Monthly Archives: September 2016

ACTION, COMEDY, HORROR, THROWBACK THURSDAY

THROWBACK THURSDAY – GHOSTBUSTERS

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I Am The Reviewer. Are You The Review Reader?

In 1984 we were taken to the world of ghost hunting, or better yet the world of ghost hunting was brought to us, long before there were countless shows and movies on the subject. And with a good combination of action, suspense, some scares, and a few recognizable faces in their earlier years, “Ghostbusters” became an instant classic.

Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd lead the ensemble of now well-known faces and names that made this piece what it is. Dr. Peter Venkman (Murray) is kicked out of the college he works at and is forced to find a new job. With the help of his fellow parapsychologist friends Dr. Raymond Stantz (Aykroyd) and Dr. Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), the three create their own ghost removal business in New York City. But there happens to be one case in particular that is far worse than the rest which threatens to bring an end to all of mankind.

Cast alongside Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis are none other than Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, and Ernie Hudson. They all work well off one another with the antics between Murray and Aykroyd leading the way.

Given that this movie was made more than 30 years ago the story is good, the cinematography is good, and the different effects throughout were all good too with a few hiccups here and there which can be expected for a movie from the eighties. If this exact same movie were made today for the first time ever I’m sure there would be some differences that could have made it even better. But all in all it is still a really good movie.

Even with an updated version of “Ghostbusters” having come out (and being well received by those who saw it) earlier this year, this one is still a monumental achievement all on its own. This is a great movie and will keep viewers of all ages well entertained for the full hour and forty-five minute running time.

Roasted Ripper Score = A

9 Proton Blasters / 10

HORROR

BLAIR WITCH

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A new twist on a classic.

In 1999 the found footage style of the horror genre was born with the Lionsgate release of “The Blair Witch Project”. At the time many speculated the film to be real and its’ popularity spread like wild fire. Obviously it was later determined that the film was planned but it was already a massive success. Whether you love or hate the original Blair Witch, it is engrained in horror culture for eternity. Due to the success of the first film the studio fast tracked a sequel released in the following year titled “Book Of Shadows – Blair Witch 2”. The sequel flopped and is widely considered one of the worst horror movies of all time.

It was unveiled at this years’ comic con that the new horror film “The Woods” was actually a Blair Witch sequel. The original trailer for “the Woods”was vague yet intriguing, once it was announced as “Blair Witch” it sent horror fans into a frenzy and ripe with anticipation. With a modern twist the filmmakers set out to do the impossible and bring life into a franchise that was as dead as the Blair Witch herself…

Mission Accomplished, kind of.

“Blair Witch” picks up about 20 years after the events of the first film, we meet James who is watching a clip uploaded to the internet which is believed to be from his sister Heather Donahue (The main character from the original). He and his friends set out to the Black Hills woods in Burkittsville, MD to see if they can uncover the fate of James’ sister. Armed with modern technology including GPS, drone cameras, and personal recording devices they document as they are terrorized by the Blair Witch.

While sure not to please everyone, fans of the genre and the first installment will ultimately enjoy the latest take. The 89 minute runtime goes extremely fast, a far different pace then the slower suspenseful exploits of Heather, Josh, and Mike. The visual effects obviously got a modern day overhaul which is refreshing, clearer camera shots and multiple angles lure the audience into the story and keep them intrigued throughout. The mythology of the Blair Witch is examined and key parts that fans have asked about for 17 years are answered and make sense. They do this in an obvious way but it doesn’t detract from the story.

Casting was a downfall, none of the actors were that great and they showed little chemistry for portraying “lifetime” friends. The audience is disconnected from them from the get go, making their impending demise somewhat enjoyable. The woods look different from the original, choosing to shoot in the pacific northwest probably was not correct for continuity from “The Blair Witch Project”. Giving the film more of a green look rather than orange/brown, the daytime scenes are a little annoying but obviously with night shots it doesn’t matter. The filmmakers took a lot of risks with a few of the new elements that they added, for that they should be applauded. Audiences will likely be torn on if they like the new direction. This film has a long list of negatives that movie goers will surely notice, even with horrible acting, new direction, and unfortunate location they still make this an enjoyable hour and a half and leave the audiences asking more questions.

“Blair Witch” is nowhere close to being the scariest movie of all time, it can be classified as average at best. As most fans know though, with the slew of horrible and lazy horror flicks out there, average can be memorable.

ROASTED RIPPER SCORE = C

2.9/5 Creepy Stick Figures

DRAMA

SULLY

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Not all heroes wear capes, some wear wings.

The miracle on the Hudson will forever be known by its’ defining image of the passengers and crew standing on the wings of the nearly submerged aircraft, shivering in the sub zero temperatures while waiting for help to arrive. “Sully’ brings you the story of the pilot behind the impossible landing – Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger as portrayed by Tom Hanks. Sully has over 40 years of experience in the air, but no amount of experience or training could prepare him for dual engine loss at low altitude while gliding over the most populated city in the world.

Like most biographical/historical pieces, the audience is well aware with how the film will end. Even knowing that all 155 people aboard will survive, “Sully” doesn’t let up on your nerves or emotions. Clint Eastwood has an outstanding track record in Hollywood and his directing is no exception. The story of the 208 second terror is told in a non chronological format which ends up keeping the audience more engaged without a lot of action sequences. There isn’t much to criticize with this film other than “Sully” somewhat skims over his relationship with his family and all of their interaction comes over the phone. This leaves the audience unattached to the Sullenberger clan as a whole.

The first 90 seconds of the film is quick to remind you what could have happened if Sully had followed protocol and made his way back to the airport. Spoiler Alert – It’s not good. With a September release it automatically throws your mind to the tragic events of 9/11/2001. The basis of the film is the investigation behind his actions and if they were careless. Again the audience may be well aware how the case turns out but will still be overcome with emotion and uneasiness.

The major takeaway from this film is the total team effort with perfect timing that allowed this forced water landing to have a 100% survival rate. The Pilots, crew, passengers, air traffic controllers, and first responders all played an equal role in making sure no one was lost to the frigid waters. Much like we give credit to Police, Military, and Firefighters – Pilots are often under appreciated. I, like many Americans complain when I travel on a regular basis. Crazy things can happen in the air and without extensive training and quick decision making, traveling would be a lot more stressful than a delayed flight or long security lines. Without Captain Sullenberger there would also be 155 more people in NY that would be simply another  tragic statistic.

ROASTED RIPPER SCORE = B+

4/5 Inflatable slides

COMEDY, THROWBACK THURSDAY

THROWBACK THURSDAY – YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

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BRING…MR. WILDER…BECK!

With the recent passing of the great Gene Wilder it felt necessary to take a look back at one of his most marvelous, and less known and recognized great performances, in “Young Frankenstein”.

Directed by Mel Brooks, Wilder plays Fredrick Frankenstein (or Froaderick Fronkensteen as he prefers to have it pronounced) the grandson of the infamous scientist in this classic Brooks vision in the world of the well-known story.

After hearing of his grandfather’s death, Fredrick is invited to Transylvania to prove he is not as crazy as his family name suggests. And even as he adamantly expresses his disinterest in his grandfather’s work, he finds himself dragged into it to the point where he himself brings his own monster to life. As the result of an abnormality with the creature, the events that ensue are both intriguing and hilarious.

Alongside Wilder on the screen includes the likes of Marty Feldman, Terri Garr, and Peter Boyle not to mention a few familiar faces from the Mel Brooks movie world like Madeline Kahn and Cloris Leachman. There might also be a small appearance from a young man named Gene Hackman playing a blind man.

As with any comedy, especially one by Mel Brooks, there is a certain group of people who will love a film like this and another who will not. There are plenty of things you could change, but doing so would take away from the magic this film creates and is unnecessary due to the slapstick nature of it all. And if you’ve enjoyed any other projects with Brooks and Wilde involved with it, then this is just another to add to eithers library.

If you are an avid fan of comedy and are fine with straight forward jokes, laughs that are created by a play on words as well as those made by observations and complete ridiculousness, and you are able to follow the simple story and the vast humor within, you will have a great time watching this movie.

Roasted Ripper Score: A

(9 Humps/10)

Dedicated to Willy Wonka, Jim, Leo Bloom, and many other great characters better known as Gene Wilder