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charles_warren
Reviews
Dream a Little Dream (1989)
Imaginative and a Little Strange!
Corey Haim and Corey Feldman star in this odd little movie involving mind-transfer, dream control, surrealism, teen violence, peer pressure, metaphysics, and Tai-Chi.
Contrary to Leonard Maltin's review, this is NOT a "mind-switch" movie. No two characters switch bodies or minds. Also contrary to Mr. Maltin, this is a good movie, maybe very good. At the very least, it's different from the majority of teen-oriented films released that year (or any year).
This - not The Lost Boys - is the best Corey movie.
Jason Robards and Harry Dean Stanton co-star, adding acting chops and a bit of elder-statesman class to the cast. Mark Rocco directs some truly memorable scenes, such as when the audience suddenly materializes during the old man's pantomime in the opening sequence. Van Morrison contributes a perfect song to a climactic scene involving "star-crossed" bicyclists.
Hmm...just read my last sentence. See the movie to find out what I'm talking about - it's really hard to describe using mere words!
Followed by truly AWFUL sequel, in which only the Coreys returned. Stay away from that bomb. Dream a Little Dream earns a solid "8" in my book. But why hasn't it been released on DVD?!?
The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter (1990)
A decent second installment.
**POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOLLOW***
The Neverending Story II is a good second installment of the series. As someone who has never read the books, I don't have the fixation of some of the other posters here ("They changed the book! WAAHHH!!"). To me, it's not about whether it was like the book or not. Another example of this phenomenon is Starship Troopers. Great movie, but I haven't read (and don't care to read) Heinlein's book. I'm judging the movie on its own merits.
Neverending Story II is another beautiful glimpse of Fantasia. Though new actors play Bastian Bux and Atreyu, they are quite good for the most part. Clarissa Burt (looking a lot like Christine Baranski) does a super job as the witch Xayide, alternately vamping and chewing scenery. Falkor and Rockbiter return, and some new creatures, like the Giants and the birdlike Nimbly, appear.
The plot is - for the most part - tight, the effects are improved over part one, and the atmosphere and music both equal the original.
The ending is superb. I really enjoy how we are left with many questions, especially regarding Xayide (who nearly steals the picture). Where did she come from? What did she have against the Childlike Empress? Where does Xayide take herself after Bastian uses Auryn to give her emotions?
Perhaps some of these questions will be answered on the new TV series.
All in all, I give Neverending Story II an 8/10.
Ghostbusters (1984)
Simply the best comedy of the past 20 years.
Review this movie? Easy. It's the best comedy of the past two decades. "Ghostbusters" has been recognized by Entertainment Weekly, numerous critics, and many, many web sites as one of the best comedies - and, for that matter, one of the best movies - ever made.
Buy the DVD!
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
Fairly enjoyable sequel, not on par with #1, 3, or 7, though.
***POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOLLOW***
This movie is a middle-of-the-road entry in the Nightmare series. It's definitely better than #2, 5, and 6.
The opening scene of Freddy being re-animated is fairly creepy. I am really surprised at people saying it doesn't make sense though. After seeing #6, you should realize that burying Freddy "in hallowed ground" can't possibly stop him forever, because of his deal with the Dream Demons. It was, however, a minor setback that kept him out of action until he could engineer a way out. He possesses Kincaid's dog in the dream world and uses his urine to defile the "hallowed" ground, letting him out. I assume the reason the dog's urine was flaming is because Freddy's death was by fire, and fire is always intricately tied to the character (fire in the boiler room means "Freddy's home", for example).
It's easy to tell the dog was possessed (either by Freddy or the Dream Demons themselves) because he bit Kristen and growled at Kincaid himself. After he urinates, he is released, becomes fearful and runs off.
It's the same thing at the end of this movie, when the souls that help power Freddy are stripped from him. It seems as though he is dead, but he is not, because the Dream Demons give him the strength to carry on until he finds a way to get more power (Alice's child in part 5). Until the Dream Demons are defeated, Freddy can never die, each new "scheme" to defeat him (turn your back on him, bury him in hallowed ground, strip the souls from him, etc) can be nothing more than temporary solutions. See #6 for the final solution - removal of the Dream Demons.
Remember, part 4 tells us that Freddy is the "Guardian of the negative gate" ("I've been guarding my gate a long time, bitch!") - he is a Dream Master, and Alice is the other "Positive" Dream Master. Freddy got his job as the negative guardian, as well as his powers, from the Dream Demons.
Anyway...as you can see I am really into the mythology of the series. As for Part 4, it's entertaining, relatively good, and really provides some solid background. See #6 for the whole lowdown on Freddy's powers and origin (but #6 is not that great a movie!).