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What Lies Beneath (2000)
Entertaining but predictable hokum.
WHAT LIES BENEATH (US:PG-13 UK:15) Starring Harrison Ford, Michelle Pffiefer Directed by Robert Zemeckis DREAMWORKS SKG.
With its high production values, skilled director and big name actors, I must admit I was expecting a bit more from the Hitchcock-equse shocker, "What Lies Beneath." When Harrison Ford and Michelle Pffiefer, both looking for a decent movie recently, both choose the same script you expect something special. And with "Back to the Future" director Robert Zemeckis at the helm, What Lies Beneath has a lot of potential.
A simple ghost story, with some neat scares, What Lies Beneaths plot and twists were, notoriously, given away in the terrible advertising campaign by DreamWorks. To sum up, Pffiefer plays a housewife who believes a spirit is in her house, while husband Ford refuses to believe her.
While promising much, the film never really reaches greatness, in fact it barely passes average on scruntination. Still, with it's eerie atmosphere and largely effective jump scenes, What Lies Beneath is an enjoyable ride the first time, especially in the cinema. There are many jump scenes, but somehow they still manage to make the audience jump even towards the end of the film. Zemeckis creates a good atmosphere, and the cinematography is superb. Ford is somewhat weak, but Pffiefer plays a fine victim, and pulls off some scenes especially well, such as a creepy possesion scene. Zemeckis even has time to throw in some good special effects.
The musical score by longtime Zemeckis collaborator Alan Silvestri, although only used sparingly, creates an effective mood. But the writing is below par, with none of the other characters except Pffiefer being interesting. A lot of the plot elements are given away early on, and an interesting subplot is discarded with little explanation halfway through the film. And at over two hours, What Lies Beneath is far too lengthy for this type of film, and includes some rather boring moments.
I couldn't help but think this could have been better. Some parts are scary, but overall, What Lies Beneath is an average thriller with an above average production team that never uses its potential.
Licence to Kill (1989)
Tough James Bond thriller.
With Bruce Willis, Sly Stallone and Arnie storming the screens with violent action movies, James Bond decided to have a go with this gritty, violent film. In this Bond film, Felix Leiter (David Hedison) has just got married. Unfortunately, his wife is shortly killed by agents of a drug lord named Sanchez (Robert Davi), and Felix himself has his legs bitten off by a shark. James Bond (Timothy Dalton) quits the secret service and goes on a personal vendetta to eliminate Sanchez.
Although Licence to Kill is fun in the traditional Bond style, it is sometimes grisly with the violence. The shark scene is bad enough, but the film goes even further with electrocution, a henchman getting chewed up, and even a head exploding! It all seems a little out of place in the Bond universe. Bond himself is tougher and more cunning: he actually uses brain rather than stupid gadgets to get himself out of a tricky situation. Talking of gadgets, Q gets a meaty role for once, and the film is more enjoyable for it.
The film features some excellent stunts, including an exciting truck chase at the end. The Bond girls are as stunning as ever. Sadly, there's a cameo by Wayne Newton, but if you have the stomach, Licence to Kill is one of the more better films in the series.
(Action, 1989)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Typical John Hughes entertainment.
Five kids have to go to a 'breakfast club' detention, and discover more about themselves and each other in traditional John Hughes style.
Although the script is a little silly, and the ending completely bizzare and unrealistic, the rest of the Breakfast Club is enjoyable enough teenage fare. Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy and Judd Nelson are the highlights of the cast, particulary Sheedy who says almost nothing during the film and still manages to make an impact. Emilio Estevez and Molly Ringwald are a litle bland, but so are their characters. Paul Gleason comes off as stupid and unrealistic as the principal.
Despite the odd corny lines, the script is truthful enough, and sometimes quite witty. The soundtrack is full of eighties hit music, including the powerful Simple Minds theme 'Don't You Forget About Me.' Worth catching on television.
(Comedy/Drama, 1985)
Tremors (1990)
Good, hokey fun.
If you're ever channel surfing and this little gem appears, stick with it, because Tremors is a great late night T.V movie. Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward are two handymen who soon have to fend off giant creatures from eating the whole town of Perfection. The special effects are pleasingly cheap looking, the script never serious, and the performers all seem to be having a good time. This casual, laid back attitude makes Tremors a decent little comedy/horror that is well worth watching
(Comedy/Horror, 1990)
Weird Science (1985)
Idiotic fun
Anthony Michael Hall domination of the early 80's continues with this John Hughes (surprise!) film that gets a bit carried away with the special effects and occasionally forgets about the laughs. The 'plot' is that two teenage boys conjur up a supermodel using their computer, although it's more an excuse for special effect heavy jokes and slapstick humour. There's no denying Kelly LeBrock is a beauty: she just has a little trouble acting. Hall carries the entire movie, and Bill Paxton is superb as the obnoxious older brother. Filled with the Hughes witty teenage talk we all know and love, and naturally both boys get the girls at the end.
Of course, the best thing about Weird Science is that it could only have been made in the 80's. As soon as the Oingo Boingo theme tune kicks in, a tear wells up in the eyes of anyone who lived the eighties. The film also spawned a somewhat successful television show, nine years after the film was released.
(Comedy/Sci-fi, 1985)
The Goonies (1985)
Goonies are good enough for me.
"The" 80's movie. Ask anyone born before 1984 and after 1979 if they have seen The Goonies and a smile will no doubt come across their face. The plot is simple: a group of kids go on a journey to find treasure buried by the amusingly named One Eyed Willie. There's lots of skeletons and booby traps along the way, plus the threat of the Fratelli's, a family of robbers and murderders, catching them.
From the silly chase scene at the start, to the grand finale, The Goonies is infectious entertainment. Although flatly directed by Richard Donner, the special effects and the kids are great fun to watch. The kids act like real kids, and the sharp script by Chris Columbus gives them realistic dialogue. The action scenes are standard Spielberg fare: bats attacking, skeletons popping out, and a deranged piano organ.
Some of the fright effects can get a little grisly for younger children, and the film is usually edited when shown on television. But The Goonies is high adventure all the way, and is well worth a watch at least once.
Bachelor Party (1984)
Tom Hanks in 'funny' shocker!
Bachelor Party has few redeeming features, but it does have one big one: it's funny. Tom Hanks is about to get married, and his friends throw him one big bachelor party. Naked women, large amounts of drinking and a donkey getting high all follow.
Of course, someone wants to ruin the fun, in the form of Hank's bride-to-be father. Naturally, all of his plans to ruin the party are foiled by the motley crew.
Most of the gags in Bachelor Party are tasteless, but that's half of the fun. Not really recommended to devout Christians, but those with open minds will either find this film infectiously silly, or just stupid. It's a nice reminder of what film makers could get away with in the 80's, though. American Pie, it's nearest competitor, is too glossy and slick to be a proper Hollywood soft porn flick. It also has too much of a heart. Bachelor Party just piles on the dirtiness, and throws in a moral at the end, which is the way all 'Porky's' copies should be made (although Party is more fun than Porkys.)
(Comedy, 1984)
Back to the Future Part III (1990)
A fitting end to an entertaining trilogy.
Back to the Future Part III (BTTF 3) is nothing but a western, happening to feature Marty McFly and Doc Brown. There's nothing wrong with this, but fans were probably hoping for a fast paced adventure featuring all four time zones (1885,1955,1985 and 2015) instead of this carefully paced adventure. Serving as an character building movie, BTTF 3 gives the audience a more detailed impression of what's going on inside the Doc's and Marty's head. Mary Steenenburger makes an appearance as the Doc's love interest, and it's great to see how the Doc and Marty's personalities have changed. There's some nice scenes, but the film appears to plod along at some points, and just lacks the whimsy and comedy found in the first installment. The finale is grand however, a great sequence involving an antique train and the Delorean time machine. And the conclusion of the film is fun, but pratically confirms the fans fears: BTTF Part 4 isn't a likely prospect....
Back to the Future (1985)
The most entertaining blockbuster ever.
Inventive, powerful, and wildly good fun, Back to the Future (BTTF) is an amazing film. Pulling off fun jokes and exciting set pieces with ease, BTTF follows the adventures of Marty McFly, as he travels back in time to 1955 to try and get his parents to fall in love. Christopher Lloyd is suitable manic as the off centre Doc Brown, the inventor of the sleek time machine, and Crispin Glover is an absolute standout as the nerdy George McFly. Lea Thompson is memorable as Marty's mom who falls in love with Marty in 1955 (leading to some great gags) and writers Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale ensure the film goes at full speed, and Huey Lewis provides a great anthem in the form of 'The Power of Love.' The sequels never matched the whimsy on display here, and for anyone who enjoys rollicking sci-fi, BTTF is the ultimate good time.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Corny Fun, deserving of cult status
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a cute movie, and really couldn't be anything else than a cult. Tim Curry sure does ham it up as Dr Frank 'N' Furter, and Susan Sarandon never looked better as Janet Weiss. In fact, the whole cast ham it up like pros, except for Peter 'I'm a bit wooden' Hinwood as the thankfully mute Rocky. The tunes are catchy, highlights include 'Damnit Janet' and the infamous 'Time Warp.' The directing and design is suprisingly well done for this type of movie, and has aged rather gracefully. The jokes fall flat, however, and the film suffers a real low point after the lab scene.
While no masterpiece, RHPS is great fun, and is worth it alone to see a young Barry Bostwick (the mayor on 'Spin City') in a teddy.
The Meaning of Life (1983)
Best Python Film: Really Funny.
Arguably the funniest, certainly the best produced, Python film. No plot, just a string of sketches loosely related to different stages of life. While there are misses, there's a huge number of hits, including Mr Creoste, 'Find The Fish' and the supremely funny "Every Sperm Is Sacred." The boys are at their best here, the songs are great, and sadly the film was their biggest box office failure. The film may go a bit out of its way to be tasteless, but if you've got a strong stomach, a wacked out sense of humour, and enjoy the best of British comedy, The Meaning of Life is great (and so is Holy Grail and Life of Brian, of course.)