TheMan3051 Reviews

French Connection II (1975)

Popeye's Revenge

[10 April 2003]

In this sequel to the crime drama masterpiece "The French Connection" we see the character of Popeye Doyle played wonderfully by Gene Hackman travel to France in order to capture the drug smuggler who tormented him in the original film. The film is not as good as the original but it still packs a lot of fun and interesting sequences that expand the non-fictional Popeye Doyle into a real character.

3(***)out of 4(****)stars

Lord of the Flies (1990)

Lord of the Bad Adaptation

[21 March 2003]

What went through the directors mind when directing this movie? He completely misunderstood the TRUE meaning of the 1954 novel written by William Golding. Here he just has a bunch of kids stranded on an island who begin facing issues. The novel meant so much more because it was a metaphorical and symbolic representation of society. Not to mention that the story was better constructed.

1(*)out of 4(****)stars

Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding (2003 TV Movie)

Baywatch: Boobs Reunited

[1 March 2003]

Although many of the cast members didn't appear most did. Especially my favorites Pam Anderson, Carmen Electra, Yasmine Bleeth, and Gena Lee Nolan. Only one of my favorites was missing, Erika :(

Anyhow, the plot like most Baywatch episodes it's silly. However, returning a villian from the second season seemed like a nice idea. Regardless of the silliness it was a nice reunion.

3(***)out of 4(****)stars

Spawn (1997)

The Ending Ruins the Movie!

[1 March 2003]

Spawn could have been a good movie. The direction was fairly decent and so was the plot. Visually the movie was pretty good and John Lequizamo as the Clown was awesome. However, the corny ending with the horrible special effects ruined the movie.

2 1/2(**1/2)out of 4(****)stars

Baywatch (1989–2001)

Boobwatch

[1 March 2003]

Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, Carmen Electra, Erika Elenak, and Gena Lee Nolan. Now what more do you want?!

Silly plots? Yes

David Hasselhoff? Sadly yes

Great fun? Yes

Although the show did begin to suck when they moved to Hawaii.

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981–1986)

Spider-Man and His Amazing Show

[1 March 2003]

As a kid I used to love this show. Unlike the Superfriends it balanced the humor with nice action sequences. Superfriends at times were a bit too silly but this show balanced it well. As well as having good plots. This was a very enjoyable show to watch and Iceman and firestar were amazing friends.

The only flaw this show has is that Frank Welker's Iceman sounds too much like Fred from Scooby-Doo.

The Young Master (1980)

The Young Jackie Chan

[19 February 2003]

If you're impressed by Jackie Chan's fighting sequences then you should see him back in his prime. This film directed by him we get numerous fighting sequences which are funny, original, and exciting. Basically that's how the movie is.

3(***)out of 4(****)stars

Daredevil (2003)

He's a lawyer by day, a crimefighter by night, and a great movie everyday!

[10/10 · 18 February 2003]

This movie was awesome! The performances were excellent especially those from Michael Clarke Duncan, Colin Farrell (Hollywood's Next Superstar), Jennifer Garner, and Ben Affleck who gives a surprisingly good performance.

The only flaw the picture has is it's length. At an hour and thirty minutes I felt the movie was too short. I guess we'll have to wait for the DVD to see the original R-rated version. Now this brings an issue to me. When viewing Daredevil what bothered me was all the kids in the movie theater. When I was younger I was quite disappointed when parents began complaining about 'Batman Returns' violence which led to Tim Burton's dismissal. But if parents knew that this movie was almost rated R then why did they take there 6/7/8 year old children?! I hope FOX doesn't take all the complains seriously because if they do then the sequels will suck! And I want this to be a very successful franchise! I think the problem is that most parents think comic books are kiddie stuff! That's incorrect, since the `70s comic books have gotten more and more violent every year with Batman leading the way. I think it's about time that parents noticed that!

4(****)out of 4(****)stars

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret to how Vanilla Ice never had a career!

[18 February 2003]

This movie has it's moments and believe me there is a lot of great ones. But unfortunately Vanilla Ice, a poor script, a scientist who isn't Baxter kill the movie. In addition there is a new April who's better looking then the first but her performance is no where near the perfection of the original. :(

2(**)out of 4(****)stars

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

AWESOME! RADICAL!

[9/10 · 18 February 2003]

A crime wave has been troubling New York City for years and it's up to Leonardo, Michelangelo, Rafel, and Donatello to clean up the city! Who they are? THE NINJA TURTLES!

This movie is awesome! It combines a little bit of the cartoons with the comic. Great fun.

4(****)out of 4(****)stars

COWABUNGA!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003–2010)

The Turtles are BACK!

[8 February 2003]

After being nearly five years apart from their last television show and almost nine years away from the spotlight. I am proud to declare that the Ninja Turtles are BACK! Whether it's a successful show or not, it all depends if the younger generation finds a liking to it. However, members from my generation were up and early this morning to see the pilot to the new show which airs on the Fox Box which is like a reinvented FOX Kids! The show is as great as the original with a few differences of course. For one thing the action sequences are a lot more stylish and Michaelangelo doesn't get the opportunity to say "COWABUNGA!" But I'm sure he'll eventually say it!

It's great to see the Turtles again! And in true form!

Justice League (2001–2004)

Mixed Reaction!

[5 February 2003]

This is in my opinion a television show which sometimes features a great episode and at other times a horrible episode. The reason I think this is because DC characters really aren't that good. Marvel Comics has a terrific gallery of great characters like Spider-Man, X-Men, Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Captain America, among others. DC comics however doesn't feature that great of a gallery. While characters like Batman, Superman, Flash, and Martian Manhunter are outstanding characters. The rest I don't consider to be that good! However, the show has managed to surprise me, in the episode featuring Aguaman I was surprised to see the major improvements done with the post crisis Aguaman. Now he's a cool character!

Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf (1988 TV Movie)

Scooby-Doo's Comeback!

[2 February 2003]

Many consider "Zombie Island" to be Scooby's big comeback. However, I disagree! While "Zombie Island" was the return of the original concept and the movie that made Scooby-Doo popular again. I think the "Reluctant Werewolf" is Scooby's real comeback!

To begin with the concept is actually pretty interesting and good, the characters are pretty amusing, the movie is funny, and above all this is not only Scrappy's final appearance but Scrappy has such a small role that at times you forget he's even there! And when you do realize he's there he's actually doing something useful.

Also the monster car race was pretty cool and way better then those of Hanna-Barbera's Wacky Races cartoon's from the `60s. I first saw this movie in 1991 at the Disney channel?! during the Halloween season. And on Saturday Night I had a chance to see it for a second time on Cartoon Network:)

4(****)out of 4(****)stars

Mission: Impossible II (2000)

R:I-2

[10/10 · 26 January 2003]

Review: Like my buddy Roger Ebert stated

"The first 'Mission: Impossible' (1996), directed by Brian De Palma, had a plot no one understood. 'M:I2' has a plot you don't need to understand. It's been cobbled together by the expert Hollywood script doctor Robert Towne out of elements of other movies, notably Hitchcock's "Notorious" (1946), from which he takes the idea that the hero first falls in love with the heroine, then heartlessly assigns her to resume an old affair with an ex-lover to spy on his devious plans."

M:I-2 is way better then the original. And contains excellent direction from John Woo.

Rating: 4(****)out of 4(****)stars

This review will self-destruct in five seconds.

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Mission: Impossible (1996)

Review: Impossible

[8/10 · 26 January 2003]

Review: If you chose to read it! The movie was good. Nice direction by Del Palma. Nice script by Spider-Man writer David Keopp. Great performances and a nice score by Danny Elfman!

Rating: 3(***)out of 4(****)stars

This review will self-destruct is five seconds.

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Rambo III (1988)

MAJOR improvement from II but still sucks!

[24 January 2003]

Directed by Batman's Camera Operator, Peter MacDonald, this is a major improvement from Rambo II. However, while this movie has it's moments it still suffers from a bad plot and weak character development. Action films don't necessarily need a good plot but character development is extremely important. Mostly because you want the audience to want to be Rambo. Which is one of the reasons the first Rambo movie worked so well. In the first movie you see Rambo as a troubled Vietnam vet who's taking the law into his own hands. In Rambo II and III he's just an exaggerated action character in silly action sequences. I honestly must admit that if done right, Rambo II and III would have been great movies.

2(**)out of 4(****)stars

Family Double Dare (1988–1992)

Quite the depressing Show!

[24 January 2003]

When I was growing up Nickelodeon aired WAY too many game shows. Most which just sucked. There was one with people playing video games and another with a talking volcano! How pathetic! However, Double Dare was the exceptional one because it was pretty fun to watch. At times it was quite depressing to see those parents and grandparents running around those messy things looking like idoits! And even more depressing was the fact that they asked simple questions that the parents could answer but they had to "discuss" it with the family! This was truly a fun show to watch and make fun of at the same time.

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

If only Ed Wood were alive to see this piece of junk!

[6/10 · 24 January 2003]

"THE STALLONE DOWNFALL BEGINS"

This has to be the stupidest movie I have ever seen! I love action movies! But I still like a little bit of story and character development. This movie is one pathetic action scene to another. There were certain moments that made me laugh, especially the last ten or fifteen minutes. Which is one of the funniest moments captured on film ever! Still it's a bad movie!

1(*)out of 4(****)stars

Get Over It (2001)

GET OVER IT KIRSTEN! AND GET ON ME:)

[9/10 · 23 January 2003]

Like Kirsten Dunst's "Bring it On," this is a film so stupid it's actually good. The performances are quite charming and Shane West does an hilarious performances. Spoofing those *Nstink and Backstreet Girls. Also Miss Dunst looks mighty hott in this movie. And she appears in a bikini too! :)

3(***)out of 4(****)stars

JFK (1991)

A MASTERPIECE!

[10/10 · 23 January 2003]

Directed by Oliver Stone this is an amazing film commentating on the conspiracy behind the Kennedy assassination. The performances are superb, especially Kevin Costners. And if you really want to see a film similar to this then see the British documentary, which is frequent play on the History channel. Both have the same theory but with different endings. And both are a must see!

4(****)out of 4(****)stars

The French Connection (1971)

OUTSTANDING!

[10/10 · 23 January 2003]

Directed by William Friedkin

Starring Gene Hackman and Roy Schinder

Released: 1971

This is an amazing and highly entertaining movie. It's easily one of the greatest cop films of all-time. The film stars Gene Hackmas in his Oscar-winning performance as real life NYC detective Popeye Doyle. Who precipitated a group of French people who were smuggling cocaine in the country.

A MUST SEE FOR ANY MOVIE LOVER!

4(****)out of 4(****)stars

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

The Magnificent Cast!

[8/10 · 23 January 2003]

Based on Akira Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai' this is a good movie with outstanding performances. It stars future stars like Eli Wallach, the late James Coburn, Charles Bronson, and the late Steve McQueen. The film is also a look at what's ahead in the future of westerns. As four years later another Kurosawa movie would be adapted. That movie, 'A Fistful of Dollars.'

3(***)out of 4(****)stars

The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest (1996–1997)

TBS's Pride and Joy!

[22 January 2003]

TBS in the nineties aired some pretty cheesy shows like "Captain Planet" but in 1996 it reinvented itself with this outstanding television show. Like the title says it, this were the REAL adventures because in the original Dr. Quest and Race Bannon seemed to be doing all the work. While in this show Jonny and Hadji were the stars. This was also a much superior show with outstanding plots and characters! Too bad the show was canceled so soon.

Goosebumps (1995–1998)

Stine TV

[22 January 2003]

Back in the nineties, during the Pre-Potter era. My generation was being delighted by the works of R.L. Stine and his magnificent book series "Goosebumps." Between 1992 and 1995 I myself read some great ones like "Monster Blood," and it's two sequels, "Say Cheese and Die," "Ghost Bead," "Deep Trouble," and the greatest one of them all "The Haunted Mask." So obviously in 1995 when FOX Kids premiered this show I watched it. And Loved it! The show's adaptation wasn't very accurate but it was still entertaining and faithful to the novels. This was a great show, not scary but neither were the books. It's just a nice entertaining show from an entertaining series.

Clarissa Explains It All (1991–1994)

One of Nickelodeon's Finest Shows!

[22 January 2003]

This was a smart, entertaining, clever, original, and funny show. The characters were lovable and it was a fun show growing up with. However, as I retrospect I begin to question the show. First off how come at the time I found Melissa Joan Hart so attractive and now I don't. And how come Sam always came in through the window?! Why didn't he just come in through the door like a normal person? Something was going on between Sam and Clarissa because why would he come in through the window?! Makes you wonder doesn't it! I guess Clarissa didn't necessarily explain it all!