Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
(Note: This is a review of the Special Edition released to theaters in 1997) Ok, maybe this movie was the reason to retool the entire Star Wars series. The original Return of the Jedi was my least favorite of the trilogy. The cuddly Ewoks grated on my nerves. Luke SkywalkerContinue Reading
Private Parts (1997)
While waiting for the movie to start, I overheard a man sitting nearby tell his female companion, “I hope Howard has a $40,000,000 opening weekend and just blows every other movie away.” Howard Stern’s fans are loyal and willing to support his every move. Now, Howard wants to try hisContinue Reading
Say Anything (1989)
The 1980’s produced a lot of “teenage sex” movies, most of which are inane and revolting. 1989’s Say Anything is a complete surprise. It’s intelligent, funny, and full of wisdom. John Cusack plays Lloyd Dobler, who is a teenager with the unique goal of being a champion kickboxer. He doesn’tContinue Reading
Donnie Brasco (1997)
Movies about the Mafia usually end up either making the mobsters into heroes or degenerating them into caricatures. Donnie Brasco shows the human side of the Mafia, which makes it seem all the more brutal. Johnny Depp plays Joseph Pistone, an undercover FBI agent sent to infiltrate the mob. AsContinue Reading
RoboCop (1987)
What if corporate entities took over the police force of a major city? According to RoboCop, it opens it up to subversion and mismanagement at the expense of innocent lives. In the near future, Omni Consumer Products, who owns the police department of Detroit through a company called Security Concepts,Continue Reading
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
(Note: This is a review of the Special Edition released to theaters in 1997) After seeing the original Star Wars just a few weeks ago, returning to the theater to see its first sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, gave me a real feeling of what it must have been likeContinue Reading
The Lonely Guy (1983)
Steve Martin made quite a few low-brow movies during the early 1980’s, including The Man with Two Brains and Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid. The Lonely Guy is probably the best of them only because it’s more human and genuine. Larry Hubbard (Steve Martin) has just been dumped by hisContinue Reading