Over the holidays I've been on a movie streak...
Airplane! - Seen it many times and surely it is the best spoof of all time.
The Magnificent Seven 2016 - Disappointed. It felt like a movie made by committee, like an understated 80's action movie where everyone dressed up like cowboys. And if that makes no sense, you get the problem with the movie. It also suffered a bit from too much villain plot. Bullets only count against bad guys. Shoot a bad guy in the arm and he dies while a good guy can take a dozen wounds and run like maniac. Good guys sprint chaotically back and forth across a battlefield and somehow never shoot each other by mistake. Chris Pratt and Denzel Washington were lackluster. Ethan Hawke was excellent and had potentially the most interesting character but was kept in the background most of the film, a big mistake. Haley Bennett did well but the character was confusing: independent, sloppy sexy, caring one minute, indifferent the next. She came off as token female. Vincent D'Onofrio steals the show by default. His character is generically written but he manages to make him memorable. I'm not sure what went on behind the scenes to make it such a mess but the movie would have benefit from a different leading man. Denzel looks good for his age but he's a good 2o years older than the villain which doesn't work at all with the story. All in all it's not a bad movie. Some people will like it but it's a far cry from Seven Samurai or the John Sturges version.
What We Do in the Shadows (2014) - a mockumentary of vampires living in New Zealand and how they deal with mundane stuff like household chores, nightlife, friendships, and managing familiars. It almost has a Broken Lizard vibe but more subtle and understated. I found it hilarious. You have the master vampire, Peter, in the basement. He's 8,000 years old and doesn't attend house meetings. You also have a Victorian dandy, a Russian vampire, and a middle-ages vampire. Deacon hasn't done dishes in 5 years and the other vampires are embarrassed to have company over. Deacon points out they kill their guests so what does it matter?
The Dukes of Hazzard (2005) - I watched this when it came out and it was amusing but I think it has aged well. The soundtrack is good, the acting is good, the car chases are fantastic, and Daisy Duke is as delicious as ever.
Caddyshack, Still hilarious. Varmint-cong
Gantz: 0 - Animation based on a manga. I'm not really into cartoons but if they have good stories, it's all good, and this one has a good story. About a guy who attempts to stop a mugging and dies for his efforts. he wakes up alive and is forced to fight monsters to earn points for his freedom. It's good, action packed, and jiggly, very jiggly.
X-Men Apocalypse - Good special effects, good casting, big action scenes but in between the action scenes is mostly static. Quicksilver steals the show, big time.
~ The last movie I've seen at home was Period of Adjustment(1962). The movie is based on one of Tennessee William's play. It was cute, witty romance that centers these two married couple. One recently married and the other married for several years. Both couples are having their difficulties, miscommunication & in-laws interfering.
Tennessee Williams. This film had Jane Fonda day viewing earlier work also co-staring Anthony Franciosa, Jim Hutton & Lois Nettleton. The performances were great and plot was excellent and common in any real life situation. So I rate this movie with top 10 stars & two thumbs up.
~*
