25th Anniversary of The Mummy

 

                                     Long time when Star Wars Episode I was ruling the movie theaters, there was another film that was another excellent action adventure movie but also one of those films that I had to beg my parents to watch it because my friends at school have all seen it and I wanted to desperately because I was trying to find other ways to trash talk them but they all failed miserably. Anyway, The Mummy was another one of those films from my childhood that I was a huge fan of besides the Star Wars films and the Indiana Jones films and Harrison Ford movies as well. So, The Mummy really one of those first action-adventure movies in my grade school years where I was loving every minute of it and to watch it know it still ages like fine wine, and most importantly this was the go-to Brendan Fraser film I still point to and say that this was his greatest movie. 

                                      The Mummy is a rousing, suspenseful and horrifying epic about an expedition of treasure-seeking explorers in the Sahara Dessert in 1925. Stumbling upon an ancient tomb, the hunters unwittingly set loose a 3,000-year-old legacy of terror, which is embodied in the vengeful reincarnation of an Egyptian priest who had been sentenced to an eternity as one of the living dead.

                                       Having been reminded a month or two back about the re-release of The Mummy hitting theaters for its 25th Anniversary release it really in a sense reminded me about how much I loved that movie and that I really needed to go back and watch the 1999 version of the film. The development to the Mummy's remake has gone long back to the 1980's and even the early nineties to maybe 97, and after the disappointing box office of Babe: Pig in the City new Chair Stacey Snider distributed packets detailing the studio's holdings to make a long story short Snider was basically trying to do anything to keep Universal a float even if it means remaking classic films. So, this granted up and coming writer and director Stephen Sommers an opportunity to pitch his idea of The Mummy for years. Instead of just making a straight up horror movie, Sommers decided he wanted to turn the story into a romantic action-adventure epic with a few horror elements for which really is the most genius idea you can really do when it comes to a former monster movie. I remember my first Brendan Fraser film long before The Mummy was Blast from the Past for which is about a man/child who stayed with his parents for a long time in a bomb shelter and went up to the modernized California and fell in love with Alicia Silverstone, and when The Mummy came along I will always say this till the day I die that Brendan Fraser will always be Rick O'Connell because of his performance in the Mummy and it was interesting because before Fraser, actors like Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, love birds Affleck and Damon were approached for the roles and to think about that I was like thank you I would never witness that well besides Tom Cruise in a latter Mummy film but that doesn't count in fact don't watch that movie at all. But really what makes Fraser's performance legendary is because it reminds me of a modern day Indiana Jones, an adventurer who is completely in over his head but is fully capable of fighting but most importantly has a compassionate heart and really when you pair him with up and coming actress Rachel Weisz whose both intelligent and beautiful at the same time hell both of their chemistry together were amazing to watch on screen. Speaking of Rachel Weisz, this was another one of those films that just so happens to be my first movie of hers and really that's most certainly a movie worth remembering at a young age because she was funny and beautiful at the same time and that's a guarantee because I remember when she comes out in this Egyptian princess outfit I at a young age was really wishing that I was O'Connell right now. Now both Fraser and Rachel Weisz were both excellent together in the movie no doubt, but if I had to pick an important actor, in the entire movie is the lead Mummy Arnold Vosloo who deep down is not all a villain but more of a tragic character, and sure his character does terrible things but really he's a 3,000 year old Mummy who wanted to bring back his dead girlfriend so they can live forever which is what every man wanted even if it means doing terrible things though let’s not forget that he was cursed, buried alive as well as being eaten alive by flesh eating Scarabs and a young man when you first see that scene when he's about to be closed in his casket forever and all the scarabs begin eating him you thought that's the coolest thing, now watching it you think how bad of a way to go, especially dying like that. Like Star Wars Episode I, The Mummy still ages well, even with the mediocre visual effects now looking back I somewhat wonder why my parents were iffy at first when it comes to watching the movie but I think I can imagine why because of its horror elements but also a half-naked woman who was wearing what I assume to be paint and well her hair covering her knockers which no doubt that was a gorgeous woman aka Patricia Vaslasquez who at the time was beautiful and especially when you watch the second movie does a great job playing a manipulative woman whose also The Mummy's girlfriend so, in all fairness I could understand my parents being iffy about watching the movie and when my Aunt talking to my mom on how great the movie was I still to this day am grateful for my aunt calming my parents down. Even in the year 2024, The Mummy still stands as one of the top greatest Action/Adventure films of all time and deserves to be seen by a generation whose films have really gone downhill in terms of quality so, really the film itself is available to stream on Peacock upon which I'm planning on getting a subscription for after I'm done with a road trip to Disney World but for all of you I would most certainly and highly recommend having yourselves and your kids sit down and watch one of the greatest action adventure films of all time in the late 90's.

        

June Recommendation: The Count of Monte Cristo

 

                                        After watching the kung fu style movie version which is, The Musketeer I figured with my monthly recommendation for June I find another of Alexandre Dumas books that's been adapted to the big screen and as luck would have it I browsed through my DVD collection and found The Count of Monte Cristo, upon which is another one of those underappreciate classics that I haven't seen in a very long time. The Count of Monte Cristo stars Jim Caviezel before he became our Lord and Savior hence The Passion of the Christ and Guy Pierce because let’s be honest whenever you’re in need to call for a bad guy, you call for a Brit to save the day. But of all the actors involved in the epic film, the most important actor in the film is Henry Cavil who later in life became a legendary bad a** in upcoming films.

                                         The classic story of an innocent man wrongly, but deliberately imprisoned and his brilliant strategy for revenge against those who betrayed him. Dashing young sailor Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel) is a guileless and honest young man who whose peaceful life and plans to marry the beautiful Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk) are abruptly shattered when his best friend Fernand (Guy Pierce), who wants Mercedes for himself, deceives him.

                                         The interesting fact behind the Count of Monte Cristo is that Alexandre Dumas father, Thomas Alexandre Dumas was an actual General during the French Revolution who went to blows with Napoleon Bonaparte for which was later thrown in the Dungeons for the rest of his life and so when Alexandre Dumas became of age he wrote The Count of Monte Cristo as of inspiration for his own father. I've seen a few, maybe a good portion of films that contain the whole revenge theme. And really watching The Count of Monte Cristo I got to say that this film alone is the most perfect revenge movie of all time, in fact there has been a bunch of adaptions to Alexandre Dumas book but something about Kevin Reynolds version makes the movie more pleasing but more importantly gives some good advice on life. At the time the film’s release I didn't think a whole much of the movie other than hearing that Jim Caviezel who stared along with Dennis Quaid in the film Frequency and again all I remember was some epic sword fighting as well as revenge, and again I was young and didn't think much of the story. Until now, this is probably one of the best adaptions in my opinion to Alexandre Dumas book, and granted I've never seen the other films, nor do I have any intentions to read the book for many reasons the book gives a life lesson in that revenge doesn't satisfy. Which to me doesn't seem satisfying in my opinion, just because when you watch this film and you see the hell the Caviezel's character goes through the course of the first part of the movie you see that his enemies deserve worse than he had, but then you have moments in the films where he does begin to soften and gets a lesson learned moment by the end of the movie and yet again his enemies still get what they deserve. Jim Caviezel really delivers a grand performance as the lead character mainly is through the course of the movie the amount of severe hell, he goes through and his consumption of revenge he just does such a fantastic job in showing the pain in his soul as well as his rage but most importantly his sense of compassion and the interesting thing about Caviezel's performance is that he filled with rage and it takes more of his trusted friend in Luis Guzman and his lover Dagmara Dominczyk who lets him know that he's given a chance and not throw it away, so really Caviezel also does a fantastic job in being this conflicted character through the second and third act of the movie. Guy Pierce surprisingly was offered the role Jim Caviezel plays in the movie, but he was more interested in Fernand part because he likes the idea of playing a bad guy who goes to his absolute downfall for which he really does a great job in that as well. The late Richard Harris (original Dumbledore) also does a fantastic job playing Jim's cellmate as well as the mentor teaching him all he needs to know to escape, and surprising this was Richard Harris's second to last film before he died in October of 2002. I don't want to give so much away because this has been a movie that's been inside a shelf for a long time and no one has brought this movie up to the light and really what makes this film great is that it's truly about a man being wronged and sentenced to a life of hell, escapes and plans a quest for revenge on those who wronged him but through the course of the his revenge he begins to see a second chance of life and decides whether he can go on with his revenge and really what Kevin Reynolds does great in the film is that he gives you a reason to root for the main protagonist as well as give you a sense of happiness by the end of the movie and the book you really don't get that satisfaction karma the antagonist gets through the end of the book but a life lesson and for me as an audience member I would prefer watching this version of the Count of Monte Cristo more than reading the book or watching other films because this film contains all the things I want in a true revenge movie would have. Now if I had to rank the best revenge themed films of all time it would most certainly be The Count of Monte Cristo and Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films for sure those would be the go-to films I would continue to watch repeatedly. So, if you’re into the action-adventure films with a taste for revenge then I would highly recommend watching The Count of Monte Cristo and though you'd have to buy the film on a website or on your phone, I will promise you this when I say it that the film is worth the money as well as the watch.

    

                                            

50th Anniversary of Blazing Saddles

 

                                  

                                          Now this was really the first movie my dad and I watched on Father's Day and really needs no introduction furthermore was one of the many movies that I just blurted out and we both went on a journey of reliving one of the greatest films of all time in my book. Blazing Saddles officially reached its 50th Birthday directed by Mel Brooks, starring Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder and Harvey Korman as well as Mel Brooks in two supporting roles through the course of the movie. You can argue and that Blazing Saddles is one of those films that is most certainly isn't appropriate for the kids of today especially the little turds or teenagers but personally I believe that Blazing Saddles is a perfect example of you can have a sense of humor, but you all so need to respect your fellow man no matter how different your opinion is or not different. 

                                          In this satirical take on Westerns, crafty railroad worker Bart (Cleavon Little) becomes the first sheriff of Rock Ridge, a frontier town about to be destroyed to make way for a new railroad. Initially, the people of Rock Ridge harbor a racial bias toward their new leader. However, they warm to him after realizing that Bart and his perpetually drunk gunfighter friend (Gene Wilder) are the only defense against a wave of thugs sent to rid the town of its population. 

                                          Surprisingly the creation of Blazing Saddles didn't start with Mel Brooks, which is a huge surprise. It really started with Andrew Bergman, who I found out was the sole writer behind Chevy Chase's Fletch. The idea came out of a story outline from Bergman that he originally intended to develop and produce himself, in his own words "I wrote a first draft called Tex-X" (a play on Malcolm X's name), he also said "Alan Arkin was hired to direct and James Earl Jones was going to play the sheriff. That fell apart, as things often do." Brooks loved the idea and purchased the film rights from Bergman, and even though Brooks haven't worked with a writing team since NBC's show Your Show of Shows, he hired a group of writers along with Andrew Bergman to expand the outline. Brooks in his own words described the writing process as chaotic, "Blazing Saddles was more or less written in the middle of a drunken fistfight. There were five of us all yelling loudly for our ideas to be put into the movie. Not only was I the loudest, but luckily, I also had the right as director to decide what was in or out". Andrew Bergman states about anarchy in the writing process "In the beginning, we had five people. One guy left after a couple of weeks. Then, it was basically me, Mel and Richard Pryor and Norman Steinberg. Richie left after the first draft and then Norman, Mel and I wrote the next three or four drafts. It was a riot. It was a rioter's room." For which really makes a ton of sense because when you’re putting together what most certainly be one of the greatest comedies of all time, you most certainly are going to have argument battles on what is good and what is not good. The awesome fact about the making of Blazing Saddles was that actor John Wayne was offered the role of Gene Wilder’s part but due to Wayne's clean image, he turned the role down but told Mel Brooks that he will most certainly be the first person to watch Blazing Saddles. Actor Cleavon Little who plays Sheriff Bart is strangely kind of a mystery actor in terms of Blazing Saddles is one of his most recognizable movies ever but other stuff I've been not quite familiar with. And that's the honest truth, granted I watched an episode of All in the Family where he makes a cameo appearance in the show playing a burglar where he bashes Carroll O'Connor for being racist and calling out Rob Reiner for being a liberal (which he was) and this was long before Blazing Saddles, but after the film’s release he continued on with television work and other films that didn't live up to Blazing Saddles and I'm not going to continue on about why he didn't have a big career and really the only answer I can find in short few sentences is the man went back to Broadway back in 1975, which in all fairness for an actor like Little, you just have to go back with what you feel comfortable with as an actor, which I can't blame him for that. Being 50 years old now, I'm not going to lie when you will never get a movie like this, for which in my opinion is why Blazing Saddles still stands as one of the greatest comedies of all time because Brooks and his writer made huge risks to make this an iconic film that everyone including me can watch and recite the one liners over and over (well not all of them). And sure, you can find a ton of people out there who are not too sure in wanting to go back and re-watch the movie. In which that's their opinion I can't fault them for that, but if this movie really does make you laugh and you believe it's funny then you really shouldn't forget this movie can you? Like I'm a firm believer in thinking that God made man in his own image (same with women) but he also made us equal in his own eyes, and that's something that I always take for granted as a human being, I mean sure I love the movie from start to finish despite how weird the ending was, but never in a million years of my sad life, am going to say any vulgar words to another person and I would encourage everyone else to do the same moreover I think that's something that America has kind of lost its ways coming into this generation. Like, you can still have a sense of humor at somethings but don't be a typical a**hole who has a tattoo of a Nazi symbol or drive around with a Confederate flag mounted on your car because as of all sane person would know it leaves a terrible taste on not just yourself but most importantly your soul, hell Donald Sterling is 90 years old and when that piece of sh*t goes to hell nobody is going to mourn his loss in fact I don't believe anyone will ever come to his funeral, his wife will just cremate him and throw his remains in the trash and call it good. So, now that Blazing Saddles is officially 50 years old I still deem the film to be not only the greatest comedies of all time but in my list in the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time, and I would highly recommend watching the film in the summer time, but would recommend watching the movie late at night so the kiddos won't come down and ask what you’re watching when a really bad word comes up. Furthermore, I would also suggest to all the parents out there to never loose you’re sense of humor, no matter how crazy the world especially most of them mixing politics in conversations upon which I would not recommend that because I personally know that it brings out the worst in people. More importantly to tell parents out there do make sure to have your kids at the appropriate age when seeing Blazing Saddles at least seventeen years of age. 

                        

The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear

 

                                        So, after watching the first Naked Gun film out of dedication to the late O.J. Simpson who I imagine is already in hell right now and Lucifer is torturing the man with the exact scenes from both Naked Gun films. I decided for Father's Day again me and my dad sat down and watched The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear, although we watched another movie before this movie but will get into that movie don't you all worry about that. And really there's not a whole much to say about Naked Gun 2 other than yes, this film is awesome and amazing at the same time and really when you are watching these kinds of films, you should watch it with another person just in case the jokes don't refresh your memory and you can chuckle at the jokes along with your own Dad.

                                        Lt. Frank Drebin (Leslie Neilsen) returns for more madcap high jinks in his police-procedural spoof. Powerful energy corporations are intent on putting a halt to the eco-friendly plans of Dr. Albert S. Meinheimer (Richard Griffiths), the new U.S. energy czar. They scheme to replace Meinheimer with an impostor who will do their bidding. Unfortunately for them, Drebin gets tangled up with their plans while trying to steal back his ex (Priscilla Presley) from her slimy new beau (Robert Goulet).

                                        Watching the second Naked Gun film was no doubt a breath of fresh air, and to really think about what really makes a good or great and most importantly sequels to comic spoofs is that you need to keep the jokes new and fresh, and most importantly you can't recycle the jokes that you previously did in the first film. And with Naked Gun 2 you up the game by going to a different city, moreover when you have the first George Bush and pollution that was most certainly going on in the early 90's well, that right their son you got yourself a good way to start off the second adventure with Leslie Neilsen. It really isn't just Leslie Neilsen that's the best part of the movie it's really the entire cast that does tremendous job in keeping a straight face like it's one of the greatest things to master especially being a comedic actor is the ability to keep a straight face for many reasons I look at all of the actors in the movie and I'm just curious in how they can keep a straight face? Though granted they probably did a tone of takes maybe four or five but really, some of the most ridiculous things that happen in the movie, it's just great moreover master class of comedic actors to be able to pull off a straight face in a movie like this. Movies like this are without a doubt a perfect example of how you create a movie spoof the naked gun films together and Mel Brooks films all together are great example of being able to make a great movie spoof that everyone can watch and quote the same line over and over again that even Scary Movies or any other spoof films that came out in the early 2000's and 2010's were they all were nothing but embarrassments to the human eye. So, really if you’re wanting to be a comedic writer, director or actor, movies like Naked Gun films are a great example to watch of how you can develop yourself if you ever want to create a movie spoof, though deep down you most certainly need to create your own comedic talent and that's the difficult thing to master. Having watched both Naked Gun films, from 88 and 91, I will admit and say that these films are defiantly a breath of fresh air, and I am looking forward to watching the third film with my dad. So, in closing in a world filled with overly sensitive people who don't know what a sense of humor is it's always great to sit down and watch films like this especially when it comes to watching with your father.

          

Father's Day Recommendation: Super Trooper's 1 & 2

 

                         

                                     Many apologies for my recent delay of movie reviews, it's not at all normal to have a minor case of being overwhelmed at work as well as having a breakdown about not having a whole lot of space in your apartment and you need to get rid of a ton of crap, and have an idea to do a garage sale (garage sale to the outside of America, is selling your stuff you don't need inside your garage with the hopes people will be intrigued in buying your stuff but at times want to quick browse or a quick chat) word of advice a garage sale is a good life lesson but don't ever try it again. Back to the story, you later clean your apartment to finally find out you have space and realize you just needed to get rid of a huge file cabinet. Anyway, the point that I'm trying to make here is, when you feel like you’re running out of space in your own home, it's probably a good idea to find the one big thing you don't need and just get rid of it. So, let’s finally talk about my Father's Day Recommendation also known as my greatest movie experiment to have my own father sit down and watch all two films and absolutely love from start to finish.

                                     The best way to describe Super Troopers in a nutshell is a mixture of Reno 911 without the reality TV feel, with the secret recipe of a comedy and typical cop movie story but with a kiss of goofy shenanigans. Not the evil shenanigans, for many reasons it's just cruel and tragic.

                                      The story of my Father enjoying the Super Troopers films is a probably one of the most unsure but proud moment in my adult life. The story started a year ago on Father's Day weekend and my parents we're having their friends home for the weekend and me feeling like a third wheel I was close to going over my brother's house until I don't know if it was my Mom or her friend but they both suggested watching Super Troopers, and I'm feeling skeptical at this idea because for anyone whose seen Super Troopers would know that these movies are most certainly raunchy, and so we decided to watch the first movie and through the full ninety minutes of the movie both my Dad and his best friend and me were all laughing and I had the second movie on my phone and decided after the first movie to watch the second movie and again we were all laughing again. And really when it comes to recommending movies to my Dad it's sometimes a trial and error at times great example of that is him wanting to watch Inglorious Bastards and it's a Quentin Tarantino film I don't know if he'd be great with the blood and yet he actually loved the movie, speaking of World War II films I took my parents to see The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and BOTH OF THEM, loved the film as well. So, really, it's interesting how my own parents can watch some of these movies and just out of know where consider them great, though I know my own mother would never watch Super Troopers movies but of any movies this was my greatest movie experiment I did on my own Dad. Now in terms of the films alone, there's really not a whole lot to say in terms of reviews I mean everyone whose seen the first Super Troopers film would know that the movie is amazing from the outstanding movie intro the great comedic duo and iconic one liners are just outstanding and it's all done by the great group of Broken Lizard, which consists Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter and Erik Stolhanske. Moreover with the second film, granted it's basically the same concept of the first film but I personally think the film is amazing to watch again, even though it's not iconic as the first movie though it still has its moments of great humor and I got to give a lot of credit for Brian Cox to come back and be in the second film because he knows it's not going to make huge bank at the box office and I kind of respect that, for a guy whose got a great resume of movie and television acting. My dad when it comes to his term of what movie he like he always says it's dumb but really what he's saying is that he enjoys the movie and the Super Troopers films are the most entertaining films from start to finish especially the second film and really if you're dad has a great sense of humor like my father has he would most certainly enjoy these movies because let’s be honest if you are raised by a democrats or liberal family than that means you don't have a sense of humor.

       

                       

The Musketeer

 

                                       This is a film that I most certainly remember watching on cable back in the good old days and thought this was one of the coolest films I've ever seen, granted I was young, so I didn't know much. And as fate would have it, I found the film on Amazon for a reasonable price in terms of DVD purchase, I decided to it down and watch this forgotten gem that I most certainly haven't' seen in a long, long time. If your familiar with Alexandere Dumas classic tale of the Three Musketeer's via films that were released in the nineties Three Musketeers produced by Disney, Man in the Iron Mask and then this film for which I most certainly was probably the reason why we don't get more movies like this. For which is The Musketeer, a kind of experimental movie that was trying to create something new with fencing via combining martial arts. Oh, and the American Beauty babe is in the movie as well, Mena Suvari.

                                       Weds the classic swordplay and chivalry of Alexandre Dumas' "The Three Musketeers" with the gravity defying dazzle of Hong Kong action choreography. The film's fight sequences mix eastern and western styles, fusing 17th century swashbuckling with samurai action. 

                                       I was a little on the not so sure side, in terms of this going to be good as I remembered or will it be worth the purchase from Amazon. And deep down this was worth the purchase though some of the action sequences and character development were still on the lackluster side, but still had some interesting action sequences as well as Tim Roth being Tim Roth. And if you're not familiar with Tim Roth, he starred in a few Quentin Tarantino films moreover fought Edward Norton's Hulk in 2008's Incredible Hulk and I'm just going to leave it at that because sadly the man appeared in, She-Hulk and I bet the poor man hasn't got much work after that. Either way Tim Roth does a great job playing the main antagonist in the movie even though he does chew the scenery a little bit, and the man does know how to wield a sword hell he squared off with Liam Neeson in the film Rob Roy for which really that's another film I need to check out later this year. The idea of combining swashbuckling and samurai action is for certain something new and different and coming from a young man you've seen films like The Princess Bride and Disney's Three Musketeers, I'm most certainly intrigued to watch something like that at a young age, although there are some moments where it seems like the action sequences are a bit to cut for cut in terms of edits and your confused of where the swords are hitting each other or not, because they’re so fast but still is entertaining when you get to the final battle where they have the fencing swordplay and using ladders I got to say that was fun to watch. My biggest gripes I have with the movie is sure, the movie is titled The Musketeer which makes sense because the movie centers around d'Artagnan upon which is his complete origin story of how he becomes a Musketeer but the big three Musketeers Athos, Aramis and Porthos are a bit out of place as well as not truly based on the book granted, I'm only going by the 1993 the Three Musketeers and the Man in the Iron Mask. Like Aramis is supposed to be this Musketeer/priest, though he's just a musketeer, Athos is supposed to be the leader (it's true I looked it up) but he's barely in the movie and Porthos is supposed to be this comic relief but for some reasons is the loyal friend? And the voice of reason? Either way all three Musketeers were kind of lost in the shuffle in terms of being their true selves we've all seen in the movies. Mena Suvari does a good job as the love interest to up and coming Justin Chambers d'Artagnan, in fact I thought their chemistry together was cute a little cliché but still cute. I do like Catherine Deneuve's portrayal of the Queen of France for many reasons she's this royalty Queen but knows who to trust and more importantly has commoner blood which is what I like about her is she's both strong and dedicated as well as has a sense of humor. The Musketeer is a movie that has some interesting ideas of how to make a swashbuckling film epic and I always like those kinds of films trying something new even though the film fell on its face, I still dig the movie for what it is. And now I hope in future to come, Rotten Tomatoes at least give this movie a fair rating than 11 percent, hell at least 35 percent when it comes to this film. I would most certainly recommend this movie but it's going to be hard to find besides Amazon and I would most certainly imagine you all being lazy in bringing out your DVD player.

    

Courage Under Fire

 

                                        I just want to state that this was long before watching the original Dune more like pre-Memorial Day before I sat down and watched one of the most obnoxiously bad films of David Lynch's. It was really a typical weekend waiting for the Cardinals to play Baseball and my mom decided to put Courage Under Fire on Hulu. Strangely enough I've seen bits and pieces of the movie a long time ago but there were only scenes of Meg Ryan pointing a gun at young Matt Damon and Lou Diamond Phillips and I was hooked onto this movie so much I forgot the Cardinals we're playing. So, as faith would happen, I decided to sit down and watch Courage Under Fire, and honestly, it's been so long since I've seen ANY Meg Ryan movie.

                                        During the 1991 Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) accidentally caused a friendly fire incident, a mistake that has been hushed up by his superiors. Following the war, he is assigned to investigate the case of Army Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan), killed in action when her Medevac unit was attempting to rescue the crew of a downed helicopter. But Serling interviews the members of Walden's crew, he realizes their stories about the incident don't add up.

                                        Historical fact there actually was a woman honored with the Medal of Honor, Civil War Physician Mary Edwards Walker, though not for valor in combat her award was later revoked in 1917 but then restored around 1977 so, typical America when you think about it. I do remember seeing bits and pieces of the movie though I remember seeing Meg Ryan being betrayed to a surprise visit of Matt Damon though still been quite a long time watching the film until now and yet still surprised to see Rudy aka Sean Astin in the movie it's more like first ten minutes of the film. Edward Zwick, director of the film has done a ton of films mostly epic historical dramas from movies I've probably seen in like the fifth grade or even the movie theaters and movies I've surprisingly remembered watching via renting the movie. Those films are his iconic Civil War film Glory, The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise as an American Samurai and the shocking moreover surprised film I didn't expect he made was the Siege starring Denzel Washington and Bruce Willis and more importantly was Zwick’s next movie after Courage Under Fire. And finally, Blood Diamond in 2006 so, really Zwick is one of those directors that you've probably seen in your lifetime though just don't remember the number of movies he's done and yet keeps a low profile after the film's release. As great as this movie is with not question Zwick's direction of the film basically centering it around a broken-down Colonel whose going through a lot after his time in the Gulf War, and investigating the story of Meg Ryan's character is his chance of redemption for which Edward Zwick does great job telling a story like that with the central character is played by Denzel Washington. I'm not going into much detail of how great Denzel is in the movie because everyone who’s seen a Denzel Washington film would know that he's a master actor. And the same goes with Roger Deakins because I've already stated before in many of the films, he's collaborated with famous directors he's another master of perfecting the perfect scene or imagery. But Meg Ryan really does a fantastic job playing a character who is told by different perspectives and does a great job playing with her emotions and I've never seen a good portion of Meg Ryan's work but this movie she does a fantastic job with this film and like I said before it's been a while since I've seen ANY Meg Ryan film literally You Got Mail? Eh, Sleepless in Seattle? Meh, When Harry met Sally? Uh well I'm not going to talk much about City of Angels. I do have to admit while watching Courage Under Fire, the film reminded me of another War based mystery Basic which came out in 2003 furthermore that film also has the same concept of both characters telling the same story but each of them don't add up, for which I'm kind of curious if the writer actually stole that idea from Courage Under Fire, unfortunately I don't know if it's true or not I may have to go and do some research as every serial would say "To Be Continued". Even though we're long passed Memorial Day I would highly recommend this for anyone who loves epic War Drama's and if you're a fan of Denzel Washington this would most certainly be the movie for you, but most importantly I hope you all get into films that Edward Zwick has made through the years especially one I've mentioned in this review. 

            

Dune (1984)

 

                                         Well, like most Science Fictions epics go, they all must come to an end sometimes. As for Dune sakes this was one of those times where I'm personally glad to be taking a break from a so called Sci-Fi epic that's so complicated to understand moreover so bizarre that even I still don't quite understand it myself, and granted I've never read the book of Dune but for a man whose seen close to two thousand movies from greatest's to B-Movie pleasures to the absolute worst, I'm sorry but there comes a point to where even myself can make a movie better and yet don't want to because of how weird this is. So, as you all can tell I finished watching David Lynch's Dune for a million reasons one of them consists of never seeing it and wanted to see how it compares to Denis Villeneuve's version and deep down this movie alone makes Dune Part One look like an epic classic.

                                          Just take the first two Dune films from Denis Villeneuve and combine it with this movie and you'll find what maybe the worst way to make a movie in the 80's especially when there is technology where you can most certainly do but you really can't because of how bad it looks on Screen. And I've may have said before about cutting this film down but then it just makes it much worse. 

                                          Sorry not sorry in terms of wanting to tell you about the plot behind the 1984 Dune, but after watching this obnoxiously bad movie for which of course is directed by the ever-crazy David Lynch. Now having watched David Lynch's version of Dune I can honestly say that Denis Villeneuve's version of Dune is ten billion times better than David Lynch's version despite the fact that's really an understatement for many reasons it's like comparing the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe film in 2005 to other adaptions that we're made in England. Originally David Lynch was tasked with directing Return of the Jedi before Dune and having heard of that fact I'm supper glad Lynch turned it down or Lucas secretly just told him how weird of a f**ker he is, and so he went on to direct Dune. Books being adapted into films have always been a thing to make more movies as well as making big bucks upon which Ian Fleming's work of James Bond became a huge success Jules Verne's work has been a success though I having seen any of them so I can't back that fact, but there is J.R.R Tolkien Lord of the Rings and Hobbit becoming a huge success as well as Tom Clancy's book and really what makes these books have in common is that they we're made at the time when the technology was there and they were approachable to become successful films. Dune was published around 1965 and this was adapted around 1984 which sure the technology was there but it wasn't fully complete and the thing that makes this movie bad is that the technology wasn't ready for Dune and to be honest I don't know who did the visual effects moreover I don't want to waste my time finding out who they we're but whoever did them was just God awful, and either way if you can't get the effects right you can always rewrite the script and change some details that can stay true to the book, because when your characters have protective shields that look like you’re a huge rectangle it doesn't look good for producers who are financing the film hell even the author himself though I'm not sure if Herbert survived the 80's or died from watching Lynch's film. Even cramming the whole book into a two hour and sixteen-minute film was just so bad because there were so many time montages where suddenly Patrick Stewart and Kyle MacLachian reunite after the purge, and it just looked way too strange. Now, whoever decided to add voice monologue where everyone is talking to themselves should be executed on the spot because just hearing everyone talking to themselves in their own mind just makes me annoyed and want to smash my own TV, hell even everyone talking to themselves sealed the deal in terms of me hating this movie so much furthermore having a mental break down. I'm just going to say this and make it very clear by telling you all not to watch David Lynch's Dune as the film is 40 years old and moreover as aged as bad cheese or terrible wine. Having watched both versions of Dune I'm so glad to be done with Dune because the story just makes no sense to me, and I just can't see where Villeneuve can go in terms of a final chapter just the whole concept of Dune gets so obnoxiously complicated where I doubt anyone can get the story. Though I'm planning to listen to the book on Audible sometime just not right away because I need some space, I'll I can say deep down from the bottom of my heart is really if you feel the need to expand your horizon's in terms of your movie watching, really just sit down and watch Dune Part Two, it tells you the story from the second movie you'll for sure be caught up with what happened and everything happens as every Science Fiction, Epic should and it's a visually stunning movie. One last thing if you ever feel like wanting to watch a David Lynch film, think twice on your decision because you'll regret watching his work for the rest of your life.

        

May Recommendation: Lawrence of Arabia

 

                                    In my Monthly Recommendation for the month of May, I decided to find a movie that I've never seen in my 37 years and really of all movies that never crossed my mind in wanting to watch was Peter O'Toole's breakout performance Lawrence of Arabia. The movie itself was always on my radar for quite some time. It’s been that one movie I need to see, but just haven't got around to it. A great example of this movie being on my radar was I spot a movie trailer to the movie on YouTube. And it really wasn't a classic trailer that you would usually see, it was one of those trailers where in expert can combine a music of another movie which was the 1917 so, basically combined the trailer of Lawrence of Arabia to the music trailer of 1917 and I watched the trailer so many times to the point where I need to see this epic film, and as luck would with my quest for films to step out of my comfort zone, I decided to sit down and watched that one four hour long movie that's a billion times better than Gone with the Wind. 

                                   Due to his knowledge of the native Bedouin tribes, British Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) is sent to Arabia to find Prince Faisal (Sir Alec Guinness) and serve as liaison between the Arabs and the British in their fight against the Turks. With the aid of native Sheriff Ali (Omar Sharif), Lawrence rebels against the orders of his superior officer and strikes out on a daring camel journey across the harsh desert to attack a well-guarded Turkish port. 

                                    After seeing 1917, back in the theaters I always thought that was hands down one of the best World War I movies I've ever seen, and that's because I never sat down and watched Lawrence of Arabia all the way through. And the interesting factor is with both films is after watching Lawrence of Arabia, is that they are equal par to each other moreover each film presents the most violent aspects of World War I, from the trenches of France to even the deserts of Arabia and wow they each present all the violent aspects of the Great War where it wasn't a pleasant thing to see even on opposite sides of the battle grounds. The story of T.E. Lawrence was mentioned as a movie idea through the 1940's unfortunately it wasn't coming into motion the until the early 1960's, almost like James Cameron coming up with the idea for Avatar in the early nineties where even he was doubting the technology until he saw the sequel to the Lord of the Rings, he felt it was time. Really the greatest two men who made this film one of the greatest of all time is the director Sir David Leon and Peter O'Toole who delivered an outstanding performance of a lifetime. David Leon surprisingly has a great rep of movies starting with The Bridge on the River Kwai upon which really I do need to see that movie because Sir Alec Guinness was in that movie with William Holden, the other movie was of course Lawrence of Arabia and surprisingly Doctor Zhivago which to me I was surprised mainly because my Dad throughout my childhood would always say Doctor Chicago and as a kid I never understood until I knew it was a movie then until I looked up Leon's filmography and saw Doctor Zhivago. David Leon before making Lawrence of Arabia watched John Ford's classic The Searchers to gain some ideas of how to the shoot the movie and really that was a wise decision any director would make especially when this entire film was going to be shot in the outside of the dessert, and really shows how great of a filmmaker David Leon is especially when it comes to creating a war movie in an epic scale especially filming so many battle sequences as well as developing great chemistry with actor Peter O'Toole. His performance as T.E. Lawrence was proof alone that this was O'Toole's iconic performance of a lifetime and I'm not going to say so much bad things about the man after watching this film despite the last film I saw of him was Club Paradise which I again I'm just going to leave it at that. The beauty of O'Toole's performance was that through the course of the movie he shows his true emotions through the screen as Lawrence moreover really takes you on a journey of seeing Lawrence at the beginning of the movie being this wide eyed scholar of a lieutenant to a colonel who has accomplished everything furthermore became a symbol for the Americans to help with war, but felt that he didn't accomplished all he could do. The fascinating thing was that Peter O'Toole at the time was an unknown and the way he was able to portray Lawrence was so incredible that you feel for him because he's a man of honor but through the course of the movie just see's things and does things that I would imagine he regretted for the rest of his life, and he really shows so much emotion through a four hour film that it was so powering that I kind of wished he'd won in Oscar for his performance unfortunately he got beat out by Gregory Peck for To Kill a Mockingbird which that was fine because if he got beat out by somebody else I would of started a riot. And really Peter O’Toole had a lot of back up in making this film epic, with great actors from Sir Alec Guinness whose great films included the Star Wars Trilogy, River Kwai I mean you don’t need a whole lot of films to describe Sir Alec Guinness, Omar Sharif who plays O’Toole’s aid and loyal and Claude Rains infamous with such great films like The Adventures of Robin Hood, collaborated with Alfred Hitchcock in Notorious and his most infamous supporting role in Casablanca. Now, I will argue for the rest of my life and say that Lawrence of Arabia was a billion times better than Gone with the Wind because one, everything happens in Arabia furthermore it puts you on the edge of your seat and you have a great actor at the time making you feel for him in uniting Arabian tribes and struggling along the way while Gone with the Wind is all about a spoiled brat who does nothing but bicker and complain about not wanting the man she wanted and I can say that because I sat down watched Gone with the Wind just hating every minute of Miss Scarlet and two hours and forty-one minutes I couldn't take it anymore while Lawrence of Arabia you have something going on throughout the movie and keep wanting to watch more of O'Toole's performance till the very end of the movie, in fact if I was Lawrence trying to settle a piece between the Arab tribes by executing someone and it was Miss. Scarlet I wouldn’t hesitated and shot her so many times till I asked for more bullets and letting the head Tribesman pull me back and counsel me that she’s already dead upon replying that she deserved much worse sorry not sorry. Lawrence of Arabia to me, watching it for the first time was without a doubt one of the greatest films of all time furthermore is even par with 1917 as one of the best movies about World War I and so, I would most certainly recommend watching this film from start to finish but, I'm going to give you so advice to those who haven't seen a four hour long movie. And that's drinking a lot of caffeine and taking a lot of five-minute breaks so you can get your blood flowing if you want to stop drinking caffeine and use those two tips to the best to your advantage and you will succeed just like Lawrence of Arabia.

         

                                     

Dune: Part Two

 

                                     

                                   Well, the sort of sequel to the first Dune movie has been unleashed on Max and given the fact that I already seen the first film I figured well, I might as well continue this journey. Again, watching the Dune films by Denis Villeneuve is a getting out of my comfort zone, for which really it was a must do type thing as a movie watcher I have to personally find those types of films to expand my horizons on. I will say that there is one thing about this movie that's not right here and this film being Dune: Part Two and really should be call just Dune and the other Dune film being called Dune: Bore but then no one would quite understand it but then again I watched the film a month before so deep down with the film’s release I can now withhold my grudge of the first films boredom but then again that's just another story of emotion.

                                   Paul Atreides (Timothee Charlamet) unites with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while seeking revenge against his conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

                                   Now, I'm sure you've read my review of the first Dune movie upon which I made some criticism about the movie being boring for which really it was I'm not going to lie though I'm not say the movie was all bad that's not what I'm saying, mainly the first film alone was a visual stunning movie moreover has an incredible music score by the ever talented Academy Award Winner, Hans Zimmer. With all those good qualities aside, the story itself was still boring moreover didn't feel like some of the scenes didn't need to be inquired from the book and into the movie. And there are so many ways you can cut this book in half and make this a movie to be seen, but then again both films are now out for streaming so if you see it or not it really doesn't make much difference when you watch both movies together. Sitting down and watching the second film, I will say one actor stood out the most in this whole movie was Austin Butler's portrayal of Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, and really his menacing presence on screen was great to see especially because it reminded me a lot of Ray Park's portrayal of Darth Maul and strangely enough each characters have a sixteen minutes of screen time and they both show how great of antagonists they can show on screen. Moreover the other thing on what made Butler's portrayal iconic was that he took his character serious and I really loved the scene between him and Stellan Skarsgard and it like a great scene between two great character actors furthermore was mesmerizing to see and can't stop watching these great actors perform, even though I haven't seen Elvis I truly believe Austin Butler is a great character actor and hopefully he does great work in future's to come. A side from the fact that nothing truly happens in the first film, suddenly when I watch the second movie everything is happening, and it doesn't feel like you’re needing to check your phone or go do something else because a ton of action sequences happen, and a ton of revenge happens as well. Now that both films conclude the first book of Dune it does leave a lot of questions in terms of what are we preparing to see in the third installment, furthermore the character of Paul is supposed to be this Luke Skywalker type figure so I'm wondering if the next book he becomes Darth Vader? For which I'm not going to go any further because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone because I want everyone to see this movie so, I'm just going to leave with the fact that it leaves with a ton of questions of what Paul as a character becomes and by end of the movie be prepared to have a lot of questions unanswered. I would most certainly recommend both films though deep down you should just watch the second movie but if you're wanting a full-on Dune experience, I would suggest watching both films. But most importantly I'm recommending the film as a way of getting out of your comfort zone and I'm not saying watching a lot of bizarre, weird movies or watch all of David Lynch's filmography, just look through AFI's top 100 and watch some of the greatest movies of all time as a practice and then finding movies that's dumb but entertaining as a way of training yourself. For which really, I'm later going to watch the original Dune and feeling unprepared but not sure but, in the end, should watch to see which director is the weirdest director of all time. 

      

                                       

                                

                                           

25th Anniversary of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

 

                                Back in April, I thought to myself that after watching The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare I figured that would most certainly be my only movie to see at the Movie Theater. Until my brother brought up the idea of going to see Star Wars: The Phantom Menace at one of our local theaters in the Tri-City area of Nebraska, I at first wasn't sure of the idea of reliving the Prequel Trilogy but it's a bro's night out so, can't complain. And to be honest it really brought back great and wonderful memories that only a true Star Wars fan could enjoy it brought back memories everyone was camping out at the local theater and everyone one dressing up in Star Wars costumes as well as having lightsaber duels, Moreover a time when Walmart or K-Mart (y’all remember K-Mart?) were selling Star Wars toys in full isles and it felt like a museum of wonder, oh if only I could go back to that time when everything was so simple.

                                Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) is a young Jedi apprentice under the tutelage of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson); Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), who will later Father Luke Skywalker and become known as Darth Vader, is just a 9-year-old boy. When the Trade Federation cuts off all routes to the planet of Naboo, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are assigned to settle the matter.

                                When I was a young kid one of the many films, I watched simultaneously watching the original film moreover renting the damn movie over and over from the local library. And really hearing the news back in 1997, that George Lucas was going to create another Star Wars Trilogy that is taking back to when there wasn't a Darth Vader or a Luke Skywalker or even a Han Solo, and me personally being a Darth Vader fan I was like "how can I watch a Star Wars movie without Darth Vader?" That is until I got a first look of Darth Maul, and I was intrigued furthermore hearing about the Jedi order, but most importantly hearing that there's a back story of Anakin Skywalker for which explains so much. So fast forward now to having finally re-watched Episode I, I felt personally that this was like opening my eyes as an older adult more like a wise Star Wars fan, and a lot of it goes through a ton of the language for which I never picked up as young kid. A great example of that is Senator Palpatine was really the mastermind the whole time in the prequel trilogy upon which his real name was indeed Darth Sidious and when I was a kid I never really quite understood that at the time or I was just blinded by the assumption only Sith can be Darth something, and I'm not going to lie I literally was just confused of okay, how is does Emperor Palpatine become what I remembered him furthermore re-watching Episode I was literally like a slap in the face because Palpatine was really Darth Sidious the whole time, Palpatine is really just a cover more like mask to what his real purpose is, almost like you he has that secret chamber to talk to his clients behind the Republic and sure at the time when I watched Episode III, all of it came into place and I was surprised but really it's almost like when you see the Prequels in the theater twenty five years ago I was like a young padawan and now I'm a full-fledged Jedi Master. And yet the other great thing about this film was being able to relive my memory of seeing Darth Maul on screen for the first time and I swear to you when I say this me and my brother both hold hands together when he appeared on screen for his first appearance and his iconic appearance in the Duel of Fates battle, and I can remember seeing him with the double bladed lightsaber moreover was just at awed of this character, that my mom was horrified because he reminded her so much of Satan. Dave Filoni once explained about the true nature behind the Duel of Fates, and that's Qui-Gon believes Anakin is the Chosen One who will bring balance to the Force, and although he sees it the Jedi Council doubts it because of grave danger his training will be and Qui-Gon distances himself from the Jedi because they're not seeing things clearly of what the order can be and more. For which really he would of been the perfect choice to train Anakin, but in the end Qui-Gon loses that battle and Anakin is trained into the old ways of the Jedi, and Obi-Wan through the course of the Prequel's was really never ready but promised his old master before he died so, Duel of Fates is really all about who will be the one to train Anakin Skywalker either the Jedi or Qui-Gon Jinn and that's really the nature of what the Duel of Fates battle between Darth Maul is all about. Now, having watched Episode I in the movie theater, man that was such a fun experience to relive and it brought back so many great memories that I will cherish for the rest of my days and more. Even though the release of Episode I one is probably in many selected theaters for which makes it impossible to go see at your local theater, though as a Star Wars fan I would highly recommend reliving the Star Wars Prequels Trilogy from start to finish.

         

Mother's Day Recommendation: The Quiet Man

 

                                      I know I'm way past the point of Mother's Day, but in my defense, I was suffering through a minor cold and chose to take a ton of drugs to make myself feel better along with drinking a lot of Sunny D and sleeping. Also, kids never listen to what the allergy med's box says in terms of directions like Mucinex, always take two tablets instead of one, you'll feel like a million bucks. Alright let’s get back to paying tribute to my mommy dearest. My parents through the years have always had us watching some of the movies that they loved and for my Dad it was a ton of John Wayne films that I grow and loved, though Mom for sure loved John Wayne as an actor and so her favorite movie of Wayne's as always been The Quiet Man, for which at the time was both John Wayne and John Ford's piece of work that was really the opposite of what they usually collaborated together.

                                      After accidentally killing an opponent in the ring, boxer Sean Thornton (John Wayne) leaves America and returns to his native Ireland, hoping to buy his family's homestead and live in peace. In doing so, he runs afoul of Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen), who long coveted the property. Spitefully, Will objects when his fiery sister Mary Kate (Maureen O'Hara), begins a romance with Sean, and refuses to hand over her dowry. Mary Kate refuses to consummate the marriage until Sean retrieves the money.

                                       Now if you haven't seen John Ford film or John Wayne film I'll explain these two American icons in a nut shell, John Ford was really the godfather of the golden age western genre in all fairness he was literally the Taylor Sheridan of that Golden Age of Hollywood, and a lot of his films really consist of going outside and shooting Cowboys and Indians furthermore really making something out of them and his go to Cowboy was John Wayne and the two of them each created one of the greatest Westerns of all time. So, around 1933 Ford read the short story that was based on The Quiet Man and soon purchased the rights to for just ten dollars. Fast forward to the release of the movie or production, Maurice Walsh was paid another $2,500 when Republic bought the idea, and he received a final payment of $3,750 when the film was made. Even, Republic Pictures agreed to finance the film with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in the starring roles as well as John Ford at the directing helm, but only if all three agreed to first film a Western with Republic, for which leads to the three's first collaboration Rio Grande, then after that film they each headed to Ireland to start shooting The Quiet Man. I am not going to say much when it comes to the directing of John Ford because the man won Best Director for the film at the Oscars, and both Wayne and O'Hara who I grew up watching McClintock (which is another great film these two did together) and really the two of them each have such great chemistry together that Wayne himself said that Maureen O'Hara was his favorite on screen woman, in fact it was O'Hara that converted Wayne to Christianity in later life so, which explains why they we're such a great couple in this film furthermore why they chose to do more films together. Sure the stars we're great as always, but the supporting cast deserves some credit in making the film amazing as it is, especially when majority of the supporting cast we're all full-fledged Irish actors, like Barry Fitzgerald does such a great job being the good friend to Wayne guiding him through the ways of Ireland I really couldn't image anyone to play that character especially when Fitzgerald share a small music singing session with Maureen O'Hara. Another one who needs to share some spotlight, is Victor Young who composed the music to the Quiet Man moreover was a friend of John Ford, for a million reasons it's the one music score where O'Hara's family stated Maureen listened to the music from The Quiet Man during her final hours, the same with the late filmmaker George Romero who re-invented the zombie genre. One of best romantic comedies of all time, and I can see why this is my mom’s all-time favorite John Wayne movie. Moreover, a perfect St. Patty's Day movie to watch but most importantly if there is any John Wayne I would recommend to anyone who hasn't seen any of the duke’s amazing films and trust me when I say this, it's a large list. 

           

Godzilla (1954)

 

                             So once again, expanding my horizons in terms of films I haven't touched, and luckily all thanks to Max I found a film that I had no clue was really able to stream on TV, but deep down all that thanks goes to Max for being able to stream these films even though they own a lot of the Turner Classic movie archives, but still thank the lord for Max because if I didn't discover this great Monster classic. I'm not going to lie when I discovered that Max brought out a tone of the old school Godzilla movies from the early fifties to seventies, I was surprised but more importantly, more excited because this was something I'd never seen but most certainly wanted to experience as a movie watcher as well as a fan of classic films.

                             Underwater hydrogen bomb testing awakens a fire-breathing monster from its centuries-long sleep, and it soon starts to terrorize Japan.

                             Why the very first Godzilla intrigued me was that this was one of the very few films that truly started the monster movie craze, though sure America came out with the craze from King Kong and maybe Frankenstein and Dracula? Though I may have to dive deep into if those two films would count. But really what makes the earlier Godzilla movies a hidden gem because it has a lot of great passionate filmmakers and visual effects guys taking small sets and toy tanks and helicopters and really making something out of it and yes if you feel intrigued in wanting to watch the OG of Monster films, they have a ton of toy tanks and helicopter layouts as well as a ton of tubs of water with toy like boats. But really that's what you had to do back in those days when there was no such thing green screen or visual effects nor any of the technology that you can pull off now. If you were wanting to make any of these kinds of films, you had to rely a lot on things you had to work with, and the Japanese filmmakers did a fantastic job relying on things they had to work with and build something special. Hell, you can look at some of the earlier Power Rangers episodes and learn that all the Megazord battles were basically a guy in Robot costume, lizard costume or any bizarre costume and would film these big giant battles. Even with this movie there is a great human story as well as a Japanese Oppenheimer story line of creating a bomb that could help destroy the monster but would also be made by the wrong people who would most certainly destroy all of humanity and even combining with the monster and human story makes for a great entertaining movie from start to finish. This movie alone ranks up there in one of the greatest monster movies ever made, for a billion reasons its old school relying on production designs and really making them great to see on screen. Now granted this is made in Japan so, a ton of subtitles and so I can't tell you to watch the movie right away or have the patience with English subtitles all I can say is take your time moreover keep your mind in like a mellow state of mind, that's basically all I can tell you. And yet I would still highly recommend watching the original Godzilla and I promise you that you'll have a blast watching the monster sequences all the way through.

  

Logan's Run

 

                                       Again, going through a quest of finding movies I haven't touched or had the interest to watch, well this one is defiantly one of those films that has that unique like visual setting but most importantly in unappreciative classic that most certainly needs to be seen. There have been a ton of Science Fiction films from the sixties and early seventies (before Star Wars), that at times where just flat out weird beyond measure great example Barbarella, but then there movies like Westworld and Logan's Run where they share unique and thinking aspects of what the future would bring, long before we're all gone and this is defiantly a unique story but most importantly underappreciated upon which needs to be seen.  

                                       In the year 2274, young residents enjoy an idyllic, hedonistic lifestyle within the protective confines of a domed city. The general belief is that when each person turns 30, they are reincarnated for another blissful life cycle. Those who know the much darker truth become "runners" and flee to a hidden sanctuary. When law enforcement officer Logan (Michael York) goes undercover to locate the refuge, he winds up instead trying to initiate a revolution with runner Jessica (Jenny Aguitter).

                                       Logan's Run was one of those films I found out while watching an episode from Community. After watching it I browsed the episode on Wikipedia furthermore Logan's Run appeared as one of those inspirations behind that episode. So, Logan's Run was one of those films that I began watching the trailer on YouTube just intrigued by the concept but most importantly the setting as well as the tone of the film. It's really a different level when you look at the generations era, the sixties were all about the western's when it came to movies but through the course of the sixties we get these ground breaking Science Fiction books like Dune and Logan's Run that was expanding are imagination and this was long before Star Wars, but yet it was books like this that helped us expand our imagination. The adaption alone was going through development hell where it was nearly impossible to adapted, until David Zelag Goodman came up with a different script and changed the age so it would be easier to find good actors to cast for the film. The thing that struck me the most is the production and set design because when it comes to the sixties and early seventies when you look at those science fiction films were all about exotic locations and production sets that you had to build out of nothing mostly rely on a lot of production studios as well and the amusing thing while watching the movie is the escalators they have as part of the domed city which I find to be amusing because I figured they shot at a local Mall somewhere in America until I looked it up and noticed they filmed those scenes at the Dallas Market Center, so really when it comes to the science fiction films before Star Wars they really took the time and effort to find some of these locations to film as a backup plan in order to save the money. The film does seem at times a bit dull but once it gets going it really does show the nature of humanity and what the fear of what the future will bring and hopefully, I won't be able see that but hopefully it won't come to that. Michael York has the most character arc in the entire movie where he at first is a savage but then becomes more concerned of humanity even if it means exposing the lies his fellow members are following on, and the fact that Michael York is best known for this movie alone is kind of sad though he's mad some films but we've all never heard of them but deep down it is what it is. I actually recommend watching Logan's Run I truly think it's one of the most unique movies to watch in the seventies though in all honesty it’s a kind of joy to watch something that's new and different furthermore expanding though films something out of my comfort zone so this was a good once over movie that's fun to watch and also is on Tubi, so it's free aside from the commercials so really you're not wasting you money on anything.

 

Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection

 

                            With, May 4th looming, also known as the celebration of Star Wars, and this hidden gem of classic Star Wars games released months ago, and since I'm playing a good portion of the game on my PS5. Well, either way I figured what better way than to share a short review of Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection. Now I have nothing against EA's version of Battlefront because they both great especially with the games now there are both great updated versions of a classic games from PS2 and X-Box era. But the old school of Lucas Arts, Star Wars Battlefront is one of the greatest Star Wars games ever created.

                           The original Battlefront games were without a doubt one of the most fun games I've ever, played in fact I can honestly say that out of all the PlayStation 2 games I played through the years it was always any Star Wars games and Mortal Kombat. Now playing these classics I can honestly see the similarities between Lucas Arts and EA are different, though they do have one thing in common and that's each of their sequels more amazing than their predecessor. Playing the games together I can always say that the blaster riffle was always the weapon of choice when it comes to the battlefront old school and when you trying to win a trophy of success like Battlefront II for example it's hard to replace the blaster rife and even trying the shot gun or Gatling gun that the clone commander uses, there's no stopping those two weapons of choices. No matter what it does take some time to adjust but really when you take some time to adjust and replay some of the levels there fun to play especially when you play the first Battlefront game and must make some adjustments when you're playing as the Republic army and you’re up against the Destroyer Droids, man they were tough to beat. There are some minor things I have a problem with. A lot of it goes without having to adjust the first-person settings but again if you’re not up for first person you can always adjust the options so, no shame in that. As a Star Wars fan, I would most certainly recommend playing the classic collection of Star Wars Battlefront for a billion reasons it's fun, it makes you feel smart in terms of a general and most importantly you can play these great Star Wars games to till sunup. Now, I frankly am pondering why everyone had a problem with the remake version of these two old school games? Though in all fairness I think it's more of a getting old phase that we all have that thing in common but don't need to be a troll about it, just pointing that out to the critics who review games I mean life's too short you might as well enjoy what you have unless you have your PS2 and the first two original Star Wars Battlefront games.

 

God of War: Ragnarok

 

                                 Praise be to the Good Lord himself, I finally finished playing God of War: Ragnarök though I didn't finish all of it since the latest DLC came out. But deep down I decided to call it good, mainly it was a matter of how far I can go in terms to push myself to the limit and really it was wearing me out because even I was just having my a** handed to me at times and it was like "Okay I'm officially calling it good". And although I finished the game as best I could, I still look at this as one of the greatest modern video games of all time, and more importantly one of the cinematic masterpieces in video game history.

                                 The thing about what makes these latest God of War games special is that they really focus on the human side of Kratos really shows the struggles he faces through the course of the story moreover focuses on the relationship between his son and friends and although there moments of tragedy but it's also getting to feel more for Kratos as not just a God but more importantly a human being and a father at the same time. For which is a new story line to really appreciate, even though it does become slow at first in the 2018 game but when you play Ragnarök you really become struck at the father and son dynamic but is also a great thing to witness as a gamer mainly because when you've played the original God of War games, they were simply just a demi-god who reached the point of madness and decided to become death the destroyer of words and I wasn't going to lie when after finishing God of War III and seeing the secret ending I was like well how is this going to turn out because I really thought this was just past it's prime, but years and years now and even after the fourth game the way the creators are able to transform the game alone is just amazing and even more better than the original but in all fairness they're separate games because each of them are great in their own right but each of them have the puzzle and action adventure while the other has the open world and action adventure at the same time so, deep down both Greek God of War and Viking God of War are great but very different in their own right. Another great example of how different both Greek and Viking God of War games are is that these games you have to simply upgrade your armor because if you don't then you're in danger of getting killed by much stronger adversaries, and I played the game on EASY mode and yet one side mission I'm having a hard time getting beat by one of my adversaries and it goes on and on and to tell you the truth that was at that moment when I decided to just like hurry up with the game and get it over with because yeah even trying to accomplish all of the side missions just ware me out, so if you're ever wanting to play any of the Norse God of War games probably play the side missions later or if some you can handle probably just work on those and due the rest latter. All that said this was one of the most fun and exciting games I've ever played, without a doubt one of the best God of War games yet and I can say that because I've lived through the God of War universe. So, if you're a fan of Play Station I would highly recommend playing both God of War: Ragnarök on both PS4 and PS5.