10/13/04--movies, movies, movies!

Hey, its been awhile...what can I say, I've had a lot on my plate, but I'll get into that a little bit later.  In the meantime, I realized  that it must seem like its been time immortal since my last movie review!  Well the good news is that I've got 3 really good ones for you to check out....and away we go!

1) Farenheit 9/11----well, if there's one thing you can say about this movie, its that it certainly seems to be one that everyone will, at the very least, have some sort of an opinion on. You either loved or hated Michael Moore's scathing  indictment on the Bush administration, the Bush family, and the war in Iraq.
The film is, without question, a propaganda piece.  I began watching the film understanding that...accepting that...and realizing that Michael Moore shouldn't plan on any invitations to a family picnic in Crawford, Texas, anytime real soon.  Now, that being said....I found that the movie was effective in the first 2/3's, but lost some of its steam in the last part (covering the war in Iraq and those within the military and outside of it's opposition to the action).  However, I think the first 2/3's are so amazing, and so captivating, that to declare that you "won't watch that liberal piece of crap", or that its "anti-american" is to really miss the boat.  To watch this movie is perhaps the MOST american thing you can possibly do.  Why?  Because in this country you can watch the movie, think its a total piece of garbage--or agree with 100% of what Moore is trying to say.  But that's the point.  You have the ability to voice your opinion on it.  People in other countries may not.  And to say it should not be shown, or censored....is outrageous. True patriotism is to watch the film, listen to the filmmakers views, and either agree or disagree.  To avoid watching the film because your republican...or conservative....or pro or anti this or that is taking a very narrow viewpoint indeed.  Whether you choose to agree with Moore or not, he makes some very serious allegations against the president's action before 9/11 and directly after, and brings to light some questions about the president & his family's ties to the Saudi royal family--ones that, if true, quite frankly make you really wonder just how objective our president can be in his dealings, on behalf of this country, with Saudi Arabia.
Now, that being said, the final 1/3 of the movie, the part that deals with the war in Iraq and its effects on the citizens of that country and our soldiers, comes off as sort of over the top and hammy, with scenes of the Iraqi children frollicking on the playgrounds days before the first U.S. attack.  I guess the whole dictator thing was vastly overrated, huh? 
Still...this is a very important movie that should be seen, and talked about.  ****
(I'm betting I get a phone call from my dad this very evening)
2) Bubba Hoe-Tep   So right about now I'm sure some of you are asking yourself...Bubba Hoe-Tep?  What in the Sam Hill is a Bubba Hoe-Tep? 
I did a few a personal top 10 list a few weeks ago, and little did I know the other day when I checked out this little gem that I would be altering my list.  Just check out the premise......The King, Elvis Presley, did not really die in 1977.  The person that died that night at Graceland was an Elvis impersonator, who had switched places with the real King a few months before.  The real Elvis, unable to prove who he really is (it was an agreement only the King and the impersonator had known about), manages to eek out a living as...you guessed it...an Elvis impersonator!  Currently though, he's living in an East Texas retirement home, recovering from a fall from a stage and generally being a grumpy old man.  Now, that right there is a great premise for a movie...but wait...it gets better.  Also residing at the nursing home is an older man that "claims" he's really JFK, and that he really didn't die in Texas that day.  Only problem is....the man is black.  Now...that right there would make a great movie...but wait, it gets better.  There have been some mysterious disappearences at the nursing home, which no one really thinks twice about, cuz...ya know...its a nursing home.  So Elvis & JFK set about to find out what's behind these mysterious happenings, only to discover the horrible truth.  (Here's where it really gets good)
It seems that an Egyptian mummy, recently discovered, has been touring the country and been stolen, and the thieves crashed their car into a river....located right next to the nursing home!  (Trust me, this is the greatest plotline in the history of cinema)
This sets up the inevitable, as E & JFK take on the mummy in a no holds barred throw down!!  And the best part of all this....I'm not kidding!  This is the best B movie I've seen since Big Trouble in Little China.  Its not a crappy low budget movie, but a fun filled ride through the mind of a grumpy King of Rock N Roll and his daily foibles (one of which involves a cancerous growth in a location that I will not have the temerity to discuss)  Run, don't walk to see this fantastic movie.  *****

Now, for the first time in awhile, I'd like to get back to my DVD collection.  The last film we discussed (in alphabetical order) was The Abyss, and today we discuss one of the alltime horror classics, Ridley Scott's ALIEN.  I remember the original tagline in the promotion for this film--"In space...no one can hear you scream".  One of the best films ever at creating a sense of impending dread, as a crew of a cargo spacecraft answers a distress call far out in space....and lets just say picks up a piece of luggage they hadn't counted on, along with finding out just how much their corporation feels their worth.  Terrific special effects, and a stellar cast of character actors, including Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Yaphet Kotto, Harry Dean Stanton & Ian Holm.  The movie that made Sigourney Weaver a star, as well as having the greatest pair of underwear a woman ever wore in a horror film.  ****1/2  a little intense for the kids though---trust me, I tried.

Later,
Jeff