Summer Film Reviews
Film reviews by Chris Klecker
Copyright 1994 Chris Klecker
Well summer is finally over and can I say that it didn't go out without a few bangs. The summer of '94 for movies was in fact a gold mine for theaters all over the world,(at least the ones smart enough to buy JURASSIC PARK) moreover made last summer look like ISHTAR. Let's start with the surprise hit of the season:
1) SPEED - Starring Keanu Reeves {rated R for some violence, (a decapitation here and there) and some mild language} Whoa! Let's start off with a little known fact that this movie wasn't to be released until July. So why the early rush? Watch and find out. Keanu Reeves turns out to be cast perfectly in this riveting installment of the popular terrorist movie brigade. Keanu Reeves plays a bomb squad boy scout who is up against a mad bomber; who else but Dennis Hopper, who is forced to stop a bomb from exploding on the bus. The trick is, the bomb activates once its speed limit is over 50, then will detonate if it dips below this speed. Past the very simple plot, the movie turns out to be the most totally implausible piece of Hollywood hardware to hit the screen since T-2. Do you care? You shouldn't. Even though things happen that can only be possible via theater, it really doesn't take away from the spirit of the movie. Just be prepared to be on the edge of your seat for about an hour and a half. grade: A-
2) THE CROW - Starring Brandon Lee
{R for some pretty gory shit}
Let's keep this short since I'm almost sure everyone out there is just sick about hearing the death for Brandon Lee during a take in this movie. THE CROW is in fact a very symbolic, gory, and extremely Gothic. Mr. Lee plays a slain guitarist who comes back to life to avenge the death of himself and his wife. There is in fact only one scene that takes place in the daylight, after that, you're in the dark, watching Brandon get shot up about a couple quadrillion times. Surely not for all tastes, but if you were into Tim Burton's "Batman" movies and A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, you'll feel right at home with this cozy birthday treat. grade: B+
3) BEVERLY HILLS COP III
{R just because}
Is this it? Hope so, cause I just about had enough of Axel Foley and that sicking synth music thing on every soundtrack. Oh well! Eddie Murphy returns once again to reprise the role of Detroit police officer Axel Foley whom I think gets lost while chasing after drug offenders and ends up knocking on the office door of our Beverly Hills regular Judge Rhinehold. I sort of feel sorry for Judge having to come back and make yet another fool of himself, but hey, I'm not concerned with Judge. Okay Eddie, it's your turn. First off, we see Eddie bust a drug ring in a chop shop. Then we see his captain die, yet to be followed by watching him walk all over the state of California as though he owned it. Okay, so was it funny? Yes. It was funnier than BHC II, yet it was pitiful and not real original. Axel has to stop a Security chief of an amusement park where he counterfeits money in a secret room. (Yawwwwwwn.) Well, Eddie, see you in GOLDEN CHILD II (heh heh). grade: C+
4) MAVERICK - starring Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster {I can't remember the rating. Do you care anymore?}
One lousy half-hour too long. Aside from that not a bad movie. Mel Gibson plays a card-dealing, mule riding sharp-shooter who deems it a necessity to play in the huge poker tournament with a enrollment fee of $25,000. (That's right $25,000.) Well, Mel has only $22,000; drat, a few bucks short, and we follow him on his journey to collect the other $3,000, plus make sure that his lady friend (Jodie) doesn't run off with the other $22,000. It ends up being a very silly, yet entertaining movie to bring your grandparents too, after making the mistake of telling them THE CROW wasn't that bad. I can only recommend this movie if you enjoy Gibson and his wittiness. grade: B
5) THE SHADOW - Starring Alec Baldwin
{PG}
I laughed myself senseless watching this movie. Don't get the wrong idea. It's not that it's stupid, well okay maybe a little out of its league, but THE SHADOW come on differently than many other movies you may have seen. The key it its success was its wit. Alec Baldwin is the Shadow. A man who appears invisible only because he feels like it. He clouds the minds of his victims so that all they see is his shadow. However, the movie seems to base itself on the Shadow's past, with the slogan ("Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?") and billboard header. Catchy! grade: B+
6) TRUE LIES - Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger
{R}
Another notch on the James Cameron wall of success. However, this time he bounced his checkbook. This $127 million movie was worth the price, with effects so spell-binding and exciting that you actually think the director deemed it necessary to destroy the connecting bridge from the Florida Keys to Miami. However, if you saw this movie, you didn't leave happy to see Arnold. That's Tom Arnold all right, playing Arnold's partner in the CIA. It was good to see Tom playing a role that doesn't make him look like a fool. Even better, his part was HUGE! Arnold plays a working father for the CIA special branch, with a cover so deep, his wife thinks he works with computers (ditto for the kid). Eventually, though he breaks the news to his wife after we have to bear a somewhat funny subplot where Arnold thinks his wife is having an affair. After Jamie Lee Curtis discovers the truth, she forgives him the instant she nailed 10 Cubans with a machine gun. grade: B+
7) FORREST GUMP - Starring Tom Hanks {PG} The tear-jerker movie of the movie of the summer that happens to be the best movie of the summer. Tom Hanks gives us one of his best performances as a southern idiot who teaches Elvis to Dance, plays football for Alabama, fight in the Vietnam war, is given the Congressional Medal of Honor, starts a shrimping boat, and run over the United States until his legs eventually got tired. It was a long movie but after it's over you won't leave mad.
P.S. Right now I recommend you see ANDRE, for I hear it's very good and I smash THE CLIENT because I found it totally uninteresting..
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