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DrZoidbfarb
Reviews
Jackass (2000)
If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough
"Jackass" is, to say the least, an outstanding achievement. Most television (before the reality craze) is carefully crafted, written and rewritten to the point of insanity on the part of all involved, then exhaustive searches for the actors take place, and all this without a guarantee of ever making it to air.
And then there's "Jackass". A group of twenty-somethings (now thirty-somethings) who make idiots out of themselves just by inflicting pain or dancing around in a man thong. It may not sound like much, but this is highly entertaining television. Its now spawned a number of imitators (although a fan of said shows will always tell you that *insert shows name* came before Jackass and that its so extreme it makes the Jackass guys look like girly men), but not one would have ever made it to air if it weren't for "Jackass" nor are the entertainers nearly as charming and funny as the "Jackass" crew. "'Ass" has always maintained the perfect balance of extreme stunts AND very funny practical jokes on the unsuspecting public, while imitators only focus on stunts.
Although some of the stunts from the show may not seem that extreme compared to the two Jackass films, I still highly recommend checking out "Jackass: The Boxed Set" for a quick, mindless laugh.
The Wizard (1989)
"I'm not kissing any boy!" "A girl maybe?"
Ah, "The Wizard". A bit of a cult classic highly regarded by video gamers (wheather they've ever actually seen the film or not) if only for one line: "I love the PowerGlove; its so bad!" Lucas's immortal words proved to be more truthful than intended when the PowerGlove was released (after the movie was released) with a high price tag and lackluster abilities. Not only did the 'Glove turn out to be "so bad", but it couldn't actually be used with the game it was in the movie. Essentially, this film is one long commercial for a product that didn't work as advertised. And now with its long-awaited DVD release, "Wizard" (like "Wonka" before it) has long outlasted the product it was created to shill.
That being said, I personally don't think this picture is a bad film. Not by any means. The story is compelling, the acting (particularly the traumatized boy) is above par, the drama is well-executed and not overdone, lending to some very humorous (and intentional) moments, and the message is timeless. In fact, the climax (with just a little suspension of disbelief) will have you eagerly awaiting the outcome whilst all the while rooting for the film's hero to emerge just that.
Don't go in with the highest expectations, but surely don't go in expecting a bad 90-minute commercial.