channel_3_tv's Reviews

Blue Thunder (1983)

9/10

7 January 2005

John Badham is a curious director and I think he gets it right in this one. After all Roy Scheider never stunk it up in his illustrious career and he hits all the right notes in this one as Frank Murphy the Vietnam Vet trying to escape the memories of his war experience. When Malcolm McDowell shows up (and honestly, who plays an a--hole better than McDowell in his heyday?) to become Murphy's nemesis. The very underrated Warren Oates as the crotchety commanding officer and Candy Clark as Murphy's girlfriend, who is the ultimate heroine of the plot, turn in solid performances. The helicopter clearly steals the show though as anyone between the ages of 7 and 21 had to just be glued to the screen watching that bird strut its stuff. Great action sequences and rather good photography during the climactic chase scene.

I still have fond memories of this film which I saw in the drive in as a kid and I think it's what films of this genre should be...a couple of hours of wild fun!..."Follow My Leader"

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Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

8/10

A Fun Christmas Horror Flick

21 December 2004

Warning: Spoilers

Christmas off limits for the horror genre? Think again as the cult classic "Silent Night Deadly Night" turns in the hat trick of all good horror films, blood, nudity and unintentional comedy. Billy goes with his family to see Grandpa (who is supposedly catatonic) but Grandpa is alive and OK not so well but anyway he tells Billy that Santa Clause punishes bad kids and he tells Billy if he sees Santa to "run for your life." Lo and behold Santa shows up and kills Billy's parents as Billy runs off saving himself and his baby brother. The orphanage they are sent to is not a nice place as Mother Superior is constantly punishing Billy. Finally the kid has had enough and now as a built 18 year old man he snaps and decides its time to exact a little revenge for everything he's been through.

Billy goes on a killing spree in a toy store where he worked, killing some partying co-eds and pretty much everyone he comes across. This movie is hilarious and also has some good slasher film moments (the girl impaled on deer antlers is a nice touch).

Not poorly acted or directed it's a fun film that of course should not be taken seriously but only as a couple of hours of mind numbing fun.

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Coneheads (1993)

10/10

An Under-appreciated Gem!

15 December 2004

Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin reprise their roles from Saturday Night Live on to the big screen. The film is filled with countless classic cameos that really make this film. Jason Alexander as the follically challenged neighbor and Chris Farley as Connie Conehead's boyfriend are especially hilarious. I really wondered if you could pull off a feature film from basically a 5 minute TV skit...but the script is so well written with so many funny jokes...David Spade is another who delivers line after line as the smarmy kiss butt assistant to Michael McKean's character. But its the talent of Aykroyd and Curtin, two comedy veterans who really drive this one home. Laughs all around, I loved it!

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Donnie Brasco (1997)

9/10

Johnny Depp at the top of his game

9 March 2004

A good actor is one who we forget is on the screen seeing the character rather than the performer. Johnny Depp seems to achieve this often in his career and once again we are treated to an outstanding performance in Donnie Brasco. Depp plays FBI Agent Joe Pistone who goes undercover to infiltrate a New york mob family. Hollywood has been there done that with this subject matter many times over but this film has a feel that is different than most of those over the top productions. Joe Pistone becomes his alter ego Donnie Brasco, blurring the line between his job and reality. This is an intricate character study not a film full of flying bullets and cheesy bravado. Depp and Al Pacino both give Oscar worthy efforts as you see the fondness develop between their characters over the course of the story making the inevitable ending that much tougher for Pistone to deal with.

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Moscow on the Hudson (1984)

10/10

Williams Best Performance!

8 March 2004

Robin Williams delivers the best performance of his storied career (yes I know he won an Oscar for Good Will Hunting) as Vladimir Ivanoff a Russian musician who takes a chance at freedom in America. Released in 1984 during the height of U.S. Russian tension, director Paul Mazursky doesn't villify Russia instead using it as an opportunity to show how similar the people are to Americans. Noteworthy performances by Maria Conchita Alonso (as his eventual girlfriend) and Cleavant Derricks (as the Bloomingdales security guard who takes an immediate liking to Vladimir). Mazursky walks the line of schmaltz at times but doesn't cross over. Especially evident in a well done scene when Vladimir finds out about the death of his beloved grandfather. Moscow on the Hudson is an often overlooked film that to me stood out as one worth watching again and again.

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