16. Tommy Boy

Wow. Has it really been over 15 years since Tommy Boy came out? Really? I can't believe it. I also can't believe how funny this movie still is. Chris Farley at the top of his game for sure. It's a shame that we lost him 1997! It would have been nice to see how he would have evolved over the years as a comedian and an actor.
For those living in a black hole Tommy Boy is the story of a not so bright son whose father passes away leaving him with the company auto parts factory. The factory is in danger of closing if they can't get enough orders of the new break pads. Tommy then sets off on the road to try and sell “like his dad” Joining him on the trip is Richard. A rude, sarcastic, prudish little man. Richard so wonderfully played by the snarky David Spade. Farley and Spade will be forever linked as one of the greatest comic duos. Again, a shame we will never see anything beyond this and Black Sheep.

In a weird twist. Tommy Boy’ s message is more relevant today than in 1995.

With the economy off track for the past 3 years any so many real life closings are happening all time like the small town featured here. Yes, Tommy Boy is not the smartest of plots or the most dramatic of acting but it's solid and it's funny.

Final Verdict: Tommy Likey. A Must own.

14. The Sandlot

American classic!

               In the world of sports movies very few have stood the test of time like The Sandlot. I still remember when this movie came out--while I was in high school. It was, in all senses of word, an instant classic. It is extremely funny and well written. The characters are memorable and everyone has their favorites.  How can you even pick a favorite scene in this movie? There are so many!!

                I love this movie because it really captures the love of baseball. Especially from the point of a child loving baseball. Being a child that grew up in awe of the sport I can relate. I have so many great memories from playing baseball as a child. From midget league, little league to Babe Ruth I grew up loving baseball.  A love that has continued into adulthood. Even those people who aren’t particularly fond of the sport of baseball (we call them weirdoes) love The Sandlot. Following this band of 9 friends over the course of the summer as they bond and take on the neighbor monster known as THE BEAST!

SQUINTS!

                Even today at 35 years old I still love this movie. Not only for the move itself but also for the memories I have of watching this movie growing up.  It’s a special bond that many from my generation have for this movie. You go up to almost anyone at baseball game saying “You’re killing me Smalls” and that person will instantly join in laughing. Even with the fact that the movie was degraded into having cheap knockoff sequels made it still has a special rank of its own.  Long Live The Sandlot.  God bless America and its past time! 

Final verdict: You are not American if you don’t own The Sandlot!

12. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

               Hands down one of the best movies of all time! I was so happy when the Magical Movie Box chose this movie for me.  It is one of my all time favorite movies. In fact it is currently number 5 on my all time favorites list. Yes, I am that lame that I have a top ten favorite movies list. The Goonies currently holds down the top spot!

                I can go on and on about this movie. I practically have it memorized. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I have seen it since it came out when I was a freshman in high school! Overall I think it is fair adaption of the beloved cartoon. The basic story is the same. A rat, 4 turtles, a shredder and some Pizza are all thrown in the mix.  So many funny moments and so many great one liners make it an outstanding film except….

                Allow me to rant and rave about what has allows bugged my about this movie.  Why in the world does Raphael get such a big part in this?! It is not fair at all! Donatello is by far the best turtle! In this movie he gets no love! They rarely even touch on the fact that he is a genius! The smartest of all the turtles! In the cartoon Donatello is constantly saving the day. But not here Raphael is the star. Whooppee! Not to mention Donatello get Corey Feldman to do his voice! But man you have got to love Turtle Power (best movie song ever!)

Final Verdict: Worth owning. Duh.

Other tidbits:

-If you notice in April’s apartment when she goes to answer the door there is an Elvis statue on the dresser by the door. It’s the same Elvis statue featured on Saved by the Bell that was broken when they had a party at Screech’s house. Now what other blog gives you that kind of info!

11. Legend of the Guardians:The Owls of Ga'Hoole

                Known for the longest time to me simply as “The Owl Movie”.  My wife has been dying forever for us to watch this movie and we finally got around to watching it. Brought to us by Netflix on stunning blu ray. Speaking of which, this movie is superb is HD, absolutely spectacular.

                So the movie. Well I really enjoyed it. It was directed by Zack Snyder who made the 300 movie (haven’t seen it) and based on the books by Kathryn Lasky. The story tells of the legendary Guardians. A group of owls who have sworn to protect all of owl kind.  But it has been years since Guardians had been seen or heard and their tale of legends are now believed by many to be myth. But no to our hero of the movie Soren.  A young owl who is kidnapped, along with his brother Kludd and taken away to be enslaved by a group of owls called The Pure Ones.

                The best part that I liked about this movie is that action actually holds up. The flight and fight scenes are top notch.  Just as fast and action packed as say Top Gun or Star Wars. The pure ones have an evil plan to trap and destroy the Guardians. This movie surprised me.  Once you get past the fact they are owls and it has music in it from Owl City it is really, really good. I got way into it. My wife has read all the books and said that they did a decent job adapting the first part of the story although there were a couple of big changes that it was hard for her to get around, but she said they probably made those changes to simplify and not make the story as dark as the books. I would recommend it. It might surprise you.  Besides that it is amazing in blu ray! 

 

Final Verdict: I could see me owning it if they make more movies. 

A Few Differences between the Movie and the Book Series (without giving too much away):

- The Pure Ones and St. Aggies' are two different groups of owls both with evil intentions

- Kludd's character is much more evil (if you can believe it)

- Soren doesn't find out until much later that Ezlryb is Lyze of Kiel

- Digger and Twilight are also orphaned owlettes not fully grown owls

10. Major Payne

Killin' is my bizness and bizness is good.

              “What we have heard is a failure to communicate!”  Major Payne, starring Damon Wayans, is about a killing machine Marine who is no longer needed in the army. So develops the movie where this hard core, highly trained soldier takes over the ROTC program and Madison Academy. If you haven’t seen it since its release in 1995 then please do so. It is, literally, laugh out loud funny.

One Tubby Tubby

                This is Damon Wayans at his best. He has always been great at characters even back to his days of In Living Color. His film career hasn’t always produced solid films (Blankman anyone?) but in Payne he clicked on all cylinders. It reminds me a lot of School of Rock. The person’s “career” isn’t working out so he takes up a chance with children. Damon is hilarious in this. Always talking about Charlie coming after him in the jungle and it’s funny to see him take the role of a nurturing father figure. Included in this is the telling of the Little Engine that Could seen below. 

 Final Verdict: So worth owning. Also one of the most quotable movies ever.

Other tidbits:    

-Karyn Parsons who plays the love interest in the movie is the same that brought us Hilary Banks in Fresh Prince of Bel-air.

-Cadet Williams of the ROTC program is also Wayans nephew.

9. The Green Hornet

                First I must give props to AMC theaters. I love it.  You can’t beat 5 dollars for a movie. Every Monday –Thursday before 4pm is 5 bucks. Then Saturdays before noon is 5 bucks. It’s a great deal. Never crowded. Never sold out. 

                So we ventured out on a cold Saturday morning to see the Green Hornet.  I am not a Seth Rogen fan at all. I haven’t seen most of his stuff because of the vulgarness of it so I didn’t really now what to think going into this. But I thought it was great. It was very funny, very fast pace. Now the script is a little loose. It has a lot of holes in it and some stuff doesn’t make sense. Like for instance they have the car The Black Beauty. In the Black Beauty they have everything.  Ejection seats, bulletproof glass, a fax machine and even a record player.  Are we really to believe that in all the bells and whistles in this car there is no wi-fi? Nothing that is able to handle a thumb drive?       

                The sidekick/partner/genius Kato that was made famous by Bruce Lee is now taken over by Taiwanese mega star Jay Chou.  In his first American role Chou does a great job here. His English is not that good but his charisma comes through and he was able to hold his own against Rogen. I was sad to see Cameron Diaz downgraded to “token pretty girl” I think she has way more in her and deserves better. BUT the absolutely best part of the movie was the opening scene where James Franco makes a cameo as an up and coming crime boss. Funniest thing I have seen in a movie in ages. I was crying. 

Final Verdict: Maybe not a buy it right when comes out but I can see myself owning it later when it's cheaper.  Worth seeing in theaters especially for 5 bucks.

8. The Waterboy

You can do it! Man, I totally forgot how funny this movie was.

                The Waterboy is a (can't believe I am saying this) Adam Sandler Classic.  Starring as the Cajun wonder Bobby Boucher, Sandler leads a crazy bunch of misfits to college football glory! So over the top, so crazy, so funny.  Not to mention it also stars Oscar winner Kathy Bates and the Fonz, Henry Winkler. In fact Coach Klein is one of the funniest parts of the movie. Nothing beats seeing the man who is a TV icon sitting on a football trying to hatch it like an egg!

Sandler's movies are not for everybody. His humor is off color, sophomoric and sometimes genius. I would have never have predicted or thought that the man who gave us Billy Madison who go on to be one of the most popular and highest grossing actors of all time. Not all his movies are frat boy comedy. Big Daddy has plenty of depth and heart. So does Spanglish or even Bedtime Stories. But not Click. That’s just depressing! Anyway, haven’t seen the Waterboy in years. It was great to watch it. Also great to watch it with my wife who has never seen it! Final Verdict: Worth owning!

Best Quote: “Did they ever catch that gorilla that done escape from the zoo and punched you in the eye?”  “ No momma, the search continues” 

From Christiana: Jimmy says that since we watched this one together I have to write something. So here it is. This is the first time that I have ever seen Waterboy. I have heard good and bad things about. I find Adam Sandler hit or miss but I enjoyed Waterboy. However, I don't think Jimmy should ever complain about another one of my movies being unrealistic again!

Check out more about of Christiana's thoughts at http://youthministerswife.blogspot.com

7. Fighting Temptations

Another reason for doing this project is the chance to watch a movie that I haven’t seen in years and have the chance to enjoy it all over again. As I did with Fighting Temptations! Seriously haven’t watched this in years and it has just sat on the shelf.  Sitting there trying to get my attention. Whispering “Watch me Jimmy!”

                Now there are a lot of people out there that have never seen this movie. For those who haven’t here is a quick overview: The movie stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Beyonce.  The story follows them as they try to get their church’s choir in the annual Gospel Explosion!, a church choir competition in Georgia. The movie stars an assorted mix of both gospel and secular artist. Not only Beyonce but also Angie Stone and Mary Mary make appearances.

                Also starring in the movie is the Christian rapper T-Bone.  T-Bone stars as prisoner (along with Montell Jordan) allowed to sing in the choir and he even spits a few rhymes in the movie. One can wonder what is up with Cuba Gooding now a days.  His career really hasn’t taken off after his Oscar win with the exception of the amazing Rat Race.  It’s a shame cuz he is a fine talent and way more deserving than the straight to dvd fair he has been in lately. It’s a funny movie, great music and uplifting message. If you have never seen it, then please do . I love the final music number. Right up there with the end of Sister Act 2!

 Final Verdict: Worth owning! Love it. And the soundtrack is worth owning too. Check the video below.

5. The Others

      Another good example of why I’m doing this project.  I haven’t watched this dvd in 7 years. In fact I don’t even remember why it made the first cut of movies that we sold. But alas I DO own it and the MMB has chosen me to watch it.

      Based on the short story The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, The Others is a supernatural thriller (not a horror movie!). It stars Nicole Kidman and was produced by Tom Cruise (who was her husband at the time). I was initially really excited to watch this again. I don’t remember everything in it and was interested to see if it was worth owning. After all, at one time I was moved so much to buy the 2 disc special edition of this movie.  Have I gone mad?

      The movie is not as scary as I remember it to be.  If I had my choice the best way to watch this is in the pitch black while it’s cold. But instead I’m watching it on a sunny afternoon.  Nicole Kidman is solid. She was not golden globe nominee worthy (she was nominated) but still good.  The main thing I didn’t like about it this time around was that it took SOOOOOOOOOO long to get going.  Once the movie really kicks in about 40 minutes in it gets good.   I love how Light plays a villain in this movie. How the darkness is to be a friend.  It’s the opposite of most movies. The last 20 minutes is almost worth the entire movie. So chilling! If you love ghost stories, you must check this out.  I don’t want to go into too much detail with the off chance of spoiling the movie from some that may not have seen it yet. Don’t want to give up the “New Situation” that the family finds itself in. The ending is a doozey! 

 

Final Verdict: Worth it if you find it cheap. But not “2 disc special edition” worth owning.

Favorite Line: “Are you mad? I am your daughter!”

Other Tidbits:

-There are a lot of Catholic overtones in the movie which I find interesting due to Tom Cruise’s scientology background.

-The Old Testament story of Abraham and Isaac plays an important role in the movie as well. I found that very interesting.

4. Made of Honor

Again. The magical movie box strikes again. Instead of enjoying one of the many 360 movies that I own and chose to buy, I am blessed to watch romantic and life changing Made of Honor.  So with that said, I needed to try and go into this with a positive attitude.  Instead of complaining that 3 out of 4 of my first movies have been chic flicks. Ugh.

Made of Honor.   I do like chic flicks. I really do. You’ve Got Mail, One Fine Day, Fools Rush In--all great movies. Made of Honor is good. Not horrible. I don’t particularly like either of the leads. Patrick Dempsey IS charming, after all he is the man just for Can’t Buy Me Love.  It’s a cute movie. It’s got its moments.  Kevin McKidd, who plays Colin, is delightful as the “other guy” stealing Hannah away. Like I said it’s not one of “my movies”.  I did find my self yelling at the TV when the dude wouldn’t let her eat the cake. I was like “DUDE! Shut up and let her have some cake!”

BUT! And I do mean BUT! The best part of this entire movie is Tiny Shorts Guy! The actors name is Kevin Sussman. Every scene he was in had me cracking me up. He stole most of those scenes. He is also on Big Bang Theory, where he plays comic book store owner Steward, and I love him there too. Watching the movie is worth it just for him alone. And he gives us the best line the movie “That boy’s got mad cow disease!” So funny . So I guess the final verdict is that Made of Honor is an average movie. There is nothing really special or unique about it. It follows the main formula for Romantic Comedies, but it’s not horrible. Is it worth owning? Not up to me, I didn’t buy it.  But I really really really hope the MMB gives me a break from chic flicks for awhile! 

Other tidbits:

-Loved seeing Kadem Hardison in a movie. Will always love Dwayne Wayne from a Different World!

-It’s always funny when Elizabeth Hasselbeck makes a cameo in a movie!

3. Robots

This is why I am doing this project. I own the movie Robots. I don’t remember where or why I bought this dvd but I did. It has been watched once since owning, and I didn’t choose to watch it. We have some very good friends come to visit and their children picked it one night to watch it. But there is no reason in the world for me to own Robots.

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed the movie. I think it’s creative. I laughed out loud at parts. I love the Robot doing the Robot (while bumpin’ Nelly!), I like the part where they are doing operation (like the game) on the robot and I think the small homage and cameo by James Earl Jones was great.  Ewan McGregor does his best to be sincere as Rodney trying to make it in the big world as an inventor.  Amanda Bynes is one of my favorites even if her part is small. It’s a good movie. Not great and not worth owning.

What bugged about the movie? Two things: First was Robin Williams. He was just so over the top in this. It seemed to me that not only did he go off script but spent the entire movie just trying to come up with one liners. Instead of just allowing a character to develop and naturally be funny he was almost too formulaic in his approach. It fell flat. For every 10 jokes he did, maybe one was funny.  But the Britney Spears dance was funny. Second, it really annoys me when children’s movies try to throw in jokes that are over a child’s head just to try and make the adults happy. Shrek did this all the time. I think a kid’s movie can be amazing and hilarious without throwing in risqué jokes. See Toy Story for example. 

 

Final Verdict: Good movie. Not worth owning.

Other tidbits

Paul Giammatti plays Timmy the Gate Guard, and he absolutely kills in the few scenes he is in. So funny.

Amanda Bynes is awesome and needs to do more movies.

2. Marley and Me

Yes, men do cry.

First, I have to start off with the fact that I love Owen Wilson. He is one of my favorite actors. To some he might be a one trick pony, but ever since Armageddon I have found him absolutely hilarious. So when I pulled out Marley and Me that was my first thought. I was happy. Ready to go.

The best thing about Marley and Me is that it is based on a true story. I love that. I think it bleeds into the movie throughout. You also need to realize that this was the first movie that Owen Wilson made after he attempted suicide. IF you don’t know the whole story, Google it. I really feel that everything that Owen went through in his personal life really comes to life in this role. It's perfect for him. He is not over the top funny and gets to show his “range” as an actor. I love him in this role.

*****SPOILER***** Yes, Marley dies. You can't get around it, and you can't change it. It's based on a true story. Man, I cried. I have cried every time I have seen this movie. Which I think is 4 times now. I will be the first to admit that I cried and cried and cried. Call me a wuss, whatever. I grew up with a dog. It brought back so many great memories of growing up. When he is sitting there at the end telling Marley how great he was for loving them day in and day out I start to tear up. I really lose it at the burial when the children are sharing their feelings. Every time. You don’t get that with Owen Wilson in Shanghai Noon do you!? Final Decision: Absolutely worth owning!

Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston

Favorite Line: “It’s like Of Mice and Men” – Owen Wilson’s character John when on the way to get Marley fixed.

Other tidbits
-Alan Arkin plays Owen's boss in the movie and is so funny!
-The movie used 22 different Marleys in the filming.

1.Sleepless in Seattle

Me picking the first movie!

First thought was that it could have been worse. It’s not one of my movies, it is one of my wife’s but it could have been way worse (see previous post!).  The magical movie box (previous post) is proving that it is the boss. It chooses. It showed that while I am going to have to watch one of my wife’s movies first, it could have been way way way way worse!

notice the thrill on my face.

So, I drew Sleepless in Seattle. It’s the classic movie of a widower (Tom Hanks) whose son calls a nationwide radio talk show and tells the world his dad needs a new wife. Then the journey to love begins. So many things are running through my head right now. The movie came out in 1993. I was junior in High School! I think I have seen this movie one time--maybe.  Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Tom Hanks. Less than a year after this movie is released Hanks gave us Forrest Gump! I’m a big fan of both Joe vs the Volcano and You’ve Got mail. But something about this one I don’t like as much.

I think the thing that bugs me is that there is no interaction between Hanks and Ryan at all until the very middle (for like a second) and not again until the very end. The best part of the Hanks/Ryan combo is the chemistry between them. So to me this movie isn’t as good as the others because it lacks that element. Not too mention HOW UNBELIEVABLY UNREALISTIC this movie is!  Now, movies aren’t meant to be 100% realistic all the time—I know that. There are no Jedi in real life, there is no asteroid heading to earth and I’m pretty sure there are no magical gnomes riding around in cars. With that said, there is no way a 9 yr old can fly across country by himself?!??! Really?? No one, at either airport, checked this story out? The kid spent all day asking strange ladies if they were Annie and no once got suspicious?  This is too far for me. Plus the movie drags a bit in the middle.  Lots of conversation, very little “action” you would say but hey I’m not a critic. So ultimately I have no decision on if I should own this movie or not. That is my wife’s choice; she paid the 5 dollars for it. But for me, its no You’ve Got Mail! 

Other Tidbits

-Rosie O’Donnell plays a straight woman who’s married to a guy named Rick

-David Hyde Peirce plays a small role in the movie. Pre-Frasier fame.

-Bill Pullman is still a horrible actor.

-Best and funniest scene to me, where I actually laughed out loud, was the scene where he calls and asks Victoria out on a date. That was great Hanks!

Fear of the Gnome Mobile!

The Gnome Mobile. Disney. 1967. From www.imdb.com An eccentric millionaire and his grandchildren are embroiled in the plights of some forest gnomes who are searching for the rest of their tribe. While helping them, the millionaire is suspected of being crazy because he's seeing gnomes! He's committed, and the niece and nephew and the gnomes have to find him and free him. And yes we own THIS MOVIE! I have no idea why. My wife loved it as a child, she thinks it's great. So this is my fear as I go the bed tonight. That I might be starting this journey tomorrow having to watch The Gnome Mobile. O, the horror.

Much more is going through my mind as I do this. First, can I even do this project. My schedule doesn’t allow for a movie a day. Plus I get bored easily. B. Will anyone read this thing and will they care? So what if I own a lot of movies? Who really cares. Third, will I have to watch the Gnome Mobile sometime this year? This, of course is left of to the magical movie box (MMB). It ultimately decides what I will be watching. Will it be kind the first week? Give me great movies like Remember the Titans or Hitch. Or will the MMB decide that I need to start according to its rules. I can already tell me and MMB are not going to get along at times!

So check back here tomorrow. See what the good ole Magical Movie Box chose for me. See my thoughts on that movie. See if it is one that is really worth owning. I know my dreams are just going to be haunted by those little Gnomes. Please let it be Goonies tomorrow!

The Plan of Attack and Bob Hope!

So what do I do? How do I attack these movies? Suddenly I had an idea….”Light Bulb!”. What if I take all the movies I own, put them on slips of paper, put those papers in a box and everyday/everytime I watch a movie I pull a slip and I have to watch whatever is chosen! So that is what is going to happen. At least 4-5 times a week I will watch a movie at random. Could be any of the 360 movies I own. Some days it could be The Goonies or on another days it's Groundhog Day.

What makes this even more interesting--Even more DANGEROUS. Is that included in that 360 are the movies that are owned by my wife that I would never ever bought on my own or owned if I weren't married to her. So, against my better judgment I could be setting myself up to enjoy such great movies as Fiddler on the Roof, the Bob Hop/Bing Crosby classic Road to Bali or the Sound of Music (on blu-ray!). About 25 of the 360 movies are ones that I have not only never seen, but wouldn’t ever have watched in my worst nightmares if it weren't for this challenge. But since my wife is in on this and has worked so hard (pictured) to help design the blog I feel like she deserves some humor (torture) from this. So they are lurking in the box wanting to get me when I least expect it.

So I say 4-5 a week minimum are movies selected from the magical movie box (pictured). Some weeks all 7 can be from there, but since we are avid movie goers I will blog about the movie we see in theatre on the days we get that opportunity. For example, this morning we went and saw The Dilemma. Good movie with Kevin James and Vince Vaughn. I would come home and blog about that movie. Also throw in the mix are movies that we may rent or download. Also movies we go to buy or are given to us as gifts. I will also take movie suggestions on what to watch. I've also thought of “theme weeks” I can do with my movies like a week of Adam Sandler or moves based on real life etc.

So that is the plan of attack and the journey I am setting out for the next year. Please join me as I watch 365 movies in one year! Most days I won't even know what I am going to watch. But the magical movie box will decide. So whether it’s a movie I love like Rudy or one that I am dreading like Road to Rio (no clue, another Bob Hope/Bing Crosby “classic” my wife owns) it will be interesting and fun……and DANGEROUS!

Too Many Movies!!??!?!

I own a lot of movies. I am sure there are people out there that own more than me but I own A LOT of movies.  Let’s just get to it. I own 360. At one time it was pushing close to 600. That is a lot to me. When you are single you have more money. At least that was my excuse. Instead of renting a movie I would buy it. I just never thought much about it. But now I wonder… Why do I own so many movies? Rarely do we watch them. They really come in handy when 1. Other people borrow them. B. When people come to visit and Finally when I am sick I am happy I own a lot of movies.

So lately I have been really convicted that I need to do something with these movies. I don’t really think that I could get a lot of money for them so what do I do? So I came up with this idea to put them to use. I decided to watch 365 movies in one year. It started out watching a movie a day but honestly that is impossible to do because of my summer schedule.  But I want to put all these movies to use, tell my thoughts on them and ultimately decided whether the movie is worth owning?  So the journey is gearing up to begin. I hope you enjoy my insights to come. Hopefully I will be able to answer the question of..."Why do I own so many movies!!!!!!!!!"