August Recommendation: Rope

 

                                    In a sense I was really at a loss of what movies I was trying to recommend for my monthly recommendations. At first it was supposed to be Boy Kills World, unfortunately after watching the movie I felt a little down about the plot twist so really as I've said I was going through a movie watching drought. Though I began to realize that I haven't really recommended a good classic movie that would usually see in either Turner Classic Movies or basically any classic movie that no one has ever touched or has never seen. And really Alfred Hitchcock's Rope save the day for me and more importantly the best decision I've ever made because any Alfred Hitchcock's films age like fine wine.

                                    Just before hosting a dinner party, Philip Morgan (Farley Granger) and Brandon Shaw (John Dall) strangle a mutual friend to death with a piece of rope, purely as a Nietzsche-inspired philosophical exercise. Hiding the body in a chest upon which they then arrange a buffet dinner, the pair welcome their guests, including the victims obvious fiancée (Joan Chandler) and the college professor (James Stewart) whose lectures inadvertently inspired the killing.

                                    Surprising fact, Rope is the first in a sense of my personal view where there is no Hitchcock Blonde (all the actresses Hitchcock cast where blonde), for which really was the first time I realized this, while watching the second time around. Rope I believe was one of those movies that I had never seen granted I've never seen all of Hitchcock's films and my brother just picked this movie randomly and watched it from start to finish and thought that this was one of the greatest Hitchcock films, and so, re-watching the movie again like I said earlier his movies age like fine wine, because the camera angles and the suspense is still there and you still get that chill on your back that you will still feel your own a** being on the edge of the couch you’re on. Surprisingly enough this was the first collaboration between legend Jimmy Stewart and Alfred Hitchcock for which I knew these men worked together hell my first movie between the two was Rear Window and that was one of those films I remember my parents renting at the local library. And this was the first film where two legends of film both working together on an experimental film that had never been done before until Birdman. I think that's the best way to describe Hitchcock's Rope is the first experimental film that used the concept of long camera angles with very little edits, it was the infamous Birdman movie before director Alejandro Inarritu brought Michael Keaton's career back to life. The film alone had to do with a lot of rehearsals so you can keep the flow of the camera going and even when you watch the film you'll slowly notice where the cut of the film was made. I can go on and on about how great Jimmy Stewart is in the movie I mean all of the movies he's made with Alfred Hitchcock are always his best performances, but really the scene stealer throughout the movie is John Dall's character whose the real psychopath behind the murder and does such a great job playing a monster who has no remorse for what he's done as well as doesn't care about the fact that his own friends as well as his college professor worried about the victim. Now deep down I can go on and on about how great the movie is but deep down I can tell that everyone has not seen this movie before and really I don't want to spoil anymore details but Rope is most certainly one of those movies I'd highly recommend watching for a billion reasons it has great camera angles it shows very little and you have to pay attention to what the actors are thinking and another thing in what makes this film great is the amount of facial expressions as to what the characters are thinking makes this film great as well as the reveal. And once you watch the film for the first time the more you want to go back and just study more in the film in terms of what you missed as well as some of the little details. Sadly, the film alone is not in any streaming services though wouldn't hurt to keep a look out right? And really if you feel the need of a movie to expand your horizons Rope is most certainly the one Hitchcock film worth the purchase.

      

Boy kills World

 

                                    I remember seeing a trailer to this movie thinking that this could be intriguing consisting that Archer's voice aka H. Jon Benjamin is providing the voice of a boy who goes off on a revenge rampage. Which sure when you think about it sure it's basically every revenge film you know and watched, but really it was just Archer's voice in the movie which piqued my interest, luckily, I found a copy of the movie on Blu-Ray and I for some reason have mixed feelings. Staring Bill Skarsgard in his first action movie where he's not portraying a creepy clown, and Jessica Rothe who’s famous for the Happy Death Day movies. And finally, Sam Rami produced this movie going back to his days when he was making nothing but weird and twisted horror movies.

                                    Boy is a mayhem machine who's been training to assassinate the bloodthirsty Hilda Van Der Koy and avenge his family's murder; guided by his sister's mischievous spirit, Boy uncovers one stunning revelation after another as he barrels towards Hilda. 

                                    Writer/Director Mortiz Mohr pitched Boy Kills World with a short and previsualization reel to Sam Raimi and Roy Lee, of Raimi Productions and Vertigo Entertainment respectively, who were impressed and subsequently agreed to produce alongside Nithibah Pictures and Hammerstone Studios. I think it's safe to say that this movie with so much potential at first but then comes crashing down after watching the very end of the movie, though there was a big reason but will get to that later. I mean the movie has its moments mainly coming from H. Jon Benjamin's performance as the narrator of the film and Bill Skarsgard going with the flow, and really what I love about Benjamin's performance is that he basically a man/child voice just like his performance in the long running series Archer furthermore when you have H. Jon's narration as well as Skarsgard's acting is the most hilarious and funny parts of the film though really that's basically it. And really the action sequences are great some of the stuff they developed was pretty cool for an action movie but then when I got to what is supposed to be the climax of the film I get this bizarre twist for which I'm not sure I was more not wanting as to not surprised at the same time and for which this is another one of those films that sure it has the cliché revenge story but when you see the twist it just shuts me out through the end of the movie which I guess it's usual especially when you've seen enough movies as I have. If you're a fan of action movies like I am, I would most certainly recommend watching Boy Kills World but truth be warned for the rest of the world you may feel like you've seen this movie and if the plot twist throws you off I can't say that I warned you about these things and you didn't listen, for which I hope you do listen to me and avoid watching Boy Kills World.  

                        

In the Heat of the Night

 

                                     Now granted this Sidney Poitier classic is still on Tubi so you can most certainly check this great movie out now. Fast forward to last week my parents gave me their library card to go check out a movie for a usual movie night. Because as I was a young man that was our simplest solution was to rent a movie at the library instead of paying to rent a movie at your local video store, you all remember renting movies at Movie Gallery's or Library's? Hell, movies stores where the one place in the world where you can check out porn, finding the porn is easy going to the clerk is the toughest part because they’re going to give you that look of judgement if you know what I mean. Anyway, getting back to the topic, In the Heat of the Night was another one of those cop movies I haven't seen as of late in my early years and it was staring at me in the library shelf, so I must check this movie out.

                                     African American Philadelphia police detective Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) is arrested on suspicion of murder by Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger), the racist police chief of tiny Sparta, Mississippi. After Tibbs proves not only his own innocence but that of another man, he joins forces with Gillespie to track down the real killer. Their investigation takes them through every social level of the town, with Tibbs making enemies as well as unlikely friends as he hunts for the truth. 

                                     Hands down this is most certainly the best buddy cop movie in my opinion despite the fact that I'm trying to separate the film from other buddy cop movies mainly because the film starts off as the two main characters who really don't like one another out of the sense of the color of each man's skin, and sure there other cop buddy movies where the two characters don't like one another but it's really because of their lack of respect for one another, this movie is set in the late sixties south where you’re going to be seeing really bad racisms everywhere you go and the fact that this movie came out during that time was no doubt great but most of all important for the world to see. I've seen some of Sidney Poitier's films, just not all of them, which in truth it's sad but then again if you’re going to start off with a great Sidney Poitier film you might as well start off with a great movie like this movie. Of course and really with a doubt Sidney Poitier was the best part of the whole movie I mean his quote of "They Call Me Mr. Tibbs" gives me chills, though another important actor in the movie upon which earn him an Oscar was Rod Steiger who does such a fantastic job playing the Police Chief who at first follows his principles on how he was raised but slowly begins to realize he need's Poitier's character and through course of the story worries for his safety of high tensions while investigating the murder and yet by end of the movie he begins to respect Tibbs and leaves it as each man respects one another. So, for a first and hopefully many Sidney Poitier movies to watch this was worth the watch from start to finish. And last, I check In the Heat of the Night is still on Tubi so, if you still have the absolute free no charge streaming service, I will highly recommend checking the movie out and be sure to listen to Ray Charles song In the Heat of the Night as well. 

      

Beverly Hills Cop

 

                                     Continuing the search of movies I haven't touched or seen and browsing through Netflix I stumbled upon Beverly Hills Cop, another one of these movies that I haven't seen for which was the turning point to former SNL star Eddie Murphy at that time. I think a reasonable explanation as to why I avoided any Eddie Murphy films is really after watching the Nutty Professor 2, I truly believe that was my breaking point and this was at a young age all I can remember was laughing but then his future projects like Norbit, Daddy Day Care or Tower Heist I just felt absolute no I don't want to dive deep into that disgust.  Now I don't know if I'm finding the right Eddie Murphy film but so far, I at least found the perfect Eddie Murphy that can't be worse than the Nutty Professor movies or Norbit, right?

                                     After his childhood buddy is murdered while visiting Detroit, rebellious cop Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) follows the leads to Beverly Hills, Calif., under the auspices of a vacation. He checks in with old friend Jenny Summers (Lisa Eibacher) and starts to believe her boss, art dealer Victor Maitland (Steven Berkoff), might somehow be involved in the murder. However, Lt. Bogomi (Ronny Cox) of the Beverly Hills Police Department does not trust Foley and hinders his search for evidence.

                                     Around 1977, executive Don Simpson came up with the idea of a cop from East L.A. being transferred to Beverly Hills. Screenwriter, Danilo Bach was the first to be called up by Don Simpson to write the screenplay. Originally around 1981, Bach pitched to both Simpson and Paramount under the name Beverly Hills Drive, about a cop from Pittsburgh named Elly Axel. However, Bach's script was a straight action movie, and he was forced to make a tone of changes to the script, but after a few attempts the project went stale but, after the success with Flashdance (1983) Simpson made it clear, that the Beverly Hills film as his next project to be. Now, to make a long story short, the attempts of the movie getting made went beyond interesting aspects that you'd never expect, because Eddie Murphy wasn't the first actor to be offered the role of Axel Foley like Harrison Ford not being the first choice for Han Solo or Indiana Jones, Mickey Rourke was first offered the role even Sylvester Stallone was consider the part for Axel Foley even stationed him to write the screenplay for which he included more dramatic scenes and it wasn't for another revision of the script that both Don Simpson and his partner Jerry Bruckheimer convinced Eddie Murphy to take the role of Axel Foley and to be truthfully honest I don't think this movie would of ever been successful if they didn't approach Eddie Murphy for the role. Speaking of Eddie Murphy, I truly believe that this is one of the many movies I should of started on from his career to watch first instead of his later movie for many reasons this was one of the first movies I sat down and watched a SNL legend really does a great job playing not just the comedic performance but also does a fantastic job playing all of the dramatic scenes for which that's really what you need when it comes to a cop movie like this. Like, Fletch the movie itself is very 80's style of filmmaking which is fine no complaint here but I believe what makes this film different and unique is that it has a catchy theme song composed Harold Faltemeyer who does such a great job in creating a tune for everyone while watching Beverly Hills Cop, everyone can have a good time watching movie and whistling the music to themselves when the movie is over. Without a question a movie with the recommendation it has that fun and entertaining value but more importantly you see a much better actor in Eddie Murphy than his other movie roles where he feels like he's depressed and is only in the movie to pay the mortgage. So, if you're looking for an entertaining Cop movie, I would most certainly recommend watching Beverly Hills Cop on Netflix as of right now. Although now having liked the first Beverly Hills Cop since the film is officially 40 years old, I'm still on the iffy on whether to continue with its successors though I'll let you all know when I get to that fork in the road.

         

Thirty Year Anniversary of Dumb and Dumber

 

                                         

                                   Well I'm back from a long and great vacation/road trip, word of advice if you’re thinking of wanting to take a road trip down South be careful of the many traffic jams, you'll encounter for many reasons, they will drive you to the point of madness for which we all know is like gravity it just takes for one big push to get you yelling at the cars and the people driving them. So, now that I've returned, I figured out what better way to make a comeback by reviewing a movie all about a road trip with two of the dumbest people on the planet. Dumb and Dumber staring Jim Carey along with unsuspecting comedic performance from Jeff Daniels both star as the most iconic not so bright dumb bros legit who are able to do the most inspecting things you'd never quite expect they would pull off or even they would know they pulled off.

                                   Imbecilic best friends Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) stumbles across a suitcase full of money left behind in Lloyd's car by Mary Swanson (Lauren Holly), who was on her way to the airport. The pair decide to go to Aspen Col., to return the money, unaware that it is the connected to the kidnapping. As Harry and Lloyd -- who has fallen in love with Mary -- are pursued across the country by hired killers and police, they find both their friendship and their brains tested.

                                   The interesting thing I found out about Jim Carey's career, is that 1994 was really Carey's biggest as well as the launching point of his career, for examples his very first success was Ace Ventura which came out in February 4th of that year, then five months later comes out with the Mask and then Christmas season he comes out with Dumb and Dumber so, really talk about your one, two punch to financial success like, you can pay off everything with just those three films combined. The hotel scenes in the film were actually shot at the infamous Stanley Hotel (which was based on Stephan King's the Shinning) and what I heard of this story and granted it's been a few years when I heard it while taken a tour at the hotel, Jim Carey actually stayed the night at the Hotel and he was so shook up about the Hotel he didn't want to set foot in there so they decided to shoot the scenes at a Studio. Which comes to show that stories like the Stanley Hotel you'd probably know the stories are true. A movie like this which developed a cult following and stands the test of time, there's really nothing to say about how great the film is I mean earlier Jim Carey's films age like fine wine when you think about it. Though in all honesty there's has to be some praise for the film’s success is the writing from the Farrelly brothers and Bennet Yellin as well as the incredible acting with Jim Carey and Jeff Daniels, like these five people combined created a brilliant piece of comedic genius where you have these two characters who are so dumb and make such terrible choices as well as making decisions that are so funny. And really when you look a movie like this, it's without a doubt a great example of making a road trip comedy I mean if you’re looking at past road trip movies through the years and granted some of them I either remember or haven't seen so, deep down this movie without a doubt a perfect comedic Road Trip movie. Time tested for Dumb and Dumber, furthermore I would most certainly recommend watching Dumb and Dumber as well as watching it with your teenagers because a movie like this isn't so bad in terms of vulgar language or sexual content and I would believe the youngsters of today would give a chuckle moreover have a blast, speaking of which I should pick a time to watch this with my nephew, The movie is still on Netflix last I checked so if you’re in need of a perfect comedy to shut your brain off I would most certainly recommend watching Dumb and Dumber.

              

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

 

                                       I FINALLY FINISHED A VIDEOGAME EVERYBODY, I FINALLY FINISHED A VIDEOGAME. That's right everybody even though I'm still burnt out of anything superhero related I finally finished Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on the PlayStation. It's really and strangely kind of a miracle for starters because I started playing the sequel maybe around April and May furthermore just reached the point to finish the entire game just because I didn't have much better things to do and I was catching a bad cold so why not use a weekend to cut a good chunk of the game down, and I'll probably say that the Spider-Man games are most certainly my favorite version of Spider-Man for its unique story and separating itself from the comics and Spider-Man films.

                                       Following the events of the first two Spider-Man games, Kraven the Hunter makes a hunt of the century in New York coming for not just the Spider-Men but all of Spider-Men's adversaries some that are trying to lead a new and improved life. All comes into full circle when Peter Parker's old friend comes calling with a secret that will change everything.

                                        The first two games are most certainly great, and the latest sequel pulls off all expectations as well as the story itself where I feel like every character has that great moments especially when we have a new take on the infamous character of Venom were all his gameplay moves make a lot more sense than the cartoon or Spider-Man 3. As bad as I don't feel and as you've probably known that Venom has been marketed long before the first preview of Spider-Man 2, and if you've haven't played the game or beginning to play the game, I'm most certainly going to be the nice guy and not tell you who becomes Venom. And sure you’re going to be experiencing the typical storyline where Parker becomes evil with the venom suit, which is cool no doubt but I'm not going to lie when he talks to himself all I'm thinking about is Lego Batman in the Lego Movie playing the heavy metal song he created where all he's saying is Darkness, which yes it's funny for me but I kind of wished we have at least cut that storyline out in future Spider-Man stories and have where Parker and Eddie Brock team up together, though I have no clue on how to make that possible but I'm just saying at least one of those ideas would be great right? There's a lot of fun upgrades in the game though a lot of takeaways from the previous games I wished they kept like the fast pass where you see Spider-Man taking the subway's because yes the gliding is fun and new but at times it gets annoying where your gliding and you have to stop because of a arson crime or you have to restart your gliding up in the air and don't get me wrong there minor gripes but I kind of wished we have at least have a fast pace to get all of the side-missions and the story missions done and out of the way. A side from Jedi Survivor, Spider-Man 2 is most certainly one of the best games to play on the PlayStation 5 and most certainly a game I would play repeatedly because it's fun you can explore more parts of New York instead of wasting your money and going to the real New York. Now that I have finished the game it does leave some questions as to what is going to happen in the third instalment of the game following up to this story’s conclusion for which I'm anxious to find out. So, if you have a PlayStation 5 instead of a X-Box then I would highly recommend getting a PlayStation 5 and playing Spider-Man 2. 

       

July Recommendation: Fantasia

 

                                      I'm going to Disney World in a couple of days with my brother, his kids and I figured with the vacation time looming I'd choose a film Walt Disney created that helped boost Mickey Mouse's stardom. And in situations like these it's always a blessing at times to have Disney + in your back pocket at times even though it's now combined with Hulu. Fantasia is one of those movies that I do in fact remember watching though I have some memory in watching the movie all I do remember is Mickey being a sorcerer, the cupids hooking up a Centaur and  Centaurettes then the so called animation of Hell, though through the course of the movie there's absolutely no dialogue from beginning to end, and being a young kid I thought it was cool seeing Mickey Mouse and that was pretty much it nothing much to say about the movie until now when I fully understand what the film is supposed to be.

                                      Released in 1940, represented Disney's boldest experiment to date. Bringing to life his vision of blending animated imagery with classical music. What had begun as a vehicle to enhance Mickey Mouse's career blossomed into a full-blown feature that remains unique in the history of animation.

                                      At a young age I'll probably admit that I never truly understood the film for which explains why it's been a long time since I watched the movie but now watching the film for the first time in a long while I finally begun to understand what the movie truly is. And really the interesting fact is that it's basically a silent film combined with classical pieces of music furthermore when you introduce this to your kids, you should know doubt have them watch the film and then wait a few years to see if they could truly understand what Fantasia is in their eyes, moreover if your kids continue to be a band nerd as well as fall in love with the orchestrated music then this would most certainly be a movie they most certainly come back and re watch again. Funny thing about Fantasia's release, was that the film itself flopped at the box office, for the most obvious reason was Fantasound a sound reproduction system developed by the engineers of Walt Disney Studios and RCA Corporation, later proved too be later expensive to install in every theater, for which really makes a lot of sense to me because when I watched Oppenheimer for the first time and all I remember was the music being more louder than the dialogue until I went to other theaters I begun to understand the dialogue more. Now, back to Fantasia, the film success later improved when it returned to theaters in 1969 and it became a sensation like no other that stands the test of time. The interesting fact about the movie is that during production, the animators were given no instructions for coloring, and Walt Disney instructed them to use any colors they wanted which was a first, and really that's a great way to even say to your animators to do whatever you want, and they will provide you something spectacular. I will say and this is a spoiler, so you can stop reading this if you've never seen Fantasia and want to watch the movie. Through the course of the movie, we get to a Greek Mythology setting and you get to a sequence where there a group of Centaurs and Centaurettes hook up rated G style if you know what I mean. And I'm not going to lie when I say this that when the centaurettes we're galloping out of the pool they were all topless NUDE, and there were no nipples involved and didn't giggle I don't believe but I was shocked that Disney and the animators were able to get away with it, and really all I can say was that it must of been awesome to be a animator back in the forties because you can't do that now. For the first time watching Fantasia, actually experiencing the movie at a mature age I will say that this was no doubt one of the greatest animated films of all time where the entire film is nothing but composing of orchestrated music, from famous composers and absolutely  no dialogue or sound needed and really has that unique blend of both a silent film and animated film and really when you've felt like you have seen every animated film now and watching this film was like a breath of fresh air something like you've never seen before and that's what makes Fantasia great also without this movie, Mickey Mouse wouldn't have the success and would be lost into nothing so, a lot of this movie gave the boost as well as success for Walt Disney furthermore became a multi-billion dollar empire it is now. For a Disney classic that still stands the test of time moreover will most certainly be one of those movies that will air constantly at the Disney Resort I'll probably watch all over again and for all of the parents who are annoyed by the Elsa's and the Moana's, I would most certainty recommend watching Fantasia on Disney + for your kids to watch, and if they don't understand it just tell them to bad and watch it again.

              

20th Anniversary of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

 

                                          

                                         We're nearing the end of a twenty year Anniversary of a truly beloved Disney classic and probably the only one before Disney Corporations went full on evil empire on itself for which has become the absolute worst to make a long rant short, yes Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is crossing the threshold of becoming twenty one in a few days’ time so it would be an absolute shame to not give this a tribute it deserves. 

                                         Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) arrives in Port Royal in the Caribbean without a ship or crew. His timing is inopportune, however, because later that evening the town is besieged by a pirate ship. The pirates kidnap the governor's daughter, Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), who's in possession of a valuable coin that is linked to a curse that has transformed the pirates into the undead. A gallant blacksmith (Orlando Bloom) in love with Elizabeth allies with Sparrow in pursuit of the pirates.

                                        For all those young generations who have not been caught up on their history of pop culture as well as great visual minds of the twentieth century, Pirates of the Caribbean was Walt Disney's last ride he created for his Disneyland in 1967, though the attraction debut just three months after his death. Kids, when you go through all the harshness and lameness that is life, just say no to cigarettes why? Great reason cancer! You may think cigars or cigarettes maybe cool but that's the cancer or Satan that's telling you that sh*t and even he is desperately wanting you to come down to hell and smoke them up if you got them if you catch my meaning. Now, I didn't pay much attention, to the release of the first movie I mean I only saw one image of the movie and it was both Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom together and thought oh cool Johnny Depp is in a movie with the young heartthrob Orlando Bloom moreover I didn't think much of it and this was when I was going on my HS Band trip to Disney World and was introduced to Pirates of the Caribbean ride and was just in awed of the open world experience and then months later I went to the movie and thought that this was one of the most amazing movies I've ever seen in 2003 because for me it felt cool in looking like a Pirate moreover this film made you want to be a Pirate. And really the two actors in the entire movie who are responsible for making Pirates cool we're both Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush, and I'm a nineties kid I was all familiar with Johnny Depp hence Sleepy Hollow furthermore was always in every Tim Burton film and always played the weird bizarre role and with movie he's finally plays a cool character but also in the weird side so know doubt Johnny Depp was always an amazing actor furthermore this was his one role that made him a star before he got lost in the shuffle with Amber Heard. And really Depp does a fantastic job playing the opposite of Orlando Bloom's character in telling him that there two things in life which matters and that's what a man can do and what a man can't do and really does a fantastic job in making this character his own and strangely enough Depp based his performance on Keith Richards. Though Depp was great in the movie I was more loving Rush's character Captain Barbossa all because of his great villainy being a scum and yet a man of his word and being able to tell the negotiators what they faulty forget to mention in there terms, and really at the time in 03, it was Darth Vader and then there was Captain Barbossa at a young age I mean who never thought loving the bad guys and those are defiantly the great ones. Keira Knightley an up and coming actress stared in Bend it like Beckham and Love Actually furthermore stars in this movie as the damsel in distress as well as the love interest to Orlando Bloom and she does a great job as well playing a woman who knows what she wants but at times is naive but more importantly can hold her own against the manipulators and tricksters, moreover both Keira and Orlando have great chemistry throughout the entire film and both of the two we're made for each other in the film. Now sure we've talked about the Rock Stars, now we got to talk about the squares which is both Jack Davenport and Jonathan Pryce for which in a movie grasped with fantasy that includes these cool Pirate rock stars you have to have the British Royal Navy who care about the law as well as the squares and both Davenport and Pryce each do a great job in playing the characters who look down and underestimate Depp's character. As a movie by itself, the Curse of the Black Pearl was still that go to Disney classic that still stands the test of time and really shouldn't of had so many sequels I mean sure it's always about the movie or wanting to continue with the story with an expanded universe I mean there's a lot of those things Disney should of and shouldn't have done but really it doesn't matter because there's a grand total of five films which deep down the forth film isn't all bad though let's be honest you can most certainly skip the fifth film unless you’re bored and want to watch that cash grab. With all of the sequels it had I still rank the first Pirates of the Caribbean as the last great swashbuckling film Disney ever produced before it grasped itself with so much need for money and very little heart and I myself through the first week of July wasn't sure if I wanted to watch the Curse of the Black Pearl because I wasn't all too sure if it would live up to the magic but I was glad in watching the movie for many reasons it's still one of the few great swashbuckling films that still stands the test of time. So, I hope you'll pass the time this summer and watch Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and hopefully avoid the sequels but if you feel the need then by all means go nuts buddy.

               

Baseball Recommendation: It Ain't Over

 

                                      

                                        We're near the end of the first half of the baseball season in the year 2024, and sure I can recommend Fear Strikes Out, but this was one of these movies or documentaries where I felt that I needed to recommend personally because it's great and it's also informative especially when it comes to a former baseball player that was overlooked by a lot of people. It Ain't Over is a sports documentary that tells the story of all time Yankee great Yogi Berra, who has more World Series rings than any baseball player combined, just like Bill Russel when it comes to Basketball and Henri Richard who has more Stanley Cup rings aka the hardest trophy to win in sports but we're talking about Baseball so let’s stick with that.

                                        The story of Yogi Berra's life is somewhat fascinating and more importantly an understanding of one of the greatest players of all time when it comes to Major League Baseball. The guy started out in St. Louis and Branch Rickey didn't think he would make it until the Yankees came calling, then went off to WWII moreover was part of D-Day which was a huge surprise and then had without a doubt one of the greatest MLB careers in baseball history.

                                         I've always been familiar with Yogi Berra in fact I always have a hunch on Yogi being the basis behind the cartoon character of Yogi the Bear upon which I don't believe he really enjoyed the cartoon, nor did he really have his own kids watch the show so really can't blame the guy. Back to seriousness, What really makes this Documentary great is that it goes a lot in depth of Yogi Berra's life in terms of his services during the War as well as his involvement in D-Day for which I was surprised because he couldn't write to anyone of his family members nor anyone and I know a lot of famous baseball players back in the forties fought in World War II but the fact that he was involved with D-Day on Normandy was crazy because it was a unbearable sight to see and I probably bet he didn't mentioned it throughout his whole life but yet he was still able to play baseball in the highest rate possible. I'm not going to argue that the guy was underappreciated by all of baseball fans in fact his records on most World Series Rings, catching Doubleheaders will never be matched but here's the thing, America and Baseball has always been a Democracy it's how things should work in a way of life and yes it's flawed but when a mount Rushmore of Baseball greats don't include a player like Yogi doesn't mean he's not lost his greatness. It's like the Oscars just because an Actor/Actress has won an Academy Award means he or she is the greatest, it basically a popularity contest for these types of things and later they're going to go back to those bad or chewing the scenery movies. Look the point that I'm trying to make here is, if you ever see the great granddaughter of Yogi Berra in the documentary and she complains about her grandfather never making the Mount Rushmore of Baseball with Koufax, Aaron, Mays and Johnny Bench just keep your cool because I'm not sure she has her baseball facts checked, because if she did? She would know the impact Mays would have as a five tool player, Aaron being the first Black superstar to break Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record, Sandy Koufax being the first power Pitcher ever in the Golden Age of baseball and Johnny Bench re-creating what the modern day catcher should really do when it comes to baseball today moreover should come to accept the fact that those types of popularity contests (like the Mount Rushmore of Baseball) is deep down meaningless in terms of popularity also it can’t always be about the American League all the time. Even though Berra has been dead for a long time, the thing I respect him the most is that after his firing from the 84 season as Yankee Manager he vowed to never go back to Yankee Stadium as long as George Steinbrenner was owning the team, for which really is awesome because that guy was a complete narcissist of an a**hole and making Steinbrenner apologize to him I just have to clap my hands for the guy for many reasons that always gives me a gleam of hope that I can do that. I don't want to spoil any more topics but as a Cardinals fan and a Baseball fan I would most certainly recommend watching this great documentary on Netflix because you'll get to know a lot about Berra's life and his quotes and really that's the most important part of any sports documentary is not understanding the baseball player but understanding the man.

        

The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult

 

                                    Well, you know what they always say, all great comedic spoofs must come to an end and really since I continued with the first two Naked Gun films, I figured I must continue on and watch the final installment in the Naked Gun trilogy. Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, upon which is most certainly the final insult before the whole world became but hurt. Surprisingly, I actually remember this movie first before the other Naked Gun films and to be truthfully honest all I remember was Ana Nicole Smith and the terrorist attack on the Oscars, moreover the surprising fact is that this movie came out a year into O.J. Simpson's trial but most importantly this movie came out in March and just about eight months The Shawshank Redemption and one inside joke in the movie I wonder did they use while seeing the screening to Shawshank or came up with that on their own.

                                    Police Squad Lt. Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) is retired and spending time with his new wife, Jane (Priscilla Presley), when he's called back into action by Capt. Ed Hocken (George Kennedy). A terrorist named Rocco (Fred Ward) plans to bomb the Academy Awards Ceremony, so Frank goes undercover Phil Donahue to try and head off disaster. He causes almost as much trouble as he prevents in an Oscar show complete with over-the-top production numbers and numerous celebrity appearances.

                                     The movie itself was the first of the series where David Zucker did not receive directing credit rather received screenplay credit while we have up and coming director Peter Segal who, let’s just say I'm going use this film as his best and only good film he's ever done because when you look at his other works, they obviously did not receive much due than the Final Insult did. I'll even give you some great examples, Tommy Boy which was not as good as I remember, Nutty Professor Two which I don't want to dive deep back into that movie and then we have two of the Adam Sandler movies Anger Management and 50 First Dates in which I have absolutely no interest in wanting to watch those movies ever so, like I said not a whole lot of great work when it comes to Peter Segal. The Final Insult came out a couple months before The Shawshank Redemption came out and I'm somewhat curious in terms of the escape gag because one of the scenes where they first escape they use the same method that Tim Robbins uses in the Shawshank film and having heard that both of these movie came out months between each other of the year 1994 and it struck me as did Peter Segal visit Frank Darabont's set of the Shawshank and used that for the escape gag or he could of used Escape from Alcatraz for the escape gag either way both Final Insult and Redemption have the same type of scene and if you look at each of those films closely you'll catch my meaning. The Naked Gun films combined are without a doubt one of those great breath of fresh air type movies that you can put on and just laugh all the way through, though I'm going to say when you do watch these films yes you most certainly need to watch these films one at a time but most importantly you need to watch these movies only once, more like a once a year type situation so that the jokes can refresh because really if you watch these films a hundred times you'll most certainly get tired of watching these films and no doubt I would most certainly recommend watching these films but deep down you have to watch these movies only once a year or two years tops. Now, all three of these films are on Max so whenever your finding things to watch with your dad I would most certainly recommend streaming the Naked Gun films mainly because you can't make a perfect comedic spoof these days and these films alone along with any Mel Brooks films are like the Godfather of spoof comedies, and don't forget to watch these films only once a year and really just watch these films in the summer time for many reasons they would be more suitable since the big movies come out and Hollywood is only producing crap so, why not just stream these great classic's in the summer time. 

     

    

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.