds of movie scenes is that most, if not all of them are scenes that really need to be seen (scene?) in order to be fully appreciated. The upshot of trying to blog about favourite movie scenes, or anything for that matter, is that I can do whatever I want in my own blog. I’m mad with power! Mwahahaha! Hopefully you recognize a few of these fantastic moments and appreciate them as much as I do.

There is a scene in The Count of Monte Cristo when Mercedes looks across a crowded ballroom to meet the Count, whom she immediately recognizes as Edmond – a man she thought to be dead for over 13 years. The look on Mercedes face is priceless and is even more powerful given that everyone else in the film has no idea who the Count really is. He has become so different from Edmond that only his true love could possibly know his true identity. Very moving.

My favourite Face/Off scene has to be the moment when Sean Archer (Nicholas Cage), disguised as Castor Troy, is waiting to be released from Erewhon Prison and in walks Castor Troy (John Travolta), disguised as Sean Archer. The look on the real Archer’s face as he begins to realize the horrific truth that Castor is alive and free is incredible. Not to mention Travolta’s wicked smile at the knowledge that he’s now holding all the cards. The “what a predicament” scene is also pretty high on my list.


My favourite moment in The Fellowship of the Ring is when Frodo stands up during the argument at the council of Elrond and exclaims that he will take the ring to Mordor. I love the look on Gandalf’s face as he turns to Frodo, both proud and terrified of his friend’s decision. Ian McKellen is a genius.



There is a subtle moment, during a very un-subtle scene in The Two Towers, when Grima Wormtongue is listening to Saruman’s war speech. Saruman reveals a vast army of Urak Hai, ten thousand strong. The sight of this force, bred solely for the destruction of mankind, brings a single tear to Grima’s eye. It’s a fascinating dichotomy that is easily missed unless you’re really paying attention. And yes, I just used the word ‘dichotomy’ in my blog. I told you I was mad with power.

The Return of the King takes about half an hour to wrap up, which a lot of people complained about, but I found it to be the perfect way to end a 10 hour saga. After Aragorn’s coronation he walks among the thousands of spectators and soldiers and comes across his four hobbit companions who bow out of respect for their new king. Aragorn immediately stops them saying “My friends, you bow to no one.” I think I missed what happens next because some dust must have got in my eye and I was busy trying to wipe away the resulting moisture. Sniff…

It would be easy to pick just about every scene Tom Hanks is in, in every movie he’s ever made. One that comes to mind at the moment is a scene in Cast Away. Hanks’ character has been on the island for four years already when we watch a scene with him eating some fish. It’s a beautiful, tropical island with an incredible ocean view and Hanks sits with his back to the sea, staring at nothing as he mechanically consumes his meal. He seems completely unaware of everything around him, even the raw fish he’s eating. It’s a look of desperation that has long since faded to utter hopelessness.

I could probably fill several pages with my favourite movie moments, but there’s just a few for you. It fascinates me to realize just how powerful a movie can be. And it’s incredible that some actors can convey such a wide spectrum of emotion with a simple look. It’s another reason why I love movies.
Leave a comment and share some of your favourite movie moments. I’d love to hear them!

"Your produce alone has been worth the trip." (Review)

Several years ago I thought of an idea for an invention – a machine that could erase specific memories. Now I know this certainly isn’t a new concept and I’m sure many people have had the same idea long before I did, but my idea for the “memory erasing” machine was born out of a love of movies. There are countless applications for such a device, but again my idea was very specific – what if we could erase the memory of a great movie, just so we could enjoy watching it again for the first time? Don’t tell my wife but I would take out a couple of extra mortgages on the house just to afford such a machine.

Being able to watch the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars trilogies again, without any knowledge of how they turn out, would be amazing. Or imagine watching something like Fight Club or The Sixth Sense again without knowing anything about the surprise endings. And I would personally take great joy in being able to erase my memory of Fantastic Four. Not so I could watch it again but so I could stop thinking about those two hours of my life I wasted. Of course, a number of questions are raised when thinking about a device with that kind of capability. First and foremost in my mind is ‘would I still enjoy Star Wars if I saw it today without any memory of the history of growing up with it as part of my life?’ But then the whole issue becomes too philosophical for my tastes. I just want to experience the excitement and newness of a great movie again and again and again.

Fortunately I have a poor memory as it is. Usually I remember quite a bit about certain movies – dialogue, music, specific scenes and frames. But sometimes I’ll watch a fantastic movie and then forget just how great it really was. That was the case with K-Pax. I had the chance to watch it again this weekend and I couldn’t help thinking ‘boy, this is way better than I remember it!’ It’s times like those when I realize the potential for my invention. It’s the 21st century already! How much longer do I have to wait?

Kevin Spacey stars as Prot, a human claiming to be from another planet, K-Pax. Apparently showing up out of nowhere Prot soon finds himself in a mental institution where Dr. Mark Powell (Jeff Bridges) attempts to discover the truth of Prot’s origins. What seems like a simple case of delusion soon becomes much more complex as Dr. Powell begins to doubt his own diagnosis, claiming that Prot is “the most convincing delusional” he’s ever met. Is Prot really from K-Pax? The short answer is...maybe.

Kevin Spacey is one of my favourite actors and it’s roles like this one that make him so enjoyable to watch. His performance is brilliant, perfectly portraying a character that will keep you guessing all the way to the end. There are several scenes involving hypnotism where Dr. Powell regresses Prot in an attempt to learn about his past. Kevin Spacey really shines in these moments as he manages to truly convince you that Prot is reliving his youth while still maintaining his conviction about being from another planet. It’s very impressive.

Jeff Bridges does a fantastic job as well. Doctors in films, especially psychiatrists, seem to be interested in only one thing – proving they are right. They figure they already know the truth, they just need to convince the patient of it. Although Dr. Powell is obviously sceptical of Prot’s origins, he seems genuinely interested in discovering the actual truth. It’s refreshing to see Dr. Powell question himself as he questions Prot. The relationship between Prot and Powell is engaging and uplifting to watch, and that’s a credit to both of these wonderful actors.

Watching K-Pax, you’ll find yourself asking questions and continually changing your mind about who Prot really is. It’s this aspect that makes the film great. Nothing is cut and dry here. In one scene you will have convinced yourself that Prot is truly human, suffering from delusions following some kind of trauma, only to have Prot himself convince you he really is from K-Pax in the next scene. I’m sure there are some great parallels to beliefs and Christianity that could be drawn from K-Pax, but it’s Monday morning and I don’t think my brain is that active yet.

The Collector’s Edition DVD looks and sounds great, but since K-Pax is largely dialogue driven there isn’t much here to really shout about. The colors are crisp and clean, in some scenes almost bordering on High Definition. K-Pax is presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic video and all my loyal blog-readers understand what that means. Right class? A DTS track is also included, and again, blog-readers can join me in a resounding “huzzah!”, knowing full well that DTS is where it’s at. Bonus features include an alternate ending, deleted scenes, audio commentary, making-of featurette, storyboards, production photographs, and a trailer. Not too shabby for a single-disc release.

If you’re a Kevin Spacey fan I can almost guarantee you’ll enjoy K-Pax. Of course, if you’re a real Kevin Spacey fan I can almost guarantee you’ve already seen K-Pax. Well, if you haven’t seen it you really need to check it out. You won’t be disappointed. And if you have seen it, well, maybe you should watch it again. Chances are you’ve forgotten just how good it really is.

K-Pax gets 8 ½ binary sunrises (out of 10).

Catch a beam of light and click here for ‘K-Pax’ trivia.

"We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented."

My enjoyment of motion pictures can often be directly correlated to the emotional response that film elicits from my own person. That is, I like movies because of how they make me feel.

There are so many factors involved when deciding whether a certain movie was “good” or not. I’m sure all of you can think of at least one movie you really like that most other people really didn’t like. I can think of several dozen. The point is that movie preferences are very personal. It’s like music, clothing, books or art – everyone has different tastes. Which begs the question, why is so much value placed on movie reviews? I don’t really have the time or desire to try and answer that question. In the end, all that really matters is my opinion. (Please note use of sarcastic humor.)

The Truman Show makes me feel really good. Wait, scratch those last two words. It doesn’t only make me feel good. It makes me feel excited, proud, awed, intrigued (is intrigue an emotion?), sad and even a little angry. A few days ago I watched Ladder 49. The thing I liked most about that film was the same thing – the way it made me feel. Maybe I’m getting sentimental now that I’m officially into my late, late twenties (read: 30), but I’ve noticed I get a lot more out of movies than I used to. It’s no longer about the visual effects and thumping soundtrack and huge explosions. Ok, it’s not just about the visual effects and thumping soundtrack and huge explosions. I find myself getting more wrapped up in the characters and settings. And with a movie like The Truman Show, it’s all about the characters and the setting.

I love the concept of The Truman Show. Create a fake world, with fake people and fake events and drop a real person into the middle of it. But don’t tell the real person that everything is fake. Oh yeah, and place thousands of cameras around the fake world so the real world can watch everything the real guy is doing. I’m sure there are way better ways to explain the plot of this film, but you get the idea. Jim Carrey stars as Truman Burbank, the only true man.

This is another of Jim Carrey’s attempts to deliver a more serious performance. While The Truman Show is still quite funny, it’s certainly not as over-the-top as Ace Ventura or Dumb & Dumber. Carrey manages to pull off several pretty dramatic scenes and shows that he can be a serious actor. One of my favourite movie moments is the scene where he starts to realize that the world actually does revolve around him. He stops traffic and everything around him with outstretched hands. The music and mood during this scene is definitely one of those “feely” moments. I love it!

If you’re a Jim Carrey fan and you like a unique story, check out The Truman Show. Ed Harris also stars and received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in this film. Well worth a look.

‘The Truman Show’ trivia, live, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

"Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn't one today."

For the past few days I have been hopelessly addicted to ‘24’. I saw the last five or six episodes of Season Four a while back and when Shauna and I saw the first three seasons on DVD for a really great price, we couldn’t resist. Well, I couldn’t resist. As such, I haven’t been watching nearly as many movies as I would like. But here’s a brief look at what I have been watching.

I really liked Ladder 49 the first time I saw it, but it would have been difficult to put my finger on what it was that impressed me so much. After watching it for a second time I think I have it figured out. Aside from having spectacular visuals of some incredible fires, the film is an emotional roller coaster that takes the viewer through virtually every mountain and valley of Jack Morrison’s life as a firefighter, husband, father and friend. The thing I enjoyed most about this film was the way I reacted to each of Jack’s situations. I was excited and thrilled as he fought his first fire. I laughed and smiled when he met his future wife and hung out at the pub with his closest friends. I cheered when he saved a man’s life. I felt sorrow, joy, heartache, elation, frustration, pride, anger, delight, fear and regret. Some have argued that the film has no plot. First of all, there is a very distinct plot - it just happens to be segmented between numerous flashbacks of Jack’s life. And second of all, the purpose of the film is to show that life, Jack's struggles and victories. Ladder 49 was intended to be a celebration of the life of a firefighter and I think it accomplishes that exceptionally well. It certainly belongs right beside Backdraft as one of the quintessential ‘fire’ movies.

Anyone with a fascination for World War II, and that’s most of us, would appreciate Memphis Belle. Based on the true story of a B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ that flew 25 missions during the war, Memphis Belle portrays the final mission of the aircraft and her crew. The film was released in 1990 and seems to have suffered during the transfer to DVD. The video quality is a bit grainy in areas and certainly doesn’t have the nice crisp picture quality we’ve come to expect from today’s new releases. There were also a couple of scenes where I felt the acting was forced, but ultimately my fondness for this movie has little to do with any of these things. The story itself is enough to keep you entertained. The characters are diverse and much of the enjoyment comes from watching them interact with each other. It’s another one of those bizarre family bonds that can only form during the harshness of war. Sean Astin, Matthew Modine, Harry Connick Jr., Billy Zane, Eric Stoltz, Tate Donovan, David Strathairn and John Lithgow make for a remarkably star studded cast, though most of these actors didn’t become ‘big’ until years later. Memphis Belle is definitely worth a look.

My single most favourite comedy of all time has to be Groundhog Day. Which is ironic since I don’t think Groundhog Day is the funniest movie I’ve ever seen. I just love the concept of the film and Bill Murray’s performance is one of his best. For the three people out there who haven’t seen this gem yet, let me fill you in. Phil Connors (Murray) is a self centered weather man who is sent to Punxsatawny, Pennsilvania to film the annual Groundhog Day festival. His new producer Rita (Andie MacDowell) and cameraman Larry (Chris Elliot) accompany him. Phil’s alarm clock goes off at 6:00am, he does his report then immediately heads back home. Unfortunately, a blizzard prevents them from leaving and Phil must spend the rest of the day in Punxsatawny. The next morning his alarm goes off at 6:00am and Phil discovers that Groundhog Day is repeating itself. The exact same day continues to recur over and over, with Phil the only one aware. Imagine what you might do if you had the exact same day to relive countless times. Consider the possibilities available to you, knowing exactly what everyone was going to say and do, exactly when everything was going to happen. Groundhog Day does a remarkable job of taking us through virtually every one of those possibilities. It also raises countless philosophical questions, but that’s a blog for another day.

What do you get when you mix the sequel to an action blockbuster, director John Woo (Face/Off, Broken Arrow, Windtalkers) and mega-superstar Tom Cruise? You get a movie with a so-so plot and tons of incredible stunts, thrilling action scenes, really big explosions and stunning cinematography. Mission: Impossible 2 is supposed to be an action-filled thrill ride and that’s exactly what it is. Is it complex, deeply thematic and rife with drama and tension? No. Is it meant to be? Absolutely not. This is not a realistic depiction of spy work. But it is the kind of spy work that is incredibly entertaining and ultra-cool. If you want realism, turn on the news (and even then, good luck). If you want pure entertainment and thrill-a-minute action, turn on Mission: Impossible 2. If you happen to turn on the DVD with a good TV and home theatre system you’ll be even more impressed with the beautiful picture and amazing sound. This is a great flick!

Raising Arizona is probably one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Which is ironic since it’s not my most favourite comedy of all time. One of the Coen brothers’ first films, Raising Arizona is the story of H.I. and Edwina McDunnough and their simple desire to raise a child of their own. I’m not going to give any more details about the plot. The real humour of the film is in the dialogue and over-the-top chase scenes. If you’re familiar with the Coen Brothers you already know that this is no ordinary comedy. The characters are unlike any you’ve seen before and their actions and reactions are pure hilarity. Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter are arguably at their best in Raising Arizona. This is a comedy classic that is definitely a must-see.

Sound the alarm and click here for ‘Ladder 49’ trivia.
Bombs away! ‘Memphis Belle’ trivia is on target here.
I definitely see a shadow. Six more weeks of ‘Groundhog Day’ trivia.
‘Mission: Impossible 2’ trivia will self-destruct in 5 minutes.
Turn to the left and click here for ‘Raising Arizona’ trivia.

I used to think that was good?!?

For those of you who like to keep tabs on my DVD collection and Wishlist (and I know you all do!), you'll notice that Batman Forever is currently on that latter list. I used to own it on VHS and can remember watching it numerous times. As it turns out, I think I was either suffering from a mental condition or I was sniffing glue. Industrial strength glue. The kind they use on the space shuttle. Er...yeah.

I just happened to catch the first 10 minutes of Batman Forever on TV this evening and I can't believe how corny and ridiculous that movie really is. Especially since I have such fond memories of it. (Did I just end two sentences in a row with a preposition?) I guess I appreciated Jim Carrey's humor. And let's be honest, how can you go wrong with Nicole Kidman? But ultimately, this is just bad writing, worse set design and terrible everything else. I submit exhibit A, the opening lines of the film:

(As Batman prepares to enter the ridiculous Batmobile and save the world)
Alfred: Can I persuade you to take a sandwich, sir?
Batman: I'll get drive-thru.

I would submit exhibits B through Z, but I think it might make my blog explode.

Sorry 'Batman Forever'. We had some good times, but I've grown. I've changed. It's time we moved on. I think we both knew it wasn't going to last. It's not you, it's me. No wait...it's most definitely you. Drive-thru?! What were you thinking?!

"That was totally wicked!" (Review)

Every time a new Pixar movie comes out I think that it can’t possibly be better than the last one. When Toy Story 2 was released I thought it was just another Disney sequel money grab. After seeing it, however, I was convinced the sequel was actually better than the original. Then came A Bug’s Life. No way could it be better than the Toy Story franchise. Way. Monsters Inc. followed and again I was blown away by the unique story, incredible animation and hilarious dialogue. Finding Nemo was up next, proving that Pixar had once again upped the ante. And in fine Pixar tradition they’ve outdone themselves yet again with The Incredibles.

Mr. Incredible is just your average super hero, saving lives, rescuing cats and protecting the people of Metroville from countless villains. He’s one of many ‘supers’ living in a city where such heroes are almost commonplace. When a rescued citizen sues Mr. Incredible for saving him when he didn’t want to be saved it starts an avalanche of lawsuits that eventually forces the supers into hiding, giving up their powers in order to lead normal lives. Fifteen years later, Bob Parr, mild mannered insurance agent, is once again called into action and dons the suit of Mr. Incredible. But this time he’s got a wife and three super-kids to manage.

One of the things that makes the Pixar films so successful is that they’re all so different. Each has its own unique setting and premise that makes each film’s plot that much more enjoyable. Toys, bugs, monsters, fish, superheroes and, coming soon, cars. Each film is an entirely new concept and I think that plays a huge role in ensuring each movie is unique and exciting. Like all the other Pixar films, The Incredibles has terrific animation, an intelligent and witty script and fantastic voice acting. Put all these elements together and you get another ‘incredible’ animated feature.

The Incredibles definitely has a James Bond meets Superman flavour to it. The music alone inspires thoughts of bravado and wit in the face of danger. It’s an uplifting soundtrack that really adds to the experience. And like any good spy or superhero flick, it’s filled with plenty of fast paced action, right off the pages of a comic book or Saturday morning cartoon. The high speed chase with Dash in the third act reminded me of the speeder bike scene from Return of the Jedi. It’s thrilling and a ton of fun.

The 2-disc DVD is presented in an Anamorphic 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Being a computer generated film, The Incredibles looks amazing. The colors are sharp and vibrant with nary a defect to be found. No complaints about the video quality here. The sound is also extremely well done. The film makes good use of the Dolby Digital 5.1 track and it put my whole system through its paces. Whether it was the deep, booming thunder of a 6-story renegade robot or the crisp, jazzy tones of the film’s score, the sound was phenomenal throughout.

A second disc includes a number of special features including a new Pixar animated short, ‘Jack-Jack Attack’. This little bit of bonus material is hilarious and I highly recommend watching it right after you’ve seen the film. Toward the end of the main feature, Elastigirl checks her messages and receives a number of bizarre and panicked calls from the babysitter. ‘Jack-Jack Attack’ sheds more light on the situation and is created to match the main film’s dialogue exactly. It’s brilliantly entertaining. As for the other special features…um…I’ll have to get back to you on that.

Bottom line, if you like Pixar films, you’ll love The Incredibles. It’s a new story, a new setting and a ton of fun. It still amazes me that this franchise can create such terrific movies without reusing any of the same gags or ideas. The newest feature, Cars, is slated to premier this summer. If the past is any indication, this new film should be even better than the rest but with The Incredibles the bar has been set awfully high.

The Incredibles gets 8 ½ capes (out of 10)

** Yes, I finally had to resort to using half-points.**

It’s showtime! Click here for ‘The Incredibles’ trivia.

"This is a whole other game. And it's serious and it's dangerous. And it's not one you want to lose." (Review)

My friend Vince is somewhat obsessed with the American military, particularly the American intelligence network. Although he’s a proud Canadian, I know he’s a little upset that his chances of being a CIA spook are fairly limited. It made perfect sense, then, that one of his Christmas gifts to me would be a copy of Spy Game, one of the best CIA movies I’ve ever seen.

Robert Redford stars as Nathan Muir, a CIA agent responsible for the recruitment and training of field operative Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt). Stationed first in Europe, then the Middle East, Bishop and Muir conduct a number of covert operations ranging from mole hunts to assassinations. When Bishop goes 'off the reservation’ and attempts to rescue an asset from a Chinese prison, Muir is summoned by his CIA superiors to explain.

What first looks like a basic spy movie, and sounds like one due to the movie’s simple title, is really an in-depth, intriguing look at how spy games really work. The real cat and mouse action takes place within CIA headquarters as Muir attempts to both beguile his superiors and gain more information about Bishop’s location and motives. Robert Redford’s portrayal of the continually surprising Muir is what makes the film so enjoyable to watch. As the audience we are privy to a number of Muir’s trade secrets but he still manages to keep us guessing as the film progresses. It’s easy to see why Vince likes this film so much. It’s an informative and revealing look at how the CIA truly operates. Or rather, how it used to operate during Muir’s ‘old school’ days.

Spy Game combines plenty of fast-paced action and espionage with equal amounts of cunning subterfuge and misdirection. Aside from the film’s tense opening sequence, virtually all of Brad Pitt’s performances take place during flashbacks where his character is explained. These scenes incorporate most of the action while Robert Redford’s wily games take place mainly through dialogue alone. And it’s these clever verbal exchanges that make Spy Game the intelligent and entertaining movie that it is.

The picture itself looks quite good, although a number of the scenes are intended to look grainy and washed out, particularly the European sequences. Colors are crisp and the detail is sharp. I didn’t notice any problems with the video at all and was quite pleased with the 2.35:1 Anamorphic transfer. The DTS 5.1 track is a welcome bonus and I’m happy to say that the sound is fantastic. The surrounds are used quite frequently and help create the right ambience, whether you’re in a Chinese prison or flying over Vietnam in a helicopter. Overall the DVD presentation is very good.

Among the special features are a couple of commentaries, alternate versions, deleted scenes, a script-to-storyboard featurette and behind the scenes information. The most interesting feature is a section which displays the requirements for CIA acceptance. Do you have what it takes to be an operative? Of course, I haven’t actually watched all the special features and I really intend on doing that one day. Maybe I’ll designate one month to be Special Features Month and I’ll watch nothing but special features and blog about them here. Ooh, I bet you’re looking forward to that!
Spy Game is a well-directed film with great acting and a compelling script. If you’re a fan of the spy genre at all then this movie is a must-see. While it may not have the high tech gadgetry of the Bond films or the ultra-classified nature of a Treadstone operative, Spy Game is one of the most realistic depictions of the CIA. Of course, there’s no way to know for sure if Spy Game is completely accurate. We could get the folks down in Langley to tell us, but then they’d have to kill us.

Spy Game gets 8 levels of eyes-only classification (out of 10).

Find a secure line and then click here for ‘Spy Game’ trivia.

"Guys...where are we?"

I haven’t been watching many movies lately for one reason. Lost. I got the first season on DVD for Christmas (thanks Shauna!) and we decided to start watching it about a week ago. I don’t think I’ve really done anything else since…

I remember hearing all the hype about the show last year and figured it was just like any other new television series. Of all the new shows that come out every year one of them has to be the best and I just figured Lost was it. Nothing more than that. When it became available to buy on DVD, Shauna and I thought it would probably be worth owning, simply because of all the good things we had heard about it. Now, having seen the entire first season, I can see what all the hype was about. I think it is the single best television show I have seen in years. Perhaps ever.

The premise is seemingly simple. The pilot episode opens with a plane crash on a tropical island. The first frantic moments focus on the survivors attempting to make sense of what has happened and help those still stuck in the wreckage. The next frantic moments have the survivors exploring the island, looking for any way to find help. This was pretty much all I knew about the show before I started watching and I honestly thought that was all it was going to be about. Well, it’s not that kind of show. If you’ve seen it, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, come over and watch the first episode and you’ll quickly know what I mean.

This show must be watched. That’s the secret behind its incredible success. Lost has great characters, delivered by great performances, but a lot of other successful shows have that too. Lost has incredible production value, often looking like something you would see in a movie theatre instead of on a television network. But then, shows like CSI, Las Vegas and 24 also have pretty high production costs. In the end, the quality that sets Lost apart is that it must be watched. Not a single episode leaves you without several questions so intriguing that you’ll find yourself watching the next episode right away, if you have the DVD, or going insane waiting a whole week for the next one to air. Lost is rife with mystery, suspense, tension and plenty of ‘what the hell is going on’ moments.

That being said, I really can’t tell you anything more about it. You must watch it. I guess it stands to reason that there are some people out there who don’t like the show, but I’d say it’s a small minority. Chances are you’ll not only enjoy Lost, you’ll find yourself sucked in with the rest of us, unable to eat, sleep or breathe until you watch just five minutes more. And then five minutes more. And so on. And it’s not just the events on the island that will intrigue you. The show makes wonderful use of numerous flashbacks, showing the characters lives and events before the doomed flight of Oceanic 815. This combination keeps you guessing in both directions. Where did the characters come from? Who were they before the crash? What’s going to happen to them next?

There’s just too much going on in Lost to accurately put it into words. And there’s a lot more going on in the show than first meets the eyes. After learning something in Episode 18 you’ll want to go back and watch the first 17 episodes again to pick up on the subtle references contained therein. This is a well thought out, brilliantly written show. The plot is simple and yet more complex than you can possibly imagine.

My only gripe is that Season Two is already underway and I haven’t watched a single episode. I’m going to have to wait for it to come out on DVD sometime in the next year. When it does, I’ll have to book a week off work so I can catch up.

Get Lost.

"We're going to have to re-do every conversation we've ever had." (Review)

Well, the holidays are over and I’m thrilled to admit that my DVD collection has grown rather significantly. Shauna and I had to go to Ikea (I mean ‘got’ to go to Ikea) to buy new shelves in order to fit the 224 DVDs we now own. That means a lot of movie watching for the start of 2006 and, hopefully, many new reviews coming soon to a blog near you. Stay tuned!

To start off 2006 I thought I would write a review of one of my new DVDs, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. I first saw this film a few days before Christmas when a good friend brought it over (thanks Vince!). I added it to my wishlist and was pleasantly surprised to unwrap it on Christmas morning. I watched it again that day with my wife’s family and one more time a couple days later with another good friend who is a huge Brad Pitt fan (I won't tell anyone, Chris). So, given that I’ve now watched it three times in just under two weeks you can probably figure out what I think of it.

Having never seen the original I can’t comment on any similarities or differences between the two. The 2005 version stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as Mr. & Mrs. Smith, a modern couple whose marriage appears to be on the rocks. We quickly learn that they are actually highly trained assassins working for competing organizations and are completely unaware of the other’s true occupation. That is until they are both hired to kill the same target and learn each other’s deadly secret. And what would any self-respecting assassin do if they discovered their spouse was working for the competition? Why try to kill them, of course.

Ok, so the plot is pretty light. But then the whole movie is pretty light. The great thing is that it works. I know Mr. & Mrs. Smith got some pretty poor reviews and didn’t do so well at the box office, but I think this might be another case of audiences expecting too much. This film isn’t trying to be deep or complex or dramatic or intelligent. It’s trying to be fun and action-packed and witty and relatively simple. And it succeeds.

The dialogue alone is almost worth watching, er, listening to. It’s like Moonlighting, but with fully automatic weapons and rocket launchers. Any fan of Brad Pitt will instantly love the film simply because it includes all his classic mannerisms and witty delivery. You can tell that Brad knows the film is supposed to be fun and he obviously had fun making it (no reference to his real-life relationship with Angelina Jolie here). Combined with great action sequences, an engaging soundtrack and top-notch special effects, Mr. & Mrs. Smith delivers.

The DVD is presented in Anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen video, which is perfect for exciting blockbusters like this one. As a lovely bonus, a DTS 5.1 track is included. The gunfire and explosions will put your home theatre to good work and you won’t be disappointed with the outcome. A movie with this much action deserves to look and sound big. The DVD lives up to the task.

Special features include an audio commentary, deleted scenes and a short making-of featurette. Not surprisingly, I haven’t watched any of them yet but I’ll get back to you on them just as soon as I can.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith is fun to watch and ends up being a great ride. I could watch it again tonight and it’s that re-watch-ability that makes it so enjoyable. As long as you’re not expecting an in-depth, dramatic, ultra-realistic depiction of married assassins, you should enjoy the film as much as I did. And if you don’t like it, well, I have 223 other movies you could come watch instead. I don’t think I’ve mentioned yet this year how much I love watching movies with friends.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith gets 8 percussion grenades (out of 10).

Make sure your jacket isn’t ticking and click here for 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' trivia.

"A few days in space. What's the worst that could happen?" (Review)

Sometimes a blockbuster movie gets poor reviews and doesn’t do very well in the theatres. And sometimes that movie gets poor DVD reviews and doesn’t do well in the rental stores either. And sometimes I decide that the reviews are wrong and the movie might actually be great anyway. And sometimes the movie really is great and I’m happy I chose to watch it. Fantastic Four fits the description of those first three sentences. It does not even come close to bearing any resemblance whatsoever to the fourth sentence.

I guess it was inevitable that another comic book movie would be produced, especially considering the success of Batman Begins, the X-Men series and Spider-man. The difference between those films and the not-so-Fantastic Four is this: those other movies had good characters, great dialogue, interesting storylines and top notch direction. Not-even-close-to-being-Fantastic Four has weak characters, mundane dialogue (if you’ve seen the trailers, you’ve heard all the “good” lines already), a pointless storyline and who the heck is Tim Story? Oh wait, he directed Barbershop and Taxi. Well, I guess that explains that.

Five scientists jump on board an orbiting space station to study the effects of a cosmic storm, only to be bombarded by the intense radiation of the storm itself. In true superhero fashion the radiation fundamentally alters their DNA. Now they have super powers. The leader, Reed Richards, now has the ability to stretch himself to incredible lengths and is dubbed Mr. Fantastic (I guess Mr. Rubber-Arms just didn’t have the same ring to it). Sue Storm, Reed’s estranged girlfriend, can turn herself invisible and create force fields. Cleverly enough she is called The Invisible Girl. Johnny Storm, Sue’s brother, can light himself on fire. Ok, so anyone can do that but Johnny, a.k.a. The Human Torch, can do it without hurting himself and can reach temperatures approaching super nova. His role provides the only comic relief in the film and it’s not much. Ben Grimm is the only member of the foursome to have his appearance changed permanently. With orange rocks for skin and organs, Ben becomes The Thing (are these really the best names Stan Lee could come up with?). The fifth scientist, Victor Von Doom (can you see this one coming?), takes on a metallic appearance and can control electrical fields. Since his last name is Doom he has to be the bad guy and voila, we have Dr. Doom.

Throw all these characters together and you have, well, kind of a big mess actually. I can only assume that the comic book is much better written. The dialogue in the film is campy and corny. I groaned more than laughed through this one. And while the special effects are pretty cool, it’s really just a huge mish-mash of CGI effects. I think this film could have done very well as an animated adventure but perhaps The Incredibles was too much to compete with. As it is, it doesn’t appear that opposite-of-Fantastic Four is trying to compete with anything. It really feels like it’s relying solely on the popularity of the comic book to make it successful. I’m sure die hard fans of the series probably enjoyed the film but for the rest of us movie-goers it’s a waste of time.

Fantastic Four is presented in blah-blah-blah aspect ratio and includes a who-cares audio track. Seriously, this movie is not worth your time. A friend commented that he heard someone describe it as the worst movie ever. I don’t think it’s bad enough to garner that distinction, but it is pretty bad. I didn’t look to see if there were any special features. Like I want to go behind-the-scenes and learn how to make a crappy movie.

Bearing-no-resemblance-to-anything-Fantastic Four is over-hyped, over-done and not over soon enough. Again, if you’re a real comic book fan you might get something out of this. If not, avoid in-no-way-Fantastic Four at all costs.

Fantastic (not!) Four gets 4 Mr. Stars – I can think of uncreative names too – (out of 10).

Fundamentally altered trivia for ‘Fantastic Four’.

"But these go to eleven..."

A quick description of the rating system I use:

0 to 4 - "The horror...the horror..." These are horrible, awful, terrible movies. I would describe these kinds of movies as 'complete wastes of my time' or 'a sickening offense to my senses and my home theater system'. There haven't been any of these movies reviewed on this site yet and there probably won't be many in the future. There certainly aren't any of these movies in my personal collection.

5 to 6 - These are average-and-below movies. They have some high points but overall they don't have much going for them. There is a slim chance I might own a 5 or 6 movie in my collection, but rarely would this be by my own choosing. Some of these movies are worth seeing once, but mainly they aren't that great and certainly wouldn't be worth repeated viewings.

7 to 8 - These are above average movies. Though they might have some low points here and there, they are generally good movies and are definitely worth a look, depending on your genre preferences. Most of the movies in my collection are 7 or higher and I like to say that if it's a movie I own, then it's a good movie. I'll rewatch movies with a 7 or 8 rating and will recommend them to most people.

9 to 10 - "Impressive. Most impressive." These are the cream of the crop. These movies must be seen and, in my case, must be owned. Fantastic, brilliant, wonderful, delightful, hilarious, thrilling, dramatic, intelligent and sensational - these films are why I love watching movies.

So what's the difference between a 9 and a 10? They are both exceptional, but a 10 rated movie has to be among my favorite movies of all time. It's a short list, but I'm always hoping another 10 will come along. They are rare though. In the end the only major difference between a 9 and a 10 is my personal preference. The 9s are my favorites. The 10s are my absolute favorites. How's that for ambiguity?

"Just cause you wanna eat the burger, doesn't mean you wanna meet the cow." (Review)

I’m a Michael Bay fan. I think. Bay has directed The Rock, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, and the Bad Boys films. Most people probably aren’t Michael Bay fans since most people I know didn’t really like Armageddon or Pearl Harbor. I really enjoyed both of them – enough to have them in my DVD collection. The Rock is another personal favourite and so I had high hopes for The Island. It stars Ewan MacGregor and includes Djimon Hounsou (Gladiator), Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings) and the always-entertaining Steve Buscemi. With so much great-actor-potential I was really hoping this would be another fun addition to my collection. Unfortunately, potential is the only thing this film has and rarely does it manage to live up to that potential.

Ewan MacGregor plays Lincoln Six Echo, a member of an apparent utopian society that is fiercely regulated and controlled. Told that he is one of the few survivors of a terrible plague that nearly wiped out mankind, Lincoln Six Echo is confined to a futuristic ‘commune’ where his meals are chosen for him and questions are discouraged. He is told that the last safe place on earth is a paradise island where members of the commune can go if they win the mysterious Lottery. A series of events leads Lincoln to discover the horrible truth about himself and the so-called “Island”.

It’s hard to describe the movie in great detail since much of it would be considered a “surprise”. I think it’s reasonable to assume that most viewers will figure out the overall concept early on, while the movie will fill in minor details toward the end. I had a pretty good idea what the film was about before I saw it and my guesses were accurate. However, I won’t spill the beans just in case you have no clue what is going on and want a little bit of a brain teaser.

Keep in mind that a ‘little bit’ is all you’ll get. While the film is full of great actors and has a fantastic story, it just doesn’t deliver. I don’t know if Michael Bay wanted the viewers to figure out the plot so quickly or if he wanted to keep us in suspense. No knowing that makes it hard to invest in the storyline at all. If it was supposed to be a secret, it was a poorly kept one and disappointed me in how easy it was to discover. If it wasn’t supposed to be a secret, why the lame attempts at secrecy? It’s like the movie isn’t sure where it’s supposed to be and that theme carries on throughout its entirety.

The unfortunate aspect is that due to the nature of the story, the characters are nearly impossible to invest in. Although the characters go through a number of risky action scenes and daring escapes, there was no tension. I just didn’t care about whether the characters survived or not. Not because they were boring or uninteresting, but simply because of who they are. The movie sets itself up in a way that very nearly convinces the audience that the characters are nothing more than props – and easily replaced props at that. In the end, the idea that Lincoln and his friends might die is not as tragic as it should be.

Despite the flaws in character and plot development, the action scenes and stunts are top notch. I could almost consider owning this film for the car chase scene alone. Bay went to great lengths to try and recreate the scenes with as little CGI as possible and it’s an effort that doesn’t go unnoticed. The only time I was really involved in watching The Island was during those fantastic stunts. But again, my enjoyment had nothing to do with the characters themselves or with the overall storyline. It was just great special effects and stunt coordination.

A few other high points include some very witty dialogue at certain points, a wonderfully entertaining scene where Lincoln meets his “sponsor” and, of course, Steve Buscemi. Buscemi’s character was the only one I really invested in and I know that has to do with the movie’s plot. It’s really hard to explain exactly why without giving anything away. You’ll just have to watch it to see for yourself.

The Island is presented in a 1.85:1 Anamorphic transfer and everything looks great. I didn’t notice any graininess or blurring. A Dolby Digital 5.1 track is included, but that’s pretty standard on DVDs nowadays. A DTS track would have been nice, especially for the numerous action scenes, but it still sounds good. There is a featurette that goes behind the scenes on many of the movies action scenes and stunts, which I would have been very interested to watch. Sadly I had to return the DVD before I had a chance to see it. Maybe if I found The Island previously-viewed at Blockbuster for less than $10 I would consider owning it for the action scenes alone. On the whole, though, it's just not that impressive.

One more observation before I sum up. There is more product placement in this film than I have ever seen before. I understand the reasons for product placement here and there in the production of a film. I realize it reduces costs and often the placement itself isn’t so obvious that it takes away from the movie. In the case of The Island, I almost felt like I was watching a two hour commercial. It was so obvious and blatant that it distracted me even more from an already so-so film. But if you do end up watching it, make a game out of it and see how many products you can count!

Having said all that, I realize that my review is likely to encourage most readers to want to see it just for their own curiosity. I will say that the premise of the film is a great idea, it just doesn’t get fleshed out as well as it could have been. The actors do a good job with what they are given, they just aren’t given all that much. And while the action scenes and stunts are incredible, I just didn’t care whether the main characters survived them or not. In the end, The Island is a film with a great set up, poor execution and an ultimate let down. Then again, I’ve never put much stock in film critics so there’s a chance you might really enjoy it. Stranger things have happened.

The Island gets 6 plain, white jumpsuits (out of 10).

You’ve won the Lottery! Click here for ‘The Island’ trivia!

"What up with thee?"

Despite the fact that I find Jim Carrey to be a very funny and entertaining actor, I only own one of his movies, and Bruce Almighty isn’t it. I’m not sure why that is. Maybe it’s because his movies don’t really have that blockbuster quality to them. Or maybe I don’t think I would re-watch them as often as I think. Or maybe every time I consider buying one of them, I’m distracted by some other new release. I don’t really know what the reason is. I enjoy all his movies – I just don’t own many of them. So when I wanted something light to watch a couple nights ago I had to dig into my roommates collection to find Bruce Almighty.

Bruce Nolan is a failing news reporter who thinks God is out to make his life miserable. After one too many complaints, God finally decides to do something about it. Figuring Bruce can do a better job God gives Bruce all his powers. Jim Carrey with all the powers of the divine creator of the universe – let the hilarity ensue. I like Bruce Almighty because it manages to talk about God and religion without getting too serious. It’s got a great message and it’s really, really funny. There are several scenes that make me giggle just thinking about them. If you want something light and fun you can’t go wrong with this flick. I encourage you to come on over and borrow it from my roommate.

After watching the HBO special, From the Earth to the Moon, Shauna and I have been hooked on anything to do with the Apollo space program. A friend at work managed to get me a copy of For All Mankind, which is all original, real footage filmed by the astronauts themselves during the 10 manned spaceflights to the moon. Narrated by a number of the Apollo veterans, For All Mankind portrays a voyage from earth to the moon and back, combining footage from all ten flights. This is a film for those people who are really interested in this subject matter. Although it’s considered a documentary there isn’t much this film teaches you. But it’s not meant to. This is for those people who already know all about the various astronauts and missions and equipment. It’s so those people can watch and say “so that’s what it looked like, felt like, sounded like, etc”. For All Mankind is a fantastic view into the real life of an Apollo astronaut. If you’ve seen Apollo 13 or From the Earth to the Moon and you want to know what it all truly looked like, check out For All Mankind.

Film #2 in the unofficial ‘Nicholas Cage Action Trilogy’, Con Air is everything you could want in a guy’s movie. Prison breaks, explosions, attack helicopters, corny clichés, fast cars, destruction, mayhem, chaos and Steve Buscemi. If you had anything to complain about regarding Con Air then the movie simply wasn’t meant for you. Is it over the top? Absolutely. Is it meant to be? You betcha. Con Air is a thrill-a-minute action flick that also manages to include a number of great performances. John Malkovich is perfectly evil as Cyrus ‘The Virus’, Nicholas Cage is everything you’d expect from an all-American Army Ranger who’s there to “save the day”, and Steve Buscemi is probably the only actor who can portray a frighteningly creepy mass murder who makes us smile right up to the last frame. And, of course, John Cusack does a great job. But John Cusack always does a great job. My only grudge is that the current DVD release is non-anamorphic. That simply won’t do. Buena Vista needs to get its act together and release a special edition with an updated video transfer. Then I can enjoy the running-away-from-the-giant-fireball-in-slow-motion scenes even more.

Divine trivia for 'Bruce Almighty'.
Flight, this is Capcom 7. You are go for trivia.
High-flying trivia for the criminally insane.

"I'm not fighting anyone or anything, anymore." (Review)

The Last Castle is another one of those movies that I don’t remember hearing much about while it was in the theatres. Once it was released on DVD and I had a chance to watch it, I was impressed enough to add it to my collection. The plot of the film is quite interesting and the action is entertaining, but the biggest reasons for watching, and owning, this film are the fantastic performances given by James Gandolfini and Robert Redford.

General Erwin (Redford) has pleaded guilty in a recent court martial, for disobeying orders during the Gulf War, which resulted in the deaths of eight of his men. Sentenced to ten years, Erwin is transferred to the Castle, a maximum security military prison, where Colonel Winter (Gandolfini) runs a very tight ship. Erwin quickly realizes that his fellow inmates, all former marines, have been suffering more than would be expected under the ruthless rule of Winter. The inmates decide to take over the prison with the intention of forcing the Colonel to resign.

As with most movies, a healthy dose of suspended disbelief is required if you’re going to make it all the way through The Last Castle. That’s not to say that it’s over the top or far fetched, just that a few of the sequences are pretty incredible. But we don’t watch movies to see the normal, every day stories, do we? No, we watch movies so we can have a look at some extraordinary people in extraordinary situations. The Last Castle certainly delivers on that order. The planning and intelligence used by General Irwin and his supporters is what makes this film so much fun to watch. We’ve seen prison escape movies before, but rarely do we get to watch a film where the inmates are attempting to make their own prison a better place.

Aside from some great drama and action in the prison yard, we’re given two great performances by Gandolfini and Redford. Their characters square off in a battle of wits against each other and it’s this tension that really gives the movie its appeal. This is one of Gandolfini’s best performances. Winter’s behaviour and mannerisms border on the insane but you can’t deny his flawless record in maintaining control of his prison. Redford depicts General Irwin as a man who is done fighting and just wants to serve his time and go home. However, like any soldier faced with an unjust situation, he must put aside his own desires and once again lead men into battle. Redford’s portrayal of Irwin’s evolution from General to prisoner to leader is very well done. And no, other than the way I worded that last sentence, this movie bears no resemblance to Gladiator.

The DVD is presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic video with extremely crisp colors and sharp images. I’m still amazed at times to see how much detail there is in the human face. From the tense interactions between the two main characters to the explosive climax in the prison yard, The Last Castle looks fantastic. Added to the mix is a wonderful DTS 5.1 audio track. I think it should be a new DVD rule that directors are not allowed to have explosions in their movies unless the DVD has a DTS track. I don’t want to just watch the explosion – I want to feel like I’m standing right next to it! Well, except for the flames and flying shrapnel and all that. Overall, this film looks and sounds terrific.

So, if you have any interest in military affairs, prison settings, explosions, Robert Redford or James Gandolfini, you’ll probably really enjoy The Last Castle. After all, the film did win the Taurus Award for Best Fire Stunt. What more do you want?

The Last Castle gets 7 flags (out of 10).

Trivia for The Last Castle has been confined to solitary. Find it here.