What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in Time

[Buscemi2]

Tonight's line-up.



A pair of films that it took me a while to warm up to (by the way, stay warm through all this chaos).

At first, I didn't like Bryan Singer's X-Men. Having adored the cartoon from the 90's, I had found this one too far of a departure at first (I missed Wolverine's yellow spandex and hated that Gambit and Beast weren't in it). So what made me change my mind? When I saw the trailer for X2 before Daredevil and also found out about how Fox sliced an entire half-hour from the released version of X-Men. With X2 looking amazing, I rented the first film again and found it a better film. I also eventually saw X-Men 1.5, which fixes some of the issues (too bad the Blu-ray did not include a complete version that fixes how on the DVD, you needed to hit an icon to watch the deleted material).
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Revisiting the theatrical cut of X-Men, it still feels like that there's missing material and it's obvious that some things were being saved for X2 but it's still a good movie. It might seen a bit quaint compared to the higher stakes of today's superhero movies but there are a number of good moments that puts it in the upper half of Marvel films and it doesn't pander to the audience or try to be too cute. And it's interesting to look back on how back in 2000, Hugh Jackman was basically unknown outside of Australia and this would be his breakout (and he was only a replacement after Dougray Scott had to pull out weeks before filming!).

Meanwhile, I first saw The Black Cauldron when I was eight (had the VHS with that foil-embossed cover) and found it boring. But to be fair, it really is Disney for older audiences. Watching it again at around 14 from that poor-quality non-anamorphic DVD, I liked it a lot more. Another film that suffered through studio-mandated edits (to avoid getting a PG-13, before then, no Disney animated film had even been a PG until this one), The Black Cauldron is another example of how good the fantasy genre was in the 80's. One of only two animated features shot in 65mm, the animation brings to mind The Sword in the Stone (thanks a lot, memories of the canceled TCM Festival) mixed with Heavy Metal. The short run time of 80 minutes allows for a lot of different things happening with no time to stop to breathe so you can't say nothing happens, making me realize that I must have had other things on my mind at eight. And I love that pig. Disney should revisit this one just for that.

And because The Black Cauldron is so short, I added four Oscar-winning shorts to the proceedings: Feast (Winston brought back memories of my recently deceased dog), Dear Basketball (watching this for the second time after Kobe Bryant's death really moves you), Bear Story (more sadness with a message against animal cruelty), and Mr. Hublot (at least this one was for the most part a happy one).

Tomorrow's lineup: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids & The Rocketeer.

[Ron Burgundy]

Nice picks boosh.

I've watched The Black Cauldron almost a dozen times in the last year, i love it, the first half is so good!

[Buscemi2]

Today's double feature: two films from Joe Johnston.



Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is good escapist fare with an imaginative story and lots of thrills are four children are shrunk to a quarter of an inch and after being accidentally thrown away, must make the long trek to return home, even with all of the obstacles in the way. With the all of the chaos and death going on, this is a nice movie to get away from it all.

Meanwhile, The Rocketeer was part of Disney's short-lived 30's/40's Hollywood-style boom (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Dick Tracy, and Oscar were all in this trend) and much like the others in that canon, is a fun tribute to old pulp comics. Billy Campbell is a likeable protagonist while Alan Arkin is good as always as his right hand man. Hell, pretty much everyone's good in this. Too bad they never made the sequel.

Tomorrow night: a triple feature of Cabin Boy, Fear of a Black Hat, & Airheads.

[Buscemi2]

The Corona Drive-In keeps on with a triple feature of 1994 movies.



Critics hated Cabin Boy when it came out. But I think it's hilarious. Basically Steamboat Bill Jr. redone with Chris Elliott doing his thing, this is a film that refuses to let up on the laughs and in its 80 minute run time, manages to cram in as many gags and Elliott's character being an idiot as often as possible. And it works. It's also the kind of unique adventure you don't see anymore with all of its original ideas and tributes to the classic seafaring adventure. I can never hate this fancy lad.

Fear of a Black Hat is the lesser-known of the two rap mockumentaries of the 90's but while this one doesn't have the polish of the earlier CB4, it might be the better film based on the ambition and all of the nods to rap history. It's also perhaps the closest any film has come to emulating the success of This is Spinal Tap (there's even a direct reference to that one, as the group's managers keep dying in the same way Spinal Tap's drummers did). This is probably going to be a love it or hate it movie depending on how you view the rap industry but by being affectionate while also dissecting the beefs and controversies makes it worthwhile.

Lastly, another music film in Airheads. Because I didn't get to attend the screening of Billy Madison that I was supposed, I chose to watch another Adam Sandler/Steve Buscemi/Chris Farley movie. I believe this is the best of the Dog Day Afternoon imitators, as rather than going for awards, it manages to be a fun anarchy movie. Kidnapping has never been so funny.

Also, I gave two Oscar winning shorts a watch. Logorama still holds up with its mix of anti-commercialism message, thrilling chase film, and post-apocalyptic epic. La Maison en Petits Cubes continued the apocalyptic theme with a man living in the sea after the water levels rise (think a more serious version of Waterworld), reflecting on the loss of his family as he continues to build his home above ground. Not spectacular but interesting.

Up next: a triple feature of Sister Act, Home Alone 2, & Honey I Blew Up the Kid.

[Buscemi2]

Corona Drive-In triple feature for Saturday: three 1992 films.



Three movies I remember watching a lot as a kid, now revisited with adult eyes.

Sister Act is another example of the high concept premise becoming a big box office hit. I was encouraged to revisit this one after James Rolfe mentioned seeing it again in a recent Cinemassacre Rental Review episode and it still holds up in that 90's Disney formula way. Surprisingly, it's somewhat of a slow burn despite its genre as I noticed that the musical elements really don't start until the second half. But you know what they say, nuns are funny.

Home Alone 2 gets a bad rap but being almost exactly like the first, which is true, but it does what good sequels are supposed to do: raise the stakes. The playing field is bigger, the mission is more important, and most of all, the traps are deadlier. And that's why we watch the Home Alone movies. To watch bad guys get their asses kicked in more violent but funny ways.

Lastly, I actually saw Honey, I Blew Up the Kid before seeing Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Seeing it now, it's not as good as the first but it has appeal in that it's a big-budget update of the live-action Disney movies of the 60's and a lot of the situations still manage to be funny, even though I'm sure a lot of people who didn't see this as a kid would hate it. Also, I forgot the crush I had on Keri Russell from this movie.

Up next: a triple feature of C.H.U.D., House, and Godzilla 1985.

[Chienfantome]

The other night I caught Criminal Squad on TV, with Gerard Butler, is it me or is this film way better than you'd expect it to be ? It was actually pretty good.

[Buscemi2]

At first, I thought you were talking about some knock-off of Suicide Squad before I looked it up and found it was Den of Thieves. Unfortunately, I didn't care much for it though the film does have its fans.

[transformers2]

The other night I caught Criminal Squad on TV, with Gerard Butler, is it me or is this film way better than you'd expect it to be ? It was actually pretty good.

This was a very common opinion actually. It was a mid-January release in the States and Gerard Butler isn't exactly known as being an actor that takes on quality projects, so the bar was set pretty damn low ahead of its release . This definitely won't come as a surprise, but I loved it. Just a very engrossing, well-made heist movie that shows just how much fun the genre can be when it's done right.

[Buscemi2]

Last night's triple feature: three 80's monster movies released by New World Pictures.



C.H.U.D. was the theatrical cut, which I had never seen, and personally, I prefer the longer version (which mainly has more character building and a few more moments with John Goodman's character). But either way, you know what you're getting. I also noticed the film is a lot like Larry Cohen's Q: The Winged Serpent in that both focus on government conspiracies and the reveal of a monster terrorizing New York and they both have a number of familiar actors in the casts. The film also made me wish this, After Hours, and Home Alone 2 all existed in the same universe.

House was the best of the lot, a horror comedy that also serves as a commentary on PTSD and other issues ex-soldiers had post-Vietnam. You would guess it from the story and low budget but it's a surprisingly intelligent film while also being wild and crazy, kind of like a B-level version of The 'burbs. A filmic example of having your cake and eating it too.

Lastly, the original Japanese cut of Godzilla 1985. Basically, it's a remake of the original Gojira but it stands on its own as a minor but enjoyable entry in the series. The political elements firmly place the film in the 80's but it is of note in that you see Godzilla as the villain again and he does exactly what you expect him to do. It's not as good as the original but it beats Godzilla 1998.

Tonight: a double feature of The Last of the Mohicans & Dolemite is My Name.

[Buscemi2]

Not one of Michael Mann's best films but it's not hard to see why it's so well-regarded. Between Daniel Day-Lewis in action hero mode and excellent action scenes, it's enough to forgive some of the lulls in the story (and I'm not sure if it was my copy of the movie but it's awfully dark during some of the nighttime shots). It's also a better film than Dances with Wolves and a full hour shorter.

Up next: Flight of the Navigator & White Squall.

Edit: it turns out that the film is that dark intentionally as natural or minimal light was used during shooting.

[JohnErle]

Blood And Black Lace (7/10)

I watched this on the weekend and it's easy to see why Mario Bava is considered the father of Giallo films, and this is certainly the best I've ever seen. Its influence on everything from Suspiria and In Fabric to The Watchmen can't be missed. It's so stylish it makes up for the occasional lapses in story logic, but the plot still makes way more sense than most Giallo films. After enjoying this and Black Sabbath I think I need to watch more classic Mario Bava.

[Chienfantome]

It's also a better film than Dances with Wolves and a full hour shorter

It's even two hours shorter, if you watch the full 4-hour version of Dances with Wolves, which is the version to watch.
I love both films, but Dances is a monument in my eyes.

[Buscemi2]

Forgot about the director's cut, Chien. Funny that the version of The Last of the Mohicans I watched was that film's director's cut.

[Buscemi2]

Last night's double feature: two adventure films, one by air, one by sea.



I'd forgotten just how traumatizing the first half of Flight of the Navigator was, kind of like a kid-friendly version of the later Fire in the Sky. In fact, I might proclaim this to be a strong contender for the darkest Disney movie based on the concept of waking up eight years into the future and being a test experiment. But then the second half manages to lighten the mood with Paul Reubens voicing a spaceship and a cute bat-like creature, which may be why it's not mentioned with Return to Oz or The Black Hole in terms of dark Disney. In the end, it's a better movie than I remember it being. But I have to wonder how many kids were frightened by it back in 1986.

Meanwhile, White Squall is basically Dead Poets Society on a boat. But with Ridley Scott (back when a film by him still meant something) at the helm and Jeff Bridges starring, it's an entertaining ride as some 1960's-era Study Abroad students learn a thing or two about themselves while sailing through Latin America. It might get cliche at times but it's got a great shipwreck scene in the third act.

Up next: a double feature of Edward Scissorhands & DuckTales: The Movie.

[Chienfantome]

I haven't seen White Squall since I rented it at my local video-club in the late 90's, but I have a good memory of it. A bit too much, but steady.