Matinee (1993)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Randy T

  
  A feel-good, have-fun, don't-take-it-too-seriously, William-Castle kind of movie.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: John Goodman, Cathy Moriarty, Kellie Martin, Simon Fenton, Omri Katz, Lisa Jakub, Jesse Lee Soffer, Lucinda Jenney, James Villemaire, Robert Picardo, Jesse White, Dick Miller, John Sayles, David Clennon, Lucy Butler, Naomi Watts, Joey Fatone Director: Joe Dante Summary:… More
  Cast: John Goodman, Cathy Moriarty, Kellie Martin, Simon Fenton, Omri Katz, Lisa Jakub, Jesse Lee Soffer, Lucinda Jenney, James Villemaire, Robert Picardo, Jesse White, Dick Miller, John Sayles, David Clennon, Lucy Butler, Naomi Watts, Joey Fatone Director: Joe Dante Summary: Aging movie producer Lawrence Woolsey (John Goodman) screens his latest schlock-licious B-movie -- filled with atomic blasts and human mutation -- and gets the attention of teen horror-flick buff Gene Loomis (Simon Fenton), all while the Cuban Missile Crisis intensifies. My Thoughts: "John Goodman is great as Lawrence Woolsey. I liked how there was a film inside the film. Really takes you back to the good old monster flicks when there was always some giant insect dooming you. The film really gives you an insight on what a big production films use to be in the early 60's. Wish it was still such a big deal, maybe more people would take themselves to the theater instead downloading them or streaming them for free on numerous sites. Kind of makes me wanna be part of that era where a scare was so easy to give. In our day it's hard to be scared by anything in any film made. In the end, it's was a charming movie that I am sure the whole family will enjoy."

• jd c

  
  <a href="http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/?action=view¤t=Matinee2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/Matinee2.jpg" border="0"… More
  <a href="http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/?action=view¤t=Matinee2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/Matinee2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Joe Dante was one of my favorite directors from the 80's (he's director of films such as Piranha (1978), The Howling (1981), Gremlins (1984), The 'burbs (1989), Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)) He's also the director of Matinee. PLOT: "Key West, Florida, 1962. Gene Loomis is a teenager whose family has recently arrived at the military base. He is a big horror movie fan and becomes excited when he hears that movie producer Lawrence Woolsey, a master of gimmicky showmanship, is going to be appearing at a local cinema in person to promote a sneak preview of his new film "Mant". At the same time, the Cuban Missile Crisis begins. Woolsey takes Gene under his wing and this becomes an opportunity for Gene and his friend Stan to take the girls they are keen on to the preview. But when things at the screening are beset by disaster, the audience thinks that nuclear war has broken out." <a href="http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/?action=view¤t=Matinee1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/Matinee1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> It's an amazing coming of age tale that's a mixture of comedy, sci-fi, and horror (sci-fi/and horror only because it's the center of conversation. It's never a prime subject set into threatening motion.) It's kind of like "The Monster Squad" meets "Stephen King's It", but without the monsters or the clown, that plus the famous 1988 television series "The Wonder Years". Put those all together and you get Matinee. If that doesn't sound like a fun movie then I don't know what does. It's full with amazing performances from the whole young cast, the script is quick-witted and clever (and very funny), the set design is flawlessly constructed (convincingly bringing 1962 to light, almost putting you in the foreground), and the cinematography is that of a 50's martian movie (perhaps Plan 9 from Outer Space) but with the colors of Tim Burton's "Mars Attacks". Matinee makes you wish you could travel back in time to 1962, and share all the spooky fun with each and every character. It's one of those great feel-good-films that'll put you in a good mood no matter what state of mind you're in. Matinee's a movie for the grownups who like to reminisce about their childhood, and a movie for the younger ones as an inspiration. It's simply a movie for everybody. Matinee was one of my favorite movies from the early 90's, and still makes my top 50 of all time favorite movies. Joe Dante "was" a genius (he was the second Spielberg and Zemeckis of his time). I don't know or understand how and where he went wrong because he was such a great director, but after this film he did a downward spiral. Gladly he had it in him soon enough to give us films like The Howling, Gremlins, Explorers, The 'burbs, Matinee, and now we can thank him for the upcoming 3D remake of Piranha, directed by "splat pack" member Alexandre Aja (director of the ultra-violent High Tension, The Hills Have Eyes remake, and Mirrors.) I wish Joe Dante would come back and deliever once more...at least one more time. But hey, sh*t happens. Matinee is a remarkable film. The DVD was just re-released (a few months ago) after a long and tedious waiting period (for over 5 years), but the wait is over. You can order the DVD now. I highly recommend this film for everybody. See it now! <a href="http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/?action=view¤t=Matinee3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/Matinee3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

• Lafe F

  
  A good visit to 1961 small-town America childhood, mixed with the fear of atomic missiles approaching. John Goodman is a good showman, who puts on a hilariously unforgettable Saturday Matinee. Well done!

• xGary X

  
  John Goodman is easily the best thing about this Joe Dante film, which features his usual affectionate mix of B-movie homage and teenage coming of age. Not bad but very forgettable.

• James A

  
  Very boring and slow.

• Juan C

  
  a funny, innocent, and kindhearted film with a funny way to express itself from a nucular bomb that's about to hit them in a few days. A

• Eduardo C

  
  John Goodman as William Castle? Directed by Joe Dante? FUCK yes!

• Marcus W

  
  This movie is a love story. It's about the first time we all fell in love with cinema, the first time we were terrified by a film but couldn't stop watching, that first date at the cinema, and how, no matter what else was going on in the world, movies were always there for… More
  This movie is a love story. It's about the first time we all fell in love with cinema, the first time we were terrified by a film but couldn't stop watching, that first date at the cinema, and how, no matter what else was going on in the world, movies were always there for us. In fact it's such a sweet movie, I now forgive Joe Dante for Looney Tunes.

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