1987 Review Blog
A Chinese Ghost Story
Grade: C+ 09/19/2009
This film can perfectly be decribed as a combination of Ang Lee's CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and Sam Raimi's THE EVIL DEAD. That may seem like a ridiculously odd comparison, but this is a ridiculously odd film. It is imaginative and fun, for sure, but just as I felt with Raimi's film...the charm of its amateurish feel is simultaneously a huge drawback. The music is beautiful, and the direction is quite masterful in order to keep things looking otherworldy, without special effects...but the whole thing is just so weird. hahaha. I did enjoy it though.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: C+ 09/19/2009
This film can perfectly be decribed as a combination of Ang Lee's CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and Sam Raimi's THE EVIL DEAD. That may seem like a ridiculously odd comparison, but this is a ridiculously odd film. It is imaginative and fun, for sure, but just as I felt with Raimi's film...the charm of its amateurish feel is simultaneously a huge drawback. The music is beautiful, and the direction is quite masterful in order to keep things looking otherworldy, without special effects...but the whole thing is just so weird. hahaha. I did enjoy it though.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Fatal Attraction
Grade: B 06/17/2009
Very intense, very exciting, and almost sickeningly suspenseful. This movie has been made fun of and spoofed for a while now, but the original still never fails to entertain. Glenn Close as Alex Forrest is one deranged bitch, and the cycle of liking her, sympathizing with her, cowering away from her, and ultimately wanting to strangle her is a journey taken by both the audience and by Michael Douglas's character. I enjoyed it, even if it got a bit too dramatic and overblown toward the end. That roller coaster thing was pretty stupid.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: B 06/17/2009
Very intense, very exciting, and almost sickeningly suspenseful. This movie has been made fun of and spoofed for a while now, but the original still never fails to entertain. Glenn Close as Alex Forrest is one deranged bitch, and the cycle of liking her, sympathizing with her, cowering away from her, and ultimately wanting to strangle her is a journey taken by both the audience and by Michael Douglas's character. I enjoyed it, even if it got a bit too dramatic and overblown toward the end. That roller coaster thing was pretty stupid.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
The Princess Bride
Grade: B+ 10/09/2008
What a FUN movie. This film is DRASTICALLY close do being a flat-out parody of the medeival fairy tale, but since its grasps onto a hint of seriousness, it makes the whole endeavor quite magical. I don't doubt that it was this film that made Mel Brooks hire Cary Elwes as his Robin Hood, since the roles are very similar, and equally enjoyable. I especially liked Mandy Patankin as the Spanish swordsman hellbent on revenge. Also, how can you not like a movie where Andre the Giant is in the cast? The whole thing plays out exactly as a child's bedtime story, so witnessing Peter Falk actually reading the story to his sick grandchild makes the whole movie nostalgic and exciting.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: B+ 10/09/2008
What a FUN movie. This film is DRASTICALLY close do being a flat-out parody of the medeival fairy tale, but since its grasps onto a hint of seriousness, it makes the whole endeavor quite magical. I don't doubt that it was this film that made Mel Brooks hire Cary Elwes as his Robin Hood, since the roles are very similar, and equally enjoyable. I especially liked Mandy Patankin as the Spanish swordsman hellbent on revenge. Also, how can you not like a movie where Andre the Giant is in the cast? The whole thing plays out exactly as a child's bedtime story, so witnessing Peter Falk actually reading the story to his sick grandchild makes the whole movie nostalgic and exciting.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
The Untouchables
Grade: B- 05/08/2009
This film has the same problem as Brian De Palma's 2006 film, THE BLACK DAHLIA. It is filled with the best actors, the most amazing production design, flawless costumes, and perfect music. The problem with this is that it makes theseperiod crime pieces feel stagey and completely artificial. It is hyper-reastic, almost to the point of surrealism. It is entertaining enough...but ROAD TO PERDITION did this genre so perfectly...so see that one instead.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: B- 05/08/2009
This film has the same problem as Brian De Palma's 2006 film, THE BLACK DAHLIA. It is filled with the best actors, the most amazing production design, flawless costumes, and perfect music. The problem with this is that it makes theseperiod crime pieces feel stagey and completely artificial. It is hyper-reastic, almost to the point of surrealism. It is entertaining enough...but ROAD TO PERDITION did this genre so perfectly...so see that one instead.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die