The Movie Journal

  True Believer (1989) True Believer is better than expected. This is a legal courtroom thriller that has everything you would expect in this type of movie; washed-up lawyer, idealistic young man, a man in prison for a crime he did not commit, etc. The plot is predictable, and I can see the ending from miles away. Yet…the film is immensely watchable. The tension builds and builds until it reaches that satisfying crescendo. Why does this film work? James Woods’s hypnotic acting. Never been a fan of the man in general, but his heyday in the 80’s created some performance gems. This and Once Upon a Time in America comes to mind. Joseph Ruben’s feature is on the smaller side. I have never even heard of the movie until I randomly visited a DVD store and found this film and its intriguing plotline. There is some real history behind the film’s story. Chol Soo Lee, a Korean-American, spent ten years behind bars for a murder he did not commit. He was serving a life sentence which led to de...

  The 'Burbs (1989 Have you imagined yourself living in a middle-class town with big houses, friendly neighbors, and a community that lives in peace…yet there could be something sinister with that Mr. Smith down the street? As a matter of fact, I have. Every single day when I would play outside, I would invent these stories (perhaps involving the supernatural or Charles Manson-esque plots). That is why The ‘Burbs spoke to me and still does. It may not be the best movie in the world, but it is a fun one that scared the whiz out of me as young boy. As a grown man who grew up in the type of town set in the movie, I can correlate the townsfolk to some of the people I grew up with, As a movie, it is incredibly entertaining. Joe Dante ( Gremlins) is the right man to direct as he always does a wonderful job combining horror, comedy, and reality. Once again, Tom Hanks is your typical everyman American but has a few twists up the sleeve unlike anything Hanks has done before. And, you might...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 10 "Shimmer" January 29, 2002 “Shimmer” is a good episode, not a great episode. It is a typical midseason episode with nothing truly at stake. The friendship continues to show growth between Clark and Lex, and the beginnings of a romance between him and Lana. So, we got some good storylines to cook with. That said, we are back with the villain-of-the-week process. Other than the whole invisibility power, I was not super impressed with the villain. Kind of distracted me from the story. We do have solid special effects as Clark has to use his x-ray vision once more. In this episode, we meet Amy Palmer (played by Azura Skye). Her mother works at Lex’s mansion. Along with her brother Jeff, they live together at the mansion. She also has a crush on Lex and is jealous of Victoria Hardwick. Lex and Victoria are later attacked by this invisible being and Chloe suspects this being is Amy. Lana and Whitney decide to take a break from one another. That ...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 9 "Rogue" January 15, 2002 “Rogue” is an excellent episode of Smallville . The producers admitted that the whole villain-of-the-week storyline is growing a little stale. They decided to come up with original, relevant storylines to explore the Superman mythology. I also liked how someone else was a witness to the extraordinary powers of Clark Kent. Not just Lex Luthor but someone else. A corrupt cop of all people. Michael Rosenbaum continues to deliver an excellent performance as Lex. He has great lines (loved how he uses history to drive towards his ultimate goal) and guest star Kelly Brook is an interesting foil for him and his future plans. The characters continue to be well-developed. Chloe, in particular, is given lots to work with when Lana takes over the one thing she loves to do. Also, I need to credit the special-effects team. The VFX for the bus crash sequence is harrowing and realistic which is saying something for an episode that c...

  To Have or Have Not (1944) 1944’s To Have or Have Not is one of those films that reminded me of Casablanca …in a good way. Perhaps not nearly a classic like the aforementioned film, Howard Hawks’s film invokes memories of that particular movie. Some similarities are the usage of Humphrey Bogart and the French Resistance. I was captivated by the film as it showcased the powerful acting skills of both Bogart and the much younger Lauren Bacall. Hawks, the man behind the adventure film Barbary Coast and the screwball comedy Bringing Up Baby , is at his best here. What is known as “Hawkism” is on full display. In other words, it is a film about a strong, central male character and the similarly strong female. Being that personal integrity is one of the traits, we see that here with Bogart. Hawks has no time for “losers,’ which is why the ending is the way it is. In any case, this is a fun, action-packed adventure that will satisfy those craving for an adventure in the vein of Casablan...

  Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) “Excellent”  Ladies and gentlemen, turn off your brains, and prepared to be immersed in the time-traveling world of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Is this a great movie? Not particularly. Is it a very entertaining comedy that knows exactly what it is and is not afraid to prove it? You betcha! As someone who is a former history major and loves movies that explore time travel, this movie is right up my alley. It took some time getting used to the film. After all, the main characters are dimwitted dolts that cannot even pronounce the name “Socrates” correctly. Still, I very quickly managed to fall to the warmth of Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter.  Ed Solomon’s and Chris Matheson’s screenplay is very unique. Where else will you combine the hard rock legends Van Halen and the Classical Athens? Their use of dialogue is likewise something different. The characters are meant to be dumb, but their wordplay makes them seem not so br...

  Dangerous Liaisons (1988) I know I am in the minority, but Stephen Frears’s adaptation of Dangerous Liaisons did not sit well with me. It is well-acted, but that is the only good thing. Costume dramas are hit-or-miss for me. I can either love them ( Amadeus is one of the best films of all time) or find them dull, pretentious, and a waste of time. Sadly, despite the fantastic cast, this film falls in the latter. I tried to watch the film multiple times, but each time was a snoozer for me. Maybe it is the story itself? Maybe the idea of these horrible, like-minded people using seduction to instill pain on innocent women is not my idea of a good time. Yes, I am aware the film is based off a scandalous 18 th -century novel and was a huge hit on stage both in New York and London. Still, the film could not satisfy my cinematic taste. I mentioned in the above paragraph the story is based off a French novel that was published several hundred years ago written by Choderlos de Laclos. Ch...

  Rain Man (1988) Rain Man is a beautiful film about love and acceptance. The winner of the Best Motion Picture Academy Award, the movie is a must see. Not only does it properly spread awareness on the effects of autism, but it is also an entertaining flick with fantastic performances from Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. This is one of those films that will make you laugh and will make you angry and sad. Over the course of two hours, you see a character transformation take place. A typical result for this kind of adventure, but it is told in such a heartwarming, meaningful way. No matter who anyone is, love always exists even if it takes time to find this love. The film is not only known for its fantastic acting, but Barry Levinson’s competent direction and a lovely score from early-career Hans Zimmer (actually one of this best in a whole factory line of fantastic scores) give this movie the boost it needed to become one of the most popular (and one of my personal favorites) of 1988...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 8 "Jitters" December 11, 2001 Much better than the last episode, there is much to like about “Jitters.” We finally get to see the good ol’ city of Metropolis. No Daily Planet, but we receive more information about the Luthor Corporation. In addition, the villain of the week really is not a villain in the sense we have seen before. Up to this point, villains on the show have been kryptonite-infused angsty teens with murder as their only solution to their problems. Here, Tony Todd’s character is a person close to the Kent family and you can at least sympathize with his actions and rationale. Also, we get a bloody good storyline between Lex and his father. Lex wants to stay away from his super-villain future, but it seems like that can be difficult at times. Of course, Lionel makes a great villain and John Glover plays him incredibly well. In this episode, Earl Jenkins is a former LutherCorp employee and also used to work at the farm with the Ke...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 7 "Craving" November 27, 2001 “Craving” is a decent Smallville episode. Still, it is one of the first lesser episodes of the season. Despite Amy Adams chewing up scenery as the villain of the week, I did not agree with her character. It was not written well, and it took me out of her scenes. At least we are treated to a very early Amy Adams universe who of course would be more involved with the Superman franchise more than a decade later. What saves this episode are the other storylines. I am really enamored with Lex’s story and how he is getting closer to Clark’s secret little-by-little. The acting remains a strong suit especially with the Welling/Rosenbaum duo. In this episode, Jodi Melville (played by Adams) is an overweight teenager. No one at school likes her with the exception of Pete. She plans to attend Lana’s birthday party as Pete’s date. She decides to undergo a radical diet from the vegetables grown in her father’s garden…with kry...

  The Grapes of Wrath (1940) John Ford’s The Grapes of Wrath is one of the best American films ever produced. Based off the literary sensation written by John Steinbeck only a year before the film’s release, it tells a story about depression and poverty. It is a very simple, but well-told story with memorable characters and performances. More than eighty years later, the film remains socially prevalent today as it was back in 1940. Ford does an incredible job making his audience care about the plight of these poor folks- something that many people had to endure during the Great Depression. For the duration of the two-hour running time, I was at the edge of my seat deep within my feelings. The film is not built on shocking dramatics, but rather a story that is still striking because of how deep it is based on reality. This reality is shocking enough. On top of the actual story, Gregg Toland’s black-and-white cinematography is super effective. Of course, that is how film were seen ba...

  Mississippi Burning (1988) Mississippi Burning is one of the best American films of 1988. It is a harrowing police drama inspired by the Ku Klux Klan murders of three civil right activists: James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. Alan Parker, as you might recall in his excellent 1978 drama Midnight Express , is fantastic at telling stories about the human condition as influenced by big bullies. Of course, the racist Southern Klan members are the big bullies here. In 1988, there was big controversy surrounding the film as people accused the film of being one of those “white savior” films. I get the justifications, but this is no documentary. This is a work of fiction that takes liberties with the truth to create a movie that not only entertains, but also scares you and make you laugh. Still, Parker does give his audience an idea what living in rural 1964 Mississippi can be like. And as for everything going on in the world today, this film holds a sense of relevance. ...

  Scrooged (1988) Bill Murray’s Scrooged is…good enough. It does not quite reach the heights of “holiday classic that needs to be re-watched every single year,” but it does pass for an enjoyable, nontraditional take of the famed Dickens’s A Christmas Carol . The first hour is when the movie is at its best with Murray channeling his inner Scrooge to delightful results. From there, it does lose a bit of its footing when more sentimentality is added. The whole speech at the end, while its heart is in its right place, seems a little misplaced. Regardless, there is enough here to like. If anything, it is not a traditional retelling…it is a unique story. The story within the story if that makes any sense. In addition to being a holiday movie, this stands as a scathing indictment of the entertainment industry. More than thirty years after the film was released, I see parallels within this industry. Some things never change. After four years in semi-retirement, Bill Murray returned to th...

  The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) I’ll be the first one to admit that I despised Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ upon initial viewing. I was expecting a movie based on the traditional Gospels, which certainly is not this movie. Years later, after changing my mindset, gave the film another chance. While still a little long, I clicked with the film. As a Christian, we were taught Jesus is both man and God. Scorsese explored the man side of Jesus. What if Jesus, instead of dying and resurrecting for our sins, fell wayward from Satan and fell into temptation? That is the fundamental question that Scorsese and his screenwriter Paul Schrader asked. Schrader wrote two of Scorsese’s best films in Taxi Driver and Raging Bull , so once again they collaborate on creating a challenging, engaging feature that asks important questions about beliefs, passions, and morality. I will say this. Even though I initially did not like the film, there are these striking images that st...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 9 "Hourglass" November 20, 2001 Oy, was “Hourglass” ever a fine hour of television…and perhaps the best Smallville episode yet? We have a different type of villain, one who is not after Lana or Chloe. We get a little bit of inspiration as we glimpse the future of both Clark and Lex both of whom take different trajectories as we all very well know. Saving Lex in the car crash continues to haunt Clark. Lex is never going to let this mystery go. So, we can see the seeds being planted on how these two men became archenemies. This a very exciting episode that has implications for all involved and the ending is fantastic. In order to be close to Lana, Clark and Pete apply to volunteer at an institute for older people. Clark gets to assist this old, blind lady named Cassandra. She has the power to foretell the future and realizes Clark is not from this world. Meanwhile, Lana works with this former murderer named Harry Bollston. He falls into a lake ...

  Smallville: Season 1, Episode 5 "Cool" November 13, 2001 Clark Kent is too cool for school in this episode of Smallville . Just kidding, but he does try to appear cool in the eyes of Lana Lang. But for the sake of idealism and trying to help others, things do not work out the way they should for Mr. Kent. “Cool” is a solid episode with a memorable villain (ice and cold is the name of the game this time around) and solid special effects. Most importantly, this episode is all about character development and relationships between characters. Clark and Lana’s relationship progressed in a very interesting manner. Also, Lex Luthor tries to better his relationship with the Kents. He wants Clark as a friend, but Jonathan and Martha are suspicious of his actions and intents, especially Jonathan. Sean Kelvin (ha, love that temperature reference?) is an arrogant football player suffers through an accident in a frozen lake…which had kryptonite at the bottom. He survives because of it...

  The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser (1974) For my first Werner Herzog film, I will be the first one to admit my disappointment with his 1974 West German film, The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser . Despite some scenes that literally entranced me with their powerful images and a unique performance from Bruno S, I was bored to almost tears with its nearly unbearable pacing. I am willing to give this film another shot as it perhaps my indifference could be to the fact, I was watching the movie with a migraine. Regardless, now I get a sense of the type of director Herzog is. A man who will not make his movies an easy watch. I can commend that type of director because he/she usually makes bold choices that either dazzle or fail. No matter the outcome, I love the ambition. That is why I actively seek out these types of movies. The movie is based on real events and Herzog’s screenplay follow the events very closely…with the exception of a major point. Our main character was only 17 years old, and that...

  Die Hard (1988) “Yippie-ki-yay, Mother Fucker” (everyone’s favorite Die Hard line from John McClane) Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? That is the age-old debate that surrounds this action-thriller. Without a doubt, you bet it is. Not only is the setting during Christmas, but the holiday music incorporated throughout is enough to win the debate. Terrorists can still do their thing during Christmas, you know. Satisfied? Great, let’s talk about how this is one of the greatest action films of all time and revolutionized the genre to make it better, more evolved. The combined forces of director John McTiernan ( Predator ) and stars Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman created an unforgettable experience. Excellent, relatable performances, great stunt work, and a pleasing mix of comedy/action delivers the goods for this classic. As the 80’s came to a close, action films were waning. The formula for these films involved macho men (usually someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger) and nonsensical v...

  Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) Robert Zemeckis’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a groundbreaking film reminiscent of those hard-boiled 40 film-noirs….except animation is used. The whole concept of the movie is combining animation and live action and the results were astounding from a visual perspective. As of publication of this review, this remains the only film where Disney and Warner Brother characters appear with one another. That explains the piano duet with the famous ducks, Daffy and Donald, am I right? From a story perspective, we follow a noir story beat-to-beat. Sometimes the story can fall into “only for kids” zone and Roger Rabbit himself is a bit annoying at times, but it is really a blast watching all of our toons come together in live action and look…real! Bless the hearts of director Robert Zemeckis ( Back to the Future ), producer Steven Spielberg, animator director Richard Williams, and the hundreds of animators that worked long, long hours to create a film that b...

  The Great Outdoors (1988) The Great Outdoors is not necessarily a great movie…but I daresay it is a mildly fun movie. John Hughes’s script is clunky, and he has written better films in the past, but it does have heart and charm. He gives enough to John Candy and Dan Aykroyd to work with, as these two men are what makes the film stay afloat. The entertainment level is turned up to full volume as we watch two of the greatest comedians from the 80’s bicker and banter their way through the great Wisconsin outdoors (although was filmed in California). Still, the scenery is fantastic. As someone who loves the outdoors and its associated activities like camping, this was fun to watch at times. The film was directed by frequent Hughes collaborator, Howard Deutch. They worked very well together with Pretty in Pink . Deutch’s frenetic directorial style was scattershot but competent. The film was at its best in the first two-thirds of the film with Candy and Aykroyd doing what they do be...