I've admired John Travolta since the days of 'Welcome Back Kotter.' But after a hand full of bad movies and flops in the early eighties, I was about ready to write him off. What do I know. Face Off was easily one of 1997 best films and Travolta's best movie. The reason the movie works so well is; (1)Brilliant story. (2)Great characters and (3)terrific action. No one does it better than director John Woo. (Well, Spielberg is close)
Reviews
19 Reviews
Virtuosity
(1995)
YAWN+++++++++++
16 December 2000
After the success of Lawnmower Man, Hollywood set out to attemept another cyborg computer thriller. They should have pulled the plug on this one. What a waste of time, talent and money. You'd think Academy award winner Denzel Washington could spot a bad script. It wasn't the case here. Stupid movie.
A Fish Called Wanda
(1988)
Jolly good show
16 December 2000
I read in the newspaper that a man actually laughed so hard during this movie and suffered a heart attack. (Hopefully he lived) I'm glad my health is good because it could have happened to me. This was the funniest movie of 1988 right along with The Naked Gun. Kevin Kline even won an Oscar for his flat out hilarious performance. Great movie!
Aliens
(1986)
Now the opportunity to enjoy even more
16 December 2000
Warning: Spoilers
**************************Possible spoilers*****************************
Not to long ago, the directors cut to 'Aliens' was released with 20 minutes of uncut footage. Aliens was a movie I really enjoyed, but I wished we could have seen the little girls parents and got more of an explanation of why the colony was taken over by the aliens. Well+++++++now you can. And Ripley, (Sigourney Weaver) also finds out about her own daughters death and a few extra action scenes are added to make this on hell of a movie. The sequels are all junk.
Not to long ago, the directors cut to 'Aliens' was released with 20 minutes of uncut footage. Aliens was a movie I really enjoyed, but I wished we could have seen the little girls parents and got more of an explanation of why the colony was taken over by the aliens. Well+++++++now you can. And Ripley, (Sigourney Weaver) also finds out about her own daughters death and a few extra action scenes are added to make this on hell of a movie. The sequels are all junk.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
(1974)
The real scary part? It's based on a true story
15 December 2000
I saw this movie about a year ago on cable and I was sure it would be just another 'Friday The 13th.' Boy was I wrong. I think this exceptional horror movie ranks up with 'The Exorcist.' Unpredictable all the way through and scary as hell. Not for the weak hearted.
8MM
(1999)
Why Cage why???????
14 December 2000
Wow. What a shock to see Nicholas Cage in such a dog of a movie. This (quite frankly) joins such other savory films like 'Death Wish 2', 'I Spit On Your Grave,' and 'Mothers Day.' While a movie about crime is supposed to have logic, this one is just a series of dumb killings. A friend of mine who owns a video store said this was one of the worst investments he ever made. Once word got quickly around how BAD this movie was, the movie just sat on the shelf and collected dust.
Again, Jim Carrey saves the day
10 December 2000
I always get the feeling a movie is going to be bad when the previews are not even good. My wife's grandson really wanted to see this, so we took a chance and, it turned out to be ok. Virtually ever child will love it, and parents won't be bored stiff. The biggest problem I think the screenwriters had was taking a 20 minute cartoon and stretching it out to 97 minutes. The "new ideas" for the story simply don't work. But the special effects and of course Jim Carrey, are enough to hold it together. Barely. Don't be afraid to wait for the video.
Man on the Moon
(1999)
Close your eyes and you would think it was Kaufmann talking
10 December 2000
Jim Carrey once again proves he is one of the finest actors out there today. I think this is one of the best biographies ever made. Besides Carreys should have been Oscar winning performance, it follows the life of Andy Kaufmann to the par. Some people have been critical of the film by the fact that we never really figure out why Kaufmann was so bizarre. The reason? Kaufmann probably didn't know either. Brilliant film making.
Speed 2: Cruise Control
(1997)
$110 million down the tubes
10 December 2000
Wow. We know a movie is set to fail when our minds start wandering within 20 minutes. It was the case here. One of the MANY things that made the original work so well is terrific action, good characters and a great bad guy. This does the opposite. Silly action sequences, boring characters, and a dumb bad guy. Rumor has it that Bullock and Patrick did not get along during the filming of this, and they are not good enough actors to hide it. What a waste.
Cutthroat Island
(1995)
Nonstop action-BUT THATS ABOUT IT...........
10 December 2000
You'd think a movie that cost 92 million dollars would be the biggest hit of the year. It sure wasn't the case here. Originally, it was to star Michael Douglas, but he WISELY turned it down. While the action scenes are OK, the movie has absolutely no interesting characters. Thats part of what makes an action movie work. (Example: Die Hard) I think it was just an excuse for Geena Davis to do a movie with her then husband, Renny Harlin.
The Shining
(1980)
Warning: If you read the book you may not like the movie
10 December 2000
Warning: Spoilers
**************POSSIBLE SPOILERS*********************
Rumor has it when this movie was released in 1980 Stephen King bad mouthed it from day one. When I saw it, I couldn't understand what Kings problem was. 10 years later I read the book, and realized why King was ticked off. In the movie, Jack Nicholson kills the caretaker who came to rescue the boy and his mom. In the book, the caretaker lives and gets them to safety. And the ending was disappointing. The movie had Jack freeze to death, but in the book the hotel blows up and burns to the ground with Nicholson in it. Moreover, the book had you feel for Nicholson's character knowing he is possessed and not wanting to really harm his family. In the movie, Nicholson's character was unlike able from beginning to end. OH WELL, thats show biz...........
Rumor has it when this movie was released in 1980 Stephen King bad mouthed it from day one. When I saw it, I couldn't understand what Kings problem was. 10 years later I read the book, and realized why King was ticked off. In the movie, Jack Nicholson kills the caretaker who came to rescue the boy and his mom. In the book, the caretaker lives and gets them to safety. And the ending was disappointing. The movie had Jack freeze to death, but in the book the hotel blows up and burns to the ground with Nicholson in it. Moreover, the book had you feel for Nicholson's character knowing he is possessed and not wanting to really harm his family. In the movie, Nicholson's character was unlike able from beginning to end. OH WELL, thats show biz...........
The Swarm
(1978)
So bad it's laughable
7 December 2000
The biggest thing that surprised me about 'The Swarm', was seeing great stars in such a pitiful movie. While the idea of killer bees on the rampage sounds exciting, virtually everything in this movie is silly and unbelievable. Ranks right up with 'The Concorde, Airport 79.'
Dana Carvey: Critics' Choice
(1995 TV Special)
Carvey is nothing short of brilliant
6 December 2000
About 10 years ago Dana Carvey came to Portland OR and I didn't bother going. When I saw 'Critics' Choice' on Comedy Central I kicked myself for not seeing him live. Carvey is one of the most brilliant comedians around today. No exaggeration. He is that good and that funny. His imitation of Jimmy Stewart getting caught with a hooker will bust your gut. Simply the best stand up video since 1981 Bill Cosby; Himself.
Godzilla 2000
(1999)
Far better then the American Version
6 December 2000
I can remember leaving the theater frustrated that I wasted 4 bucks on the worst film of 1998, Godzilla. (In fact, I thought Godzilla was about as silly as The Naked Gun-which was supposed to be)! I received a free pass to Godzilla 2000 and was surprised how enjoyable it was. Rather then ripping off Jurassic Park as the 1998 version did, it went back to the old formula; simple plot, simple characters, and great monsters. The only problem? Godzilla wasn't given enough to do. But when he's on, its SHOWTIME!!!!!!!
Blues Brothers 2000
(1998)
Belushi would role over in his grave if he saw this
6 December 2000
The Blues Brothers 2000 is yet just another one of those sequels that shouldn't have been made. Writers John Landis and Dan Ankroyd, (who have had years to think of something original), basically give us the same thing all over again. And throughout the movie, it seems they keep apologising that John Belushi is not in the movie. They should really be sorry this movie was even made.
Braindead
(1992)
The best horror movie ever!!
6 December 2000
Is it possible for a movie to be so gut-wrenching and gory but still be a comedy? Not since Dawn Of The Dead has a horror movie worked so well. Poor Lionel. His mum has been bitten by an infected monkey and soon turns into a man-eating zombie. She bites another person and soon the virus is spreading faster then a social disease. Father McGruder has the best line when he does his Bruce Lee on the zombies in the graveyard. 'I KICK ASS FOR THE LORD!' Be warned: Not for the light hearted.
The Krays
(1990)
The British version of Goodfellas
6 December 2000
Warning: Spoilers
WARNING*****************SPOILER**********************WARNING
Yes. Violent men like this really exist. The really scary part is that this movie is a true story of The Kray brothers who ruled the underworld through violence. They finally get it in the end, but it still leaves you wondering if justice was really served. A masterpiece.
Yes. Violent men like this really exist. The really scary part is that this movie is a true story of The Kray brothers who ruled the underworld through violence. They finally get it in the end, but it still leaves you wondering if justice was really served. A masterpiece.
The Concorde... Airport '79
(1979)
An all star cast desperate for a paycheck
6 December 2000
Warning: Spoilers
WARNING **SPOILERS**
Lord knows I have seen some bad movies in my time and this one makes me just as angry. This is an insult to people who ARE LOOKING for a bad movie. The "story" involves a stewardess who discovers her boyfriend (badly acted by otherwise great Robert Wagner) is a murder, thief, and just an overall puke face. After the Concorde takes off, he sends guided missiles to destroy the Concorde. So while the Concorde is traveling at the speed of light, our "hero" (played with utter stupidity, George Kennedy) opens the window in the cockpit then, sticks his hand OUT THE WINDOW to fire at the missile! I'm no rocket scientist, but it seems his hand would at least get a wind burn. Then towards the final "climax" when the Concorde is headed for certain disaster and everyone will die, a passenger turns to his fiance and proposes marriage. A Priest just happens to be sitting in the next row and proceeds to marry them as the planes is crashing! (I'm not making this up) Wow, the guy who wrote the script must have been sniffing glue for a week.
Lord knows I have seen some bad movies in my time and this one makes me just as angry. This is an insult to people who ARE LOOKING for a bad movie. The "story" involves a stewardess who discovers her boyfriend (badly acted by otherwise great Robert Wagner) is a murder, thief, and just an overall puke face. After the Concorde takes off, he sends guided missiles to destroy the Concorde. So while the Concorde is traveling at the speed of light, our "hero" (played with utter stupidity, George Kennedy) opens the window in the cockpit then, sticks his hand OUT THE WINDOW to fire at the missile! I'm no rocket scientist, but it seems his hand would at least get a wind burn. Then towards the final "climax" when the Concorde is headed for certain disaster and everyone will die, a passenger turns to his fiance and proposes marriage. A Priest just happens to be sitting in the next row and proceeds to marry them as the planes is crashing! (I'm not making this up) Wow, the guy who wrote the script must have been sniffing glue for a week.
Duel
(1971 TV Movie)
An absolute masterpiece of terror
6 December 2000
Watch this film and its easy to see why two time Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg was headed for bigger and better things. Dennis Weaver is frantically being chased down by a truck driver (whom we never see and wonder if its the devil himself) throughout the whole movie. While its never made clear why the driver wants to kill Weaver, the action and suspense move so fast you don't have time to think about it. Fasten your seat belts and hold on tight!
IF YOU ENJOY THIS, I ALSO RECOMMEND BREAKDOWN WITH KURT RUSSELL.
IF YOU ENJOY THIS, I ALSO RECOMMEND BREAKDOWN WITH KURT RUSSELL.
Tell Your Friends