Reviews by Friends of pridgeway

ChrisJarmick says "one of my favorite books, clever, inspiring, funny,unforgettable" about Norton Juster - The Phantom Tollbooth

ChrisJarmick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:16:28 GMT

Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth was inspired by Lewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland, and is somewhat derivative of Baum's Wizard of Oz series, containing more than a few hints of A. A. Milne and even Dr. Seuss within it's pages as well, but winds up an entirely original creation.

It triumphantly celebrates the imagination. It does so while also celebrating the act of learning things, learning about words and numbers. It was the first book that showed me how important, special and powerful writing words and language can truly be. It didn't just tell me, it showed me.. and showed it could be a lot of fun too.

Am I exaggerating about this beautiful, witty, clever modern fairy tale? Can an adult who is not familiar with this book pick it up, enjoy it and develop the affection I have for the thing? I believe so. I am not absolutely positive about this because I first read this book when I was 8 years old. I read it again when I was 12. I wrote a book report about it when I...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Bogart Movie Marathon, Epic Adventures and a funny one highlight" about Bogart Movies Turner Classic Movies Vintage Movies December 1 & 2, 2009

ChrisJarmick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:18:21 GMT

Turner Classic Movies delivers a marathon of Bogart, several adventure epics and a very funny Woody Allen Movie over the next two days. Enjoy..

This afternoon... TCM shows one of Woody Allen's funniest movies: Take the Money and Run The 1969 comedy gem airs at 3 p.m. shortly after a 1971 Dick Cavett Show with Woody is shown (at 1:30 p.m. on the West Coast). I just posted a review of the movie this morning.

Tonight's prime time movies all follow the them Explorer Adventures. At 5 p.m. Fred mac Murray, Charlton Heston, Donna Reed and Barbara Hale star in the romanticized version of Lewis Clark's journey through the American West called Far Horizons. At 7 p.m. Gary Cooper and Basil Rathbone star in the Hollywoodized biography of a famous Italian explorer in 1938's The Adventures of Marco Polo, this is followed almost logically by 1949's Hollywoodized version of Christopher Columbus starring Frederick March which airs at 9 p.m. PST. Probably the best movie...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Good low budget 50s era Creature Feature; great monster suit." about Monster of Piedras Blancas

ChrisJarmick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:04:09 GMT

The Monster of Piedras Blancas follows a pretty standard 50s creature feature formula. The difference is, it has one of the best looking guy in a rubber-monster suits since The Creature of the Black Lagoon. It also has a couple of daring and quite shocking scenes circa 1959 which created some controversy when the film was released.(today they'd get the film rated PG.. maybe). The acting is NOT absolutely awful, the pacing is good, the real locations used are interesting. The script is a variation on Creature , the budget is so tiny, you see exactly one vehicle being driven in the entire movie (cast members borrow it from each other!!!), there are a few continuity errors, some strange edits, and the direction is uninspired. Still, I like this one.

Welcome to another cheap, very independently produced 1959 creature feature. If you like 50s creature features.. then the 4 star rating I give it.. applies. If you don't know about 50's creature features then 2 or 3 stars might be a...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Acting elevated this rom-com-dram. Pacino and Pfeiffer shine." about Frankie and Johnny 1991

ChrisJarmick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:50:59 GMT

1991's Frankie and Johnny was director Garry Marshall's follow-up to "Pretty Woman." It was based on the two character Terrence McNally play Frankie and Johnny at the Claire de Lune." On Stage the play was a fairly dark and authentic look at romance that starred Kathy Bates and F. Murray Abraham.

The film tries to be an old fashioned romantic romp with a gritty realistic edge. It can't help become a star vehicle for Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer to her credit doesn't try to completely hide the fact that she can't possibly hide the fact she's a beautiful woman---so she just plays it down a bit by looking dowdy without trying to wear ugly teeth, fake scars or acne or a fake nose. This is the best approach under the circumstances. Pacino comes across as charismatic and likeable and downright warm like he did in the romantic comedy he made several years ago called Author, Author. The stars charisma and energy are mis-matched, but thankfully because the film is about a mis-matched...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Unique, very dated, speculative docu-drama & reactionary doc." about Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald/The Other Side Of Bonnie And Clyde - Double Feature

ChrisJarmick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:42:58 GMT

The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald and The Other Side of Bonnie and Clyde. One is a very low budget ripped from the headlines docu-drama or what could have been and the other is a speculative set the record straight documentary.

They don't make 'em like this anymore. Maybe they never should have made them like this, but the ideas that created movies like these inspired others and so we have Michael Moore, Morgan Spurlock and others today.

After John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, Ultra low-budget, very independent film maker, Larry Buchanan quickly began working on one of his most unique projects. He personally knew Jack Ruby, he knew people who had shot footage of Kennedy and later of Oswald. THE TRIAL OF LEE HARVEY OSWALD poised the question: What if Lee Harvey Oswald was not shot and killed by Jack Rudy but went to trial as the accused killer of JFK?

TRIAL is a courtroom melodrama shot mostly from the perspective of someone sitting in the Jury box watching the trial unfold. Larry...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Family film gem worth re-visiting" about Millions 2005

ChrisJarmick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:28:54 GMT

Millions was one of the most enjoyable movies of 2005.

It's a smart memorable charming film about two young boys who piles of money near the rail road track. They decide to do good things for other people with the money but eventually their actions come to the attention of the crooks who are looking for the money they stole and lost.

The film is smart and clever and we get to know several of the characters. There's comedy, some drama and plenty of suspense.

The movie never tries to be cutesy or overly whimsical as so many family friendly films wind up doing.

It was written by Frank Cottrell Boyce (who co-wrote the brilliant Tristram Shandy- A Cock and Bull Story -which was one of the best movies of 2006) and directed by Danny Boyle who is not someone you'd ever believe would be attached to a G or PG rated film.

There's a few too many fast edit and visual gimmicks but it's a gem of a film you may have forgottten about . Makes a great gift!!!

...

ChrisJarmick says "one of the funniest, silliest most enjoyable comedies of all!" about Take the Money and Run Woody's Funniest

ChrisJarmick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:17:31 GMT

Take the Money and Run is a very funny movie made up of short comic episodes that are told in a semi-documentary style. The idea of the slightly built, nerdish looking Woody Allen ever becoming one of the most Wanted and dangerous criminals in the United States is absurd...right? Welcome to this 1969 comic gem.

It was Woody Allen's second movie. He was once upon a time, a television writer and stand-up comedian who made a big name for himself with the now classic "Moose" routine. He performed in and contributed to the screenplays of What's New Pussycat, and Casino Royale (yes he played a relative of James Bond !!!).

His first theatrical feature was the gimmick film: What's up Tiger Lilly. He took a Japanese James Bond knock-off film and re-dubbed the sound-effects and dialogue. It was innovative and funny. Allen only appeared a few times in the movie in wrap-around segments.

Take the Money and Run is a film made up of short comic takes and absurdly funny ideas. It's pacing is...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Funny, entertaining, Muppets and Michael Caine --holiday heaven." about Muppet Christmas Carol

ChrisJarmick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:24 GMT

A wonderful addition to the many variations of Dickens' classic Christmas Carol is this mostly faithful adaptation starring Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge and a whole gaggle of The Muppets.

If you haven't made it a tradition to watch this one with family and friends every year, then it's time to start the tradition.

Jim Henson's son Brian took over supervising this film with the same care, attention to detail and desire to entertain audiences as his father.

Caine has a blast doing his take on Ebenezer the grumpy mean banker who watches every penny he spends and makes life difficult for Kermit Cratchet, who is of course married to Miss Piggy. Gonzo and Rizzo are like a Greek Chorus doing funny bits of business and acting as narrators. There are some enjoyable songs and several of your favorite muppet characters are integrated into the story.

I'd tell you more about this movie, but if you have any interest in watching it or watching it again all you need to know is you'll laugh,...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Too bad this movie won't have much cross-over appeal" about FIREPROOF

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:17:19 GMT

Fireproof is getting a lot of 5 star reviews full of exclamation point comments like: This movie is AMAZING!!!

Well, the truth is.. if you identify yourself as a Christian and still attend church; you'll find a lot to admire about this movie; and if you stick with the film for about 20 minutes you'll find a lot to admire about it.

if you are not a Christian, you'll find a low budget, preachy inconsistent movie. There are some well written scenes, but there are some truly terrible ones as well. Some of the acting is awful, some is pretty good. The direction of the film is bad but some of the screenplay and most of the cinematographer is good.

The message is inspirational, the story for those who can overlook the film's considerable flaws is engrossing.

I wish the movie had more polish, better acting and paid a little closer attention to somei important details... (you can't be a fireman if you are not in very good shape physically...and yet this film has three firemen who would...

...

ChrisJarmick says "stunning Michael Caine performance; unsentimental drama" about "Is Anybody There?"

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:16:59 GMT

Is Anybody There? is a story about the friendship between the aging magician Clarence (Michael Caine) and 10 year old Edward whos fascinated with death, and what happens to people at the moment of death.

Clarence drives his van to the English Retirement Boarding home run by a 30 something couple (David Morrissey and Ann-Marie Duff). The couple have turned their large home into a retirement boarding home out of necessity and in the process their ten year old son has had to give up his room for elderly boarders.

Clarence arrives. He's a retired magician who's losing his memory and has little patience for overly curious 10 year old boys. A relationship develops slowly.

The touching memorable film is never sentimental or mawkish. The performances are all first-right, particularly Bill Milner as Edward and Sir Michael Caine who at age 76 delivers another superb performance.

It's a quiet film, full of little details and touches requiring concentrated viewing. It's also a drama revolving...

...

ChrisJarmick says "It continues to be the best review site on the internet." about Viewpoints Let's review Year 3

ChrisJarmick — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:56:04 GMT

One of the things I am thankful for is Viewpoints.

Yes, I'm one of the people who was asked in 2006 to be part of the Beta Testing team to launch this site, but I was an outsider... nowhere near the Chicago base of the company and not one to join a group and immediately think everything was GREAT....

I remember thinking... I wonder how long the site will last or how long it will be until the wrong sort of people show up and ruin it for everyone like I've seen happen at other sites.

I was assured if I got involved, I'd be treated with respect, kindness and professionalism.

Indeed I was. Things were so smooth and people I emailed were so kind I wondered if I was actually part of a beta testing for something akin to Pleasantville or perhaps I was in a cult and I had been drugged with happy pills like everyone else.

It's a stressful situation to be part of a start-up... but I didn't have an investment of money in the place... I had time and energy and I suppose a bit of my reputation,...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Re-boot of classic 1967 McGoohan Series flawed but worthwhile." about The Prisoner

ChrisJarmick — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:35:59 GMT

Subject: The Prisoner 2009. The good news: AMC's new reboot of the classic, influential Patrick McGoohan series: The Prisoner is pretty good. Episodes 1, 2 and 5 are very enjoyable. Ian McKellen has the right balance of sinister malevolence and fatherly authority to create a memorable villain. He's perhaps not having quite as much fun as we've seen him have in the X-MEN movies but mostly he strikes the right notes about as perfectly as any actor working together possibly could.

Jim Caviezel as Six only over-plays things for a few moments here and there but mostly captures the plight of a man who has lost everything fighting to understand what has happened to him and how he can win at this new strange and unfamiliar game he's been forced to play.

The look of the new Prisoner won't make you forget the picture perfect Village of the original, but the production design by Michael Pickwoaed and cinematic sense of Director Nick Hurran and his cinematographer get high marks. ...

...

ChrisJarmick says "dull indie film stretches decent 10 minute idea to 70 minutes" about Film Geek

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:25:01 GMT

Film Geek is a movie based on an idea that 20 years ago might have made a good 20 minute short movie or SNL comedy sketch. At 70 minutes, the 'cute' dated idea is stretched way too far and the film's couple of good ideas don't save the viewer from being bored and most likely annoyed with the execution.

Scotty Pelk (Melik Malkasian) is a movie fanatic who works at a video store (renting mostly VHS) who gives more information about movies then the customers ever ask him for. Some of the customers are annoyed, some are amused, but his manager is fed up with the complaints and fires him. He has a crush on his neighbor a good looking bikini wearing babe who isn't just wall paper. Scotty winds up getting a job in an Auto-Parts store and tries to function in the world outside of video stores with very little success until his movie web site is discovered by other film buffs and he becomes something of a local celebrity.

The writer director is James Westby and the film has technical...

...

ChrisJarmick says "wide mix of musical styles, salsa, dance to opera = great album" about David Byrne - Grown Backward

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:58:44 GMT

Only 2 of the 15 songs on Grown Backwards are opera--well David Byrne's skewed version of opera, with the help of Rufus Wainwright.

Grown Backwards is a pastiche of influences and styles that seem to be touched upon in this interesting hodge podge of an album that on this album includes music created by kitchen utensils, a vacuum cleaner, a theremin, classical string arrangements, South American and South African percussions and the inclusion of the Middle Eastern influenced Curtis Mayfield-like 2002 European Dance hit: Lazy (all 9 minutes and 35 glorious seconds of it).

If you're a Byrne fan, all you need to know is that this is nearly as strong an album as 'Look Into The Eyeball' was. It's a solid album and if you only like Byrne when he approximates Talking Head type music-there's 3 or 4 songs on this album for you too. If you don't mind Byrne's musical explorations then there are at least a dozen keepers on this album.

Which brings us back to opera. Byrne really does give us two songs...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Murray & Boyle's performances make movie a winner" about Where the Buffalo Roam

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:54:46 GMT

"You know, I hate to advocate drugs liquor, violence, or insanity to anyone--but in my case it's worked."
-- Bill Murray as Hunter S. Thompson

Where the Buffalo Roam (1980) is a relentlessly anarchistic meandering drunk of a movie, addicted to the spirit of Hunter S. Thompson and saved by superb performances by Bill Murray and Peter Boyle.

The movie is only amusing in fits and starts, but Thompson irreverent self is channeled by Murray and you can't take your eyes off of him. Ideas are picked up and frustratingly dropped, we start to get interest in what seems to be a story line and it's over. The comic pacing isn't even consistent with the last half of the movie all over the map and unsastifying. So many opportunities are squandered, so many possible funny scenes missing key ingredients or meaningful observations to score. You would think the whole thing was done on purpose since it is such a relentlessly 'almost' of a movie. The constant drug use seems to make Thompson more...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Movies to make even manly men cry. Five hankie movies." about Best Movies top 5 Tear Jerkers to make you cry.

ChrisJarmick — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:49:02 GMT

Here are some movie that are sure to bring a tear or two or a whole flood to your eye. Powerful movies that will make even the most manly of men cry. No not Fried Green Tomatoes, or even Gone with the Wind.

5. Edward Scissorhands (1990) directed by Tim Burton)

A dark fairy tale about a lonely outsider who falls in love with a girl he cannot have. Johnny Depp imbues a rain forest of emotion in his mostly silent character, a mad scientist's creation an artist with scissors for hands left alone to fend for himself in a harsh cruel world.

4. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) (Les Parapluies de Cherbourg) directed by Jacques Demy

A love story that is told completely through song is what they call a three hanky film. It's about love and soulmates and how two beautiful people meet in France and fall in love and life is perfect-until he goes off to war, leaving behind his true love and the child he did not know he made. Years pass, they marry other people and then.... Well......

...

ChrisJarmick says "unique look at a group of river raft guides over 20 years time " about Same River Twice Documentary

ChrisJarmick — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:48:29 GMT

The Same River Twice is a unique but rather static documentary focusing on 5 people who back in 1978 were part of a group of 17 River Rafting Guides who took a 6 week long river trip together. They often ran around stark naked as if they had formed a nudist commune. The film contrasts 16 m.m. footage from 1978, with footage shot 20 plus years later on digital video; youth to middle age; naked rebellion to societal conformity.

It is interesting, particularly because it's all done in a modified verite style. We don't get explanatory narration. No one is asked questions about how they have changed, what they miss about the past, their regrets of what they did. We learn some details about relationships then and relationships now, but in a piece meal fly on the wall fashion. Life goes on.

In a way that is refreshing. It forces you as the viewer to put everything into your perspective. How do you feel about what you are watching? Perhaps you know people like the ones you are watching, or perhaps...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Warm, honest, engrossing, look inside King's mind & heart." about On Writing

ChrisJarmick — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:04:47 GMT

Drink and be filled up - Stephen King

On Writing is part memoir, part autobiography and part how to. King had about half this book finished on that fateful day on June 19th, 1999 when he went out for one of his customary walks in Maine near his home and was hit by a Van and nearly killed. He talks about this briefly toward the end of the book.

You probably noticed I wrote; 'he talks about this..." This is what King does in ON WRITING. He writes in an almost conversational voice, it is warm, genuine, and honest. The book is short and if you take your time you'll be finished in a bout 6 to 8 hours max. It's like having a very long leisurely cup of coffee with Stephen King as he reminisces about his past, shares some ideas and thoughts he has about writing including his life as a writer and his teaching of new writers.

If you've curious about how King's mind work, some of his personal struggles, his thoughts on what he does for a living and what he was reading...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Right back to being a kid enjoying Christmas with a smile." about Alvin and the Chipmunks aka Ross Bagdasarian - Christmas with The Chipmunks Volume 1

ChrisJarmick — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:57:18 GMT

What's my favorite Christmas Album?

Let me explain....

I went through a period in my teens where I absolutely abhorred Christmas music and considered 90 percent of all Christmas music detestable schmaltz worthy of throwing up to. The Beach Boys? Bing Crosby and David Bowie doing Little Drummer Boy... are you insane?

A few years after I passed through my phase came Bruce Springsteen doing Santa Claus is Coming to Town which made me laugh out loud the first time I heard it. I mean what drugs was he on? Remember The Dead Kennedy's (punk band) Christmas classic? F. . . Christmas? Sometimes I wish THAT song would blare into the ears of those rude store parking lot drivers who ignore the rules of decency in their quest to find a half-way decent parking spot. Some will block aisles as the wait for up to five minutes for someone to unload their cart, get into the car, back up and drive away. Why? To save 50 or 100 steps?

Of course there's the driver who goes the wrong...

...

ChrisJarmick says "compilation of Lennon interviews and old Tony Sheridan music; " about In My Life [Box] [Limited] by John Lennon

ChrisJarmick — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:43:30 GMT

Lennon in My Life is a collection of interviews and Beatle press conferences mixed with several excerpts from John Lennon's last interview sessions recorded in 1980 just as the album Double Fantasy was released.

The front cover of the cd promises that the 3 CD collection contains over three hours of music and interviews. BUYER BEWARE. There is approximately 113 minutes of total material (less than two hours) on the discs combined. The sound quality varies from good to poor. Usually you can hear what is going on without problems, but sound levels and quality vary from track to track and sometimes within the track itself.

This is a CD for Lennon collectors and Beatle fanatics. For most, you might enjoy listening to 90 percent of this material ONCE and 10 percent a few times. The music on this album are Tony Sheridan tracks dating back to the very early days of the Beatles when John Paul and George were the band for lead singer Tony Sheridan. You won't hear John...

...