You could probably survey 100 people at random on what they most remember Dame Maggie Smith for and you’d probably get dozens of responses. Smith, who died on Sept. 27 at the age of 89, had a body of work many actors would dream of. It is hard to summarize her work with just aContinue reading “Final Bow For Dame Maggie Smith”
Tag Archives: movies
‘Superman III’ A Crazy Superhero Movie With Elements Of Pure Terror
Every now and again, a movie comes along that seems so basic but it has one scene of true terror and WTF outrageousness. Take Pee-wee’s Big Adventure where the titular character takes a ride with a trucker named Large Marge. And she begins to tell a horror story. Then, flashes a gruesome face at him.Continue reading “‘Superman III’ A Crazy Superhero Movie With Elements Of Pure Terror”
‘Gary’ A Profile Of One Who Was Loved By Fans But Abused By Loved Ones
If Gary Coleman stood six-feet tall, it’s highly unlikely so many people would’ve taken advantage of him as much. Even if he was 5-foot-6, it’s quite possible people would’ve thought differently or at least given it a second thought. But Coleman never grew taller than 4-foot-8. Even Danny DeVito is taller. Peter Dinklage is onlyContinue reading “‘Gary’ A Profile Of One Who Was Loved By Fans But Abused By Loved Ones”
A Mad, Wild Trip With ‘Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory’
On the surface, a movie like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a generic kids’ movie with all the singing and dancing that was common at the time. Musicals were all the rage even though movies were going through a huge change with the end of the Hays Code and the rise of theContinue reading “A Mad, Wild Trip With ‘Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory’”
‘Road House’ Manages To Kick, But…
Reviewing a remake of Road House is like reviewing a classroom of schoolkids who make those hand turkeys around Thanksgiving. It doesn’t take much, just an outline, and let the kids’ imagination do the rest. You can’t really critique it because it’s no way near high art, but if a child put a lot ofContinue reading “‘Road House’ Manages To Kick, But…”
‘The Garfield Movie’ Feels Like A Stuck Hairball Blocking A Good Adaptation
Twenty years ago, there was Garfield: The Movie, it got bad reviews but made a lot of money. The problem with movies like this, which was the same as that Curious George, animated movie in 2006 is they’re made for kids but reviewed by adults. I like the 2004 version even though Bill Murray hasContinue reading “‘The Garfield Movie’ Feels Like A Stuck Hairball Blocking A Good Adaptation”
‘Memoirs And Misinformation’ Is A Muddled Mess
In his memoir Gasping for Airtime, actor/comic Jay Mohr talked about the cultural divide between the writers and performers on Saturday Night Live during his tenure in the early to mid-1990s. It was obvious he observed so many of the people were trying to be more smart and sophisticated than they actually were. And readingContinue reading “‘Memoirs And Misinformation’ Is A Muddled Mess”
Fourth ‘Friday The 13th’ Is Too Entertaining For Its Own Good
By the time Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter hit theaters on April 13, 1984, the whole slasher horror craze was entering its great downfall. Critics hated them and the big names refused to acknowledge their existence except to condemn and degrade them. At the time, most of them had been filmed in Canada asContinue reading “Fourth ‘Friday The 13th’ Is Too Entertaining For Its Own Good”
‘The Union’ Falls Apart
Now, in his early 50s, Mark Wahlberg seems to take great enthusiasm in being the most Bostonian he can. I don’t mind that he talks about his religion. But most of his movie roles for the past decade seem to be playing blue-collar types. And yes, he may have that look where all he needsContinue reading “‘The Union’ Falls Apart”
James Earl Jones Had An Impressive, Most Impressive Life And Career
I’ve always bee fascinated with actors like James Earl Jones and their difficult pasts. As a child in rural Mississippi, he had a terrible stutter. For years, he refused to talk as he was much embarrassed. Then, one day, Jones said a teacher made him read aloud. And when that happened, the stutter was gone.Continue reading “James Earl Jones Had An Impressive, Most Impressive Life And Career”
Zane Says 