The Adventures of Indiana Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark/ Temple of Doom/ Last Crusade) - Widescreen Edition (1984) Review

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(More customer reviews)George Lucas produced something other than Star Wars? The younger crowd may not be aware of this, but anyone like me growing up in the 70's -80's would. The answer: Absolutely! (We can forget & forgive his mid-80's mistake "Howard the Duck.")
This collaborative effort from Steven Spielberg & George Lucas brought new life into the action genre. It is equally important to remember that the films also propelled Harrison Ford from Star Wars's loveable "scoundrel" to a silver screen staple. Here is my take on the series so far (barring Indiana Jones 4 which is on & off...hopefully off due to Ford's age and the closure in "Last Crusade.")
Raiders of the Lost Ark:
From the intro Paramount logo shifting into a real mountain, to the mishaps in recovering the golden idol from the temple, "Raiders" pretty much set a tone for what was to come -action. What it brought in after the opening sequence is something not often seen in action movies -story. Not just story, mind you, but intelligent story (dispelling the myth that audiences are stupid.) It is an awkward sight to see Jones transformed from the adventurer to the lecturer, until he is told of The Ark of the Covenant -supposedly holding The Ten Commandments and a source of ultimate power -and chases after it. The rest & former are long embedded in film history. The Nazi's are after it as well and Jones has the fight of his life.
Interesting points:
The beautiful Karen Allen (Starman) portrays Marion (who I personally would like to have seen resurface in later films) and the rolling boulder (reminiscent of the asteroid thundering through a starship in 1979's B-movie "The Black Hole.")
Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom:
For me, this was the oddball movie. Jones saves child-slaves from an evil cult. That's about as well as I can sum it up. It fails its predecessor and succumbs to mediocre "sequel fever." I don't expect everyone to share my view, nor do I want you to. All-in-all, it's a high action flick and will pass some time well, even with the miscast future Mrs. Spielberg -Kate Capshaw (Space Camp).
Interesting points:
The chase through the mine is an exciting thrill-ride and the tension of bridge scene afterwards makes up for the lower points of this movie.
Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade:
To place this movie alongside the first would be justice served. Here is the return of the intelligent story and type of action/drama mix that resurged the Jones Saga. It opens with young Indiana Jones (River Phoenix, "The Mosquito Coast") stealing a lost artifact from a band of robbers. Ultimately, he is too young to thwart them; however it reveals the character of Jones from an early age and introduces his father, Henry (Sean Connery). Now, fast forward to the Jones we have come to know and Jones is trying to find his father who went searching for the Holy Grail. The movie is a whirlwind trip through Biblical History and pure adrenaline pumped action. The chemistry between Ford & Connery shines throughout the exotic locations and explosions providing comic relief as much as back-story. I can't say enough about this film, so I will stop here.
Interesting points:
So much is revealed in this movie, from the origin of the name "Indiana," to the deepest parts of each character (something rarely seen in films -character depth.)
DVD Extras:
Fortunate enough to have seen it (and I admit I'm not that much of a fan of these DVD revelations on the making's of the movie because it oftentimes destroys the fantasy of it all) I have to bend and tell you it is worth it. The original trailers are laughable (they weren't at the time the movie came out and I mean that in no disrespectful way) and a trip down Nostalgia Lane. One thing that sets this apart is that the documentary is not boring. Most are in DVD Extra-discs (probably because new movies have no real history -save maybe for The Matrix.)
Final Note:
For the cost, quality (remastered, et al.,) this is one box set that I am happy to comment on and also, one that I believe was done right and released right. (Check out other trilogy box-sets, which I won't name here, and you'll find so many versions and "Director's Cuts" that you'll be baffled at what to buy. This set is complete...plain & simple. Enjoy

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2 Fast 2 Furious (Widescreen Edition) (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)Fueled by the libidinous gas of Tyrese and Paul Walker, John Singleton's sequel to "The Fast and the Furious," "2 Fast 2 Furious" proves that Fast Cars, Fast Guys and Fast Women can still equal a pretty good movie. We're not talking "The Hours" or "Talk to Her" here, but I can think of several more expensive to make and/or bigger star vehicles that don't have this movie's charisma and charm.
"2F2F" is shot in Caribbean, super bright primary colors and the Car race and chase scenes are as outstanding as those in "Ronin" and that is saying a lot. And even though some of the line readings are dull and non-ironic, Tyrese definitely emerges as a genuine talent.
If there are any Drive-ins left in the world (and I hope there are)...this is the perfect drive-in movie: take a date, buys some dogs, popcorn, good-and-plenty and a vat of Soda and enjoy.

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The Librarian - Return to King Solomon's Mines (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)THE LIBRARIAN 2: RETURN TO KING SOLOMON'S MINES is the sequel to THE LIBRARIAN: QUEST FOR THE SPEAR (2004) and again features Noah Wyle as Flynn Carsen, the titular Librarian who, on the surface, toils in the New York Metropolitan Public Library but whose true purpose is to safeguard the ancient, historical (and often mystical) artifacts stored in a hidden section of the library - fabled artifacts such as the Holy Grail, the sword Excalibur, Pandora's Box, Tesla's Death Ray, Adam & Eve's apple, etc. As a side job, Flynn also gets to unlock the world's greatest mysteries. As he says in the movie, "You'd be surprised at what you can learn at the library."
TNT debuted THE LIBRARIAN 2: RETURN TO KING SOLOMON'S MINES on Sunday, December 3, 2006 and, yes, I tuned in with my large order of pizza and Pepsi. The breezy movie tagline for this one is "New Continent. New Adventure. Still No Clue." which is a strong hint to the viewer that it's time yet again to indulge in esoteric, anthropological silliness. When Flynn Carsen first got the Librarian position, he was nerdy, clumsy, inept at physical activities, and not good with women. Now, after over a year of settling in...well, he's still all of those. But, hey, at least he still lives with his mother (who just tried to set him up with a third cousin).
Here come the plot and the SPOILERS: the movie opens with an enigmatic scroll being mailed to Flynn, which sends him once more furiously scampering around the globe on a desperate quest, but not before Charlene, the librarian director, advises him: "Be safe. Don't get killed. Save your receipts." This time, Flynn must try to piece together clues to the location of the legendary King Solomon's Mines. Of course, it can't be as easy as it sounds. Our maladroit librarian must contend with a secret mason society, hungry hippos, a beautiful, competitive archaeologist, family secrets, and a corrupt warlord who really, really wants the treasures of King Solomon. Not to mention, he faces the possibility of having to consume termites. Working in a library has never been more perilous.
Noah Wyle remains endearing in his nebbish but, nevertheless, heroic lead role, while the straight-faced Bob Newhart (Judson), Jane Curtin (Charlene), and Olympia Dukakis (Margie Carsen, Flynn's mom) adequately reprise their supporting roles. I do miss Sonya Walger, who played the sexy and uber-capable Nicole Noone, but lovely Gabrielle Anwar, here sporting a faux Brit accent and, in one sequence, a drool-enducing red outfit, ably steps in as brilliant archaeologist Emily Davenport, whose vaunted academic skills may surpass even that of Flynn's (she has one more PhD than Flynn, which incenses Flynn). Now, can a dorky bookworm find love with an upper class, brainy beauty who's so way above his league? With Wyle's excellent, humorously combative rapport with Anwar, he's got a chance.
Jonathan Frakes directs this one with a decidedly tongue-in-cheek aplomb. In channeling the Indiana Jones and the Mummy features, Frakes and the producers make no bones about their intention to craft a homage and transport the viewer to a simpler era when the cliffhanger adventure films of the '30s and '40s ran amok in cinema. True, like in the first movie, THE LIBRARIAN 2 does adopt a certain B-movie sensibility, with its requisite campiness. Frakes knows we're not about to take this series too seriously; yet he manages to infuse enough humor, character development, storyline, high adventure, and fun facts within the film that I found myself being charmed and hugely diverted. Granted, the special effects range from decent to dubious and won't even impress a 5 year old, but the acting performances, the fantastical premise, the old-school, globe-trotting derring-do, and the exotic locales will spark the viewer's imagination and sense of adventure. It's good, hokey fun, worth 3 and half stars. Can't wait for the third film.

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The Guardian (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)There are many dangers for being a member of the Coast Guard. Taken to the icy waters of the Bering Strait off the coast of Kodiak, Alaska, the possibilities of danger with choppy waves, hypothermia, and broken vessels or rocky caves rise exponentially. Dreadful decisions meet the rescuer at every opportunity to save lives: Who can and should be saved? Who cannot be? As in any lifesaving seminar, the rescuer must stay alive to be able to save others. Hazardous conditions and low pay are part and parcel of the harrowing life of heroes. These factors set up the premise of a promising movie.
'The Guardian' shows us these possibilities with Ben Randall (Kevin Costner), a maverick, but aging senior chief who is still on top of his form. At the beginning we find him challenged by a rescue that runs out the clock and leaves his colleagues in harm's way. The descending rescue 'copter runs into a wave that sends it reeling into the sea where it explodes. The trajectory of the debacle sends Randall's best friend out at sea, but even his best efforts can't save him. Randall recovers, but he remains haunted by the memory of this recent disaster that left him impotent to save the others. His superior reassigns him to train recruits. He resists, but his senior officer is wise enough to know that trauma leaves even the best rescuers tentative until time can heal the inner wounds.
At the training academy, Randall becomes the best asset, throwing away the text book and always throwing his recruits into the thick of training with some grueling situations. Here he comes upon a smug, but promising Ivy League recruit, Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher), properly nicknamed "Goldfish" for his smimming prowess and silver spoon sensibilities. The friction between instructor and recruit is not all that different than movies we've seen before, especially 'An Officer and a Gentleman,' but the bond they develop is both strong and very different. They discover they have much in common, including an aptitude to break swimming records and a past that haunts each protagonist in a similar fashion. Tough Randall has some strong words that quickly silence even the most brazen of his potential crew, especially the cocky Fischer. A series of mishaps and Randall's constant browbeating do peel the layers off Fischer's self-centered shell, and we finally see both men's vulnerability. The relationship is the focal point of the movie, for Fischer brings vitality and enthusiasm, but he needs Randall's sage and seasoned experience. The rest of the movie finds them friends, but both have their mettle tested in a series of events that show them as the best they can be... Both, too, are in need of healing and forgiveness, while they try to forge a final bond with the women they love.
As with most adventure movies nowadays, there are able panoramic sea scenes, some of which are reminiscent of 'The Perfect Storm'. The story and the way it weaves through danger, relationships, and training has an emotional undertow that isn't entirely different than 'The Horse Whisperer'. And, though many comparisons can be made to other movies, the sum of 'The Guardian's parts is assembled in a unique way. Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher keep the drama afloat with focused performances that create memorable characters. Particularly, Kutcher delivers a genuine performance as a cocky recruit who has great pain and insecurity bubbling below the surface. The dialogue is above most adventure movies with some particularly poignant lines for Costner. 'The Guardian' delivers heroism and inspiration in a film that nearly steered a course into a wreck of sentimentality awash with cliches and stereotypes.

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Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher star in THE GUARDIAN, the powerful, action-packed drama that takes you inside the never-before-seen world of the elite Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers. Reeling with grief in the wake of a mission gone tragically wrong, legendary Rescue Swimmer Ben Randall (Costner) is given a mission he doesn’t want — training raw recruits. Once there, he knocks heads with cocky Jake Fischer (Kutcher), a swimming champ driven by a painful secret, who’s more interested in breaking Ben’s records than saving lives. But Ben also sees Jake has what it takes to be the best of the best. Filled with spectacular rescues in the lethal waters of the Bering Sea, THE GUARDIAN is a riveting and compelling story that dives straight into the heart and soul of real heroes, the unsung guardians of the sea.

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