Blu-ray thumbs

[Johann]

TED(2012)


This is the directorial debut of Seth MacFarlane.
I watched the Unrated version and man, it’s crude.
This humour isn’t for everybody, like Family Guy.
A boy gets a large teddy bear for Christmas, and he wishes for the bear to be real,
So that they’ll be forever friends, “Thunder buddies”, pals for life.
Well sure enough, the wish comes true with the help of a shooting star.
The bear is voiced by Seth, and he sounds a lot like Peter Griffin…
Mark Wahlberg (as Johnny Bennett) must contend with foul-mouthed Ted as an adult, and the results are crazy.
You have to suspend disbelief to enjoy this movie, and I felt it was redeemed by the heartfelt
Love given to Sam Jones and Flash Gordon, a seminal movie in my life and Johnny’s.
There is sex, drugs, rock and roll, Tom Skeritt, Ryan Reynolds, Mila Kunis and Giovanni Ribisi.

[Johann]

TED 2 (2015)


This sequel is not very good. Whatever “bar” the first Ted sets, it’s lowered here.
It’s set three years after the first movie, with Ted trying to legally establish himself as a person and not property.
Patrick Stewart narrates both films, Michael Dorn has a cameo in this one, and there’s more love for Sam Jones and Flash Gordon. Seth hired Morgan Freeman and gave cameos to Liam Neeson and Tom Brady.
The story just never gets a foothold.
I like the pop culture references and enjoyed the New York Comic Con sequences/fight.
It’s the crude humour that rankles- is it really necessary?
There will probably be a third Ted, it’s a popular franchise.
Mark Wahlberg was good in the first one. Here he’s just hanging on.

[Johann]

THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985)


80’s Gold.
This very basic and simple film defined a generation.
John Hughes directs Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall and Judd Nelson in THE coming-of-age movie.
5 students are sent to detention on a Saturday.
They have unique personalities and outlooks. They are thrown together, and by day’s end they bond.
Part of the fun of the movie is the vice-principal, who’s a dick.
The kids manage to avoid their essay assignment, smoke pot, and generally skirt their punishments.
Eminently watchable classic film.

[Chris Knipp]

Rewatched recently because a new movie inspired by it was coming out, Nicholas Celozzi's The Class (2022). Nothing compares with Hughes. Peter and I share the taste.

[Johann]

Yes, John Hughes is special.
I read that John Cusack was going to play Bender, but Hughes felt he didn’t look menacing enough.

[Chris Knipp]

Good decision.

[Johann]

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT (2010)


Annette Bening and Julianne Moore star as a lesbian couple who’ve successfully raised two kids.
The kids are curious about their father (Mark Ruffalo), and track him down via the sperm bank.
They meet, they hit it off and he goes to dinner with the moms.
He’s charming and attentive, something Julianne feels is lacking in her marriage.
She eventually kisses him, in an awkward moment. Things lead to a sexual fling, defying her lesbian marriage. This movie focuses on marriage in general, it’s not a statement or manifesto.
There is no movie like this, and It’s topical, addressing real world problems.
Golden globe winner for Bening!
Directed by Lisa Cholodenko.

[Johann]

UNFORGIVEN (1992)


"I'm here to kill you Little Bill. For what you did to Ned".


Clint Eastwood's masterpiece.
See it at all costs. It's the story of a farmer with a bad past who does one more killing job for money.
This won 4 Oscars, including best picture and director and supporting actor for Gene Hackman.
Hackman is thoroughly loathsome as Sherriff "Little Bill" Daggett.
Morgan Freeman shines as Ned, Eastwood's pal. And even the guy who plays the Schofield Kid is great.
One of the best westerns you'll ever see.

[Johann]

AEON FLUX (2005)


Karyn Kusama’s futuristic film about the last city and an underground operative named Aeon is not that interesting.
I remember the anime being much more exciting and visceral.
Charlize Theron is the emotionless Aeon Flux, fighting her way thru oppressive situations.
It looks ok- they had some vision for the production design and costumes and weapons.
The problem is a lot happens and we’re not engaged…

[Johann]

THE WOLFMAN (2010)




I can't believe that this was a box office bomb.
Loved it.
Joe Johnson directs Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Hugo Weaving in this gothic atmospheric film.
It won a well deserved Oscar for best makeup. The creature is rendered extremely well.
The movie really takes off after Benicio is attacked by the werewolf.
Two thumbs up!

[Johann]

POINT BREAK (2015)




This is the remake of the 1991 action/adventure film.
Directed by Ericson Core, I highly enjoyed this movie. You want thrilling daredevil stunts?
Look no further. This movie has big wave surfing, extreme motorcross, skydiving, high mountain snowboarding, basejumping, and extreme rock climbing, to name a few.
The FBI is on the trail of a group of extreme sport enthusiasts who perpetuate extreme crimes and get away with them. They have to enlist the help of a new recruit familiar with the stunts named Utah (Heath Ledger lookalike Luke Bracey). Utah chases them all over the globe, with spectacular results. One by one he closes in. Co-starring Ray Winstone & Delroy Lindo. Wonderful cinematography- Core captures every stunt flawlessly, the most impressive being the rock climb at Angel Falls in Venezuela.