Okay... let's start this review off by saying I do have the movie taped from an old HBO showing. The fact that it's not on DVD seems to have actually DEtracted it from the better rating it should be getting. As far as I know, it's still the Bruce Springsteen songs that are holding up a DVD release. Are they worth it? YES! Until you see the movie, you cannot understand the relevance of Springsteen's music to a movie set in the mid 1960s. They really do make all of the difference and to release a DVD without them would be criminal. For the movie itself... it's a wonderful slice of teenage life, whether it be the 1906s or today. Who cannot relate to Jill with her little 45 player, singing along in her room? Has losing your virginity ever seemed so realistic? And the end, where Vincent Spano goes to Rosanna Arquette's dorm room, tears it apart, leading to the confrontation on the staircase???? My best romantic moment ever in cinema, because it is so real. That scene sticks with me as being one of my favorites in cinematic history, it's that good.
Reviews
10 Reviews
Easy Money
(1983)
Rodney Dangerfield at his best!
25 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Classic Rodney... expanding on the work he did in 'Caddyshack' as well as his own stand-up routine persona. He's crass, crude, and just plain hilarious. The whole joke of the movie is trying to force him to NOT be himself in order to earn the "easy money" his wife's mother has left in her will if he can straighten himself out. It's not just in watching him be "Rodney On the Loose", but also getting to see what happens when he's forced to stop being, well, Rodney. Even then, he's still Rodney, and maybe even more hilarious.
In this movie he has a supporting cast that's up to the job: Joe Pesci as his over-the-top best friend, Jennifer Jason Leigh as his newlywed daughter to a hilarious Taylor Negron, Candace Azzara as is fed-up wife. The scenes between Allison and Julio are classic line merits alone, without Rodney. The exercise bike into the Christmas tree is PERFECT Rodney.
And you will never ever walk away from this film being able to just "browse" around a dept. store again; nor will you resist wanting to go for your own "Regular Guy" look.
My sister and I have watched this movie maybe 50+ times since it originally appeared on HBO, and we still quote lines back and forth. "Caddyshack" we laughed until we cried; "Back to School" we chuckled. It was this movie that we still watch and go into fits over, reciting lines, because it is classic Rodney at is best. Not set to the side just to bring on a chuckle or two, not given some over-sentimentalized junk, but just the guy we watched doing stand-up late at night when we were probably supposed to be in bed.
Thank you Rodney from me and my sister!
In this movie he has a supporting cast that's up to the job: Joe Pesci as his over-the-top best friend, Jennifer Jason Leigh as his newlywed daughter to a hilarious Taylor Negron, Candace Azzara as is fed-up wife. The scenes between Allison and Julio are classic line merits alone, without Rodney. The exercise bike into the Christmas tree is PERFECT Rodney.
And you will never ever walk away from this film being able to just "browse" around a dept. store again; nor will you resist wanting to go for your own "Regular Guy" look.
My sister and I have watched this movie maybe 50+ times since it originally appeared on HBO, and we still quote lines back and forth. "Caddyshack" we laughed until we cried; "Back to School" we chuckled. It was this movie that we still watch and go into fits over, reciting lines, because it is classic Rodney at is best. Not set to the side just to bring on a chuckle or two, not given some over-sentimentalized junk, but just the guy we watched doing stand-up late at night when we were probably supposed to be in bed.
Thank you Rodney from me and my sister!
That Thing You Do!
(1996)
I LOVE this movie!!!
9 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I have probably seen this movie 30+ times and every time I see it on cable I can't help but tune in. It's just one of those movies that has so many moments that truly charm you.
I often consider myself a "movie snob", but this is one of those smaller, just-to-be-entertained-by films that rises above the rest.
Tom Hanks obviously thought out every detail of this period and it shows. Goes straight to the original music he selected; I even have the CD. As a side note, I love that he always uses actors he's worked with way past when, including Peter Scolari.
Best scene: Liv Tyler mailing the letters and hearing her boyfriend's group's single on the radio for the first time. The sheer delight on her face, and the way the scene ends up with the entire group getting to enjoy the moment is one of pure joy.
I often consider myself a "movie snob", but this is one of those smaller, just-to-be-entertained-by films that rises above the rest.
Tom Hanks obviously thought out every detail of this period and it shows. Goes straight to the original music he selected; I even have the CD. As a side note, I love that he always uses actors he's worked with way past when, including Peter Scolari.
Best scene: Liv Tyler mailing the letters and hearing her boyfriend's group's single on the radio for the first time. The sheer delight on her face, and the way the scene ends up with the entire group getting to enjoy the moment is one of pure joy.
From Justin to Kelly
(2003)
not that bad... for a t.v. movie
4 July 2004
I went into this expecting a distaster beyond redemption. And yet...
I actually sort of got caught up in it. AND watched it twice. Don't get
me wrong; there is no way I would pay to see this trifle (though give
me this over "Gigli" any day!!). What this is - or should have been - is a t.v. movie. Let's face it, the
"stars" are known to t.v. viewers, the plot is at best amateurish.
Why FOX didn't feature this after "American Idol" I do not know.
Only cameos by Nikki McKibbin and Ryan Starr could have scored
it an absolute 10. P.S. Please tell Kelly Clarkson to stick to singing. An actress she
is not.
I actually sort of got caught up in it. AND watched it twice. Don't get
me wrong; there is no way I would pay to see this trifle (though give
me this over "Gigli" any day!!). What this is - or should have been - is a t.v. movie. Let's face it, the
"stars" are known to t.v. viewers, the plot is at best amateurish.
Why FOX didn't feature this after "American Idol" I do not know.
Only cameos by Nikki McKibbin and Ryan Starr could have scored
it an absolute 10. P.S. Please tell Kelly Clarkson to stick to singing. An actress she
is not.
Cruising
(1980)
still waiting for the unedited version
9 May 2004
Has anyone else noticed how this movie is not available on DVD??? We all know about the missing 40 minutes (maybe more?), and I think it would be rather interesting to hear Pacino's take on the movie, as well as get the extra footage.
I'm interested primarily if it was taken out because it was too anti-homosexual, or too pro-homosexual (even bi-sexual, re: the Pacino character).
I do find it interesting that no one has brought up that amid all the anti-homosexual talk, this film revolves around police trying to catch a killer who is stalking homosexual men, regardless of their persuasions. How does this differ from "Silence of the Lambs"?
Just waiting for the DVD....
I'm interested primarily if it was taken out because it was too anti-homosexual, or too pro-homosexual (even bi-sexual, re: the Pacino character).
I do find it interesting that no one has brought up that amid all the anti-homosexual talk, this film revolves around police trying to catch a killer who is stalking homosexual men, regardless of their persuasions. How does this differ from "Silence of the Lambs"?
Just waiting for the DVD....
Hello Again
(1987)
recycled junk
21 April 2003
Shelley Long... ugh!!! The female Steve Guttenberg of the 1980's. Hello Again is merely playing on the ideas that were already washed up in the 1930's screwball comedies, but had least had clever writers and fresh ideas. This is like watching the rejected pages for "Blithe Spirit" or "Move Over, Darling". Corbin Bernsen is just a smarmier Guttenberg.
La petite sirène
(1980)
I first saw this 20 yrs ago in my teens, thinking how lovely and tragic!
21 April 2003
There really ought to be a word for the description of seeing a film twice - once when you are an adolescent, and then when you are an adult. Seriously.
Sexuality was especially difficult to deal with. Yes, I felt it, but I could never EVER admit it. And so movies (thank you CABLE) were my outlet for letting me know I was maybe normal.
I remember seeing "La Petite Sirene" in the early '80's and immediately identifying with the American heroine Laura, the ugly-duckling who actually goes after the mechanic who shows some interest in her.
FYI The sex scenes are very PG. And the ending is somewhat downbeat.
Still, this put me on the road to film as a major in college. so hey!
Sexuality was especially difficult to deal with. Yes, I felt it, but I could never EVER admit it. And so movies (thank you CABLE) were my outlet for letting me know I was maybe normal.
I remember seeing "La Petite Sirene" in the early '80's and immediately identifying with the American heroine Laura, the ugly-duckling who actually goes after the mechanic who shows some interest in her.
FYI The sex scenes are very PG. And the ending is somewhat downbeat.
Still, this put me on the road to film as a major in college. so hey!
Desperate Teenage Lovedolls
(1984)
campy, edgy 1980's rock 'n' roll fun
19 April 2003
This was a small gem of a bootleg VHS amongst friends in my teenage years (the mid-80's). Ultra-cool, campy story of a girl group playing ultra-cool rock 'n' roll. Funny as hell. Looked like someone's home movie with bad lighting, messy camera work, and often fuzzy sound, but who cared with such potent lines and a kick-ass soundtrack?
Supposedly the DVD is coming out next month... even if they haven't cleaned it up, it's better than most of the other so-called "musicals" of the 1980's.
Oh, and if I recall, there was a sequel that was pretty cool too.
Supposedly the DVD is coming out next month... even if they haven't cleaned it up, it's better than most of the other so-called "musicals" of the 1980's.
Oh, and if I recall, there was a sequel that was pretty cool too.
The Net
(I) (1995)
what bugs me most about this movie
5 July 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Okay... she's on the boat with this guy, realizes he's out to kill her, knocks him out, and then finds the reason he's out to off her is this disk that got her coworker killed. So what would any rational person do? Maybe conk him over the head again to make sure he's really out?? Tie him up?? Look, Sandra honey, you've got the chance to escape while the guy is out for only so long. Until you know how long it will take you take you to escape, make sure he's not able to come after you. I HATE these stupid female victim roles. The rest of the movie was just a series of twists and turns that were completely convoluted and too unbelievable to remain interesting.
It's Your Move
(1984–1985)
biting humor that deserved a bigger audience
30 April 2001
Try to remember that this show was introduced in the era of "Cosby"... ! It's humor wasn't exactly wrapped in a pullover sweater handing out Pudding Pops. The skeleton show was where Jason Bateman and his friend Eli needed a band for the school dance, so they dressed up some lab skeletons and labelled them the Dregs of Humanity. The "group" soon had their own teenage groupies. I remember my sister and I rolling on the floor laughing until our guts hurt. I.Y.M. showcased what Jason Bateman has always done best - that smirky, know-it-all, smartass character. I'd love to see him find another show worthy of his talents.
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