Review Preview

Been a few weeks since I've done a television show review, so it's getting to be that time again. We'll be heading on over to the USA Network next time for a first-season visit with one of their famous detectives...stay tuned!

Take 4: Viewer's Choice #2

Well, we're back with the second installment of viewer recommendations here at Take 4. So, if you're one of the four folks below...hope you don't think I'm being too harsh!

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Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Recommended to Me By...: Kevin "Bubba" Anderson, video producer and editor extraordinaire, as well as head honcho at bubba productions.

In the Beginning: Introducing Napoleon Dynamite...that kid in school you always kind of looked at weird because he shoved tater tots into his pants pockets during lunch. He doesn't really fit in anywhere...and really kind of oblivious to the fact.

The Plot Thickens: We get to watch as four new faces enter Napoleon's life, each having a different impact on what was otherwise a repetitive (but safe and familiar) existence: His Uncle Rico, who steps in to watch over him and his brother after his grandmother is hospitalized; Pedro, a Latino student just as socially-awkward as Napoleon, but with ambition; Deb, an introspective girl who finds it hard not to step out of her role as a Glamour Shots consultant; and LaFawnduh, his brother's internet girlfriend.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore: But we're flippin' close. Preston, Idaho is the setting of this film...I imagine it looks a lot like Kansas, with maybe more terrain and fewer tornadoes.

The Starting Line-Up: Jon Heder, as Napoleon Dynamite. Heder is very distinctive in this role, and you really can't imagine anyone else pulling it off quite like he did. Going to be interesting to see how he breaks out of this character into others...he gives it a shot in Just Like Heaven, with Reese Witherspoon, out in theaters this fall.

Scenes to Look Out For: Napoleon's dance moves, during the "skit" portion of the student body election speeches. We should require this of our own presidential elections. You give your speech...and perform a skit. Dance, Monkey Face, dance! Also...if you stick through the credits, you get a nice little scene at the end.

Random Trivia: Every plate of food shown during the opening credits is eaten by a character later in the movie. Also, a bonus bit of trivia, Napoleon Dynamite features one of the longest credited cast lists in movie history; all 181 student extras' names are listed in the closing credits.

Great Quotes: Napoleon Dynamite: "Stay home and eat all the freakin' chips, Kip." Kip: "Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter."; Principal Svadean: "Look, Pedro, I don't know how they do things down in Juarez, but here in Idaho we have a little something called pride. Understand? Smashing in the face of a pinata that resembles Summer Wheatley is a disgrace to you, me, and the entire Gem State."; Deb: "Are they still letting you run for president?" Pedro: "Yes. I don't understand... they say you're not allowed to have pinatas that look like real people, but in Mexico, we do it all the time."

Curt's Take: Haven't felt this much pressure to give something a "Must See" in a while. However...this movie is not for everyone. It is definitely one of the most quotable movies I've ever seen, and I would recommend seeing this if only because you likely have never seen any other movie like it. You know that guy in high school who everyone either picked on...or watched get picked on...but who never really seemed to realize why? Napoleon Dynamite is an inside look at that guy's life. And guess what...it's just as odd as you thought it was. Lots of truths about high school in this movie, and a kickin' 80's synth soundtrack. I really enjoyed it...but have to recognize the fact that not everyone would. But...you know what...screw it. It's a "Must See." If only to hate it, you must see it. I mean, if only so you have the social currency to know what's being talked about when people start quoting it.

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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Recommended to Me By...: By buddy Paris Daniell, who is currently overseas in Germany for a year. He's seen this movie 18 times in one week. Live in fear.

In the Beginning: Raoul Duke (aka Hunter S. Thompson) and his lawyer travel to Vegas, ostensibly to report on a motocross race in the desert. Perhaps more accurately, though, they try to haphazardly stumble across the "American Dream" instead in their travels in and around Las Vegas.

The Plot Thickens: See above, add lots of drugs. Repeat.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore: Any guesses on this one, kids? We're in Vegas for most of the film, or the immediate surrounding area (sticklers will point out we're in LA for about five minutes...hush).

The Starting Line-Up: Johnny Depp plays Duke, while Benicio Del Toro plays his lawyer, "Dr. Gonzo." Both were...something else. Also, there were quite a large number of cameo appearances that you might miss if you aren't paying close attention, including Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Gary Busey, and Cameron Diaz.

Scenes to Look Out For: It's a Terry Gilliam film...so LOTS of bizarre scenes. The portrayal of the hallucinations that Duke goes through during his heavier moments of drug use are vividly portrayed, amazing and terrifying at the same time. Quite brilliant, really.

Random Trivia: Much of the clothing (shirts, hats) worn by Johnny Depp in the movie were actual pieces of clothing that the real Hunter S. Thompson wore in the '70s. Thompson himself let Depp borrow them for the movie, after Depp spent four months with Thompson learning his mannerisms and proper vocal inflection for the role.

Great Quotes: Raoul Duke: "Few people understand the psychology of dealing with a highway traffic cop. Your normal speeder will panic and immediately pull over to the side. This is wrong. It arouses contempt in the cop-heart. Make the bastard chase you. He will follow."

Curt's Take: I am actually writing this about three days after I first saw the film...I had no idea what to make of it. I was considering giving it anything from a "Must See" down to a "Not a Priority." I just really did not know what to make of it. So...in the end, it gets a "Worth Considering." Part of it is, yes, the fact that I just "didn't get" some things...but that's to be expected from a Terry Gilliam film (let alone one that features heavy drug use). Or maybe it was just too deep for me...regardless, it just misses the "you HAVE to see this" mark. The acting is great, if not bizarre, and the cinematography is stunning...if not bizarre. Pretty good writing, too. So, if you want something that is trippy...wow, this will deliver it in spades. And diamonds. And hearts, clubs and both jokers. On a side note, this makes me VERY hesitant to go to Vegas with my friend Paris, if this movie is what he expects the experience to be like...

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Old School (2003)

Recommended to Me By...: Kim Becker, fellow movie fan, Lost watcher and co-worker

In the Beginning: After breaking up with his girlfriend, 30-year-old Mitch moves into his own place just off the campus of Harrison University. The Dean of the University...an old classmate who has it in for Mitch...has different plans in mind, and goes through with having the land on which Mitch's house stands declared University property.

The Plot Thickens: In order to remain in the house, Mitch and his friends form a campus social club: a fraternity, to be exact. However, they must still contend with the Dean's further plans to evict them all.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore: As mentioned above, we're at Harrison University. I was trying to figure out where exactly this was, but the movie didn't give many clues. I would have to gues somewhere in California.

The Starting Line-Up: Luke Wilson plays Mitch, our hero. Also heading up the cast are his well-meaning friend Frank (played by Will Ferrell) and his trouble-making friend Beanie (played by Vince Vaughn). If you liked Vaughn's character in Swingers (Trent), then you'll see lots of similar elements in Beanie.

Scenes to Look Out For: A pledging initiation that you won't soon forget. Ouch. Oh...and a great rendition of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and Frank's wedding reception. I actually heard a guy and girl sing that version of it at karaoke once...was hilarious.

Random Trivia: When Mitch, who the campus students have given the nickname "The Godfather," comes home early, there is a bowl of oranges on the table. In The Godfather (1972), oranges are in scenes where something bad is about to happen. In this case Mitch is about to discover his girlfriend is cheating on him.

Great Quotes: Beanie: "You think I like avoiding my wife and kids to hang out with nineteen year old girls everyday?"

Curt's Take: Wow...um...Kim is going to think I'm crazy, here. So this is what all the hype has been about? I chuckled a few times, sure...and even had the unrated version...but I really wasn't that impressed. The plot was a little weak and there were a lot of story arcs that just kind of ended abruptly. The characters are likeable...but hard to sympathize with. I mean...just move out of the house, dude. Anyway, although I feel VERY pressured to give this a "Worth Considering," going to have to end up with "Not a Priority." See one of the other two movies above, instead.

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Layer Cake (2004)

Recommended to Me By...: Meg Way, my boss and fellow geek

In the Beginning: We meet our protagonist (who we'll call Mr. X, as you never learn his name)...a distributor of illegal drugs (largely cocaine). He's got a system for keeping everything easy to manage and is planning on getting out of the business soon...very soon.

The Plot Thickens: Mr. X's boss/supplier calls upon him to ask him for one...last...favor. Of course, this last favor ends up having many more layers to it then there at first seems...and there are many more players representing many more interests in this game than is at first apparent.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore: The movie takes place in various locales in England, but mostly London. Subtitles will likely help with this film.

The Starting Line-Up: Daniel Craig plays Mr. X...he was also apparently in the first Tomb Raider movie. Mostly a British cast, so not a lot of well-known faces here.

Scenes to Look Out For: Any scene starring Sienna Miller (as Tammy). She's a hottie. Also...interesting little twist at the ending.

Random Trivia: In one of the final scenes at the county club, Mr. X and his fellow drug dealers are in fact eating a "layer cake".

Great Quotes: Eddie: "England. Typical. Even drug dealers don't work weekends."

Curt's Take: I've seen British films before that I've really liked and gotten into. For some reason, though, it was very tough with this one. I think that was largely because I had a hard time following the twists and turns of the plot. I also had a hard time keeping the characters' names straight...and they refer to each other a lot. I don't know...going to have to give this one a "Worth Considering," because although it was interesting to watch...I did come out at the end feeling a little lost.

Review Preview

A couple months back I did a little feature called "Viewer's Choice." Four friends recommended movies to me...and I reviewed them. Pretty simple concept. That time is on us again...stay tuned for the Return of Viewer's Choice.

Take 4 Backchat: (Dis)Order in the Court

Time to open a new feature in Take 4: Backchat. Yes...had several comments regarding my Order in the Court reviews, so thought I'd share them with the rest of the class. If you send me your thoughts on the Evil Little Brats (or other) reviews, you may be featured in upcoming editions!

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From Honey Parker:

OK,

I look forward to your take on films, particularly when you discover a gem I've known about for years. But I must say I was a bit disappointed when your review of 12 Angry Men only merited a, worth considering. This is a morality play, played out by some of the most solid actors of the time. A chance to see them tackle something without melodrama. A chance to see a character arch happen 12 times in one room. A fresh view of a classic setting and writting that holds up decades later.

Oh, Curt. Where have I gone wrong?

Dear Honey:

Remember...a "Worth Considering" is still a good rating. It just not something I feel you should go to the store with a mind to rent. If your "must sees" are all gone, keep 12 Angry Men in your back pocket and rent it then. It was a good film...and, yes, solid...but not a "Oh...wow...you HAVE TO see this." See it, enjoy it...but don't rush out to rent it. It's not something to plan a weekend around.

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From Kim Becker:

Totally agree with your take on Legally Blonde 2. I loved the first one, but rolled my eyes through most of the second one. And I’m putting runaway jury at the top of my list. Bummed I missed it originally.

Dear Kim:

Thanks for the validation. Good to know when I'm on spot on. Let me know what you think of Runaway Jury when you see it!

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From My Mom:

The juror who held out was Henry, not Peter Fonda.

Dear Mom:

Thanks for the correction. At least I didn't say Jane Fonda.

Take 4: Evil Little Brats

Seems like one of the rites of passage of anybody who goes through high school is being asked to babysit. And I'm sure some of us had our share of horror stories about brats that wouldn't stay in bed. Below, however, are four films about kids that made the problem children from our babysitting days looks like little angels. =====================================================

Damien: Omen 2 (1978)

And the Evil Little Brat Is...: Damien. He's no longer the little cherub with rosy cheeks who shrieks like a demon when he's near a church. He has a disconcerting and hard to place accent, and does very well in school (he knows the date of pretty much every major disaster, war and death) and even lands two dates to his academy's ball (and steals away a third girl from an unsuspecting classmate). But, he can make you choke to death just by looking at you, so stay on his good side.

In the Beginning: When we last left our little Antichrist, he was attending the funeral of his adoptive parents at about the age of six. Now he's approaching his teenage years, and living with his uncle, aunt and cousin while attending school.

The Plot Thickens: Damien slowly figures out his ancestry, which doesn't bode well for those close to him.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore: We start out in Israel, for the uncovering of some sacred religious items, then make our way to Chicago and the Davidson Military Academy, where his adopted family lives and he attends school with his cousin. One scene even looked like it was filmed at a church in Cabrini Green, where Candyman was filmed.

The Starting Line-Up: William Holden (from prior Take 4 reviews, such as Sunset Boulevard and Network) and Lee Grant (Mulholland Dr. and, one of my favorites, Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen)

Scenes to Look Out For: At one point, we are introduced to a doctor who discovers, in analyzing a sample of Damien's blood, that it has some traces of, well, jackal blood in it. This doctor (played by Meshach Taylor...who played Anthony Bouvier on TV's Designing Women) takes a pretty unforgettable elevator ride. Kind of gruesome, but actually took me by surprise. And I like surprises in movies.

Random Trivia: William Holden was the original choice to star in the first film, The Omen (1976) but turned it down as he did not want to star in a picture about the devil. Gregory Peck was selected as his replacement. The Omen went on to become a huge hit and Holden made sure he did not turn down the part in its sequel.

Great Quotes: Ann Thorn: "Finally...a movie that has a happy ending." Damien: "It was boring."

Curt's Take: Have you seen The Omen? If so, this is "Worth Considering." You get to continue on with the saga of Damien and his path to self-discovery (and a self that is probably best left undiscovered). If you haven't seen the original, this ranks around "Not a Priority." Holden and Grant are good actors, but the plotline is a little...hazy. I understand the kid is evil, sure...but there is some underlying plot concerning artifacts being shipped to New York and the uncle's multi-national fertilizer business. One fun thing about this, though...you do get to play a little game call "Who's in Damien's pocket?" In the first movie, you had an obviously evil nanny and a big black evil dog watching over him. Here...you're not as certain who is on his side, and who is just a bad person. So that kept things interesting.

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Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981)

And the Evil Little Brat Is...: Damien, but he isn't so little anymore. He's the head of Thorn Industries, where he heads up disaster-causing efforts around the globe so his company can come in and head up disaster-relief efforts. Talk about having your cake and eating it, too.

In the Beginning: There's no dancing around the fact that he's the Antichrist this time...he knows it, his staff at Thorn Industries knows it, the monks that are fighting a secret battle against him know it. However, there's a slight problem...prophecies predict that his reign is almost over and he'll soon have to do battle with his nemesis, the Second Coming. But the evil big black dog that was his watcher in the first movie is back, so it's all good.

The Plot Thickens: Damien gets himself a post as Ambassador to Britain (where he thinks the Second Coming will be...er...coming from) as well as head of the United Nations Youth Council. Meanwhile, a ragtag team of monks decides to stalk Damien with a set of seven special knives, the sacred dinnerware that is the only means to slay the Son of Satan. They are on a mission from God, to kill Damien before he is able to put a stop to the birth of the Nazarene.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore: The movie has some opening scenes in Chicago, where the +2 Holy Knives of Anti-Christ Slaying are unearthed at a construction site. They switch hands several times, and make their way to the monastery in Subiaco, Italy where the team of monks mentioned above awaits them. Well, that's just the opening credits. We've got more scenes in Chicago and Washington, D.C, but most of the action is based in London. Was very pleasantly surprised that there was a scene at Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park...one of my favorite places from my summer abroad in London.

The Starting Line-Up: Sam Neill, of Jurassic Park fame, plays Damien. Other lesser knowns leading the pack include Rossano Brazzi, who plays Father DeCarlo, leader of the less-than-stellar hit squad of dagger-armed monks, and Lisa Harrow, BBC television journalist who becomes embroiled in the plot.

Scenes to Look Out For: Did I mention the crack team of monk assassins? Seriously...thanks for the comic relief, guys. You're going up agains the Anti-Christ! Think a little!

Random Trivia: This isn't really the FINAL conflict. Found out there's an Omen IV. Apparently it isn't all about Damien, anymore, though. Will have to review this one at a later date.

Great Quotes: Kate: "I'm sorry, Father. Look, I do respect your faith, but I don't share it." Father DeCarlo: "You are not a practicing Christian?" Kate: "No, I'm a practicing journalist."

Curt's Take: Like many sequels, if you've seen the others in the series, this one is "Worth Considering." My happiest moment was finding out that the Evil Drooling Mastiff from the first movie was back as Damien's pet. Gotta love a big black dog who can drive people insane. We also find out in this movie why "Monk Hitman" isn't something you run across frequently in online job postings.

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Village of the Damned (1995)

In the Beginning: At a school fundraiser in the village of Midwich, a strange presence descends (with much "whoosing," according to the subtitles), causing everyone there and in the surrounding area to fall unconscious. Shortly thereafter, everyone suddenly wakes up. Oh...and (SURPRISE!) many of the women folk are pregnant. So, yeah...it's basically like the entire town was slipped a roofie by some strange supernatural entity. Lovely.

The Plot Thickens: After a strange series of dreams, they all decide to keep their babies...and they all go into labor on the same day. Sure the babies all biologically test as coming from the same parent, and are abnormally smart, and have strange glowing blues eyes with which they can control people's actions...but I'm sure there's nothing wrong with them, right? RIGHT???

And the Evil Little Brat Is...: Well, we have a whole little nursery full of them, and they all have the same birthday. And as you can probably guess, they don't use their "mind control" powers to make people recycle or to be more conscientious drivers. We also get to see them as youngsters...and that's when the real trouble kicks in. Is there any hope?

We're Not in Kansas Anymore: We're in Midwich, a town pretty much only identified as being secluded...so, actually, we could very well be in Kansas.

The Starting Line-Up: Christopher Reeve, Kirstie Alley and Linda Kozlowski. Reeve is the dad (well, not the biological dad) of the leader of the pack, Alley is a federal researcher who wants to study the strange occurrences of Midwich, and Kozlowski is another parent whose child is actually a little different from the rest of the pack.

Scenes to Look Out For: The saddest looking extra-terrestrial ever. Really...it's quite pathetic.

Random Trivia: This was the final feature film completed by Christopher Reeve before his paralyzing horse riding accident May 27, 1995, and one of Kirstie Alley's last movies before her career-paralyzing sitcom Veronica's Closet.

Great Quotes: Wow...at a loss here. No memorable quotes. That'll impact the final rating.

Curt's Take: "Not a Priority" - First off, I know this was a remake. I've never seen the original, though, and don't plan to draw comparisons. Maybe I will now, though...apparently (according to the DVD) what happens to the children of the town in the original is an allegorical representation of the impact of Communism. Okay, that's nifty. But the matter at hand is this remake, and...well...it wasn't terrible. In fact, it was pretty engaging for a good deal of it, but the story behind the mass pregnancy was pretty mundane, the ending was pretty weak, and as I said above...no memorable quotes. Unless you're a Mark Hamill fan (he plays the local priest), I wouldn't really recommend seeing this. And if you ARE a Hamill fan...keep that to yourself, or see Watchers Reborn. But, like I said, this wasn't so terrible that you should go out of your way to avoid it.

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The Changeling (1980)

In the Beginning: To deal with the loss of his wife and daughter, John Russell moves from New York to Seattle, where he takes up a job teaching music composition at a local University. He rents a local manor as his residence, and he begins to cope with his grief.

The Plot Thickens: Turns out, he's not alone. The spirit of a small child haunts the mansion, and begins to make demands of Russell...be can he make sense of the demands before it is too late?

And the Evil Little Brat Is...: The ghost of a young child. I don't want to give away too much more than that, in case you see this...let's just say, though, that the spirit has very little patience and whatever you do, DO NOT threaten to tear apart the house.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore: We open in Upstate New York, but then head to Seattle...and a kickass house.

The Starting Line-Up: George C. Scott plays the main character, John Russell and Trish Van Devere plays Claire Russell his friend who pitches in to help his solve the mystery of the strange happenings at the manor.

Scenes to Look Out For: Anything involving a rubber ball or a wheelchair. Seriously...just damn creepy. See below.

Random Trivia: The movie is based on events which supposedly took place at a house in Denver, Colorado, in the 1960s. The "Chessman Park" neighborhood in the movie is a reference to Cheesman Park in Denver, where the original haunting transpired.

Great Quotes: John Russell: "It's my understanding... that there are, uh... twenty-three students registered... for this series of lectures on advanced musical form. Now, we all know it's not raining outside, and unless there's a fire in some other part of the building that we don't know about, there's an awful lot of people here with nothing better to do."

Curt's Take: "Worth Considering," provided you watch it at night/in the dark. There are some truly eerie points in the movie that will just send shivers up your spine. Let's just say that the creepiest rubber ball ever is featured in this movie...and the self-propelled wheelchair is a little creepy. A pretty decent psychological horror movie, where what you don't see sometimes can freak you out more than what you do.

Review Preview

Coming soon, on Take 4, we sit down with a handful of kids that you definitely would not want to babysit. We're not talking bundles of sunshine and joy here...we're talking evil, through and through. Stay tuned for four movies that don't make the idea of parenting a joyful one.