Here's the granddaddy of every slasher film ever made. Released in 1980, Friday the 13th would spawn a multitude of sequels, reboots, and even a television series that ran for three seasons. There's no doubt that this film kicked off the most successful horror franchises of all time.
It all started in the summer of 1957 at Camp Crystal Lake, when a young boy drowned. The following year two camp counselors went missing and were later found brutally murdered. The authorities were forced to shut down the camp. A few decades later, now under new ownership the camp is scheduled to re-open, and a new group of counselors have arrived to help prepare the grounds for the busy season ahead. While these teen counselors are too young to remember the camp's bloody past, they have all heard one iteration or another about what happened. Also, there's someone lurking in the woods who'll be more than happy to give them a history lesson.
Directed by: Sean S. Cunningham Written by: Victor Miller Starring: Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Jeannine Taylor, Robbi Morgan, Kevin Bacon
When a young couple find themselves stranded in the isolated community of Gatlin, Nebraska, they discover that all of the town's adults have been slaughtered by a religious cult of twisted children who worship a mysterious cornfield deity. Can these adults escape the fanatical wrath of these adolescent zealots, or will they become the next blood sacrifices to 'He Who Walks Behind The Rows?' [Anchor Bay Entertainment]
It all started one year when this mid-western farming town's corn crop struggled to grow. This inspired local farmers to pray for a divine intervention, when boy preacher Issac Croner (John Franklin) gathers the local kids in the town square with an suggestion that they form a cult....a cult that kills every living adult in town to please the savage corn Gods (also known as "He who walks behind the rows").
The problem with this plot is the notion that the kids could possibly keep this a secret from the rest of the civilized world is nonsensical. The movie explains that the kids would simply kill every adult wandering through town, but in reality wouldn't that only lead to more people visiting the town? A little hard to believe these kids could really get away with this for so long, but it's just a movie...
Anyway, a few years after the initial massacre, we meet Burt (Peter Horton) and Vicky (Linda Hamilton) driving across country. During their trip, they run into the body of a young boy and decide to take him to a hospital, in a nearby town...you guessed it.
The film's only unsettling element is Isaac, played with effective gravitas by Croner, who I later learned is really an adult actor with a growth deficiency). I never quite figured out why Isaac speaks like a 16th century Puritan minister, but his stern face and archaic language certainly make him a memorable figure.
The fact that this movie spawned at least seven sequels and a remake should indicate it's worth checking out if you haven't yet. Horror movies can leave a lot to be desired, frankly many aspects are best left unexplained, and a religious cult story such as this one is no different.
Directed by: Fritz Kiersch Written by: Stephen King Starring: Peter Horton, Linda Hamilton, R.G. Armstrong
Robin Williams is best described as a comedic genius, at least early in his movie career. One of his best movies is the glorious "Good Morning, Vietnam" which not only allowed him to shoot off wise crack after wise crack but also deliver a touching story about what life in Saigon was like during the Vietnam War.
Live wire disc jockey Adrian Cronauer (Robin Williams) is shipped to Saigon to boost troop morale with a new radio show. With his witty remarks and love of modern music he soon becomes a hit with the troops but runs afoul with his superiors who are less than impressed with his disregard for the rules and protocol. While posted in Saigon he gets to know the locals especially a young girl and her brother as well as experiencing the war at first hand.
On face value, this film may appear to be about an unorthodox approach to radio broadcasting which comes across unsettling to his immediate superiors. Look into the film at a deeper level and it's not just about a man bringing joy to the troops but also a man who hides behind jokes yet has to face reality. What is surprising is while "Good Morning, Vietnam" is set during the Vietnam War, it really isn't about war, it merely provides a backdrop more than anything and never encroaches on the main storyline.
Overall: With a superb cast (Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker, J.T. Walsh, among others) and a lot of hilarious one liners and an awesome sound track, this is a movie you don't want to miss. It's set during the Vietnam War, but it's not an actual war movie.
In light of my 30th birthday last week, this week has been devoted to films released in 1987. Today we're looking at the underrated John Hughes' 80s teen drama, Some Kind of Wonderful.
Keith (Eric Stoltz) is a high school senior who has eyes for the most popular girl in school, Amanda (Lea Thompson) all while ignoring his best friend, tomboy Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson), who just happens to like him a little more than he thinks.
It's been used over and over again in film over the years, and I'm sure we've all had personally experienced it once before. You ignore someone you could actually be with for someone more popular and prettier. Although this film tanked in the box office, this has the best elements in a John Hughes film. The chemistry between Watts and Keith is powerful and real - much like Molly Ringwald and Jon Cryer in Pretty in Pink.
RATING: 4/5 - Forget the box office numbers, this one is a must watch!
Directed by: Howard Deutch Written by: John Hughes Starring: Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson, Lea Thompson MPAA Rating: PG-13 Running Time: 95 Minutes
In light of my 30th birthday last week, this week has been devoted to films released in 1987. Starting with what I've been told is a classic fairy tale, which I've put off watching until now. The Princess Bride opens with a sick boy (Fred Savage) who receives a visit from his grandfather (Peter Falk) who visits to read to him from a book handed down from his father. The boy is not exactly pleased to be distracted from his world of sports and video games. However, his mood quickly changes as he and the viewer are transported to a place out of time. We are taken to Florin, a kingdom in an imaginary land, complete with dashing heroes, cowardly princes, rhyming giants, rodents of unusual size, fancy sword fights, and yes . . . even some kissing.
The fairy tale begins on a farm in the countryside where the young woman, Buttercup (Robin Wright) resides with farmhand Wesley (Cary Elwes). It's there where Buttercup quickly learns that "as you wish" really means "I love you" as she falls in love with him. While trying to seek his fortune, Wesley disappears at sea and becomes an apparent victim of the Dread Pirate Roberts. A few years later, Buttercup, who is now engaged to Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), is kidnapped by a trio of misfits.
The focus of this film is to show that you can't stand in the way of true love. Throughout the movie, there are many hardships and trials that true love must endure. It has a mixture of fairy tale and witty one liners which you may end up repeating, such as "I am Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die."
RATING: 4/5 - A must watch film and even appropriate to include the kids if you've got them.
Directed by: Rob Reiner Starring: Fred Savage, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Robin Wright, Billy Crystal, Mandy Patinkin, Cary Elwes MPAA Rating: PG Running Time: 98 Minutes
Directed by: John Hughes Starring: John Candy, Steve Martin
So here we are, Thanksgiving Day in America, and what better way to celebrate than with a traditional viewing of one of John Hughes' best! Planes, Trains & Automobiles is about a man, Neil Page (Steve Martin) who is trying to make it to his suburbia home in Chicago. Along the way he meets this obnoxious salesman, Dell Griffith played by none other than the comic genius John Candy.
You never know what the holidays may bring, for Neil all he wanted to do was make it home for Thanksgiving dinner. Dell, however had no body to spend the holidays with, after losing his late wife and taking to the road.
For many years I avoided this film because I thought it was going to be just another road trip flick. I was pleasantly surprised, yes they're on a road trip, but also includes so much dramatic, emotional and truthful subtext. This has since turned into one of my favorite holiday comedies.
Directed by: Tom Holland Starring: Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Alex Vincent, Brad Dourif
The Movie:
For Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent) the only thing he wanted for his 8th birthday is a Good Guys doll. To much of everyone's surprise, the doll is possessed with the soul of a serial killer. One of the doll's many phrases is "we're be friends until the end" which for most, is only a matter of words but for Chucky it's a promise.
My Review:
There's nothing better than some good 80s horror this time of the year. Popularity of this movie has been shown throughout the years with the many sequels that spawned from it, but nothing will ever be as good as this one.
When the the "Lakeshore Strangler" gets shot by police detective Mike Norris, Charles Lee Ray aka "Chucky" hides out in a toy store after his accomplice escapes without him, he vows to get revenge against his said accomplice and the police detective in his afterlife. Believing in voodoo, he transfers his soul to a Good Guys doll before burning down the store. A couple weeks later, little boy Andy (Alex Vincent) is turning eight years old and has his hopes up for a Good Guys doll. Unfortunately, his mother (Catherine Hicks) can't afford to pay the retail price for the doll but thanks to a friend and co-worker, she manages to get one from a street peddler in a back alley. Come to find out, this doll was found at a old burned out toy store... That's where the story begins, and we see Andy and "Chucky" start an adventure together - friends to the end. Andy is quickly manipulated into skipping school and going downtown to hunt down Eddie Caputo (Neil Giuntoli), Chucky's former accomplice and visiting the voodoo "Dr Death" (Raymond Oliver) to find out exactly how to get out of the doll's body before he's trapped forever.
It's a movie that's not made to act serious, just a voodoo story to entertain and terrorize it's audience. A job it's done very well for decades. It's scary, but the gore factor is slim to none and does not include any cheap scares that you can find in more recent horror franchises.
Favorite quote:"Hi, I'm Chucky and I'll be your friend 'til the end!"
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd
The Movie:
When school teacher Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) decides he wants to write a novel and quit teaching, he takes a job as a live-in winter caretaker of a isolated hotel in the Rocky Mountains. Soon upon arrival his son, Danny (Danny Lloyd) starts seeing disturbing visions of the hotel's past. While burying himself in his writing, Jack also falls into a deep form of insanity caused by cabin fever and sightings of the hotel's ghosts. After being convinced by the waiter's ghost that he needs to "fix" his family, the only thing that can save Danny and his mother, is "the shining."
Review:
This film adaptation of Stephen King's novel has seriously scared the crap out of me since the first time I watched it. The story was written well and the movie is not a disappointment. Stanley Kubrick is a recognizable name in film history for a few gems such as "Full Metal Jacket," "A Clockwork Orange," and "2001: A Space Odyssey". The Shining isn't any different, his work has always had a sense of seriousness with the long lengths.
"What Is The Shining?" It's a telepathic sixth sense that Danny Torrance (Danny Lloyd) in the movie had, which allowed him to see and hear from ghosts from the hotel's past. It's this gift that perhaps saved him and his mother when his father Jack is convinced he must fix his wife and child from taking over, during his mental breakdown resulting from cabin fever. Being stuck indoors all winter will do this to someone, it's not too surprising in life. It's been proven that many people in the world experience similar symptoms, wanting to bring harm to themselves or someone else.
Directed by: John Carpenter Starring: Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul
We all remember our firsts in life; first bike ride, first love, first child, first car, the list goes on. In retrospect, I remember my first car very much with air conditioning in the winter, a non-working stereo, half the interior gauges didn't work, four bald tires, and a bad idling issue which caused it to stall at every stop. But, the frame was solid and it was all mine for a whopping $100 (hey for a 15 year old with a paper route that was a lot of money). Needless to say, despite all it's faults, I never suspected that '89 Ford to be possessed, much like Arnie's (Keith Gordon) cherry red 1958 Plymouth Fury, in Christine (1983). Maybe that's because it never tried to actually kill me.
This classic 80s possession horror movie, based on a novel by Stephen King, is one of a kind. There has been many like it but this one will always remain a unique story about a lone teenager taking his first independent venture to buy his first automobile, which so happens to have a mind of it's own. The idea that whenever there's about to be trouble, the lights turn on and the stereo blasts rock 'n roll music is enough to send chills down your spine.
Arnie Cunningham (Keith Gordon) is a nerdy high school senior with only one friend. Arnie's life begins to change when he discovers Christine, a red 1958 Plymouth Fury in serious need of repair. As Arnie spends the time restoring Christine, his family and friend comes to realize that he's changing as well. The one thing Arnie doesn't know is the former owner of Christine spent just as much time with the car, that when his family life started to suffer, he paid the price with his life.
Well unlike that '89 Ford I had, which has likely since been crushed, this movie will always be a classic. The performances of the cast and the story line is more than enough to recommend this to anyone.
Directed by: Tim Burton Starring: Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder
The Movie:
After a deadly accident, the Maitlands (Alec Baldwin & Geena Davis) find themselves stuck inside their house. Confused on what happened, they now face a bigger problem...The strange, new family that's moving in! After many failed attempts to convince them to leave, they find themselves hiring the services of a bio-exorcist.
Review:
Only Burton can pull off probably the best horror comedy classic in the last 25 years! And of course he couldn't have done it without the infamous Michael Keaton playing the lead role. Choosing an additional strong cast to pull off the recently deceased was no easy task I'm sure, but I feel Baldwin and Davis did a fantastic job with their roles.
Beetle Juice is a classic horror movie that explores life after death. The Maitlands (Baldwin & Davis) decide to spend their two-week vacation in their New England home. Upon returning from a trip to town, Barbara (Geena Davis) swerves to avoid hitting a dog in the road and crashes through the side of a covered bridge and plunges into the river beneath it. As they return home in spirit form, and quickly come to the conclusion that they are dead. They are in peace until a family from New York City buys their home and moves in, the father Charles Deetz and the dark daughter Lydia (Winona Ryder) are also looking for peace and tranquility but unfortunately his wife is indifferent on the current decor and insists on changing it, with help from family friend Otho (Glenn Shadix). The Maitlands are invisible to the the entire Deetz family except Lydia, who later befriends them. Against the advice of their caseworker Juno (Sylvia Sidney), they hire the free lance bio-exorcist, Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) who was formerly a trouble maker in his life.
I can't stress it enough, Beetle Juice is near perfect movie and a classic to watch this time of the year. It may take a couple viewings but you will love it.
Director: Richard Franklin Starring: Henry Thomas, Dabney Coleman, Michael Murphy, Christina Nigra Running Time: 101 Minutes
Two years ago Steven Spielberg introduced us to the young Henry Thomas who played Elliot, the kid who befriended a lost alien in E.T. Now we see Henry Thomas in his most courageous role yet, in "Cloak & Dagger" featuring an imaginative young boy named Davey Osborne who loves role-playing games. His mother passed away recently and his father, Hal (Dabney Coleman) is an overly busy colonel in the U.S. Air Force, so he often looks to find aid in an imaginary super-spy named Jack Flack (also Dabney Coleman).
One day on an top secret assignment for some Twinkies, he witnesses a real murder of an FBI agent who passes a video game called "Cloak & Dagger" to him just before he is killed. Ironically, when the police come, the body is gone, and no one will believe him. Soon Davey finds himself up to his neck in hairbreadth escapes, real bullets, and a race against the clock action. His friend and neighbor Kim (Christina Nigra) gets caught in the middle of Davey's wild imagination which she quickly learns isn't as made up as she once thought. In order to rescue Kim, Davey has to return the game to the "bad guys" led by Michael Murphy. Soon it's a race of the clock to get to Kim before midnight to disable the bomb which was wired in her walkie-talkie, coincidentally it's also the same time the creepy old terrorists' flight out of the country is.
Over the years there's no doubt this movie has dated some, for instance the walkie talkies and the large trunks big enough to stash bodies into, two things you don't see much of today. Today a rated PG family film most likely wouldn't carry a child being hunted, threatened, and held hostage over a video game. It's movies like this one that makes me cherish what we had in the 80s and very early 90s. "Cloak & Dagger" is one of the greatest forgotten gems of the 80s, featuring deadly spies, imaginary superheroes, and a real life adventure based on an ATARI game. The well-anticipated twist at the end makes this movie worth watching to the end.This film is suitable for the whole family whose time has finally come to get the recognition it deserves.
My Rating: 10/10 - OWN IT!
This review was written in part for Forgotten Films' 1984 a-thon
Director: Steven Spielberg Starring: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore Running Time: 115 minutes
Synopsis: Steven Spielberg's heartwarming masterpiece of love between a young boy and a visitor from another planet has quickly become the most popular film of all time. Filled with unparalleled magic and imagination that made audiences around the world laugh and cry, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial follows the moving story of a lost little alien who befriends a 10-year-old boy named Elliot. While E.T. learns about life on Earth, Elliot learns that friendship knows no earthly bounds. Overflowing with memorable performances, a stirring musical score and scenes of wonderment, E.T. invites everyone to share the thrill of its magic touch. It's more than a movie-it's an experience you'll never forget.
This is one of my all-time favorite movies. I was five or six when I first watched this masterpiece, I distinctly remember being blown away on how this movie had a bit of everything: drama, comedy, science fiction, and adventure. To add icing to the cake, it was even made right rather than slapped together like some movies today. I decided to revisit this film after all these years and was surprised on how much it still holds up today, at a little over thirty years old. Only a handful of titles I've seen in my lifetime have triggered some emotion, and by that I mean I cried. Who didn't? If you say you didn't shed a single tear scene where E.T. was dying on the table so Elliot could live, I'd have to call you a liar.
This movie's not perfect. I personally think that would be near impossible to accomplish but to remain a classic even after thirty years, Spielberg must've done something right. There's no future predictions gone horribly wrong like we've seen in some pre-1990 films. There's proof that life existed without mobile phones and computers, back when kids would use their imagination and play with action figures or Matchbox cars. Just typing that last sentence made me appreciate the type of childhood I had, while feeling bad for kids who are growing up in this Millennium.
Spielberg is one of my favorite directors, I'll watch anything put out by this man. I trust him to entertain me, and (so far) he hasn't let me down yet. For years, I had only known Elliot as "that kid who played Davey Osborne from Cloak & Dagger." He deserves more credit though for he's starred in some decent movies since the 80s; Psycho IV, Suicide Kings, 11:14, and Dear John to name a few. Then there's Drew Barrymore, who I never realized until recently that she played Elliot's sister Gertie. There's no point in lying here, I like most of her filmography but when I was younger and first saw this film I despised her role as Gertie to a point which almost ruined the film.
I always compared my life to Elliot's, for years I didn't know why, maybe I just didn't care to come up with a reason. It's hit me during this last revisit, I can relate to Elliot, as a middle child myself I've gone through stages of my life where I didn't think anyone paid any attention to me. It's the reason why I didn't like Gertie (Drew Barrymore) in this film; being the youngest leaking secrets and constantly believing she was the center of the universe throughout the film.
Selfish yuppie Charlie Babbitt's father left a fortune to his savant brother Raymond and a pittance to Charlie; they travel cross-country.
My Thoughts: I've always put off watching this movie because of the mixed reviews I've read and heard about. Why there was so much hate on this movie is beyond me, but I thought it was written and directed great. Dustin Hoffman, playing the role of a middle-aged man with autism, Raymond "Rain Man" Babbit, who has been locked away from society since 1965. Come to find out he has excellent number skills but have no sense in money. Charlie Babbit, played by Tom Cruise, is a self-centered automobile trader in Los Angeles who ran away from his father's home in Cleveland Ohio when he was 16 years old after taking his father's car without permission and being jailed for two days after his father refused to bail him out.
One day, not unlike the rest, Charlie receives a phone call notifying him his father passed away. After the funeral, he sits down with his father's lawyer to go over his father's will, when he finds out all he inherits is a rose bed and the car he once 'stole'. The rest of the estate, approximately three million dollars is put in a trust fund for someone, who turns out to be his long lost brother-Raymond.
A visit to the institute where Raymond's been staying at for the past 20-some years, leads to Charlie kidnapping his brother for half of the inheritance. Come to find out Raymond is afraid of flying, so they decide to take a road trip back to L.A. Raymond has a routine that cannot be broken, so this delays Charlie's plans remarkably, but in the end it's for the best. The two brothers never had an opportunity to bond growing up.
This movie was emotional even to the average movie watcher, the bond formed between Raymond and Charlie was extraordinary. This movie is definitely deserved the best picture award it earned back in 1988, and definitely has a place in anyone's movie collection.
PS: Personally I don't think it's necessary to own this film in high definition (unless you can find the BD for sub-$5 which I did). But beware if you buy the single-disc Blu-ray, the picture looked like a upconverted DVD and the audio was on par to say the least (I had to adjust the volume on my TV 4 times throughout the movie due to alternating quiet/loud scenes). It also didn't have any special features or a main menu, if that bothers you seek out the deluxe DVD edition.
Director: John McTiernan Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia
MPAA Rating: R My Rating: 9/10
USA Release Date: July 18, 1988 Running Time: 131 Minutes
It's Christmas and when New York City Officer John McClane lands at a Los Angeles airport the only thing on his mind is spending the holiday with his family. When he arrives at his wife's office, everything appears to be normal-well as normal as a crazy office party could be-and after having a small disagreement with her husband, Holly is asked to make a big speech to her fellow employees, leaving John behind.
Unfortunately, it's not going to be a merry Christmas just yet as a group of terrorists led by Hans Gruber overtakes the Nakatomi Plaza building, holding everyone hostage in the meantime. With no way in or out and 12 terrorists with itchy trigger fingers, John is forced to stop them all with only one outsider (Reginald VelJohnson) believing in him.
Thirty floors up and a ton of action, this movie is definitely the start of something good. Watch it, I guarantee you'll enjoy it!
Director: Howard Zieff Stars: Michael Keaton, Christopher Lloyd and Peter Boyle MPAA Rating: PG-13 My Rating: 9/10
Dr. Weitzman (Dennis Boutsikaris) works with four patients with different issues. Billy (Michael Keaton) is a pathological liar, Henry (Christopher Lloyd) believes he is a doctor with an obsessive compulsive disorder, Jack (Peter Boyle) is an ex-ad executive who believes Jesus is talking to him, and Albert (Stephen Furs) is an adult who never talks and occasionally wets himself.
When the doctor is convinced the patients need some time away from the sanitarium, he plans a trip to see a Yankee baseball game. Along the way, Dr. Weitzman witnesses the murder of a police officer and is attacked and hospitalized. This leaves the four disturbed patients alone on the streets of New York. The four crazies find that Dr. Weitzman will be murdered as a witness and no one believes four mental patients. They now have to diverge a plan to rescue Dr Weitzman from the hospital with the police and killers chasing them.
Overall, this is one movie I would actually watch more than once and laugh more than the last time. It's got a perfect cast list and a better-than-most plot line. Would I recommend it? Sure, why not!
Director: Mel Brooks Cast: Mel Brooks, John Candy and Rick Moranis Runtime: 96 min. MPAA Rating:PG My Rating: 7/10
When princess Vespa of Druidia escapes from the set marriage to prince Valium, she gets kidnapped by the evil race of the Spaceballs. The Spaceballs ask king Roland for a tremendous ransom: the abundant supply of air of Druidia to replenish their own. In the meantime, a space rogue, Lone Starr and his friend "Barf" the half-man half dog, are in need of one million space bucks to re-pay a debt to "Pizza the hut." The King decides to offer them this amount, to persuade him to save Vespa.
Director: Mark L. Lester Cast: John Candy, Eugene Levy, Meg Ryan
Frank Dooley (Candy) an ex-cop, who is thrown out of the force after being framed by corrupt colleagues. Norman Kane (Levy) is a useless defense lawyer. They team up in their new careers...as security guards. Their first job is to guard a warehouse, that ends up getting robbed. Of course, like everything else the two get falsely accused of allowing it happen. Dooley and Kane suspect something fishy among the robbery and the security firm's union. The two security guards decide to investigate the situation and figure out what's going on. Making enemies along the way, and confronting their boss's attractive daughter, who just started working for the security firm, they uncover the entire robbery as a team.
