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DorkusMaximus77
Reviews
Fraternity Vacation (1985)
Harmless, Cute, Goofy 80's Cheese
I wouldn't say this was the best movie ever made, but it is highly watchable. Basic plot: Tim Robbins ("Shawshank Redemption") and Cameron Dye (...don't really know) go on a free-ride vacation to Palm Springs with nerdy frat pledge Stephen Geoffreys ("Evil Ed from "Fright Night") in the hopes of partying and getting laid. Meet Hot Chick, check. Meet rival frat boys, check. The 'bet' about who gets to nail Hot Chick first, check. Boobs and beer, check. Feel-good ending where everyone becomes friends, check. Typical 80's Sex Comedy Formula.
Good points: Seeing Tim Robbins before he made it big was interesting. The Hot Chick wasn't the stereotypical dumb bimbo, also refreshing. Lastly, Stephen Geoffreys was adorable as the good-hearted nerd Wendell. Always had a soft spot for that actor; he plays downtrodden nerds/geeks/dorks with such verve. All the more surreal when you think about his future career in, erm, adult cinema...not that there's anything wrong with it! (couldn't help the "Seinfeld" reference there!)
Bad points: the MUSIC! I know 80's cheese is 80's cheese, but this was particularly bad. Shocking that it was Brad Fiedel that did the music for this movie, when you compare to his later work in "Fright Night" and the first 2(or 3?) "Terminator" movies. Truly iconic scores in those flicks...
Underworld (2003)
Pretty Good Movie, But Had Some Reservations
I liked this movie. The werewolf costumes were awesome, especially when you consider that they were actual actors running around in high tech werewolf suits, NOT CGI. For all I've read on the user comments board for this flick, most people must not have watched the featurettes and don't know that most of the effects in this film are NOT CGI (except for the transformations, heads splitting off and other stuff like that).
On to the actors/characters. The characterizations were a mixed bag, I liked some of the actors, and not others. Michael Speedman was apparently in a coma during most of this film, and why did the directors have to make Selene look like a PVC fetish queen? If she's so single-minded in her focus on killing all Lycans, why does she bother to run around in a tight uncomfortable PVC catsuit with chunky heels? Wouldn't combat fatigues or something be more utilitarial? Male fan service I guess. Kraven just got on my nerves almost immediaely.
On the good side, Bill Nighy was good as Victor the bigoted lead vampire. He came off as one thing in the beginning, but when the plot twist happens near the end he comes off as something else completely. Michael Sheen gave a thoughtful performance as Lucian the head Lycan. I couldn't help but feel sad at the end when you see Lucian's fate, especially after Michael's flashbacks are explained. I often felt myself rooting for the Lycans at the end. On a side note, I don't know how that one Lycan, the big black one, did that thing with his voice; sounded like it would hurt to talk like that through a whole movie.
The settings and the camera-work were all serviceable, nothing stuck out as bad or particularly laughable. I am starting to get sick of wire stunts though.
I wouldn't say that it was the best movie ever made, but I have watched it multiple times on DVD and I could probably watch it again.
Crossing Jordan (2001)
Good Show, But Can We Get Past The Whole J/W Thing, Please?
I like this show. Sure, it might stretch credibility a little in some areas, but it's a TV show not a documentary. Most of the characters are interesting and fun to watch as they interact with each other (EX: Nigel and Bug), but PLEASE! Stop the whole annoying Jordan and Woody Love thing. They two have no chemistry, and the whole love affair drags down the episodes when it rears it's ugly head. This show has an ensemble cast, it's not "The Jordan & Woody Show". Show some of the other characters having a life for a change! I want to see something develop between Bug & Lily this season, and we NEED more Nigel-centered epps; there is great potential for a love/hate relationship between Nigel and that new pathologist, Dr Switzer (the Metallica-listening techno-whiz who made Nige look like a chump in the season premier when she gave his comp a virus). Do I have 10 lines yet!?