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orangecakemix
Reviews
World's Wildest Police Videos (1998)
has mixed results...
If you can get past John Bunnell's ear-grating loudmouth nature then high powered suspense awaits you - consisting mainly of police-pursuit car chases which often culminates into wrecks, occasionally you see life-saving rescue operations, riot sequences etc. ala RealTV. However the show suffers from Bunnell's one-sided and often uninformed narration (he once mistook a Toyota MR2 for a Pontiac Fiero). If he makes a careless observation like THAT it makes one wonder how much he really knows.
The program has much needed room for improvement. It has come under investigation for using audio/video enhancements (i.e. sound effects). The producers take a two minute chase sequence and expand it with replay after replay of the same videobyte and before-commercial cliff hangers that when you break it down, it only amounts to less than 30 minutes of unique programming. Although the video footage differs, it seems bunnell's dialogue stays the same from episode to episode - he just uses different words. Still it's an exciting adrenaline rush that keeps you on the edge of your seat to see what will happen next.
Years before this show started, Bunnell could be seen on duty as a narcotics agent in the earliest episodes of COPS (and he was a more quieter restrained person before he became this TV personality whore).
The Fast and the Furious (2001)
Love it or hate it.
The story line (which is best described as a 'B' movie version of 'Gone In 60 Seconds') seems to center around a band of thugs who drive Honda Civic coupes to hijack 18-wheelers hauling electronics and a cop investigator who falls in love with one of the hijacker's sisters. Pic will please anyone who thrives on teen hip-hop culture, rice rockets and movement alone. those who are partial to actual dialogue, drama and plot with depth look elsewhere.
Wrong Turn (2003)
Goriest since 'Rawhead Rex'!
In the rural mountainous sections of West Virginia, attractive stars run for their collective lives under the attack of cannibalistic weirdos that dwell in the area and who are deformed thru generations of in-breeding. Nobody seemed safe from the bow-and-arrow touting killers-killers who just seem to revel in 'their' territory with their shananigans. True, the movie does hint at elements of originality, but by the time the last half-hour kicks in, it once again becomes routine and predictable. For some strange reason, the director opted to insert another horror sequence about one minute after the closing credits began.
The Naked Cage (1986)
Gladiator school for women.
Standard fare about female criminals and a female penitentiary certainly doesn't have the best acting in the world and relies heavily on predictable material. Why bother?
Scary Movie (2000)
Retarded.
Attempt to revive the 'Airplane'/'Naked Gun' style comedies from the eighties and apply them to the wonderful world of modern teen pop culture fails miserably. But at least it's not a waste of 'talent' (those teen actors and actresses never have any).
Higher Learning (1995)
it's an ok one.
This sophomore effort by director Singleton (Boyz In Tha Hood) is entertaining and fairly enjoyable even though it has its share of cardboard characters and mediocre acting. For those who are unfamiliar, it's about students at a california university dealing with pressures, trials, tribulations, etc. of campus life, mixing with other races, etc. (the main focus, anyway).
Fishburne certainly isn't the best actor on the planet but does a good job pronouncing his Jamaican accent (Professor Maurice Phipps OOOHHHHH....classy!).
It kinda hits you over the head with racial and political messages - and in the most corniest, old-skool of ways possible, but it's not all bad. There are redeemable qualities to it. It's a good choice and a personal favorite the but performances here won't win any oscars.
The Basketball Diaries (1995)
entertaining.
this movie, a true story based on the life of musician/poet jim carroll took a few watches to grow on me but has since become a personal favorite. even though the screenplay and settings are inconsistent with the time period it's supposed to be, the acting and drama make up for the weak spots. the movie is notorious for the school violence scene - those who complain about it seem to have trouble separating entertainment from reality.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Where Does It End?
On we go with another case of good-looking teenage (well, near teenage maybe) actors and actresses with their million+ a year salary getting paid to have fun in front of the camera and be themselves. wooden-character horror flick about kids trying to cover up an accidental killing by them is thin on content and plot. Typical nineties teen-yawn like 'Scream' and others. Not the most fun 1 and half hour to sit through. Needless to say, not recommended.
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
MTV On The Big Screen.
Though unevenly paced at times, the modernized version of Shakespeare's tragedy filmed in Mexico City by an Australian director provides ok ensemble acting, MTV-style direction (but has a special substance all it's own), a killer soundtrack and classy cinematography. Interesting 'cast' of automobiles, too. Makes you wish you were in the movie yourself (maybe). Hardly the best Dicaprio vehicle but good choice.
American Pie (1999)
Nothing New, Nothing Original.
OK, OK, OK so this movie is loved and revered by hundreds of millions of teenagers (probably WORLDwide), but trust me, it's nothing new, nothing original - a total retread of 'Police Academy'-style eighties comedies except replaced with the typically crude, arrogant teen actors we see cropping up all over the place. Whatever happened to good old fashioned raw talent? As they say, your neighbors vacation videos might be less painful. Substitute another feature for this one.
Stewardess School (1986)
ALMOST Naked Gun-esque.
Campy slapstick spoof with many familiar faces living it up while majoring courses in stewardess school (Does such a school really exist?). Although cheesy, it's become somewhat of a cult classic.
Kind of hard to find in video rental stores today but airs frequently on cable TV's Comedy Central station. Most notable for one of Donny Most's rare appearances outside of 'Happy Days'.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Why Why Why ???
A typical teen-yawn which once again raises the common question associated with these types of movies - Why are these "beautiful", "glamorous" college-aged actors and actresses getting paid millions of dollars to turn out such dull, useless garbage?
Grandview, U.S.A. (1984)
Delivers The Goods!
There have been more bad critical reviews and comments about THIS movie than good. I don't see how it's THAT bad to most viewers. It is one of my top favorites. It contains an excellent blend of comedy and drama about life in a rural American location (no mention of state or town but Texas is a good possibility). Great character acting. They just don't make them like this anymore.
Eddie Macon's Run (1983)
worth checking out
For a movie labeled chiefly as an action-adventure, some of the dialogue and plot gets quite syrupy (especially that one soundtrack song which airs when Eddie Macon is 'retro-daydreaming' past life events). However, the story line is good without being TOO predictable and the characters are well thawed out. It holds interest well. I first saw it about a year after it's initial release date and it has been a mild favorite of mine ever since. Worth checking out.