sternn01 Reviews

Robot Chicken: Star Wars (2007 TV Short)

"Robot Chicken: Star Wars"

[7/10 · 25 August 2008]

Like "Family Guy: Blue Harvest", this parody of everyones favorite trilogy is irreverent, satirical and lot's of fun to watch.

Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Mike Fasolo, Matthew Senreich and the rest of the creative team do a fantastic job recreating some classic moments from the films, all with that unique "Robot Chicken" twist.

As a fan of the original Star Wars series - I can say, without a doubt, that these sketches do the movies justice (they sure made me laugh at loud!)...and it was over way too soon.

As a bonus, if you have the DVD, check out the Cartoon Network bumpers and spots that the cast and writers did to promote the series and the special...talk about funny. It's basically half an hour of a bunch of twenty-something guys playing with Star Wars toys and Nerf dart guns, just hanging out and having a ball...and getting paid for it!

Family Guy: Blue Harvest (2007) Season 6, Episode 1

"Family Guy: Blue Harvest"...

[10/10 · 1 October 2007]

This was nothing short of TV gold.

Every once in awhile I see something on television that is pure magic from start to finish, and this particular show was one of them...

This episode was an homage to the film, and even though they "Family-Guy'ed" it with their edgy humour, it was still a brilliant piece of work, with some of the scenes being almost shot-for-shot from the movie. It is obvious that Seth MacFarlane and the rest of the creators are die-hard Star Wars fans.

And it was neat to see they went with the original version, not the George Lucas-ized, Greedo-shoots-first version.

Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King (2006)

Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From The Stories of Stephen King...

[7/10 · 7 November 2006]

1.] "The End of the Whole Mess" - Very well done. Spot on adaptation of a neat little story. Livingston's performance is perfect - heartfelt and desperate. Henry Thomas was good too.

2.] "Battleground" - When I first read this story (about 15 years ago) I thought it would make a great TV movie - not a feature film - but at the time, I didn't think the SFX of the day could pull it off. This was a pretty good effort though, and I loved the lack of dialog. Hurt is not too bad either.

3.] "You Know They Got a Hell of a Band" - Not bad adaptation. This was a good short story, one I always try to read when I pick up Nightmares & Dreamscapes.

4.] "Umney's Last Case" - Not bad story, Macy's performance pulled it off. I always wondered why the chose to adapt this one though, especially over some of Kings other classics.

5.] "Autopsy Room Four" - Again, great story, but the adaptation leaves a lot to be desired, and only because of the hokey performances, especially from Richard Thomas and Greta Scacchi.

6.] "The Fifth Quarter" - Good performance from Sisto, but again, why do this story over something like "Grandma" or "The Jaunte".

7.] "The Road Virus Heads North" - The only thing they got right was the painting. Everything else, including Berringer's performance, was cheesy.

8.] "Crouch End" - This was a good story, but the adaptation did not capture the creepy feel King brought out in the narrative. The performances were OK, and it started off on the right foot, but things quickly went south after they started wandering around the empty streets. I think director Mark Haber, just couldn't put his finger on what the point of that story was.

Corner Gas (2004–2009)

"Corner Gas"

[26 September 2006]

This show is a rarity in Canadian television - it's good! Too much of Canadian programing is slow, dry and boring - and aside from NHL hockey, there is not much else worth watching. A few shows have made attempts at being clever comedies, but have always failed because Canadian programming always tends to alienate the main audience by becoming too political, historical or just plain arrogant (vis-a-vis the CBC and CRTC).

But this show has succeeded and, more importantly, is extremely entertaining because its focus isn't on some political agenda, but rather on the art of entertaining. Brent Butt has figured out the formula that has made this series a hilarious success - and I think I can identify what some of those criteria are.

1. It has great characters - And character development. Just like other successful comedies (Seinfeld, The Office, Cheers, etc.) quirky characters are fun to watch.

2. It has great writing - The stories seem to be about nothing - but even nothing is something!

3. It has excellent pacing - It does not slow down at all, and continues to improve its pacing as the seasons go by. The more jokes you can fit in to the half hour, the better.

4. It is not sentimental - If anything, most of the characters are less than sympathetic, and that type of darkness of the human psyche is far more appealing and funny when you are making a comedy about quirky people in a quirky little town.

5. There is NO winter!! - Have you seen any snow yet in Dog River? This is critical for a successful Canadian comedy - because snow complicates things. It is bleak, uninteresting, and unfortunately too much of a reminder of reality for those of us who have to live with it for 10 months out of the year. In fact, with out the snow - it makes this small town in Saskatchewan look quite charming, and all the more interesting and lovable.

Now these are just my opinions - but if you want to take a chance on a Canadian TV show - this should be the one. Canadians should be (and are - for the most part, I think) proud of this series. I, for one, try not to miss it each week, and I own all the DVD's too...its just a fun show to watch, and I would rank it up there as one of the best new comedies on TV right now.

My Life (1993)

My Life...

[7/10 · 25 September 2006]

"My Life" is a unique movie in that its loaded with clichés, but it also has a message that is very powerful and poignant.

It is a shameless tearjerker, and you will want to keep the Kleenex box handy for this one, however the message of the importance of family relationships is clear, and one that is often ignored by Hollywood.

Our family connections are so important in the big scheme of things. These are the relationships that will help us get through the tough times - such as illness or the death of a loved one. Sometimes these relationships get strained - through pride, or an unwillingness to forgive. This is real life.

This film correctly shows that this can happen, but when push comes to shove, everybody makes an effort to heal all the past wounds. It also shows that we aren't perfect. In this film we see that both Bob and his parents made mistakes, but instead of dwelling in the pit of anguish that this kind of unresolved pain can cause when a loved one dies - it shows the joy that something as simple as forgiveness and love can provide.

Uncle Bobby (1964– )

The "Uncle Bobby" Show

[4/10 · 18 September 2006]

As I was reading through some of the other user comments - it brought back some memories of phrases I hadn't thought about in years.

It seems he was a staple of many Canadian kids on Saturday mornings during the 70's (especially if you didn't have cable!). I do remember Bimbo the clown and those cone puppets, but the thing that always comes to mind when I think of Uncle Bobby is that magician that would come on and perform some trick - Uncle Bobby would help him out, and more often than not the trick would sort of come together and they would both kind of singsong the phrase "iiiit's maaagic"! I thought I was the only one who remembered this show - and the fact that I do believe he would get more and more soused as the show went on! But hey - that was the 70's for ya...

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

The Passion of the Christ

[8/10 · 21 June 2006]

To all those people out there who feel that this film is somehow flawed or that it feeds racist sentiments, I would ask that you actually read and study the New Testament Gospels.

Yes, director Gibson took some artistic license with his film, but that in itself does not overpower the message that Christ suffered and died for all of us, and thereby won salvation for people who could not do it on their own. This film is violent and gruesome, and you may avert your eyes because it is hard to watch, but it is also the most accurate depiction of how much Christ had to suffer. It is based on events that are portrayed in the Gospels, and every Christian is familiar with these accounts and their history.

This film shows just a tiny fraction of this history, the final twelve hours prior to Christ's death on the cross. It does not tell the whole story of the Israelites, Gods chosen people, and how time and again they were reminded to obey Gods commands, but failed to do so. You see, the Hebrews of the Old Testament were sinners like you and me. They could not keep Gods commands, so they, like all of us, needed a savior, a Messiah, who would lift the yoke of bondage to our sinful nature.

Unfortunately, by the time Christ arrived on the scene, they did not recognize him for who he was. I imagine it was a difficult proposition for them. "You mean we have to give up all of our ancient laws and traditions from the time of Abraham and Moses? We have to put all our faith in this one man? Impossible. It's too simple. Certainly there is more to it than that?" But that was Christ's message while he was on earth. He had a daunting task during his ministry, because he was preaching not only to Gentiles but to Jews as well, who had carried a lot of baggage with them throughout the years.

When Jesus moved his ministry to Jerusalem, where the seats of power were for the Jewish faith, they took it as a slap in the face. The chief priests and Jewish leaders were incensed that this Nazarene could come in with his touchy-feely message of "love" and "peace", and still attract so many followers. Again they missed the point, as we so often do today with Gods Word. The Gospel message frees us; it releases us from our requirement to pay for our sins. It doesn't stop us from sinning mind you, that is something we are born with, but it will go a long way towards easing a guilty conscience, and that is the true "peace that passes all understanding".

If you tell someone who feels they have not sinned, that their sins are forgiven, do you think its going to have any impact? I submit that it will not. In fact, human arrogance and pride dictates that we will react with anger. However, if you tell someone who knows and feels the weight and sorrow of a guilty conscience, that all has been forgiven, well, that type of message has the power to change lives - dramatically. And it has done so throughout history for many, many people.

That's why the Jewish leaders were so angry. They were looking for a new king who would take them out from under the oppression of the Roman government. Not a spiritual King who came to our sin-ridden planet from the paradise of heavenly glory, in his mercy, to live a perfect life, die on the cross, and then resurrect himself to announce his victory over sin death and the devil.

This film is important because it doesn't try to convince anyone of anything. Its just telling the story of Christ passion and suffering in the most effective way possible. It's gruesome because Mr. Gibson felt that he had to show how much our sins cost the Lamb of God. This is not a politically correct point of view, but then neither is Christianity or the idea of sin for that matter.

And because this is based on historical events and Gods unchangeable Word, it amazes me that with the release of this film, people seem to be surprised and shocked at what its portraying. Has everyone who is upset over this movie ever read the Gospels before? This is pretty much how it happened. Jesus was tortured and killed. Period. At the time, this happened on a pretty regular basis.

And to clarify, the Jews are not "Christ Killers". Jesus died at the hand of the Romans and at the behest of the Jewish religious leaders. That is how it went down in history, but the fact of the matter is that it was Gods will that His Son die, because He loved us so much, and did not want to see our destruction in hell. Man in general, not just the Jews and Romans, were instruments of Gods Holy Will.

Now is what I wrote racist in any way? If anything, I have illustrated that the Jews are just like anyone else in this world, sinful human beings who need a savior. Many will think that this attitude is just another example of Christian arrogance and superiority. No, it is not. I'm not saying that we can earn our way into heaven. To say that would be the height of human arrogance and superiority. Christ did this for us already – and this film is just a glimpse of what Jesus suffered.

I think Mr. Gibson has shown that he is putting his money where his faith is and I applaud him for it.

Seinfeld: The Finale (1998) Season 9, Episode 22

Seinfeld: The Finale: Part 1

[8/10 · 16 May 2006]

I think it's hard to judge the last episode because everyone was expecting something else, but when you really think about it - this was the only way they could end the series. There are hints and flavors from past episodes, and everybody made an effort to show us that goofiness that we all came to know and love.

This one was not one of my favorites, but thats OK - it makes me enjoy the ones I liked even more.

And who can argue with the idea of bringing back just about every major and minor character, in one form or another, to give the best show ever created, the proper send off?

Oh yeah, and not one drop of sentimentality in the entire episode - you gotta love it!

Aliens (1986)

Aliens...

[10/10 · 25 January 2006]

When we last saw Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) at the end of the 1979 classic "Alien", she was just putting herself into hyper-sleep after dispatching the creature out of the airlock of her lifeboat. This film picks up the story 57 years later when she is picked up by a salvage freighter, and she awakens to discover that she can't get rid of the nightmares that haunt her every night.

After being blacklisted by "The Company", she finds herself struggling to get through the days as a power-lift operator, until she is asked to assist a squad of marines to do a search and rescue at new colony outpost on the very planet where all the trouble started - LV426. Hoping it will put a stop to the nightmares, Ripley reluctantly agrees.

Packing enough fire power to level a mountain, the tough marines go in - and soon find themselves overwhelmed by the alien menace....

This is one of the most thrilling science fiction films ever made, and writer/director Cameron has created a sequel that is self-contained and, in my opinion, far superior to the original. This was the first big-budget picture he made after 1984's "The Terminator", and Cameron explodes out here with a style and pace that is all his own.

With great characters, innovative effects and some very memorable action sequences - this movie moves you along like a freight-train - and doesn't let you off till the very end.

"How could they cut the power, man? They're animals!"

Field of Dreams (1989)

Field of Dreams ...

[10/10 · 17 May 2005]

Kevin Costner is Ray Kinsella, a simple Iowa farmer who receives a vision in his cornfield, along with a message..."If you build it, he will come." This inspires him to build a ball diamond out in his corn, because he thinks that if he follows the voices' instructions, Shoeless Joe Jackson of the infamous Black Sox, will come back and play again. Of course everyone thinks he's nuts, but with the support of his loving wife (wonderfully played by Amy Madigan), he goes ahead and builds the ball-field. Then the magic starts. Shoeless Joe (Ray Liotta) does come back, along with several other legendary ball players, but Ray soon discovers that his journey is just beginning. Along the way he will meet Terance Mann (James Earl Jones) a retired writer and political activist, as well as the mysterious Doc Graham (Burt Lancaster), who played one game in the major leagues when he was a young man. These two men show Ray how baseball used to be, and why it's such an important part of our past. Of course Ray will have to make a decision regarding his field, and whether he will be able to keep it before the bank forecloses on his mortgage. And because he makes the right decision, he is rewarded, and it is one of the most touching and wonderful moments in a film thats rife with them.

Unlike other films about baseball, this is not a movie about a specific game where you have the player on deck with two out and the bases are loaded. No, this is a film about life and family and the choices we make, and how the difficult decisions often affect others. Its a film for fathers and sons, and you don't have to be a fan of baseball in order to appreciate its beauty and message. It has been described as a baseball fantasy - and I suppose that is true to a point, but it is so much more than that.

This film always moves me because sometimes I wonder if I am being as good a father as I can be to my own children. I think that this film illustrates that kids don't always need a father to be a bread-winner, although that is also very important. What it shows is that kids really want their dad to be a dad - someone they can play catch with, someone they can talk to or someone they can come to for comfort when they are sad. It also shows that there is forgiveness for fathers who weren't always the model dad they wanted to be.

Based on the novel "Shoeless Joe", by Canadian author W.P. Kinsella, the screenplay was written and adapted by director Robinson - and his work here is quite the achievement as this was only the second film of his career. Thanks to some wonderful cinematography from DP John Lindey, as well as a hauntingly beautiful score by James Horner, this film is well on its way to becoming a classic of the American cinema, and deservedly so.

"People will come Ray. People will most definitely come."

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Glengarry Glen Ross...

[10/10 · 13 May 2005]

Intense drama that will keep you riveted until the end credits crawl. Written and adapted from his Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Mamet, which means the dialog is spicy, fast-paced and extremely profane. This film is an excellent character study on how the mind of a salesman works, and it is so true to life, its scary. Fantastic performances from the entire cast.

Check out Kevin Spacey as the harried office manager who has to protect the good Glengarry leads, to Alec Baldwin as the sales manager from "downtown", who initiates a sales conference that is little more than an exercise in abuse. From Jack Lemmon as Shelley "the machine" Levene the old pro who's lost his stuff, to Al Pacino as Ricky Roma, the flavor of the month, who is well on his way to winning the Cadillac Eldorado. This is some of the best acting you will ever see, and its definitely worth the price of admission. This film should be prerequisite viewing for all sales reps.

"Get them to sign on the line that is dotted!"

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

The Shawshank Redemption...

[10/10 · 13 May 2005]

When Portland banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is unjustly convicted of murder and sent to prison, he quickly learns that life on the inside is harsh and unforgiving. Thankfully, he also forges a powerful friendship with Red (Morgan Freeman) a fellow lifer who learns to appreciate Andy's spirit and determination. Later, when Andy set's himself up as the resident financial adviser to the warden and guards, he manages to earn an odd form of respect from all he comes in contact with. Based on the Stephen King novella "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption", it is story about friendship, hope and the triumph of the human spirit over incredible hardship.

Hows that for a clichéd synopsis? This may summarize what the film is about, but it does not explain why this film resonates so much with audiences worldwide.

Now, I remember the first time I read this short story by Stephen King. I opened up "Different Seasons" because I wanted to read "The Body", the novella which is the basis for "Stand By Me". After I had finished that one I saw this oddly titled story at the beginning of the anthology. I started reading it and did not stop till later that day, when, with tears in my eyes, I put the book down. My first thought was "that was a great story!" and I was amazed that King could write something so inspirational. Then I thought to myself "that would make a great picture".

A year or so later - this film was released, and I went to the theater with high hopes. The memories of this story were still cemented in my imagination (I had actually pictured William Sadler as Red when I read the book) and I was not disappointed by what I saw. In fact, If anything I was even more impressed with the film because Darabont managed to capture the nuance and feel of the original story so perfectly. The look and feel of the prison and the characterizations of Red and Andy where inspired. Nobody carries the regal dignity and wisdom of Red like Morgan Freeman, and Tim Robbins was perfectly enigmatic as Dufresne. Add to that Thomas Newmans stoic and moving score, and what I saw was nothing short of movie magic. I walked out of the theater, my heart soaring and knowing I had just watched a great picture. I have only felt that way a few times before or since ("Field of Dreams" and "Dances With Wolves" are two good examples) and I still get that feeling when I watch it at home.

This is more than a prison escape movie - it is, to me, a film about the friendship between Red and Andy. I think so many men are fans of this picture because Andy and Red have a connection that we would all like to have with our friends, and that only a few of us are fortunate enough to share or experience. I went to a marriage retreat recently, and when the men and women were split up and asked to describe their likes and dislikes, the question of movies came up. I think it is interesting to note that all of us men listed this film as one of our top ten.

King has a way of writing language that is both common and lyrical at the same time, and his characters have a wisdom and moral certainty that connects with the reader. Kings skill as a writer is especially evident in this picture with Freemans' narration. A lot of the lines which he spoke are direct from the book, and this is a testament to Darabont's respect for that written word. The screenplay he wrote was more than just a faithful adaptation - it is an homage to the wonderful story King wrote.

I have read a lot of reviews and comments on this site that refer to this film as "over-hyped" and "cliched", and to some extent this may be true. This movie doesn't have a plot thats overly complicated, and the characters (specifically the warden and prison guards) may be slightly two-dimensional - but I think that was done on purpose. I believe Stephen King wrote this story as an example of how a simple concept like "hope" can pull someone through a very difficult time - and it is this idea that appeals to so many people. This movie doesn't make any social commentary, and it is certainly not PC - which is refreshing. Too many films today are nothing more than political soapboxes for the film-maker, and unfortunately the cynics and idealists prefer that sort of commentary to simple story-telling.

It has been said by fans of this movie, that "It's a Wonderful Life" was pooh-poohed by critics when it was released as sentimental tripe - and if the same film had been made today, it would be similarly scoffed and mocked with abandon for it's old-fashioned sensibilities. Now, people look at it as a classic, and rightly so, because it has a simple message that people love to hear, over and over. That's what "The Shawshank Redemption" is like. It's just a great story about friendship that is told well, and most people appreciate that and that is why its one of the top ten films on this website.

"Get busy living, or get busy dying."