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Reviews
Jericho: Pilot (2006)
Interesting offering...
The subject matter is interesting, considering our current world situations.
I am not going to dive deep into breaking the story down...basically the movie opened with Jake Green returning home to Jericho, and after establishing some backstory with his family and ex, the bomb goes off after 15 minutes and the action commences. The remainder of the pilot deals with the unknowns that arise after the mushroom cloud is spotted - Are they alone? Were there more bombs? All no doubt to be explored in the future episodes.
I personally rate the pilot as a 7 out of 10...interesting story and I can't wait to see what's next.
Chisum (1970)
John Wayne doing that which he does so well...
...and that is play a larger-than-life character. This time around it's John Chisum, one of the most powerful cattlemen ever.
This movie reminded me of McLintock, minus the over-the-top humor, and more gun play...
This offering is not as gritty as other Billy the Kid fare, such as "Young Guns", but basically follows the same premise: John Tunstall takes pity on young Billy, and is gunned down - setting the Lincoln County War in motion.
Except in "Chisum", the Billy the Kid story is relegated to the middle and end of the movie...even when the story kicks into gear, and Billy and his cohorts start the action, John Wayne's Chisum pops in to maintain the story and bring everything to resolution, including a good fight with Murphy.
The Monday Night War: WWE Raw vs. WCW Nitro (2004)
Tells a story, but not the whole story...
"The Monday Night War" is a WWE-produced retrospect on the Monday night ratings "war" between the WWF and WCW.
"Raw" was the first wrestling show aired in prime-time, on cable, with a smaller venue, and more grit than the original main-event programming that the WWF had produced before. Before this, WWF was usually a draw at the bigger venues across the country.
WCW continued to produce their shows via the "house" show matches, in the old-style of the NWA...eventually Eric Bischoff came into a position of power, and changed things - making WCW leaner and meaner, for example, co-branding WCW with the MGM Studios Theme Park. "Nitro" was born after that, when the WCW decided to throw their hat into the prime-time television spotlight. WCW's move to compete with the WWF's product ignited a rivalry that actually brought out the best, and worst, in both companies.
"The Monday Night War" gives commentary by people who were there, and knew the inside stories that gave a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes actions that lead to the WWF almost closing shop, and the eventually implosion of the WCW. I enjoyed seeing the wrestlers weigh-in on Bischoff, Vince Russo, and the fiasco behind-the-scenes at WCW - as well as at the WWF camp...
After looking at this DVD, I felt that this story was very one-sided to the WWE's story...it totally vilified the WCW. Where was the footage of WWE's poor tactics, such as the fake Diesel and Razor Ramone? The WWE's wrestlers and others showing up at WCW tapings? IMHO the WWE was made to be the victim in the whole DVD. Truthfully, BOTH sides had dirty hands in the "War".
The extras were good, but not complete...once again, it tilted towards the WWE. Thankfully, they gave us the "Return of Ric Flair" footage and confrontation with Bischoff. I would have liked to have seen the entire "Nitro" finale as an extra, but they only flashed back briefly on that historic episode.
If you are a WWE fan, and favored them during the "War", then you'll enjoy this DVD offering...WCW fans will feel slighted a bit by the portrayal of WCW, but you'll enjoy the comments of former WCW talent. If you were a avid wrestling fan during the "Monday Night War", all-in-all you'll enjoy the material offered up by this DVD. 7 out of 10.
Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
A Classic!
Smokey and the Bandit...an excellent Southern romp...
The film introduces you to the truck-driving legend "Bandit", who is challenged to bring beer from Texas to Georgia. Obviously the Burdettes have more money than sense, seeing as the local convenience store is down the road to satisfy their beer needs, and they can save $80,000 in the process - but their excess gives us a unique plot and situations that could only happen on the roads of the South!
Along for the ride is Jerry Reed's character Cledus Snow, "The Snowman" who is the reluctant running-buddy of Bandit on this beer-run. Cledus is the common sense of the two-man crew, sometimes offering that reality-check moment to the otherwise impulsive "Bandit".
Sally Field plays "Frog"...she gives the beauty to the film, also a middle-finger for posterity during a interstate chase, and a nice bent-over shot in the Trans-Am. (Thank you, Hal Needham) The "Smokey" in the title belongs to Jackie Gleason, who added the humor in the film...with some of the greatest lines ever delivered! See the movie once and you'll never say "Son of a B*tch" the same way thereafter...
Pick up a DVD copy today, and theatrical-aspect really keeps your attention and will present itself better than the 100-or-so times that you saw it on the small screen. Also, the edited-for-TV versions never did the original justice.
D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994)
Beyond Belief...
and a terrible script - they spun-off a horrible sequel to a good hockey movie franchise that had so much potential.
Skip this one and go directly to D3...
Was this movie just a promotional film for Disney's hockey franchise? I think so...with the new logo and championship game being played at the "Anaheim Pond"
People knock the third movie, but this one was the worst of the trilogy....