Stealing Harvard (2012)

I did like the "Branch Rickey" joke, but I bet that gag was over the head of a lot of people who checked out "Stealing Harvard." Besides, that joke was in the trailer as were most of what ends up being the funny parts from this 2002 comedy. Please, raise your hand if you are sick and tired of trailers usually being better than the movies they trick you into going to see. If this movie did not have a trailer to give away the good parts I could have given it another star.

The story that Peter Tolan and Martin Hynes come up with provides a good enough framework for a comedy. John Plummer (Jason Lee) and his fiance, Elaine Warner (Leslie Mann) have finally saved $30,000, which is enough for them to buy a home and get married. But John's neice Noreen (Tammy Blanchard) has just achieved her dream of being accepted at Harvard and she and her mother, Patty (Megan Mullally) have a videotape from many years earlier when Uncle John promised to pay for Noreen's college education. Noreen only needs $29 thousand and change in eleven days. John cannot just give Noreen the $30,000 that is earmarked for the new house and the only reasonable alternative, as suggested by his best friend "Duff" (Tom Green), is to steal the money.

This is easier said then done, an idea that could be handled creatively but is not in this film. Instead we have something on the level of "Raising Arizona" if written by high school students who only remember the worst episodes of "Saturday Night Live." This movie is just not funny and most of the cast is clearly trying too hard. A film in which Tom Green and Jason Lee are both too sedate is not a good sign. Richard Jenkins plays the only character who seems comfortable with their role, but I do want to mention that in the last act of the film Leslie Mann's Elaine suddenly turns out to be a bit more than a woman who tends to cry during sex, which was a pleasing surprise.

The plot has its standard complications. Elaine is the boss's daughter and daddy (Dennis Farina) makes a point of asking each day if John is sleeping with his little girl and is looking for someway to break up the couple, aided in his effort by Rex the Dog (Zeus). Meanwhile, John and Duff have to contend with both Detective Charles (John C. McGinley) and local thug David Loach (Chirs Penn) as they try to figure out a way of "Stealing Harvard." But you keep coming back to the idea that certainly Green and Lee could have come up with better ad libs that what ends up in this lame little comedy.

The working titles for this film included "The Promise," "You Promised," "Say Uncle," "Uncle," and "Stealing Standford." If you check out the deleted scenes there is a point where Noreen wants to go to "Northern," so that last one makes me wonder how hard it would have to do regional versions of this film: Harvard for the East and Stanford for the West, then something like Notre Dame or Illinois for the Midwest and Duke or Miami for the South. But then why stop there? They could change one visual, dub a handful of scenes, and every major college in the country could be the target school for this movie, everything from "Stealing Auburn" to "Stealing Wyoming." That would be one one to generate interest in this movie and get poeple to see it. Then again, it might have been cheaper just to actually make it a funny movie.

This is a very funny movie. If your a fan of Tom Green you'll like this movie. It's full of laughs from beginning to end. The name of Tom Green's hedge cutting company is cool. Its called "Landscape Escape". I recommend this movie if your a fan of comedy. You won't stop laughing.

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Stealing Harvard happens to succeed on every single level of entertainment. At least, according to my tastes (which may or may not stink, hehe).

It's about a man who makes a promise to his distraught niece after she fails a spelling bee that, if she were to ever make it into college, he'd pay for it. Well skip ahead several years later and, to his absolute surprise she DOES end up going to college, and to Harvard of all places!

It turns out she needs 30,000 bucks. From here the storyline kicks in, and to me, it's a really funny movie that never fails with the laughs. Of course you could argue that once the guys nerdy friend enters the picture to help with the money situation, the humor goes down significantly (because he is fairly annoying, to be honest). He's kind of obnoxious most of the time.

However the incredible twist of horrible luck (and humorous segments) the poor guy has to endure just to come up with 30 grand is quite the spectacle to watch. Despite being a comedy you can't help but feel sorry for the guy. Without spoiling anything, he has to put up with utter crappiness at every single turn it seems.

I mean, just think about thishis girlfriends father hates his guts, the police department gradually catch on to his sneaky ways, and his girlfriend is always questioning his every move. Somehow, for the sake of his nieces future, he has to find ways to avoid *everybody* and focus on obtaining the money.

Overall, it's a really good movie. The humor and storytelling are both really well-written which is a rare find these days. Oh, and a certain dog scene at the end is absolutely priceless (and inappropriate to share!)

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Would have been WAY better film if they had given Tom Green's character more time but still manages to provide a good laugh on the spray painted holdup scene.

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I went to see this movie with my friends, and we all walked out laughing. I saw this movie before I ever saw Road Trip, and that was also funny, but this is much better. I love all the charactors (But Jason Lee, Tom Green are the best together). The two main charactors are great friends, but when you put them together, all of their plans go wrong. John (Lee) promised his niece that he would pay for her college when she was little, and forgot all about it. She was accepted to Harvard and now he must find $30,000 somewhere. (direct quote) "I had only one option. I had to go to a man who's ideas were sometimes so dumb they were brilliant: I had to go to Duff". The plot is not even really important to the comedy, it just makes the entire thing make sense in the end. I don't want to tell you what happens, so I'll just say one thing more: this is the only movie I own that is even funnier every time I watch it.

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New Year's Eve (+UltraViolet Digital Copy) (2011)

I Loved Valentine's Day and so when I heard about this one I was very excited to go see it and it has some of my favorite actresses and actors in it. Of course people will call this film predictable and cheesy just like all the romantic built movies, but honestly there is not one romantic type of movie that is not predictable. Of course you know what's going to happen at the end since it's called a romantic movie. I personally loved this movie, it had a lot of laughs and a couple parts where I got teary eyed. The movie has well put together characters and a very good plot. The ending just like Valentine's Day where it brought characters throughout the movie together some predictable and some were the complete opposite of predictable. I Love this movie and recommend it to anyone who likes romantic comedies or likes Valentine's Day. Who cares what the critics say they are wrong most of the time. Go to enjoy the movie, not to critique it.

I was skeptical about seeing this film because of the numerous negative reviews it received. However, I have to say that this film was excellent. I personally do not like the comparisons to Valentine's Day because I thought that was a horrible movie. New Year's Eve was poignant and introspective. Although, some parts may be cheesy, and yes, it takes awhile for all the storylines to develop, I laughed out loud throughout the whole movie. So I recommend that you give a shot, if you were on the fence like me. I hope that you are pleasantly surprised.

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Although the critics slammed "New Year's Eve" as one of the worst movies of the year, the audiences felt differently rather enjoying it. I kind of liked it. Nice fluff. It's an ensemble cast set up just like in "Valentine's Day" except this one is on "New Year's Eve". Some of the pairings include, Sarah Jessica Parker & Abigail Breslin who play Mother and Daughter offering one of the more bouncier & interesting pairings in the film. Josh Duhamel searches diligently for his soul mate he met & lost one year ago. Jessica Biel & Seth Meyers play husband and wife in one of the more unnecessary subplots in the film. Robert DeNiro & Halle Berry manage to bring deep emotion into the lackluster words printed on the script thus making it believable. Katherine Heigl & Sofia Vergara give us light comic relief in their bits.

Despite the critics attacks on the film they do manage to praise one tiny element within each of their scathing reviews. They loved the Michelle Pfieffer Zac Efron sequences, more or less calling it the film's saving grace. I agree. I could've watched the entire movie with just them and be fine. If only the entire movie could've surfaced around their characters. They were the only actors that actually developed and fleshed out the roles they were playing as much as they could. It ended up being the surprising charm behind the film and thus allowing me to give it one more star necessary just for them.

Most of us have guilty pleasures and we want to escape the stresses, depressions and feelings of isolation in our lives and simply escape into a fantasy. "New Year's Eve" can accomplish that.

The film is a completely unrealistic and contrived world, yet it's bright, fun and full of love. There are many out there exhausted with fighting our day to day battles and watching another overblown shoot 'em up movie with no point. If you get depressed over the holiday season or are completely stressed out and over it all and everyone in it, then I would recommend watching "New Year's Eve" as it is an uplifter despite it being like a gigantic Hallmark card.

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I mean--I enjoy a good romance, I enjoy a good comedy; HECK, I even enjoy a good holiday movie. But above all, I enjoy a character with a purpose and a story with meaning--and let's not kid ourselves, it has to feel plausible.

This movie had very little depth, and most times, seemed so superficial. Allow me to elaborate: Two couples competing to have the first baby in the new year; a teenager who disobeys her mother to run about Times Square with her crush, a man who has been waiting AN ENTIRE YEAR to re-meet some lady with whom he shared a moment on NYE 2011, a bitter guy who hates NYE for really no good reason; and so on and so forth. Seriously, is this how deep our lives get? Something about this is just too bothersome to me. Maybe it was the lack of diversity insofar as to whom this movie was targeted--a very middle class to upper middle class, American audience. Maybe it was because the Ball dropping in Times Square supposedly set the tone for the hopes and dreams of not only everyone in the country but in the world. It's commercial. It's materialistic. It's disingenuously saccharine. But above all, it's 1-dimensional. Don't get me wrong, there were some good moments for me--usually the scenes involving Hilary Swank. But overall, this movie needs to retire with the New Year.

But as the title suggests, some people like this sappy, gimmicky stuff. And that's ok. I've given "Valentine's Day" a chance. I gave this a chance. No more. I'll stick to "Love Actually."

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Movie was really weak.There wasn't much substance. I found myself bored at times.

The movie is not worth the time to watch it.

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A Boy And His Dog (Collector's Edition) (1975)

It's the year 2024, and most of the Earth's nations have been demolished by yet another world war (the latest being WWIV). In this postapocalyptic world, slow-witted survivor Vic (Don Johnson) forages through the ruins for food and women with the help of his faithful dog, Blood (voiced by Tim McIntire), with whom he is able to communicate telepathically. Blood, more intelligent and more cultured than his young "master," often gets impatient with Vic's immature behavior and lack of interest in his attempts to educate the boy, but he nonetheless loves Vic and sticks with him to help him survive. And after several minor adventures and one huge misadventure, Vic does learn one incontestable actuality: Nothing is more important to a boy than his dog.

Based on an award-winning novella by the curmudgeonly SF writer Harlan Ellison, A BOY AND HIS DOG was adapted and directed by character actor L.Q. Jones and co-produced by Jones and Alvy Moore (the latter probably best known for his portrayal of scatterbrained Hank Kimball on TV's GREEN ACRES). While Ellison has said many times publicly that the film is the most faithful adaptation of any of his works, he has nonetheless complained vehemently about some of Jones' "adjustments"--most notably the minor addition of some gross or vulgar dialogue--and tried unsuccessfully to get them changed. Whether or not Ellison's complaints have merit, A BOY AND HIS DOG has come to be regarded as a science-fiction classic, its popularity undoubtedly due to its likeable characters who, despite their constant bickering and individual quirks, are redeemed by their committed friendship and their sarcastically humorous approach to survival.

The performances in A BOY AND HIS DOG are top-notch. Johnson convincingly portrays Vic as a filthy scavenger who, in spite of his dire situation, still manages to remain a decent human being at the core. Tim McIntire's vocal characterization of Blood embodies Ellison's original concept of a mutant pooch with a caustic ego that is balanced with just the right amount of off-beat humanity, and this portrayal is enhanced further by the outstanding on-screen performance of Tiger, the canine thespian that portrayed the family pet on TV's THE BRADY BUNCH. In his supporting role as the governor of a subterranean dystopia, Jason Robards is delightfully smarmy. And when beautiful Susanne Benton bares her ample "talents" on the screen, that's a lot of fun watch, too.

With A BOY AND HIS DOG, Jones' intention is not to make deep socio-political innuendos or to meet the average action-fan's prosaic expectations, and sentimentality is obviously far from his mind. Instead of serving up a dull postapocalyptic survival-of-the-fittest thriller or a cliché love-among-the-ruins drama, Jones gives us a wry black comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously. His direction is tight, his staging often inventive, and the dialogue--while MOSTLY lifted directly from Ellison's story--is often sharply sardonic and frequently witty. With this AND the outstanding performances he elicits from his cast, Jones creates a realistic world of future desolation, but he peoples it with central characters that learn to deal with the nightmare while still maintaining their humanity...and a sense of humor.

Several DVD editions of A BOY AND HIS DOG have been available over the past few years, and all have delivered good letterbox widescreen digital transfers. The current offering from First Run Features is an anamorphic widescreen version, and it also contains an interesting feature commentary and theatrical trailers.

All in all, A BOY AND HIS DOG is a wonderful interpretation of a classic SF novella, and this DVD will make a great entry in the film collections of SF fans who love quirky non-mainstream films.

A cult favorite for years, this faithful version of Harlan Ellison's classic novella enjoyed some mainstream popularity in the mid-'80s when its star, Don Johnson, hit the big time with "Miami Vice." In recent years the movie has settled back into cult status, which is for the best. Johnson (in an excellent performance) is Vic, a simple-minded survivalist who wanders what's left of post-apocalypse America with his dog Blood (played by Tiger of "The Brady Bunch," with voice by singer Tim McIntire), with whom he has a telepathic bond. Vic's main ambition in life is to, well, find female companionship; he demands that Blood sniff out girls for him. He meets a seemingly innocent young woman who leads him down to a strange subterranean civilization where all the men are sterile. Eventually, Vic is presented with a hard choice. The decision he makes has remained controversial; the one-liner that ends the film is even more so. (Ellison didn't write the line and has expressed discomfort with it. I think it's one of the great final lines in movie history.) If you haven't seen this film, chances are you've seen a dozen better-known SF movies it influenced (like the "Mad Max" series), and Kevin Costner's "The Postman" was a windbag '90s variation on the same theme. If you've only caught this on television, you haven't really seen it.

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Mid-70s post-nuclear apocalypse movies are not a genre I generally enjoy. "A Boy and His Dog" (one of the first of the type) is the exception that proves the rule.

The shattered world above is not the interesting part of this film, and it moves slowly for the first hour while we're in it. What keeps us watching is the great dialogue and interaction between Vic (Doh Johnson) and his dog, Blood. Vic and Blood can talk to each other, and the dog is rather smarter than Vic. Once we go "downbelow," into the survivalist enclave called "Topeka."

One reason I didn't give this film 5 stars was the slowness at the start; the other reason was the poor quality of the DVD transfer. If ever a movie cried out for remastering, this is it: it really does look like they just transferred it from VHS. There is a commentary track with film critic Charles Chaplin, director L.Q. Jones (this was his last film directing), and John cinematographer Morrill. It makes for interesting listening.

If you like this genre, this is an essential film to add to your library. If you're not as fond of apocalypse movies, call this one a rental.

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...which is why I keep buying every new release that comes out in the hopes that it will be better than the last. No such luck. This is the same transfer as the previous two releases -from the original laserdisc, and with the same problems: dropped frames, dust and scratches all over it. And despite Amazon's description, this release is NOT ANAMORPHIC, though, like the others, it is widescreen. (I've submitted a change to the description). I could live with the dust and scratches -after all, all the known prints of this film have been knocking around for almost thirty years, and as far as I know no pristine negative exists anymore. But I *wish* we could get an anamorphic transfer. How is it that a Hugo award-winning film that is so loved by critics can be overlooked for a decent DVD treatment for so long?

Now, the good: In addition to the now-familiar (and very entertaining) L.Q. Jones commentary track which has appeared on all the others, we also get two trailers restored to the DVD (these appeared on the first release, but not the one from Slingshot). And the fact that it is available once again at all -I didn't relish the idea of shelling out ~$100 if something happened to current copy. Kudos to Firstrun for printing 'em again.

But dangit, won't *someone* step up to the plate and give us a decent anamorphic transfer? I'm begging here, which even Blood could only bring himself to do once.

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It's my own fault for buying this unknown. I was hoping for an anamorphic copy. But I received the same crappy letter-boxed print that's been around for years. But this one is the absolute worst I have ever seen this movie look. Out of focus,soft,noisy,just terrible. The best copy of this movie remains the U.K. Arrow Films release. It's true anamorphic,starts out 2:35 but changes to 1:78 after the titles clear. It does run 3 minutes shorter then the letter-boxed version,but it's better picture quality and anamorphic format make it very desirable if your a fan of this movie. Please don't waste your money on this issue.

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Shakespeare in Love (2012)

(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)I honestly did not know what to expect when I first sat down to watch "Shakespeare In Love." Perhaps that was for the best, since this film teems with unexpected moments and twists, turning literary history upside down and giving it a clever and bawdy twist.

Gywenth Paltrow plays a young noblewoman who is expected to be demurely betrothed, but who wants none of the life ahead of her. She yearns for the theater, and, in her headstrong, ambitious drive, dresses like a boy to obtain a part in Will Shakespeare's newest drama. Of course, the two fall in love (hence the title!) and their duplicity leads to plot complications that get more and more outrageous. Literary jokes abound, but you don't need to know a whit about Shakespeare to enjoy this romp. This is a romantic comedy cloaked in Elizabethian times, an anachronism that is thoroughly satisfying.

Paltrow's Viola is gutsy, intelligent, and torn, a portrayal that deservedly earned her an Oscar. Joseph Fiennes makes a lovable, bumbling Will Shakespeare. The two display a chemistry that brings the witty script to life and elevates this film to a level above most romantic comedies.

This film should appeal to a wide range of viewers even those who hated studying Shakespeare in school.

This movie really hit home for me. I just sat there in awe of the acting, the way the story unfolded. It totally engrossed me. I saw it three times at the movies and could have easily gone to see it again and again. When it won so many Academy Awards, I wasn't surprised except I thought Saving Private Ryan should have won Best Picture. I also felt that Tom Wilkinson didn't get the praise he deserved. His performance was, as usual for Tom, understated and perfect. I thought he should have been nominated instead of Geoffrey Rush, for best supporting actor, and I'm an aussie.

I also felt Joseph Fiennes should have got a Best Actor gong. Gwyneth was great but Joseph's performance of Will was exceptional to say the least.

The highlights for me were the unfolding of the two stories, (Romeo and Juliet & Will and Viola). Then the actual performance of Romeo and Juliet and the intertwining tragedy of Will and Viola. The way the audience reacted at the end said it all.

I think that 'Shakespeare In Love' is mainly a movie that females thoroughly love. The males in my circle of friends and family didn't quite GET IT so to speak.

Also deserving of mention were Colin Firth and the actor with the the stutter, which miraculously disappeared at the start of the play.

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This is the kind of movie the Academy loves and through its love, rewards.

The script by Stoppard and Norman is erudite and cunning, passionate and playful, filled with witticisms by and about the Bard; and the parallels to Shakespeare and his work, especially the play within a play, Romeo and Juliet, and the play to come, Twelfth Night, are marvelous and a bit miraculous. The romantic direction by Madden conjures up an Elizabethan England and its London theatre with enough lusty color to delight the poet himself. The acting is wonderful with Gwyneth Paltrow conquering a very demanding and delightful four-part role as Viola/Tom Kent, and on the stage as first Romeo and then as Juliet! Joseph Fiennes as the young Shakespeare writing his Romeo and Juliet on the fly, fired with the energy from his adulterous love for the lovely Viola, is better than advertised.

Of course what would a Shakespearean play or a great Hollywood movie be without its bit players and supporting roles? Judi Dench as the queen in her Academy Award winning performance gives the impression of somebody doing something marvelously well but with such ease as to look unemployed. (I stole that line from somewhere.)

From the gutter snipe with his rodents to the queen's bad teeth, from Colin Firth's delightfully villainous Lord Wessex to Geoffrey Rush's wise, but bumbling stage manager, from the tavern trollops to the gentry at the ball (in which the sonnet within a play from Romeo and Juliet is once again given life by Fiennes and Paltrow) everything is expertly presented. You don't have to be a Shakespearean buff to appreciate this resplendent romantic comedy, but if you are, your experience will be enhanced.

This is Hollywood at its best. For all the clunkers and the mass-mindless indulgences that are the usual fare-tinsel town, you are forgiven!

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I would like to point out that Blu Ray of "Shakespeare in Love" that Mark Barry is reviewing is actually the European/UK 1080p release, but he has erroneously listed his review on the site for the Canadian (Alliance) 1080i Blu Ray release. Those in the USA interested in obtaining the European 1080p/24 5.1 DTS-HD MA release should know that it plays FLAWLESSLY on my standard Sony PS3 in the USA, as it is "Region Free". It can be obtained at amazon.co.uk for less (delivered) than the inferior Canadian version. Also note that the 1080i/60 Canadian (Alliance) edition only has subtitles in French, while the 1080p/24 UK/European edition contains subtitles in English as well as many other languages.

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The first time I saw the movie, my reaction was: "Hmm, not bad. An OK movie, but nothing striking. Maybe even got a bit turned off 'cuz it's such a 'chick movie'."

Two months later, I was dying to go back to the theater and watch it again why, it was a mystery. So I paid a little more attention the 2nd time round, and I found out why subconsciously I'd already come to like that film after the first viewing.

To begin with, the dialogues are witty and very well-written. As someone who had never read any Shakespeare before (pardon me, Shakespeare gurus), I didn't know at first that there're many, many lines that were taken directly from the poet/playwright. As I read 12 of Shakepeare's plays and all of his sonnets after the movie (you can tell that I fell madly in love with Shakespeare after watching the film), I came to see how Shakespeare's own words were taken out and seamed together so cleverly and perfectly in the script. And as I re-watch the video, each time I continue to discover something new in the script that I didn't notice before.

Second, the way the Romeo/Juliet and Will/Viola stories intertwines together is just fabulous and done perfectly. The two stories bring each other to life and it's just a very creative and beautiful way of telling a story. The lead to the Twelth Night at the end is totally icing on an already-marvelous cake.

In a word, this movie is a classic.

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