Reviews

Look, kids. I know that there may not have been any bloody, severed heads in this movie, but I am a firm believer that the scariest things are the ones you cannot see. BWP is not graphic. But it is scary as hell. A buncha kids, hangin' around in the woods so their overzealous and fearless(?) leader can do a school project for film class. They smoke, they drink, and they swear. I mean they freakin' SWEAR. And they get in way the hell over their head. Realistic dialogue, funny one liners, believeable characters, scenery that matches the story, and an ending that will leave your mouth open. Watch, and use your imaginations; what's up there us scarier than anything they could put on screen.

I miss the days when Tom Hanks just made movies like this all the time. Yeah, he is most certainly a quality dramatic actor, but he is also a funny, funny guy. This movie has a great plot, it's well-filmed (on what appears to be the most perfect street in America!) and the cast is GREAT. Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern, Wendy Schaal, Rick Ducommon and one of the Coreys (Feldman) have great onscreen chemistry. These guys all epitomise the portrayals of, respectively, The Skeptical, Realistic, Down-to-Earth Working Guy, the Exasperated Wife Trying Desperately to Keep Her Husband from Getting an Ulcer, the Wacky, War-Crazed Vet, the (Seemingly) Ditzy, Beautiful Wife of the War Nut, the Irritating Neighbour Who Stirs Up Trouble, and, of course, the Neighbourhood Punk Kid. The characters can be totally off-the-wall, but are also surprisingly true to life. This movie is no "Green Mile", but it ain't any "Joe Versus the Volcano", either. A must-see for anyone who grew up in the suburbs, who's ever had weird neighbours, and/or for any true Hanks fan.

...but I am sorry. I dig this movie. I cannot help it. I admire Madonna greatly for her staying power; by some people's standards, Madonna has been around forever, and EVERYONE knows who she is. My take is this: kooky Nikki Finn dragging pathetically straightlaced Louden Trott all around the city on her own agenda, right after she's gotten out of the joint, is FUNNY. Is this movie immature? Yeah, sometimes. Is it predictable? Yeah, sometimes. Is it a fluffy little film that's regarded by some as a cheesy classic of the eighties? Yep. As Madonna said later, "Why don't you just deal with it?" :)

Watergate stood alone when the story broke. Never before in the history of American politics (to our knowledge, at least) had people so high up in the government been so deeply involved in such treachery. For that reason, "APM" is an incredibly important movie. Hoffman and Redford are so believable as the two oft-clashing Washington Post reporters, it's as if you are actually watching Bernstein and Woodward uncover the story. The late Jason Robards is impossibly convincing as the unrelenting and brilliant Ben Bradlee. "APM" is an absolute masterpiece, and should be required viewing for anyone who cares about their first amendment rights.

MOTHER OF GOD!! If the fact that people actually took the time to MAKE this film is not enough to disturb you greatly, I don't know what would be. Oh, wait, yes I do! THE FILM ITSELF!! Don't worry, I won't ruin this movie for you (too late, it's already ruined itself!). Here's a quick summary: family gets lost, drives by a whole lot of farms, stupidly elects to room with a guy named Torgo--who makes the people who hold animated conversations with the air look normal--in a house which apparently only has three rooms (none of which is a bathroom, by the way) where weird stuff is transpiring. As one of the bots observes--if you are fortunate enough to view this movie with the assistance of MST3K--there seems to be only ONE reason why this movie was made. (Hint: it involves women.) To sum up: I will never get those two hours I spent viewing this movie back. At the time, though, it was good for a laugh. Be sure to check out the cast bios on this one. Bots said it best: "Starring...NO ONE!!!"