Where art thou wikipedia and IMDB?

Renny Harlin = Director
Geena Davis = Wife of Director (at the time)

Its one of the most infamous flops in Hollywood history, and bloated by stupid shit done by Harlin.

And to think, it bankrupted Carolco, just 4 years after T2 made them a goddamn fortune.

RED DAWN (1984) - ***

There is a shot in RED DAWN focusing upn a car's bumper sticker: "They can have my gun when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers." We then cut to a Soviet paratrooper pulling a Colt revolver from a dead man's grip. Either writer/director and NRA supporter John Milius has a sense of humor or its a serious scene that fails, I always get a laugh out of it.

What is known now is that the whole premise of RED DAWN is based on a fallacy of its epoch. We didn't learn until after the Cold War that the Russians didn't have the military or economical capacity to fully invade and occupy America in the 1980s. Plus, America's geographical isolation makes any invasion by a foreign power utterly impossible, but that doesn't matter.

DAWN's scheme is a fantasy what-if in the tradition of John Steinbeck's THE MOON IS DOWN and a exploratory tale of resistance inspired by the reality-based THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS. People simply dismiss this film as stupid ideological paranoia from the Reagan Decade. Where were these people when the RAMBO sequels were popular?

With the plot being the Soviets invading America and high school kids becoming guerilla fighters, it should have been pretty damn stupid and absurd, except this is John Milius we're talking about here.

He help scripted APOCALYPSE NOW. He shot the awesomeness that is CONAN THE BARBARIAN, and he inspired John Goodman's character in THE BIG LEBOWSKI. He aint a moronic flag-waver like Michael Bay.

Now I don't agree with many of Milius' politics. I prefer to keep firearms from the hands of idiots who treat them like toys, and certainly some moments in RED DAWN seem to be his thematic argument against gun control. But what I do dig is his small touches in what is otherwise a decent action movie.

Take the Cuban Colonel. As a member of the Soviet occupation authority, he seems to understand why they're being beaten by kids, which his Russian superiors want to hear nothing of it. Just like Col. Mathieu in THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS, he's a former partisan fighter that is now the imperialist opposition of an insurgency...and he's disillusioned by it.

We never see such compelling communist baddies in the RAMBO pictures.

Then there are Milius' references to history from the Rocky Mountain landscape evoking intentional Deja vu feelings of Afghanistan to the town's cooperation this side of Vichy France. Other nice stuff include Powers Boothe as the downed American pilot who gives a chilling assessment of this Third World War, which no viewer ever forgets, to the Russian counter-attack against these Wolverines that's surprisingly intelligent.

Ultimately I guess I liked RED DAWN because I enjoyed seeing Milius taking these materialistic and selfish kids of America and making them into soldiers fighting for a cause beyond shopping malls and crappy pop music, though apparently some folks took it too seriously.

When American occupation forces of Iraq captured Saddam Hussein in 2003, the seizure operation was called Operation Red Dawn. The Pentagon claims the codename was a coincidence and that we have not become the Cuban Colonel.

LIAR!!!!

I ordered Guys And Dolls from Amazon last night. Can't wait to add it to my gangster collection.

SALEM'S LOT (1979)
(First Viewing)

Definitely felt like a Stephen King novel based movie with a runtime of 183 minutes. I was however glad to see Bonnie Bedelia in another role other than Mrs. John McClane, she was a nice treat. But the show stealer was James Mason as Richard K. Straker, the antique shop owner. I absolutely loved his dialogue, accent and mannerisms. I wonder if the 2004 version with Rob Lowe is as good as this one?

probley not.

I want to see Salem's Lot. That, and Black Christmas.

The original BLACK CHRISTMAS or the 2006 remake? I've seen the 2006 version but not the original

The original.

Well, both, I suppose. But original first dammit.

This movie has probably been mentioned, but is anyone looking forward to seeing "I'm Not There Yet"? Kate Blanchett as Bob Dylan??? Wow!! Who would have thought? Anyway, Dylan's always been somewhat of a mystery, and I think this movie might be pretty good. Anyone hear any buzz?


TIS

I hadn't heard anything about it until I read your post, TIS. I looked it up on IMDb and it looks kind of interesting. According to that site Cate Blanchett wore a sock down her trousers to play Bob Dylan. The actress said it "helped me walk like a man."

Apparently a few actors portray Dylan at different times of his career. Blanchett's portryal was apparently about the time he did "Don't Look Back".

I'm Not There has been my most anticipated film of the year for a while now. It floored Omar (Suarez, remember him?), and he's as big a fan of the guy as me.

In terms of Dylan's career, I'd have to say Heath Ledger's segment intrigues me mostest.

I WATCHED ELF FOR THE FIRST TIME THE OTHER DAY AND THOUGHT IT WAS BRILLIANT

i agree mate,good film,i was in tears nearly watching this..

HALLOWEEN (2007) 1/2
(Second Viewing)

Rob Zombie outdoes himself again as he continues to impress me as a writer & director. A fantastic and brutal retelling of the origins of Michael Myers. Most impressive was young Daeg Faerch who plays the 10-year-old version of Michael. His face and emotions did a wonderful job in helping to educate the audiences knowledge on this legendary character. However, I must give props to Scout Taylor-Compton as well. She had some mighty big shoes to fill being the "new" Jaime Lee Curtis in this version and she likewise did a fine job. And for my own personal amusement, I'm glad Rob put William Forsythe in this film, he was great for a laugh.

me and my mates were sat havin a few drinks before we went out and started watching this,we ended finishing watching the whole film i was pissing myself all the way through

Will Ferrell is great

He is funny, have you seen Anchor Man?

Here's a short clip. Like Capo said, Heath Ledger along with Richard Gere, Cristian Bale and one or two others play Dylan.

I have absolutely nothing against Kate Blanchett, and from what I have seen via clips, her performance seems credible, but why do you suppose they had a woman play Dylan? I'm guessing there'd be a host of actors that they could make to look/act like Dylan. Do you think perhaps Kate wanted to to it for maybe an ultimate acting challenge or something??? Just wondering.

I didn't know whether to make this movie have a thread of its own or what. Don't know how much interest there'd be in it.
I think the correct title is "I'm Not There". Don't know why I put "yet" in it.

TIS


I'm Not There

Are you guys serious when you say Elf is a brilliant film? Really? Brilliant?

I didn't think it was brilliant. I watched it once in theaters and that was enough for me. I love Will Ferrell but I've seen better work from him

It's all relative, Blib.

Zing!

I re-watched Kids (1995) tonight...

What a horrific, depraved, disgusting, disturbing, decadent, horrifying, and scary look at a "day in the life" of a group of Manhattan teens! Truly, horrifying and tragic, and depressing! Can I use any more adjectives? How about sad. That's how I feel if urban youth actually live like that!

It's one thing to "get pussy", yet another to make your goal to deflower young girls while you don't even know you have HIV. And it's presented in an almost pedophilic manner introducing the "next" generation (of like, 9 year olds) to this sex/drugs lifestyle.

If I was a parent, I'd probably consider this a HORROR movie. But I'm not, and don't. But as a former emotionally-disturbed-teen counselor, I find it disturbing to say the least.

I rated this 3/5 on NetFlix the last time I saw it, and do again. Maybe even 3-1/2 this time, cuz poignant adds another half-star...

IMDb: 6.6/10
NetFlix: 7/10
JGeoff: 7/10 as well

If I find out that any BB members live this lifestyle, I will personally fly out there to kick their asses!

And previously I watched Twist (2003) again, based on Oliver Twist, but I don't know that story enough to compare it or make any grand review; but, this is a sad tale about a bunch of street hustlers in Toronto.

Maybe I'm just punishing myself watching movies like this! lol

Can anyone recommend a "happy" flick" for me please? lol

Oh! I did finally see Superbad (2007) last night! ...that was super-Bad-Ass

GIA
(First Viewing)

Too much of a made-for-TV movie. The directing by Michael Cristofer was amateur at best. Angelina Jolie was great and yes we got to see her goodies, but the entire second half of the film became just another depressing drugy movie.

Easily the best comedy in the past 5-10 years

Let's not get ridiculous now...

Now that award would go to elf..

Name a better during that time span

Little Ms Sunshine if you can call that a comedy and American Pie for me are two of the best comidies of the last 10 years.

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE was alright, I didn't find it that funny. AMERICAN PIE was great but I'd still say SUPERBAD was better.