Welcome to the 202nd Edition of my series. As you see, I got a part in
the chorus for A TIME FOR CHRISTMAS which I did last year as well. This
week I pay tribute to the late Henry Gibson, Patrick Swayze. I also pay
tribute to wrestlers Mick Foley and Koko B. Ware who both lost loved
ones recently. I don't really have much to say so let's get on with the
movies.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970): The Facebook friend I selected
for this week is Jason. I start this week out with this Pearl Harbor
epic and likely the best movie which focuses on the horrible day of
December 2nd, 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The U.S. and
Japanese both teamed up to make this great film with Richard Fleischer
directing the American actors and Kinji Fukasaku directing the Japanese
actors. The movie focuses on both sides making each side humanistic and
not really taking the sides. Each side had their flaws and strengths
which lead up to that fateful day. It focuses on the plans of the
Japanese to possibly target Pearl Harbor and the United States believing
that the Japanese might strike but not knowing where or when. Jason
Robards, Martin Balsam, E.G. Marshall all co-star in this very accurate
depiction of Pearl Harbor.
Reaching For the Moon (1930): This is
part of the Random Myspace Profile selection process and for this one I
chose the tribute page to Irving Berlin. Douglas Fairbanks stars in one
of his few talkies as Wall Street broker Larry Day but not good when
talking to women. He then takes interest in Vivian Benton, played by
Bebe Daniels on an ocean liner who is not blind to his interests. He
always finds ways to embarrass himself and then loses all his money in
the stock market crash not knowing what to do. This is a pretty decent
romantic comedy. Nothing great but of worth to see a young Bing Crosby
sings WHEN THE FOLKS HIGH-UP DO THE MEAN LOW-DOWN in a small role. This
was his first appearance in a movie where he sings solo and would later
become quite an icon.
Charlotte's Web (1973): I now pay tribute
to ROWAN & MARTIN alum Henry Gibson who does the voice of Wilbur the
pig. This is a childrens film based on the book by E.B. White that
takes place on a farm where we have Wilbur who is very scared knowing
that his owner will likely butcher him. He soon makes friends with an
aging spider of the title character who does what she can to keep him
alive which turns the pig into a local celebrity. This movie deals a lot
with friendship, loyalty, acceptance, and just life in general. Just
about any of us can relate to Wilbur or some other animal in the movie.
Debbie Reynolds does the voice of Charlotte and worked for free due to
her love for the book. Paul Lynde lends a lot of comic relief as
Templeton the Rat. Danny Bonaduce even does a voice in the movie for
Avery, the brother of Fern who seems to understand the animals. This is
absolutely something that the kids can watch and understand which can
teach a lot of life lessons.
Beyond the Mat (1999): This is my
tribute to Hardcore Legend Mick Foley who recently lost his father and
to WWE Hall of Famer Koko B. Ware who lost his wife to cancer and has a
couple interviews in here. Writer and wrestling fan Barry Blaustein
makes his directorial debut with this documentary which takes a look at
many different parts of wrestling and many wrestlers young and new
trying to make it. The main people he focuses on are Terry Funk, Mick
Foley, and Jake Roberts. Terry Funk is getting ready for his retirement
match but we all know that never happened and in his autobiography
claims that he just retired from wrestling in Amarillo which this movie
did not seem to focus on. He takes a look at Mick Foley who is crazy
inside the ring but nothing like it outside. It takes a look at his "I
Quit" match with the Rock at ROYAL RUMBLE 1999 where the Rock gets quite
carried away with the chair and his wife and children look in horror.
Jake Roberts leads a very difficult life and shows a reunion with his
estranged father and one with his daughter. Some might say he is the one
the movie THE WRESTLER is based upon, at least with his daughter
situation. It also shows him out-of-shape still taking bookings at small
venues and his problem with drugs. Roberts was not happy about how this
movie portrayed him and I'm not really sure what he was expecting. I
like Roberts but he has clearly had some demons in his life and I hope
he is doing better now. There is still lots of other things packed in
here like an independent promotion trying to get one of their guys into
WWE. There are also lots of interviews and many with negative stories on
Vince McMahon. It also goes into the inside dealings with McMahon with
an interesting interview with Darren Drozdov. We also see wrestlers way
past their prime who just can't leave. This is a really good look into
the world of wrestling and is great for fans and non-fans.
Youngblood
(1986): This is my tribute to Patrick Swayze who lost his battle with
Pancreatic cancer. Rob Lowe stars in this hockey drama as Dean, a
farmboy looking to make it in hockey. He soon tries out for a Canadian
hockey team where he makes it on account of his speed but lacks
aggression that is needed in hockey. He then forms a relationship with
the coach's daughter, played by Cynthia Gibb, which make things more
complicated. Patrick Swayze plays the star of the team who is determined
to get into the majors but gets a serious injury. Ed Lauter plays the
coach and look for Keanu Reeves in a small part. This is something that
really just works in the 80s as I say a lot and is a pretty entertaining
hockey drama which can be enjoyed as long as you don't take it too
seriously.
Bargain Counter Attack (1946): This is my short film
for the week which features the famous Little Lulu. This is a very
entertaining animation short which shows our little hero in a department
store and wanting to exchange her doll. The boss accepts and comes to
regret it when she plays with the toys, making a big mess, and then
deciding she does not want it causing a lot of damage within the store.
Lulu is known as one of the best comic-strip characters of all time and
has come a long way in today's society even getting picked up by Dark
Horse comics at one time.
Sugar (2004): I found this one on IFC.
Andre Noble stars as 18-year old Cliff who goes out to the ghetto and
hooks up with gay Toronto street hustler Butch, played by ROSWELL alum
Brandon Fehr. Butch exposes Andre to a lot more than he bargains for
making a rather destructive relationship. This is a very interesting
look on gay teens and what they go through. This is not for everyone but
I thought it was well shot and even acted. Shortly after this movie,
Andre Noble died a very tragic death. I really liked the camera shots in
this that looked more like a home camera and it worked this time.
About
a Boy (2002): The Weitz Brothers directed this movie based on the novel
by Nick Hornby. Hugh Grant stars as Will, a very immature and selfish
person. Nicholas Hoult stars as Marcus, a 12 year old boy who gets
picked on a lot at school and has a lot of difficulty with his suicidal
mother, played well by the always-great Toni Collette. Marcus and Will
soon meet and Marcus in some ways uses Will to get away from the
difficult relationship with his mother. Will then starts to teach Marcus
how to stick out more and not get teased so much at school. Marcus
teaches Will to grow up and start caring more for people. This is my
absolute favorite from Hugh Grant which I believe he agrees. Rachel
Weisz also co-stars as Will's love interest later in the movie. This was
a great movie showing an adult-child friendship and I was in the whole
way through.
Baby Mama (2008): I'm sure this one will get some
mixed opinions. SNL stars Tina Fey and Amy Poehler star in this comedy.
Tina stars as a business woman who is told she cannot have kids and
wants one so is recommended to Poehler who agrees to be the surrogate
parent. Poehler then moves in with her since she leaves her boyfriend,
played by Will Forte, and their class differences really clash. I found
Steve Martin rather amusing as Tina Fey's philosophical boss. I was not
sure what I was going to think of it at first but I felt it was worth
the performances and it delivered some very funny moments. Greg Kinnear
and Sigourney Weaver also co-star. I did enjoy the end result of the
movie.
Ransom! (1956): This is the original version of the 1996
film starring Mel Gibson. Glenn Ford stars as successful businessman
David whose son is kidnapped. They demand a ransom but he then makes the
decision to make a public statement on tv that he will not pay and
saying that if his son is not returned unharmed that he will use it to
track down the kidnappers. This decision gets many mixed opinions
including his wife, played by Donna Reed. Leslie Nielson co-stars as a
reporter who is trying to get a story but also wants a safe return of
the boy which is his film debut. This was very suspenseful and really
did not need any violence to keep everyone in. I honestly have not seen
the 1996 version yet and at some point I'm sure I will but I'm glad I
saw this one first.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what
you love and what you hate and stay tuned next week which will include a
Korean horror film, Timothy Olyphant, Paul Giamatti, and an Italian
classic.
FUN LITTLE FACTS
George Macready plays Secretary of State Cordell Hull. I played Hull in the Anderson Mainstage Theatre version of ANNIE.
Douglas
Fairbanks plays Zorro in the 1920 film THE MARK OF ZORRO. I went with
my friend Lisa to see THE LEGEND OF ZORRO dressed as Zorro
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