tasmith1972 Reviews

Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe (2022)

Go watch it, fartknocker

[8/10 · 23 June 2022]

Nobody goes into this movie expecting much in the realm of intellectual enlightenment, and proudly this movie delivers. The general theme is similar to "Beavis and Butthead Do America," in that the two idiots end up on an adventure that they are too stupid to understand. Nevertheless the gags and situations are pretty darn funny, and Mike Judge has done a good job of bringing the humor into a modern context.

This time around the duo are a bit more intelligent than they were back in the day (not by much). Their vocabulary is a bit more advanced as is their critical thinking. Beavis even shows a few signs of personal growth. Also a tad bit is revealed regarding family and personal history.

All told this movie does the franchise justice. If you were dumb enough to enjoy the classic series, you will be happy to see this new addition to their moronic exploits.

T2 Trainspotting (2017)

Very Different Type of Movie From The Original

[6/10 · 26 March 2022]

The original was an absolute gut punch, as it rewrote what could be depicted in film, and how drama could be presented. This sequel has none of that.

The return of the characters in a "where are they now" style is well done, and the new story around their antics is pretty good. What stands out is the fact that the gang is no longer cohesive, but instead each is in their own place and they have no real love or loyalty toward each other. They have all grown up and moved on with their lives in some form or another.

Perhaps what is disconcerting about this sequel is that it does not focus on heroin, or even drug abuse in general. That theme, which was the core of the first film, is pretty much absent this time around. In fact, this sequel lacks anything especially shocking or controversial.

It is worth watching, and certainly beats many sequels, but do not expect to have the same experience as with the original. Of course it is pretty much impossible to catch that level of lightning in a bottle a second time.

Harlem Nights (1989)

Funny and Entertaining, But Could Be Better

[7/10 · 31 July 2021]

Sometimes movies have an all star cast, a great concept, and every reason to succeed but still somehow turn out to be merely "Good" not "Great." This is one of those films. It is fun and entertaining, but not a comedy home run.

"Harlem Nights" was made when Eddie Murphy was at the peak of his stardom as the 1980s most bankable comic actor. He was on top of the world, but also known to be somewhat self-centered and vain. This vanity is perhaps the problem with this movie. He gives his character an arrogant perfection that comes across as irritating and unpleasant to watch. Arsenio Hall is also abrasive and juvenile during his short time in the film. Some of the comedy is also a bit too mean spirited to be funny.

Bear in mind, this movie definitely has its laughable moments. Richard Pryor, Della Reese, and Redd Foxx together in a room are guaranteed to create hysteria, and they deliver. In fact, critics have been far harsher to this movie than they should have been. Importantly, as a first time writer and director Murphy did a darn good job. It's sad that decided to not to stick with it improve, because it is clear that he has the talent to be on both sides of the camera.

Lord Farthingay's Holiday (1972)

Mildly Entertaining Bad Porn

[2/10 · 3 April 2021]

This movie is perhaps the only example of a legitimate screw-ball comedy that doubles as a porn film from the genre's golden age. The plot is simple and unimaginative. An English aristocrat visits an estate to rest and do some work, but instead of calling in musicians for his entertainment, the owner accidentally calls prostitutes. What follows is a chaotic afternoon of everyone getting it on with everyone else.

The acting is better than expected, but nobody in the film is taking it too seriously. Clearly the intent is to make a more explicit version of the low-budget "B roll" sex comedies of the era, and even the performers are veterans of these mostly forgettable productions. It plays like a really naughty version of the Benny Hill Show.

Of note, most sex scenes draw on a common "no means yes" trope. We see the protagonist force himself/herself onto an unwilling target, only to see resistance fade once the action gets going. The same basic premise was a staple of future mainstream raunch-coms like "Porky's' and "Revenge of the Nerds." It is a reminder of how times have changed, and what we call rape, they called humor.

This is first and foremost a porn flick, and whereas the nudity leaves no legs unopened, the sex is softcore. It is also performed in a more comedic rather than erotic tone. Hardcore films were being made by this time, so why the producers decided not to cross that line is anyone's guess.

Aside from a handful of funny gags, this is not a good movie, and it is not even good porn. It is, however, a solid example of why adult films generally fail spectacularly when they attempt to cross the line into mainstream entertainment.

Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978 TV Movie)

Ridiculous and Terrible, But Still Part of The KISS Story

[4/10 · 27 November 2020]

Even by cheap 1970s made-for-tv standards, this move is terrible. The acting is horrendous and the plot is barely coherent. Of course, this is no surprise, and even the members of the band hated it at the time. Apparently it was only shown once in prime time, but did make it to home video and was rerun occasionally in off-hours spots.

Of course if you like cheesy, so-bad-its-good movies, this one is a fantastic choice.

The story of this ridiculous movie is that a much better version was planned, and the band members saw it as a chance to reach a broader audience and get into film, similar to the Beatles' "Hard Day's Night." However, when it came time to film it, they realized that they had been duped, and the script had been completely rewritten, and budget slashed. Their response was to deliberately give a terrible performance. Also, tension and discord among the band's members did not help.

I strongly suspect that this fiasco is a big reason why Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are so defensive of the KISS brand, and refuse to do anything unless they are 100% in control. It was an important lesson that I am sure played a big role in "Detroit Rock City," which came out about 20 years later and is a great film.

Yellowbeard (1983)

Should Be Much Funnier, But Clearly Written To Get A PG Rating

[6/10 · 6 September 2020]

Given the incredible cast, this should be the funniest film ever made. This has the Pythons, Mel's Brooks veterans, and Cheech and Chong all in one movie. It is the best ensemble of comedians since "It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World."

Perhaps the problem is that the writers were clearly going tor a "PG" rating, which means that the jokes are nowhere near as outrageous as they could be. Yes, it does push the "PG" envelope, but ultimately it is clear that there was an attempt to keep the humor somewhat family friendly.

Every one of the legendary comedians in this film are at their best when they are uncensored, and allowed to really tear loose with the adult humor and offend as many uptight squares as possible. Think "Blazing Saddles," "Up in Smoke," and "Life of Brian." In this movie they were not allowed to go there, so the jokes are tame and flat. "Yellowbeard" could have been one of those movies, but somebody was simply too scared to let it happen.

It is worth watching if you have a couple of hours to kill, and it certainly has its funny moments, but don't let the cast fool you. It is not anywhere near as funny as it could be.

Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965)

Perfectly Fun 60s Sci-Fi, But Not Real Doctor Who

[7/10 · 24 June 2020]

This movie was made shortly after the well-known Doctor Who series had launched in England. It is an almost identical adaptation of one of the first season's story arcs that first introduces the Daleks. It is not considered canon within the Doctor Who franchise, although it shares a good number of the series elements. It is worth noting, however, that at this point in the whole Doctor Who universe much of the key elements had not really been sorted out. Certainly nobody could have known how significant and long-lasting it would become.

Simply put, the series seemed to be a hit in the U.K., so in true Hollywood fashion an American adaptation was quickly made.

The movie is entertaining as a somewhat low budget sci fi film from the era. Anyone who enjoys those types of movies will clearly like it. Peter Cushing does a great job of playing "Doctor Who," although he is definitely not a time lord. He is instead portrayed as a human mad scientist of sorts.

Midway (2019)

Terrible CGI, Poor Acting

[3/10 · 1 June 2020]

Yes, the movie works hard to be accurate about this critical battle of the war, but the CGI is an absolute joke. It is so obvious that the entire film was shot in front of a green screen that it is impossible to enjoy the movie and forget about it. Also, the acting is overly melodramatic and amateurish, straight down to the stereotypical characters. This should be shown in films schools as an example of what not to do.

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)

Does a very good job of wrapping up Pinkman's fate

[9/10 · 15 October 2019]

"What happened to Jesse" is the big cliffhanger from the end of the series. It is right up there with the Tony Soprano question and what is in the Pulp Fiction briefcase. To some extent leaving Jesse's fate unknown has been great to think about, because there were so many possibilities. This movie resolves it, and in a very satisfying way.

It is true that it is about as good as an average Breaking Bad episode, but worth watching.

One has to get over the fact that all of the actors are older, and it shows, but let's face it, the only people that are really interested in this movie are true Breaking Bad fans (and there are certainly a lot) so I don't think that any of us really mind that. We get it. It has been a few years.

Do not watch unless you have already seen the series. Basically this works as a last episode.

Oh, God! (1977)

As Always, Burns Steals The Show

[9/10 · 31 July 2019]

In the mid-1970s, when George Burns about about 80, he returned to film after decades of being on TV. He played a lead role in a handful of movies that really stand out as true gems. "Going in Style" and "The Sunshine Boys" are two others that are also fantastic.

Oh God! is a comedy, but like his other movies from this time, it is not laugh out loud funny. It makes you smile, and it makes you happy. It does not make milk come out of your nose. It can honesty be considered a drama as well.

Burns never relied on slapstick or cheap gags, and this movie is no different. It was his absolute brilliant wit, on full display here, that really made him stand out as a comic genius. John Denver, better known for his music of course, does a great job playing opposite of him. Teri Garr also did a great job as the wife.

I feel sorry for anyone that would watch this movie and not absolutely love it.

Super Fly (1972)

The film that defines the Blaxploitation genre

[9/10 · 14 July 2019]

Blaxploitation films are generally seen as having comically bad acting and production, yet Superfly definitely defies this stereotype. It is a good movie, and Ron O'Neal is a very good actor, giving terrific depth to his role as the anti-hero, drug dealing player who wants to make one big score before retiring from the business. It is sad that O'neal did not have a more notable career after this.

Like most films of this type, the plot is not unique, and is merely a re-write of earlier gangster films from the 1930s and 40s. Nevertheless, the actors and producers were clearly trying to do something serious, and it shows in every scene.

Of course it wouldn't be a good Blaxploitation film if it didn't have plenty of pimps, prostitutes, drugs, crooked cops, big afros, groovy 70s clothes, soul music, plus a little Black Nationalism thrown in for fun, all of which is there.

This movie also reminds the viewer of the gritty, dirty, seedy side of New York City in the 1970s, and how the city was clearly at a low point in its long history.

Overall, definitely worth watching.

The Last American Virgin (1982)

Two Movies in One

[9/10 · 7 July 2019]

This movie is best compared to "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" as it came out at the same time and covers many of the same themes. The production value and overall feel is quite low budget, and the acting is somewhat amateurish. That being said, it goes from being a silly teen sex flick to a very powerful statement on how hard finding love can be.

It may be easy to dismiss this movie during the first few scenes, but stick it out.

What this movie does best is demonstrate that boys experience insecurity, stress, and heartbreak, just as girls do. It also demonstrates that women can be evil and "exploitative" just as much as men can. Every guy that has had his heart broken by a girl who took advantage of him can relate to this move.

Expect the movie to take a very dark turn during the last 30 minutes or so, and although it may trouble many people to see how the movie ends, what happens is often very true to life. It is amazing that the writers decided to take it in the direction that it did. Definitely worth watching.

Goliath Awaits (1981)

Better than most cheesy made for TV movies

[8/10 · 12 June 2019]

If you are interested in the 80s era TV movies, this is a good option. Do not expect for it to hold up to anything modern, and of course one has to truly suspend belief in many ways. Perhaps this is best for people who are interested in the careers of specific actors such as Mark Harmon, Eddie Albert, John Ratzenberger, and of course Christopher Lee. Lee definitely steals the show, and perhaps gives the only real "A List" level performance. He is extremely good at appearing both paternal and loving as well as evil at the same time. There is also clearly an attempt to showcase modern (at least for the time) diving and submarine technology.

Going in Style (1979)

A Terrific Movie

[9/10 · 5 March 2017]

What makes this movie so great is that it uses no gimmicks, cheap thrills, or other silly plot devices to keep the audience's attention. There are no explosions nor is there nudity or "shock" humor. This movie relies entirely on a great plot and great acting.

The story is grounded by the fact that the three principle actors behave exactly the way elderly men do. Even the occasional cuss word is perfectly placed. Althougn the movie is almost 40 years old, it holds up very well.

This movie has its funny moments, but is not really a comedy. Rather it is a blend of it all. Easily the most touching moment is when George Burns is looking through old photos of his deceased wife. The photos were of his actual deceased wife, Gracie Allen, and for a moment the fourth wall is unofficially crossed as Burns shows the audience his very genuine grief.

This movie woild be especially good for children to watch, as it shows genuine respect for the elderly, but also teaches the challenges of aging.

To Be or Not to Be (1983)

Great Movie, But Not Typical Mel Brooks.

[8/10 · 6 June 2014]

This is a truly entertaining movie, but it does not have the over the top antics of a typical Mel Brooks film. One would not expect it too, since Brooks was neither the writer nor the director. It certainly has its moments and, as expected, Brooks steals the show.

Of note are the touching scenes, which were clearly personal to those making the film. Specifically, all the comedy stops when the homosexual character is taken away by the Gestapo. Clearly Brooks is reminding us that despite the buffoonery being displayed, the pain that the REAL Nazis caused was no joke.

This movie would be enjoyed most by fans of "classic" comedy films.