Jackie Brown

A complicated plot for money. Starring: Grier (Above the Law), Jackson (Pulp Fiction), Fonda (A Simple Plan), Keaton (Beetlejuice), DeNiro (Raging Bull), and Tucker (The Fifth Element). I didn't really enjoy this one. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

From Dusk Till Dawn

Written by Tarantino and directed by Rodriquez. Keitel (Pulp Fiction) is a father of two: one is Lewis (Natural Born Killers). Clooney (Up in the Air) and Tarantino are two criminal brothers. They end up at a bar which happens to be a place where vampires trap prey. Hayek (Desperado), Marin (Cheech & Chong Up In Smoke), Trejo (Machete), and Savini (the man that remade Night of the Living Dead). All in all, I say: SEE IT

Four Rooms

These four short stories are all filmed by different directors. There is one thing that they all have in common - a bellhop played by Roth (Pulp Fiction).
"The Missing Ingredient" stars witches played by: Madonna (Desperately Seeking Susan), Skye (Say Anything), Taylor (Almost Human), Witt (Two Weeks Notice), and Golino (Frida).
"The Wrong Man" stars this couple played by: Beals (Flashdance), and Proval (The Siege).
"The Misbehavers" is about a couple of difficult kids left in a room while their parents go out on a date. The parents are played by: Banderas (Desperado) and Tomita (The Day After Tomorrow).
"The Man From Hollywood" finishes the film perfectly. This segment stars: Willis (Pulp Fiction), Calderon (Hostages), and Tarantino himself.
All in all, I say: SEE IT

Natural Born Killers

Although Stone (The Doors) directs this it was written by Tarantino. Harrelson (Cheers) and Lewis (From Dusk to Dawn) go on a killing spree. Sizemore (Red Planet) is on the case to find them and kill them if necessary. It's disturbing and I don't like Stone. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Pulp Fiction

The story of a hitman, a boxer who is supposed to throw a fight but doesn't, a mobster's wife, a couple of thieves, and someone's soul. Written and directed by Tarantino. Willis (Die Hard), Travolta (Staying Alive), Jackson (True Romance), Thurman (Kill Bill), Keitel (Reservoir Dogs), Roth (Reservoir Dogs), Rhames (Mission Impossible), Walken (True Romance), and Arquette (The Big Blue). I love how it is told in vignettes, but it all comes together in the end. There are several plugs for Tennessee in the film. I love, love, love this movie. All in all, I say: SEE IT

True Romance

Written by Tarantino and it does have some of the monologues and characters he is known for. Directed by Scott (Top Gun) this is a movie about a nerd who falls in love with a call girl. Slater (The Name of the ROse) is the nerd, Arquette (Ed Wood) is the call girl. Hopper (Speed), Oldman (The Professional), Pitt (World War Z), Walken (Pulp Fiction), Jackson (Pulp Fiction), Rapaport (Men of Honor), Gandolfini (8MM), and Kilmer (The Missing) as Elvis appear in the cast.

I love, love, love this movie. I have seen it a gazillion times. All in all, I say: SEE IT - I also own the screenplay if you want to read it.

Reservoir Dogs

I remember being one of only about three people to see this at Tara Cinemas in 1992. I thought this movie was amazing, but no one else really did at the time in Atlanta. It was only out about two weeks. Roth (Pulp Fiction) is an undercover cop - Mr. Orange -  that is brought into a heist by Mr. White played by Keitel (Pulp Fiction). Madsen (Kill Bill) is Mr. Blond who is a bit of a psycho, Tarantino himself plays Mr. Brown, Buscemi (Desperado) plays Mr. Pink, and Bunker (Runaway Train) is Mr. Blue. Penn (Pale Rider) is one of the bosses that put the heist together. The film takes place almost entirely in a warehouse after the heist went wrong. I fell in love with Madsen when I saw this film and Tarantino. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Star Trek: Nemesis

Picard meets a younger more Romulan self. He meets his clone. IMDb writes, "After the Enterprise is diverted to the Romulan planet of Romulus, supposedly because they want to negotiate a truce, the Federation soon find out the Romulans are planning an attack on Earth." Hardy (This Means War) plays the clone of Picard. All in all, I say: SEE IT. This is the last of the Next Generation part of Star Trek - after this everything is reset.

Star Trek: Insurrection

Again directed by Frakes. The almighty and moral Federation has conspirators in its midst. IMDb writes, "When the crew of the Enterprise learn of a Federation conspiracy against the inhabitants of a unique planet, Captain Picard begins an open rebellion." The crew goes against the Federation to help the people being experimented on. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Star Trek: First Contact

Frankes directs this film. Borg - yes I know - Borg are to Star Trek what the replicators were to Stargate - a drain on viewers. They go back in time to when Earth made contact with extraterrestrials for the first time. While making sure the historic warp experiment takes place they are also fighting the Borg. There are a lot of explanations on how and why things are the way they are. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it's one of my favorites in the franchise.

Star Trek: Generations

This is the official passing on of the franchise from the Star Trek crew to the Star Trek Next Generation crew. From this point on Next Generation will be at the center of the plots. It was filmed in 1994 when the last of the tv series took place. McDowell (Clockwork Orange) is the bad guy; he wants to kill, well, everyone. Because of a bunch of time space continuum stuff both captains work together; going back and forth in time. All in all, I say: SKIP IT. I liked it at the time it came out - super excited about it - but after years there are better films in this franchise.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

War with the Klingons is a constant subplot throughout all films and the tv series. IMDb writes, "On the eve of retirement, Kirk and McCoy are charged with assassinating the Klingon High Chancellor and imprisoned. The Enterprise crew must help them escape to thwart a conspiracy aimed at sabotaging the last best hope for peace." All in all, I say: SEE IT - the script is a bit better than a couple of the others.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Filmed in 1989 and this time it is directed by Shatner. IMDb writes, "Captain Kirk and his crew must deal with Mr. Spock's long-lost half-brother who hijacks the Enterprise for an obsessive search for God at the center of the galaxy." God makes an appearance. Again, not one I remember a whole lot about and often skipped during movie marathons of Star Trek on tv. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

1986 and again directed by Nimoy the Earth can be saved by bringing two humpbacks whales from Earth past to Earth future. Cheesy plot. This is also the movie where Spock is trying to get all his memories back. All in all, I say: SKIP IT.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

Filmed in 1984 and directed by Nimoy himself. Spock's container/coffin lands on Genesis; the planet that Kirk's son created using the Genesis machine. Things went wrong, but Spock is alive. Problem - he doesn't know anything because his mind was transferred to Dr. McCoy. Kirk has to get the two together.

All in all, I say: SEE IT if you liked Wrath of Khan.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Earth is in danger and the Enterprise must save it. This is the first film after the tv series was cancelled. It came out in 1979. Honestly, I don't remember much of it. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

A Christmas Wish

Swanson () is a mother of three that was abandoned by her no good husband. She works her way north in hopes of finding a job and a home for her kids. She comes to a town that does everything they can to help her get on her feet. Her husband finds her to collect his oldest son - she prays for his return. This movie had potential, but the editing was horrible. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Trading Christmas

Ford (Murphy Brown) wants to surprise her daughter in Boston for the Holidays. Her daughter went to Arizona with her boyfriend and Ford can't go back to Connecticut because she switched houses. Canadian actor Cavanagh (Ed) is a professor that goes to Connecticut to work on his book; his brother's idea (Canadian actor Bellows from Ally McBeal). Ford's friend doesn't know the plan and goes to stay with her friend since her daughter isn't planning on coming home for the holidays. So, you get it I think - both couples fall in love. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Holiday Affair

Leigh (Psycho) is a war widow with a young son. She's been dating Corey (Rear Window) for awhile, but she is really kind of doing it so her son will have a father not because she loves him. Mitchum (North and South) gets her fired close to the eve of Christmas and sort of gets her whole world turned upside down because they fall in love - at first site, but she doesn't want to admit it because she thinks he won't be reliable enough as a father. This is Mitchum at his best - funny and romantic. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Christmas in Connecticut

Stanwyck (Meet John Doe) is a food critic that has been lying to her boss about being the perfect housewife in order to keep her job. Her boss gets the great idea for her to host Christmas at her house for a returning war hero; he hopes to make it a part of a series for the paper. She does everything she can to keep up the charade and falls in love. It is really well written and acted. All in all, I say: SEE IT - in black and white preferably.

The remake! Cannon (Heaven Can Wait) is Stanwyck. IMDb writes, "Elizabeth is the star of a successful cooking show and author of several cookbooks. But when her manager, Alexander sees forest ranger Jefferson, who lost his cabin in a fire, comment on TV about wishing he could get a home-cooked Christmas dinner, he arranges for a special live show on Christmas, for Elizabeth to cook him Christmas Dinner. Only Elizabeth can't cook, and trying to keep Jefferson and the viewing public from finding out on a live show may be a little difficult." All in all, I say: SEE IT

Call Me Mrs. Miracle

Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond) plays Mrs. Merkle who is known to help make miracles happen. She gets a job in a struggling Manhattan store, and helps the owners not only get the store back on its feet, but also helps the father and son owners reconcile. She helps Staite (Firefly) find her path to success while helping her fall in love and meet Johnson (Flash Gordon) the son who owns the department store. Holly (Picket Fences) makes an appearance as Staite's boss. The cast has great chemistry. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Breakfast Club

Iconic, cult classic. A who's who of 80s actors. Hughes' (Home Alone) best ever! Estevez, Ringwald, Sheedy, and Nelson (all from St. Elmos Fire). Hall (Sixteen Candles) also is part of this cast. They play teenagers that have all been assigned to Saturday detention. Each for different reasons. In one day, they learn about each other's fears and hopes. They explore the clique culture of high school and our society. The music is good - the lines are awesome. All in all, I say: what the hell is the matter with you!! Why haven't you seen this!

Bourne Trilogy

I first saw this when it was released as a tv mini-series in 1988.  Smith (Charlie's Angels) is a French woman he meets and falls in love with. Chamberlain (Brothers & Sisters) is the spy. It lacks in action and does not lack in a complicated plot. I was young, so it's possible I just didn't get it.

IMDb writes, "A 1988 television adaptation of Robert Ludlum's thriller. An injured, unconscious man (Richard Chamberlain) washes ashore in a small French town. As he recovers, it becomes quite clear, someone is trying to kill him. Jaclyn Smith co-stars." All in all, I say: SKIP IT

In this movie remake there is tons of action - good action - rewind and watch again action. I don't know about anyone else, but I was shocked to see Damon (Good Will Hunting) is such an action film and super impressed. Potente (Run Lola Run) is the love interest.

So, the CIA is still looking to Bourne - he thought he and his love were hiding. They are found and he has to go on the offensive to survive.  Allen (Face/Off) joins the cast; she uncovers some of the CIAs cover-ups. Urban (Almost Human) is an assassin. Stiles (10 Things I Hate About You) is back and trying to help Bourne this time.

Damon's last before he gave it over to the new guy. This time he is looking for his origins. More and more the program is revealed to the viewer. All in all, I say: SEE ALL OF THEM in order.

Three Colors: Blue, White, Red

Polish writer/director Kieslowski made these three movies that address love, passion, obsession, and death before he died.

Binoche (Dan in Real Life) is trying to move on after the death of her husband and child.

A man wants to get even with his wife. Delpy (Before Sunrise) is the wife. The actors that plays the husband is also in Blue - he doesn't play the husband.

A woman learns a neighbor has been invading people's privacy.  All in all, I say: SEE BLUE - but SKIP the others.

Blade Runner

I did not understand this film when I first saw - years later I watched it again and was blown away. There is a reason this is a cult classic. Rumor is someone is planning a remake - not sure about this. The original was gritty and was made with some actors the likes of which I don't know we have currently.

Ford (Ender's Game) is a cop - a special cop that is apart of a special unit. IMDb writes, "In the future, "replicants," artificially created and cybernetically enhanced beings, are indistinguishable from naturally born human beings, but are not entitled to the same rights as natural humans. Out of fear, society has deemed their freedom a liability and danger for the general populace. As a result, the "Blade Runner" unit was created as a specialized section of the police. Blade Runners are essentially bounty hunters, and are required to hunt down and "retire" rogue replicants. In other words, Blade Runners are tasked with the execution of replicants." Hauer (Sin City) is a rogue as is Hannah (Splash). Young (No Way Out) is Ford's love interest. Olmos (2 Guns) and Walsh (Wild Wild WesT) also star. All in all, I say: SEE IT. You really can't go wrong with a Scott (Aliens) film.

Blade Saga

I believe this is based on a graphic novel. A half-vampire that can go into the light. Snipes (Demolition Man) is Blade and yes, he uses blades to kill the vampires. Dorff (Immortals) is the bad guy vampire that is out to destroy the old ways and find a way to become like Blade. Kristofferson (Dolphin Tale 2) is a scientist that has raised Blade and trained him. The action is good - Dorff is a good bad guy. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Same main characters, but this time the bad guy is a group of what they call Reapers - vampires that feed on other vampires. Super creepy because this one is done by del Toro. This means Perlman (Pacific Rim) is in this like almost all other del Toro films. Reedus (Walking Dead) is also in this. Blade works with Vampires to kill these Reapers. The action was pretty good. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you are going to do the entire saga.

Trinity - get it. Purcell (Prison Break) plays Dracula. Posey (Dazed & Confused), Biel (Valentine's Day), and Reynolds (Green Lantern) also appear in this third movie about Blade. Blade is wanted and is working with a group of vampire killers to kill the ultimate bad guy - Dracula. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you are seeing everyone in the series. The blade work is always amazing.

Between the second and third movie was this tv series about Blade. The show kind of took a turn - Wagner (Junebug) was more popular with audiences, and Jackson (Quantum of Solace) was much, much sexier. It only lasted a season - they sort of lost focus and had too much going on at once. I think it is the writing and poor casting on the part of Blade that did it in. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - does nothing for the franchise.

There is also a animated series that takes place in Asia, but I don't do cartoons.

Black Hawk Down

IMDb writes, "123 elite U.S. soldiers drop into Somalia to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord and find themselves in a desperate battle with a large force of heavily-armed Somalis." Scott (Alien) directs this very well done war movie based on a true story. The soundtrack is amazing. Hartnett (Pearl Harbor), McGregor (Trainspotting), Sizemore (Red Planet), Bana (The Hulk), Fichtner (Crossing Lines), Shepard (The Right Stuff), Coates (Sons of Anarchy), and Dancy (King Arthur) are some of the soldiers. All in all, I say: SEE IT after you read it.

Amazon describes the plot as, "Ninety-nine elite American soldiers are trapped in the middle of a hostile city. As night falls, they are surrounded by thousands of enemy gunmen. Their wounded are bleeding to death. Their ammunition and supplies are dwindling. This is the story of how they got there-and how they fought their way out. This is the story of war. Black Hawk Down drops you into a crowded marketplace in the heart of Mogadishu, Somalia with the U.S. Special Forces-and puts you in the middle of the most intense firefight American soldiers have fought since the Vietnam War. Late in the afternoon of Sunday, October 3, 1993, the soldiers of Task Force Ranger were sent on a mission to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord and return to base. It was supposed to take them about an hour. Instead, they were pinned down through a long and terrible night in a hostile city, locked in a desperate struggle to kill or be killed. When the unit was finally rescued the following morning, eighteen American soldiers were dead and dozens more badly injured. The Somali toll was far worse: more than five hundred killed and over a thousand wounded." 

My dad read this; he loves these war bios. I never really got into many of them, but this one blew me away. I heard a review of it on NPR and didn't remember hearing much about Somalia in the news, so I did some research. Everyone in the US - media and all blamed Clinton, but it was a UN mission and not a US mission. It was poorly handled though - we (the world) was just beginning to get the hang of how urban warfare should be fought. Also, we (US) didn't seem to have much experience with a country in anarchy like Somalia. Very interesting. It will make you cry - the ending of both the book and movie brought tears that would not stop. All in all, I say: READ IT.

Better off Dead

Classic 80s Cusack (Say Anything)! IMDb writes, "A teenager has to deal with his girlfriend dumping him among family crises, homicidal paper boys, and a rival skier." He meets an exchange student from France. It's a clever script. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Best in Show

Guest (This is Spinal Tap) does it again with this gem about dog shows. Levy (Waiting for Guffman), O'Hara (Away We Go), Posey (Dazed and Confused), and Balaban (Gosford Park). If you like dogs - this is too funny to pass up. I love that they are so serious - it makes it so reidiculous. All in all, I say: SEE IT.

Band of Brothers

Put together by Dreamworks (Spielberg) and Tom Hanks for HBO. IMDb writes, "This is the story of "E" Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division from their initial training starting in 1942 to the end of World War II. They parachuted behind enemy lines in the early hours of D-Day in support of the landings at Utah beach, participated in the liberation of Carentan and again parachuted into action during Operation Market Garden. They also liberated a concentration camp and were the first to enter Hitler's mountain retreat in Berchtesgarten. A fascinating tale of comradeship that is, in the end, a tale of ordinary men who did extraordinary things." The cast is amazing, but I'm only going to mention two, Livingston (Office Space) and Lewis (Homeland). All in all, I say: SEE IT – absolutely amazing. 

American President

Reiner (The Story of Us) directs this clever film. This is my kind of quick witted, sarcastic romantic comedy. This is Sorkin (West Wing) at his best - he wrote the screenplay.  Douglas (Falling Down) is the widowed President. Bening (The Siege) is an environmentalist lobbyist that falls in love with him. Sheen (West Wing) is the President's Chief of Staff. Fox (Family Ties) is an advisor. It is simply amazing. All in all, I say: SEE IT.

Amelie

Jeunet (A Very Long Engagement) writes and directs this imaginative and brilliant film. IMDb writes, "Amelie, an innocent and naive girl in Paris, with her own sense of justice, decides to help those around her and along the way, discovers love." Tautou (Dirty Pretty Things) is simple and amazing. It's clever and the narrator is not annoying and quite funny. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Alien Saga

A mining vessel Nostromo (interestingly enough Conrad wrote a book called Nostromo which was about a mining town) is diverted from its path by the corporation that owns it to answer a distress signal. The first film was released in 1979. Skerritt (Top Gun) is the captain, Weaver (Avatar) plays Ripley who is second in command, and Stanton (The Green Mile) is part of the crew with Hurt (Hellboy) who becomes infected. Holm (The Fifth Element) is the artificial intelligence on board. When the crew inspects a crash of a very alien ship one of them gets something stuck to their face. It turns out the creature plants an egg in the person's stomach and then falls off. The egg grows and punches through the persons chest to escape. They have acid for blood and they follow a queen who lays the eggs. The size of the alien depends on the size of the creature they come out of. Super scary - good use of music to add suspense - they learned from Spielberg. Scott (Blade Runner) directed this. All in all, I say: SEE IT.

Released in 1986 Ripley who was the only person to survive in a cryo-pod is found by a space trash crew. Her story is not believed and she is given a night job operating a space crane until the company receives a distress call from the planet that Weaver's crew picked up the alien. The company wants one of the aliens to study and use in warfare - the military crew wants to find survivors. Weaver wants a chance to end her nightmares and save the innocent lives that were tricked into living on the planet. Biehn (Terminator) is the leader of the Marines. Paxton (Apollo 13) is one of his men. What they find when they land - a ton of aliens including the queen and a little girl. Reiser (My Two Dads) is the bad guy. Henrikson (Terminator) is the artificial human. This movie is what gave me the name of my blog. "Get away from her you bitch!" I love, love this movie. Cameron (Terminator) writes and directs this. All in all, I say: SEE IT - even if you don't see the others see this one.

FIncher () directs this third film in the series. Ripley is again the only survivor when her cryo-pod ends up on a prison planet. An alien climbed aboard her ship and takes out the tubes of the little girl and Biehn. Parts of Henrikson make it, too. The planet only has men. The alien winds up in a dog and then in  person - turns out Ripley has one inside her, too. Problem - the planet has no weapons and when the company finds out Weaver and the alien have survived they send a crew to get the species. Ripley takes it with her to her death at the end. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you liked the others otherwise skip it.

The company managed to collect Ripley's DNA and they are trying to clone her. The problem is the alien DNA is in there, too. What they end up with is a Ripley that is super strong with acid like blood. The artificial intelligence is Ryder (Dracula). The company has been cloning on a ship and one of them escapes wrecking havoc. The ship is headed to earth and Ripley and the remaining crew will do anything to prevent that. Jeunet (City of Lost Children) directed this one and uses his favorite actors: Pinon (Amelie) and Perlman (City of Lost Children). All in all, I say: SEE IT if you are seeing the others. If not, then skip it.

Airplane!

I am NOT one for screwball comedies, but this movie that was released in 1980 tickled my fancy. This movie and Spaceballs are the only two of their kind that I like. They make fun of other movies in the genre. Spaceballs makes fun of all the space movies that came out in the 80s and 90s - Airplane makes fun of all the disaster movies that were out in the 70s and 80s. If I had seen this movie for the first time recently I probably would have hated it, but seeing it in the 80s has given it a special place in my heart. There is so much going on in this. Bridges (High Noon) is in charge in the airport and every time we see him he says he picked the wrong day to quit ... fill in the blank - smoking or doing crack - funny! Hays (Homeward Bound) has a drinking problem which means no matter what he's drinking, water or coke, he spills it on himself - love it! There is a scene with the flight crew that is funny because the pilots name is Oveur. Basically, the crew is poisoned and a pilot that is now afraid of flying has to land the plane and all sorts of things go wrong. The running gag is, "And don't call me Shirley." All in all, I say: SEE IT and none of the sequels.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

I think this should have been a two parter and the third book should have been one. Same plot as the book - not much was left out per say (although yes, some important stuff I think was left out) - it just all happened very quickly. Same main characters - some new blood added. Hoffman (The Master) plays the new game maker and Malone (Hatfields and McCoys) plays Johanna - she is NOT in Mockingjay FYI, so enjoy her performance while you can - she does an amazing job. All in all, I say: SEE IT after you have read the books. I had the same emotional response to the film that I had when I read the book. I still like the first in the series, but this one was very emotional - I cried several times - book and movie.

2 Guns

Washington (Deja Vu) is a DEA agent who thinks he's working with a crook. Wahlberg (Four Brothers) is Naval Intelligence who thinks he's working with a crook. A naval officer (Marsden from 27 Dresses) who is in cahoots with a DEA agent (Patton from Deja Vu) trick the two into thinking they are robbing a drug kingpin (Olmos from Stand and Deliver). In reality they just took 40 million plus from the CIA (Paxton from Aliens). I think you see where this is going - the plot is nothing new. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - the action wasn't that great and neither was the humor.

When You Reach Me

Miranda is coming to the end of 6th grade. Her best friend, Sal, wants distance. Two girls in her class want to become friends. A boy has a crush on her. She gets a part time job. Her mom's boyfriend wants a key. Then three letters show up - letters from the future. This is the perfect mystery for Miranda because her favorite novel of all time is A Wrinkle in Time. The book takes place in the 70s. It's very well written, and a quick read. All in all, I say: READ IT - see if you can solve the mystery.