Reviews

I went into this piece of cinema blind, taking a half day off work to take my young daughter to see it at the theater.

Boy, was I happy to do so. The story is original, the actors superb, the music phenomenal, and the production was stupendous. It's a visual and auditory feast for the senses. I even shed a little tear at the end.

Fans of the original will love it, and as mentioned, my little girl who's normally quite antsy watching anything outside of an animated feature was glued to her seat. I can't wait to watch it again with the family. This is a big win for the fantasy / musical genre of film.

Let's face it: you can set a comedy in Los Angeles and it'll always achieve nominal success. A multicultural cast, socially relevant humor, cool music, drone shots and boom - that's a movie. There's something about palm trees and attractive people that'll never go out of style.

But this formula is beyond old. You have to have that thing that makes it stand out. Something fresh, something new under the sun. I'm not sure if it's the studios, writers or talent, but a major part of that team is resting on their laurels.

I loved the casting of old school comedic actors that are likely singing their swan song. The plot is tried and true, and it normally works. I just wish the filmmakers of You People did their homework to give us a film worthy of all their unorthodox comedic talents.

Too bad You People wouldn't make it into the 'staff picks' of a Thousand Oaks Blockbuster. How's that for old school and sarcastic?

I didn't laugh once. Didn't even chuckle. The music is wrong, the title cards are more late 80's, and what's up with the fake band posters? They couldn't pay for actual Jane's Addiction or Sonic Youth album art?

You can see the setup for the jokes from a mile away. It's lazy and really just insulting our intelligence at this point. A shot-for-shot remake with a 90's twist would've been better. At least that'd have a degree of ambition.

One star because it was cool seeing some old familiar faces. I guess it's not bad for background noise but is this reason enough for a spinoff? The American sitcom is dead. Go back and rewatch the original.

I heard about Bad Trip in Steve-O's book 'A Hard Kick in the Nuts'. Truth be told if I didn't know a little background about it I wouldn't have checked it out. Judging by its title and star Eric André I thought it'd be another cliche stoner flick. Boy was I wrong.

The road-trip plot is simple and straightforward, and it's the glue that holds the stunts and pranks together. Everyone should go into Bad Trip blind so I'll just say there's a perfect balance of awkward , toilet and irreverent humor.

I laughed harder than I have in a long time, and I'm talking couldn't catch my breath, cathartic level belly laughs. What elevates this movie is that there's a pretty thrilling chase subplot and an endearing love story. Put this one at the top of your comedy list!

Crumb is a documentary that's quite divisive. On one side you have comic book fans who appreciate a 2-hour deep dive into Robert Crumb's life, and on the other movie fans who want to see what the big hype was about. Siskel and Ebert applauded Crumb after all, with the latter including it in his exclusive Great Movies list, giving it a perfect 4-stars.

Crumb is not a feel-good study into an artist's life. Cinematically it's barebones and only embellished by the ragtime and blues music sprinkled throughout. There are no cool editing tricks, moving animations, or montages. On the surface there are no inspiring, life-affirming segments that'll help you in your own creative endeavors. You'll feel depressed at how miserable and unremarkable his childhood was, at the hands of a brute, uncaring father and uninvolved, doped up mother. Thankfully director Terry Zwigoff doesn't focus too much on this, choosing rather to show the result of such an upbringing; through his brothers and mom. It's not until you finish the documentary that you'll see the good that comes out of such an experience.

However, it's not all gloom and doom. There are also interviews with Crumb's contemporaries, art critics, wife, ex-wife, and even his son. We get a glimpse of him as a family man and as an underground celebrity. My favorite was a short, day-in-the-life-of, where we see Robert walking around downtown San Francisco literally drawing inspiration from his surroundings. Then there's the art; the real meat-and-bones of it all. Even if you're not a fan of his cartoons, the sheer volume of work is unreal. This is an artist who never stopped working. The hippie era, drugs and subsequent publishers were incidental to Crumb's output. He would've kept drawing even if he never got a paycheck for his craft. That's rare. He didn't have to say he never cared about money or the critics, it's evident in his sketchbooks. He's an illustration machine.

The American Dream for an artist is different from its typical definition. This is the American Nap. If you want to simply make a living from your art, shun materialism, and find salvation in a quiet existence then this film will resonate with you. How many of us can say no to Hollywood? Show me one American blue-collar guy who declines money and fame. They no longer exist, but you'll witness Crumb doing just that. By the way I've never read a single R. Crumb comic. I just love inspiring, unusual documentaries. Don't pay attention to the negative reviews. Crumb is a masterpiece.

Another sci-fi movie with great actors, visuals, and mood. With so many things going for it inexplicably failed to engage me since the story is ambiguous. Plus it's really slow at a meandering 164 minutes.

The characters' motivations aren't clear either. In the end, who wins? I get it, it's a dystopian tale of survival and searching for meaning, but I went into it confused and was left with a lot of questions. Seeing Harrison Ford and Sean Young together again was a real treat, but it was brief.

A Blade Runner sequel should've been a game-changer, but I can't see myself rewatching this over and over like the original. It will however be a beautiful movie to put on as a visual.

Except Jack Reacher XXXL is not a ranger in Texas, he's an ex-Army major in Georgia. The production value, action and dialog however reminds me of Walker.

It started out promising. Too bad it soon requires suspension of disbelief to continue. The chemistry between the protagonist and his love interest is awful. The plot becomes convoluted with too many names to remember, and puny bad guys are able to outclass Reacher during fights. Even cheesy 80's action movies knew to bring in a worthy badass to overpower the hero.

I won't be tuning into season 2. It's barely watchable, which is a shame since Alan Ritchson fit the physicality of Reacher better than Cruise.

The production value is great. No wait, it feels cheap with wooden acting. An episode will end on a cliffhanger, but then the next one opens with a long, pointless scene. A religious message will feel deep at first, then vapid since it reveals itself to be biased. I was hoping for a consistent series that delves into our misconceptions about the Muslim religion, with a more balanced worldview.

I'm not sure what to make of Messiah, but after 4 episodes I'm cutting my losses. The bad reviews seem to confirm my suspicions.

Seriously, have you ever watched a bad Kevin Bacon movie? Me either. He actually seems to elevate a film, especially when he's the star. 'You Should Have Left' is no exception.

The movie itself checks all the boxes for a thriller. Good mystery, suspense, a touch of horror, and eye candy in the form of Amanda Seyfried. If I saw this at the theater I'd walk out a satisfied customer.

I'm not sure if it's fair to call Sun Dogs a drama, comedy, or a love story. It's all three woven together in a cohesive and heartfelt manner.

As soon as you think it's going to go in one direction, it lightly changes course. It's totally unpredictable but in a refreshing way. If you enjoy whimsical yet moving films, "be vigilant", and give this one a watch.

As a true crime fan who grew up in Los Angeles during the 1980's, naturally I was looking forward to this documentary series. Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer however, quieted my concern that it would glamourize Richard Ramirez. It did not. Far from it.

It is a celebration of the lead homicide detectives who worked tirelessly to capture an elusive, vicious killer. It also shines a great big light on the survivors, who reflect on the victims.

I appreciated the fresh approach to showing the crime scene photos - avoiding the typical horror soundtrack and overly macabre display. There are countless documentaries on serial killers that do this, but this one took a more sober approach, perhaps out of respect to the victims and their families.

Richard Ramirez's childhood and his trial is glossed over, but this is hardly a complaint. It never set out to cover the same old story, but a few more minutes delving into this segment would've felt more complete. A strong 9 out of 10.

Imagine a quick study into Sam Kinison's life and you have this brief documentary and interview with his brother and manager, Bill Kinison.

I'm a huge fan so I'm obviously biased when I say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It answered quite a few questions I had about the controversial rock & roll comic, and rehashed some facts I already knew. However, it leaves a lot to be desired since there are no interviews with his friends and other family, and I wondered why.

The best thing about this is that it made me watch his stand-ups again, so it's a fitting tribute. Hopefully we'll get a full documentary soon, or if done right, a biopic.

Selena: The Series has no energy, no soul. It feels like a sitcom. A bad one. Everything from the cast to the paint-by-number plot feels flat. Then there are the glaring missed opportunities. The dad used to own a Tex-Mex restaurant, yet they never thought to show the beauty of their regional food? It was the perfect moment to show the Quintanilla's roots and make us feel connected to the characters.

By the way Netflix we get it, you can get the rights to a lot of songs. The hit parade of 80's English-language music doesn't fit though. It's also rinky-dink to have a score that tells us how to feel. I know I know, the dad's giving his son a talk about going for it in life. No need for wannabe Rocky theme muzak.

2 stars for keeping me marginally entertained before dinner. Maybe I'll put some Tapatio on my pollo. At least then I'll have a little spice today.

This is a modern true crime story, showing footage from police bodycams, social media videos, phone texts, and well-placed subtitles to help bring the tale to an incredible crescendo.

I watch a lot of documentaries and this was the first to impress me with such technical features. It's not there for the sake of being cutting edge either. It was all very well placed to draw the viewer in.

The story is brutal and emotional, and will keep you guessing until the end. This is 21st century crime reporting - absolutely magnificent.

It always starts with a unique take on an old premise. The leads are veteran comedic actors, and you'll see some fresh faces but they're never quite given much screen time. Oh and of course there's celebrity cameos. You'll laugh a little, chuckle some, and hear recognizable pop songs. Throw in a few 80's references to appease the parents, and you walked out of them thinking it wasn't a total waste of time. This formula still worked 10 years ago. Now it's lazy and unremarkable.

Horror / thrillers are usually harshly criticized, but Rattlesnake being a low 4.6 rating at this point is fair.

A lot of missed opportunities here. It gained momentum by being an interesting metaphor for tragic deaths. If fate gave you an opportunity to trade a loved one's tragic death for a stranger's, would you take it? When the movie unfolds, you expect various situations to morally test that concept - it doesn't. Even more frustrating, it could've presented a chilling and ominous insight into the town's curse, but barely scratched the surface.

I rolled my eyes at the cliche bar scene. It's set in Texas, so if you've watched enough horror movies you'll see it coming a mile away. The cinematography in a desert town could've taken a page from the Coen's or Vince Gilligan's book, instead it felt like a 1980's film reshot in HD.

One star for a decent ending, another two for Carmen Ejojo's acting, and a one-dollar tip for keeping my attention for 85 minutes. Rattlesnake is okay, but its rattle is worse than its bite.

Within the first 7 minutes I had to suspend disbelief that anyone would stick around to film the creep. Plus, the unlikable wacko didn't have any proof to back up his claims. Only a complete moron would give him the benefit of the doubt after he sang and danced wearing that mask. About 15 minutes in I was replying to work emails on my phone.

If this is what's considered the future of found footage, then I will mourn its imminent death.

I found Montage of Heck to be a scatter-brained documentary that couldn't decide which direction to go. It grabs at various forms of media culled from Cobain's family, and tosses them into a blender, with splashes of interviews and band footage.

There were some stunningly rotoscoped animation, using narration from Cobain, that briefly takes you through his dejected teenage years in Aberdeen, Washington. They also rendered the years Cobain spent living with his first girlfriend, Tracy Marander, who supported him when Nirvana started getting noticed. Marander isn't shown (only in interviews and rare photos), we just see how Kurt spent his days being creative while she was at work. Anyway, not long after, the band signed to Sub Pop and released Bleach.

There were also drawings and writings (many would make Jack Kerouac's "spontaneous prose" seem lucid by comparison) from his sketchbooks / journals, that were brought to life using muted computer graphics. These were scattered throughout, and became laborious after about the 10th time. Still, the music that accompanied them were great. We get to hear plenty of unreleased material, and I even noticed some Nirvana covers, which felt redundant.

Now, cue in Courtney Love. Sigh. It was annoying seeing her all dolled up by a makeup artist, chain-smoking and sounding incredibly untruthful about Kurt's last couple of months. I won't ruin it, but it's towards the end of the film and it made me more suspicious of her. The home videos of Kurt, Courtney, and Frances Bean were quite touching, although at times it got dark, especially some moments with just Kurt and Courtney (not 100% on who recorded them). You know he was the happiest he's ever been, but they were also plunging into the abyss of heroin and other drugs.

Overall, Montage of Heck started off as a sweet concoction that ultimately left me with a bitter aftertaste. I hear that 'About a Son' is the superior documentary, so I'll watch that in hopes of getting a deeper insight into Kurt Cobain and Nirvana.

a.k.a. Baywatch on wheels.

Have you witnessed the marvel that is Pacific Blue? It's a sun-kissed miscellany of wooden acting, drama, romance, action, comedy and brazen T&A.

The acting - my god, the acting. Think of porno actors from the late 80's and early 90's, and you will know the cast of Pacific Blue. Not only that, but the set pieces seem like they were culled from a Peter North and Anita Dark video. It gets better after season 1, but the cheese is omnipresent, and sublime.

The plots - never have I seen such a wonderful treasure of generic stories with moral lessons. Some absolute gems include:

• The misguided gangbanger who is seeking a father figure.

• The cocky new addition to the police force who's keeping a dark secret.

• The school shooting, and how we can't always protect our children from a world gone mad.

• and since it's set in Venice Beach, California, naturally there's a teenage runaway who has someone that cares.

The action - any time there's a chase, and even when there isn't one, you'll get a healthy dose of bodacious bicycle stunts in each show. Unnecessary drops from rooftops, table jumps, wheelies, endos, leg swipes and 360's - all done on mountain bikes with frames and shock absorbers that probably cost more than a yellow Nissan Pathfinder - shaka brah.

The comedy - if the action in Pacific Blue is the sand, surely the comedy is the sea - a sea of awkward awesomeness. You'll be reminded of being in school, when you and a classmate had to pair up to do an impromptu skit in front of the class. You will blush, and then you will lose your mind.

The T&A - because every woman walking along Venice Beach and its surrounding neighborhoods wear G-strings and have a ginormous set of bronzed mammaries.

If you haven't experienced the life-affirming magnificence that is "PacBlue", I urge you to take it for a spin. It's the very definition of California Love.

Rodney Dangerfield exudes great charm, and in Back to School he really shines. A gifted stand-up comedian, Rodney is an old school Las Vegas comic known for delivering scathing, self-deprecating, yet wholesomely witty one-liners. His unique comedy is further enhanced by his bulbous eyes, deep voice and hysterical intonations.

Rodney plays Thornton Melon, an eccentric millionaire, doting father, and former college diving competition champ. Thornton went from rags to riches selling men's custom-tailored suits to the big and tall.

His only child and son Jason is a freshman in college, painfully single, and having a tough time adjusting to academia, campus life, and his chosen sport - diving. Hilarity ensues when Thornton comes to his son's rescue by enrolling in the same university, partying, throwing money around and slacking off. Then he is literally put to the test, having to pass a series of exams, or get expelled by his nemesis, the pompous Dr. Phillip Barbay, Dean of Students.

Thornton also has to learn to stop smothering his son and be a normal dad. Of course, Rodney doesn't do normal, which brings the laughs consistently, with an explosive dive competition-climax that has to be seen to be believed.

Back to School immortalized Rodney Dangerfield like no other movie. This movie also has a great supporting cast (Burt Lancaster and the late Sam Kinison come to mind) and a fitting, cheery score by none other than Danny Elfman (three years before he did Batman and The Simpsons). You'll laugh and cheer for Thornton Melon, and after you do, you'll watch this wonderful 80's comedy gem again and again.

In high school, I knew Enid and Rebecca-types. My friend's older brother was and still is, eerily similar to Seymour. Even Dougs can be found in every strip mall parking lot in Anytown, U.S.A.

The characters in Ghost World are exceptional in that they reflect people that are ubiquitous in real life. Rebels, geeks, superficial people, lonely divorcees, obscure music buffs, solitary and bitter adults - this is our movie.

The actors were truly lucky to work from such a phenomenal script written by Daniel Clowes, who illustrated and wrote the graphic novel that the movie is based on, and Terry Zwigoff, director of the requisite 1999 artist-documentary, Crumb. Zwigoff was also at the helm of the unapologetically anti-Christmas movie, Bad Santa.

Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson pulled off something truly rare in movies - completely believable and relatable teenagers. There is not a single, typical mention or scene of binge beer-drinking or marijuana-smoking here - like I said, Ghost World is rare and unique in staying away from perpetually rehashed teen-comedy archetypes.

Thora Birch especially stands out as the cynically dry-humored, plucky, and lackadaisical Enid. Her breakthrough role in American Beauty, which came out two years before Ghost World, is proof of her acting chops brilliantly developing right before our eyes; bright, reserved and subtle, like a calcified silver charm. You'll see a more extroverted, stylish, and sexually liberated girl, who forms an unlikely friendship with Seymour, a man twice her age.

Steve Buscemi fits the character of Seymour like an oily rubber glove. He's of course worked with the best (Coen Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, Tim Burton, David Chase, Terence Winter, etc.), and Buscemi is wonderfully cast here, breathing life into his Seymour character with aplomb.

Honorable mentions go to Illeana Douglas as the school's delightfully pretentious art teacher, Bob Balaban as Enid's spineless father, and the late Brad Renfro, as her friend Josh. Dave Sheridan deserves special mention, as the corner-store loitering redneck Doug, and will make you double over in laughter. Also, if you're into classic 80's comedies such as Tootsie and Young Frankenstein, keep your eyes open for a cameo by a talented and popular actress from that era. I won't ruin the surprise, but it was an absolute pleasure seeing her again.

We know these people. They made impressions on us when we struggled to make the difficult transition into adulthood, desperately clinging to a truthful existence. I too grew up in Anytown, U.S.A., which was a ghostly existence , devoid of substantial heroes to look up to, and meaningful, lasting friendships to pave the way. There is however a silver lining - we are not alone by circumstance, but by our own free will.