Gilligan's Island had a good ballad, both in opening AND end credits. Barney Miller had the best bass. Now, we don't really have theme songs anymore...that is, unless you watch classic channels like MeTV or Antenna TV. TVLand used to be good until the early 2000s then they decided to get hip and, well, suck.
To me, a theme song truly sets up a show, much like the Star Wars music sets up any of those mvoies (except for Attack of the Clones!). CSI still does it, as does NCIS, even though both are short. With all the ad time anymore, these shows need as much plot time time as they can get!
To start, here's a list of 10 shows with great LYRICAL themes. These are not in any particular order, just as they come to mind. Write to me if you have any to add.
1. Gilligan's Island
2. Green Acres (corny but fun)
3. Alice (they changed the lyrics after season 2 but it still set the show's tone nicely)
4. Addams Family
5. Scooby Doo Where Are You AND Scooby Doo Movies
6. Inspector Gadget
7. Greatest American Hero
8. Welcome Back, Kotter
9. The Jeffersons
10. Good Times
Now for a list of 10 shows without lyrics. Once again, stream of consciousness. Write if you have additional themse to suggest.
1. Barney Miller
2. The Wild Wild West
3. The Twilight Zone
4. Dragnet
5. Hawaii 5-O
6. Alfred Hitchcock
7. Perry Mason
8. Knight Rider
9. The A-Team
10. Law & Order
Of course, I left out many that a lot of people would deem classics. For instance, the theme to "Friends" is a classic among its fans, but a source of a need for butt itch cream for me! Growing Pains, Family Ties, and Who's the Boss? were also popular for some fans, but not yours truly! For me, the theme should be as fun to hear/watch as the main show.
Therefore, I have created my theme song. Well, I have the lyrics, and I could probably sing it to the tune of "Davy Crockett" but not just yet. Any ideas, write to A-Treat soda in Pennsylvania and have them send me some stuff, then tell me your theme idea (Las Vegas has no local brand...OF ANYTHING, so I look to Pennsylvania for good memories of food).
Here are my lyrics:
There once was a man named Mr. Moore.
As a child he was a real big bore.
At eighteen when his folks kicked him out the door.
He decided he'd be a bore no more.
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Not too rich and not too poor
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Crazy and sarcastic to the core
Over the years he went to school
Never again in his sleep would he drool
He always loved to swim in a pool
Yet everyone still called him a fool
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Not too rich and not too poor
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Crazy and sarcastic to the core
Later on he started to teach
In his spare time he dreamed of the beach
Yet a married life seemed out of reach
All the ladies wanted Stacy Keach!
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Not too rich and not too poor
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Crazy and sarcastic to the core
Then at last he found Mrs. Right
His heart told him she was out of sight!
Even when as a teacher money was tight,
They had a happy wedding one night
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Not too rich and not too poor
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Crazy and sarcastic to the core
The Moore's love was very rife
He loved being with his wife.
After some time there was some strife
Because what they needed was to bring in a new life
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Not too rich and not too poor
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Crazy and sarcastic to the core
Then one early August they had Natalie Jo
Oh, how they loved her so
She was beautiful from head to toe
But now their life was constantly on the go
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Not too rich and not too poor
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Crazy and sarcastic to the core
If it seems a bit self-deprecating, well, that's me and I like myself just fine anyway. Time to go..."The Courtship of Eddie's Father" is ringing in my head.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Coming Soon...Look Out!!!! Part 4: The Golden Age
Over the past month or so, I've been reviewing movies that I waited to see at the theater. That means two things: 1, my parents didn't drag me to see them, and 2, they did not star Katherine Sieg Heil...er Heigl oops. I do seem to keep picking on her, but after catching apreview of her latest movie recently, I just can't understand why she's shoved at us.
Now we enter what I consider to be the "Golden Age" of my movie-going, the years 1996 to 2002. This covers the time of my prime college years to when I left northern California for Las Vegas (a little of there also).
1996
Beavis and Butthead Do America- OK, yes, we (my buddy Scott and I) were heavily influenced by the TV show. We did enjoy this film; unfortunately, the show started to get bad after this. (some would argue it always had been)
Broken Arrow- another new birth of John Travolta era film, this time he's a bad guy. Christian Slater was just along for the ride. This film was the only one that I, Scott, and Rob saw together. I can still watch this from time to time.
Escape from L.A.- a pretty good action film. I hadn't seen Escape from New York before this. What makes this movie even more memorable is that the film broke at a crucial moment (free movie pass for us!)
Independence Day- begin the "Will Smith can't lose" era of film. Quite enjoyable to this day! Imagine: Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum save the world! Unlikely in real life.
Mars Attacks- I enjoy this less now than I did when it came out, but it's still funny to think that the world was saved by Slim Whitman
Mystery Science Theater 300 The Movie- ok, I didn't exactly wait with baited breath for this one, but it's notable because Scott and I went to see this on our first night in the off-campus apartment. It was like watching an episode of the show on a big screen...which was sometimes good and often bad.
The People vs Larry Flynt- not a bad film, except one feels they've rooted for a sleazeball for 2 hours. I could take or leave this one now.
The Rock- Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage...one of many interesting pairings of the time, but it worked! This suffers from TV overplay, though.
Rumble in the Bronx- Our intro to Jackie Chan...pretty good! The only thing is, you've seen one of these, you've seen all of them.
Spy Hard- Yeah, Leslie Nielsen...one gag after another...been there done that. Next!
Star Trek First Contact- Now they got it right. This was the first reall all-NG cast with no Shatner influence. Throw in the Borg and you have a winner!
A Time to Kill- another good Grisham offering. Well done!
Tin Cup- tell the truth, I like this one better now than I did then. Painful to watch the end at first, but now it's all good.
Yeah, a bountiful year! On to...
1997
Absolute Power- great Eastwood movie! I still love this one.
Air Force One- good Harrison Ford movie, but one gets tired of terrorists hijacking a plane, even if it does hold Han Solo!
Boogie Nights: Cheering for fictional porn stars....afternoon well-spent!
Con Air- This movie still rocks! Once again, John Malkovich shines as the bad guy.
The Devil's Advocate- hmmm, Keanu Reeves as a lawyer and Al Pacino as Satan! I think the best part was Connie Nielsen baring it all, but otherwise cheese with lots of ham
Face/Off- John Travolta again in bad (with some good) guy mode vs Nicolas Cage in good (sometimes bad) guy role...confusing? Maybe, but it's still watchable!
Grosse Pointe Blank- still a favorite! I can't help feel sorry for a guy whose childhood home is now a mini-mart.
The Ice Storm- a strange movie about mid-70s morality...depressing, actually!
The Jackal- for some reason I still like this one. Richard Gere with an Irish accent was fun to watch
Jackie Brown- this film is actually good due to the music. Otherwise, it's a yawner even with the soundtrack halfway through
L.A. Confidentail- a great detective story set in the 50s! I can watch this anytime.
Liar Liar- fun Jim Carrey without getting too dumb!
Leave it to Beaver- uh...saw this out of curiosity, and saw it ONCE!
Men in Black- fun fun fun! Really! Next!
The Peacemaker- cheesy George Clooney...next!
Private Parts- funny, but gets stale after 2 viewings
Rainmaker- great John Grisham flick...next!
Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion-okay film, hard to watch twice...so I didn't. Mostly a chick flick.
The Saint- interesting. I like it, but it has slow moments...don't watch after a long hard day
Yes, 1997 was a PEAK year. One would think I did nothing but see movies. Apart form classes and jobs, yeah, that was pretty much it!
1998
Armageddon- okay but overlong. Couldn't see it twice!
The Avengers- horrible! next!
The Big Hit- looked good in previews, but it sucked. Next! ( hmm, detecting a pattern here!)
The Big Lebowski- that's more like it! Jeff Bridges as an aging hippie, say no more!
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas- a bit confusing at times (as Hunter Thompson was often confused and confusing!)...Johnny Depp shines here. Good movie to see every 5 years.
Lethal Weapon 4- good movie, and a good end to a series!
Lost in Space- tough to like...and I didn't!
The Mask of Zorro- Antonio Banderas as Zorro...it worked! I can always watch this.
The Negotiator- ok, but it was a bit dark. Can't like this one anymore, the ending wasn't satisfying
Out of Sight- better George Clooney, and paired with J. Lo (who was hot at the time) this was a good Elmore Leonard adaptation
Psycho remake- word of advice...ALWAYS stick with Tony Perkins!
Star Trek:Insurrection- good, but forgettable
The Truman Show- good and insightful..are we all in a glass dome?
U.S. Marshalls- a sequel to The Fugitve...it had lost its charm after 1 viewing
The Wedding Singer- great, always enjoyable!
Overall, an ok year, but not nearly as much gold as 1997.
1999
8mm- dark Nicolas Cage film, and quite disturbing...one view was enough
American Beauty- enjoyable drama, but again, a not-so-happy ending and those don't sit well with me
Analyze This- funny still
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me- pretty funny sequel, still funny!
Dogma- great, funny movie, and it still does well at poking fun at Catholicism
Mystery Men- funny sttill even if I was the only one who loved it.
Payback- rooting for a bad guy was pretty fun! Still is!
Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace- What I'd looked forward to for years.....just no pod races!!!!!!!!!
The Thomas Crown Afair- pretty good thriller with a good cast! Always watchable.
This seemed to be a tough year! Granted I saw a few others, but not always with previous anticipation.
2000
Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle- funny at first...dumb on 2nd viewing.
Charlie's Angels- pretty good still...another chhese with lots of ham
The Contender- great political drama! Always watchable.
High Fidelity- good on first viewing, tough afterwards
Keeping the Faith- wonderful flim about a girl, a priest, and a rabbi...one of the best of the year
Space Cowboys- Eastwood back in top form with a great cast! A favorite.
O Brother Where Art Thou?- pretty good. Unusual, but well done. Next!
Road Trip- fun and goofy! Still fun to watch!
Scary Movie- the only good one of the series, still fun!
Shaft 2000- good, but Samuel L. Jackson is no Richard Roundtree!
A bit better than 1999, but lacking still. Oh well, I was in ed school so I was busy! The Golen Age is slowly dimming.
2001
Ali- good, but not immortal. Only the man himself is!
Bandits- for some reason, this is a favorite. Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton jsut worked here
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back- still funny...if you know what to expect.
Ocean's 11- I still love this one! Yet, I also love the original 1960 classic even more.
Rat Race- a fun movie for everyone!
The Royal Tenenbaums- a major disappointment, and disturbing at times.
Vanilla Sky- weird, bad, never again!
A pretty bad year overall, not only for films, but a lot of people in general as well.
2002
The Count of Monte Cristo- great adventure! Still a favorite
Big Trouble- a good and funny film, but the book was better
Spider-Man- great live-action adaptation of the comic book! Still fun to watch.
Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones- uh, what? I like it, but it's the worst of the series. I had to see ti twice to realize I didn't like it all that much. The obligatory lightsaber duel was even disappointing!
The Sum of All Fears-I like this one, but I liked the book better. The adapation was poor but the story was good
The Bourne Identity- I still love this one. It introduced Matt Damon as an action star, not just goofy independent drama
Men in Back II- not nearly as good as the 1st one...haven't seen it twice.
Road to Perdition- interesting Tom Hanks film, but it showed me Jude Law has range.
Well, 2002 was slightly better, but there were many so-so films. And with that, the golden age ends. Sure, there have been some good films over the years, but the movies get so expensive and, well, there's a lot of CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!! I still blame Heigle!
U-571- great World War II submarine flick! I love this one.
Now we enter what I consider to be the "Golden Age" of my movie-going, the years 1996 to 2002. This covers the time of my prime college years to when I left northern California for Las Vegas (a little of there also).
1996
Beavis and Butthead Do America- OK, yes, we (my buddy Scott and I) were heavily influenced by the TV show. We did enjoy this film; unfortunately, the show started to get bad after this. (some would argue it always had been)
Broken Arrow- another new birth of John Travolta era film, this time he's a bad guy. Christian Slater was just along for the ride. This film was the only one that I, Scott, and Rob saw together. I can still watch this from time to time.
Escape from L.A.- a pretty good action film. I hadn't seen Escape from New York before this. What makes this movie even more memorable is that the film broke at a crucial moment (free movie pass for us!)
Independence Day- begin the "Will Smith can't lose" era of film. Quite enjoyable to this day! Imagine: Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum save the world! Unlikely in real life.
Mars Attacks- I enjoy this less now than I did when it came out, but it's still funny to think that the world was saved by Slim Whitman
Mystery Science Theater 300 The Movie- ok, I didn't exactly wait with baited breath for this one, but it's notable because Scott and I went to see this on our first night in the off-campus apartment. It was like watching an episode of the show on a big screen...which was sometimes good and often bad.
The People vs Larry Flynt- not a bad film, except one feels they've rooted for a sleazeball for 2 hours. I could take or leave this one now.
The Rock- Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage...one of many interesting pairings of the time, but it worked! This suffers from TV overplay, though.
Rumble in the Bronx- Our intro to Jackie Chan...pretty good! The only thing is, you've seen one of these, you've seen all of them.
Spy Hard- Yeah, Leslie Nielsen...one gag after another...been there done that. Next!
Star Trek First Contact- Now they got it right. This was the first reall all-NG cast with no Shatner influence. Throw in the Borg and you have a winner!
A Time to Kill- another good Grisham offering. Well done!
Tin Cup- tell the truth, I like this one better now than I did then. Painful to watch the end at first, but now it's all good.
Yeah, a bountiful year! On to...
1997
Absolute Power- great Eastwood movie! I still love this one.
Air Force One- good Harrison Ford movie, but one gets tired of terrorists hijacking a plane, even if it does hold Han Solo!
Boogie Nights: Cheering for fictional porn stars....afternoon well-spent!
Con Air- This movie still rocks! Once again, John Malkovich shines as the bad guy.
The Devil's Advocate- hmmm, Keanu Reeves as a lawyer and Al Pacino as Satan! I think the best part was Connie Nielsen baring it all, but otherwise cheese with lots of ham
Face/Off- John Travolta again in bad (with some good) guy mode vs Nicolas Cage in good (sometimes bad) guy role...confusing? Maybe, but it's still watchable!
Grosse Pointe Blank- still a favorite! I can't help feel sorry for a guy whose childhood home is now a mini-mart.
The Ice Storm- a strange movie about mid-70s morality...depressing, actually!
The Jackal- for some reason I still like this one. Richard Gere with an Irish accent was fun to watch
Jackie Brown- this film is actually good due to the music. Otherwise, it's a yawner even with the soundtrack halfway through
L.A. Confidentail- a great detective story set in the 50s! I can watch this anytime.
Liar Liar- fun Jim Carrey without getting too dumb!
Leave it to Beaver- uh...saw this out of curiosity, and saw it ONCE!
Men in Black- fun fun fun! Really! Next!
The Peacemaker- cheesy George Clooney...next!
Private Parts- funny, but gets stale after 2 viewings
Rainmaker- great John Grisham flick...next!
Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion-okay film, hard to watch twice...so I didn't. Mostly a chick flick.
The Saint- interesting. I like it, but it has slow moments...don't watch after a long hard day
Yes, 1997 was a PEAK year. One would think I did nothing but see movies. Apart form classes and jobs, yeah, that was pretty much it!
1998
Armageddon- okay but overlong. Couldn't see it twice!
The Avengers- horrible! next!
The Big Hit- looked good in previews, but it sucked. Next! ( hmm, detecting a pattern here!)
The Big Lebowski- that's more like it! Jeff Bridges as an aging hippie, say no more!
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas- a bit confusing at times (as Hunter Thompson was often confused and confusing!)...Johnny Depp shines here. Good movie to see every 5 years.
Lethal Weapon 4- good movie, and a good end to a series!
Lost in Space- tough to like...and I didn't!
The Mask of Zorro- Antonio Banderas as Zorro...it worked! I can always watch this.
The Negotiator- ok, but it was a bit dark. Can't like this one anymore, the ending wasn't satisfying
Out of Sight- better George Clooney, and paired with J. Lo (who was hot at the time) this was a good Elmore Leonard adaptation
Psycho remake- word of advice...ALWAYS stick with Tony Perkins!
Star Trek:Insurrection- good, but forgettable
The Truman Show- good and insightful..are we all in a glass dome?
U.S. Marshalls- a sequel to The Fugitve...it had lost its charm after 1 viewing
The Wedding Singer- great, always enjoyable!
Overall, an ok year, but not nearly as much gold as 1997.
1999
8mm- dark Nicolas Cage film, and quite disturbing...one view was enough
American Beauty- enjoyable drama, but again, a not-so-happy ending and those don't sit well with me
Analyze This- funny still
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me- pretty funny sequel, still funny!
Dogma- great, funny movie, and it still does well at poking fun at Catholicism
Mystery Men- funny sttill even if I was the only one who loved it.
Payback- rooting for a bad guy was pretty fun! Still is!
Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace- What I'd looked forward to for years.....just no pod races!!!!!!!!!
The Thomas Crown Afair- pretty good thriller with a good cast! Always watchable.
This seemed to be a tough year! Granted I saw a few others, but not always with previous anticipation.
2000
Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle- funny at first...dumb on 2nd viewing.
Charlie's Angels- pretty good still...another chhese with lots of ham
The Contender- great political drama! Always watchable.
High Fidelity- good on first viewing, tough afterwards
Keeping the Faith- wonderful flim about a girl, a priest, and a rabbi...one of the best of the year
Space Cowboys- Eastwood back in top form with a great cast! A favorite.
O Brother Where Art Thou?- pretty good. Unusual, but well done. Next!
Road Trip- fun and goofy! Still fun to watch!
Scary Movie- the only good one of the series, still fun!
Shaft 2000- good, but Samuel L. Jackson is no Richard Roundtree!
A bit better than 1999, but lacking still. Oh well, I was in ed school so I was busy! The Golen Age is slowly dimming.
2001
Ali- good, but not immortal. Only the man himself is!
Bandits- for some reason, this is a favorite. Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton jsut worked here
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back- still funny...if you know what to expect.
Ocean's 11- I still love this one! Yet, I also love the original 1960 classic even more.
Rat Race- a fun movie for everyone!
The Royal Tenenbaums- a major disappointment, and disturbing at times.
Vanilla Sky- weird, bad, never again!
A pretty bad year overall, not only for films, but a lot of people in general as well.
2002
The Count of Monte Cristo- great adventure! Still a favorite
Big Trouble- a good and funny film, but the book was better
Spider-Man- great live-action adaptation of the comic book! Still fun to watch.
Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones- uh, what? I like it, but it's the worst of the series. I had to see ti twice to realize I didn't like it all that much. The obligatory lightsaber duel was even disappointing!
The Sum of All Fears-I like this one, but I liked the book better. The adapation was poor but the story was good
The Bourne Identity- I still love this one. It introduced Matt Damon as an action star, not just goofy independent drama
Men in Back II- not nearly as good as the 1st one...haven't seen it twice.
Road to Perdition- interesting Tom Hanks film, but it showed me Jude Law has range.
Well, 2002 was slightly better, but there were many so-so films. And with that, the golden age ends. Sure, there have been some good films over the years, but the movies get so expensive and, well, there's a lot of CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!! I still blame Heigle!
U-571- great World War II submarine flick! I love this one.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Coming soon....look out! Part 3
Without much more ado...we enter the 90s, which for the first couple of years were comparatively less watchable on-screen than 1989. Was Katherine Heigl in movies then, too? Let's start with 1990:
1990
Air America- a disappointment to this day. My wife and I watched this on Encore somewhat recently. It goes to show that putting two popular "hunky" actors toegether in a movie is not guaranteed success.
Another 48 Hours- another disappointment...of course it was a sequel, so there is that factor. However, I remember laughing a bit as a teenager, but did not bother seeing it again after that.
Bird on a Wire- Mel Gibson apparently let Lethal Weapon 2's success go to his head. If Air America wasn't bad enough, then this was.
Back to the Future 3- now we have a suitable end to a series! Watchable all the way through, I can still watch this and enjoy it to this day.
Die Hard 2- great action, wish they'd made a video game for it!
The Godfather Part 3- Granted, I'd never seen the first or second movies. That fact in itself made me want to see them. This one, however, was bad on a 2nd viewing.
Taking Care of Business- Ordinarily Jim Belushi isn't a box office draw, but this one was and still is funny.
1991
Addams Family- Didn't actually see this until it was 2nd run while I was in college. OK movie, but let's face it: Raul Julia was a great actor, but John Asin WAS Gomez Addams.
City Slickers- Funny then, funny now. I look at it a bit differently now, though, because I'm the age the main characters were at then.
The Doors- I still love Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison! However, it is a 1-sided story that shows the singer going from good to bad to worse. Later readings showed Morrison on more of a rollercoaster ride throughout the years. As a new Doors fan, I loved the soundtrack, then found the original albums to have more value.
Hook- Ummm, another 2nd run viewing in early 92...it was ok, just ran long. This was Dustin Hoffman's movie, not Robin Williams's.
Naked Gun 2 1/2- All right, it's a guilty pleasure to this day, this and its original! Fine, I said it! Let's move on...
Point Break- Looked good on previews, looked bad on actual viewing. Patrick Swayze is never believable as a bad guy and Keanu Reeves is rarely if ever believable as an actor.
Star Trek 6- Antoher 2nd run viewing in a lackluster theater during college. That being said, this was the right movie for the original crew to go out on, and Christopher Plummer IS and always will be a believable villain, especially as a Klingon!
Overall, 1991 was lacking in quality, at least according to this list. Let's see what 1992 has to offer.
1992
Batman Returns- I'm ashamed, deeply ashamed to have looked forward to this.
A Few Good Men- Still good! Tom Cruise should look at this from time to time and realize what a purely cheap thrill can do for an audience without all the FX!
Lethal Weapon 3- Ok, but a dud really. Joe Pesci's scenes just killed it.
Patriot Games- Good action. I wondered, though, what it would have been like with Alec Baldwin instead of an older Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan.
My Cousin Vinny- Saw this on Spring Break in San Diego. It is and was funny. A timeless classic!
Under Siege- Maybe the best Steven Seagal ever, because they actually hired a good director and writer. Gary Busey and Tommy Lee Jones as the bad guys are the scene-stealers.
Hmm, now that I look at it, 1992 is worse than 1990 or 91! Will 1993 improve? Let's find out.
1993
The Firm- great legal thriller! I can always see this.
The Fugitive- this may be my favorite film to this day! Once again Tommy Lee Jones steals the show and he earned his Oscar here!
Groundhog Day- always a feel-good movie, and makes one wonder what other small American towns celebrate. always a feel-good movie, and makes one wonder what other small American towns celebrate. always a feel-good movie, and makes one wonder what other small American towns celebrate.
In the Line of Fire- great Eastwood movie, but once again the villain John Malkovich steals the show.
Tombstone- One of my favorite westerns! Val Kilmer AND Kurt Russell shine in this.
OK...not much of an improvement for a year. I'm almost afraid to see 1994. OK, here goes-
1994
Clear and Present Danger- A good Jack Ryan film...but as usual the plot got convoluted in trying to be true to the novel or being independent form the novel. I have a hard time staying awake thorugh this one.
The Client- I'd read the book already, and I was pleasantly surprised at the film. This was one of many Tommy Lee Jones flicks that capitalized on his Fugitive success...not all were good, but this was!
Exit to Eden- saw this in college with my new friends. It was ok, and I have trouble seeing how funny it seemed then. But...if you're a fan of Dana Delany, it's worth it.
Forrest Gump- A favorite then, a favorite now! Saw it 4 times at the theater and proud of it.
Maverick- I still like this one. Mel Gibson was starting to get funnier in his own right, and James Garner is always a treat.
Pulp Fiction- Ezekiel 25:17...classic quote by a 'Fro-wigged Samuel L. Jackson. I love this one even if others do not.
The Santa Clause- A great Christmas film that we as a family still enjoy every year.
The Ref- I was a Denis Leary newbie fan at the time, but this is a Christmas classic of its own right, about the darker dysfunctional family holidays that besmirch many households each year. It is still a classic!
Speed- a rare classic Keanu Reeves flick, but Dennis Hopper is the winner here, as is new star Sandra Bullock. I can still watch this over and over...as long as Keanu's short righeous speeches are muted now and then.
Star Trek Generations- Yawn! Next!
So yes, that was a fuller year! College really helped me to get out and enojy life at the movies more. It would in the next year as well...
1995
Apollo 13- OK, but too many crises on that mission made it a tense movie...not a favorite.
Batman Forever- Tommy Lee Jones Strikes Again...yawn...next!
The Brady Bunch Movie- now this is the way to honor and lampoon an American classic. Once every 2 years is a good viewing schedule at best.
Casino- long, violent, and too much Joe Pesci...next!
Crimson Tide- good submarine suspense film. Denzel vs Hackman.
Desperado- Antonio Banderas at his best, which isn't saying much, I guess...but a good action flick nonetheless!
Die Hard with a Vengeance- yawn, next!
Get Shorty- when a film is made for John Travolta, you have to know what to expect...not so good anymore.
Goldeneye- my first Bond movie in a theater...good, but it made for a better video game.
Heat- Pacino vs DeNiro, long but I still like it!
Jerky Boys- dumb, dumber and dumbest all at once...even Alan Arkin can't save this
Money Train- fun then, dumb now, even with a young J Lo
The Net- great Sandra Bullock suspense movie. Dated computer-wise but still relevant in the Big Brother sense
The Usual Suspects- Kaiser Sose...apart from that, can't watch this anymore
While You Were Sleeping- another good Bullock film...now SHE was one who capitalized well on a previous hit film...not all of hers were winners, but she's still going strong!
Ah yes, film-going in college was a regular thing and there was a lot to see (but not always enjoy)....next, 1996 to 2002, the Golden Age
1990
Air America- a disappointment to this day. My wife and I watched this on Encore somewhat recently. It goes to show that putting two popular "hunky" actors toegether in a movie is not guaranteed success.
Another 48 Hours- another disappointment...of course it was a sequel, so there is that factor. However, I remember laughing a bit as a teenager, but did not bother seeing it again after that.
Bird on a Wire- Mel Gibson apparently let Lethal Weapon 2's success go to his head. If Air America wasn't bad enough, then this was.
Back to the Future 3- now we have a suitable end to a series! Watchable all the way through, I can still watch this and enjoy it to this day.
Die Hard 2- great action, wish they'd made a video game for it!
The Godfather Part 3- Granted, I'd never seen the first or second movies. That fact in itself made me want to see them. This one, however, was bad on a 2nd viewing.
Taking Care of Business- Ordinarily Jim Belushi isn't a box office draw, but this one was and still is funny.
1991
Addams Family- Didn't actually see this until it was 2nd run while I was in college. OK movie, but let's face it: Raul Julia was a great actor, but John Asin WAS Gomez Addams.
City Slickers- Funny then, funny now. I look at it a bit differently now, though, because I'm the age the main characters were at then.
The Doors- I still love Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison! However, it is a 1-sided story that shows the singer going from good to bad to worse. Later readings showed Morrison on more of a rollercoaster ride throughout the years. As a new Doors fan, I loved the soundtrack, then found the original albums to have more value.
Hook- Ummm, another 2nd run viewing in early 92...it was ok, just ran long. This was Dustin Hoffman's movie, not Robin Williams's.
Naked Gun 2 1/2- All right, it's a guilty pleasure to this day, this and its original! Fine, I said it! Let's move on...
Point Break- Looked good on previews, looked bad on actual viewing. Patrick Swayze is never believable as a bad guy and Keanu Reeves is rarely if ever believable as an actor.
Star Trek 6- Antoher 2nd run viewing in a lackluster theater during college. That being said, this was the right movie for the original crew to go out on, and Christopher Plummer IS and always will be a believable villain, especially as a Klingon!
Overall, 1991 was lacking in quality, at least according to this list. Let's see what 1992 has to offer.
1992
Batman Returns- I'm ashamed, deeply ashamed to have looked forward to this.
A Few Good Men- Still good! Tom Cruise should look at this from time to time and realize what a purely cheap thrill can do for an audience without all the FX!
Lethal Weapon 3- Ok, but a dud really. Joe Pesci's scenes just killed it.
Patriot Games- Good action. I wondered, though, what it would have been like with Alec Baldwin instead of an older Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan.
My Cousin Vinny- Saw this on Spring Break in San Diego. It is and was funny. A timeless classic!
Under Siege- Maybe the best Steven Seagal ever, because they actually hired a good director and writer. Gary Busey and Tommy Lee Jones as the bad guys are the scene-stealers.
Hmm, now that I look at it, 1992 is worse than 1990 or 91! Will 1993 improve? Let's find out.
1993
The Firm- great legal thriller! I can always see this.
The Fugitive- this may be my favorite film to this day! Once again Tommy Lee Jones steals the show and he earned his Oscar here!
Groundhog Day- always a feel-good movie, and makes one wonder what other small American towns celebrate. always a feel-good movie, and makes one wonder what other small American towns celebrate. always a feel-good movie, and makes one wonder what other small American towns celebrate.
In the Line of Fire- great Eastwood movie, but once again the villain John Malkovich steals the show.
Tombstone- One of my favorite westerns! Val Kilmer AND Kurt Russell shine in this.
OK...not much of an improvement for a year. I'm almost afraid to see 1994. OK, here goes-
1994
Clear and Present Danger- A good Jack Ryan film...but as usual the plot got convoluted in trying to be true to the novel or being independent form the novel. I have a hard time staying awake thorugh this one.
The Client- I'd read the book already, and I was pleasantly surprised at the film. This was one of many Tommy Lee Jones flicks that capitalized on his Fugitive success...not all were good, but this was!
Exit to Eden- saw this in college with my new friends. It was ok, and I have trouble seeing how funny it seemed then. But...if you're a fan of Dana Delany, it's worth it.
Forrest Gump- A favorite then, a favorite now! Saw it 4 times at the theater and proud of it.
Maverick- I still like this one. Mel Gibson was starting to get funnier in his own right, and James Garner is always a treat.
Pulp Fiction- Ezekiel 25:17...classic quote by a 'Fro-wigged Samuel L. Jackson. I love this one even if others do not.
The Santa Clause- A great Christmas film that we as a family still enjoy every year.
The Ref- I was a Denis Leary newbie fan at the time, but this is a Christmas classic of its own right, about the darker dysfunctional family holidays that besmirch many households each year. It is still a classic!
Speed- a rare classic Keanu Reeves flick, but Dennis Hopper is the winner here, as is new star Sandra Bullock. I can still watch this over and over...as long as Keanu's short righeous speeches are muted now and then.
Star Trek Generations- Yawn! Next!
So yes, that was a fuller year! College really helped me to get out and enojy life at the movies more. It would in the next year as well...
1995
Apollo 13- OK, but too many crises on that mission made it a tense movie...not a favorite.
Batman Forever- Tommy Lee Jones Strikes Again...yawn...next!
The Brady Bunch Movie- now this is the way to honor and lampoon an American classic. Once every 2 years is a good viewing schedule at best.
Casino- long, violent, and too much Joe Pesci...next!
Crimson Tide- good submarine suspense film. Denzel vs Hackman.
Desperado- Antonio Banderas at his best, which isn't saying much, I guess...but a good action flick nonetheless!
Die Hard with a Vengeance- yawn, next!
Get Shorty- when a film is made for John Travolta, you have to know what to expect...not so good anymore.
Goldeneye- my first Bond movie in a theater...good, but it made for a better video game.
Heat- Pacino vs DeNiro, long but I still like it!
Jerky Boys- dumb, dumber and dumbest all at once...even Alan Arkin can't save this
Money Train- fun then, dumb now, even with a young J Lo
The Net- great Sandra Bullock suspense movie. Dated computer-wise but still relevant in the Big Brother sense
The Usual Suspects- Kaiser Sose...apart from that, can't watch this anymore
While You Were Sleeping- another good Bullock film...now SHE was one who capitalized well on a previous hit film...not all of hers were winners, but she's still going strong!
Ah yes, film-going in college was a regular thing and there was a lot to see (but not always enjoy)....next, 1996 to 2002, the Golden Age
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Goodbye dear friend!
Today I must stop my semi-sarcastic rantings and ravings to pay a serious and special tribute to a good friend. Her name was June Meyers and she passed away on January 21, 2012. She was 88.
I first met this wonderful woman in 1994 when I started attending Sonoma State University. She was the grandmother of my(then) new friend Scott Catania. Over the course of several years, Scott and I had a regular habit of going to June's house to do laundry on Sunday afternoons. During football season Scott would be glued to the TV watching the 49ers and I'd be working on some crossword while the laundry was going. June would sit there enjoying our company. Her other grandson Aaron lived there for a bit, but he got married soon after and moved out, so June was pretty lonely. Toward dinnertime, we'd order out for Chinese or steaks or even Mexican food sometimes. It was a wonderful tradition.
As time went on, Scott and I were given a sweet deal. In exchange for a rent-free existence, we would be June's drivers when she'd need to go on errands. During this period from 1998 to 2001, since Scott worked full time and I substitute taught or worked temp jobs, I was more often than not the driver, and it was fine with me. June was wonderful company and Santa Rosa was a pleasant town to drive around in.
We had another fringe benefit to this arrangement. June and her friend Alice were patrons of the local entertainment venue The Luther Burbank Center, and we were frequently their drivers or male escorts. All sorts of acts came through there. We saw Bill Cosby twice, as well as Loretta Lynn and Bob Newhart. Newhart was special because we all got to go backstage and get our pictures taken with the man. That picture remains in a frame in my home, and whenever we watch The Bob Newhart Show, I can proudly say I met him.
Unfortunately, years of living alone without daily human contact had an effect on June. We'd often find her talking to herself or claiming that people were trying to break into her house. At first we took it seriously, but soon figured it in was all in June's imagination. As I was not a relative, it was a bit easier for me to cater to what June needed or thought she needed. She was not really that demanding and, as I said, she was pleasant company.
In 2001, she was trying to shoo away a neighbor cat from her garage and fell off the steps, shattering her arm. It was decided she couldn't safely live by herself anymore, and after some recuperation time in a hospital, she went into a small assisted care house. She was still nearby for us to visit and take her to lunch often. Meanwhile Scott and I took turns spending some nights in the house to keep it looking occupied. A month later, we just moved into the house. We'd gone through the house before this and found stockpiles of old bills, money, meds, and other items. Her room had been a virtual fortress for years. Now it was Scott's room. I took another bedroom and when I left almost a year later for Las Vegas, I took the bed with me.
In the years after I moved, June's mental capabilities diminished until she recognized nobody in her family anymore. I'd visited her once or twice when I came into town but eventually those visits went away since she wouldn't recognize me either. The woman I'd known as June was gone. She was still a living, breathing body, but the wonderfully quirky personality was gone forever.
June, if you have Internet in heaven, I hope you are in happiness and peace. I also hope you are having a good reunion with the love of your life Lew, as well as your long-in-Heaven son Bob and your wonderful daughter-in-law Del. We have missed you for a long time and hope in some way you'll drop us a few signs that you're happy up there. Rest in peace, my friend.
I first met this wonderful woman in 1994 when I started attending Sonoma State University. She was the grandmother of my(then) new friend Scott Catania. Over the course of several years, Scott and I had a regular habit of going to June's house to do laundry on Sunday afternoons. During football season Scott would be glued to the TV watching the 49ers and I'd be working on some crossword while the laundry was going. June would sit there enjoying our company. Her other grandson Aaron lived there for a bit, but he got married soon after and moved out, so June was pretty lonely. Toward dinnertime, we'd order out for Chinese or steaks or even Mexican food sometimes. It was a wonderful tradition.
As time went on, Scott and I were given a sweet deal. In exchange for a rent-free existence, we would be June's drivers when she'd need to go on errands. During this period from 1998 to 2001, since Scott worked full time and I substitute taught or worked temp jobs, I was more often than not the driver, and it was fine with me. June was wonderful company and Santa Rosa was a pleasant town to drive around in.
We had another fringe benefit to this arrangement. June and her friend Alice were patrons of the local entertainment venue The Luther Burbank Center, and we were frequently their drivers or male escorts. All sorts of acts came through there. We saw Bill Cosby twice, as well as Loretta Lynn and Bob Newhart. Newhart was special because we all got to go backstage and get our pictures taken with the man. That picture remains in a frame in my home, and whenever we watch The Bob Newhart Show, I can proudly say I met him.
Unfortunately, years of living alone without daily human contact had an effect on June. We'd often find her talking to herself or claiming that people were trying to break into her house. At first we took it seriously, but soon figured it in was all in June's imagination. As I was not a relative, it was a bit easier for me to cater to what June needed or thought she needed. She was not really that demanding and, as I said, she was pleasant company.
In 2001, she was trying to shoo away a neighbor cat from her garage and fell off the steps, shattering her arm. It was decided she couldn't safely live by herself anymore, and after some recuperation time in a hospital, she went into a small assisted care house. She was still nearby for us to visit and take her to lunch often. Meanwhile Scott and I took turns spending some nights in the house to keep it looking occupied. A month later, we just moved into the house. We'd gone through the house before this and found stockpiles of old bills, money, meds, and other items. Her room had been a virtual fortress for years. Now it was Scott's room. I took another bedroom and when I left almost a year later for Las Vegas, I took the bed with me.
In the years after I moved, June's mental capabilities diminished until she recognized nobody in her family anymore. I'd visited her once or twice when I came into town but eventually those visits went away since she wouldn't recognize me either. The woman I'd known as June was gone. She was still a living, breathing body, but the wonderfully quirky personality was gone forever.
June, if you have Internet in heaven, I hope you are in happiness and peace. I also hope you are having a good reunion with the love of your life Lew, as well as your long-in-Heaven son Bob and your wonderful daughter-in-law Del. We have missed you for a long time and hope in some way you'll drop us a few signs that you're happy up there. Rest in peace, my friend.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Coming soon...watch out! Part 2
The past few days have been fairly good. Christmas is coming closer, the cool weather feels good, and I have not seen one inch of Catherine Heigl on TV. This is not to say she is a horrible person. Goodness gracious, I think the name Heigl could have been used on every episode of Hogan's Heroes! Alas, she, and other actors and movies out there nowadays, just don't do it for me like they used to. I began a list of movies I actually looked forward to seeing at the theater, based on the draw of previews and TV ads...and perhaps visions in my head. Last I saw we'd completed 1986. Now, this list of movies does NOT include films I was dragged to by my parents because I was a dateless nerd (was? my wife muses regarding the nerd part). No, I was DRAWN to these movies somehow....and some of them were indeed mutant magnetic attractions that died soon after the films started. So...on to 1987!
1987- I am ashamed of none of these!
Dragnet- I still love this one! Dan Aykroyd as the new generation of Sgt. Friday is classic. Tom Hanks was, well, Tom Hanks and we liked him that way then...I kind of wish he'd revert now and then.
Three Men and a Baby- Still a cute movie, and its not too dated.
Stakeout- Emilio Estevez in a mustache 2 years after "Breakfast Club...nuff said
The Untouchables- Still a classic! Sean Connery made this movie work.
1988
Beaches...NOT! NEVER! Just checking alertness
Biloxi Blues- Still like this one, kind of like I still love An Officer and a Gentleman and Stripes, basic training movies, comedy or drama, always engage me. Matthew Broderick in basic training is, well, different.
Coming to America- Still funny, but less so 23 years later.
The Great Outdoors- once again, classic Candy. I didn't enjoy this one as much as others like Summer Rental, but its still good cable fare.
Scrooged- Still a favorite! Carol Kane beating up Bill Murray is still fun to watch.
Twins- Less funny now given Schwarzeneggar's political years and latest scandal, but still amusing.
Working Girl- Saw this with a childhood friend even though we were under 17.....to this day I think Melanie Griffith is hotter than Sigourney Weaver
Actually, 1988 was fairly lame in terms of movies I wanted to see.....so let's move to the end of the Reagan era with
1989
Batman- Still a favorite! The only good one of that particular series, in fact. One of Nicholson's best.
The Burbs- Disappointment! Tom Hanks should be ashamed of this one, but since his track record was pretty good to this point, I can forgive him.
Disorganized Crime- Still good! Fred Gwynne tried for years to shed Herman Munster, and was beginning to succeed with this.
Ghostbusters 2- I don't like it much now, but it was funny then. Too much time had passed from the first one and the magic was just gone.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade- Sean Connery and Harrison Ford.....you couldn't pair up 2 bigger names and come up with a classic like this! Still a fave to watch!
Lethal Weapon 2- Still good! Can't say much else.
Look Who's Talking- Still funny, but Travolta playing lovable but dumb New York punk at 35 is a stretch.
Major League- Funny funny funny! Still watch it when its uncut and unedited. Great baseball flick!
Star Trek 5 The Final Frontier- Thankfully it wasn't the final one for the original crew because they wouldn't want to go out on this one! Bad script and Shatner's bad directing made this one ripe for Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Tango and Cash- Cheesy, bad, tasteless.....but I bought it for $5 anyway.....all movie collections need a balance
1989 was a MUCH better year for must-see flicks apparently.
Coming soon, 1990-95
1987- I am ashamed of none of these!
Dragnet- I still love this one! Dan Aykroyd as the new generation of Sgt. Friday is classic. Tom Hanks was, well, Tom Hanks and we liked him that way then...I kind of wish he'd revert now and then.
Three Men and a Baby- Still a cute movie, and its not too dated.
Stakeout- Emilio Estevez in a mustache 2 years after "Breakfast Club...nuff said
The Untouchables- Still a classic! Sean Connery made this movie work.
1988
Beaches...NOT! NEVER! Just checking alertness
Biloxi Blues- Still like this one, kind of like I still love An Officer and a Gentleman and Stripes, basic training movies, comedy or drama, always engage me. Matthew Broderick in basic training is, well, different.
Coming to America- Still funny, but less so 23 years later.
The Great Outdoors- once again, classic Candy. I didn't enjoy this one as much as others like Summer Rental, but its still good cable fare.
Scrooged- Still a favorite! Carol Kane beating up Bill Murray is still fun to watch.
Twins- Less funny now given Schwarzeneggar's political years and latest scandal, but still amusing.
Working Girl- Saw this with a childhood friend even though we were under 17.....to this day I think Melanie Griffith is hotter than Sigourney Weaver
Actually, 1988 was fairly lame in terms of movies I wanted to see.....so let's move to the end of the Reagan era with
1989
Batman- Still a favorite! The only good one of that particular series, in fact. One of Nicholson's best.
The Burbs- Disappointment! Tom Hanks should be ashamed of this one, but since his track record was pretty good to this point, I can forgive him.
Disorganized Crime- Still good! Fred Gwynne tried for years to shed Herman Munster, and was beginning to succeed with this.
Ghostbusters 2- I don't like it much now, but it was funny then. Too much time had passed from the first one and the magic was just gone.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade- Sean Connery and Harrison Ford.....you couldn't pair up 2 bigger names and come up with a classic like this! Still a fave to watch!
Lethal Weapon 2- Still good! Can't say much else.
Look Who's Talking- Still funny, but Travolta playing lovable but dumb New York punk at 35 is a stretch.
Major League- Funny funny funny! Still watch it when its uncut and unedited. Great baseball flick!
Star Trek 5 The Final Frontier- Thankfully it wasn't the final one for the original crew because they wouldn't want to go out on this one! Bad script and Shatner's bad directing made this one ripe for Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Tango and Cash- Cheesy, bad, tasteless.....but I bought it for $5 anyway.....all movie collections need a balance
1989 was a MUCH better year for must-see flicks apparently.
Coming soon, 1990-95
Monday, December 5, 2011
Coming soon....look out!
Last Saturday, my wife and I went to a movie for the first time in several months...and it may be a longer time, based on what we were forced to see before our movie even started! If it were not for 2 free movie passes we got last Christmas (am I allowed to say that without being assaulted for sensitivities violations?), we would have stayed at home to battle ants. And that plotline sounds better than the ones in the previews we were "honored" with. Let's see, another goofball comedy about CIA agents battling over a girl, I'm pretty sure there was a romantic comedy there somewhere, and some travesty with Catherine Heigl (the only fun thing about her is making new pronunciations of Heigl with a Nazi salute). I am afraid that, with rising popcorn and soda costs, we will be using on-demand more often in the next several months. What I want to know is....WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DAYS OF CRAP WE COULDN'T WAIT TO SEE???
Seriously, from my childhood through the early 2000s, a range of about 35 years, there was almost always what they called a "blockbuster" summer, where they poured steaming hot crap onto celluloid that looked pretty good! At least one movie every year came to mind, and many were good and rewatched today. So, I've compiled a list going back to 1983, and ending in 2002, of movies I looked forward to seeing (and more often than not, did) at the theater.
Note- This list is only movies I looked forward to seeing from previews and TV ads. Movies my parents dragged me to see and I ended up liking anyway don't count. Some of these were worth it...and others were, well, forgettable at best.
1983
1. Return of the Jedi- Hands down, a disappointing conclusion, but I waited 3 years to see it...the green lightsaber rocked! Ewoks just an inch from being gremlins.
2. Superman 3- Mixing Christopher Reeve and Richard Pryor was a disaster, but the Good vs Evil Superman scene was pretty good.
3. Wargames- Computers starting World War 3....gave me fantasies about rigging my Atari 2600! Incidentally, saw this one at the long-defunct Shillington one-room theater.
1984
1. Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock- The Wrath of Khan made this one a necessity, and I still like it. Christopher Lloyd as a Klingon (shortly after Taxi!) is priceless!
2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom- If it weren't for Kate Capshaw's 2-hour scream, this movie may have been redeeming.
3. Splash- Was a favorite then, a favorite now
4. Ghostbusters- Same as Splash in terms of being a favorite. Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is always a classic!
5. Johnny Dangerously-I'm almost embarrassed to say it, but it looked funny...note: I have it on DVD, meaning I value it above today's Heigl crap
1985
1. Back to the Future- It still rocks to this day...goes to show that retro rules no matter what decade you're in!
2. Fletch- Loved it, then read the books. I still like it, but now feel Chevy Chase wasn't what the author had in mind.
3. Explorers- Pure, total crap! River Phoenix and Ethan Hawke still had promising careers despite this.
4. Summer Rental- good, average John Candy flick, which is a good thing, may he Rest in Peace
5. European Vacation- The Griswold's were stale here, but redeemed themselves years later for the holidays
1986- a fairly fruitful year
1. Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home- a fun movie my wife and I like to watch from time to time
2. Karate Kid 2- Daniel-San beating that Okinawan bully's face with his fists is still a favorite climax!
3. Ruthless People- looked stupid, was stupid...and it's funny nonetheless!
4. Every Time We Say Goodbye- Just kidding! Tom Hanks wasn't ready for his Oscar drama years just yet.
5. The Mosquito Coast- I love Harrison Ford, but this was a downer at the end, and no 13 year old wants a downer...haven't seen it since!
6. The Fly- yes, a horror flick with Jeff Goldblum. One might argue that all of his films are, but this was a nice remake of a classic (as remakes go!)
1987-1990 coming soon
Seriously, from my childhood through the early 2000s, a range of about 35 years, there was almost always what they called a "blockbuster" summer, where they poured steaming hot crap onto celluloid that looked pretty good! At least one movie every year came to mind, and many were good and rewatched today. So, I've compiled a list going back to 1983, and ending in 2002, of movies I looked forward to seeing (and more often than not, did) at the theater.
Note- This list is only movies I looked forward to seeing from previews and TV ads. Movies my parents dragged me to see and I ended up liking anyway don't count. Some of these were worth it...and others were, well, forgettable at best.
1983
1. Return of the Jedi- Hands down, a disappointing conclusion, but I waited 3 years to see it...the green lightsaber rocked! Ewoks just an inch from being gremlins.
2. Superman 3- Mixing Christopher Reeve and Richard Pryor was a disaster, but the Good vs Evil Superman scene was pretty good.
3. Wargames- Computers starting World War 3....gave me fantasies about rigging my Atari 2600! Incidentally, saw this one at the long-defunct Shillington one-room theater.
1984
1. Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock- The Wrath of Khan made this one a necessity, and I still like it. Christopher Lloyd as a Klingon (shortly after Taxi!) is priceless!
2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom- If it weren't for Kate Capshaw's 2-hour scream, this movie may have been redeeming.
3. Splash- Was a favorite then, a favorite now
4. Ghostbusters- Same as Splash in terms of being a favorite. Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is always a classic!
5. Johnny Dangerously-I'm almost embarrassed to say it, but it looked funny...note: I have it on DVD, meaning I value it above today's Heigl crap
1985
1. Back to the Future- It still rocks to this day...goes to show that retro rules no matter what decade you're in!
2. Fletch- Loved it, then read the books. I still like it, but now feel Chevy Chase wasn't what the author had in mind.
3. Explorers- Pure, total crap! River Phoenix and Ethan Hawke still had promising careers despite this.
4. Summer Rental- good, average John Candy flick, which is a good thing, may he Rest in Peace
5. European Vacation- The Griswold's were stale here, but redeemed themselves years later for the holidays
1986- a fairly fruitful year
1. Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home- a fun movie my wife and I like to watch from time to time
2. Karate Kid 2- Daniel-San beating that Okinawan bully's face with his fists is still a favorite climax!
3. Ruthless People- looked stupid, was stupid...and it's funny nonetheless!
4. Every Time We Say Goodbye- Just kidding! Tom Hanks wasn't ready for his Oscar drama years just yet.
5. The Mosquito Coast- I love Harrison Ford, but this was a downer at the end, and no 13 year old wants a downer...haven't seen it since!
6. The Fly- yes, a horror flick with Jeff Goldblum. One might argue that all of his films are, but this was a nice remake of a classic (as remakes go!)
1987-1990 coming soon
Friday, August 19, 2011
We'll be right back, hopefully!
I am sitting with my wife on the couch watching "Golden Girls". It's not one of my favorite shows from the past, but with all the junk that's on anymore, I will watch an oldie, ANY oldie. And a show about 4 oldies just seemed appropriate.Did I enjoy watching it? HECK NO! Don't get me wrong, I had no problem with the program, at least WHEN THEY SHOWED IT! I swear, every five minutes there was a commercial break that lasted almost as long as the show segment that preceded it. If Golden Girls was originally a half-hour program that had a runtime of about 22 minutes, we did NOT see 22 minutes of this show, it felt like 10-15!
Of course, this all depends on the TV channel one happens to be watching. If I turn to Hub to see "Batman" (and I mean classic Adam West here), little to none of the show is cut! I actually enjoy watching that as opposed to when the show was on FX, Family Channel, and TVLand. Those channels put cuts in the show to make time for ads. I do understand when a buck has to be made, but why the heck does the viewer have to suffer? I guess my question is, bottom line, why air the show at all?
Here's another example: one of my favorite shows growing up was "WKRP in Cincinnati." It was funny and had Loni Anderson, what more can a growing boy ask for? The reruns in syndication were not cut. After they took it off for a VERY long time, one cable channel brought it back. I watched it and still liked it, but something was very different....they used to have rock riffs playing in the background and scene segues...and they were now replaced with elevator music pieces! They tried to sell the first season of the show in that state, but it must not have sold well because no other seasons were on sale!
Here is one more example: Warner Bros. cartoons! Growing up, I was subjected to a lot of horrible, non-PC cartoons from this studio, and I was psychologically damaged as a result! Well, at least the powers that be believe so. Personally, I thought I was watching a lot of funny stuff that I could relate to with friends. The truth is, I WAS NOT DAMAGED! We watch Warner Bros. cartoons at home, and while some of the shorts are good, Cartoon Network consistently airs a lot of the same LAME ones. They haven't even shown any Pepe LePew! Is that because the lovable skunk is regarded as anti-French? Well, many of us are anyway, what's one cartoon character going to damage?
So, I guess in this not-so- brand -new century, we have not moved so forward as we thought we would. Back in the day (I'm nearly 40, I can say back in the day!) we thought there'd be smellevision, video games would be mind-controlled, there'd be colonies on the moon AND Mars, two guys named Jeff Probst and Ryan Seacrest would be career dishwashers, and nothing would be cut on TV for "sensitivities."
OK, commercial break is over....I'll be back in 3 minutes.
Of course, this all depends on the TV channel one happens to be watching. If I turn to Hub to see "Batman" (and I mean classic Adam West here), little to none of the show is cut! I actually enjoy watching that as opposed to when the show was on FX, Family Channel, and TVLand. Those channels put cuts in the show to make time for ads. I do understand when a buck has to be made, but why the heck does the viewer have to suffer? I guess my question is, bottom line, why air the show at all?
Here's another example: one of my favorite shows growing up was "WKRP in Cincinnati." It was funny and had Loni Anderson, what more can a growing boy ask for? The reruns in syndication were not cut. After they took it off for a VERY long time, one cable channel brought it back. I watched it and still liked it, but something was very different....they used to have rock riffs playing in the background and scene segues...and they were now replaced with elevator music pieces! They tried to sell the first season of the show in that state, but it must not have sold well because no other seasons were on sale!
Here is one more example: Warner Bros. cartoons! Growing up, I was subjected to a lot of horrible, non-PC cartoons from this studio, and I was psychologically damaged as a result! Well, at least the powers that be believe so. Personally, I thought I was watching a lot of funny stuff that I could relate to with friends. The truth is, I WAS NOT DAMAGED! We watch Warner Bros. cartoons at home, and while some of the shorts are good, Cartoon Network consistently airs a lot of the same LAME ones. They haven't even shown any Pepe LePew! Is that because the lovable skunk is regarded as anti-French? Well, many of us are anyway, what's one cartoon character going to damage?
So, I guess in this not-so- brand -new century, we have not moved so forward as we thought we would. Back in the day (I'm nearly 40, I can say back in the day!) we thought there'd be smellevision, video games would be mind-controlled, there'd be colonies on the moon AND Mars, two guys named Jeff Probst and Ryan Seacrest would be career dishwashers, and nothing would be cut on TV for "sensitivities."
OK, commercial break is over....I'll be back in 3 minutes.
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