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isamuelson
Reviews
Star Trek: Tomorrow Is Yesterday (1967)
Capt. Christopher back in his jet
Overall, I liked this episode even though there are numerous errors concerning the time travel aspect. One that really has me is concerning Capt. Christopher and how they handle him at the end of the episode. The next paragraph contain spoilers, so readers beware if you haven't seen this episode yet.
When they are ready to beam Capt. Christopher back into his jet near the end of the episode in order to prevent changing the future, how could they beam him back into the jet when he should have already been there piloting the jet? Remember, he was beamed out just before the jet broke up due to the tractor beam. Therefore, if they beamed him into the jet after they beamed him up, the jet would no longer exist.
Overall, not a bad episode. However, I like The Voyage Home better.
Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)
Don't blame Mulchay
Mulchay was NOT the enemy here. He was forced by the producers and the film company to release the abomination that resulted. He even walked out of the premiere within 15 minutes because he was so disgusted with what the movie company did.
It wasn't until a few years ago that he went back and "fixed" it as best as he could and released it on DVD (the Renegade version).
In 2005, they released it again, called the special edition, which had minor "fixes" but other than that, it was the Renegade version which is by far the better version to watch.
But, to say Mulchay should be poisoned is going to the extreme. True, he could have stopped, but for whatever reason, he didn't. Even Lambert was about ready to walk off the set, but he couldn't due to contractual agreements.
Over the Hedge (2006)
Funny, funny movie - for kids and adults
What can I say? This movie, albeit on the short side at 97 minutes, is one laugh-fest after another. It pokes fun at neighborhood association rules and their sometimes over-zealous presidents, while driving home the message that family is key and of course, it also touches on how new neighborhoods popping up out in the country are driving forest animals into smaller areas, making it harder to find the food they need. Luckily, this is not thrown in your face and is only mentioned once since most of that would go over the kid's heads and would detract from what is actually a slap-stick comedy of animals searching for the "ultimate" food.
Overall, the show-stealer is Hammy the squirrel voiced by Steve Carell. IMHO, he stands right up there with Donkey from Shrek. He is definitely the comic-relief. Bruce Willis is great as RJ the Racoon. William Shatner as Ozzie the possum is also great.
Some of the funny moments, such as references to West Side Story and such, may go over some kids heads, but they definitely caused me to laugh until my sides hurt. Still, there are PLENTY of laughs for both kids and adults that makes this movie a fun one to watch.
Sometimes my kids might get board during movies, but even my youngest daughter enjoyed this one so much she wanted to go and buy the DVD that day. Imagine what her feelings were when I had to inform her that the DVD is not out yet and won't be for a few months.
This is a must-not-miss movie.
BTW, stay for the entire credits. There is a final scene at the end that is hilarious.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Excellent adaption of Roald Dahl's classic book
First off, I am NOT a Johnny Depp fan at all. When he bites the dust in Nightmare on Elm Street, I cheer! (just kidding) Also, I'm not sure if what I say about the movie could be considered a spoiler, but I've gone ahead and marked the message as such just to be safe since I do discuss some of the differences between the Gene Wilder version and this one. So, you've been forewarned! In all seriousness, I loved Gene Wilder's version in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. But, have you ever wondered WHY the title was changed? It was because Roald Dahl was absolutely against that version of the movie, so they had to change the title. He was angry with how they had changed the story.
I think if Mr. Dahl were alive today, he would have approved of this version, and so do I (and I still like the first one, but not as much as this).
Wonka is shown as aloof in this movie, and he was in the book as well. Charlie does nothing to anger Mr. Wonka as he did in the first movie. I never really liked that since in the book, Charlie always did what was right and NEVER thought about breaking the rules, so that always kind of bothered me in the first movie. Also, Wonka NEVER got angry in the book, but Gene Wilder's character gets SO angry at Charlie and Grandpa, it even scared ME as a child and I thought it was actually pretty mean.
Tim Burton, as dark as his movies usually are, surprised me with the amount of color in this movie. In no way did I feel cheated and all the kids did great. They played their parts to perfection. Violet was just as obnoxious as she was in the book. Veruca was spoiled as ever and Mike and Augustus were just as disgusting as they were in the book.
I think what made the book so wonderful was imagining all those wonderful sites the children saw as well as the Oompa Loompas. Tim Burton has brought those visions to life. Deep Roy playing all of the Oompa Loompas did an excellent job and he probably had the hardest job of anyone in the cast. Where you see multiple versions of him, he had to film EACH one of those parts separately! If you notice, they each move differently and have subtle differences. Kudos to the Deep Roys! I introduced my 9-year-old daughter to the Gene Wilder version about 3 years ago and she absolutely fell in love with it. Any time it was on TV, she HAD to watch it. Then, she went to see Burton's version and she loves that one better than the Gene Wilder version, and she hasn't even read the book yet (I have to dig my copy out for her to read because I KNOW she'll love it!) You're going to have people defend either the Wilder or Depp version, or there will be those like me that like both. However, I feel this is the version that really hones in on Dahl's vision and for that, I think he would have been proud of Burton's attempt. I know I appreciate it.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
Excellent movie that plays homage to a lost genre
Yes, in a word, this movie is excellent. All of the so-called critics apparently were looking for a story that had no plot-holes or inaccuracies in it.
Well, go back to the old b-movies of the 50s and before that. There were SO many plot holes in those Sci-Fi movies of a bygone era, but they were fun to watch.
Sky Captain pays tremendous homage to those movies. The plot holes are dangled out to the audience in such an obvious matter, that you have to love it. True sci-fi fans of the old movies understand what this movie is for. It's escapism at it's purist form and allows us to experience what is from a bygone era.
Is it I-Robot? No. But then, that movie didn't even hold a candle to Asimov's original story. Sky Captain is pure fun. It not only plays homage to the old sci-fi movies, but to all the cliff-hanger serials as well.
The way this movie was shot is excellent. The halos that surround the actors and the colors scream of old-time color movies. It all takes us back to an era we never could experience. It even plays homage to the Wizard Of Oz.
Without spoiling the story, Sky Captain takes place between the two world wars. A mad scientist is releasing giant robots upon various locations of the world in search of something. Sky Captain is called in to help. He's an ace pilot that must discover the mystery of the mad scientist and put a stop to his diabolical plan.
The action that takes place from there keeps you enthralled and on the edge of your seat. My only small complaint about this movie? The acting is pretty wooden, but then, that also plays into the homage of the old b-movies. Was the acting really that great? No, it wasn't and this movie again plays excellent homage to that era. SO
Rent it first, but as long as you enjoyed the old movies of a bygone era, then this movie should become a part of your collection.