My Favorite Movies

The measuring stick that all action movies are judged against. Is there one single movie in this genre that has been copied more? 20 years later, this movie has lost none of its thrill. Even its countless clones have done nothing to lessen the impact of the film that made Bruce Willis not only a star, but still one of the most dependable action movies stars of today.

The rare sequel that surpasses the original. James Cameron ups the ante from the original Alien in almost every way. The fear, the claustrophobia, the action, are all brought up to a level that has never been matched in any subsequent Alien movie. Often duplicated, never equalled. The movie is rich with original characters that you come to love quickly. Sigourney Weaver became the template for all future tough chicks in movies. Motivated by her fear of the past, and her desire to face those fears drive her. Michael Biehn is in full on tough guy mode, and solidified himself as one of the most dependable everyman tough guys in movies. Bill Paxton has an iconic role as Pvt. Hudson, a space marine who is equal parts loud mouth tough guy, and loud mouth fraidy cat. Lance Henrickson became a staple in the Alien franchise after this, playing the robot Bishop, who represents another fear that Weaver's Ripley must overcome. Carrie Henn is an adorable little girl that proves more capable of taking care of herself, even without the aide of the Marines sent to rescue her. The movie is chock full of suspensul action scenes, and expands on the alien creature from the first movie. Not just in terms of having a planet full of the creatures, as opposed to one in the first movie, but in terms of the creature's life cycle. Instead of the warrior aliens, we are introduced to the amazing Alien Queen, and her final throwdown with Ripley is one of the great fight scenes of all time. This masterpiece was further enhanced after its initial release with an extended edition that showcased several key scenes both before, and after the aliens wreak havok. Storylines are extended, and characters are further fleshed out, making the movie even better than it was to begin with. Another feat I didn't think possible. There have been several movies with the alien since this film's release in 1986, but none can match the perfection of this. One of the great movies of all time.

This movie does what I thought was impossible...improves on what I already thought was a perfect movie. Gone are most of the Richard Lester humor that put a slight doofus spin on the villains. Gone is the "memory kiss". Gone are the French terrorists and the Eifel Tower. What we have now is a movie that flows directly with the original film. A few changes and additional shots to the Battle Of Metropolis make that sequence even better. The new ending changes things a bit, and asks you to forget that Superman spun time backward in the previous film. If I have one complaint it is this...at the onset of the Battle Of Metropolis, Superman announces his arrival by issuing the challenge, "General, would you care to step outside?" For reasons I can't fathom, that line has been replaced with, "General, haven't you ever heard of freedom of the press?" That's more a sad attempt at humor than a challenge to the enemy. But that aside, this version of the film now rates for me as the greatest superhero movie of all time.

Kevin Costner and David Grant play brothers that have become estranged after their fathers death. Costner is a champion bike racer that convinces Grant to compete with him in The Hell Of The West, the toughest bicycyle race in the country. They train together, and try to rebuild their relationship, all the while worrying that the congenital condition that struck down their father could strike them as well. The movie directed by John Badham, who helmed movies like War Games, Blue Thunder, and Saturday Night Fever. It contains some of the most exhilirating action scenes in movies, including footage taken from a camera mounted on the handlebars, giving the viewer a riders-eye view of what it is like to race a 10-speed bike 60mph down the Rocky Mountains. Rae Dawn Chong and Alexandra Paul co-star at the brothers girlfriends.

One of the funniest movies ever made. Period. So many classic comedians, all at the very top of their game. It's the school of insult comedy as the snobs take on the slobs. Chevy Chase, Ted Knight, Bill Murray, and the legendary Rodney Dangerfield provide more quotes than possibly any other movie out there. A movie thankfully made before the advent of political correctness, no subject is taboo. From fart jokes to turds in the pool, it's gross out humor before gross out humor was cool. Non-stop laughs backed up by the immortal Kenny Loggins song "I'm Alright", the movie is an absolute classic, and interestingly enough, regarded as the first hit movie in the history of home video. VHS and BETA were just hitting the market back then, and this is the one that everyone wanted. 28 years later, and the movie is still funnier than any comedy made this century.

Quite simpy, the greatest horror movie ever made. John Carpenter's masterpiece about evil incarnate stalking suburban America, and trio of unsuspecting babysitters. Carpenter's relentless build up of tension, and Dean Cundy's masterful cinematography set the stage for an entire generation of copycats, none of which could match this film for its artistry and craftsmanship. Jamie Lee Curtis, in her film debut, plays the everyday girl to perfection, and crowned the term "Scream Queen". The movie's slow transition from day to night, only serves to ratchet up the tension as the methodical Michael Myers makes his way closer and closer to his targets. An often put upon movie that was accused of saying to teenagers "if you have sex, you'll die", and of being a gorefest. The point of the virginal character surviving was that she was the only one of the three main characters to be paying attention to her surroundings, not wrapped up in her own activites, and realized that something was not quite right in Haddonfield. As far as it being a gorefest, the movie is virtually blood free. It didn't rely on showing the gore like its rip-offs did. It relied on mood, settings, characterization, and John Carpenter's legenday musical score to draw you in, and scare the life out of you. The only movie that ever scared me.

There are two post-apocalyptic movies that serve as the basis for all the rip-offs that have come since. One of them is The Road Warrior. The other is this masterpiece from John Carpenter. The premise is simple enough...New York City has been transformed into the only maximum security prison in the country. When the President's plane crashes inside, the cops send in the toughest criminal in the world to rescue him, and win his own freedom. Kurt Russell is Snake Plissken, the ultimate anti-hero in movie history. He doesn't care about anything but his own survival. The only way you can get him to do anything is to force him, leave him no other choice than to do what is needed. Snake goes in, searches for the Prez, and trashes anything and anyone that gets in his way. The movie filled with amazing characters. Actors like Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau, Donald Pleasence, and Ernest Borgnine create utterly believable and sometimes sympathetic characters. Then there is Chef himself, Isaac Hayes as The Duke Of New York. Making his entrance in the movie riding in a limo decked out with chandeliers on the hood...you just can't get any cooler than that. The visuals in the movie are impossible to beat. Seeing down entire blocks of city streets where destruction is everywhere, you are given an atmosphere that is completely believable, and shows what this world is like when the prisoners inside govern themselves. It is a look that has been copied countless times in movies, tv shows, and even music videos. It's an action packed ride that makes the most of it's surroundings. From the tops of skyscrapers, to a death defying car chase across a booby-trapped bridge, this is John Carpenter at his best. In the wake of 9/11 it's a little eerie to look back on some of the imagery, particularly the way the President's plane is hijacked, and crashed into a building. Also The World Trade Center figures very prominently in several scenes. But then it is a fictional movie, where anything is possible. One of my top 10 favorite movies of all time. There's a remake in the works, but it is destined to fall short of the original masterpiece.

One of the all time classic monster movies, and one of the most fun flicks you'll ever see. Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward are two handymen in a dinky town named Perfection, Nevada. When mysterious deaths and disappearances start to happen to the locals, they do what any local would hero does....they get the Hell out of town. But they're travel plans are cut off, and they are forced to deal with giant underground worms that home in on any sound, and look forward to having the remaining townsfolk as snacks. Michael Gross and Reba McEntire are the local survivalist nuts who are convinced their fortified home can withstand anything. The scene where they are proved wrong is one of the funniest in the movie. Finn Carter is a geologist studying the tremor activity in the area, and ends up making a surprise love interest for Bacon. Never once does the movie try to take itself seriously. It's endlessly inventive as the townsfolk try to stay one step ahead (literally) of the "Graboids" that seem to learn the humans tricks as the movie goes on. Fast paced, funny, intelligent, and with a couple of really decent scares, Tremors is a classic.

Fight Club is director David Fincher's masterpiece about male bonding taken to the Nth degree. The movie almost hypnotic in the way it draws you into its world right from the opening credits. Stunning visuals, and a "nothing is quite what it seems" storyline keep the viewer hooked from start to finish. Edward Norton and Brad Pitt are two strangers who have a chance (or not so chance) meeting on an airplane, and a series of events lead them to create an underground fight club, where men take their animal rage on life out on each other. Loyalty mixes with betrayl in one glaring reveal after another, all leading up to a stomach roller of a shock that I defy ANYONE to see coming. Heavy on social commentary, the movie raises valid points on how people judge their worth based on their possesions. How can rid yourself of the conventional wisdom, and accepted social order of our society to become something more? What would the results be? If you are not happy with who you are, who would you become? All this and more is thrown at you, and would require more than one viewing to even begin to make sense of it all. Fortunately, the movie is more than worthy of that second viewing and then some. A one of a kind movie, and an absolute must see.

Before every movie started using computers for all it's visual effects, there was The Last Starfighter. It was the first movie to use computers to create all of it's outer space battles. It's a classic sci-fi adventure movie that speaks volumes about the power of following your dreams. Lance Guest is perfect as the everyday kid that knows he was meant for something much bigger than his life in a trailer park. He gets the chance to find out when his skill at the videogame "Starfighter" leads to an encounter with an alien visitor, played by Robert Preston. Suddenly he's whisked away to a distant planet, where he finds that the events in the "Starfighter" game are real, and he has been found to have the gift to be a real Starfighter. Dan O'Herlihy is his alien navigator Grigg, and Catherine Mary Stewart is the beautiful girlfriend who waits for him back home, while encountering a robot duplicate of her boyfriend, left behind to cover up his being gone. The movie is really all heart. In the original Star Wars, there's a shot of Luke Skywalker looking out over the sands of Tatooine as the twin suns set. That iconic shot embodies the dream that every young person has of leaving home and dreaming of more than what they have. This movie takes that idea and runs with it. When every kid (of every age) plays a video game, this is the situation they are dreaming they are in. The story and emotions are moved along by what is really one of the greatest musical scores ever, by Craig Safan. It's an amazing piece of work. It's a groundbreaking movie that obviously looks dated today, but it's story is timeless.

STAR WARS FANS REJOICE!!!!!! This is the movie that Phantom Menace and Attack Of The Clones wanted to be. A sweeping, epic extravaganza of everything that is best about Star Wars. The epic battles between ground armies, the sweeping space battles, and the close quarters contacts between Jedi and their various opponents are all note perfect. Chief success in this movie are an amazing battle up the vertical face of a mountain, and a stirring duel between Anakin Skywalker and Count Dooku on the sandy dunes of Tattooine. The voice cast does an amazing job of conveying more emotion than most of their live action counterparts. Partiularly effective is Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker. He makes Anakin heroic, sympathetic, and brave, while letting out hints of the darkness brewing within. All without once ever appearing in the flesh on screen. Director Dave Filoni keeps everything fast and exciting while maintaining the epic scale we expect the Clone Wars to be. The animation may not be of the ground breaking Pixar level, but it is amazing nonetheless. So much attention to detail, bringing things very close to perfect photorealism, while maintining the animated spirit of the animated series by Genndy Tartakovsky. The visuals are simply awe inspiring. The movie is getting absolutely slammed by critics, and some hardcore fanboys alike. Harry Knowles of Aint-It-Cool-News said "the movie never once feels like Star Wars." WHAT????? What movie were you watching??? I had considered deducting the movie's rating a bit because at first, the musical score by Kevin Kiner is a bit jarring at first, especially during the introduction of the main theme. But as the movie went on, the score grew in scale, and by the time Anakin and Dooku throw down, the score is right on. Also, Ashley Eckstein's headstrong padawan, Ahsoka, refers to Anakin as "Sky Guy". I don't think a padawan would get away with calling their master by a teenage nickname, but since she is such a spirited character, I found myself not minding. I'll take her over Jar Jar Binks any day of the week. Which brings up another point. Lucas wanted Jar Jar to be a funny character. What he failed to realize is that in Star Wars, characters always found humor in the moment. They didn't really on pratfalls. The filmmakers remember that here. There are some geniuenely funny moments here, mostly involving the ineptness of the Federation's Battle Droids. There's a choice moment I won't ruin for you, but it has to do with Ventress taking her frustrations out on a particular droid that asks one too many stupid questions. If they had begun the prequel trilogy with a movie of this caliber, Star Wars would still reign supreme in the eyes and hearts of geeks all over the world. I don't know how much direct involvment George Lucas had in this, but I have to (in spite of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom Of the Crystal Skull) big points for letting screenwriter Dave Gilroy and director Filoni run with this. Ths is the movie I have been waiting for all summer. The one movie that completely went FAR FAR beyond my expectations. I have to say it...sorry Dark Knight fans (of which I am one), but this is the best movie of the summer. THE FORCE IS BACK!!!!!!!

John Carpenter's follow up to Halloween is a superior ghost story with some of the most dazzling cinematography ever seen in the horror genre. When the ghosts of a 100 year old shipwreck rise up from their watery grave, they arrive shrouded in a mysterious fog bank. Only some of the town residents know the reasons for the ghosts return, and fight for their lives while trying to warn the rest of the town to stay away from the fog. Adrienne Barbeau is the local radio dj who broadcasts from a lighthouse that overlooks the town. From her perch she tracks the fog as it moves through town, shouting warnings out over the radio to the town, and to her own son. Her performance is the heart of the movie, and she sells it for all its worth. Jamie Lee Curtis is a hitchhiker, and Tom Atkins is a local fisherman, and together they try to piece together the mystery surrounding the fog. Hal Holbrook is the local priest, whose own ancestory holds the key to everything that is going on. When it was released in 1980, everyone was expecting this film to scare the world that Halloween did. Of course, it did not. How could it? But it contains more than its fair share of scares, and nail biting escapes from the ghosts and their fog bank. As I said, the photography is nothing short of outstanding. Carpenter and his director of photography Dean Cundey create an incredily visual atmosphere, and slap the viewer right in the middle of it. The recent remake wishes it could have gotten visuals of this magnitude. The cast is uniformally solid, with Barbeau and Holbrook as standouts. It's an old fashioned ghost story, told in an old fashioned style. One of the best ghost stories ever commited to film, and a high point of Carpenter quality.

One of the greatest westerns ever made. The most authentic telling of the legends of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. A stellar cast is just the tip of the iceberg in this masterful saga from director George P. Cosmatos. The look and feel are like no other western ever made. From the sets, to the costumes, to the weaponary, everything screams with authenticity. It blurs the line between the good guys and the bad guys. Everyone has their motivations, and the law is not necessarily always on the right side. The feud between the Earps and the outlaw band known as The Cowboys, comes to head with the most legendary of all gunfights at the OK Corral. What follows from that is a tale of vengeance that left a bloody path through the west that made the name Wyatt Earp an American Legend. The cast is universally spectacular. Kurt Russell portrays Wyatt as not necessarily the straight arrow that legend makes him out to be. A man not beyond cheating in a card game, or on his wife, but who still believed in the law. Sam Elliott and Bill Paxton play his brothers who both idolize his strength, and fear his complacency. Michael Biehn gives his finest performance as Johnny Ringo, a psychotic member of the cowboys, and the deadliest gunfighter in the west. However, they all pale in comparsion to Val Kilmer and his portrayal of Doc Holliday. A dangerous mix of southern gentleman, and hot tempered gun fighter. A drunk and cheat, but a stoic friend when one is needed. How Kilmer did not receive an Academy Award nomination for his performance is one of the greatest slights in Hollywood history. It is the ultimate presentation of one of the most legendary fixtures in American folklore. A stirring, authentic, and incredibly entertaining masterpiece.

The only R-rated movie from director Robert Zemekis is one of the great unsung comedies of the 1980's. Kurt Russell is at his best as Rudy Russo, a fast talking used car saleman that will do anything for the sale. He's so adept at lying, cheating, and telling people what they want to hear, that he realizes his true calling...politics. His boss agrees to loan him $10,000 so he can buy a local election to the state senate. But his boss dies before he can give him the loan, so now Rudy has to sell every car he can to come up with the money. He's hampered in every attempt by his boss' nefarious brother, who just happens to own another used car lot across the street. As politically incorrect as they come, the movie is a non-stop laugh riot that holds up today, despite the trappings of being made in 1980. While Kurt Russell is the star, the movie belongs to the late Jack Warden, who plays the dual parts of Roy and Luke Fuchs. Luke, the kindly one, and Roy, the ultimate sleazeball. There are so many classic scenes in this movie, it's impossible to list them. But the standouts have to be the two illegal commercials Rudy and his co-workers broadcast during a football game, and the presidential address. Suffice it to say that neither one goes right, and we get results ranging from full frontal female nudity, to exploding cars. Also there is a scene where the salesman are in full swing and telling people everything they want to hear to sell a car. They even get their dog to play dead so a potential customer will feel guilt ridden about running the dog over, that he'll buy the car. The movie got buried in its initial release, opening the same day as Airplane. As great as that movie is, Used Cars is even funnier. The dvd of this movie contains an audio commentary by Robert Zemekis, Kurt Rusell, and co-writer Bob Gale. It is the single greatest commentary in dvd history, and the stories they tell about making this movie are even funnier than the movie itself. Believe me, that's saying something.

Based on a true story, this is a thrilling and visually striking adventure movie that is perfect for the entire family. It's good clean fare for kids, with enough action and excitement for adults. Mackenzie Astin gives an earnest performance as Will Stoneman, who in true Disney fashion, competes in a 500 mile dog sled race to save the family farm. Set in the early 1900's it's a throwback to the old school Disney movies with clear cut good buys and bad guys, and simple cause for the audience to rally around. Kevin Spacey plays a newspaper reporter that covers the race, and turns young Will into an American folk hero for his feats during the race. The snow covered lanscapes that the race takes place across are really beautiful. The race itself is exciting, and you can't help but get swept up in it all. The heart of the movie is Will's relationship with his team of dogs, and in particular, his lead dog, a pure white Huskie named Gus. Anyone who loves dogs will be immediately drawn in. It's formulatic of course, but it's done in the finest Disney family movie tradition. You come to root for Will and his team so much, you may very well find yourself on the edge of your seat for the thrilling conclusion to the race.

It may be firmly stuck in the 70's, but director Walter Hill's journey through the depths of New York City has a legend unrivaled by most movies of the time. The movie caused such a stir in 1979 that the studio was forced to pull all of its advertising, due to complaints about the violence. The only gang movie to feature only 2 guns, it's filled with barenuckle brawling at its best. After being falsley accused of murdering a rival gang leader, The Warriors must make their way back to their home turf of Coney Island all the way from The Bronx. The problem is that every gang in the city is out to get them. The movie is a comic book come to life. All of the gangs wear matching outfits, some of them so brightly colored you'd have a hard time taking them seriously if they walked up to you. The names are also colorful, The High Hats, The Boppers, The Turnbull AC's, The Riffs, and my personal favorites, The Baseball Furies, a gang dressed in NY Yankee baseball uniforms, and bright face paint. Every gang member is in top physical condition, because director Walter Hill cast Broadway dancers in all the gang roles. The Warriors themselves are made up of multi-racial characters, led by Swann (Michael Beck) and Ajax (James Remar). Although a social statement at the time, the movie was never meant to be taken as seriously as it was back then. It's a cartoon. It's an odyssey through a strange land. Only in a movie could the streets of New York be completely deserted except for the roving bands of gangs. Walter Hill is famous for making "guy" movies. Movies that appeal totally at the testosterone level, and this is one of his best. The extended cut DVD offers some shuffled scenes, and comic book style transitions to drive home the feel and intention of the movie. There also exists an opening sequence that was not included in any DVD that shows The Warriors on the sunlit Coney Island Boardwalk when they are briefed about the meeting they will be attending. An interesting note....Director Walter Hill and one of the actors Thomas (Fox) Waites had such a falling out, that Hill removed Waites name from the credits of the movie.

An epic classic that chronicles one of the most defining moments in American history, the Mercury Space Program. One of the greatest ensemble casts in movie history brings this story to life in such a full scale that they tend to BECOME the people they are portraying. Two of the biggest standouts are Sam Shephard as Chuch Yeagher, the first man to break the sound barrier, but who was deemed unqualified to become an astronaut. Another genius piece of casting is Ed Harris as John Glenn, perhaps America's most celebrated astronaut after Neil Armstrong. There are too many great actors to give credit to them all, but there is not one performance in this movie that doesn't ring completely true. The movie also balances archival footage of actual rocket launches, with outstanding visual effects that still hold up today. The movie is filled wall to wall with American pride, and makes one wish they could've been alive at that time to experience this all first hand. At over three hours in length, the movie is never boring, and my only wish is that it could have been longer. A stirring musical score drives home the struggle and achievements of the first seven Americans in to space. A film that should be required viewing in every American history class.

One of the rare sequels that surpases the original, which is saying something since I find the original Clerks to be one of the funniest movies ever made. The further adventurs of what I think are Kevin Smith's truest to life characters, Dante and Randal. Brian O'Halloran's ever suffering Dante continues to deal with Jeff Anderson's freewheeling Randal. Their characters are the anchors of the movie. Two guys that never got too far in life, but only one of them cares. That's what makes both of them so identifiable. Of course we have Jay and Silent Bob and their unique world views. Trevor Fehrman is the fifth stooge as the extremely geekified Elias, so far down on the food chain he's actually the whipping boy for Randal. Rosario Dawson has never been more attractive, and adds an unexpected emotional level for Dante. The performances are all on the money, but like the first movie, the standout is Anderson, who takes sarcasm to unprecedented levels. Kevin Smith strikes the perfect balance between comedy, drama, and realistic character development. As politically incorrect as they come, it's humor knows no bounds. Multiple scenes so funny, as to possibly cause loss of bladder control. A wrap of the characters so perfect, I sincerely hope there will never be a Clerks 3, because it couldn't top this.

Not a spoof of the zombie genre, but a classic combination of it with the romantic comedy. Shaun is a slacker content to spend every evening drinking beer and eating peanuts at the local pub, The Winchester. Shauns' girlfriend Liz is looking for stronger commitment from him, but when he can't live up to her expectations, she dumps him cold. So Shaun drowns his sorrows over a few pints at The Winchester with his best pal, Ed. Unbeknownst to the two pals, zombies have begun to overtake their London suburb. Even when the become aware of it, their big plan for safety is to round up their friends, Liz, and Shauns' mom, and hold up at the fortress of safety...The Winchester. Simon Pegg is perfectly deadpan as Shaun. He's a good hearted guy with no motivation, and no clue of what to do when the you know what hits the fan. Nick Frost absolutely steals the show as Ed. A slacker of such epic proportions, he makes Shaun look like an overachiever. With zombies all around him, Ed can't even be bothered enough to miss a call on his cell phone. These two oblivious layabouts are completely unaware of the zombie outbreak even when confronted with them. They assume they're dealing with drunks. How do they realize there's trouble? From the television, of course. What to do? What to do? Go to The Winchester! The best combination of horror and comedy since An American Werewolf In London, the movie is also one of the best zombie movies ever made, paying proper homage to classic zombie movies along the way.

Moments before the launch of NASA's first manned mission to Mars, the astronauts of Capricorn One are secretly taken out of their spacecraft, and whisked away to a secret airfield in the middle of nowhere. Once there, they are told that their life support system on the ship was defective, and they would've died within 3 weeks. Instead of scrubbing the costly, and high profile mission, the decision is made to fake the entire thing. The astronauts are forced to go along with it, under threats against their families. When a catastrophic accenident destroys the spacecraft on its return to Earth, it's decided the astronauts must die before they can reveal the truth. What follows is a tense cat and mouse game where the astronauts attempt to get back to civilization before it's too late. James Brolin, Sam Waterston, and...gasp...OJ Simpson are the astronauts, Hal Holbrook is the dangerous head of NASA's space program, and Elliot Gould is an investgative reporter who suspects that things are not what they seem with this "historic" mission. Great performances all around, and a tense script by writer/director Peter Hyams make for an exiciting trip that is obviously based on the legendary conspiracy theory that man never really landed on the moon.

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Of all the wrestlers to try their hand at acting, only Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson showed he has not only the physical skills, but the actual acting chops to become the next big action star. This gem from 2003 is easily his best film to date, and was a perfect balance of action and comedy. Teamed with Seann William Scott (also HIS best movie) it's the story of a "collector" who is sent to the Amazon to retrieve the wayward son of tough crime boss. While there, he runs afoul of another crime boss, played to practiced perfection by the one and only Christopher Walken. Since Johnson's character despises guns, what we get are some of the toughest, most inventive fistfights in recent years. Director Peter Berg keeps things moving at a lightning pace, and makes great use of the jungle surroundings. Not only for the composition of shots, but for fitting it into the storyline. Johson and Scott make a great team, create believable characters, and have actual chemistry. It's too bad the movie was not successful, because these are two characters I would've like to see more of. It also would have prevented Johnson from being reduced to a Disney bitch. He's capable of so much more. Like this movie. Let's hope the opportunity comes along someday.

John Carpenter's sequel/remake of his classic Escape From New York is perhaps one othe most misunderstood movies of all time. It was always intened to be a cheesy, over the top, mocking of the post-apocalyptic genre the original film helped to create. The visual effects may look like they're done with an old fashioned video toaster, but they only add to the fun. Like its predecessor, it's a visually striking movie that presents Los Angeles in a way that isn't hard to imagine. The action scenes range from surfing a tsunami down "Wilshire Canyon", to a hang glider assault on "The Happy Kingdom". How can you not love it, and have fun? Kurt Russell returns to what he himself has admitted is his favorite character, and he hasn't lost a step. Snake Plissken is still the ultimate anti-hero. He's joined by countless character actors including Steve Buscemi, Bruce Campbell, Robert Carridne, and old schoolers Peter Fonda and Cliff Robertson. Carpenter brings all his usual visual flair to the movie, dropping us into this world, and bringing it fully to life. He also adds his trademark musical score to add that extra layer of atmosphere. Is it as good as the original? No. But how could it be? It's still a helluva fun movie that gives us visuals and action scenes unlike anything else out there. Carpenter + Russell = GREAT ENTERTAINMENT!

The Big Chill goes to summer camp in this thoroughly enjoyable trip down memory lane. A group of 30somethings return to their childhood summer camp, only to find that it is about to be closed down. For the next week, they rekindle old romances, remember the lazy days of summer, and try to make amends for past mistakes. The movie features a solid ensemble cast that includes Alan Arkin, Bill Paxton, Diane Lane, Kevin Pollack, and my ultimate Hollywood crush, Kimberly Williams. Look for Spider-Man director Sam Raimi in a small part as the camps maintenance man. Beautiful cinematography makes you wish you had gone to this very camp. It's funny, sentimental, dramatic, and touching. Definately a feel good movie, and a nice one to watch on a lazy day, or when the weather is bad outside. One note to anyone looking to buy the DVD (if you can still find it), the packaging says it is a full screen presentation...not true. The movie is presented in the widescreen format, so you miss nothing!

The masterpiece that was way ahead of it's time. Before Mortal Kombat, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Matrix, and Jackie Chan, there was....Jack Burton. Kurt Russell is in full John Wayne mode as the truck driver with a mouth bigger than the open road. Jack gets caught up in a gang war in San Francisco's Chinatown that leads to all manner of ghosts, demons, and bizzare creatures. John Carpenter's visuals are unparalleled. As are his visionary martial arts fights, that would go on to be copied in movies, tv shows, and endless video games. Before wire-fu became the norm in martial arts movies, Carpenter did it first. Wall to wall fights back up a fast moving, and freewheeling story that never stops to catch it's breath. Kurt Russell is on a whole new level of cool in this one. Never at a loss for words, he's a guy that's not quite as sharp as he thinks he is. He's got an able sidekick in Wang Chi, played by Dennis Dun. Wang has a girl to rescue, and is Hell with a sword. James Wong is the 2000 year old Lo Pan, a man cursed to live a life of no flesh until he finds a prophesized girl to marry. One of the potential girls comes in the form of Kim Cattrall, who is the pushy lawyer Gracie Law. (clever, right?) Backed up by another classic Carpenter musical score, this is a film that set the stage for the world's facination with high flying martial arts, even if they didn't know it at the time.