Chevy Chase Shines in Fletch

Chevy Chase, one of the many "Not Ready for Primetime" players who went to the big screen, is in a new movie called "Fletch." This movie plays to his strength of improvising. He must play a dozen different characters and each is more hilarious than the last. Chase plays "Fletch," the title role, a reporter for a Los Angeles newspaper. He writes under the byline Jane Doe in order to protect his identity. Fletch writes investigative pieces about the seamier side of life in LA. He's currently investigating the drug trade at the beach and goes undercover as a bum. While hanging out at the beach, a well-dressed and clearly wealthy man named Alan Stanwyck approaches Fletch and makes him a proposal. Stanwyck claims to be a dying man and wants Fletch to shoot him so his wife can receive the insurance money. He will pay Fletch $50,000 to do the job and disappear. He's intrigued and agrees to do it. Naturally his investigative instinct takes over and he checks out Stanwyck's story. We realize there is more to the story than meets the eye. During the course of the investigation, Fletch gets into situations and talks his way out of trouble. This is classic Chevy Chase. He plays Dr. Rosenpenis, an LA Laker, Harry S. Truman, and Igor Stravinski among others. His harried boss is close to the brink of a nervous breakdown as Fletch's antics cause him trouble. But in the end, Fletch delivers a hell of a story about Stanwyck, a corrupt cop and the drug trade. Chase is at his best getting into and out of trouble in his usual "charming" manner. The plot is intricate enough to make it interesting and believable. You find yourself rooting for Fletch to uncover the truth and expose the bad guys. "Fletch" is well worth seeing. I hope Chase can find more roles like these.

Watching Movies on an Airplane

Not every movie is best seen while flying. This is a conclusion I drew after several twelve hour flights that I had to take recently. While it is much better to try and sleep on planes, who can resist watching a few movies? Especially on the newer planes that have individual seat screens where each passenger can choose what movie to watch and when to watch it. This is a huge advance from the one showing -- you snooze, you lose -- traditional view of in-flight entertainment. Yet even the new system is not perfect.
The screens are small so full blown action features just don't work. Take my advice, if one of the options is a violent, military or law and order flick, wait until you can see it in a movie theater. You will just lose most of the effects that major action films spend millions of dollars on these days.
The other problem is with the sound. Airplane headphones are just awful and key dialogue is often missed. I have no idea why the airline entertainment gurus don't give passengers the option to view movies with subtitles. I mean, every DVD these days has such an option. It would make viewing much better. As it is, steer clear of movies with complicated plot and lots of dialogue.
I would say that without violent pictures or those with interesting plots, you might be left with romance movies. Yet the problem is that to be shown on an airplane, all the interesting bits of romance movies have been censored out. What results is just plain (no pun intended) boring. Skip the romance flicks.
I guess that leaves comedy movies, but try not to laugh out loud. Nothing will disturb fellow travelers more that a guy laughing loudly in the next seat. Plus, most comedy movies these days are just not funny. I can't remember the last time I saw a "laugh out loud" movie. Where are Chevy Chase and Steve Martin these days?
On second thought, skip all the movies. Get your sleep and hit the cinema after you land!

Beverly Hills Cop Packs a Punch

"Beverly Hills Cop" is a great cop buddy movie, but it's really Eddie Murphy's film. He dominates every scene with his wise-ass comments, defying authority, and pushing the edge of the envelope. He's a Detroit cop who lands in Beverly HIills where he's a fish out of water. Being out of his element makes for some very funny moments. Murphy's previous movie "Trading Places" showcased his comedic talents but "Beverly Hills Cop" raises him to leading star status. The movie starts with Murphy as Detective Axel Foley getting a visit from his childhood friend, Mikey, who landed a job in California working for an art dealer through another childhood friend, Jenny. He ends up shot because Mikey took some bearer bonds from his employer. Foley takes vacation time to find his friend's killer, which takes him to tony Beverly Hills, a far cry from the streets of Detroit. Foley reconnects with Jenny who takes him to Victor Maitland, Mikey's former boss. He's thrown out and ends up catching the attention of Sergeant Taggart and Detective Rosewood. Their boss assigns them to watch Foley while he's in Beverly Hills on "vacation" to keep him out of trouble. The three cops end up teaming together to take down the evil Maitland, who's dealing drugs and illegal bearer bonds. I don't want to reveal every comic scene between the straight-laced, by-the-book Beverly Hills cops and the rough and tumble Detroit cop, but the chemistry is great. Foley cannot believe the grandeur of the BH Police Department, as well as the "I'm better than you" attitude of the population of this famous zip code. In the beginning, Foley questioned Taggart and Rosewood's ability to follow one's instincts and disregard regulations for the sake of catching a killer. By the end, the cops are allies and friends. "Beverly Hills Cop" has great action scenes and, of course, plenty of humor. It's worth the price of the ticket.

A Remarkable Performance by Hoffman

"Tootsie" is about a down and out actor named Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) who cannot land a role because he's considered "difficult." In an act of desperation, Dorsey tries for the part of a hospital administrator on a popular soap opera. But the part is for a female. He ends up cross dressing for the role, and becomes hired! Dorsey justifies taking the role because it pays great money and he needs the funds to finance a play he's written. Hoffman has shown his versatility and talent over the years, but I have to admit that playing "Dorothy Michael" has to be his best performance yet. As Dorsey playing Dorothy, he gets a glimpse of life from a woman's perspective and discovers that women are not taken so seriously, especially when having to deal with a letcherous director. While "Dorothy" is not young and beautiful, "she" sees how limited women are when youth (and an amorous director) are the key to success.
Dorothy's life becomes complicated when "she" finds herself falling for Julie (Jessica Lange) another actress on the soap opera. Julie tells Dorothy that she likes her, but not in that way. To further complicate matters, Julie's father (Charles Durning) starts to fall for Dorothy and eventually proposes to "her"! And Dorsey's close friend Sandy (Teri Garr) is upset that some frumpy actress (Dorsey) got the part she auditioned for. Dorothy has become a very popular character on the show and finds herself on the cover of magazines. Dorsey's roomate (Bill Murray) and his agent (Sydney Pollack) are the two allys who support what he's doing. Events are spiraling out of control, and Dorsey has to finally "reveal" himself for what he is. "Tootsie" is a wonderful movie with many brilliant performances, but especially Dustin Hoffman's. After years of serious roles in movies like "All the President's Men," "Kramer vs. Kramer," and "Midnight Cowboy," "Tootise" is his breakout comedy role.

The Blues Brothers: Classic Musical Comedy

If you're of the generation who grew up with the "Not Ready for Primetime" players, also known as the original talent on Saturday Night Live, you can appreciate this movie. Seeing the Blues Brothers on the big screen is awesome. It started as a musical skit by Dan Akroyd and John Belushi playing Elwood and Jake Blues on SNL. What a talent Belushi was. What a waste that he died so young. In the movie, which is a who's who from the R&B world, Jake has been released from the prison. He and Elwood take it upon themselves to raise $5000 to pay off the tax debt of their childhood orphanage. This becomes a "mission from God." The brothers want to reunite their band. En route to convince the various band members to rejoin Elwood and Jake, they make enemies with the Illinois State Police, as well as a group of neo-Nazis. There's also a mysterious woman (Carrie Fisher) who appears often trying to launch attacks on the brothers, unsuccessfully. The musical talent in this movie is fabulous. James Brown plays a choirmaster. Aretha Franklin sings "Think." Cab Calloway performs "Minnie the Moocher." The Blues Brothers play an array of songs, and more. Not only are you entertained by the comic antics of Akroyd and Belushi as the collect their bandmates, and the all the trouble which follows them, the soundtrack itself can stand on its own. There's a hysterical scene where the band ends up at a country western bar with a discriminating audience. They're a blues band, and they don't play C&W. Luckily they start playing the theme from "Rawhide," before they're physically assaulted for offending the clientele. "The Blues Brothers" is very silly, but highly entertaining from a musical and comedic perspective. I loved the deadpan, straight-laced Elwood Blues character, and Belushi was great as the take charge Jake Blues. It's also fun to see the many cameo appearances throughout the movies. See if you can name them all.

Ghostbusters Delivers the Laughs

If Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd headline a movie, chances are excellent that audiences will love it. "Ghostbusters," written by Akroyd and Harold Ramis, who also starred in the movie, is about a group of scientists who fancy themselves "paranormal investigators and eliminators." In other words, "ghostbusters." After their grant from Columbia University is terminated, Murray, Akroyd and Ramis decide to set up shop on their own. They buy an old firehouse, dilapidated ambulance, hire a secretary, then advertise their special skills on television. Ghosts are coming out of the woodwork, and the scientists find themselves busy capturing hundreds of them while increasing the ghostbusters' visibility and popularity. In the meantime, something evil is brewing in a beautiful young woman's refrigerator. Murray's character becomes interested in a new client, Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver). She heard something growling in her refrigerator, then eggs started flying out and frying on her kitchen counter. The ghostbusters don't see anything unusual, but take readings with their equipment. Later, Dana becomes imprisoned and forced into her kitchen by some unseen force. Apparently the rooftop of Dana's building is the portal for an evil force to enter the world. The ghostbusters use all their resources to save New York. The chemistry among the characters is fun to watch, especially while they're in the middle of a "job." Rick Moranis plays the supernerd neighbor of Dana Barrett. He only has a few scenes, but they're very funny. "Ghostbusters" is highly entertaining. If you're looking for laughs, this is the one to see.

Airplane goes for the funny bone

The movie "Airplane" is a laugh-out-loud, hysterically funny movie. I give it two arms up, way up. This movie doesn't have a political message or pull at the heartstrings or make you reflect on personal issues. Not in the least! It's simply one of those movies you watch for the pure entertainment value because sometimes it's nice to just laugh your head off. That is what you get with "Airplane." If you've ever watched airplane disaster movies, then you'll appreciate this spoof even more. Written and directed by Jerry and David Zucker and Jim Abrahams, "Airplane" stars several serious actors: Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, Leslie Nielsen and Peter Graves. When you hear those names, you think drama, not comedy. Well this talented writing and directing team was brilliant to cast these men as the fall guys or the "butt of many jokes," as it were. That's what makes this movie work. The plot revolves around a young fighter pilot named Ted Striker who's lost his girl and lost his nerve to fly jets. He's a passenger aboard a domestic flight whose crew is stricken ill from food poisoning. Also on board is Striker's former girlfriend who's a flight attendant. It is up to Striker to overcome his fear and land the plane safely. It doesn't take a genius to figure out if Striker succeeds and gets the girl. Several cameo appearances include basketball legend Kareem Abdhul-Jabbar and Barbara Billingsley, the mother from "Leave it to Beaver" who plays a passenger who speaks "jive." You have to see it to believe it. So check out "Airplane" for a great time and prepare to be entertained.

The Naked Gun Evokes Belly Laughs

Years ago, the writing and producing talents of brothers Jerry and David Zucker and Jim Abrahams created the classic Police Squad series (only six produced), which introduced straight man actor Leslie Nielsen to the world of comedy. He portrayed Lt. Frank Drebin, a serious police officer who's oblivious to the silly antics and ribald humor happening around him. Somehow Drebin manages to keep a straight face and do his job. That is the genius of casting Nielsen who evokes the belly laughs because he has no clue. Now years later, the team of Zucker and Abrahams return with "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad," and bring it to the big screen. I watched the movie with great expectation. I knew I would laugh and groan at some of the outlandish scenes and off-color jokes. The story is straightforward: Queen Elizabeth is visiting the United States, and Police Squad is responsible for Her Majesty's security. They unwittingly uncover an assassination plot. Lt. Drebin and his colleagues must figure out who is behind it and how to foil the dastardly plot. During the course of his investigation, Drebin falls for the beautiful Jane Spencer, an assistant to evil businessman Victor Ludwig. It is Ludwig's diabolical plan to use a hypnotic device on an innocent baseball player to assassinate the Queen. Along the way we are treated to Leslie Nielsen's deadpan delivery and one-liners, as well as scenes bordering on the tasteless. I don't want to give anything away, but I almost lost it watching one scene when Drebin unknowlingly left a microphone attached to his lapel while he visited the men's room during a televised press conference. Just trust me when I say that you'll leave the theater laughing.

Hairspray is a Fun Time

John Water's cult classic "Hairspray" was remade with budding young star Nikki Blonsky. A young woman who saw injustice and took it upon herself to change her part of the world. This musical was set in segregated Baltimore in 1962. Tracy Turnblad, an idealistic young high school student whose dream is to be one of the "Council Kids" on "Corny Collins Show," happens to be overweight and not part of the "in" crowd. When an opportunity presents itself to audition for the teen dance show, she's summarily dismissed by Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer) who deems Tracy's appearance and views on integration not compatible with WYZT station's views. Once a month, time is dedicated to the black kids to dance with DJ host Motormouth Maybelle, ably portrayed by Queen Latifah. Tracy befriends a group of black kids who teach her some new dance moves and ultimately help her to land a spot on "Corny Collins Show." Tracy becomes the hit of the show much to Velma's disgust. Velma wants to ensure that her daughter Amber is named "Miss Hairspray," the popularity contest to be held that week, and will impress talent agents from Broadway. Tracy sees how unfair segregation is to her black friends and doesn't understand why Baltimore simply can not integrate. She organizes a protest march calling in WYZT to abandon its segregation policy. Tracy gets in trouble and must hide out until the "Miss Hairspray" contest. With the help of her friends and parents, Tracy sneaks into the station and ultimately helps integrate the show. The good guys win and the handsome leading man kisses the plus-sized heroine. While the musical has wonderful song and dance numbers and many touches of comic relief, especially scenes with Edna Turnblad, magnificently played by John Travolta, you never escape the racial undertone of life in segregated Baltimore. Enjoy "Hairspray" for its highly entertaining talented cast, and appreciate the historical significance of its story.

A fun time at the movies with Shrek

I admit freely, with no reservations, that I enjoy watching animated films. I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a 45-year-old female with teenage children who will sit in a crowded theater laughing, singing, or crying with young children who are not my own. Something about these films capture my fascination and attention every time, if they're done well. Nowadays film companies like Disney and Dreamworks produce scripts with subtle adult humor (clean, of course) or make references to events which children are not likely to grasp. I appreciate that. I recently attended a screening of Shrek, the latest by DreamWorks. It's just the kind of money I love to watch in the theatre with my giant tub of popcorn and large Coke. The story is based on a children's book by William Steig. A fearsome ogre's quiet sanctuary in the swamp is overrun by fairytale creatures who are banished from Lord Farquaad's kingdom. Shrek the ogre strikes a deal wtih Farquaad. If Shrek brings back Princess Fiona, who will be Farquaad's bride, then he will restore order to Shrek's swamp. Along the way an endearing Donkey joins Shrek's quest and becomes an unlikely companion. Shrek also finds himself falling for the Princess but she's intent upon receiving true love's first kiss. The voices of Shrek, Donkey, Princess Fiona and Lord Farquaad are Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow, respectively. They're perfectly matched with these characters. The chemistry between Myer's overbearing and self centered Shrek is perfect with the manic personality of Murphy's Donkey. Murphy has played the humorous sidekick in several animated films, and he does it very, very well. Throughout the movie you find yourself rooting for Shrek and Fiona, while you boo and hiss at the evil Lord Farquaad. All the elements of a great animated film are present in "Shrek": romance, humor, the evil ruler, and of course, the happily-ever-after ending. You should willingly accompany your children to this film, which will become a classic over time. Laugh out loud or feel sad for Shrek. Whatever your emotions may be, this film is for the ENTIRE family. I think I enjoyed it more than most children!

Prepare for a Thrilling Adventure in Jurassic Park

"Jurassic Park" the movie is based on Michael Crichton's bestseller of the same name. Jurassic Park is the name of an amusement park in Isla Nublar which showcases cloned dinosaurs. The owner of the project is John Hammond, who is fascinated by dinosaurs, as are we all. His scientists extracted DNA from dinosaur blood found in mosquitos which fed on these creatures millions of years ago. Apparently filling the gap with DNA from frogs (I'm not a scientist, so don't ask me how this works) gives them enough genetic material to clone dinosaurs. Hammond decided to breed velociraptors, T- Rex, triceratops, and many others in order to create a dinosaur world where scientists can study them, but allow the general public a glimpse into their lives. But we all know that trying to create life, whether it's Frankenstein or dinosaurs, can lead to deadly outcomes. Hammond hires a reknowned paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant, and two other scientists, Dr. Ellie Sattler and Dr. Ian Malcolm to evaluate the viability of this dinosaur "amusement park." It will be a decision they soon regret. Before you know it, velociraptors, which are highly intelligent, deadly creatures are running amok. Security systems are blown and chaos ensues. There is an amazing chase scene with a T-Rex. The computer-generated images used of the various dinosaurs are so realistic. My heart was in my throat a number of times. It truly appears as if the characters are interacting with dinosaurs. The sounds and movements are so precise. You wonder if the heroes of the movie will survive the cunning of these creatures. It was highly entertaining to watch this edge-of-your-seat thriller. It also makes you realize that no matter how controlled a scientific experiment may be, there is a great risk that nature will take over and you lose control. I'd much rather see stuffed dinosaurs in a museum than one in "Jurassic Park." But for purely entertainment value, I'd highly recommend "Jurassic Park" the fictional movie.

The Sound of Music Will Always Warm Our Hearts

Over forty years ago, a beloved musical musical made its debut on the movie screen. "The Sound of Music" earned Best Picture, Best Director and numerous other awards for its beautifully choreagraphed, written, acted, sung, and filmed story based on the Von Trapp family of Austria. If you started humming "Do Re Mi" among a group of people, everyone will join in. It's just one of those universal movies which stay which stay with you forever and entertains generation after generation. It's a love story between a governess and her charges as well as a love story between a man and a woman set in the beautiful country of Austria. We cannot forget that throughout the movie we learn about the rise of Hitler's power and Austria's and Captain Von Trapp's resistence to this evil force. We care about the Von Trapps, and that's what makes this movie so endearing and moving. Julie Andrews is Maria, and I cannot imagine anyone else in this role. She has perfect combination of innocence, chutzpah, ingenuity and strength to win over her seven charges, as well as the stoic and rigid Captain Von Trapp played by Christopher Plummer. There are several wonderful scenes where Maria confronts the Captain as she advocates for the children's needs only to be turned down, but we see that his resolve is slowly diminishing. We are treated to so many wonderful songs, such as, "My Favorite Things," "Climb Every Mountain," "Edelweiss," and "The Sound of Music." In the end, we root for the Von Trapps to escape Austria as they flee from the Nazi soldiers. We feel terrible that they must abandon their home and homeland, but we leave the movie sensing that they're going to be all right. If Julie Andrews is there to sing a song in order to cheer you up, then all is right with the world.

If Ever a Wiz There Was

I cannot wait for my children to be old enough to enjoy viewing the ultimate classic "The Wizard of Oz." What a wonderful memory from childhood. I watched it every year on television. I believe it was broadcast around Thanksgiving each year. Now you can own a DVD of this treasure and watch it whenever you want. I just want to wait until the children are at age when they won't have nightmares about the Wicked Witch and the flying monkeys. I remember having bad dreams as a child. While I loved the movie, I would turn my head away when I knew the Witch would appear, or cover my ears so I wouldn't hear her cackling. She was truly evil in my eyes. But Dorothy was someone to admire. She had the beautiful hair and the adorable dog, Toto. And best of all, she had these gorgeous, shiny red shoes to wear. With the click of her heels, she was transported back to her real life among her family and friends. Dorothy may have been a long way from home, and seeking a way to return, she learned a valuable lesson about appreciating one's lot in life.
The appeal of "The Wizard of Oz" lies in its colorful characters, like Dorothy,Tin Man, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion (my personal favorite), the Wizard of Oz, Glenda the Good Witch, the Munchkins, Auntie Em and others. Dorothy had the adventure of a lifetime as she followed the yellow brick road to the Wizard of Oz who would help her return to Kansas. Along the way she met people who would help her achieve this objective. Who can forget the beautiful songs that accompany them along their journey like "Follow the Yellow Brick Road," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "We're Off to See the Wizard," and more. It's simply a classic and appropriate for most ages (except young children who frighten easily). You never outgrow movies with magical characters in a magical land. View it today, with or without children!

"Ghost" is a Beautiful Love Story

I love romantic love stories, so when I heard "Ghost" was a tale of love between a man and a woman I was all for it. It didn't occur to me that the "Ghost" referred to one of the main characters who ends up murdered early on in the movie. What a bummer. I love happy endings, which you could argue there was in this movie. But to me, a happy ending shows the couple riding off into the sunset. However, I decided to give "Ghost" a chance, and was pleasantly surprised. The premise of the story is one of greed and deception, which results in the untimely demise of Sam (Patrick Swayze), one half of the beautiful, loving couple. He was betrayed by his close friend and colleague, Carl, who Sam believed was a loyal and honest friend. Sam has the code to the accounts at the bank which Carl needs in order to launder money. A "mugging" occurs to retrieve Sam's wallet which has the code, but ends tragically. Sam is now a ghost and discovers that Carl is desperate to get the code and believes Molly (Demi Moore), Sam's girlfriend, has it in her apartment. Sam has to protect her but cannot find a way to communicate with her now that he's a ghost.
In steps Whoopi Goldberg as Oda Mae Brown, a "spiritualist." She is able to hear Sam, and he convinces her to help him protect Molly. Goldberg is absolutely perfect as the disbelieving and unwilling sidekick/partner to Swayze. There are some great scenes between Swayze and Goldberg as he persistently seeks her help. In the end, Molly believes that Sam is present even though she cannot see or hear him. There is a beautifully touching scene when the two say good bye. And of course,the good guys win and the bad guys lose. Despite the fact that Sam and Molly are separated forever, you walk away with a feeling that everything will be all right. It's worth checking out, especially to catch Goldberg at her best.

Time to Revisit Cult Classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"

Many years ago during my college years I was introduced to the cult classic "The Rocky Horror Show." I was told nothing about the story, so my imagination ran wild with images of a monster movie, which terrify me. Boy was I in for a surprise. It seemed all my peers had seen this movie multiple times, could quote lines from it, and knew all the scenes involving "audience participation." I didn't know this was an interactive movie. What a sheltered life I led in my quiet, rural community. So twenty years ago I was introduced to this bizarre, somewhat disturbing but highly entertaining musical. You can only appreciate it in a large movie theater with dozens of young people who know the cues and can pass this knowledge on to the next generation. I wonder who and why it started in the first place. Now, on to the story..... A young couple named Brad and Janet seek shelter in Dr. Frankenfurter's castle in the middle of the night after their car breaks down. They discover a mad scientist who has created the perfect man and some mysterious servants. It's an evening filled with songs, like the ever popular "Time Warp." We're not sure if the men are really men and the women are really women and what their roles are, but it doesn't matter. The audience makes the musical worth the experience because the story and characters are literally out of this world. I highly recommend revisiting this classic and relive the fun of your college years. I don't think any movie produced since "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" can come close to this farce. So I say, "Dammit Janet!" let's do the "Time Warp" again!

The Third and Final Indiana Jones Surpasses Them All

I've reviewed the first two Indiana Jones movies, and after watching the third of the series, the "Last Crusade" is the best of the lot. Like "Raiders of the Lost Ark," the story is full of mystery and adventure set against the backdrop of the evil Nazi empire. It's a race against the bad guys who seek the power of the Holy Grail, the cup which Christ was said to have used at the Last Supper, for their dastardly purposes. In this movie, we meet Jones' father, Dr. Henry Jones and gain some insight into young Indy's childhood. We also learn how he developed the fear of snakes and his expertise with the bull whip. The banter between Ford's and Connery's characters are fun to watch. You really believe they're father and son. Their relationship is strained to being with, but their reunion becomes more complicated as Jones tries to rescue his father from the clutches of the Nazis in Berlin. No easy task for sure. As we saw in "Raiders," those with evil intent, are not destined to possess the treasures of God. In the climactic scene, Jones must retrieve the correct Holy Grail in order to save his father's life. He chooses well, of course, but it is not the destiny of the Nazi Empire to acquire it as the grounds around the holy site is destroyed. The Nazis don't realize or refuse to acknowledge that no one is allowed to remove the cup from its final resting place. Throughout the movie we see Jones traipse through Europe to find his father with his Egyptian sidekick Sallah, as well as museum curator Marcus Brody. Unraveling the mystery behind the Holy Grail and the path to its resting place make this movie exciting and put you on the edge of your seat. Casting Sean Connery as Jones' father was brilliant. He has the perfect temperament to be the curmudgeony, yet charming Dr. Henry Jones. I highly recommend "The Last Crusade" as worth spending your hard earned money on a ticket and popcorn.

"Temple of Doom" Does Not Live Up to Expectations

"Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" was a critical and commercial success. Harrison Ford carried the mantle of "action hero" skillfully, reminding us of his earlier days as Han Solo in the Star Wars movies. As Jones, the treasure hunter, we were entertained by an interesting plot, exciting action sequences and colorful characters. I was anticipating a similar reaction to "The Temple of Doom," the prequel to "Raiders": an intelligent, coherent story with great banter between Jones and his sidekicks. Needless to say, I was extremely disappointed. What were Spielberg and Lucas thinking when they directed and produced this movie? The story unfolds a year before Indiana Jones encounters the Ark of the Covenant. He finds himself in a Shanghai night club attempting to trade an artifact for a diamond. The deal goes sour and Indy escapes with the nightclub singer, "Willie" and his sidekick Short Round. They board a plane which will eventually crash in the Himalayan Mountains. The threesome find themselves in a village with an evil ruler who's seeking the Sankara Stone. With this stone the possesser can rule the world. There are human sacrifices, gruesome rituals, idol worship, evil spells and other far fetched and distasteful scenes which turns one's stomach. If the point of this movie is to turn our stomachs, it clearly succeeded! While there are the usual exciting action sequences, especially the mine cart chase, it's not enough to boost the "plot" of this movie. Indiana Jones is much better showcased in an intriguing story with mystery and danger rather than wasting his time with a demi-God who believes in sacrifices and enslaving children. If there's another Indiana Jones movie, let's hope it will live up to the excellence of the first one.

Raiders of the Lost Ark: A Roller Coaster Ride of Thrills

Steven Spielberg has done it again. He's produced another film with a great story: lots of action and adventure. Right from the beginning you're drawn into the life of Indiana Jones, an archaeologist who hunts for lost artifacts. He's in the jungles of Peru seeking a golden idol, but many have lost their lives attempting to do so. Jones uses his wits to outmaneuver the various booby traps set in place to protect this treasure. He barely escapes with his life only to lose the treasure to his rival, Rene Bolloq. Jones returns home to his sedate existence as a college professor of archaeology. But before you know it, Jones is jetting to Nepal to seek his mentor Ravenwood, who possesses an artifact that will reveal the location of the Ark of the Covenant. The U.S. government is concerned that the Nazis will discover the Ark and exploit its power for their evil purposes. Jones is requested to check the situation out. It's a race between Jones and Bolloq, his rival and now an ally of the Nazis, to acquire the Ark. Along the way, Jones is reunited with his former love, Marion, Ravenwood's daughter. He also teams up with an Egyptian, Sallah, who helps Jones navigate through the local culture. In the end, Bolloq once again lets Jones do the dirty work of finding the Ark, then forcibly takes it from him. The Nazis discover a valuable lesson: do not interfere with Divine objects for they are holy and not for ordinary men to exploit. Jones knew this, and as a result survived to tell the tale, whereas the others did not. You'll love the thrill of seeing Jones getting into and out of various death defying moments. One scene shows Jones encountering snakes, lots of snakes. You wonder how much punishment one man can endure. Harrison Ford is perfect for the role of Indiana Jones. He's the intellectual action hero using brains and brawn to save mankind. A big round of applause for "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Get a Rush from Speed

I was skeptical about seeing this movie because I'm not one for explosions, car chases and gratuitous violence. I had seen the television advertisement touting "Speed" as a "sit on the edge of your seat" action movie. I had to admit I was curious to know how they would resolve their dilemma. Well I was pleasantly surprised, and I'll confess that the movie really did keep me on the edge of my seat. I kept thinking, how are they going to get out of this alive? Jack is the hero of the movie. He's one of those specially trained rescue, SWAT type law enforcement officers you hope is around if you're ever in trouble. The movie opens up with Jack and his team attempting to rescue people trapped on an elevator set to explode and plummet down 30 stories. The bad guy wants millions of dollars, otherwise he'll detonate the explosive. We see Jack and company rescue every single person, even the one person who's too paralyzed to move, seconds before the elevator drops. Phew!
Well, the villain in this movie is not thrilled about this rescue. Who is this psychopath? Someone who doesn't quit. He decides to rig a city bus with an explosive set to detonate if its speed goes below 50 mph. How long can this bus maintain 50 mph? What happens if they run out of gas? How is this rescue team supposed to remove the passengers without risking injury and keep the bus above 50? Jack manages to get on the bus and with his team watching his back, they eventually get everyone off the bus until it's Annie (who replaced the injured bus driver) and Jack. Along the way, we see the bus careen around corners, jump missing sections of the freeway and roar through residential streets until it ends up at the airport. The sequences of the rescue are awesome. Even though it seems unbelievable, you don't care because you're rooting for Jack to save the day and catch this very wily and crafty villain. Just when you think it's over, he still has a trick up his sleeve. Let's just say, he's a little disgruntled that Jack has foiled two of his plans. "Speed" is just the ticket if you're looking for an "edge of your seat" thriller. Keanu Reeves makes a great action hero, and Sandra Bullock is the perfect sidekick. And who can argue with casting Dennis Hopper as the nasty villain you love to hate.

Star Trek Nemesis Packs a Punch

Star Trek fans everywhere will be very satisfied with the latest "Next Generation" movie. Starfleet's tenuous relationship with the Romulans is tested after a change in their government's power. A new Praeter named Shinzon has taken control and extends his hand in peace to Starfleet. Captain Picard is ordered to meet Shinzon and evaluate his bona fides. On a personal note, Commander Riker and Counselor Troi finally tie the knot. "About time" is all I can say. The traditional Betazoid wedding ceremony is postponed while the Enterprise makes a detour to Romulus. While traveling through a sector of space, Worf detects a positronic signal much like Data's. Worf, Data and Captain Picard venture to the planet's surface and discover a dismembered android who's a clone of Data but not as intellectually enhanced as Data. Picard meets Shinzon, a Reman leader who heads the Romulan government, and discovers he's a younger version of himself. Picard wants to believe in Shinzon's sincere wish for peace between Starfleet and the Romulans but he remains skeptical. Scans of Shinzon's ship reveal thalaron radiation, a deadly weapon banned by all species. The Commander realizes Shinzon is not on a mission of peace, rather a mission of annihilation. He will stop Shinzon from achieving this goal at any cost. I will not reveal the sacrifice which was made at the end to destroy the Scimitar, but I'm not ashamed to admit that I shed a few tears. Star Trek Nemesis follows the great tradition of past Star Trek movies with its awesome action sequences and its wonderful characters. There's nothing like watching Data, Worf, Picard, Riker, LaForge, Troi and Crusher illuminate the big screen.

The saga continues in another "High School Musical 2" hit

The much-anticipated debut of "High School Musical 2" did not disappoint its millions of fans across the country, including my own daughters. I was a skeptical parent who finally succumbed to the HSM fever and watched the show, only to discover it was quite entertaining. So when I heard HSM2 was being released, I admit being caught up in the excitement. And it did not disappoint. We follow the story of the main characters, Troy and Gabriella, who are high school sweathearts, but have yet to share their first kiss. High school is now over for the summer. Both promise to spend time together and hope to make it a memorable summer. But Gabriella's rival, Sharpay, has other plans. She uses her influence to have Troy hired at the family country club where she can keep an eye on him. But to her dismay, Troy gets his friends jobs there, including Gabriella. Sharpay wields her influence by promising Troy access to the right people who will determine college scholarships at the local university. Along the way, Troy blows off his friends while he works the influential crowd. Of course this does not sit well with Gabriella who ends up quitting her job and leaving. Meanwhile, Troy's friends prepared to participate in the club's talent show, but Sharpay once again wields her influence to exclude club employees. But we know there's a happy ending. Troy comes to his senses, and the show must go on. Troy realizes he cannot abandon his friends and become someone he's not even though earning a scholarship is important. Once again we are treated to engaging musical numbers which capture each moment and relate the feelings and the relationships between Troy and Gabriella and their friends. The talent show finale is an excellent example. Troy and Gabriella reunite in a beautiful duet. I can't wait to see what they come up with for "High School Musical 3!"

Catchy tunes and fun characters in High School Musical

My daughters caught the "High School Musical" fever like millions of other children and teenagers last year. Friends of theirs had a DVD which they borrowed. Well before you know it, my girls are singing "Something New" and "Were All in This Together," among others, morning, noon and night. It was starting to drive me crazy. They were also trying to mimic the dance steps. I had to find out what the attraction was. Well little did I know that I'd become a "High School Musical" fan too! There are very few movies you can label "wholesome," and this is one of them. This musical has no profanity and imparts a positive message. As a parent, you can't ask for better than that. The main characters, Troy and Gabriella, are high school juniors who are randomly paired to sing a duet karoke style. They both like singing but have never nurtured it. Gabriella ends up moving to Troy's hometown and attends his high school. She's the "brainiac" and he's the star of the basketball team. Both secretly harbor desires to break out of their respective labels and sing in the high school production, but their friends discourage them. Who doesn't relate to high school peer pressure? In the end, Troy and Gabriella's friends realize they were wrong to do that and end up encouraging their friends to participate in the call back. They all show up to cheer their friends on and realize what amazing singers Troy and Gabriella are. Bottom line: break out of the mold and follow your dream. The musical numbers throughout the movie capture each moment beautifully and showcase the amazing talents of the young actors and actresses. Not only do they have to act, they must sing and dance as well. I don't think I'm going out on a limb for predicting a bright future for the cast of "High School Musical," especially the lead actors, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens.

More Beauty than Beast

I will freely admit that I, an adult of middle age, enjoy watching Disney movies. It's a guilty pleasure I have. If you look at it objectively, you have to concur that these animated movies are beautifully done. Those in charge of the script took pity upon the parents who will have to schlep their children every year to a movie theater to watch these movies by adding humor adults can appreciate. Even the songs are catchy! So recently I revisited the magic of "Beauty and the Beast." Here is a heroine, Belle, young girls can emulate. She's a young woman who loves to read and to learn. She's also a devoted daughter to her father. The story unfolds as a concerned Belle searches for her father who's late returning from an errand.
Belle shows much courage as she confronts a beast who has imprisoned her father. The Beast agrees to release her father, but in exchange, Belle must remain his prisoner. Over the course of time, Belle discovers that there's more to the Beast than meets the eye. Along the way we're treated to some amazing and creative songs which capture the moment and help illustrate the story. And what would a heroine be without her sidekicks? The ready, willing and able army of a "tea cup," "teapot," "candlestick", and "clock" aid Belle in "battle." These characters help round out the beautifully animated love story of one beauty and a beast. I know I won't give anything away by saying that the story has a happy ending. I highly recommend watching "Beauty and the Beast" with your children. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I proudly proclaim to be a fan!

SWAT -- Non-Stop Action

I watched the movie SWAT with my son the other day. I was a little nervous because even though he is a teenager, I don't like him watching movies with mature themes. Unfortunately, many action movies contain gratuitous scenes of sex and also have a lot of bad language. I don't mind violence. I mean we all love seeing gun battles. But I could really do without some of the other stuff.
That's why SWAT is go good. There is no nudity or "mature" scenes. Yes, there is a lot of cursing, but as my son pointed out, real cops do curse a lot. Let's face it. Today, kids have heard every word in the book even before they become teenagers, so I wasn't that alarmed.
What I really liked about SWAT is the action. Almost from the time the film starts, we get one fast paced action scene after another. The movie starts with the SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) squad responding to a bank robbery. The bank robbers have taken hostages and are threatening to kill them. The police want to negotiate. Two SWAT members, T.J. and Gamble, have other ideas. They decide to drop down from the roof and shoot the bad guys. In the fight, a hostage is shot by a SWAT member. The result is that both SWAT team members get in big trouble. T.J. agrees to hang up his gun and work in the equipment room. Gamble, who thinks he was right about the decision to disobey orders, leaves the force.
A new commander picks T.J. as part of his new squad. Soon, T.J. is back in action fighting the most dangerous criminals. Of course, it is no surprise when we see that Gamble has gone bad. Everyone knows that the final scene will be a fight to the death between T.J. and Gamble, but we still love to see it.
SWAT is a great film. However, one word of warning. It is not a "date" film so don't even think about it. Take the guys, not a romantic interest.