Genre: Comedy, Drama

Year: 2013

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb, Sam Rockwell

Director: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

My Review: Written and directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (a team project?). Starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Liam James and others - Including Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, who also wrote and directed the movie. It's a coming of age movie for 14 year old Duncan. The shyest dude who's hanging out across the street from the party. Seriously, he's not having a good time. His moms boyfriend - Trent (played by Steve Carell) is giving him shit, and he's too polite to kick him in the shins. The girls treat him like a potted plant, and school is a zoo where he's the Naked Mole Rat. I'm sure this summer vacation is going to be excellent - Not! Duncan isn't enjoying the vacation, until he meets Owen. Owen is the manager of the nearby 'Water Wizz' theme park. He's a burnt out slacker, no stress, guru of the obvious. Owen helps Duncan realize that being Duncan doesn't have to be difficult. Relax, be yourself and always be right about who you are. Chicks dig it. It's got charm, heart and a comedic vibe that gets top marks. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Summary: Duncan (Liam James) is not a popular kid and it doesn't look like the summer is going to offer anything better for him. His mother's boyfriend has invited them to his beach house where Duncan is expected to improve his personality and physical appearance, and meet girls. But his would-be step-sister doesn't want anything to do with him and his shy demeanor makes it difficult for him to meet anybody new. When Duncan wanders into the Water Wizz, the local water park, he meets adult employees who are just having fun. Owen (Sam Rockwell) lets Duncan work with him and their new-found bond will help each other mature and find their place in life. Which for Duncan means standing up to his would-be step-father, having a conversation with the girl next door and being more comfortable with who he is.

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Drama

Year: 1988

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe, John Glover, Bobcat Goldthwait

Director: Richard Donner

My Review: Co-written by too many (3 if you count Charles Dickens novel 'A Christmas Carol'), and directed by Richard Donner (The Omen, The Goonies, Lethal Weapon). Starring Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe, Bobcat Goldthwait and others. It's a Christmas Classic for some. Kim loves it, and it gets good ratings on IMDB. I for one am not a fan. Here is a retelling of the classic and endearing tale by Charles Dickens - 'A Christmas Carol'. Bill Murray plays a self-centered television executive (Francis Xavier Cross) who views the world through crap colored glasses. He dumps on everyone around him, including the staff that works for him. On Christmas Eve he fires an employee just for disagreeing with him. He even despises his own brother, refusing the annual Christmas dinner invite. As with the classic Dickens tale, he then encounters the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. I like Bill Murray. His understated, cynical, and sarcastic style grows on you. This style works in many settings. In the classic Dickens tale it only made me resent him. I remember seeing this movie when I was younger. Like Kim I thought it was funny, delivering a classic Christmas tale in a 'Pythonesque' style - As if it were something of a sketch comedy. I no longer feel that way. The movie seems overly cynical and mocking. To me, Bill Murray's style brings the tale down to a place where it's simply mocking the principles of the movie. It seems that he's just not into the movie. There's a level of indifference and detached neglect in his performance. The final revelations of the movie seem forced and contrite. The overacting was way overplayed. I don't feel that Francis Xavier Cross has seen the error of his ways. I don't get the sense that he's truly reformed. This modern day retelling of the classic tale falls flat because Murray hasn't got his heart in the right place. I liked some of the more modern spins applied to the story, but I don't really want a comedic, sarcastic Francis Xavier Cross. I want a redeemed, contrite and thankful Cross. I give this movie a 2 out of 5.

Summary: Francis Xavier Cross is a cynical, mean spirited television executive, he treats his loyal assistant with contempt. He just sacked a member of staff on Christmas Eve for simply disagreeing with him, and he's alienated himself from his brother who still insists on inviting Frank to Christmas dinner despite him refusing to go every year. However, Frank is forced to learn the true meaning of Christmas when he's visited by three ghosts.

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family

Year: 1947

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, Gene Lockhart, Natalie Wood

Director: George Seaton

My Review: It's a Christmas Miracle! I'd forgotten how awesome this movie is. Screenplay and direction by George Seaton. Starring Edmund Gwenn (as Santa Claus), Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood (as the doubting little girl, Susan), John Payne and others. This story starts out in a Macy's department store in New York City (Shot on location in the actual store on 34th Street to be precise). It starts out when a 'Santa Claus' actor is found sleeping off a drunken spell by a whiskered fellow, who's got a belly like a bowl full of jello and a laugh that makes all the boys and girls smile. The store manager recruits the wizened bearded one, and sends him out to take part in the Thanksgiving day parade. Afterwards, he's hired on for the part in the Store's Christmas display. When concerned folks learn that he actually thinks himself to be Santa Claus, they have him committed! He insists and persists, that he is Kris Kringle, and he must be released. So he hires a lawyer to free him from this preposterous institution. The legal battle that follows is a joyous celebration of the magic of Christmas, and proves once and for all that Santa Claus is real! A fantastic screenplay, outstanding acting, and a splendid message that eschews the commercial aspects and focuses on the true meanings of Christmas. Even 50+ years later it's still a masterpiece. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Summary: At the Macy's Department Store Thanksgiving Day parade, the actor playing Santa is discovered to be drunk by a whiskered old man. Doris Walker, the no nonsense special events director, persuades the old man to take his place. The old man proves to be a sensation and is quickly recruited to be the store Santa at the main Macy's outlet. While he is successful, Ms. Walker learns that he calls himself Kris Kringle and he claims to be the actual Santa Claus. Despite reassurances by Kringle's doctor that he is harmless, Doris still has misgivings, especially when she has cynically trained herself, and especially her daughter, Susan, to reject all notions of belief and fantasy. And yet, people, especially Susan, begin to notice there is something special about Kris and his determination to advance the true spirit of Christmas amidst the rampant commercialism around him and succeeding in improbable ways. When a raucous conflict with the store's cruelly incompetent psychologist erupts, Kris ...

Genre: Thriller, Horror, Science Fiction

Year: 1974

Country: UK, USA

Rating:

Starring: Nigel Davenport, Michael Murphy, Lynne Frederick, Alan Gifford, Robert Henderson

Director: Saul Bass

My Review: Screenplay written by Mayo Simon. Directed by Saul Bass. Starring Nigel Davenport, Michael Murphy, Lynne Frederick and others. It's a Sci-Fi fiasco, produced in the psychedelic 70s. The producers obviously wanted to create a 'Groovy' and 'Modern'. The story takes place in a non-specific dystopian future, where mankind has squandered his natural resources and disturbed the natural order of things. An ant colony has been discovered that's building 'disturbing' looking ant-hills. There are clearly some Space 2001 influences here. The writers/producers were clearly trying to evoke some sort of higher intelligence at work theme. The ants seem to have developed intelligence. We don't know how or how sophisticated that intelligence is, but it's clearly a danger to our civilization. So it must be destroyed. When the scientists move from studying the ants to destroying the ants the scene changes and its now apparent that the ants have the upper hand. This movie just didn't have enough story to keep me interested. The pacing was slow but I was never able to determine where the movie was going. There were some interesting sets and camera shots. Provided you overlook the shaky shots and poor sound quality. The psychedelic 'ant' music was grating and the acting poor. The movie doesn't really seem to be heading anywhere, and then it ends. With all your questions unanswered. Dull, slow and pointless. It doesn't really present a thrilling story or a sci-fi revalation. There isn't much to like about this movie, and I can only give it a 1 out of 5.

Summary: Desert ants suddenly form a collective intelligence and begin to wage war on the desert inhabitants. It is up to two scientists and a stray girl they rescue from the ants to destroy them. But the ants have other ideas.

Genre: Comedy, Music

Year: 1979

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: P.J. Soles, Vincent Van Patten, Clint Howard, Dey Young, Mary Woronov

Director: Allan Arkush, Joe Dante

My Review: Kablam! This movie is filled with so much energy that it literally explodes off the screen. Multiple credits on the screen play, and two directors - Allan Arkush (Deathsport, and a lot of television shows) and uncredited Joe Dante (The Howling, Gremlins, Innerspace, The 'Burbs, and a bunch of television shows). Starring P.J. Soles, Vincent Van Patten, Clint Howard, the Ramones, and a lot of extras. Rock 'n' Roll High School is a high energy romp through the halls of Vince Lombardi High school. Having grown up in Green Bay, Wisconsin - I always imagined their was a Vince Lombardi High School in the town next to ours. Having grown up listening to Punk Rock and New Wave, exposure to this movie only solidified some of my cultural disaffection with the mainstream. I'm amazed that they could get the Ramones to appear in this low budget movie, but that's what made it work. They were unknowns and a low budget movie like this one turned out to be just the ticket for a cult classic in the making. The new Principal (Evely Togar - Played by Mary Woronov) and a group of morally motivated parents try to ban 'Rock Music', because it's 'Evil' - They're going to burn a pile of the kid's records. The kids revolt! They take over the school! They defeat the dictatorial administration! They blow up the school! Stupid fun, great music, classic lines, timeless footage. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Summary: Vince Lombardi High School keeps losing principals to nervous breakdowns because of the students' love of rock 'n' roll and their disregard of education. The putative leader of the students is Riff Randell, who loves the music of the Ramones. A new principal, the rock-music-hating Miss Evelyn Togar, is brought in and promises to put an end to the music craze. When Miss Togar and a group of parents attempt to burn a pile of rock records, the students take over the high school, joined by the Ramones, who are made honorary students. When the police are summoned and demand that the students evacuate the building, they do so, which leads to an explosive finale.

Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Drama

Year: 2013

Country: South Korea, Czech Republic

Rating:

Starring: Chris Evans, Kang-ho Song, Ed Harris, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton

Director: Joon-ho Bong

My Review: Far too many screen play credits, based on the novel 'Le Transperceneige'. Directed by Joon-ho Bong (Memories of Murder, the Host). Starring Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinson and others. This movie is set on a train - The Snowpiercer. The Snowpiercer speeds around the world, which is a frozen ball of ice thanks to some mad attempt to solve 'global warming'. This post-apolcalyptic sci-fi movie puts the last remnants of civilization onboard this speeding train in a crazy miniature civilization full of all the problems inherent in large-scale civilization. A strict caste-based system enslaves the majority under conditions of forced labor, while the ruling elite live lives of luxury at the front of the train. This poor vs rich tale isn't new, but the setting is quite unique, and jamming all of the social strife into a non-stop train speeding across an arctic landscape adds great atmosphere while simultaneously compressing the environment to create an enhanced sense of impending conflict. A relatively simplistic movie with excellent pacing and a well directed cast. I give it a 3 out of 5.

Summary: Set in 2031, the entire world is frozen except for those aboard the Snowpiercer. For 17 years, the world's survivors are on a train hurtling around the globe creating their own economy and class system. Led by Curtis, a group of lower-class citizens living in squalor at the back of the train are determined to get to the front of the train and spread the wealth around. Each section of the train holds new surprises for the group who have to battle their way through. A revolution is underway.

Genre: Horror

Year: 1992

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Brian Krause, Mädchen Amick, Alice Krige, Jim Haynie, Cindy Pickett

Director: Mick Garris

My Review: Screen play written by Stephen King (not based on a novel). Directed by Mick Garris. Starring Brian Krause, Madchen Amick, Alice Krige, Ron Perlman, John Landis, Stephen King, Clive Barker, Joe Dante, Tobe Hooper, even Mark Hamill (lots of great cameos/early performances in the movie) and others. This movie is an excellent supernatural horror movie which definitely grew on me. After several viewings, I finally broke down and bought a copy. The pre-film opening exposition kind of ruins this movie, explaining many major plot points that are essential but nonetheless spoil much of the movie's mystery. Charles Brady (played by Brian Krause) and his mother Mary (played by Alice Krige) are 'Sleepwalkers' - A race of shape-shifting creatures that feed on the life force of virgins. In this movie a pair of these Sleepwalkers has just moved to town, and the sleepy burg of Travis, Indiana makes a perfect setting for the horror that follows. The couple then sets about on their goal of finding their next meal. It's a vampire movie unlike any other. The movie has a 'made for tv feel' - like many Stephen King movies, but the story is great. It's a vampire story, a werecat story, a teen drama and a mysterious horror story with a slightly less dreadful beat. The movie moves slowly at first, but once the pair of incestuous creatures is 'discovered', things move into high gear and the movie races into macabre action mode. Highly entertaining, full of quirky characters, a little bit campy, somewhat rough around the edges, but a cult classic for sure. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Summary: A mother-and-son team of strange supernatural creatures come to town to seek out a virgin to feed on.

Genre: Drama, Comedy

Year: 2014

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, Rose Byrne

Director: Shawn Levy

My Review: It's a lot of people talking about their feelings and such. Many people would call this a 'Chick Flick' - leaving it there. Screenplay (and novel) by Jonathan Tropper. Directed by Shawn Levy (The Pink Panther (2006), Night at the Museum, The Internship). Starring Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda. It's a movie about a family sitting Shiva for their father. Four adults, who've been reunited with their mother, in the family home. Dragging along their emotional baggage and significant others, they unpack all their guilt, remorse, regrets and heartache as they spend seven days mourning their fathers passing. The movie is a chaotic, personal drama, full of regrets, laughs and ultimately redemption and love. We've seen this plot before, so it's only a matter of acting and direction that makes the difference. As a comedy it works o.k, but this isn't supposed to be funny. As a drama, it's typical. In the end it's a good movie, but it isn't remarkable in any sense of the word. 3 out of 5.

Summary: When their father passes away, four grown siblings, bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide-driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves.