Movie Flashback: Wild Things

Twenty years ago this week, I saw the film “Wild Things” on the big screen. The movie came along a few weeks after I had turned 20 years old, and going to see “Wild Things” that Saturday was a belated birthday present from some of my coworkers, or so I thought.

Turned out the coworkers I saw “Wild Things” with only wanted me to go because I could get them all into an R rated movie. Regardless, going to the General Cinemas in Braintree Ma. that night was fun and it was an event. The 7:05 showing was sold out, as was the 8:15 on another screeen. But since we really wanted to see the movie, we decided to stay until the 10:30 show.

Going in, I don’t remember any of us knowing much about “Wild Things.” Sure, we knew the movie starred Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Kevin Bacon, Denise Richards and Bill Murray, but it wasn’t like today where you can find out spoilers the second a movie opens. So it was nice when all the twists and turns the movie had, really surprised us.

From what I remember, everyone in our group liked “Wild Things.” But of course after we saw it, all the guys in the group couldn’t stop talking about was the scene where Neve Campbell and Denise Richards got it on with Matt Dillon. Like I said earlier, I was twenty years old, and neither I nor my co-workers had girlfriends.

Meanwhile, the girls in our group made fun of us for liking the threesome scene, but all they could talk about were Kevin Bacon’s bits, so we made fun of them for that. However, everyone agreed that Bill Murray stole every scene he was in. Strangely enough, “Wild Things” was the first time I liked Bill Murray in anything. Yup, you heard that right. I didn’t care for him before I saw him here. Crazy, I know.

I haven’t watched “Wild Things” since probably 2000 or 2001, so I don’t know if it still holds up. But on the night I saw it in the theater, I was amused in a couple of ways. One, “Wild Things” was surprisingly funny, and one of the most entertaining crime flicks from the 1990’s. The script was clever, and the characters were engaging.

Another thing that struck me while I sat in the theater, was how good Neve Campbell was. She only plays one character, but Campbell found a way to giver the role distinct personalities in each act of the movie. It was a shame she never got the credit she deserved for her work in this film.

At the end of the day, going to see “Wild Things” turned out to be just as much fun as the movie was. It’s hard to believe it’s been twenty years already, and it’s a shame we never got a proper sequel. And no, the low-budget direct to video crap that followed does not count.

For my money, nothing will beat the original “Wild Things.”

 

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Domino #1 Review

DOMINO #1
Written by: Gail Simone
Art by: David Baldeón, Jesus Aburtov, Clayton Cowles
Published by: Marvel Comics

What it’s about…

Impossible curves. Impossible shots. Impossible targets. Marvel’s #1 soldier of fortune is back in an explosive new ongoing series!

The product of a failed super-soldier program, Neena Thurman always made her own luck as the sharpshooting mercenary known as Domino… but what happens when her own powers betray her? The hunter becomes the hunted as every mercenary in the game smells blood in the water! Plus: A pair of beloved Marvel characters return!

What I thought about it…

I’ll keep this one short: Domino #1 is the funniest comic I’ve read in years. Thank you Gail Simone!

Domino #1 score: A+

Lost in Space Review

Possible spoilers ahead!

Netflix’s “Lost in Space” is based on the classic 1960s family sci-fi series created by Irwin Allen. The series saw a family of castaways thrown into deep space along with a manipulative old doctor, a young hot-shot pilot, and an overprotective robot. The premise was the same for a 1998 film version, but the execution was flawed to say the least. The new “Lost In Space” on the other hand, is rather good.

The series premiere and follow-up episodes deliver an exciting, fun, and surprisingly dramatic, re-imagining of the original series. In the new “Lost in Space,” Toby Stephens stars as John Robinson. He’s a Marine and absentee father trying to re-connect with his wife and kids after spending years away from home.

His estranged wife Maureen is played by the always great Molly Parker. Maureen is a genius-level engineer and with John gone most of the time, she became the primary caregiver to their three children: Penny Robinson (Mina Sundwall) is the wild child, Judy (Taylor Russell) is only 18 but already a doctor, and finally there is Will (Maxwell Jenkins), the youngest member of the family, and the center of most of the action.

I wasn’t sure how the whole estranged family angle would work, but I found it to be quite effective and one of the show’s best plotlines. Having a divided family gave the Robinson kids the opportunity to develop rather quickly. By episode two we know plenty about each of the Robinson kids, including their strengths and weaknesses and their individual personalities. We also see how their parents fractured relationship is affectiong each kid.

In this “Lost in Space, the Robinson family find themselves on a distant planet, however, they are not alone. Along for the adventure are, Parker Posey as the new Dr. Smith (with a nice little twist), and Ignacio Serricchio as Don West. Unlike previous versions, this Don West is not a hotshot pilot, but a mechanic with a fondness for smuggling and a chicken named Debbie. Watch the show, I promise the chicken thing will all make sense.

But that’s not everyone stranded on the planet. The new series sees the family as one of many survivors of a colonization effort set for Alpha Centauri. When their space station is attacked, many families escape in their Jupiter lifeboats. Many survive the crash landing, but have no way to contact the space station.

This is a big change from the old tv show and the 1998 movie. I don’t know how long time fans will feel about this, but for me, the change works. It works in large part because it gives the Robinsons other people to interact with. Therefore, new relationships are formed; Doctor Smith can play more mind games; and new adventures are launched.

In the acting department, Toby Stephens is very good as John Robinson. Stephens has really improved as an actor since his dreadful work in “Die Another Day.” His character here is a complex one, but the actor delivers a solid performance as a never-say-die soldier. John is also well aware of his failures as a father, and is trying to make amends.

Meanwhile, Molly Parker’s Maureen is fiercely independent and easily the smartest person in the family. Quite often, we see Maureen working out a problem while at the same team teaching her children how she’s doing something. It becomes clear from early on that the kids have much more in common with her, than with John. However, Maureen is also willing to break the rules, if it can ensure a better future for her children.

I should also mention that Parker and Stephens have great chemistry even when their characters are bickering with one another. But the two were at their best when they find themselves stuck in one of the Chariots.

The same can be said of the Robinson children, especially in later episodes when situations force each of them to carry the weight of an episode. The standouts for me were Penny Robinson (Mina Sundwall), and Judy (Taylor Russell). Will on the other hand, got annoying. However, I don’t blame Maxwell Jenkins for this. I think the blame goes to the script which made Will extremely naive and borderline stupid. But I will say that the character improved in the last couple of episodes.

The cast is solid for the most part, even the other survivors were surprisingly strong in supporting roles. But when it’s all said and done, Parker Posey steals the show in “Lost in Space.” She is awesome as Doctor Smith, and she’s scary too. Posey had this look in her eyes that makes you believe she would kill anyone to achieve her goals.

For the most part, “Lost In Space” impressed me with its unique take on a classic. The character development was strong, as was the world building, not just on the planet, but for the space station too. With this show, Netflix has delivered a fun sci-fi family adventure that had plenty of twists and turns that left me wanting more.

“Lost in Space” score: A-

Your Moment of Zen

That time Diana Ross stopped traffic to be a diva.

Green Lanterns #44 Review

GREEN LANTERNS #44
Written by: Tim Seeley
Art by: Ronan Cliquet, HI-FI
Published by: DC Comics

What it’s about…

“GHOSTS OF THE PAST” part one! Jessica Cruz’s ring has a mind of its own, and it’s lashing out at her! Jess needs to find a way to defend herself against a ring that is making constructs against her will!

What I thought about it…

The solicitation you see above comes from the DC Comics website. The idea of a Green Lantern power ring turning on its possessor sounds pretty cool, and would make one heck of a story in this title. There’s only one problem with DC’s solicitation for Green Lanterns #44: None of that happens in this issue.

Nothing in Green Lanterns #44 is close to what is described in the solicitation, or on the issue’s cover. At no point during “Ghosts of the Past” part one does Jessica Cruz’s ring get a mind of its own, and it never lashes out at her. And despite what the cover art shows, Jess doesn’t have to defend herself from the ring at any point.

That being said, Green Lanterns #44 was still a solid issue. The story of Autonomy Gage, a decommissioned Battleframe robot with post traumatic stress disorder was different and interesting.  I never would have thought reading a story about a robot seeking legal advice so he can get custody of his little girl after a divorce would be interesting, but here we are.

Also in this issue, writer Tim Seeley put Jessica Cruz back in the spotlight as we see her still struggling with her anxiety and fear. But Seeley also explores the trauma and heartache that continues to haunt Jessica to this day. For me these few scenes were the strongest parts of this issue, I look forward to what else Seeley has up his sleeve.

On the art side of things, Ronan Cliquet and colorist Hi-Fi put together a gorgeous issue. Jessie has never looked better, and I like how Cliquet draws her strong and confident while she’s in uniform, and almost shy when she’s doing normal day stuff.

I’m a fairly new reader to Green Lanterns. I only started picking up the book about 10 issues ago, but it has quickly risen to the top of my reading pile. But while I enjoyed Green Lanterns #44, there is no excuse for the solicitation debacle. I get stuff comes up sometimes, but DC should have at least changed the cover.

Green Lanterns #44 score: B-

 

Movie Flashback: Leatherheads

I couldn’t tell you how many movies I’ve seen during my life, probably hundreds of them if not thousands. Sometimes though, I don’t remember much about the movies themselves, but I can recall everything else about that day. Take for instance the 2008 sports comedy “Leatherheads.”

For those who may not remember, “Leatherheads” was directed by George Clooney and the plot focused on the early years of professional American football. The film starred Clooney as Jimmy “Dodge” Connelly, and also featured Renée Zellweger, Jonathan Pryce, and John Krasinski.

Anywho, getting to see “Leatherheads” on the big scree was quite a day for me. You see, by the early days of April of 2008, I was already in the process of moving from Boston to South Carolina. With only a couple of months before the actual move, I spent the first week of April in South Carolina looking at apartments and town houses in the area.

My girlfriend (now wifey) found a couple of places we liked, and put an offer on one place close to everything. But I guess the stress of looking for a place to live got to me, because I suffered from insomnia that entire week. At one point I even said to her “When I get home Sunday morning, I’m sleeping until Tuesday.” Fate however, had other plans.

The night before I flew back to Boston, my good buddy Laneit texted me to let me know Wah Kee would pick me up at Logan. Sounded good to me, because now I wouldn’t have to worry about catching the Logan Express. Anyways, my first flight took off at 5:45 that Sunday morning headed for Detroit. When I landed in the Motor City, Laneit called to let me know plans had changed, and he’d be the one picking me up.

But plans changed again, because when I finally Landed in Boston, I had a text from him telling me he and our friend Ali were coming to get me. I thought Laneit was joking, because surely Ali had better things to do on a Sunday. But no, she really was coming to get me, and we were all going to the movies to see “Leatherheads.”

We had a couple of stops to make however, I dropped off my luggage at my place, then we picked up our friends Boosie and Eric, and then we all had lunch at the Tomato & Cheese Co. By the time we stood in line to buy our movie tickets, I was running on fumes.

By the time Laneit fought me to see who’d sit next to Ali, I was half asleep. By the time Renée Zellweger made out with John Krasinski, I was snoring away. Eric had to jab me in the ribs to wake me up.  I was in a daze for the rest of the movie. The only other thing I remember is Jonathan pryce got banned from football for life.

That was the only time I saw this movie, as I didn’t go back to watch the stuff I slept through. At the end of the day, I had traveled a long way to see one crappy football movie called “Leatherheads.”

The Crossing Review

Possible spoilers ahead!

I have been a fan of Steve Zahn since I saw him in 1996’s “That Thing You Do.” But I have to admit I had a hard time picturing him as the leading man on the new ABC show “The Crossing.” In the drama, Zahn plays a small town sheriff named Jude Ellis. He’s only been on the job for a few weeks, but he suddenly finds himself dealing with an unusual crisis when hundreds of bodies wash up on a local beach. 47 of them however, survive, and that’s where the mystery starts.

The local authorities don’t find any signs of a crashed airliner or of a sunken ship that would explain where all these people came from. But soon enough the mysterious arrivals inform the sheriff that they are refugees not from some other place but some other time. They have come from an America 180 years from now, hoping to escape a great war and the “genetic overlords” that caused it.

However, before Zahn can get more answers from the survivors, his involvement om the case is curtailed by a higher authority in the form of Sandrine Holt’s Homeland Security agent Emma Ren.They don’t see eye to eye on much, but it’s clear from the start that both of them want to help the survivors however they can. But neither knows that the mystery of the 47 goes deeper than either of them could have imagined.

As I mentioned at the start, I’m a Steve Zahn fan, but I wasn’t sure he could pull off the role of the sheriff. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. Zahn was terrific in the part, and he looks better than ever. This isn’t the pudgy guy from “Saving Silverman” or the goofball from “Happy, Texas.” This Steve Zahn is in shape, and he’s a much better dramatic actor than I would have thought.

Also good in the series is Sandrine Holt as Homeland Security agent Emma Ren. Instead of going the usual route of a tough as nails agent that always goes by the books, “The Crossing” gives agent Ren a nice amount of heart. Yeah, she has bosses she needs to answer to. But it was nice to see that she does want to help these people. Holt and Zahn play well off each other, so I suspect the rest of the season may explore that relationship.

The rest of the cast included Rick Gomez as Ellis’ deputy, and Simone Kessell as a time traveler out on her own looking for her daughter. All the characters are appealing enough that I wanted to know more about them, especially Simone Kessell. The actors all do a good job selling the dialogue as the show’s main plot is explained from various angles.

All in all, I thought the pilot to “The Crossing” was well acted, well paced, and full of surprises. I like he premise of the show, and everything looked really good for a network show. Hopefully, ABC will give the series time to build and audience as the events unfold and build towards something big.

“The Crossing” score: B+