Cold War Cliches..."Atomic Blonde"

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Rated R

Starring Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, Eddie Marsan, John Goodman, Toby Jones, Roland Moller

Directed by David Leitch

The Story:

Agent Broughton (Theron) is the best in the business, and that business is spying. It's the height of the Cold War, and a list of double agents has gone missing, and she must travel to Berlin to retrieve it before it falls into the wrong hands. Naturally, she shouldn't trust anyone...

How do you make an 80s action thriller spy movie for a 21st century audience?

You turn James Bond into Jane Bond, and set the screen ablaze with something the audience hasn't seen before.

Except the whole list of double agents things was played out long before the 90s even ended, so it seems all so familiar, no matter how much action and great soundtrack they attach to it.

Or maybe I'm jaded because it was as good as the trailer indicated, but didn't rise to be any better than that.

Can I really blame a movie for simply repeating what has come before, 100s of times? It's not their fault the audience has seen them all already, so it's hard to reinvent the genre.

Theron makes a great action star, and I won't lie and say I won't be back again if there's a sequel.

Hopefully, there will simply be a bit more to the story to really stand out and make it a must see affair the next time around.

Final Grade: C+

The Day That Music Changed The World. "Live Aid - Against All Odds"

Live Aid: Against All Odds (2011) 

Not Rated

Starring Bod Geldof, Midge Ure,

Produced by the BBC

The Story:

After the success of Do They Know It's Christmas, Bob Geldof decided that Band Aid should try something even more impressive. Live benefit concerts in July 1985, both in England and America and other locations round the world, and beam it to everyone else via satellite. It had never been done before, and most skeptics said it couldn't be done, period. But with some hard work, elbow grease, and outright lies, the greatest concert in music history did indeed happen.

This is their story.

This amazing documentary is available in 2 parts on YouTube. Each part is 90 minutes.

It keeps you grabbed from the minute you start watching until it's over.

Then you wish for a few more parts to the documentary.

So unless you were lucky enough to catch this on the BBC a few years back, you've likely never seen it.

The documentary does a great job of getting just about anyone and everyone who had something to do with Live Aid for the documentary, and they still manage to squeeze in enough of the performances to really bring back the memories.

So brazen was Geldof to get people to appear, he listed them as performing, oftentimes without even checking with those acts to see if they were willing and able to play.

Then he would lie to each band and say "well, they're in, so why aren't you?" and vice versa.

It's an incredible amount of chutzpah on Geldof's part, and it's an event that will never be duplicated again.

Then there was the American side of things where so many artists were pulling out because the American promoter was a giant POS that everyone hated. :)

Pair that with hosts that have an absolute disdain for the musicians that will be appearing, and it was a recipe for disaster.

Or at least if they do, it will probably roll off a lot smoother than this one did.

So go behind the scenes and see how they pulled this concert off and all the headaches and heartbreaking moments that went into the greatest concert of them all.

Final Grade: A

Just Can't Get Enough..."Sing Street"

Sing Street (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Lucy Boynton, Jack Reynor, Aiden Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Mark McKenna, Ben Carolan, Ian Kenny,

Directed by John Carney

The Story:

Growing up in Dublin, Conor (Walsh-Peelo) is watching his family break apart as his parents (GIllen & Kennedy) are inching ever closer to divorce and he is pulled from his expensive prep school and sent to a Catholic school instead. Receiving the usual new kid welcome, Conor will have to deal with the school bully (Kenny) and is simply hating life. But when a new friend (Carolan) points out the mysterious girl across the way (Boynton), Conor figures out what he needs to do to impress the girl and make his life better: he's going to start a band.

This is everything that I hoped Pretty in Pink would be.

: )

Buoyed by an impressive soundtrack (it was the 80s after all), this coming of age comedy drama is also a musical.

But not that kind of musical.

No, the music is interspersed within the story as the kids perform covers and eventually sing their own songs.

The beauty of it all, the songs sound like they came straight from the 80s.

The new songs for the film fit in seamlessly with the works of Duran Duran and The Cure and other bands that influence these teens (and pepper the soundtrack) as they come to terms with who they are as a band.

The girl in question, Raphina is dying to leave Dublin and head to London to be a model.

This of course causes friction between her and Conor as she is his muse, and she sees him as just a sweet kid.

At least at first.

I would be remiss not to mention Conor's brother, Brendan (Raynor). He is the catalyst for a lot of what goes on in the movie, even though he doesn't have nearly as much screen time as he should.

The interaction between brothers gives the film the extra layer of heart it needs for an emotional finale that is so befitting this very charming tale.

The movie is streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade:  B+ 

Welcome To The Friend Zone..."Pretty In Pink"

Pretty In Pink (1986)

Rated PG-13

Starring Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, Andrew McCarthy, James Spader, Annie Potts, Harry Dean Stanton,

Directed by Howard Deutch

The Story:

A girl from the wrong side of the tracks (Ringwald) is trying to get through life in high school while deciding whether or not to go to prom with Blane (McCarthy) Meanwhile, the only guy that's loved her forever (Cryer) can't get the time of day with this girl.

Confession time: This was my first time watching Pretty In Pink.

I can't even remember seeing any portion of it prior to streaming it on Amazon Prime, though I've seen the poster countless times over the intervening 30+ years since its release.

Let that soak in a moment. Over. 30. Years.

Eep!

So I don't come to this one with rose-colored glasses of nostalgia and love for the film.

And much like when I approached the venerable Say Anything a few years back, I found this one lacking.

Sorely lacking.

There was little appeal to any portion of the film for me.

From characterizations to plot points, this seemed a very slapdash effort by one of the masters of the game, John Hughes.

I would now argue that of the catalog of movies that he wrote and I have watched, this is likely my least favorite.

It's a film that is never quite sure what it wants to be.

Is it a comedy? Not really, because the laughs, if any, are very few and really far between.

So it's a teen romance.  Again...not so much.

Mostly several characters all have the hots for Andie, with no real explanation for why, minus Duckie's lifelong obsession with the girl. Steff  (Spader), who when he shows up onscreen at all, seems to be doing so in a drunken stupor, just wants to sleep with her, and then turns on his friend when it looks like Blane will succeed where he fell short.

There's no real explanation for why Blane suddenly feels the urge to be with Andie. Yet there he is with his creepy stalker smile, almost relentless in his pursuit. Yet I kept waiting for some secret reveal that he had a bet with Steff over whether he could convince her to go to prom or not.

See?

I know my 80s films and how they are supposed to work. ;)

No, this mostly seems to be about the creation of the 'Friend Zone' as more of the movie centers on Duckie's well-being and obvious obsessions with Andie than anything else.  He's stood by her side from day one, defended her, and given her whatever she's needed, and in return, he gets dumped and humiliated every step of the way.

But in the end, Duckie is the smartest of them all, because he winds up with the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kristy Swanson.

And that's way better than Ringwald, any day of the week.

So keep hope alive for those of you in the Friend Zone! Your Buffy is still out there!! :)

In fact, were it not for the inclusion of "If You Leave" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), I would likely have given this one a D and included it on my worst films of the year roundup.

That's how amazing that song is, that I'm willing to overlook the 90 minutes of mediocrity that preceded it and let this movie have a pass.

However, it is totally mis-played during the crucial finale as much of the emotional lyrics take place before the characters even interact with one another. Then there are dancers seemingly dancing to a variety of different songs than what is playing.

Which again, sums up this film quite appropriately.

No, I'm happy for those of you that love this one and have nothing but fondness for it, but I'd like to think even if I had seen this one 30 years ago, I would have shook my head in disbelief and moved on.

Final Grade: C-

Justice Is Served..."Stir Crazy"

Stir Crazy (1980)

Rated R

Starring Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor, JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Barry Corbin, Georg Stanford Brown,

Directed by Sidney Poitier

The Story:

Skip (Wilder) and Harry (Pryor) leave New York and head west to start over. When the duo are accused of robbing a bank, they are tried and convicted most expeditiously to begin serving their time in jail. When Skip shows a propensity to be able to ride a mechanical bull, the warden (Corbin) sees dollar signs in the annual upcoming rodeo contest, and Skip and Harry see a way out of their predicament.

The second of four comedies between Wilder and Pryor, I had decided to rent this one again since I hadn't seen it since probably 1980/81 and remembered very little about it.

Aside from the "that's right, we bad" scene and the dancing birds costumes, that was probably the sum total of my memory.

I watched this a few weeks back, and added the movie to my "To Be Reviewed" pile, probably as a #ThrowbackThursday review.

Then Gene Wilder passed away, and I debated, do I do a R.I.P. Gene tribute piece or not?

To be fair, I enjoyed Wilder's performances in just about anything I saw from him, but sadly, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silver Streak, and See No Evil, Hear No Evil were pretty much my entire catalog of Wilder's works.

But look at that list again.

That's a pretty impressive list of comedies all on their own merits.

Wilder actually steals most of the scenes he is in, even though it's a lock that Pryor's character is normally the crazier, funnier one in their duos.

Wilder brings an everyman approach to the role. His characters seem honest, unassuming and likable.

So when he rides the mechanical bull like it's nothing, you have no doubt in your mind that he's as happy on that bull as we are to be watching him.

So we've lost another Hollywood great, but he's left behind a pretty good legacy on film.

Even Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, though that movie is just too creepy to really be enjoyable.

:)

So if you're up for a laugh, you'll be hard-pressed to not find one under the Wilder/Pryor catalog.

Though I still have one more that I've never seen.

Hmmm....

Final Grade: Solid B

A Night Over 30 Years In The Making..."Huey Lewis & The News"

So, I'll let you all in on a little secret:

Huey Lewis & The News is my favorite band of all time.

So there you have it, you now know 2 people who admit to that fact (Marty McFly was the other).

When I flipped the radio from country to Top 40 Pop/Rock around 1982/1983, it was just before the debut of Sports.

Needless to say, over the next few years, I wore that cassette out listening to the entire album, not a bad track to be found. A few years later, Fore! came out, and same thing, amazing album from first song to last, and that cassette too was eventually destroyed by constant use.

:)

And much like all musical acts of the 80s, the 90s came, introduced the world to Grunge music, and all of my favorite artists disappeared and became relics of a bygone era.

Thankfully, people realize there was some pretty good music put out in that decade and most of those songs are standard issue on Adult Contemporary stations.

Many of those musical acts reunite now as a nostalgia acts to the amazement of the crowds.

Yet Huey Lewis & The News never stopped working during that time.

They continued to put out material, and while it never really caught on with the changing musical taste of each new generation, their longtime fans bought it, loved it, and continued to sell out his concert tours every summer.

So, about the time I watched Live Aid, little me vowed to someday see Huey Lewis & The News in concert.

Little did I know that journey would take about 30 more years than I expected!

: /

I always wanted to see Huey when I was in Maryland. He came to Wolftrap across the river in Virginia every year, but the timing never worked out right.

Then for the decade plus that I was stuck in South Carolina, I never found him any closer than 4 hours from home, and that just wasn't going to work.

I was amused that seemingly every year he did play a venue or two in Oregon...

Which brings us back to now.

His summer tour was announced, and he was playing two sites: the amphitheater in Bend or a Casino on the way to the Coast.

While I wanted to take everyone to Bend, because I raised a whole family of Huey Lewis & The News fans, that was going to be pricey.

So instead, I bought two tickets to the show at the casino, 21 and older only, and watched as the show quickly sold out.

I won't mention how horrible the website was for purchasing tickets as I saw the 2 front row center seats in my cart vanish...and by the time I was able to get the cart to function correctly, I was now about 20 rows back...

Or maybe I will mention it! :)

Then we were hushed about it.

Because whenever we make plans in the future or for something remotely fun, life or annoying people always seem to arrive unannounced at the last minute and ruin it.

Thankfully, not this time.

So as we sit in our seats waiting, the show is about to begin...

And a very familiar heartbeat begins...

The Heart of Rock & Roll starts playing and we jumped to our feet, as did several people throughout the sold out concert as we clapped, sang and danced along.

That was followed by She's Some Kind of Wonderful, and then went into I Want A New Drug.

Now, you know those songs...

Played live, are those quiet, slow tempo songs you should sit on your hands and listen to?

No.

But apparently for the crowd of old fogeys behind us, they kept poking my wife and me and telling us to sit down.

They even pushed our chairs into the back of our legs.

I turned around mid-song and one lady asked me "How's the show? I wouldn't know because I can't see it."

Apparently she didn't notice the two jumbo screens in front, or two big screens to the side that she could have looked at.

Or, horror of all horrors...actually stood up and enjoyed the show herself.

I shrugged my shoulders, smiled, and went back to clapping and standing, soaking in the moment.

This was a bucket list item for me.

See Huey Lewis & The News LIVE IN CONCERT!!!

Mission accomplished!

And they did not disappoint.

It was an amazing set full of hit after hit after hit!

Huey has an easy rapport with the crowd, telling us he knows we want to hear something new, but too bad, he's in charge, and he's in a hit-singing mood.

Eventually he did indeed give us 2 new songs that night, and they seamlessly fit in with the rest of his catalog.

Slowly, as the concert wore on, others finally unable to ignore the infectious energy of the band and those of us in the crowd who know a good thing when they see it, rose to their feet and really seemed to bring the entire energy level up in the place.

Aside from some sticks that never get out of the mud, by the time it came to cheer for an encore, that place was rocking.

And gracious Huey came back to the stage and played us 3 more songs.

When it was all over, you know there were some hits that just don't make it out due to time limits, but you feel like you've had the best night of your life.

Would I do it again?

In a heartbeat.

I got to see Huey Lewis & The News in concert, and I was able to take my beautiful bride with me!

The only downside, all of the kids at home who wanted to go, but were age restricted.

So if we do it again next year, I'm probably going for the venue that doesn't restrict by age.

And we'll be there.

And we'll be standing.

Cheering.

Singing.

Clapping.

Dancing.

You've been warned.

Buy your tickets accordingly.

:)


Final Grade: A+

Some "Stranger Things" Are Happening Lately

Stranger Things (2016)

TV-14

Starring Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Charlie Heaton, Matthew Modine

Created by Matt and Ross Duffer

The Story:

In the small town of Hawkins Indiana, young Will Byers (Schnapp) goes missing. His frantic mom (Ryder) contacts the sheriff (Harbour) and the hunt begins. Sadly, it is only the first of some very weird things that are about to plague this small town.

Doesn't sound very exciting, does it.

It is.

I'm being very vague in my description for several reasons.

There's a lot to be found in this ode to 80s cinema and television from Matt and Ross Duffer.

If you aren't hooked to watch this series in the first 8 1/2 minutes, then this show is not for you.

However, if you get the goosebumps in all the right places, you're in for a nostalgic feel for a story you've never heard.

Add equal parts Spielberg, Stephen King, John Carpenter, The Goonies, Halloween, Dungeons and Dragons and some more 80s nostalgia and drop into a blender and you'll get the basic cocktail that lays the foundation for this to work.

It's the latest Netflix original, and while I'm only 2 episodes in, I've found that the pacing for this one seems to flow much better than many of the 12-13 series shows where I've felt they could tell a better story in 8 episodes.

It seems that the Duffers may have felt the same way and they are crafting a fine tale with all the jumps and frights thanks to a good script, a believable cast and a score that helps set the mood and provide just the perfect enhancement cues for the viewer.

I made the 8 1/2 minute offer to most of my kids after I watched the first episode. I told them they could walk when the credits started rolling to introduce the series.

Nobody walked.

Now they are an episode ahead of me as well, and telling me to hurry up so they can keep going!

: )

I have no idea how it's going to end up, but I'm sure enjoying the ride to find out.

I'm hoping for a season 2, regardless of how this season ends.

It's that good.

Streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: A

An Overnight Sensation, 10 Years In The Making! "We Are Twisted F***ing Sister!"

We Are Twisted F***ing Sister (2014)

Not Rated

Starring Twisted Sister (Jay Jay French, Dee Snider, A.J. Pero, Eddie Ojeda, Mark Mendoza)

Written and Directed by Andrew Horn

The Story:

Twisted Sister started out as a bar band in New York. A glam rock band influenced by David Bowie but with a much harder edge, the band's cult following in New York in the early 70s began to really take shape when they added frontman Dee Snider on vocals. He insisted on wearing the clothes and makeup that Twisted Sister is known for, and eventually all of the members joined in. They quickly became the most famous band in the tri-state area, selling out venues that artists without record deals shouldn't even play in, let alone sell out. This is the story of how success turned to failure and more failure and even more failure as they kept reaching for the brass ring and kept getting knocked down in the process.

It's fascinating. It's heartwarming.

It's awesome.

Andrew Horn used crowdfunding and the participation of Twisted Sister to make this amazing documentary.

If you're like me, you know and remember Twisted Sister for their 2 singles in the mid 80s that catapulted them to stardom. Well, aside a brief mention at the end of the movie, that period isn't even mentioned.

If you were in New York or Europe from the mid 70's through 1982, then you might have already known all about this group, and how the world seemingly conspired against them to keep them from realizing mainstream success.

That's what this film is about.

Each member of the band is interviewed separately and that allows for some great insight from each on what they thought of their life in the band and the long road to fame.

Fans are also interviewed because without the fans, it's likely that Twisted Sister never does become famous.

Also interviewed are the managers and executives that tried to get their careers off the ground, to varying degrees of success.

It's such an amusing comeuppance to the record company executive that refused to sign the band, and their success was a giant F. U. right back at the suits who attempted to keep them down.

Those that believed were vindicated, and all the while, Twisted Sister just kept moving forward.

Rock on.

The documentary is streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

You don't have to be a fan of metal or even the band to enjoy this one. If you do, your enjoyment will be increased.

It's the heart of the story that carries this one above and beyond the ordinary.

Final Grade: A-

This Is What It Sounds Like When We All Cry... R.I.P. Prince 1958-2016

 

 

What the $%&@* ?!?!

I would say that was probably the collective reaction to most of America and most of the music-loving world yesterday when we found out that Prince Rogers Nelson passed away.

Prince.

Surely it had to be a mistake, another internet hoax that people would debunk shortly.

I was driving home yesterday and was halfway through a Prince song, it ended, and then another Prince song started.

I looked at my radio and thought, maybe this station is doing rock block Thursday?

Then the song ended and the announcer repeated that the breaking news from 45 minutes earlier, Prince had passed away.

WTF!!!???

Well, one doesn't just spontaneously burst into tears while driving, but I was crying hard on the inside.

Trying to wrap my head around the fact that one of the greatest musical artists of all time, and most importantly for me, one of the pillars of my 80s musical childhood was gone.

Takes the wind right out of your sails.

I now have 2 musical regrets in my life:

I had concert tickets to see David Bowie back in 1989/1990. We ended up not going because Tacoma was a long way from Scio and college and life... so we didn't go see him.

About 5 years ago, Prince was coming to North Charleston, and I got tickets! But with little Ari on the way, momma didn't want to risk damaging little ones ears by attending the concert, and I really didn't want to go without her.  In hindsight, I wish I had taken one of my daughters and gone, because I know the concert would have been amazing. But we didn't go.

You always think, well, I'll get to their concert the next time they come around.

Sadly, eventually they stop coming around.

So if you ever get the chance to see your favorites, do it. Don't have any musical regrets in life!

Thankfully, I have the music. I can pull up life footage on YouTube or watch his amazing SuperBowl halftime show again.

Sure, it's not the same, but at least it's something.

The man was a creative force of genius and the world is a better place for having him in it, and we are now worse off for him no longer being here.

But oh, the music he did leave for us.

Pick the best Prince song.

It's nearly impossible.

Sure you can try and pick a favorite, but then you go, oh but there's this one, and there's that one...

He was incredible.

Take the Purple Rain Soundtrack out of the equation, and he still had a mountain of memorable hits.

Heck, I never even saw the movie until it was celebrating it's 20th, or 25th Anniversary. I had the soundtrack, I never even bothered with the film!

And yes, the film was as energetic and full of life as the star of the movie.

Prince created a mountain of music.

Then he became "The Artist Formerly Known As..."

Then he finally reconciled with the studio and reclaimed his name and was set to release new material.

My hope, that while his long fight with his record label may have slowed the output of released material, I have a feeling that Prince has a back catalog that could be released posthumously.

In addition to all of the music he gave us personally, we also have some Prince hits out there that he wrote but didn't perform.

Everyone remembers Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Conner.

But there was Stand Back by Stevie Nicks;  I Feel For You by Chaka Khan; Sugar Walls by Sheena Easton; and Manic Monday by the Bangles, among others.

Like I said, he's one of the pillars that gave us great 80s music, and his legacy will never be forgotten.

As for that best Prince song?

I really love Raspberry Beret.

But man, Kiss sure is great and lots of fun.

The awesome duet U Got The Look with Sheena Easton.

Then there's the hauntingly sorrowful guitar on Purple Rain that chokes you up.

And who can forget the ultimate party anthem, 1999?

So many great songs.

Thankfully I'm not behind the wheel of a car right now, so I guess it's okay to finally cry.

Thanks for a lifetime of musical memories, Prince.

There's Gonna Be Some Heartache Tonight... R.I.P. Glenn Frey 1948-2016

If you can say that you wrote Desperado or Hotel California, well, you can pretty much do a mic drop when it comes to musical accomplishments in life.

That's where Glenn Frey and The Eagles belong, game-changers in the music industry.

If you've listened to just about any radio station since the 1970s, odds are good that you've heard their music. Pop music. Classic Rock. Even Country.

Eagles songs, or covers by other artists, are played on those stations every day.

And that's a nice comforting thing to hear on the radio.

Once upon a time I was asked who my favorite band of all-time was, and I answered The Eagles.

There were some snickering as typical answers are supposed to be The Beatles, The Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, blah blah blah

Apparently if you didn't start in the 60s, you aren't eligible to be a greatest of all-time.

Well, I disagree with that assessment. The Eagles were an amazing band, and after they broke up, they all went on to varying degrees of solo success.

I'm sure if we counted the hits from some of those bands to those of The Eagles, the tally would be closer than you might think at first glance.

Which brings us to the 80s, and I began listening to Top 40 music and was hearing classic Eagles songs while Don Henley and Glenn Frey were bringing their solo efforts to the airwaves.

With hits in Beverly Hills Cop and Miami Vice, Frey proved he was more than just the Garfunkel of the Don Henley/Glenn Frey collaboration.

Imagine the surprise when the Eagles reunited nearly 15 years later and buried their creative hatchets. Embarking on worldwide farewell tours that seemingly never ended, the guys sounded just as good decades removed from the 70s as they did in their prime.

And while they could have easily just played their greatest hits, Frey and Henley sat down and continued to write new Eagles songs.

Their last radio hit, Hole In The World, was their response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

It is as moving and beautiful of a song as the songs they had penned together decades earlier. 

And now with the passing of Glenn Frey, the music industry has lost another musical genius.

For the fans, we are left with a "hole in the world tonight..."

Farewell and Rest in Peace, Glenn. Thank you for all the musical memories.

Legend Doesn't Begin To Describe Him... R.I.P. David Bowie 1947-2016

Well, I can imagine that it's safe to say that if you're a fan of pop/rock music, you've woken up and are reacting to the gut-punch of losing David Bowie with shock, anger, sadness, and the whole range of emotions.

Musical legends don't come along every day, and I would say that Bowie's career rivals him to be in the same ballpark as The Beatles and Stones when discussing his career and influence.

Not bad for a guy who had to change his name from Davy Jones so as to not be confused with the lead singer of The Monkees!

My first memory of the music of David Bowie was an appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1979 where he performed "Boys Keep Swinging" with a puppet body.

It creeped me out! I just re-watched the video, and it's still a little bizarre, and the child inside of me trembled just a little bit.

:)

Fast forward to the 80s, and I finally moved the dial on my FM radio to Top 40 music.

Needless to say, when asked for the best decade of music, I am a firm believer in the 80s.

And that's where I met David Bowie again for the first time.

"Let's Dance"

"China Girl"

"Modern Love"

Those 3 songs alone are a great testament to the man's musical legacy, and it would be joined on the radio for me with a past classic "Under Pressure" with Queen.

Needless to say, I was a fan.

As time moved forward, so did Bowie, continually releasing new music and changing his style. Bowie continued releasing music into the next millennium, including the release of his latest album which came out just days before he passed away. All recorded while he battled cancer.
I actually went backward and learned most of Bowie's hits because my wife was a big fan and she introduced me to much of his back catalog.  That knowledge served me well because after joining the military, at my first duty section we played classic rock while rigging parachutes all day. Guess who was a staple with his 70s hits?  Yep, David Bowie.

Amusingly, many of my favorite 80s bands were influenced by the very same David Bowie who was releasing music right alongside them.

For that, and for all of his music, I will forever be grateful.



 

The Name Sounds Familiar... "Poltergeist"

Poltergeist (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Saxon Sharbino, Kyle Catlett, Kennedi Clements, Jared Harris, Jane Adams

Directed by Gil Kenan

The Story:

The Bowen family moves into a house. The house is haunted. The house eats the youngest child (Clements). The Bowen's bring in the one man (Harris) who might have a chance at saving their daughter.

They're back.

Okay, that's a short and to-the-point synopsis of the movie.

First, hands up everyone who saw and remembers and probably loves the 1982 original film.

Cool.

Me too.

That said, it's been about...30-ish years since I last saw the film.

I'm still haunted by the fried chicken leg scene.

:: shudder ::

And of course, everyone remembers "They're he-re"

So why remake the film?

Money.

Money talks, and like it or not, Poltergeist is a "franchise".

The funny thing, get rid of the "They're he-re" line and name this film something else entirely, more people would probably have enjoyed it and/or bashed it less for being a "horrible remake" of a beloved 80s movie.

At this point, every haunted house movie is derivative of Poltergeist, or the Amityville Horror or any of a number of films that have come before.

Much like the RoboCop remake, or Total Recall, when they keep referencing names or trying to recreate scenes instead of just taking the idea of the film and doing a "what can we do now?" approach to the film, it causes too many memory reflexes for many viewers to just sit back and enjoy the show.

Thankfully, I was able to enjoy this movie for what it was, and only had a few flashbacks to the original film.

Sam Rockwell, as always, makes a great anchor for the film as we not only suffer with his ordeal of trying to save his family after the ghosts make themselves known, we feel his pain as he tries desperately to take care of his family before that even happens.

Harris also makes a great ghost hunter and provides much needed humor and seriousness as the needs arise.

You know, when it's all said and done, this was still a rather well-made story and can stand on its own two feet next to the original.

Final Grade: B-

Don't Spend One Moment On This "Ping Pong Summer"

Ping Pong Summer (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Marcello Conte, Helena Seabrook, John Hannah, Lea Thompson, Susan Sarandon

Written and Directed by Michael Tully

The Story:

Radical Miracle (Conte) is going on a coming of age summer adventure with his sister (Seabrook) and parents (Thompson & Hannah). Something is going to make this his greatest summer ever...

But I was so bored and uninterested in the film after 10 minutes, I took it out and mailed it back.

Had I known it was streaming on Amazon Prime, I could have saved the mailman the trouble of moving this disc across the miles.

Michael Tully is officially on my list of directors to not bother with.

The film was painfully unfunny, not dramatic, not really anything at all.

When the greatest part of the movie is using Casey Kasem's American Top 40 to hear a long-distance dedication, it's time to move on.

Also shot to be grainy to "look and feel" like an 80s film, it only serves to undercut whatever you're trying to make as a finished product.

80s movies may have been grainy, but the best are revered classics, the worst are cringe-worthy cult classics or so bad they're cheesy good.

This film is none off those.

Final Grade: D-

Not Ready For AARP Just Yet..."The Equalizer"

The Equalizer (2014)

Rated R

Starring Denzel Washington, Chloe Grace Moretz

Directed by Antoine Fuqua

The Story:

Robert McCall (Washington) works at a local hardware store. However at night at a diner when he can't sleep, he reads quietly and strike up a conversation with a local call girl (Moretz). One night when she shows up the worse for wear, Robert makes a call on her employers. Things take a turn for the worse, and suddenly Robert is wanted by the Russian mob.

No good deed...

So, hands up anybody that remembers or actually watched the 80s television show of the same name starring Edward Woodward as Robert McCall.

Wow, that's not many hands.

That's okay, I barely watched any of it at all, but my dad loved the show. It was too slow and not much action.

I mean, here was this senior citizen out there fighting crime.

I believe he paved the way for Murder She Wrote and Matlock!

But I digress...

The movie amps up the action just a bit, but they keep the tension and drama building throughout.

I quite enjoyed this version of The Equalizer, and would be happy to see a sequel in the future if they so desired.

Final Grade: B

Stick To The Cartoons..."Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Megan Fox, Will Arnett, William Fichtner, Tohoru Masamune

Directed by Johnathan Liebesman

The Story:

Shredder (Masamune) and his Foot Clan are terrorizing New York City. However, there are apparently some vigilantes that are standing up for what's right. Reporter April O'Neil (Fox) follows them and discovers that they are giant turtles.

But not just any turtles.

They are teenage mutant ninja turtles.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Turtle franchise, this movie was unleashed on the world last year.

Looking at the trailer, I couldn't help but think to myself, "this looks terrible."

My instincts were not wrong.

I turned over guest-reviewer status to my girls who saw the film, and they enjoyed it.

I worry about the taste in movies of my girls.

:)

I think a lot of it is the joy of seeing your childhood heroes brought to the big screen.

I get that.

Tell me I don't gush each time Marvel Studios releases a new movie! :)

This isn't the turtles I grew up on.

Heck, this isn't the latest revival on Nickelodeon which is actually pretty good.

No, this is something entirely different.

Having endured the film, I'm still not exactly sure what it was.

However, good isn't one of the words I will use.

I want to say there were approximately 3 amusing lines in the entire movie, and I believe they all belonged to Mikey.

No, this train wreck just kept adding more and more to the screen, apparently hoping to simply overwhelm the viewer with CGI and Megan Fox.

Don't get me started on her, but as I've mentioned previously, once she left the Transformers franchise, the films started to get better.

I guess I'll wait for her to leave this franchise on the 3rd film?


Final Grade: D+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: No, I won't be buying this film, not even if they beg.  I had several audible gasps when I warned them that this film is officially eligible for Turkey of the Year honors.

Sorry kids, this was awful.

I Finally Watched "Ernest Saves Christmas" ...

Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)

Rated PG

Starring Jim Varney, Douglas Seale, Noelle Parker, Oliver Clark

Directed by John Cherry

The Story:

Santa (Seale) comes to Florida to pass the mantle of Santa Claus on to a successor. He runs into cab driver Ernest P. Worrell (Varney) who has a heart of gold and the brains of a goldfish, but is willing to help the big guy complete his task before Christmas Eve.

Wow.

I had never seen any of the Ernest films until now.
I remember Varney's schtick from the 80s, and found his commercials (KnowWhatIMeanVern) hilarious.

Plus, he was a great Slinky Dog in the Toy Story franchise.

However, it was Ernest that made Varney a star, and earned him several movies.

8 Movies, if the tally on IMDB is to be believed.

8 movies??!! Wow...

I have now seen one of them, and the verdict is...

It wasn't that bad.

Varney was a commanding presence, and he was able to play other characters in this movie which showed the comedic range of the actor who was more than just Ernest.

There are some genuine laughs and funny moments, and odds are, if you liked this movie and have been making it a part of your holidays for the last 25 years, you have a soft spot in your heart for this one.

No rose-colored glasses for me, but I can see the appeal and enjoyment that this one can provide.


Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C+/B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: While I wouldn't own it, it was silly enough to view again in the future.

Much Ado About Nothing... "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

Rated PG

Starring Steve Martin, Michael Caine

Directed by Frank Oz

The Story:

 Lawrence (Caine) is a big-time con man who lives on the Riviera, preying on the rich women who fall for his cons and shower him with riches. Into his life, and town, comes Freddy (Martin) a small-timer who has big dreams of conning his way across the Riviera. He tries learning from Lawrence, but the two just cannot get along, so they instead attempt one last con, and the loser must leave the beautiful town they are in.

Meh.

Surprisingly, I had never seen this film.

Released in the 80s, Steve Martin as star, you'd have thought I would own this one and watch it repeatedly.

However, you would be wrong.

Never got around to it.

Couldn't really tell you why, something about this movie never clicked with me.

So I see it available to stream this weekend, and think, now's the time!

Then boredom set in.

There's no denying Caine or Martin's presence in the film, but really, there just isn't anything that grabs me and makes me want to keep watching.

By the time they get ready to star the competition, nearly an hour has drug out, and there's still an hour to go.

I'm guessing that if you loved it then, you still love it.

As I have no affection for it, it strikes me as indifferent.

Ah well, c'est la vie.
 
Now streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I waited a quarter of a century to watch it. It will be much longer before I do so again.

You Look Very Familiar... "RoboCop"

RoboCop (2014)

Rated PG-13 for violence and language

Starring Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson,

Directed by Jose Padilha

The Story:

In the future, OmniCorp has been sending their cyborg troops overseas as peacekeeping soldiers ensuring real people aren't dying anymore.  Only America is refusing to allow these tin men to patrol the streets, and with pressure on politicians by OmniCorp president Sellars (Keaton) and crusading journalist Pat Novak (Jackson) are lobbying to get a RoboCop trial program off the ground.  The missing ingredient: the human factor.  When they receive the gift of a cop that was targeted for assassination (Kinnaman), they hardwire him into the RoboCop program.

This is not your father's RoboCop.

Or mine, for that matter.

The original, satirical take on America in the 80s is still a science fiction classic, however, my fears, as I voiced in my review last year of the original RoboCop (1987), were thankfully unfounded.

While many of names remain the same, there are subtle, and less subtle shifts in tone and behavior to the original.

Whereas Total Recall tried to change the story completely, the over-reliance of the original ended up casting a shadow that the remake could not crawl out from under.

RoboCop takes the least amount of the original and transplants it, without the satiric tone, into a possible future America that could likely exist.

Why wouldn't we want to send robotic soldiers to fight wars and save hundreds/thousands of human lives?

You would think it would be a no-brainer, but politicians want human capability for discernment to be included.

Kinnaman brings life to the suit, literally if not figuratively.  Not familiar with his work, the big names all float around as secondary figures.

At the end of the day though, if I am only going to watch another RoboCop with my kids (assuming they want to watch it again...), it would end up being this version.

Simply because the tone and violence is dialed waaaaay back this go round.

The revamped RoboCop is a perfectly serviceable science fiction/action flick for a new generation.

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It actually wasn't too bad.  I don't think I'll rush out to own it, but I could watch it on cable in the future.

Chicago Is In Good Hands... "Running Scared"

Running Scared (1986)
Rated R for violence and language and nudity

Starring Billy Crystal, Gregory Hines, Joe Pantoliano, Dan Hedaya, Jimmy Smits

Directed by Peter Hyams

The Story:

Detectives Ray (Hines) and Danny (Crystal) are two of Chicago's finest.  However, when the duo are almost killed, their Captan (Hedaya) orders them to take a vacation.  A trip to the Florida Keys convinces them that perhaps it's simply time to retire and open a bar.  As they go to finish up their tour on the force, the two become very conservative in their behavior, and that could prove costly as they attempt to take down local drug kingpin Julio Gonzales (Smits).

Long live the Buddy Cop film!

Although this film takes a different slant on the buddy cop genre.

Instead of the duo being oil and water, Ray and Danny are like an old married couple.

They can complete each other's sentences, know what one another is thinking...

In other words, best friends on and off the force.

Hines and Crystal's chemistry serves the duo well, allowing both to take on the air of serious action stars while maintaining their sense of humor and general likeability.

The supporting cast is great.

Hedaya makes a wonderful beaten down head of detectives an Pantoliano is perfectly cast as two bit villain Snake.

Some great dialogue, pretty fun action sequences, and you'll find this is one of the underrated action comedies of the mid-80s.

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I own it, and I love it.

Best Bette Weekend: "Big Business"

Big Business (1988)
Rated PG for language

Starring Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin, Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin

Director Jim Abrahams

The Story:

In the small town of Jupiter Hollow, fate conspires as a rich tycoon needs a hospital for his wife to deliver their baby.  The problem?  The hospital is only for employees of the local furniture manufacturer.  To solve that problem, he buys the company!  At the same time, a local family also goes into labor, and comes to the hospital.  As the moms deliver, the harried nurse puts the babies into cribs... but when called back into each room because of a twin being born... well...

Welcome to the wonderful world of the mistaken identity comedy.

It's a wonderful genre that is always ripe for comedic potential.

Here you end up with 2 sets of sisters, mismatched from their  chosen paths.

2 grow up in the big city, one has an eye for business, one yearns for a simpler life.

2 grow up in the little town, one that loves it there, and one that dreams of something more.

Giving the roles to Tomlin and Midler, both at the height of their 80s movie stardom and comedic prowess was a no-brainer.  They make each sister their own individual and it's fun to watch them play two sides of the same coin throughout the movie.

Naturally, when all 4 find themselves in the big city for a shareholders meeting about shutting down the furniture manufacturer, mistaken identity occurs from strangers, co-workers and the men that love the ladies.

Of course where comedies occur, they always want to give us a happy ending, and the movie provides just that making sure that each girl gets the man, and the life, of their dreams by films end.


Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I forgot how fun, and funny, this movie was.  Hope it's not another 25 years before I watch it.