Reviews
Battle Creek Brawl (1980)
Terrible, terrible, terrible...
Folks, they just don't get any worse than this. The fight scenes are sluggish and uninteresting, not at all up to Chan's standards. In short, it's just too cheesy to be taken seriously as either a comedy or an action picture. If you are looking for a good Jackie Chan picture, see Drunken Master II, Project A, or Wheels on Meals.
Fandango (1985)
Brilliant road movie!
This is truly a gem of a movie. I caught it back in the mid-eighties on cable, and have been a fan ever since. It speaks many truths about coming of age, about one last fling before accepting the responsibilities of adulthood. A group of college buddies in Texas hit the road on a wild trip of adventure and discovery. The film resonates with the feeling of reaching a point in life which, once embarked upon, can never come again. I can't figure out why this film has not yet been released on DVD!!
Black Wax (1983)
Rap pioneer shines in dazzling documentary
Gil Scott-Heron, one of rap's earliest (and unfortunately unknown) pioneers, gets his full due in Black Wax, the 1982 documentary recently reissued on video. Interspliced between performance footage of Scott-Heron and his Midnight Band are vignettes of him walking around Washington D.C., spouting his views on then-President Reagan (dubbed "Ray-Gun") and generally dropping knowledge. The live performance features many of Scott-Heron's best-known hits, including "Johannesburg," "Winter in America," and "Angel Dust," among others. Warm, intelligent, and insightful throughout, Scott-Heron is clearly enjoying himself and the opportunity to espouse his views. A must for any fan of Scott-Heron's, and definitely worth a look for fans of the funkier jazz music of the mid to late 1970's.