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Reviews
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Adventure has a name...
"Raiders of the Lost Ark", to me, is as great a movie as anyone can find. Name an element and "RotLA" probably has it. Drama? Yep. Love story? Check. Comedy? You got it. Action? Without a doubt. Adventure? You couldn't miss it if you tried.
Some movies are carried by the story, by the acting, by the setting, by the star power, etc. "RotLA" is not carried by one of these, but all of them, making it more than just a good movie. Start with the search for the Ark of the Covenant and the history between Indy and Marion, combine it with the unbelievable performances of this talented cast, add Harrison Ford's box office appeal, throw in a dash of Spielberg/Lucas, and serve it up in places like Cairo and South America. That's the recipe for one of the greatest movies in history.
The beginning of this brilliant film (Indy in South America looking for the idol and ultimately being chased by a boulder) provides one of the greatest images in movie history...and it all happens in the first 20 minutes!! The fact that the movie gets better from there says it all.
To be honest, I think this movie being rated #17 overall (as of 1/11/05) is somewhat of an injustice. While #17 still represents high praise, it should probably be a little higher. Maybe drop the "7" off the end!!
Elvis Stories (1989)
some good, some not so good
It has been a little while since I have watched this collection of shorts, but I definitely haven't forgotten it. If you're an Elvis fan or someone amused by the "sightings" of The King, you'll enjoy this. I won't describe each short story but I can tell you that you'll get a mixed bag. Some of them aren't too entertaining, while some are hysterical. My personal favorite is Corky (John Cusack) and his "Elvis Patties." Jeremy Piven helps make this a great segment. Keep an eye out for flying food particles!! This video is also a "Who's Who?" of well-known comics/actors. Just check out the cast list and you'll find out why there are some great nuggets to be found on "Elvis Stories."