My Favorite Movies

The holy grail of 80's teen sexploitation films. This is the one that started it all and is the best of them all. I was twelve when this movie first came out and I remember sneaking into the theatre with my friends to see this after paying to see some piece of crap being shown on another screen. This is the movie they didnt want you to see but you were going to see anyway because this movie didnt just have to be watched, it had to be ridden, man!

One of hte greatest teen movies of all time. This dark comedy uncovered problems always dealt with in high schools but not often shown. Slater is outstanding as J.D. the roaming loner whose psychosis seems to be an inherited trait. He immediately connects with Veronica played by Ryder who is the odd girl out in a popular clique of girls known as the Heathers. J.D.'s final solution to the high school class system sets this odd comedy towards a very dramatic conclusion. Great performances by all.

Cool retro skate film capturing the world of skating in the late 70's. Hartman is great as the narrarator and Peralta is in his prime. This film features way too much rollerskating for my taste but the skateboarding by Senatore, Mini Shred, and a young Steve Caballero dominated this film. There are some corny quotes from Mellow Cat but thats what gives this 70's time capsule its charm. Look for cameo in the bar scene by Surfing Legend Larry Bertleman.

Quite arguably the greatest and most entertaining documentary ever made. Stacy Peralta's masterpiece documents the early days of him and his legendary Zephyr Skate team who pioneered the sport of skateboarding. Screen legend and local skateboard enthusiast Sean Penn narrarates this journey back to Dogtown in Venice, California where a talented group of kids in the early to mid 70's redefined what was possible on a skateboard which up until the late 60's was pretty much viewed as a passing fad. A wonderfully edited blend of music from the era, home movies, photos, and interviews with Dogtown legends like Tony Alva, Jay Adams, Stacy Peralta, Wentzle Ruml, Bob Biniak, Nathan Pratt, and Jim Muir. There is lots of great pool skating footage and I definitely recommend this movie to fans and non-fans of the sport.

Great 80's flick set in 1956 Ohio about two buddies, a likeable local loser and the cool misunderstood new guy who help eachother to win the hearts of the two prettiest girls in school. The problem is one lacks the confidence and the other lacks the class. Great performances by McKeon and Nash as the buddies and Preston and Stewart as the school beauties. Nice cameo by Jami Gertz and a wonderful 50's soundtrack helps make this an underrated classic.

Arguably the greatest 80's teen comedy of all time. The only reason this isnt my favorite film is probably because I have seen it so many times(around the neighborhood of 200)and even though I burn myself out on it, I have to watch it every time it is shown. It follows the same science driven formula of other films that same year like Weird Science and My Science Project but this film has the cast and the quotes. You have to see this film, it's a moral imperative.

Fun New Zealand comedy about four immature Samoan buddies whose antics continuously ruin the weddings of family and friends. Their church elders ban them from attending anymore weddings unless they can straighten out their acts and bring steady girlfriends to Sione's upcoming wedding. The entertaining commentary track by Naked Samoans comedy troupe members Kightley and Fane provides an educational tour around the beautiful Auckland shooting locales and insight about Samoan culture and customs.

Fun movie. Russell, Warden, and Graham are hilarious. awesome commentary track by Russell and Zemeckis.

Probably the perfect American film with the greatest ensemble cast of actors of all time. When you consider at the time that most of these actors were little known to unknown makes this Francis Ford Coppola masterpiece that much more appreciative. The story of culture clash in 1960's Tulsa between the priviledged Soc's and ready to rumble Greasers. Matt Dillon should have won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar that year. Two Bit was my favorite character and Estevez's improvised scene watching Mickey Mouse eating the chocolate cake was funny and brilliant. Great Film.

Alot of people like the original better and I can respect that but this is my favorite Bad News Bears movie. They fire their new coach, bribe the slow groundskeeper to pose as their coach and chaperone for their parents, and drive to Houston in a stolen van unattended to play a bunch of rednecks in a sanctioned exhibition championship game in the Astrodome and its all sponsored by Budweiser. My favorite character is Tanner Boyle and his wonderful politically incorrect late 70's mouth. William Devane plays Kelly's estranged father who agrees to coach the team. The original is good, this ones great, dont bother with Japan, and forget they ever did a remake.

Awesome surfing footage and retrospectives from three generations of legendary surfers highlight this homage to three big wave icons. The film briefly delves into the history of surfing and works into solid tributes to pioneer Noll, kamikaze loner Clark, and the fearless living legend Hamilton. Laird Hamilton's skill as a big wave rider is second to none and arguably the greatest ride ever is featured in this loving tribute directed by Dogtown skating icon Stacy Peralta.

This is Steve McQueen at his best. A vengeful cop behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang in one of the greatest chase sequences ever captured on film.

This is the great underrated teen rebellion classic. Its fun to watch Dillon and Spano in their earliest work breakout from the surrounding group of unknowns and become the stars we see nearly 30 years later. This movie nearly lost a half star because of Michael Kramer's wuss performance. On the other hand though Tom Fergus as Claude nearly steals the movie from Dillon and Spano. Add it to your dvd collection.

Outstanding documentary about the life of skateboard legend Christian Hosoi from his early elbow rubbing with Dogtown legends to his turbulent downward spiral into drugs and eventually prison and the road back through his own ministry. Interviews with the skaters and actors who idolized him and a first rate narration by screen legend Dennis Hopper made this a favorite film of mine. In Southern California at that time, you were literally divided into two camps- Hawk or Hosoi and I was definitely Hosoi. Great film for fans and non-fans alike.

Helen Stickler's brilliantly directed documentary on legendary vert ramp skater Mark "Gator" Rogowski whose rise to fame came crashing down after being convicted of the brutal murder of his girlfriend. I grew up in that part of North San Diego in the early to late 80's, so this film's skate footage and locales brought back memories for me of the places we roamed and people we idolized. Great sleeper film that I believe is comparable to Peralta's masterpiece Dogtown and the Z-Boys but 80's style.

Great acting and a great soundtrack help put this underrated sports classic over the top for me. This movie is the Hoosiers of high school wrestling.

Great P.J.Soles driven vehicle with great Ramones soundtrack.

This is Walter Matthau in his prime and at his dramatic best. The usually comedic Matthau convincingly pulls off the Eastwood-ish leading man part in this Don Siegel heist classic. Matthau plays Charley Varrick, a crop dusting pilot turned small time bank robber. Things go south real quick for Varrick and his gang when they unexpectedly take alot more money than they planned on. The money turns out to be unlaundered mob money being funneled through the tiny desert bank that leads to the deaths of many around Varrick including his wife & untrusting overanxious partner. John Vernon plays Boyle, the mob banker sent in to investigate and Joe Don Baker is excellent as Molly, a well dressed southern hitman hot on Varrick's trail. One of the things Matthau brings to the character of Charley Varrick that makes him so appealing is his resourcefulness. The guy is always one step ahead of the cops and the crooks. This is one of my favorite Walter Matthau films and I would love for it one day to get the digitally remastered special edition treatment on Dvd. Look for William Schallert who played Matthau's milquetoast deputy in "Lonely Are The Brave"hamming it up with a promotion to typical 70's sheriff in this film.