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Reviews
The Princess Bride (1987)
As you wish!
The Princess Bride is just brilliant. The characters are perfectly cast by known, yet lesser used actors. This isn't a Tom Cruise, Ben Afleck, Julia Roberts type film and that's one of the reasons for it's long lasting appeal. It's hard to imagine anyone other than André the Giant as the lovable Fessik. Arguably the most recognizable actor in the movie is Billy Crystal in a short but hilarious scene. Most people have already watched The Princess Bride, and it's hard to find anyone that doesn't like it. As a side note, this movie is the source of one of the most famous movie quotes of all time... "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." If you haven't seen The Princess Bride, do yourself a favor and pick it up at the first available opportunity. I never rate anything higher than 9, so this get's my highest honor.
Stand by Me (1986)
Nastalgic, Delightful, Immersive
I nearly gave Stand By Me a 10/10 but I come from the school of thought that nothing is perfect, hence I reluctantly made it a 9/10.
Stand By Me is one of the movies I watch several times during the year. It always brings a smile to my face as I begin thinking of my own childhood. That is really quite strange because the movie takes place in the early 50's and I was born in '77. That 20+ year difference doesn't seem to have any diminishing effects on this movies ability to relate to boys, young men, or older. I suppose you could call it timeless.
As far as mood, Stand By Me is both serious and light-hearted at the same time. The 4 boys (main Characters) laugh a lot as most do, but they also cry and occasionally fight.
The music is almost like an additional character. It fits the film perfectly and despite the fact that it's not my preferred listening choice, I can't help but hum or even sing along during the movie. The music seems to propel you back in time and it feels like your on this great adventure with the Characters.
The entire cast is huge, and includes many well established actors such as Will Wheaton, Corey Feldman, River Phoenix, Jerry O'Connell, and supporting actors including John Cusack, Richard Dreyfuss, and Kiefer Sutherland. I'm not sure about some of the spelling on the names, so please forgive me if I misspelled any.
The one single deterrent in my opinion is that the language is rather strong. All of the boys attempt to be independent and rebellious to some extent and in the absence of parental figures they curse quite often. This won't bother everyone, but I felt the movie would have been just as great without the language, or perhaps with less (mostly in the beginning). It is probably more believable this way however, and i'm sure that was one of the intentions of the director.
In conclusion, Stand By Me is over 20 years old now. Most people have seen it, but if you haven't then i'm suggesting it to you now. I'm quite sure you'll enjoy it, especially guys, but everyone should see it once. For those of you who already love this movie, make sure you add it to your home video collection. Enjoy this coming of age movie.
The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
Buy the DVD it's worth it
This movie is a great action flick with some cheesy dialog. The good vs. evil plot is captivating and most of the characters were fleshed out to satisfaction.
There aren't very many movies that can compete from a visual perspective. The CG is great with only a few exceptions and the variety in the visuals is pretty amazing. I don't know if this film is available in HD or not, but it looks great in my 1080P up-scaling DVD player.
On a final note, the sound is superb. If you have a decent Surround Sound set up you'll be very pleased.
I don't know what else to say, it's a good show for anyone that likes action and/or Sci-Fi. You're typical guy film.
Oscar (1991)
The film is a gem!
You don't have to be a Stalone fan to enjoy this film. It is a comedy, and it delivers in large doses.
There are a ton of characters and most are played by well known actors. The story progresses very fast because they introduce one of the new characters at every corner for much of the movie. This may sound chaotic, but the plot flows and you get just enough of each character to feel satisfied.
If you need a good family film with lots of laughs Oscar won't disappoint. The basic premise, is a Gangster in the days of prohibition who is trying to leave his life of crime while many crazy events try to thwart his attempt.
The Goonies (1985)
This movie stands the test of time
This is one of the best movies of all time. I fell in love with it as a young kid the first time I watched it on television with my younger sister.
The cast works perfectly for this story, the comedy is top notch and appeal lasts forever. One of the best things about the Goonies is so many of us have become a "Goonie". I myself use the name in most of my monikers including for these reviews here at IMDb.
With the advancement of film making capabilities The Goonies is starting to look dated, but I still enjoy every minute of it. My wife and I can usually snap out of any bad mood or "funk" when we see Chunk and the Gang get together in this teenage riot.
The Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie: Strange Brew (1983)
A different kind of funny
Strange Brew in a word is... FUNNY! (Or at least I think so?!) I have owned this movie for about 11 years, and i've shown it to most of my friends at one time or another; However, only a few seem to share my enthusiasm for the McKensie bros. Here's a tip for those who didn't like it. The lion at the beginning, it didn't roar. No siree! It... burped. That is a huge clue as to what kind of movie you are watching. If you didn't laugh, then SHUT THE VCR/DVD player off! If you almost laughed, watch the next few minutes and then quickly make your decision because that is a good indication of how the movie begins, flows, and ends.
How many movies can you see 30 or 40 times and still enjoy? Strange Brew is that type of movie for me. I have to admit though, that it isn't quite as strong towards the end. It's almost as though the writers got tired. That is why I only give it 8 out of 10 stars.
You don't have to be a fan of SCTV to enjoy Strange Brew, but it sure helps. Going back to the roots of Bob and Doug McKensie just makes the movie that much better for me, mostly because of the differences between the characters in the movie adaptation.
Now given that this movie has been out for so long, and that Bob and Doug McKensie have crossed so many genres, you probably know all about what i've said and then some. If that is the case, quit reading and go watch Strange Brew!