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crumbchris
Reviews
Based on an Untrue Story (1993)
This is for lovers of OVER-THE-TOP comedy!
This is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. I laugh out loud throughout every time I watch this. Morgan Fairchild revealed a side of herself I'm sure no one knew she had. She is quite a gifted comedienne! And, Dyan Cannon and Harvey Korman are at the top of their game here. Throw in great talents like Ricki Lake, Mo Gaffney and Victoria Jackson, and what more could you ask for? This movie is a laugh a minute. The costuming and art direction are especially top-notch. For those who love to laugh out loud, this one's for you. Just as funny as "Scary Movie" or "Airplane!"
Invaders from Mars (1986)
Great sci-fi cheesy fun!
I actually LOVE this movie! I think it's one of the best remakes I've ever seen. When I recently found it on DVD, I purchased it on the spot. To me, this movie is just plain fun. I love the way the boy has to tell the school nurse (The unique Karen Black) about the things he's seen, and she doesn't quite know what to make of this seemingly clearheaded kid. Then, when she sees a bit of evidence for herself, she needs to just take a leap of faith and sneak the kid out of the school. I find it so intriguing, because I always try to imagine what a person would really do in a situation like this. Imagine you're a school nurse, and a kid comes in telling you a spaceship landed behind his house, and now something's wrong with his parents, his teacher, his friend and her father. Of course, you would probably not take it too seriously. But, then, if you actually saw something that seemed to corroborate his story, how would you handle it? What would you do? Even the nurse questions whether she is doing the right thing, The bottom line is she just had to follow her instincts, and something was telling her that things were not right. Imagine really being in that predicament. And imagine if you chose NOT to believe the kid and chalk it up to his imagination. Of course this story wouldn't really happen, but what if it did? That's the point of movies - to make you imagine these wild, unrealistic situations as actually occurring. We are meant to suspend our disbelief and put ourselves into the characters of the story. In my opinion, this film unfolded exactly as it really could have in real life. The nurse taking that chance, believing the kid, meeting him after school, investigating the site of the landing - all the elements that eventually lead up to her discovering the truth for sure. The chemistry between Karen Black and her real-life son, Hunter Carson, is great. They were the perfect team. Laraine Newman and Timothy Bottoms are alternately funny and amusing, then creepy and frightening. And Louise Fletcher as the teacher is a riot! She's just classic. When she says to Karen Black, "You've got a lot of nerve, sister!," I lose it every time. I don't know how someone could not enjoy this movie. I am not a big sci-fi fan, but I put this top on my list of all-time great entertainmnet. No, It isn't Oscar worthy, but I don't need every film I see to be ABOUT SOMETHING. Maybe I just want to sit back late at night with some popcorn and put myself in another place and time. This one does it for me every time I watch it. It's almost like it gets better with each viewing. Don't listen to naysayers. Watch this Midnite Classic at midnght. I don't think you should be disappointed, as long as you aren't looking for it to make a statement about life.
The Amityville Horror (1979)
Yes, this is a horror classic!
I am reading all these scathing reviewsm and I just don't get it! I am a horror movie fan. I LOVE a good thriller. I am also an a overall movie lover of all genres. Additionally, I am a film maker. That said, this movie is one of the freakiest, scariest, well-acted, well-directed, well-produced horror movies of all time. Do people just have this need to bash things? Ever heard about if you don't have something nice to say . . . Whether these things in the movie really occurred to the Lutz family or was just a hoax, the movie itself is definitely scary - especially so if you think it might be real. The music is so chilling, it gives me goosebumps to this day. Margot Kidder is one of the greatest actresses to ever grace the screen. And, by the way, Rod Steiger was AMAZING! This is a truly great actor. People say he overdid the church scene. NOOO!!! He was acting like a priest who knew something evil was in that house, and none of his superiors would believe him. He was pleading to God with all of his might and every ounce of his faith to help that family get out before it was too late. People just don't get the fact that actors are supposed to act as though they are really in that situation. And, if you were a priest - a man who devoted your entire life to serving God - and you went to bless a friend's house, and the house felt evil and you became violently ill, and every time you tried to warn them, something would happen to stop you. On top of that, a young man had murdered his entire family in the same house a year earlier, AND a voice in the house had told you to GET OUT!!! Then, your superiots think you are crazy, and no one will help this family. It is your JOB as a servant of the Lord to pray for these people - to pray for mercy upon them, to pray for them to have the strength and the faith to save themselves. Additionally, the woman was a friend of his, so there was apersonal connection. Considering all these factors, how exactly should one act when praying in the church? I suppose they should be calm and collected? Or maybe he should've just toned it down a bit? I don't think so! If you were really in that situation, then you could make a better assessment. Until then, get over yourselves. What is it that you people don't like? Was there not enough blood (until the very end)? Did you need to actually see a killer to be scared? What makes this movie so scary to me is that you can't see what's doing this to them. You can't even be sure if it is really happenning. I'm sure this is how the characters felt. If anyone has ever been exposed to the paranormal, you know there are things in the universe we cannot explain. And, sometimes there are malevolent spirits. One thing we do know is that kid really did kill his entire family in that house. And the real-life George Lutz really did have an uncanny resemblance to the kid. Whether it happened or not, I just like to watch the movie and imagine that it did. That's why I watch movies - to pretend that what I am seeing is real. I think this movie did an exemplary job. And, it does rank alongside classics like "The Omen." In fact, I can't even think of an example of a better horror film.
Passions (1999)
THIS SHOW IS MEANT TO BE FUNNY!
I must admit that "Passions" has become my guilty pleasure, and I really do like this show! It is the only soap opera I have watched with any consistency since "Santa Barbara." Don't get me wrong - it is definitely not on the calibre of "Santa Barbara." But, it is quite fun to watch! I think the resason people just don't get this show is it is not like any other soap. It is full of black magic and supernatural happenings, and above all, it's funny! I think you really need to watch this show several times to understand it. It is eccentric and unique, and people probably don't understand that it is a comedy! Yes, there are dramatic elements, but the humor of characters like the resident witch, Tabitha (Juliet Mills), is something I have never seen before on a daytime soap. The predicaments she gets herself in are nothing short of hysterical. And, she is the perfect actress for the part. What is so entertainig to me is that the majority of characters on th is show are completely oblivious to the fact that there is supernatural phenomena wreaking havoc on their lives. All the regular stuff is here - ammesia, sudden blindness, unrequited love, star-crossed lovers who can't be together, evil backstabbers, honorable heroines, etc. But, there is this whole other element going on beneath the surface which makes it different and original. And, I like that! It is refreshing. Besides that, almost half the cast is not white! Some of the most important lead charcters are both Latin and African-American, more that I have seen on any other show on TV. For that alone, they should be commended. It's true that the acting is not the best I've ever seen, and they sure do drag those stories out forever. You could tune out for a month and come back, and they are still on the same plotline. But, the payoff - after waiting for like nine months - is sure to be worth the wait. Once you really get to know the characters, you don't seem to mind so much. The storyline about the Zombie Charity has been the best by far, and that actress sure had a field day going from sickeningly sweet to pure, unadulterated evil. Her interactions with tabitha were gold. And when Teresa was supposedly put to death for the murder of Julian Crane, that was simply great story! I couldn't believe the way they pulled that one off. I never would have put it together. Not to mention, Teresa isn't playing around any more! She used to be so naive. Now, she has wised up and gotten hip to the scene, and she has become a match for the pesky Ivy and Rebecca. And, the characters of Ivy and Rebecca are the most fun I've had in a while. I could watch these two delicious manipulators together all day long. Those two actresses (Kim Johnson Ulrich and Andrea Evans) play off eachother so well. It is casting genius. They must simply love going to work and playing. I give this show thumbs up. I think viewers should give it a chance before blasting it. Can't we just be happy there's something on TV that doesn't follow the boring traditions and conformoties of all these other soaps, which are notorious for just being plain bad? This show is the diamond in the rough of daytime TV. Watch it!
Santa Barbara (1984)
THE BEST SOAP OPERA IN THE HISTORY OF TELEVISION!!!
I am simply overjoyed to see so much love for this unique and superior daytime soap! I have always loved this show (and I am NOT a daytime soap fan), and it seems to me that just about everyone who has seen it would agree that it was way above the cut. I came across it quite by accident and became addicted for years to come. Many people have mentioned how great the writing was, or how it managed to incorporate comedy into it regularly. The storylines were always intricate, thrilling and well thought-out. Some of the actors on this show were simply Oscar-worthy, and many have gone on to achieve considerable success in the industry, most notably Robin Wright Penn (She was always a natural). The relationship/repartee between Mason (Lane Davies) and Julia (Nancy Grahn) was pure, unadulterated genius. They were like "Moonlighting" meets Hepburn & Tracy. Gina (Robin Mattson) and Keith (Justin Deas) were simply outrageous! Never were two evil people so darn entertaining at every turn! Not only that, but Ms. Mattson managed to make Gina a character who you could sympathize with on same level, in spite of all her flaws. Her love for her son, Brandon, was NEVER in question, although her treatment of just about everyone else was deplorable! I should mention that the original Gina (Linda Gibboney) was simply outstanding, and I was shocked to see her go. It took me a while to warm up to Ms. Mattson, who gave the character a different twist, but in her capable and accomplished hands, I grew to love her portaryal. This show worked on so many levels. It definitely deserved the Emmys it won. In fact, it deserved many, many more. I would like to take a moment to comment on the real people behind the characters. I am an actor, writer, director, singer and producer. I used to watch this show when I was about 12 and 13 years old. As a young kid with stars in his eyes, I would write to all the actors, and so many of them were beyond accomodating. A Martinez, who played Cruz, used to write back to me every month. And, he didn't just drop a note. He would write complete letters, answering all my questions and responding to all my hopes and aspirations. He saw this young kid who looked up to him, and he embraced it. It is people like that who truly gave me inspiration to follow my dreams and goals. Another one who would always take the time to write me back was Jane Sibbett, who played Jane. These people really took the time to reach out to me and make me feel valued, and that has affected me into my adult years. I should point out that both of these actors work consisitently. Jane Sibbett was part of another superb show called "Herman's Head" for four years. I truly am happy for them. Finally, I had the pleasure of running into Judith McConnell, who played Sophia, at an audition recently. I couldn't resist telling her how much I loved the show. She was with her daughter, and her eyes just lit up. I can tell you, from speaking to her, that she loved doing the show as much as we loved watching it. They knew they had something special and extraordinary, and the years she spent on that show are very fond in her memory. Meeting her was a great experience, because I got to connect to her in a real way. She was very gracious and appreciative, and can I say she looks fabulous? She looks like she's still in her late thirties, and she's got to be about sixty! I wish every one who had a part in this show success, and I would be honored one day to work with just about any of them.