Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary

Hey Hollywood...why is this the most entertaining film I've seen in the theater this year?

Back to the Future, as anyone with any rational taste in good movies knows, is Robert Zemeckis' 1985 comedy/action/sci-fi/time travel adventure about Marty McFly, a high school kid with a completely hopeless family who accidentally gets sent back to 1955 in a time machine built out of a DeLorean that was invented by his mad scientist best friend, Doc Brown.  Once he gets there, he screws up how his parents meet (which makes his mother fall in love with him instead of the kid who will eventually be his father), so not only does he need to enlist the younger version of Doc to help him get back to the future, he also needs to make sure that his parents meet and fall in love so that he'll actually exist when he gets there.

It went on to become the highest-grossing movie of 1985, spawned two sequels, a Universal Studios theme park ride, and an animated series.  It's also arguably one of the most quotable movies to come out of the 1980s - if you have any doubts about that, I'll just remind you to check out the name of our site again.

I saw Back to the Future twice when it was first released in 1985.  Back then, I was 11 years old and thought that it was the funniest movie I'd ever seen.  I also wound up with such a total crush on Michael J. Fox that I'm fairly certain that I single-handedly kept the teen magazine industry in business that summer.  I liked it so much that my parents actually bought the rental copy of the VHS tape from the video store because I think they figured it would ultimately be cheaper than renting it a million times (they were probably right).  And I still have that VHS tape today.

This week, I got to see Back to the Future on the big screen again, thanks to the AMC re-release to celebrate the film's 25th Anniversary and the arrival of the complete trilogy on blu-ray. Getting to see it again on the big screen was a blast.  The show at the AMC Empire 25 in NY where I saw it was completely sold out and filled not just with crazed BTTF fans who could probably recite every line backwards (although we had plenty of those), but people who were saying they hadn't seen it in years and had forgotten how hilarious it was, and others who were bringing their kids, who, judging from their reactions during the movie, were already big fans too. 

They were laughing and cheering so much that it was almost hard to hear the movie in spots.  I remember the movie getting a similar reaction on opening weekend in 1985, but back then it was a crowd who was seeing the movie for the first time.  Now, everyone was one step ahead of the jokes ("Why are things so heavy in the future?  Is there a problem with the Earth's gravitational pull?") and classic moments from the movie (George decking Biff is still one of the greatest single punches in movie history), and cheering it all on like they were welcoming back an old friend.  

Another thing I remember from seeing it in 1985 was how all the adults were cracking up over all of the 1950s references - since that's the time when most of them had grown up.  Now that it's 1985 that seems like a long time ago, it was us thirtysomethings were laughing at things like old Walkmans, Huey Lewis cameos, giant video cameras, and references to Pepsi Free. 

Amazingly, I think the Pepsi Free line is the only seriously dated joke in the entire movie.  The rest of it has held up incredibly well over 25 years.  It's still insanely funny, perfectly cast (and yes, I still think Michael J. Fox is adorable) and brilliantly told.  Watching it as a little kid, I was wild about it because it was just such a funny movie.  Watching it now as a grown-up film geek, I'm just blown away at how there's just not a wasted moment in the entire film, how perfectly every part of the story manages to come together, and of course, how easily I can watch it a ton of times and still never get sick of it. 

In an era of grouchy superheroes, remakes, reboots, and 3D mania, it was just great to see a movie that didn't need any of that to be awesome.  Seeing it in the theater again was fantastic.  And now that I have my blu-ray box set of the entire trilogy, I'll be enjoying it for a long time to come.

Paranormal Activity 2

Good news, wary fans:  Paranormal Activity 2 has avoided the Blair Witch 2 curse.  Although it doesn't cover a whole lot of new ground from last year's no-budget horror blockbuster, and it's not quite as good as the first film, the sequel is still a worthy successor with some impressive new scares that are especially fun to watch in a crowded theater. 

For anyone not caught up on the events of the first film:  Paranormal Activity was the story of Katie Featherson and Micah Sloat, a young couple who got more than they bargained for when they tried to use their fancy new video camera to capture a supposed supernatural being that was stalking their home in the middle of the night.  Needless to say, things didn't end well for either of them, and the moral of the film was simply this:  if you have a demon in your house that clearly does not enjoy being videotaped, turn the goddamn camera off, you morons.

The second film is actually a prequel.  It takes place roughly two months before the events of the first film and centers around the family of Katie's sister, Christy.  Like Katie and Micah, Christy and her family live perfectly normal lives in their beautiful suburban home (it seemed like half of the movie took place in their pool).  But of course, all is not normal:  it appears their home was actually the first stop for that pesky demon, who has its sights set on Christy's toddler son, Hunter, and it ain't gonna stop until it gets him.

Tod Williams takes over the directing duties from Oren Peli (who serves as a writer and executive producer on the sequel) who made the smart move to use what worked best from the first film, namely ythe creepy video footage.  Once again, the entire film is captured on video, taken either from the home security cameras installed after a supposed break-in, or from the teenage daughter's webcam.  Where the first film preyed on the relatively simple idea of what goes on in the house when everyone is asleep, Williams just goes for the straight haunted house story, which means the scares don't necessarily all happen at night.  In fact, some of the scariest moments happen in broad daylight.  The film was very reminiscent of the original Poltergeist (which is my favorite haunted house film), and so when it worked, it was on.

I did have a few gripes with the film:  like the first movie, it took forever to get going.  By halfway through the movie, I couldn't stand having to see one more shot of the front porch and the pool cleaner if nothing was going to happen there.  They also tried to loosely build some sort of origin for the demon when they really didn't need to, because it works better when it's just some creepy unexplained thing that won't get out of the house.  Fortunately, it wasn't something they dwelled on too much.

The movie was, for the most part, well-acted (although the dad did get a "WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" from a guy in our audience at the show I saw).  Even the teenage daughter isn't overly annoying.  And since it's a prequel, both Katie and Micah get to briefly reprise their roles as well.  And his two short scenes were enough to remind us all of what an incredible doofus Micah was.

If you weren't a fan of the first movie, Paranormal Activty 2 probably isn't going sway you.  It's basically more of the same in a bigger house with an extended family who are just as brain-dead when it comes to making smart decisions in a haunted house (the basement?!  really?!  why would go down there?!).  But if you were creeped out enough to enjoy the first film, I'd definitely recommend the sequel, since you'll most likely enjoy this one as well.

Fair Game

From Doug Liman the director of the Bourne Identity comes the completely opposite and incredibly boring Fair Game. Starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn the film is the real life story of Valerie Plame, the CIA agent exposed to the national media as a covert operative and international spy during the Bush administrations attack of Iraq. The white house used her bad publicity to help hide the fact that they were invading Iraq for reasons completely unrelated to the weapons of mass destruction which they claim to be after form the beginning.

Aside from the craptacular cinematography right from the start of the film it does get off to a great start. We’re introduced to Valerie the CIA operative and suburban wife and average neighbour, all while establishing the CIA’s investigation into Iraq’s ability to produce nuclear weapons. The first half of the film is entertaining, engaging and all around great.  

The plot takes the obvious twist at about the half way point when Valerie is exposed to the media as a member of the CIA, thanks to her obnoxious husband and his mission to get his two cents heard. Her friends and family are reluctant to except the news as is the general public, brushing it off as she must have only been a secretary if anything for the agency.

The real problem with Fair Game is it runs out of things to do after about the halfway point of the film, and it almost seems as though Liman didn’t bother to show up on set for half the production either. As much as this movie bored me half to death as I’m sure it’ll do to you as well, at the very least I’m sure Watts will be nominated for an Oscar; regardless of the fact she played the same cardboard character she does in everything, there’s also a possibility Penn might even be nominated as well even though this was far from his best performance on film.

I don’t recommend this film to anyone, not even as something to catch on cable. Chances are you already know the story, or at least the interesting aspects to it if you were watching the news at all around the time the US invaded Iraq.

I’m giving Fair Game an overall 5/10.

The Last Exorcism

Lets have a quick show of hands of those of you, who can actually remember the last time you went to a theater and were actually frightened by a scary movie. Go on. Throw them up there. Don't be afraid. None? Shit, me either. 

This weekend was to be the undoing of that unlucky streak of filth, which has been scary movies with the release of Eli Roth's The Last Exorcism, and, damn it, I bought into it. The Mrs. was even excited to rush to the theater to be scared. And, I have to admit, that the thought of my little lady willingly subjecting herself to an aphrodisiac didn't at all sound like a bad plan. But then something happened...we watched the movie.

For those of you, who don't know, the basic plot synopsis is that the film is shot documentary style and follows Reverend Cotton Marcus. Marcus, who's father was also a reverend, started his studying of the Bible and even preaching at a very young age as somewhat of a gimmick to draw crowds into the sleepy little Baton Rouge church. As he grew, he became almost a circus act between the pews, spreading the gospel in a very animated and entertaining way. He even jokes to the cameras that, once he had the crowd where wanted them, he could work his mother's recipe for banana nut bread into the sermon without it being noticed, which he demonstrates. 

He goes on to explain that he's performed dozens of exorcisms through the years, but admits that he's only performing a service needed to someone by using the power of suggestion, and that he himself, doesn't actually believe in demons. 

With an ailing child, for whom he needs to provide with health care, Cotton decides to document his last exorcism and expose it for what it really is. He randomly picks a letter from a stack and heads out, film crew and all to the Sweetzer farm. You get the usual foreboding comments about the place, when he asks for directions and the long, solitary dirt road leading up to the farm house provides you with that tension that lies with isolation. 

So, basically, we have a single father, who's wife died of cancer, because "big city medicine" couldn't save her. As a result of the outside world's failure, he's kept his two teenagers, Nell and Caleb, out of school and basically cut off from the rest of the planet for the past two years. But recently, livestock has been turning up slaughtered and all evidence, like a bloody dress, points toward Nell as the culprit. She, of course, has no memory of this because she blacks out when the demon takes over. 

There's a pretty funny part, in which Cotton performs his exorcism, using an array of magician tricks, like hidden speakers, an apparatus to make the bed shake, moving pictures on the walls and a cross that emits steam, when a button on the back is pressed. Almost makes you wonder if they really do that stuff.

In any case, Cotton gives his version of the "this house is clear" speech and rolls out to hotel before leaving the next day. During the night, however, who should appear at the hotel? None other than Nell, herself. Presumably under the influence of the demon, Nell sits silently, staring into nothing until she starts to vomit. Cotton and the film crew rush her to the hospital and contact her father. All tests are fine and she's sent home with some nausea medicine. 

 Once back at home, Nell attacks her brother, Caleb, with a kitchen knife and Caleb slips a note to Cotton, which reads "Don't leave her alone with him". Cotton stays with Nell, while her father takes Caleb the hospital. When they go to visit her in her room, the film makers and Cotton find her locked in her room from the outside and chained to the bed. They unshackle her and head off the bed. 

Then the good stuff starts happening. I won't completely ruin it for you, but, with that said, you've seen all the good stuff in the previews. it was very much like one of those comedies that you think you have to see, because of all the great one liners from the previews, but once you drop $20 to sit in that squeaky seat you realize that the only funny parts of the movie were in the previews. 

There are a few minor twists and turns in the third act that really set up a good scenario for the ending. And, I'll admit again to buying into it. I thought we were going to get something new and exciting, but it ended up being like at the prom, when you make all of the proper arrangements. You know, you wash and wax the car. You get the perfect tuxedo and the right flowers. You have reservations at one of those restaurants that cringe when they seen teenagers walk in and you have all the necessary precautions and lubrications for a fun filled night. Then, just when you think you're about to seal the deal, your date slips out the bathroom window and leaves you embarrassed and alone. Wait, that didn't happen to you? Me either. No, but you get my point. The ending of this movie negated all the good things leading up to it. With the last panicked few seconds of shaky filming and one final lop, it was like the entire theater collectively said "that better not be it", and then the credits roll. I mean damn.

The Other Guys

The Other Guys is about two polar opposite desk cops that get thrown together unwillingly and then get their chance at a career changing case after department all stars Danson and Highsmith (The Rock and Sam Jackson) are suddenly unavailable. Wahlberg is Terry Hoitz the action junkie thrill seeking cop who accidentally shoots Derek Jeter and is assigned a desk alongside Allen Gamble (Ferrell) the pencil pushing never fired his gun forensic accountant desk cop.

The laughs are non-stop right from the opening action sequence to the interactions between Terry and Allen. Terry hates Allen for how much of a pussy he is. According to him even the way he pisses or farts just don’t meet his testosterone filled expectations, “I hate your farts, they’re not masculine enough. They sound like a little baby blowing out birthday candles.” To add insult to injury Allen drives a Prius and listens to nothing but little river band.

The actual plot has to do with corporate fraud, easily the most boring crime to be portrayed on film. Lucky for us though the plot plays second fiddle to the sub plots and jokes throughout, similar to most of Ferrell and director Adam McKay’s other films. Their police Captain played by a comedic genius himself Michael Keaton steals every scene he’s in with little pep talks quoting lines from 90’s pop group TLC, like “don’t go chasing waterfalls” or “I don’t want no scrubs”. There’s also a back story involving Terry learning Ballet for his ex-girlfriend, which was priceless. And then there’s Allen’s wife a super hot doctor played by Eva Mendes, who has Terry in shock and awe from the second she’s introduced. Apparently her and Allen met while she was a medical student treating him for poison ivy of the asshole, how that happens I have no idea, but it sounded hilarious. The running joke throughout that never seems to get old is that Allen may in fact be a ladies-man, and that he was a pimp in college known as “Gator”.

The best part of the film aside from the all star cast, seeing that bastard Derek Jeter get shot and the ridiculous boardroom shoot out scene had to be the return of Allen’s stolen Prius. It was used as a love shack for a group of homeless men to have an orgy in. There was also a thank you note left by “Dirty Mike and The Boys”.

All in all The Other Guys is a comedy that anyone who loves Will Ferrell will be sure to enjoy, those of you not as fond of him should be just as entertained as well. Mark Wahlberg really showed up with his comedic A-game much to my surprise, as I seriously doubted he had a funny bone in his body. Eva Mendes is great as the stereo typical love interest and hot chick from most action movies, but with comedic spin. The cameos are great from everyone involved, and the action worked a lot better than most other comedies, let alone actual action films.

I’m giving The Other Guys  an overall 7.5/10