Owner: Houdini's Magic Movie Ticket URL:http://magicmovieticket.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:26:49 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Movies I like, movies I didn't like, and movies I'd like to see. Site statistics:Click here
Big 2007-11-04 22:37:00 I've always loved this film. Tom Hanks plays a 13-year-old kid who finds a Zoltar machine at a carnival, wishes to be Big, and the next morning wakes up in an adult body. Then he gets a job, and his youthful style gets him a huge promotion. At that point, he gets paid to be a kid, and just has the time of his life. He invites his young buddy along, has a fling with a coworker, and then decides to be a kid again.What I like most about the film is Hanks' sense of wonder and enjoyment of the things a kid would find interesting. He looks like he's having so much fun, it's like reliving your childhood vicariously through him. And what kid wouldn't enjoy getting paid to think up cool new toys?When I first saw the movie, I had originally thought that when Hanks' female costar picked up his wish card at the end (the one he got for wishing to be a kid again) that she would actually turn into a kid, and he would stay an adult. What a twist! But it wasn't meant to be.Wow, I just r
Are You Afraid Of The Dark: The Tale of the Silver Sight 2007-11-03 20:42:00 Ok, this isn't your normal movie, but since it was a 3-part episode of the "Are You Afraid of the Dark" series, I'll count it as such. I believe when it first came out, it was marketed and aired as if it were a movie. And boy did it live up to the hype!One of the guys from the original cast of AYAOTD came back and helped save the world from an evil demon, who took the form of a kid at a carnival. I think my favorite part about the demon was his attitude. He was shorter than everybody else, but acted like he was all-powerful, and fooled them time and again.I enjoyed this movie because it was basically a cumulation of 4 years of scary storytelling. I had enjoyed the series previously, and then when it went away, I was disappointed. The movie was a great sort of reunion, and I liked having the chance to see some old characters one last time. Read more:Sight
, Silver
Not Another Teen Movie 2007-11-11 17:27:00 This movie is hilarious, if you don't mind potty humor every once in a while. It's got references to most of the major teen flicks of the past 20 years. Maybe even more. And the cast is fantastic. Randy Quaid is brilliant. The coach, the wise janitor -- just classic.The main reason I bring this movie up is that it stars Eric Christian Olsen. I first saw him in this, and then saw that he was in the "Dumb and Dumber" prequel. I saw "Jim Carrey" in an interview saying how he thought everybody involved in the prequel were just like a bunch of scavengers, each with a sponge to soak up the gravy the original movie had left behind. And I really enjoyed the original, so I've actually never seen the prequel.Anyway, a few days ago I watched an old episode of Smallville, in which an old man becomes young again. Lo and behold, his youthful self was played by Eric Christian Olsen. I had seen the episode before, but this was another one of those, "Hey, it's you! I never realized befor
The Gate 2007-11-08 20:32:00 I saw this movie on TV a few years back, when there was no "info" available to narrow down the title to a movie that had already started. It was good for a scary movie, but I only saw part of it, and only once.For years I wondered about it, and what it was called. For some reason, I connected one part of the film with a part at the end of "Scrooged," starring "Bill Murray," when the ghost of Christmas future reveals gremlins living in his ribcage. I think that's because "The Gate" features miniature demons that looked similar. For all I know, they may have looked identical!"The Gate" is about kids and a gate to Hell or some similar place in their backyard. It's definitely worth a watch, because it's fairly unique for a horror film. It's not the best movie in the world, but for me it was one of those things I wondered about for a long time. When I finally saw it on TV again, it was great. Mystery solved!
Days of Thunder 2007-11-15 18:11:00 A coworker of mine once remarked that "Days of Thunder
" is essentially "'Top Gun' on wheels." How true, how true. But I like "Top Gun," and I also enjoy "Days of Thunder."In "Top Guy," Tom Cruise confronts a competitor, has an accident, loses his confidence, and then regains it to save the day. In "Days of Thunder," he does the exact same thing. The only difference is that the action takes place on a race track, and not in the air.Another similarity is the "secret weapon" part, where Cruise explains or demonstrates a methodology that will come into play during the movie's climax. In "Top Gun," Cruise uses the "old" trick of, "I'll hit the breaks, he'll fly right by," early on, and then uses it in battle near the end. In "Days of Thunder," Cruise demonstrates with sugar packets how a driver can draft an opponent and then slingshot past to win the race. At Daytona, he does just that.Cary Elwes in "Days of Thunder" portrayed Cruise's rival. Then in "Hot Shots," a spoof of "T
Close Encounters of the Third Kind 2007-11-13 21:17:00 What an amazing movie. It's easy to take things for granted, but Spielberg is able to brilliantly communicate the weight, wonder, and impact of something as incredible as meeting otherworldly beings.One of the most memorable scenes, for me, is when the people out in the desert are shown and heard chanting. It's like the aliens made such an impact on them in such a short amount of time that they created a whole new religion. To hear those people chanting the tune of the ship was like experiencing an attempt to interact with a higher level of reality. It was incredible.I wonder if "CloseEncounters
" made an impact on civilization as a whole? Are people more open to extraterrestrial life because of it? Or did it come about only after people began to believe in the possibility that we are not alone?
Money Talks 2007-11-12 22:05:00 I never saw this film in theaters. When it came out on HBO and other movie channels, I avoided it. I didn't think it was for me. Recently, I watched it on cable. It was hilarious. I couldn't believe how far removed my concept of it had been from reality.Chris Tucker is very similar in "Money
Talks" as he is in "The Fifth Element," and I thought he was good in "Element." So, naturally, I enjoyed seeing him in a different role. I think the reason I didn't think "Money Talks" was going to be good was because of the advertising.I vaguely recall being told via movie ads that Chris Tucker would be playing the fast and loose guy, while Charlie Sheen would be an uptight conservative rich snob. Those descriptions were accurate, but only to an extremely limited extent. For some reason, I find that if I take an advertisement at face value, I'll often end up hating the idea of a movie that is later revealed to be much better than how it was depicted in a commercial. I think it's bec
Never Say Never Again 2007-11-19 18:12:00 This movie was on today, and I was able to watch parts of it again. What stuck out for me was how arcade games were being played by adults in tuxedos and elegant gowns. It seemed like, at the time, arcade games were a luxury only the rich could afford. Or maybe they were a new novelty, and their appeal hadn't yet worn off for adults.At one point, Bond sat down with a villain and played a game that would deliver an increasing electric shock through the hands of the losing opponent. Without that, the game looked somewhat interesting.I found it amusing how children of today might see a game like that and wish to play. Whereas at the time, Bond was just taking up whatever challenges arose. An expert in everything, he was even adept at a newfangled video game. Still, it's neat to think of how much more experienced the average "youth of the future" is with technology and video games.Future! Read more:Again
How The West Was Won 2007-11-18 22:09:00 This was on TV the other day. I didn't see all of it, but if I could have watched the whole thing start to finish, I would have. I'd never seen it before, and it looks like a fantastic film. It has multiple storylines encompassing various people as they make their way through life in the Old West.There's a guy who joins the military to fight in the Civil War. There's a gambler who seeks the heart of an energetic blonde, who herself battles to participate in the California gold rush. There's a wealthy rancher who also wishes to make a life with the blonde. And there's some fighting with Native Americans.I don't watch too many westerns, but this seems to be well-made to the point where it's enjoyable to practically anyone. Plus, it's got Jimmy Stewart.
Guarding Tess 2007-11-25 22:09:00 Nicolas Cage as Secret Service to former First Lady Shirley MacLaine. She likes getting her way, and tries to break Secret Service rules left and right. Cage keeps her in line, and she likes him because of it. I guess none of the other guys had a will of their own.This movie seems like it would appeal to someone who enjoys things like "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." It gives a fictional behind-the-scenes glance at the workings of a Presidential household. It's neat to see how someone that far up lives.To be honest, I've never seen the ending, but judging by the overall tone of the film, I'd guess it's a happy one.
Tomorrow Never Dies 2007-11-23 21:11:00 Bond takes on a media mogul who seems quite a bit lamer than you'd expect. It's like the villain's constantly on the verge of having a fit from being upset that he's not taken seriously. This is most evident after Bond botches one of the villain's plans in front of the world. The guy complains that failures like that shouldn't happen -- "Not to me!"I think it was really a trick of direction, since first we're shown the villain's face, and he coolly, calmly says, "Not to me." Then we see him from behind, where he turns his head to his female assistant and shouts, "Not to me!" It's like he was bullied as a youngster, and never got over the need to rise above his perceived inadequacies.I enjoyed the play between Bond and the agent from the East as they tried to thwart the war-hungry plans of Captain Television. This was a good film.
AMC "Future of Classic" 2007-12-03 23:13:00 There's a post on Random Waves of Insight about the mystery behind AMC's slogan. In AMC: What Does "Future
Of Classic
" Mean?, all the possible avenues of "Future of Classic" and its true meaning are explored.I for one do find it mildly confusing. If something is already classic, why bother bringing the future into it? It's not like a finely aged wine needs more aging!Maybe AMC is trying to say, "We are the Future of Classic, and in the Future, all things Classic will have been judged so on our terms alone. For we are redefining Classic with our lineup. Therefore, whatever we broadcast is good, and should be watched." So in the future, someone will ask, "What's a good classic movie?" And someone will respond, "Let's check the 2007 lineup from AMC. They redefined the word classic that year, as it pertains to films."
The Hulk 2007-12-02 18:48:00 This was on the other day, and I felt that enough time had passed since society dismissed it as unworthy. Watching it again, I noticed how the font for some captions looked similar to the font used in the show "Heroes." That was neat. It's like the film was a precursor of sorts.I enjoyed seeing things in a fresh, uncontaminated way. The last time I had watched "Hulk," there was a lot of talk that it wasn't that great. This time around it wasn't bad at all. I enjoyed the Hulk character more than the human version, though.The guy playing him didn't seem super tough when angry. He seemed more tough when passive aggressive, when cool and laid back. But then he'd snarl, and his youthful look would combine with that to present the appearance of an angry child. It was weird.I enjoyed the military's quest to hunt him down, and his incredible abilities when transformed. I didn't like the pain of it all, and how he felt his condition was ripping his life apart. I know it was, b
Stargate (with Kurt Russell) 2007-12-01 21:26:00 I used to watch the "Stargate
" show, and I had just recently been thinking about a behind-the-scenes moment I had watched where Kurt Russell
stopped by the set of the show and exchanged remarks with Richard Dean Anderson. Both played the same character (Col. Jonathan 'Jack' O'Neil) via two different mediums.To my surprise, the film was on today, and I was able to watch a good portion. Man, it really brings to you the awe and wonder of making contact with another planet, another people, and powerful, ancient technology.I was amused by how easily Dr. Daniel Jackson powered through the tasks to decode and decipher all the information the government had gathered so far. They kept having to ramp up his clearance. It's like he was playing through a video game he had just beaten for the eleventh time, and the game had forgotten how good he was. "What? Ok, you graduate to Level 2. What? You're that good? Ok, you get new armor. What??! Ok, secret mission!"I also enjoyed how the
Pete and Pete: The Reunion? 2007-11-30 02:01:00 Over at Misinterpreted.org, I was reading a post on The Genius of Pete and Pete, when it occurred to me that maybe they could do a "Pete and Pete" movie reunion!Wouldn't that be neat? All the adults would be a little older, and Pete and his brother would finally be grown up. All the kids in town would be! And if they truly were able to reprise their old roles, things would be insanely wacky.Maybe they could even reveal some essential mysteries, like who the Ice Cream Man really is, and whatever happened to Endless Mike? Did he just go on and on? Or did he stop at some point...I'd watch it!
American Dreamz 2007-11-29 15:05:00 This was a goofy film spoofing George W. Bush (represented by the always likable Dennis Quaid), American
Idol, and terrorists. The shallow feeling of Pop Idol shows, hosts, and contestants was made fun of to a great extent. One thing I enjoyed was how the President seemed to become enlightened through the film. He begins to realize how he's been misled, and that he needs to study things on his own and make up his mind one way or another, as an individual. It was fun to see hope in that regard.There were a lot of recognizable people in this film, most notably: Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Mandy Moore, Willem Dafoe, and Chris Klein. Dafoe was great as the President's Chief of Staff. Nearly unrecognizable.Part of the plot involved a reluctant terrorist who makes it onto the show, only to be manipulated by his sinister brethren into a plan of violence. Luckily, things work out ok (to some degree). The film made fun of terrorists, but not in an offensive way. It was light and humoro
The Three Amigos 2007-12-10 20:09:00 What a great film. It's so terrific, there are two ways to interpret it!First, it could be viewed as a parody film, goofing with the idea of a Western. But because it was so successful, it could also be viewed as a film to be parodied!I really enjoy this movie, and I think it has timeless appeal. For all we know, there's a village out there with the same problems as in the film, and similar shenanigans might be ready to occur!I like the actors in the film, especially the main 3: Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, and Martin Short. I like the song they sing where they hold that one note way longer than normal! And that funny move they do where they turn their heads and appear to cough.I used to think it would be funny if the names were Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Short Steve. But I guess to be fair to Chevy, that could not be. Read more:Amigos
, Three
Back To The Future 2007-12-09 20:05:00 I've always loved this film, and there are so many interesting things to think about.One thing I was shocked to learn was that Eric Stoltz was cast as Marty, and a bunch of scenes were shot with him. He thought the movie was a tragedy, because Marty at the end remembers an alternate life that no one else can sympathize with. Stoltz's views didn't agree with Spielberg's. Enter Michael J. Fox.Originally, the script called for a nuclear detonation as the Time Machine's power source. That would have been so cool! Can you imagine Marty driving through a test range into a nuclear blast?There's a theory dealing with the part at the end of the movie where Marty sees Doc get shot, then goes back in time, then returns and sees it happen again. Some people think that the Marty that returns watches the other Marty leave, taking the full case of Plutonium with him. When this other Marty gets to 1955, he fuels up and returns to 1985, without doing any of the stuff we saw in the movie. Read more:Future
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