Reviews

I started watching this with high hopes. I love mysteries-good ones, that is-and I thought this had possibilities. WRONG. Compared to this, "Friday the 13th" (the original) was a well-structured suspense, with a couple of real surprises. (Actually, I hated it, but there was one performance, however brief, that almost made it worthwhile.) This, on the other hand, is deadly dull. I don't care what happens to the characters because not one of them is well enough written or acted to make to make him or her interesting. I suggest that the writer take some courses in mystery and/or fiction writing and learn how to create a fully-fleshed-out character; otherwise, what's the point?--arnie113

I just saw How the Grinch Stole Christmas the Chuck Jones original) for the zillionth time last night and as always, the sweet simplicity of it moved me enormously. Ron Howard's version was a loud, garish horror, so awful that he should be made to return his Million Dollar Baby Oscar {although he deserved it) to compensate. How could Howard butcher a classic that way? Yes, he's entitled to make his own vision into a film, but he should have reconsidered. This was as arrogant (and as ill-thought out) as the Psycho remake a few years back. Suggestion to filmmakers everywhere: Wheb something is perfect, leave it the hell alone.--arnie113 -- Boy, do I feel stupid. Of course Clint Eastwood directed Baby; that's what I deserve for staying up late and not checking my facts before posting. but Howard is the director of Frost/Nixon, and maybe in penance for Grinch he shouldn't win.

I was 21 years old and still living at home when I saw this. My parents were out to dinner. I was alone in the house except for our Scotch Terrier Missy, and it was a rainy night. I was gripped by the story from the start, and didn't move until it was over. Right before the ending, I was reminded of a quotation from Sherlock Holmes which to paraphrase very roughly said if you've eliminated all other solutions, the one remaining answer, no matter how seemingly impossible, is the correct one. I've been looking for this for almost 43 years, and I'm delighted to tell you all that it's available at fancast.com. Try to watch this with someone you love; it's not something you should watch alone. (P.S. I should add that I've always read a lot of mystery and horror, and this STILL got to me. And it still does.)--arnie113 (Have fun!) P.P.S.--I happen to be a woman, but I think this would scare the hell out of me even if I were a 6'3" fullback!

This is the most disappointing sequel I've seen since Living Free (sequel to Born Free). There is no energy, no commitment, nada. What a letdown. Did Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, et al. show up just because of contract requirements? I almost asked for my money back; now I wish I had. Thankfully, Back To the Future III was very good and revalidated the trilogy. I haven't seen such a depressing fantasy since Neverending Story. When filmmakers commit to a film as wonderfully entertaining as "Back," anyone working on a followup should somehow be required to achieve something as joyously memorable. This was just bad and sad, and better off forgotten.--arnie113

When this came out in 1986, I had no intention of seeing it. There had been too many movies about bratty teenagers for my taste, and there seemed to be no reason to devote a couple of hours to it. Flash forward about ten years, and I finally saw it on one of the premium cable channels. Long story short, at the age of 52, I fell in love with it. I can't count the number of times I've seen it since, and I look forward to enjoying it again. I am particularly fond of Jennifer Grey's work in this; I haven't seen her since in anything that shows her talent as well. (P. S. Of course I own a copy too.) Love it, love it, love it!--arnie113

"Manos: Hands of Fate " is a horror film about a family on vacation who get sucked into a bizarre cult led by a fanatic and his henchman. This flick is so awful that you're actually grateful for the poor sound quality and the abysmal cinematography (if you want to dignify the camera-work with that term); because of those deficiencies. you're spared from being able to hear and see the monumental awfulness of this thing. It somehow is only appropriate that the film's star and screenwriter was a fertilizer salesman. This is definitely the ultimate example of the "so-bad-it's-good" film category. If you can, find the MST3K series version of this; Joel and the bots knew exactly what to do with it. (Even their cruel captors apologized for making them watch this, admitting they'd gone too far.) So curl up on the couch with your significant other and a huge bowl of popcorn, and enjoy!--arnie113

I never could stand this show with its mawkish story lines, saccharine plot resolutions, and (mostly) horrendous acting. I'm sure Michael Landon was a good man--many who knew him apparently loved him, and grieved over his death, but he was never much of an actor. Still, somehow he managed to parlay his good looks and easy charm into a successful television career. And I have particularly resented him for his work on Little House On the Prairie, a series based on the excellent Laura Ingalls Wilder books which he co-produced, turning it into a sugary insult to the original children's books. What a shame.

--arnie113

If someone were to ask me why I love good science fiction movies, I would use Fifth Element as a perfect example. Not only is the film action-packed and visually imaginative, the characters are believable and appealing, and Bruce Willis gives one of his most charismatic performances. I have seen this film several times, and I intend to again. Mila Jovovich proves that she's more than just a model, and Gary Oldman, in a change-of-pace role, is both evil and funny. Chris Tucker's Ruby Rod , though at first annoying, winds up helping Bruce and Mila, and along the way becomes a bit of a hero himself. I do love this movie; obviously Besson had fun with it, and so we do too. It's no Citizen Kane, but then it doesn't pretend to be. If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for? Go enjoy it!