I remember hearing about G.I. Jane in high school. That supposedly hot actress from some film I hadn’t seen called Ghost was gonna go out for the Navy S.E.A.L.S and even shave her head. It was a big deal. I remember it well. It’s now some 10 years after the media event; and oddly enough, I remmeber the frenzy over the movie more than the film itself, which I happened to catch in just the last few months. Funny thing, that is.

I think it’s a testment to what I would call “High Concept, low execution”. The apparently brilliant Ridley Scott helmed the piece, but it felt like a fairly standard outing into action movie territory, only without good action. In fact, I think G.I.Jane is the first movie I’ve ever seen where the training montage in the middle of it is the most interesting part of the movie. What’s more, I wasn’t interested in the character, but the actress. I’d seen Demi Moore in a few things prior to this flic, but tshe really sold me during that training montage, I mean I almost felt my own muscles tear. Too bad I can’t say the same for the rest of the film. Even Viggo mortenson, now famous for his role as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings couldn’t get me interested in S.E.A.L training; adn if anyone could, I would except it would be the King of Middle Earth. No, G.I. JAne, for all its intended pomp and righteous indignation sure didn’t do it.

To be honest, it just felt likea re-hashing of other better movies but thought more of itself becuase of its “Big message”. I mean, come on, here’s the recipe. Rocky meets Top Gun sprinkled with a message of female empowerment for the ladies and a hot actress for the fellas. It’ll work for everybody because those movies did well, adn these added elements are sure to get the skeptics in the seats. Yeah, it doens’t really look like it, the movie only brought in $48 Million demestic, and I can almost guarantee that barely earned for the studio after the costs to produce and promote this thing.

I’m giving G.I.Jane a 3. Maybe I’m being too harsh., I didn’t hate the movie, but I really wasn’t impressed either. Once again, Ridley Scott doesn’t do it for me. Sure, this was an adequate drama with some interesting stuff and serviceable performances, but it just wasn’t much more. It was “meh”. Yes, I dug the training montage, but the execution of this concept was mediocre to me.

Sylvester Stallone is one of those “love him or hate him” types. people who don’t like him or his film really don’t like him. Those who who dig sly give him a great deal of passes, apologetically defend his work, and always await his next outing, no matter how desperate, tired, hackneyed, or awful it seems. I mean, Sly is one of those actors who was getting top-dollar one minute and the next was hitting straight to DVD at blockbuster. The guy isn’t the best actor ever, but Rocky and First Blood were masterpiece that showcased dimension and range.

One of the later films from Sly’s career, one that I believe shows his range well and gets overlooked becasue it wasn’t the “resurrection” people thought it needed to be in order to be good, was Get Carter. The film is a remake of the cult classic 70s movie starring Michael Caine. In this new versions Sly plays Jack Carter, who returns to his hometown in Washington State to investigate and avenge the death of his brother, Richie.

The movie is as much a character study as it as a plot-driven action thriller; and frankly, I think that’s the reason it received such a cold reception. Those wanting sly to return to his form in Demolotion Man were left wanting in the action arena, and those looking for a character driven drama were left with far too much action. On top of this, Get Carter. was no basic, by-the-numbers studio picture. Director Stephen T. Kay was not interested in common shots or lighting techniques. His film is experimental and highly stylized. His score is unconditional mish-mash of seasonal techno and tried-but-true house standards like Moby. Combine all these elements, and you have one mess of an investment. It’s far too stylistic for the mainstream movie-goer, but too locked into by-the-numbers action beats for the indy crowd. It’s box-office failure was destined from the moment Kay decided to be a director and not a muppet.

So, here we have a picture that left most unsatisfied, and it’s plain to see why. Luckily for me, I saw Get Carter on DVD with no build-up, hype, or expectation. Frankly, I love it; and I think that for all its faults, it’s a solid flic. Stallone shows range the likes of which I hadn’t seen from him outside of Copland or First Blood. His performance is excellent, adn he’s surrounded by excellent support. Miranda Richardson, Rachel leigh Cook, Alan Cumming, John C. McGinley, Michael Caine, and the brilliant Mickey Rourke all aide in elevating a basic script into an interesting yarn. Kay’s direction is experimental and, if nothing else, always interesting. His editing is crisp and vibrant. The music choices are fitting. Overall, the movie is one of those little gems that was released and lost in the mix, but those who’ve seen it and appreciate it will ensure it has a solid shelf-life for years to come. There’s a car chase that leaves a bit to be desired, and the script has its shortcomings, but overall the cast and crew elevate the flic to excellence.

I am giving Get Carter a solid 5. It earned it.

Garden State isn’t a bad movie. It’s good. While his style is a bit self-aware, Zach Braff shows commpentance and skill in directing. The writing is engaging, with plenty of interesting and eccentric characters working their way through angst, numbness, dissatisfaction, and sorrow. There’s also some good “indie” music and several bits of humor. All that considered, however, I just didn’t love it.

I wanted to. I wanted to think it was heartfelt and sweet and engaging. I wanted to laugh, maybe cry. I wanted this to be a new favorite (I want that for all movies); but it just didn’t do it for me. That’s just me, though. If you love it, more power to you. If you hate it, to you, power as well. For me, it was just kinda “Meh. That was a movie.” I know some of you love it, and that’s great; but it just wasn’t for me.

In fairness, however, I certianly felt it was still a good movie; and were I asked to watch it again with someone, I would. It’s kind of like a Cameron Crowe movie with lesser music and harsher realism. I really like Cameron Crowe, and I think that Braff continues to make films, he’ll be successful, and he’ll probably come out with one or two I really dig. Let’s hope.

For now, I am giving Garden State a 4.

Steve McQueen is an American acting legend. Apparently. Until Saturday, I hadn’t seen him in anything; and I have seen plenty of films. And now that I have seen him, I understand the hype, and I am going to do what I can to catch more of him. The Great Escape is one of McQueen’s most well-known flics, and I fully know why. It’s an epic World War 2 prison movie, and it’s full of great moments, fantastic acting, and an overall feeling of victory in spite of an arguable failure. Alongside McQueen star Charles Bronson, James Gardner, and Richard Attenborough, each of whom also play their roles wonderfully. And these are great roles to play. Each colorful character of the ensemble has his own specialty, personality and function in the escape and film.

But characters can only carry a film so far. A film also needs story, and The Great Escape has a fantastic one. It follows a group of Escape artists, each of whom has proudly amassed a record of breaking out of prison camps, ad all of whom are all put under one roof in the most secure Nazi prison camp of the war. Together, these men help one another in order to coordinate the biggest single escape attempt in the history of the war. The opening claims the events are based on factual accounts while the characters are composites of real people. Pretty solid stuff.

I don’t want to get into details, becuase I don’t want to ruin it, but I’ll just say that movie is a roller coaster ride of emotions, expectations, and experiences. I am sure subsequent viewings, while not as goodas the first, will still yield plenty of enjoyment from the actors and characters they play. The guys in this flic are that charming, and their plight is just that sympathetic. Given this, I am giving The Great Escape a very solid 5. It’s a good ol’ time with the movies.

I know this is troublesome, but I don’t find Bill Murray all that funny. Yeah, he’s got good timing, and his often disheveled appearance spurs a laugh or two, but in all honesty, I think he’s an average comic personality, with alot of hit and miss material. He just doesn’t do it for me and that makes watching a movie like Groundhog Day difficult. Murray is the central focus and source of comedy in the flic; and for viewers like me that find him average at best, that can make for a dull, mediocre experience. This isn’t to say that others shouldn’t find him funny or enjoy his movies. On the contrary, people have different tastes, and if Murray is your guy–that’s awesome! More power to you.

Given my tastes, however, this creates a bit of “meh” feeling. The story follows a reporter played by Murray who is stuck reliving the same day, Groundhog’s Day, over and over and over again. Despite, Murray’s efforts to do good, kill the groundhog, and more, he wakes up each day on the same exact day, and he begins to use it to his advantage. He’d get plenty of women, learn about people’s private lives, and more. Of course, as this is a feel good comedy, Murray doens’t actually escape Groundhog’s Day until he is a changeed person, a better person. While for him this was a long and drawn out journey, to everyone else it appeared to be a complete change of heart.

On further reflection I love this concept and story, and I think I would love the movie had a comedian I really enjoyed been the star. The idea that you could relive the same day over-and-over without cosequences is one with endless possibilities and loads of potential discussion. What is the morality of that type of situation? What would you do? Why? and etc. So, the movie in and of itself is interesting.

I am gonna give Groundhog Day a 4 for its premise and overall execution, even if Murray is not my favorite dude. I enjoyed the story and the idea behind the picutre enouugh to easily warrant other viewings, but this was not a hilarious romp-of-a-comedy for me.

Hi all, this is a bit long and drawn out. I apologize for that, but I really had alot of thoughts on feelings on this experience, and this is my blog where I have no editor, so you’ll have to bear it. Again, apologies in advance.

I try to be a striaght on this here blog, so I’ll be honest–I had no idea what to expect going into Grindhouse. I like the work of both Tarantino and Rodriguez; but this new beast they birthed together, this new fusion of past cinema and present talent to rekindle an era of films that America and Hollywood would like to forget, had me kind of worried. If these Grindhouse flics were all so poorly made and executed, why bother revisiting them?

The answer, so far as I can make sense of it all, is a simple and beautiful one. People are affected differently by the movies, and that is okay. As far as I can tell, that is what Grindhouse is all about. It’s a celebration of the violent, cheap, gritty films that affected a new generation of filmmakers in ways no one could have foreseen or predicted. It’s all about people experiencing cinema at its most base and exploitatvie. It’s all about revelling in the nastiness of the human condition and just how ugly things can get. And it’s about how, for some people, that is what gets them off and makes them love the movies. And you know what, that’s great!

in fact, for me, this is a very late and welcome validation. In various circles, I am known for having “poor taste” in film. I rank The Warrriors and Roadhouse above The Rock and Lethal Weapon. I think Chasing Amy is the most sincere romantic comedy ever put to celluloid. I will argue tooth-and-nail that The Matrix Revolutions is a great sci-fi flic. Grindhouse,symbolizes to me a validation of my opinions; it says to me., “Like what you want, and if you get the chance, make movies like the ones you love, only do it better.”

And that is exactly what Tarantino and Rodriguez do. They make movies that for all intents and purposes should be bad, and they aren’t. In fact, they are interesting, intriguing, and entertaining to-boot, much in the same way the old movies of the urban grindhouses were to these filmmakers–even if they weren’t to anyone else.

That being said, I have an affinity for the theme and concept of Grindhouse. I admire the project’s ambition and unapologetic approach to genre filmmaking, particlarly the serial killer and zombie subgenres of horror. So, the movie, in and of itself, despite content, gets high praise from this guy.

Now, the actual parts of the whole weren’t the greatest things I had ever seen. I won’t divulge too much here, I’ll let the movies speak for themselves. To keep things simple. I will say that the films are both very entertaining and fun, but I was unable to really engage either on any emotional level beyond anxiety or excitement. Both movies are very tense and engrossing despite throughout, and one never really knows when the fit-will-hit-the-shan.

Robert Rodriguez’ “Planet Terror” is to the Zombie Genre what Aliens is to extraterrstrial sci-fi–it’s a no-holds-barred battle to the death with a few minor lulls for character exploration. It’s ridiculous how much violence they crammed into this picture. And the gore is noteworthy, too. It makes George Romero’s Land of the Dead look like Disney’s The Haunted Mansion, and that’s saying something. It’s just brutal, shocking, and in-your-face til you practically feel intenstines and blood on your clothes. Yeah, it’s like that.

“Death Proof”, Tarantino’s segment, is a better film but moves much more slowly and in an antithetical manner. Whereas “Terror” is focues on the bloodshed and the action, “Proof” is concerned with atmosphere and character interaction which leads to bloodshed and action. In my opinion, “Death Proof” is much better movie in and of itself, and actually has Tarantino’s distinctive look and feel–as well the patented overly-talky-yet-still-entertianing dialogue. I had alot of trouble with this movie while watching it; but upon further reflection, I had trouble with my own feelings and reactions to it MORE than IT, itself. Again, I am not getting plot and story here; I’ll just remind everyone that they are secondary next to the characterizations, action sequences, and tone.

Something else to point out is that this movie solidifies Tarantino as a true auteur. Even in a project where he is trying to make a “great, bad movie” he winds up making a “great movie”–with themes and ideas one wouldn’t expect him to bother engaging (in fact, it’s arguable that he didn’t even intend to say or imply certain themes and ideas that he does [for example, the film posits the belief that it is not only right but, also, good to celebrate the lesser of two evils.]).

All that being said–and I know it was alot–I give Grindhouse a strong 5 for being incredibly entertaining and unapologetic in its admiration for the base and sordid films which inspired it. This movie or set of movies is an experience–as it was intended to be–one that many people of a certain temperment and standard will enjoy over-and-over again. Gindhouse is rated R for moderate sexual content, brutality, gore, nightmarish images, harsh language, violence, and crass humor. It’s about as offensive to innocence and decency as movie’s get.

Oh, The Goonies…is there anyone who doesn’t love The Goonies. Yeah, it’s me. Listen, I enjoy this Richard Donner helmed pick presented by Steven Spielberg, but it’s not one of those all-time favorites to me like it is to so many other people. I think it’s becuase I didn’t grow up watching it. As a child, I was terrified of Sloth, and it wasn’t til I watched the movie in high school that I really appreciated this little flic.

Before I say anything else about the film I must give credit where credit is due. Chunk is THE best part of this movie. Every time that kid is onscreen, it’s gold. Sloth, his partner-in-crime, so-to-speak, is also excellent; but it is Chunk is above all else, the funniest and most charismatic kid in the mix. He’s most excellent.

The story is a great one, a group of ostracized and lower middle class kids go on a treasure seeking quest in order to get the money so they don’t have to move from the “Goondocks”, their beloved hometown of Astoria, Orgeon. Essentially, it’s The Little Rascals-meets-Indiana Jones, noly without Buckwheat–a devastating absence to be sure.

Anyway, I dig the whole aspect of kids seeking treasure, I dig adventure and priates gold, and I dig Corey Feldman (who doesn’t?). But I felt the movie took some a little too long getting started, and I was bored at some points. Again, just me, just my tastes. I think the movie served as an AWESOME template for a series–even now, I think a Goonies comic or cartoon could be awesome. I just wish it would have had a better pace and more Sloth and Chunk –Man, I love those guys!!!!

The Goonies gets a solid 5. It was heading for a 4, but the gut-busting charisma and hilarity of Chunk and the subsequent Chunk-and-Sloth combo really brough this flick up to FAAAAAAANNTASTIC!!!! standards.

Oh, and Data and Mouth are excellent characters as well.

I’m not gonna spend a lot of time on Ghost Rider because I hated it. I’ll just say this. I went into to Ghost Rider expecting one good one-liner and one-good fight. Not only did I not get either, but everything on screen sucked. I hated it. HATED IT!!!

Look, the writer/director of this movie also wrote Daredevil, one of my favorite comic book movies of all time, but I loved Daredevil in spite of itself. It was flawed and awkward at times, but becuase of my love for the character of Daredevil. Ghost Rider proves that this director really does not really do it for me. I don’t get his way of telling story. I don’t understand his goals and intentions. If you do, that’s awesome, more power to you. I just don’t get it. As far as I could tell, Ghost Rider had no theme, no real plot, and the most disappointing Hero vs. Cop battle of all time. Anytime the hero must escape jail or fight the cops I love it, and I think its the best. When this started in Ghost Rider, I was so excited…only to be more and more disappointed…

Seriously, I can think of no reason to sit through this movie. I was desperately looking for a single iota of pleasure, but by the end, I just wanted to die…I would have rather LEFT THE EARTH than finish this movie. I hated it that much. I don’t usually try to recommend or discourage people from seeing certain flics because I realize other people have didn’t tastes than I do, but I am going to go out on a limb and encourage everyone to avoid this movie. I hated, hated, hated Ghost Rider. It is the Alien Resurrection of Comic Book Movies! It…it’s just….I didn’t like it at all….Ghost Rider gets a 1…a 1 out of 7…a 14%….ugh.

SONG OF THE POST: “Speed Demon” by Michael Jackson, from BAD