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Scary Movie (2000)
A teen 'horror' film worth watching...
For those of you who enjoyed 'Scream', but loathed the onslaught of copy-craps, rejoice! This is better than 'Student Bodies'! Better than 'April Fools Day'! Better than... I can't think of any more horror/comedies... Oh well...
'Scary Movie' essentially (out & out) steals it's story from 'Scream' scene for scene with some 'I Know What...' elements and a plot twist from 'Usual Suspects'. The only difference? Altered dialogue, exaggerated characters, numerous parodic vignettes and heavy, HEAVY doses of EXTREME raunch. Think back to Johnny Depp's death scene in the original 'Nightmare on Elm Street'. Now replace the blood with...
If your mind went straight to the gutter on that one then you'll love this film! Far surpassing the Farrelly's efforts by sheer volume, this film isn't subtle... It's blunt, over-the- top, hit-you-with-everything-all-at-once comedy at it's best.
Unfortunately, even the best has it's flaws. Some of the vignettes are so annoyingly pointless and unfunny that it takes away from the overall flow. Ex.: The "I Know..." flashback scene is funny at first, but soon forgets to be funny and doesn't effect the rest of the film in ANY way! Ex.#2: Although funny, the "Whazzup!?" send-up is seemingly thrown in for no reason! 'Airplane!' had at least SOME semblance of purpose for it's send-ups...
Funny for funny's sake can be funny... But only if it's funny. Either poorly executed or just plain dumb some of the jokes/gags fall short. Note to everyone: Stop laughing at the same gas-passing jokes used in seemingly EVERY comedy nowadays. It's lame. It's old. Stop laughing and it will go away... When the film hits a lull, it resorts to childish, Adam Sandler-esque humor. Nothing wrong with that, but it's still old-hat.
Even with all of it's flaws, 'Scary Movie' is still up to the task of making you laugh out loud. It's the first good film from Keenen Ivory Wayans since 'I'm Gonna Git You Sucka'. It's the first good film in the horror/comedy genre. It's the first good film of the week of July 7, 2000. I liked it. You might. See it anyway!
And oh yeah... This film features a scene with a visual variation on the phrase "Tongue in cheek." Fare warning. Enjoy!
Stryker's War (1985)
"What's a good idea?"
FYI: My comments about 'Stryker's War' are based on the recently released Collector's Edition. I strongly urge you to seek out this version above all others for one reason and one reason only: 'The Making of Thou Shalt Not Kill Except'. Without this vital piece of material the film is without it's glory. The short-story format, retelling of the journey from concept, to production and execution, makes the film ten times more enjoyable, especially for fans of the 'Evil Dead' series of films. The mention of Bruce Campbell (story) and Josh Becker (director, screenplay) "... kicking the story around..." while driving from Tennessee (from the set of 'Evil Dead') to Michigan is a fine example of the insight one gains from this 'Making of...' piece. For true fans.
As for the film itself, based on it's own merits... It's not very good. The film takes place in 1969 during the events of Vietnam and the Manson Family murders. The story revolves around Sgt. Stryker, a man honorably discharged from 'Nam due to an injury sustained in battle. He returns home and retires to his cabin only to soon be faced with a Manson family-esque group (complete with C. Manson look alike leader) terrorizing his loved ones. Stryker meets up with his old war comrades and decides to take back his piece of sanity from the malicious group of the deranged.
Perhaps you could state that the events in the film are in fact a metaphor for the insanity that is war and therefore vicariously is a metaphor for the Vietnam war... Except! Except for the fact that the film is just a silly variation on Rambo, but without the 'great' acting. The novice direction doesn't help, making much of the film bland and boring. The screenplay is definitely uneven despite being fine-tuned for years. The pacing is lop-sided and leaves all of the action in the last act (sans a scene or two in act two). The one bright spot in the production is Joseph LoDuca's (Music Composer) score at times. With a limited budget, the score is capable of making you forget about the sometimes low-production values displayed.
Despite all of it's short-comings... I like this film. I would have loved to have been at the standing-room only premiere of 'Sgt. Stryker's War' back in 1985. I probably wouldn't have liked it as much, seeing as how I was only three years old at the time, but just to be able to say I was one of the first people to see this film would be a kick. I can't really say that about any other film... See this film if you are an 'Evil Dead' fan (it features Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Scott Spiegel, Joseph LoDuca and Josh Becker in various forms of production). See this film if you're a fan of the obscure. Most importantly though, see this film if your a fan of film, but only the Collector's Edition. If you do see the Collector's Edition then you'll understand this...
"What's a good idea?"