View on Film- Movie Reviews w/ Jason Valentine: October 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

View on Film- Halloween Viewing

Greetings True Believers.

Horror films have never been a favorite of mine. There's enough real scary things in the world. But...I do love the Universal Classic monster movies from the 30's and 40's. Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, the Mummy....and the rest are all great films. The best of them is Bride of Frankenstein....which with wicked wit, and atmosphere created the mother of all classic horror.

On Halloween...for about 10 years I have enjoyed two films faithfully on Halloween. Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein....and Love at First Bite.

Way back in the 70's...before cable TV...Abbott and Costello movies were mainstays on Football-less Saturday afternoons. AC meet Frankenstein was far and away my favorite. Universal hit a master stroke putting the monsters....played by almost all the original actors......against Bud and Lou. The key is the monsters played it straight. It is a classic film that deserves to be watched. Vincent Price even makes a cameo apperence!

Now by the time cable graced my house, Love at First Bite was on HBO. I absolutely loved it then, and it still holds up. Count Dracula....oddly enough played by the eternally tanned George Hamilton, is forced to come to America...during the disco 70's. He has to adjust to life, as he courts his true love. It's a great film, that still makes me laugh.

Have a hauntingly good time tonight and please make sure you don't Drink and Drive.

Happy Halloween!

Jason

Friday, October 28, 2011

View on Film- Puss in Boots

Courtesy Dreamworks

Here's my more polished review-

....and here's a more relaxed discussion of the movie.

Everyone have a safe Halloween Weekend!

And Remember to Leave Comments!

Cheers,

Jason

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

My Favorite Term- The Gooch

In our personal lexicon...we all have words that are unique to ourselves. Maybe we turn a phrase with our own personal touch to make it our own. I'm notorious for this....I use "Ding Dong" very liberally....to describe idiots....or even just a thing. I use it because it can usually get a laugh from someone who hasn't heard it before.

That brings me to "The Gooch". The first time I had heard of "The Gooch", he was Arnold Jackson's nemesis on Diff'rent Strokes. Jerry O'Connell character even refers to bad karma as "a Gooch" in Stand by Me.

The Gooch also, just sounds funny. The Gooch, as I most usually refer to it as, is the McGuffin...the unique plot twist, identifier, or whatever that makes it stand out. For example (If you haven't seen the Sixth Sense....skip to the next paragraph) "The Gooch" of the Sixth Sense, is Bruce Willis has actually been dead the entire film.

Also...in a tough crossword puzzle, such as the Sunday New York Times....they have a unique theme clue for a number of its answers. When me and my Dad figure it out....we tell the other that we got "the Gooch" of the puzzle.

Words are fun.

J

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

View on Film- Top 5 Guilty Pleasures

Good Tuesday everyone. Guilty Pleasures.....movies that you know are bad, but you can't help yourself but enjoy them. Many of our strange love comes from childhood. Here are my top 5 for Guiltiest Pleasures......be sure to let me know what yours are!

No. 5- Flash Gordon

This movie would define the it's so bad it's good. The movie is hampered by a woefully weak star (Sam J. Jones) as Flash, but the rest of the cast is game for a spectacular cheesefest. Everyone seems to be having fun, chewing up scenery left and right. Max Von Sydow is a standout as Ming the Merciless. The highlight of the film is the fantastic score and soundtrack by Queen. Members of the band even take credit, for sending the film into a more of a campy arena with their cheeky music.

No 4- Point Break

The pairing of Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze really needs no explanation. The Fast and the Furious screenwriters obviously borrowed a little from Point Break, with the FBI agent going undercover, and finding he enjoys the lifestyle. Good cheese here, even though "where is she now', Lori Petty almost sabotages the film singlehandedly.

No 3- Smokey and the Bandit

The Granddaddy of the Southern Movie genre of the 70's. It's Burt Reynolds at his Movie Star best. It is a RIDICULOUS film, but also mucho fun. I had the pleasure of meeting Burt's co-hort in the film, Country Star Jerry Reed. I was in Jackpot Nevada, and he was the headliner at the casino I was at. He ended up at the poker table where I was playing, and I actually beat him in a few hands. When we were both cashing out, I asked him for his autograph....and he couldn't have been nicer UNTIL, I told him I loved him in Smokey and the Bandit. Apparently, it's not one of his favorites. He did give me his autograph though. He is missed. The sequels are so bad, they're bad. So avoid them, but the original is a not miss!

No 2- Reefer Madness

This is the classic "Warning" film from 1936. The film was trying to show the dangers of smoking "Reefers", and how one can cause you to do serious harm. However you fall on the subject, the heavy-handedness of the material is howlingly funny!

No 1.- Grease 2

I have great love for this film. IT IS god awful, but I adore it anyway. When it premiered on HBO, I was a young 11 years old. I watched it over and over again, just to watch Michelle Pfeiffer. I didn't know girls could be that cute! So Michelle lured me in, and I learned all the songs despite myself. This film is fun to watch with friends, to point out the numerous inconsistancies, flubs, and just bad choices.