One cannot understate the strange cultural dominance Hugh Wilson's 1984 comedy "Police Academy" held over the pop zeitgeist throughout the 1980s. Clearly a child of "Animal House," "Police Academy" was a traditional snobs-vs.-slobs comedy that pitted winking wiseacres against their stern commanding officers at a police school in an unnamed city. I've long had a theory that the "Police Academy" movies take place in Metropolis, the city where Superman lives. With Superman taking care of major crimes, the local police force would likely become complacent, unused to enforcing the law.
None of the "Police Academy" movies were well-reviewed, recognized by critics as crass, dumb, and low-brow. This is a series that banks on misogyny, offensive stereotypes, and a lot of crotch/sex humor. There is no wit to the "Police Academy" movies. Roger Ebert famously gave the first film zero stars, citing merely how dreadfully unfunny and uninspired it is.
None of the "Police Academy" movies were well-reviewed, recognized by critics as crass, dumb, and low-brow. This is a series that banks on misogyny, offensive stereotypes, and a lot of crotch/sex humor. There is no wit to the "Police Academy" movies. Roger Ebert famously gave the first film zero stars, citing merely how dreadfully unfunny and uninspired it is.
- 2/10/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The 80s was a fun time for moviegoers. For a successful comedy, sometimes all you needed was a group of employees at a specific job, they butt up against whatever authority is in place, and get into hijinks. There is no better example of this than the recruits at the Police Academy. A group of misfits that are thrown together and given guns. The making of the film had its ups and downs but the whole thing ended up with a whole of laughs and creating a franchise that would spawn seven films, a TV series, and a Saturday morning cartoon. Let’s find out exactly what happened to Police Academy here on Wtf Happened To This Movie?
Producer Paul Maslansky was in the middle of production on the film The Right Stuff. They were about to film a scene on the street and had called into the...
Producer Paul Maslansky was in the middle of production on the film The Right Stuff. They were about to film a scene on the street and had called into the...
- 10/18/2023
- by Bryan Wolford
- JoBlo.com
Somewhere in between his Oscar-winning portrayal of a gay lawyer dying of AIDS in "Philadelphia" and his performance as the mild-mannered captain of an Army detachment ordered to rescue the sole surviving son of a family that lost three of their children to the Normandy Invasion in "Saving Private Ryan," Tom Hanks was declared the James Stewart of his generation. The evidence was compelling. As Forrest Gump, astronaut Jim Lovell, and Sheriff Woody, Hanks had come to exemplify all that is right and decent about America. We saw the best of ourselves in his characters, while, off-screen, he exuded good, clean charm whenever he turned up on a talk show or a red carpet. He seemed affable, erudite, and kind. But to call him the Baby Boomer James Stewart was to ignore Stewart's willingness to play hard against type.
It is 2023, and Hanks has just delivered his first truly...
It is 2023, and Hanks has just delivered his first truly...
- 3/17/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Synopsis
When a group of crazy college geniuses put their heads together, almost anything can happen. Hold on for a freewheeling, uproarious look at just how much mischief a bunch of high-IQers can concoct. Chris (Val Kilmer) is the top brain who just wants to party, Mitch (Gabe Jarret) is the 16-year-old whiz kid, and Lazlo (Jonathan Gries), America’s number one brain, literally lives in a world of his own…Chris’ closet. Supposedly hard at work on a lab project, they still find time to turn the dorm into an ice-skating rink, and throw a beach party in the auditorium complete with a lagoon and bikini-clad beauties. When the geniuses discover that their unscrupulous mentor Professor Hathaway (William Atherton) has had them working on a secret weapon for the military, they plot an elaborate revenge. Their plan culminates in an incredible scheme that outsmarts the military and convinces the...
When a group of crazy college geniuses put their heads together, almost anything can happen. Hold on for a freewheeling, uproarious look at just how much mischief a bunch of high-IQers can concoct. Chris (Val Kilmer) is the top brain who just wants to party, Mitch (Gabe Jarret) is the 16-year-old whiz kid, and Lazlo (Jonathan Gries), America’s number one brain, literally lives in a world of his own…Chris’ closet. Supposedly hard at work on a lab project, they still find time to turn the dorm into an ice-skating rink, and throw a beach party in the auditorium complete with a lagoon and bikini-clad beauties. When the geniuses discover that their unscrupulous mentor Professor Hathaway (William Atherton) has had them working on a secret weapon for the military, they plot an elaborate revenge. Their plan culminates in an incredible scheme that outsmarts the military and convinces the...
- 6/21/2022
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Grab some popcorn and pull up a chair, it’s a moral imperative that we celebrate the 35th birthday of Martha Coolidge’s science whiz classic Real Genius!
The wise-cracking Val Kilmer starrer, which details the adventures of a group of brilliant physics undergrads at the fictional Pacific Tech University (clearly a stand-in for Caltech), stands as a wonderful slice of ’80s fun. It’s the kind of feel-good adventure that can be watched over and over again, spun like a favorite album.
Kilmer plays Chris Knight, a senior at Pacific Tech on the verge of burnout after years working with a special research team under the tutelage of the sleazy Dr. Jerry Hathaway (William Atherton). Chris, now prone to wearing goofy t-shirts and slippers and generally flaunting any sort of authority with playful jabs, convinces Hathaway to let him room with brilliant freshman Mitch Taylor (Gabriel Jarret), a 15-year-old winter term addition to campus.
The wise-cracking Val Kilmer starrer, which details the adventures of a group of brilliant physics undergrads at the fictional Pacific Tech University (clearly a stand-in for Caltech), stands as a wonderful slice of ’80s fun. It’s the kind of feel-good adventure that can be watched over and over again, spun like a favorite album.
Kilmer plays Chris Knight, a senior at Pacific Tech on the verge of burnout after years working with a special research team under the tutelage of the sleazy Dr. Jerry Hathaway (William Atherton). Chris, now prone to wearing goofy t-shirts and slippers and generally flaunting any sort of authority with playful jabs, convinces Hathaway to let him room with brilliant freshman Mitch Taylor (Gabriel Jarret), a 15-year-old winter term addition to campus.
- 8/7/2020
- by Alex Kirschenbaum
- Trailers from Hell
Make way for the parade! Featuring Brian Trenchard-Smith, Eli Roth, Katt Shea, Thomas Jane, our very own Don Barrett and Blaire Bercy from the Hollywood Food Coalition.
Please support the Hollywood Food Coalition. Text “Give” to 323.402.5704 or visit https://hofoco.org/donate!
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Screams of a Winter Night (1979)
Goodbye Bruce Lee: His Last Game Of Death (1975)
I Think We’re Alone Now (2018)
The Rhythm Section (2020)
Atomic Blonde (2017)
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1965)
The Ipcress File (1965)
Funeral In Berlin (1966)
Extraction (2020)
Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
The Mermaid (2016)
Oklahoma! (1955)
Singin’ In The Rain (1953)
Nightcrawler (2014)
I Think We’re Alone Now (2008)
Ghetto Freaks a.k.a. Sign of Aquarius (1970)
Hostel (2005)
Cabin Fever (2002)
Final Cut: Ladies And Gentlemen (2012)
The Movie Orgy (1968)
Gremlins (1984)
The Goonies (1985)
Hell of the Living Dead a.k.a. Night of the Zombies (1980)
Troll 2 (1990)
In The Land Of The Cannibals a.k.a. Land of...
Please support the Hollywood Food Coalition. Text “Give” to 323.402.5704 or visit https://hofoco.org/donate!
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Screams of a Winter Night (1979)
Goodbye Bruce Lee: His Last Game Of Death (1975)
I Think We’re Alone Now (2018)
The Rhythm Section (2020)
Atomic Blonde (2017)
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1965)
The Ipcress File (1965)
Funeral In Berlin (1966)
Extraction (2020)
Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
The Mermaid (2016)
Oklahoma! (1955)
Singin’ In The Rain (1953)
Nightcrawler (2014)
I Think We’re Alone Now (2008)
Ghetto Freaks a.k.a. Sign of Aquarius (1970)
Hostel (2005)
Cabin Fever (2002)
Final Cut: Ladies And Gentlemen (2012)
The Movie Orgy (1968)
Gremlins (1984)
The Goonies (1985)
Hell of the Living Dead a.k.a. Night of the Zombies (1980)
Troll 2 (1990)
In The Land Of The Cannibals a.k.a. Land of...
- 5/8/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Simon Brew Feb 6, 2018
Jack Nicholson's Batman deal made him over £50m for one film role. But Bruce Willis didn't do badly out of Look Who's Talking, either...
No actor in the 1980s managed to bag as good a deal for a single movie role as Jack Nicholson. In agreeing to sign up to play The Joker in Tim Burton’s 1989 movie Batman, he cut his up front fee from $10m to $6m. In exchange for the $4m price cut, Nicholson took a cut of the film’s earnings, its merchandise sales, and earnings from future sequels. Even though he wasn’t on screen for a second after the first Batman film, he continued to take a cut from the likes of Batman Returns and Batman Forever too.
I’d assume that Nicholson’s earning from the deal was brought to an end before Christopher Nolan rebooted Batman with Batman Begins (and,...
Jack Nicholson's Batman deal made him over £50m for one film role. But Bruce Willis didn't do badly out of Look Who's Talking, either...
No actor in the 1980s managed to bag as good a deal for a single movie role as Jack Nicholson. In agreeing to sign up to play The Joker in Tim Burton’s 1989 movie Batman, he cut his up front fee from $10m to $6m. In exchange for the $4m price cut, Nicholson took a cut of the film’s earnings, its merchandise sales, and earnings from future sequels. Even though he wasn’t on screen for a second after the first Batman film, he continued to take a cut from the likes of Batman Returns and Batman Forever too.
I’d assume that Nicholson’s earning from the deal was brought to an end before Christopher Nolan rebooted Batman with Batman Begins (and,...
- 2/6/2018
- Den of Geek
A few years ago the editors of Shadowlocked asked me to compile a list of what was initially to be, the ten greatest movie matte paintings of all time. A mere ten selections was too slim by a long shot, so my list stretched considerably to twenty, then thirty and finally a nice round fifty entries. Even with that number I found it wasn’t easy to narrow down a suitably wide ranging showcase of motion picture matte art that best represented the artform. So with that in mind, and due to the surprising popularity of that 2012 Shadowlocked list (which is well worth a visit, here Ed), I’ve assembled a further fifty wonderful examples of this vast, vital and more extensively utilised than you’d imagine – though now sadly ‘dead and buried’ – movie magic.
It would of course be so easy to simply concentrate on the well known, iconic,...
It would of course be so easy to simply concentrate on the well known, iconic,...
- 12/28/2015
- Shadowlocked
National Lampoon's Holiday Reunion (2003) Director: Neal Israel Stars: Bryan Cranston, Judge Reinhold, Penelope Ann Miller Judge Reinhold goes to visit Walter White for Thanksgiving. Nothing says "heartwarming Thanksgiving film" like Bryan Cranston from "Breaking Bad" naked. bear hugging Judge Reinhold. (also naked). in the shower.from behind. This is a scarier Turkey Day movie than Thankskilling. This Is Real Life. Made and aired by TBS,...
- 11/20/2013
- by Jason Adams
- JoBlo.com
Giving props to the hottest shows and stars rocking the airwaves during the day, the 2013 Daytime Emmy Awards nominees were just unveiled.
And the top nod-getter this year is “The Young and The Restless” with 23 chances at glory, while “General Hospital” nabbed 19 mentions.
“Days of Our Lives” and “Sesame Street” both tied for third place thanks to 17 nominations each, and there are plenty of other big names on the list as well.
The 2013 Daytime Emmy Awards will take place on June 16th. The nominees are:
Outstanding Drama Series
The Bold and the Beautiful
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital ABC
One Life To Live
The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Children’S Animated Program
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness
Penguins of Madagascar
Robot and Monster
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
WordGirl
Outstanding Children’S Series
The Aquabats! Super Show
Everyday Health
R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour The Series
SciGirls...
And the top nod-getter this year is “The Young and The Restless” with 23 chances at glory, while “General Hospital” nabbed 19 mentions.
“Days of Our Lives” and “Sesame Street” both tied for third place thanks to 17 nominations each, and there are plenty of other big names on the list as well.
The 2013 Daytime Emmy Awards will take place on June 16th. The nominees are:
Outstanding Drama Series
The Bold and the Beautiful
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital ABC
One Life To Live
The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Children’S Animated Program
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness
Penguins of Madagascar
Robot and Monster
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
WordGirl
Outstanding Children’S Series
The Aquabats! Super Show
Everyday Health
R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour The Series
SciGirls...
- 5/1/2013
- GossipCenter
Exclusive: In today’s Internet-obsessed society it seems like everyone and their dog have a blog. Well, that is literally the case at Disney Channel, which has greenlighted multi-camera comedy pilot Dog With A Blog, about a talking and blogging family pet. Additionally, Disney Channel has given a back-nine order to new comedy Austin & Ally, bringing its order to 21 episodes, and has expanded the second season of another comedy, Shake It Up, to 26 episodes. Following the success of Good Luck Charlie, Disney Channel executives have been looking to develop more shows about families, and Dog With A Blog is a result of those efforts, Svp original series Adam Bonnett said. Written and executive produced by Michael B. Kaplan (Disney Xd’s I’m In The Band), Dog With A Blog centers on 15-year-old Tyler and Kayla, who have just become step-siblings but don’t get along because they’re very different: Tyler is popular,...
- 9/29/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
The following is a list of Los Angeles-area stage and film acting schools, teachers, and acoaches organized by category and alphabetically.Each of the entries contains the following information, if applicable: name of teacher or school; address; phone and fax numbers; email address and/or website; average number of students per class; whether beginning, intermediate, or advanced students are taught; whether auditing is permitted; whether classes are ongoing or by sessions; any special emphasis used in classes or coaching; whether a work/study program is offered. Descriptions of the class, schoool, or coaching are provided by the instructor or institutions and edited by Back Stage.Schools or teachers who have been omitted may contact, in writing, Listings, c/o Back Stage, 5055 Wilshire Blvd., 6th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90036, so that we may include you in our next list.Acting Technique/Scene StudyAARON McPherson STUDIOWest Hollywood, CA aaron@aaronmcphersonstudio.comwww.aaronmcphersonstudio.
- 3/25/2010
- backstage.com
Acting COACHINGThe following individuals or companies specialize in one-on-one acting coaching. Private coaching is also available from the majority of those listed in the "Acting Schools and Classes" category. Coaches in other specialties, such as musical theatre, voiceover, or young performers, are listed in those categories.Jules Aaron(323) 660-7342Aaron, the former head of of graduate programs at CalArts and U.C. Riverside, is an award-winning director and acting teacher. He has won directing awards from the L.A. Drama Critics Circle and Back Stage. He coaches actors for specific auditions, develops appropriate monologues, and conducts cold reading sessions. By audition only.Phyllis APPLEGATEOne-On-One(323) 655-5167Emmy-nominated character actor Applegate studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute on scholarship. She offers ongoing individual performance coaching combining Strasberg's methods with her own. Applegate coaches actors on audition techniques, cold readings, character creation, scene study, and text interpretation.The Audition COACHWest Hollwood, www.myspace.
- 3/25/2009
- backstage.com
From left to right: Quentin Tarantino, M. Night Shyamalan, Kevin Smith, Oliver Stone, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Brian De Palma, Ethan and Joel Coen, Ron Howard and Martin Scorsese In search of an idea for another top ten list I got to thinking about directors. Who is the best director? Who is the worst director? Those two questions require some serious research and I just don't think I am learned enough to say one way or another. Then I got to thinking about who may be the most overrated director? The best thing about this question is that it eliminates the likes of Uwe Boll from the conversation and I don't need to regurgitate what so many others have said concerning the directors that have gone down in history as great. I don't have to worry about telling you how great Alfred Hitchcock is and why. It's fantastic. However I...
- 8/28/2008
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
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