The Cave ~ 2005

A sci-fi / horror film, this film which was actually filmed inside a cave in many of it’s sequences, was a poor film and should have stayed in the cave.  Poor in the performances, direction and the really bad plot and storyline.  Of the three films that were released in 2005 with the same premeise (Undgerground explorers being attacked by sub-terranean creatures) this one was by far the worst. Not that any of them were actually any good, mind you.

Fortunately for these actors, Daniel Day-Kim, Cole Hauger and Piper Perabo they were able to go on to bigger and better avenues, but unffortuantely for this film it will become one of those DVD’s you can buy at Wal-Mart for $5.00 or less.  Actually I think that is exactly where I bought and paid for this movie… D-

Cats & Dogs ~ 2001

Unbeknown to humans a war has been waging for centuries between cats and dogs. This secret war between cats and dogs quickly peaks as a scientist (Jeff Goldblum) tries to create a serum to cure dog allergies in humans. As the unsuspecting humans go through their busy lives, the cats make several attempts to possess the formula, as their canine foes try tirelessly to stop them. Caught in the crossfire, a young beagle named Lou, adopted by the Brody family, tries hard to succeed as a secret agent, and in being a friend to the young Scotty Brody. A evil snow white cat named Mr. Tinkles is planning to make every person on Earth allergic to dogs so that he can take over the world with his army of evil cats.

A cute film, and one that was enjoyed to the tune of $95 million in the US, and more than $200 million worldwide ($107 million internationally) in its initial release.  Not a film of dramatic expertise, but fun nonetheless.  It certainly will make you look at your pets differently. D+

Catch Me If You Can ~ 2002

Nominated for Academy Awards for Best Original Score (John Williams) and Best Supporting Actor (Christopher Walken), Catch Me If You Can was adapted loosely from the 1980 book by Frank Abagnale Jr. and Stan Redding. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.

A fairly fast paced movie once the main character, played by DiCaprio grows up to be a con artist extraordinaire, it is both entertaining and an interesting film.  Tom Hanks plays the FBI agent who swears to catch Abagnale.  Both performances of Hanks and DiCaprio are believable and very good, but it is Christopher Walken that really shined in this film as Frank Sr.  His portrayal of the husband that was betrayed, and the father that wanted nothing more than the best for his son was poignant and moving.  I think one of Walken’s best performances in recent years. C+

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof ~ 1958

What can I say, I just love this movie. Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Burl Ives…just great. Yes, it is classic and sometimes it is hard to give an honest review of such a well loved film. But after seeing it as many times as I have I must say it is not completely, absolutely perfect.

One of the things that is missed is Tennessee Williams underlying story. The one of Brick’s struggle with his own sexuality. In 1958 the censors would not allow a homosexual sub-plot, even if it meant changing the entire story. If this movie was made today I am sure that Brick’s relationship with his dead buddy would have been pursued. But then do we have the actors today that could carry out what Paul Newman did in 1958? I doubt that.

Being dated, the movie is somewhat overplayed and overacted, especially from Madeline Sherwood who played Mae. Also Jack Carson’s portrayal of Brick’s older, yet unaccepted, brother Gooper could have had a little more depth to it. Not to mention the kids that played the no-neck monsters.

The cinematography was very good for 1958 and the direction of Richard Brooks, should have got him the Golden Boy, but it was not to be. Gigi won that year for Best Picture and Best Director with Vincente Minnelli. One of those mistakes that the Academy seems to do occasionally. Sadly one of the best performances of his career, Burl Ives was completely overlooked by the Academy.

Even though it is dated, it is still one of the best films ever to have graced the big screen. B+

Cars ~ 2006

Pixar continued its undefeated streak, turning out yet another critical and box office success. This tale of a cocky race car who learns to appreciate life off the beaten track appealed to kids and adults.

Stars like Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy, Cheech Marin, Katharine Helmond and John Ratzenberger voiced this animated feature. How it didn’t win the Oscar is beyond me.  B-

Capote ~ 2005

It’s 1959, and celebrated author Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman) decides to make his next project the shocking murders of the Clutter family in a small, conservative Kansas town where nothing usually happens. Then, researching his project, the author becomes fascinated or some say even enamoured with one of the killers, Perry Smith (Clifton Collins Jr.).

An outstanding film, showcasing one of the greatest biographical performances by Hoffman, at once celebrating, analysing and criticising an important writer and his major book. You’ll appreciate it more if you’ve read In Cold Blood or seen the film recently. B+

Can’t Hardly Wait ~ 1998

The film revolves around an eclectic group of students from upstate New York attending a high school graduation party at a large house owned by a rich class member’s family. Each character has different plans for the night. Optimistic misfit Preston Myers (Ethan Embry) plans to proclaim his love to his four-year secret crush, to whom he’s never had the nerve to speak before, prom queen Amanda Beckett (Jennifer Love Hewitt), who in turn has recently broken up with her top jock boyfriend, Mike Dexter (Peter Facinelli).

Cynical Denise Fleming (Lauren Ambrose) has no intention of going to the party. But when her best friend, Preston, says he’s going to proclaim his love for Amanda, she is dragged along. Kenny Fisher (Seth Green) is a ludicrous wannabe rapper who plans on losing his virginity by the end of the night. When he goes into the upstairs bathroom to “get ready”, Denise happens to walk in. That is when the pair of former friends learn that the door has a broken doorknob, trapping them in the bathroom. The two begin talking about how they drifted apart, which eventually leads them back to their friendship and escalates into them having sex in the bathroom.

One of the better 90’s teen romantice comedies, B+

The Butterfly Effect ~ 2004

This movie freaked me out, much like Donnie Darko did.  The premise of this film is, if you could change something about your life what else would it change?  Something we all wish we could do, change something we did, or the outcome of something that happened in our lives.  But after seeing this film, I’ve decided I have no regrets, and if I could change something I wouldn’t!  Starring Ashton Kutcher (his best role ever) this movie shows a young man just how different his life could have been if he had done one little thing differently, but sometimes the results could be worse than he ever expected.

If you like sci-fi films, or even if you don’t you should watch this film, it will make you thankful for the way your life has turned out.  Fate is nothing to mess with. B+

Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid ~ 1969

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head was a huge song when I was a kid. They played it on every station on the radio. But more than the song, The Movie from which it came was by far my most favorite “western”. More than just a western, this film had characters that you loved, played by Robert Redford and Paul Newman. Butch and Sundance were funny, intelligent and good looking. The film is only loosely based on historical fact, but it popularized the legends of these Western icons.
The film was directed by George Roy Hill and produced at 20th Century Fox by John Foreman from a screenplay by William Goldman. Along with Newman and Redford, the film also starred Katharine Ross, Strother Martin, Henry Jones, Sam Elliott, Cloris Leachman, Ted Cassidy, Kenneth Mars and Donnelly Rhodes.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer ~ 1992

Kristy Swanson was the original Buffy in the poorly received film, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which was brought back to life (much like the title charecter was in several of the TV episodes) by the long running TV show in which Sarah Michelle Gellar made famous.

This film has become a cult-classic, and now that I watch it again after years of the TV series, I actually like it!  Kristy Swanson starts off pretty slow but halfway through she actually pulls of what Buffy was all about.  Another soon to be star is also in this film, two time Academy Award winning actress, Hilary Swank!

A good fun film with Pee Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) and Rutger Hauer as the bad vampires and the great Donald Sutherland as the “watcher”.  And who could forget sexy Luke Perry as Buffy’s love interest? B