15 “Terrible” Movies I Love (or at least like)

I go on and on about the movies I love and hate…and I’d say I’m usually on the side of the critics.  However, I’m not a bandwagon critic-lover either.  I, like everyone, have films which were reviewed poorly in my bank of beloveds.  Even some “bad” movies have something redeeming about them…or perhaps they’re just fond memories, hence why most of these are from the 1980s (when I was growing up).  So here are 15 of my favorite “terrible” films.  What are your favorite clunkers?

These ratings are based on Rotten Tomatoes, with the first percentage in parentheses being Critics, and the second being Audiences who like it.  If there was no rating, I went with IMDB ratings.  We’ll start with the “highest” critically rated, and go down from there…

Executive Decision – 1996 (63%/51%)

This is the rare movie that audiences hated more than critics.  To this day, I can’t figure out why.  Call me crazy, but I actually like this more than Air Force One.  And if you’re thinking this was a ripoff, it actually came out one year earlier.  The cast, including Kurt Russell, Halle Berry, John Leguizamo, and Oliver Platt, is stellar, and the action is edge-of-your-seat stuff.

Iron Eagle – 1986 (50% Audience; IMDB 5/10)

I was surprised to see that Rotten Tomatoes didn’t have one critic review of this movie.  But nonetheless, this is one of those mid-80s flicks that you know isn’t that great as you’re watching…but you just can’t take your eyes off of it.  Seriously?  A recent high school graduate finds a way to steal planes from the Air Force, flies to the Middle East with one other guy, and rescues his dad?  And his firing aim suddenly gets better when accompanied by rock music?  It’s beyond implausible!  However, somehow, they pull it off.  Oh, and this is Larry B. Scott’s first of THREE appearances on this list.  🙂

Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo – 1984 (IMDB 4.3/10)

I know a lot of kids in the mid-80s who were sucked in to the hype of breakdancing.  The three kids in my house, including myself, all were.  This movie, along with its stronger predecessor, were staples on our family TV.  Part 2 is more of a musical than a serious movie like the first one, which instantly makes it more dated, silly, embarrassing, and cheesy.  Isn’t it great?

Spacecamp – 1986 (40%/46%)

You have a lot of your major ’80s players here – Lea Thompson, Kate Capshaw, Tom Skerritt…..Larry B. Scott!!!  You even have Leaf Phoenix, who would later re-name himself Joaquin.  For a kid who loved the space program, it was pretty cool to see a group of kids get launched in to space because of a silly, overly literal robot named Jinx who can “shake a leg”.

Tango and Cash – 1989 (39%/53%)

Sylvester Stallone.  Kurt Russell.  What more is there to say?  Although the script is sub-par, these two actually had excellent chemistry on screen.  Jack Palance’s villain is a bit over the top (no pun intended, Sly…), but again, his character is a victim of the script.  The ending sequence is more like a video game than reality, but who cares!  Overall, it’s an enjoyable buddy cop action flick.

Who’s Harry Crumb? – 1989 (30%/43%)

John Candy, although popular among audiences, took his share of critical beatings throughout his career.  This was a complete ripoff of Fletch, in terms of the constant changes in disguise and the type of humor they were going for.  It’s not a great movie by any means, but it does have its belly-laugh moments.

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers – 1988 (26%/59%)

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a HUGE fan of the original Halloween.  So when this came out in 1988, fans of the series were stoked; especially after the non-Myers sequel #3 – Season of the Witch.  Given, horror sequels are largely awful, but this one was a triumphant return, in my opinion.  The dialogue is clunky, but the scares are there.  It also has the best ending in the series, aside from the original.

Mannequin – 1987 (22%/53%)

This is a flick that I’m truly embarrassed to like.  Even as a nine-year-old when it was released in 1987, I knew it just shouldn’t be for me.  Perhaps Kim Cattrall kept me aroused.  Perhaps I was one of the few who thought Andrew McCarthy was a decent comedic actor.  But either way, I can still watch it from start to finish and be at least mildly amused.

License to Drive – 1988 (18%/58%)

This is the best movie starring both of the Coreys aside from The Lost Boys.  I know that isn’t saying much, but this movie is actually really funny.  Sure, it’s a complete ripoff of its better predecessors in the teen comedy genre.  But who cares?  If you don’t take it too seriously, and simply enjoy it for what it is, it’s worth the ride to Archie’s.

With Honors – 1994 (17%/70%)

Panned by many a critic for being predictable and sappy, it’s one that a majority of audiences actually love (see above).  Is it Joe Pesci’s best performance?  Not by a long shot.  Brendan Fraser’s, though?  Hmmmmm.  I think it serves up a lot to think about morally, yet does it in a way that keeps you comfortable and entertained.

Airborne – 1993 (17%/58%)

There are only a few recognizable faces here – Edie McClurg, as well as very early roles for Seth Green and Jack Black.  The cheese factor is high through most of the movie.  But the rollerblading race at the end is awesome…until you get the fairy tale happy ending at the race’s conclusion.  Still worth a watch.

Armed and Dangerous – 1986 (14%/38%)

This oft-forgotten John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Meg Ryan comedy was in constant rotation on HBO in the late ’80s.  A cop (Candy) and a lawyer (Levy) team up and get jobs as security guards.  A whole lot of shenanigans happen from there, and many of them are worth a chuckle.

Wildcats – 1986 (13%/50%)

Goldie Hawn coaches an urban football team.  Sound silly?  Of course it is!  But it’s also very funny, despite the overwhelming amount of critics who disagree with me.

The Toy – 1982 (11%/55%)

The premise is completely insulting to African Americans – a rich white guy (Jackie Gleason) rents a “toy” (Richard Pryor) for his son.  However, the movie becomes more about the power of money and greed than anything black or white.  Pryor is great in this role, and provides the audience with some of his funniest moments on film.

Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise – 1987 (6%/39%)

(Larry B. Scott #3!!!)  I won’t beat around the bush.  This movie is terrible.  The original?  A classic!!  This one?  Awful.  But even though the story is exactly the same, only done worse…I still think it’s funny.  In terms of terrible sequels, I laughed more at this than I did at The Hangover Part II.  A lot more.  So that has to count for something.

Let it Show! Let it Show! Let it Show!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year to pop in your favorite holiday-themed movies!  I do it each and every December, and definitely have strong opinions on which are worthy of the honor of being spun in my Blu-Ray player.  Aren’t strong opinions the very reason why blogs were created?  Here is a small selection of some of my favorites, along with some I wish would simply go away.

THE BEST OF THE BEST

It’s a Wonderful Life;  A Christmas Story;  Love Actually

Not only are they well-written movies with amazing characters; they also embody what (in my mind) is the true spirit of Christmas.  I would even rank It’s a Wonderful Life as one of the 10 best films ever.

WORTHY COMPETITORS

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation;  Elf;  Home Alone

Place these in the goofier, less serious category of yuletide classics.  I know people who find at least one, if not all three, annoying in some way.  My only explanation is that they must have lost the child within themselves at some point.

CHRISTMAS MOVIES?????

The Ref;  While You Were Sleeping;  Gremlins;  Die Hard

These all run the gamut in terms of genre.  You go from Denis Leary cracking one-liners and posing as a psychiatrist to Sandra Bullock as a subway booth collector.  From little green monsters to German terrorists.  In order, you’ll laugh your ass off, get soft and mushy, be slightly disgusted, and finally filled with adrenaline.  And the one central point – they all take place during Christmas.  “Now I have a machine gun.  Ho ho ho.”

LUMPS OF COAL

The Polar Express;  Jingle All the Way;  Jack Frost

Am I really putting the new “classic” Polar Express on the same lowly level as Ah-nold running through toy stores and Michael Keaton reincarnated as a snowman?  Not quite.  But as “pretty” as the film is, I just cannot get in to it story-wise.  I know some people love it…but to me it seems very self-indulgent and wonderful when it’s just…not.  Regardless, I see all three of these on TV each and every year, and avoid them like the plague.

 

Enjoy whatever your favorite flicks might be, and have a Merry Christmas!  I leave you with the one and only George Bailey…

To hell with Sight and Sound. Here’s my list.

My reaction whenever a “Top” list comes out.

The 2012 version of the Sight & Sound top 250 movies list, compiled by combining the top 10 lists of major critics once per decade, was recently released.  As is the case with most “lists” that come out, I disagreed with most of it.   Given, I’m not such a film aficionado that I’ve seen most of the foreign films on the list.  I do feel, though, that I’m quite well-versed with American film 1950s and onward…and I saw some GLARING omissions.  You can see the full list here.

You may have heard that Vertigo overtook Citizen Kane as the #1 film of all time.  This, I have no problem with.  However, when I see a list where Zoolander gets 2 votes, while other more influential (not to mention funnier) comedies like Animal House or Monty Python and the Holy Grail are omitted, I feel that I have to speak up.  When I see a list where Steven Spielberg’s A.I. receives 3 votes, the same amount as Raiders of the Lost Ark, and while the Best Picture winning Schindler’s List receives 0, I feel that I have to make my own damn list.  So while I do respect the views of critics, and I happen to agree with them a majority of the time, some of them are just dead wrong…hence the inspiration for my first blog post since the birth of my son (parents, I’m sure you understand).

I could make a list of my “favorites”, but this list is different.  If Sight and Sound asked me for a 10 Best list, I would take the following main things into consideration: 1) Was the film groundbreaking/ridiculously influential and why?  Is it so good that it will be impossible to duplicate/exceed?  To me, this is the most important criterion.  2) Would I change a single thing about it (story, characters, directing, music/score, cast, locations, etc.)?  3) Did the film perfectly achieve what it set out to accomplish?  4) Does it stand as a perfect snapshot for that moment in time, or in some cases, is the film ahead of its time?  5) Has it stood (or will it stand) the test of time?  Will you be able to watch it in 50 years and still admire its greatness?  6) Regardless of settings and situations, am I invited to be IN the movie?  In other words, can I relate to the character(s), and DO I CARE?  Am I invited to experience this situation alongside the characters? 7) Does it have a purpose?  Does it make you think?  Does it have the “what would I do, how would I react” effect?   and 8) Does it embrace the all-encompassing art of filmmaking?  Does everything about this movie make me want to sit back and watch other similarly great movies for the remainder of my natural-born life?  Uninterrupted.

Of course, a list like this is virtually impossible to make.  Everyone’s will be different.  10 best of all time?  How do you not flood the list with your favorite directors and filmmakers?  It might be easier to do it within genres, but with this list, you must compare apples to oranges.  So if you look at this and think, “huh?”, remember my criteria, and remember that some of these movies may not even make my “favorite” top 10 (or 20…or 30…) list.  This one is a different animal all together.

So here it is – my list of the 10 “best” films ever made (in no particular order):

Rear Window (1954 – Hitchcock)

GoodFellas (1990 – Scorsese)

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968 – Kubrick)

Pulp Fiction (1994 – Tarantino)

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982 – Heckerling)

Psycho (1960 – Hitchcock)

Jaws (1975 – Spielberg)

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946 – Capra)

The Tree of Life (2011 – Malick)

Star Wars (1977 – Lucas)

OK.  Argue.

Super 8 – The Best Moviegoing Experience of the Summer

Yes, yes…I’m back from the “dead”.  Let’s just say I’ve been ridiculously busy.  When I last left  you, I had told you to expect a Scream 4 review in the “coming days”.  But rather than a full review on that one, here’s my short and sweet opinion.  It was better than Scream 3…but that’s it.  The movie is a victim of the smarter audience that the original helped to create.  A scene in a parking garage???  Really?  But as silly and predictable as the movie was, in the end it was the characters we came to love through the first three movies that saved it from a failing mark.  So in short, it was watchable, but nothing special at all.

But enough about mediocre films.  Instead, let’s talk about a really good one – Super 8 – the new throwback flick written and directed by J.J. Abrams, and produced by Steven Spielberg.  Some may say that I would love this movie no matter what because of the nostalgic Spielbergian (sorry, Steve…I know you hate that term) value.  However, I beg to differ.  I found myself being more critical of the movie because I AM such a fan of the early Spielberg films.

The film, in short, is set in 1979 Ohio, where our lead character immediately experiences some tragedy (I won’t spoil anything).  It centers around a group of young filmmakers who attempt to film a scene to their zombie movie at a local train station.  However, the kids witness the train literally running off the rails, and discover that this disaster is no accident.  In fact, it is eventually revealed that a monster of some sort is lurking around town after surviving that horrific derailment.

Right from the get-go, this film looks, sounds, and feels like a lost Spielberg movie.  Abrams does an excellent job of paying homage to his mentor through his direction (shooting kids at their height level, and adults from the same level; sweeping shots of towns from afar), writing in interesting and lovable child characters, and drawing out the element of the unknown.  I saw elements of Jaws, Close Encounters, E.T., and The Goonies as I watched this one.  But to those of you thinking that Abrams just “ripped off” the entire Spielberg playbook, I have two reactions: 1) Who hasn’t?  Everyone since Spielberg has been influenced by him.  2) Anyone else who has tried has not done it this well.

The kids are the focal point of the movie, and by far the most enthralling thing about it.  Joel Courtney, who plays the lead named Joe Lamb, is very good in his first-ever role.  Riley Griffiths plays Charles, the director of the movie-within-a-movie, and provides the audience with a countless amount of laughable moments.  I have to say, though – the child actor I was most impressed with was Elle Fanning – younger sister of Dakota, and just about the only female in the entire movie.  During the scene with the train wreck, Fanning’s character, Alice, puts on a fantastic dramatic performance as an actress in the zombie flick the kids are filming.  Even aside from that, though, she really stands out as the true talent of the child actors in the movie.

With all the strengths this movie has going for it, there are some weaknesses.  Unlike a true Spielberg movie, the adult characters were not interesting, and too much of the film focused on them.  Abrams attempts to force in side-plots exploring the issues between the parents and the kids.  For me, they didn’t work.  Perhaps if the adult characters had a shred of likeability, that may have been different.  In addition, the monster of the film, while somewhat interesting in backstory, doesn’t pan out to be all it’s cracked up to be.  As a result, the final act of the film suffers a bit, as the focus is shifted to the beast and away from the dialogue-driven kids, which is what made the first 2/3 of the film great.

All of this being said, though, I still did enjoy the ending and left feeling satisfied.  Overall, I would say that this is most likely the best moviegoing experience you’ll have this summer.  It truly brings back many of the elements that Spielberg established in “summer blockbusters” throughout the 70s and 80s.  It’s not just about the explosions, the CGI, the big movie stars (there are none here, which only helps its cause), or ADHD-driven speed that so many of today’s summer movies suffer from.  This film actually has a great STORY – something that has more recently been abandoned in favor of on-screen glitz.  When you leave the theatre, you will feel motivated and amazed, rather than exhausted with a headache. I give it 4 out of 5 stars, and highly recommend it.  Give your rating below.

Why is Home Theater a Winner?

Is this guy the reason you'd rather stay home?

Not to my surprise (although I did expect a FEW more people to stay old-school with me), home theaters beat out the experience of actually going to a movie theatre in our latest poll.  I’d like to follow up on this discussion by asking the simple question – Why?  I completely understand the appeal of staying at home and enjoying a similar experience.  I’d just like to know, though, if it’s the convenience of your home system that’s keeping you home…OR is it the inconvenience of the actual theatre experience?  Please vote in the poll below to let the world know why the theater just doesn’t appeal to you like a relaxing night under your own roof.  If you don’t see an answer that suits you, feel free to add your own.

PS – Movie reviews will be returning soon.  Look for a writeup of Scream 4 in the coming days.

Theatre or Home Theater?

Over the years, more and more ways to watch movies have flown in to the mainstream.  When I was a kid in the ’80s, the choice was simple: either stay at home and watch on our tiny 4:3 television, or drive out to the the grand 16:9 screen in a local theatre.  There was no Netflix.  No On Demand.  The only other option was a video store.  Now, though?  The TVs are bigger, and so are the movie theatres.  iPods, portable disc players, and home computers are all very common places to watch movies today as well.  I believe that it’s solely the convenience of the latter three, though, that even make them relevant to this conversation.  I must admit that I had a great experience watching Inception on my iPod Touch during a recent flight.  It was much better than struggling to peer over a seat and someone’s huge head to see the screen.  However, I can’t see someone actually choosing that over a larger screen that you don’t have to physically hold on to.  The real conversation here is that with the advent of HDTVs and surround sound systems, many people seem to be abandoning theatres for their living rooms.

I am in the process of installing a 7.1 surround system in my living room to help compliment my 52″ HDTV and Blu Ray player.  I love the idea that I can come home from work and pop in my copy of Inglourious Basterds as an alternative to going to my local movie house.  I will say, however, that this amazing setup will NEVER replace the experience of going to a theatre.  Perhaps it’s because as I grew up, “going to the movies” was a special experience – an escape from the confinement of your home in favor of a larger screen, louder sound, and snacks from the concession stand.  I still make it a point to try to have this experience every time I walk through the doors of a movie theatre.

So, in short, I will never abandon the theatre…but at the same time, I’ll also never stop building up my home theater experience.  What’s your opinion?  Would you rather patronize your local theatre, or has the home theater experience and the ability to save a few bucks completely won you over?  Vote below NOW!

It’s St. Patrick’s Day ‘Once’ More

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all the true and honorary Irish today!  Just a short post, as I must attend to the pint of Guinness waiting in my fridge.  Irish films don’t take up much real estate in the grand scheme of things (sorry, My Left Foot fans…).  However, there was one little sleeper film out of Ireland in 2007 that really caught my interest.

Once is, at its core, a unique modern-day love story, set in Dublin, between a struggling street musician (Glen Hansard) and an immigrant from the Czech Republic (Marketa Irglova).  Aside from being a remarkably well-told tale, though, it also happens to feature some of the best music of the past decade.  This tiny gem, which was produced for only $150k, has been classified as a “musical” by many due to the full-length songs featured throughout.  Do not be fooled by this label.  I personally don’t enjoy most musicals in the classic sense of the word, such as Moulin Rouge or Chicago.  Once is a very different animal.  While it still tells its story through dialogue mixed in with the occasional song, the primary focus of the movie is its story – not a bunch of ridiculous “showstoppers”.

I’m not going to go in to a full analysis of the story, characters, etc. today.  All you need to know is that there is nothing I can say (or write) that will do this film justice.  It’s an A+ experience from beginning to end.  Do yourself a favor and add this to your Netflix queue.  Your Irish eyes (and ears) will be left smiling.

“Luxury” Theatres – To Go or Not To Go?

The future of moviegoing?  An experiment gone wrong?

When I first heard about AMC’s new “Cinema Suites” and “Fork & Screen” theatres, my first reaction was not so positive.  “Do I really need to have a beer while watching a flick?  Would I really want a waiter/waitress walking in front of me during a key scene in the movie?  Do I really trust food from a movie theatre?  Isn’t that kind of like ordering lunch at a strip club?”

The “gag” of it all, though – comfy reclining seats with at-seat service – seemed somewhat appealing.  After all, who am I to shoot something down without trying it first?  Well, now I have.

My wife and I attending a screening of The Fighter in a fancy-shmancy Cinema Suite (21+ only allowed) at the AMC Essex Green in West Orange, NJ.  Upon walking in to the building, we were immediately impressed by the atmosphere that AMC had created.  A bar/lounge area called MacGuffin’s (cleverly named after a film term coined by Alfred Hitchcock) stood in front of us, complete with couches and bar stools.

Our tickets were $25 apiece.  For that, you get your movie ticket plus a $15 credit towards whatever your order while in the theatre.  This is all non-refundable – even if you don’t use the whole $15.  Everything on top of that will get you an additional bill near the end of the film.  An interesting aspect of buying the tickets is that you actually get to choose your seats prior to entering the theatre.  You can do this at the theatre or online at AMC’s website.

When we finally got inside, we were struck by the novelty of the electronically reclining red chairs.  Like eight-year-olds, we made the foot rest go up…and down….and up….and down….and….you get the point.  Unfortunately, though, my button was nearly caved in to the nearby compartment when I arrived, and after about two or three “ups and downs”, it completely fell in to a hole and was unretrievable.  Therefore, my carefully picked seats were no more.  No big deal, though.  We just moved to the end of the aisle.   Once settled, I absolutely enjoyed being able to watch the movie while literally lying on my back.

Our waiter was friendly and helpful, and did his best to stay out of our line of vision when the movie started.  Our food came just as the projector started rolling.  I don’t know about you, but eating in the dark for me is a challenge.  Especially when you’re talking about a salad with dressing and a somewhat tasty French Dip sandwich.  Luckily, I was able to manage without spilling something on myself, which must have impressed my wife.  We never ordered any alcohol, but the couple next to us did and seemed to be pleased with the quality, as they ordered several drinks.  Later on, I pressed my “service” button to summon the waiter and ordered a chocolate shake, which was just okay.  Seemed like one of those “chocolate” shakes where it’s actually vanilla ice cream with a minimal amount of chocolate syrup thrown in.  I’d suggest using actual chocolate ice cream to anywhere that makes shakes.

We enjoyed the film, and were only interrupted a minimal amount of times.  However, I can be pretty fussy about that while watching a movie.  After all, isn’t the point of a movie to watch and listen to the entire thing?  So here’s my final word on luxury theatres:

There IS a place for these types of theatres.  However, they are NOT the future of moviegoing.  They are simply another choice for a different type of experience.  My wife and I both agreed that if you plan on going out casually to dinner and a movie, then this is an excellent choice.  You have the bar, the food, and the movie all in one place.  It’s a $50 night for a couple, and you don’t even have to go anywhere else!  The food is good enough and the drinks cost about as much as the local bar.  If you want to cuddle with your date, though, you may be a little too far apart due to the width of the ultra-comfortable red recliners.

As nice as these benefits are, it’s not enough for me to go there for every movie.  I would strictly limit visits to this theatre to raucous comedies or high-volume blockbusters.  For small indies or dramas, it’s not as good of a choice because you’ll most likely miss something on the screen behind the waiter, or not hear a key line because your neighbor is ordering an appletini.

Spielberg Poll Winner – Raiders

Spielberg directing Raiders

It’s been long enough, and the undisputed winner of the “Spielberg Movie” poll is…<drum roll>…1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark!  I was a bit surprised by the results of this poll, as I thought that Jaws and E.T. would score higher.  However, I cannot argue with this being the top choice, as it is truly a Spielberg masterpiece, and probably the one that best translates in to future generations.

Before we start, let’s get one thing straight.  I don’t know whose idea it was to retitle this film for the DVD and video releases, but I will never, never, NEVER refer to this film as Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.  I love all of the Indy films (minus Crystal Skull),  but this one is far and away the best of the bunch and deserves to keep its original title.  It absolutely stands on its own as the crown achievement of the series.  Why is this, you ask?  Well, here are a few things that stand out:

The Prologue – one of the (if not THE) most iconic adventure scenes in the history of film.  We first meet Indy in the Peruvian jungle trying to obtain a golden idol with two “friendly” guides.  As they enter a cave to try to retrieve said idol, we quickly find out that in the world of Jones-ian archaeology, noone can be trusted.  The first of the two guides gets the pistol whipped out of his hand in the movie’s first minute, while the other (played by future Spiderman 2 villain Alfred Molina) gets killed by a trap after trying to betray Indy in the cave.  Oh, and the cave.  After Jones takes the idol, he must quickly exit the cave while avoiding a series of booby-traps, the largest of which is a giant boulder that he narrowly escapes being flattened by.  After having done the hard work, Jones realizes that his nemesis, Rene Belloq, has him surrounded with a group of native allies.  Therefore, the idol must be handed over to Belloq – just one of the film’s wonderful villains.

Harrison Ford & Karen Allen – We can all thank our lucky stars that Tom Selleck was too busy filming Magnum P.I. to accept donning the whip and fedora.  Even more so than Han Solo, Indiana Jones is the role that Ford was born to play.  He possesses just the right mixture of being macho and tough, along with both comedic and dramatic acting chops.  I also doubt that Selleck would have insisted on performing his own stunts in order to benefit the continuity of the film.

And who’s cooler than the female lead in this film?  George Lucas loves strong females to challenge his male leads, and Allen’s Marion Ravenwood is to Indy what Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia was to Han Solo in Star Wars.  In my opinion, Marion even one-ups Leia in that she can drink anyone under the table, can actually fight with her fists, and has more of a threshold for pain.  Her on-screen romance with Harrison Ford is both exciting and humorous.  The chemistry between the two help to provide the audience with a plausible love story that can live throughout the film without serving as a distraction from the action.

Comedy/Action Mixture – In one of the most memorable scenes from the movie, Indy runs in to a sword-wielding assassin.  This was originally written as a fight scene where Jones uses only his whip to defeat the villain.  However, since Ford was suffering from both dysentery and heat exhaustion while shooting in Tunisia, the original scene proved too cumbersome to film.  As Ford became more and more aggravated, he suggested to Spielberg, “Why don’t we just shoot the bastard?”.  This small bit of ad-libbing was allowed in to the film, and remains a source of laughter with each viewing.  In addition, though, Indiana Jones has remained such a beloved character because of his humor and human touch.  Throughout the film, there are many funny quotable lines (“It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage.”; “I don’t know.  I’m making this up as I go.”; “Snakes.  Why’d it have to be snakes?”) that help you to connect to Indy on his level.  He’s not a superhero.  He has fears, he’s human, and he makes mistakes.

The Ark – One of the greatest mysteries of all time.  A story that everyone has at least heard of.  The Ark of the Covenant.  (Sounds much better than alien crystal skulls, doesn’t it?)  And on top of that, what better storyline than to keep it away from the world’s all-time leading villain – Adolf Hitler himself?  The powers of the Ark are a mystery throughout the film, and in the end, are left with accepting the fact that there are some forces greater than man can handle.

The Ending – Our two main villains (Belloq and Toht) both meet their maker after opening the Ark.  Spirits fly out, and what starts off as something beautiful turns in to sheer terror.  Belloq’s head explodes, Toht’s face melts, and the rest of the soldiers have their souls taken.  Meanwhile, our heroes are saved by simply having the knowledge to close their eyes.  It’s an ending that scared the living crap out of me when I was younger.  Now, however, I can appreciate that the ending had to be so extreme and violent.

The Music – Two words.  John Williams.  Not much more needs to be said other than that Williams makes great movies perfect, and this is a classic example.  He is to Spielberg what Bernard Hermann was to Alfred Hitchcock.  See any Spielberg masterpiece, and remember as you’re watching it that you wouldn’t feel nearly as moved if someone other than John Williams composed the score.

The Director – Last, but certainly not least, what would this film have been without Spielberg’s trademark style of direction?  He uses the widescreen format masterfully, as everything you see at both ends of the frame is important in the telling of the story.  The man is a master with the camera (over the shoulder of a character, viewing a villain from the waist up to enhance the intimidation factor, quick or slow movements to reflect tone and pacing).  And, as is the case with so many of his other films, you fall in love with the characters because he forces you to.  You view the action from the points of view of the heroes, which gives you no choice but to become involved with the picture on a personal level.

Raiders was released in 1981, and grossed over $384 million worldwide – the most out of any movie that year.  Its budget was only $18 million.  It was filmed at a time when Spielberg himself was experiencing a career low after the colossal bomb that was 1941.  This helped to put him back on the map, and was truly a turning point in the man’s career.  While the movie was received extremely well by both critics and fans alike, the Academy chose to award the 1981 Best Picture to one of the most undeserving films in the history of the Oscars – Chariots of Fire.  Still, I think that time and longevity have proven that Raiders is clearly the better film for more reasons than can be counted.

Thanks to those of you who voted.  I look forward to doing more poll/review action in the future!

Quick Oscar Roundup

"Hey...WE didn't write this stuff."

Ahhh, the Oscars.  The most glamorous night in Hollywood.  Or at least it used to be that way.

The 2011 incarnation of the show was the worst I ever remember watching.  But we all must learn from our mistakes, and the Academy is no different.  So here are a few suggestions/observations in hopes for a better 2012:

1. Never allow actors with no comedic background to host the show. Anne Hathaway was far too overbearing for most people on the other end of the boob tube.  I could hear her screaming at me, “Please look at me!  Please laugh!  Please please please like me!”.  Unfortunately for her, I didn’t want to do any of these things while she was on stage.  She even owned the “low” of the entire night with her awful musical number about how Hugh Jackman wouldn’t duet with her.  James Franco, on the other hand, looked stoned in both the pre-show and during the actual festivities.  It wouldn’t surprise me to find out that he was sucking on a bong chock full of Pineapple Express during commercial breaks.  He sounded like a high school student on stage for the first time – quite surprising for a Best Actor nominee.
2. Billy Crystal still has the goods. Sure, he’s hosted the show 8 times.  But when he came out on stage for a few minutes, every viewer was reminded why he is the best man for the job.  Even today.
3. Kirk Douglas needs to stop getting plastic surgery. Forget the fact that he stole 10 minutes of the show while he flirted with Hathaway, and messed around with the Supporting Actress nominees.  He’s starting to make Kenny Rogers look like he’s never been under the knife!
4. Melissa Leo is a complete nutbag. So she dropped the f-bomb.  Who cares?  Her 3-minute speech was much too much.  By the end of it, she was sounding like Judy Garland bidding farewell to Oz.  Then, she steals Kirk Douglas’s cane and limps off the stage.  What a wacko.
5. Oprah will do anything for some exposure. I can’t stand Oprah.  Everyone at this shindig is either in a movie from 2010, or was a winner last year.  Then, “Miss-Can-Do-No-Wrong” steps out on stage.  Talk about out of place?  She hasn’t physically been in anything since 1998’s Beloved.  Judging from this appearance, her Sirius Radio channel, magazine, and TV channel (all of which barely have anything to do with her aside from her name), I think we can safely say that Oprah is a bona fide attention whore.

There was some good to take out of this year’s festivities, though.  First and foremost, I was right about ALL of my locks, and all but one of my wild cards (Supporting Actress).  🙂  I was also unfortunately right about Trent Reznor beating out Hans Zimmer for Best Score.

Most of all, though, THE FILMS!  2010, despite lackluster box office, produced some excellent flicks.  Black Swan, Inception, The Social Network, and The King’s Speech (in order of my personal favs) are movies that will all stick with me for a long long long long time.  So although 2010 wasn’t kind to Hollywood money-wise, and Hollywood wasn’t very kind to all of us, as they rehashed every movie and TV show from the 70s and 80s imaginable, the longevity of the aforementioned films will prove to be eternal.