Monthly Archives: November 2010
Retro Review: Slackers
One of the co-writers of “American Pie II” and a rookie cast create a teen-sex comedy in the spirit of “American Pie”, “Porky’s” and “Revenge of the Nerds”. Will it be a classic or a flash in the pan? Dave (Devon Sawa of “Final Destination”), Sam (Jason Segal of “Freaks & Geeks”), and Jeff (Michael [...]
Retro Review: Frida
Like a rich Mexican salsa or spicy Jalapeño pepper, Frida oozes with spice and decadence. “Frida” chronicles the true-life story of famed Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (Salma Hayek) who was crippled at a young age and suffered through massive amounts of pain due to her twisted back. Eventually miraculously coming back from her injuries Frida [...]
Retro Review: Godsend
Damien lives! In the late 1970s, moviegoers were literally scared out of their wits when American Ambassador Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) learns his son is in fact “the antichrist” in 1976’s “The Omen”. Ever since that film and its misunderstood and under-appreciated sequel in 1978, Hollywood has become fascinated with “evil child” syndrome. Why is [...]
Movie Review: Serving Sara
Written: August 23, 2002 As the summer’s corona burns off and we fade into fall, Hollywood often serves up its worst and most unpredictable fare. The films released in late August through the first week of October are films that studios couldn’t fit into their summer schedules or are embarrassments. With the debut of last [...]
Retro Review: Dinosaur
Can Disney’s most ambitious computer animated movie ever survive the onslaught of the summer? Dinosaur tells the tale of an ambitious dinosaur named Aladar (voiced by D.B. Sweeney) who is plucked out of his mother’s nest and carried off to some unsuspecting primates. As he grows he accepts the frisky primates as his family. Just [...]
Retro Review: Republic of Love
Director Deepa Mehta of “Bollywood, Hollywood” fame sculpts a new film about love, how it affects us and how it can find us. Based on the much loved novel “The Republic of Love” by “The Stone Diaries” author Carol Shields, the film stars Bruce Greenwood (“Thirteen Days”, “Below” and “Exotica”) as Tom Avery, a lonely [...]
Retro Review: Daddy Day Care
Eddie Murphy takes another swing at family comedy and this time he has half a dozen tots standing in his way. Mr. Murphy plays married-advertising executive Charlie Hinton, who seems to enjoy the perfect family life. Charlie has a beautiful wife Kim (Regina King) and a darling son. When cutbacks are felt at Charlie’s company, [...]
Retro Review: Red Dragon
Written: October 5, 2002 In the fourth morsel, Hannibal shows signs of age. “Red Dragon” is based on the Thomas Harris novel of the same name. In the 1980s, emerging director Michael Mann directed an adaptation of this novel which was later renamed “Manhunter”. “Manhunter” was a bold film for its day and eventually found [...]
Retro Review: Quills
Written: December 12, 2000 One of the most colorful figures in French history has always been the Marquis de Sade. The Marquis was perverted, demented and experimental. He claimed that he knew the gateway between pain and pleasure. During his sadistic quest it is said that he was a magnificent lover. The Marquis’ exploits were [...]
