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zatoichi101
Reviews
Vice Versa (1988)
Great, Fun Movie!! One of My Favorites!!
I was actually shocked to read somewhere that people consider this film to be the cause of Judge Reinhold's decline in Hollywood. I loved this film when it came out in the 1980s.
I always found Reinhold to be funny, friendly and entirely likeable on screen.
And the interaction between Judge Reinhold (as the kid) and Fred Savage (as the dad) was hilarious!!!
Of course, similar movies -- 18 Again, Like Father Like Son, Big -- were all fun to me, so maybe it is a storyline I like.
It might also be a favorite because I had such a crush on Corinne Bohrer at that time! And the chemistry between Reinhold and Bohrer on screen was perfect. I actually thought they would do another movie together.
Anyway, the movie is far from a "bomb." It is right up there with all the others in this vein that I mentioned. If you liked those movies, you will like Vice Versa! I promise.
Elvis (2022)
Cast Amazing / Director's "Creative License" Inexcusable
Right at the start of this review, I want to say that Director Baz Luhrmann had no business or right to take ANY creative license with Elvis's well-documented life story. Nearly every single aspect of Elvis's career and life have been gone over in minute detail over the years, so to see that Baz Luhrmann alter details with characters, time line and or factual aspects of Elvis's life is very, very disappointing.
I have seen comments from the director that he felt he was making a movie about a "super hero" rather than a celebrity and felt the "story moved better" with the factual changes/alterations he made. HOGWASH. If a director can't make a movie about someone as iconic and as publicly (and privately) documented as Elvis Presley -- and stay true to the facts -- then that director has no business making a movie about his life.
Despite Baz Luhrmann's gross deviations from the facts in so many places in this movie, I did thoroughly enjoy this as a movie -- mainly because the cast, the ENTIRE cast, did such an outstanding job. Every single performance, no matter how small, was awesome. And, of course, I don't think I need to add any more accolades to Austin Butler's portrayal of Elvis, as nearly every review here gives him the high praise he justly deserves.
And this brings me back to the narcissist Baz Luhrmann. The cast, the cinematography, the soundtrack, the lighting -- EVERTHING -- was so damned good, that there was no reason he had to take "creative license" with anything at all!! I would have given this movie a 10. Instead it is a 7.
If the facts aren't true -- then they're lies. And in a movie like this, there was no reason to change anything about the life and times of Elvis Presley.
Best Defense (1984)
Come on! It is just a simple FUN MOVIE!! I liked it!!
Will this movie win any awards? No. But it wasn't meant to. These reviews are absolutely brutal! This was a simple, fun movie!!! Nothing too deep -- just a fun ride!! I liked it! And every single scene with David Rasche in it is absolutely HILARIOUS!! He stole every scene!! Rache's drug-induced rant as he puts a gun to the head of a guy who just tried to rob Dudley Moore is worth the price of admission all by itself!! "Man, man, our society is, like, going down in tubes unless we get involved and blow these m*&^%f&^^ers away!" LOL!!! And his scene in the sushi restaurant with Moore is priceless!! Were there some Luke warm moments? Sure. But overall, this was a simple fun ride and I thought it was just fine!! (I even own the DVD!) If you're looking for Academy Award stuff, though -- you'll need to look further.
Rogues Gallery (2010)
Absolutely SUCKS!!! What a RIP OFF!!!!
First off, I picked this off the shelf at the video store primarily because it has Zach G featured dead center on the cover -- and given top billing on the cover credits!!! (He's in the movie for about 2 minutes.) On the back of the DVD were the words "Hilarious!!" Not knowing anything about it, I rented it because I think Zach G (can't spell or even pronounce his last name) is pretty funny.
If you think this movie is funny, you're a jackwagon. The movie is about nothing but gore, blood and killing. Nothing funny at all. Except, maybe, the acting. The only thing worse than the script was the acting -- shame on the entire cast! I know most of them and know they can do much better. (But, then again, maybe they knew the script was horrible, too.) What I think happened is that this movie came out and crashed and burned (as it should have). But then a movie called The Hangover comes out, is an overwhelming HIT and Zach G is now a superstar!! The crappy movie studio, goes, "HEY!! That Zach G guy was in our movie, too! We own the rights!!! Let's reshoot the cover -- feature Zach G in the center shot and give him top billing!! At least we'll sell more of these movies to idiots (like me) who will think this is a comedy!! In fact, let's actually write 'Hilarious!!!' on the back cover!" For real, I believe that is exactly what happened. And that is why I feel RIPPED OFF!!!!
The Choirboys (1977)
EXCELLENT Example of 1970's Black Comedies!!!! Awesome Cast!!
The Choirboys is flat-out one of my all-time favorite movies!!! I have read the list of reviews here, and the positive ones are more insightful than most of the negative reviews, which consist mainly of "moronic," "insulting," "an outrage," ... blah, blah, blah (or more precisely "wah, wah, wah").
Don't listen to them -- this is an EXCELLENT movie. Mind you, it won't win any academy awards, but the cast is a who's who of Hollywood superstars. But, of course, they weren't stars when this movie was made -- they were really just breaking into the business, for the most part. Heck, James Woods alone is worth the price of admission!! And do keep in mind that this movie was made 30 years ago -- the cinematography and over-all feel is kind of dark, although there are some hilarious scenes! And I do not apologize for any part of this movie -- of all "police comedies" it is by far the most "real," in that I can imagine very easily a department EXACTLY like the one depicted. (In fact, I MISS the days when cops were REAL PEOPLE -- and not a bunch of ex-Marine Drill Instructors akin to Robocops (no offense to The Marines -- but you know what I mean, don't you?).
Choir Practice, in the movie, is, of course, the weekly drinking fest where the boys (and girls) blow off steam. And typical of 70's movies, there is more than one story going on at the same time -- and a good deal of time is spent developing the array of characters, all with stories of their own.
I like this movie -- and if you like Dirty Harry and think he is AWESOME for KICKING ASS, if you think this world has gotten WAY TO PC for comfort, if you like to party and make no excuses for it -- then you will like this movie, too!
Curly Sue (1991)
Not bad
I strongly disagree with "ctomvelu" regarding Jim Belushi's talent. I happen to like Belushi very much. Admittedly, I was skeptical when he first appeared on the scene, because I was such a HUGE fan of his late brother John. But Jim has an on-screen charm that has gotten him very far -- and he has developed it well over the years.
Curly Sue is one of his earlier films -- his weight is a giveaway (ain't that true for most of us?) -- and I like the film. Yes, it is touching and heartwarming, so if you're into car chases, explosions and gratuitous sex, then you might want to pass on this one -- it is a warm film of three lost soles who find each other. Don't get me wrong, I am all for the three aforementioned keys to a successful film, but I also like a nice, solid tale like this one.
And although Belushi and Kelly Lynch deliver excellent performances, the real star of this film is Alisan Porter -- who is absolutely adorable.
I don't know what happened to her career, but whoever is responsible for dropping the ball (agent? parents? herself?) should be shot. You couldn't ask for a more perfect introduction to fame than this film, and yet nothing of note has been heard from her since.
Another sad Hollywood story ...
Suicide Kings (1997)
Peter O'Fallon Swings and Misses!
I tried to write this without the spoiler, but it's just not possible as my main complaint is with the ending. Simply put: IT SUCKS.
Don't get me wrong, I am not one of those people who seek a happy ending in all of my films. However, in films that contain COMIC RELIEF -- especially in the form of Dennis Leary, who is awesome -- the director loses the right to go for the self-serving "artistic, meaningful" ending. B.S.! The topic is fairly serious, admittedly, but there is more than enough comic relief throughout the movie and to go for the "everyone dies" ending is a cop-out.
Peter O'Fallon should have gone with his first alternate ending (available on the DVD). It makes much more sense, especially since Chistoper Walken's character is shown to be sort of a romantic at heart -- and letting the couple go at the end (AND giving them a "wedding gift") works MUCH BETTER.
That's my opinion anyway. But what do I know -- I go through life fat, drunk and stupid.