Month: May 2016

Released: June 1995

Run Time: 95 Minutes

Rated PG

Distributor: Fox Studios

Music: Graeme Revell

Genre: Action, Kids, Science Fiction

Cast:
Jason David Frank: Tommy Oliver/White Ranger
Amy Jo Johnson: Kimberly/Pink Ranger
David Yost: Billy/Blue Ranger
Karan Ashley: Aisha/Yellow Ranger
Johnny Yong Bosh: Adam/Black Ranger
Steve Cardenas: Rocky/Red Ranger
Paul Freeman: Ivan Ooze
Paul Schrier: Bulk
Jason Narvy: Skull

23 years.  It’s been 23 years since the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers hit the TV.  The first episode of the Power Rangers tv show premiered on August 28, 1993.  Growing up, there were a lot of cartoons at that time that I loved to watch: Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, and X-Men.  There was some really great stuff going on back then.  When Power Rangers showed up, I was captivated.  Apparently, I wasn’t the only one.  The first episode was a massive success.  For those that don’t know, Power Rangers was/is based on a Japanese series called Super Sentai.  It involved teenagers that were given special powers to defeat the evil Rita Repulsa.  The stories in the American version weren’t too dissimilar, but they combined footage from the Japanese series with footage shot here in the states.  It was unusual, but it really worked.  The 21st iteration of Power Rangers will be coming next year.  21 versions of the Power Rangers.  That’s crazy.  I stopped watching the series after half-way through the second season.  But during the second season, Fox Studios thought that because Power Rangers was so popular, they should try for a movie.  In 1995, Power Rangers: The Movie was released.  The reactions were……mixed to say the least.  But before I do that, I want to share the intro to the original Power Rangers TV show to give you a sense of what I grew up with:

Even the people who didn’t really like the show had to admit that it had an awesome and catchy theme song.  It made the show feel epic, despite the fact that the episodes lasted only 25 minutes.  In the span of 25 minutes, the story of a Power Rangers episode had an intro, battle and conclusion.  They were usually very self-contained, although there were a number of story arcs that lasted multiple episodes.  Anyway, I’m getting off track.  How does a series like Power Rangers translate to the big screen?  When I first saw the movie, it was freaking awesome…..mostly.  Basically, the film is a self-contained story with an entirely new villain.  The TV series had villains like Rita Repulsa, Lord Zedd, and Goldar.  The film has a new villain by the name of Ivan Ooze.  Apparently after 6,000 years of imprisonment, he’s kind of cranky.  He’s a slimy wise-cracking villain that’s looking to rule/destroy the universe, as one does.  So, he escapes, encounters the Power Rangers and destroys their command center, forcing them to find another source of power.  That’s pretty much the story in a nutshell.  This is ultimately a kid’s movie so it’s distracting enough.  It’s just enough to allow butts to be kicked and things to explode.

This being a kid’s movie during the mid-90’s, the acting is NOT very good.  The main players lead by Jason David Frank as Tommy do alright, but I think that they knew they were going to be in a very cornball movie, so they amped it up.  The guy that steals the show here is Paul Freeman as Ivan Ooze.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen an actor have so much fun playing a goofy villain like this.  This guy fires off silly one-liners like it’s nobodies business and is just generally fun to watch.  But for the most part, the acting is…meh.  The action is mostly okay.  The first fight the Rangers have against Ivan Ooze’s henchman is surprisingly pretty good with some nifty stunts and acrobatics.  When they morph, the action gets a little crazier with a bit more wire-work.  It’s still pretty cool, though.  Unfortunately, that fight scene lasts about 5 minutes and is really the best fight scene in the movie.  The other stuff that doesn’t involve CGI is alright.

The visual effects in this movie are…..dear god.  The CGI effects are abominable, even for 1995.  Especially the large insect-like monster and the Zords.  Even in 1995, the CGI took me out of the movie.  I’ve seen better CGI in the cutscenes from Final Fantasy VII.  It’s like they didn’t even bother trying to make these things look somewhat competent.  I mean, look at this:

That’s not pre-viz, that’s actually in the movie.  I understand that it was a low-budget movie, but I don’t think there’s really an excuse for some of the worst visual effects that I’ve ever seen in a movie.  Yeah, things blow up pretty good, but when your CG looks like bad video-game, you’ve got problems.  The visual effects in the TV show were better.  The music is fine and suitably cheesy, with a rock soundtrack that includes Devo and Van Halen.  Not too shabby.

At the end of the day, it’s not a terrible movie, and it should keep the kids occupied.  For me, this one of my guilty pleasures that I like to watch every now and again.  But ultimately, the TV series is better, because stories are told over the course of an entire season.  If you cut out the lame subplots about Ooze turning the parents into zombies, you would effectively have an hour long TV episode.  Also, don’t get me started on that scantily clad warrior woman on the alien planet.  What the hell was that?  You’ve got a warrior woman that’s wearing next to nothing on what is supposed to be a kid’s movie?  Yeah, the film is loaded with some bone-headed moments, but it IS a lot of fun, even if it is trying to sell toys at the same time.  Paul Freeman makes the movie worth watching, though:

My final score for Power Rangers: The Movie is a 7/10.  It’s silly as hell, but it is strangely fun to watch.

Released: May 1992

Director: David Fincher

Rated R

Run Time: 115 Minutes(Theatrical Cut), 148 Minute(Assembly Cut)

Distributor: Fox Studios

Genre: Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller

Cast:
Sigourney Weaver: Ripley
Charles Dance: Clemens
Charles S. Dutton: Dillon
Paul McGann: Golic
Brian Glover: Superintendent Andrews
Ralph Brown: Aaron
Danny Webb: Morse
Pete Postlethwaite: David

This is not going to be one of my traditional reviews, because I’m going to be analyzing Alien 3, both the theatrical cut and the Assembly Cut which was put together for the DVD release back in 2003.  In 1979, Ridley Scott created one of the most terrifying and thrilling science fiction movies ever: Alien.  Featuring a creature that had acid for blood and a penchant for murder, Alien took the world by storm and ushered in a new sub-genre of science fiction:  Sci-Fi Horror.  It WAS a horror movie at its core, but it was set in space.  Critics had called it “Texas Chainsaw Massacre In Space.“  That wasn’t too far off the mark.  It had its fair share of controversy with one of the most horrific deaths anybody has ever seen in movies up to that point.  The whole chestburster sequence with Kane was extraordinary.  It was gory and people really had no idea what was going to happen.  I think it’s safe to say it scared quite a few mothers-to-be.  It became an international success, so a few years later, Fox commissioned James Cameron to helm the sequel, Aliens.  Released in 1986, Aliens was a very different kind of movie than Scott’s film.  Aliens was more of a sci-fi action flick that happened to have some horror elements.  Like the first movie, Aliens was very well received by both audiences and critics alike.  After the success of the first two movies, Fox decided to try for a third film: Alien 3.  They hired then new-comer David Fincher to helm the project, but that’s where things really started going off the rails.  This is my reaction to Alien 3.

In 1992, Alien 3 was released to some VERY mixed reactions.  Some people absolutely loved, some people hated, and some people were genuinely confused about the whole thing.  I think a lot of people were expecting Alien 3 to be an action movie akin to James Cameron’s movie.  What they got instead was a Gothic and grimy prison film, with an Alien on the loose.  The film-makers wanted to try to another film with just one creature, which was not a bad idea.  Not only that, because the film was set in a prison, there was a complete lack of access to guns and fire-arms.  They had to rely on the tools that they had.  That certainly made for a more unique and interesting experience.  A lot of people were up in arms about Fincher taking Newt and Hicks from the previous film and killing them off.  It’s something that still burns people to this day.  While I personally loved Alien 3, I can understand why people were genuinely upset.  There’s that, and then you take Ripley and stick her in a backwater prison with male-only prisoners and not one of them is likable.  Most of these guys are complete scum.  I don’t think people really knew how to react to that.  Actors like Lance Henriksen had no idea who to care for.

Among the other problems with the theatrical release is that some of the characters that show up, end up disappearing at some point not to be seen again.  You have no idea of the monster got them or what.  It wasn’t until 2003, that we learned that a lot of problems with Alien 3 were not just on screen, but behind-the-scenes as well.  Story elements kept changing because Fox decided to get directly involved and told Fincher what THEY wanted to see, not what Fincher wanted to see.  As a result, the script kept on changing, and the actors and Fincher had no idea what was coming next.  A complete communications break-down almost tanked the movie.  David Fincher had shot certain scenes that were cut out of the film because Fox felt that those scenes were different than what Fox had planned.  Fox and Fincher kept butting heads throughout the entire project to the point where Fincher said, “Fuck it,” and left the project.  He has since disowned the film and rightly blamed Fox for how it turned out.

In 2003, a 9-disc set of the entire Alien series was released.  It was called the Alien Quadrilogy.  Silly name, to be sure, but the contents of that set were beyond phenomenal.  Each film had a second version, and very in-depth behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.  It was a Holy Grail of DVD releases.  I paid 99 bucks for that thing, and had no regrets.  But when people heard that there was a second version of Alien 3 included with the set, people jumped all over it.  The Assembly Cut, as it was called, contained over 30 minutes of additional footage.  How is the Assembly Cut different from the Theatrical version?  Quite a bit, actually.  See, in the new version, the opening scene is almost entirely different.  The EEV crashing into the planet was the same, but the new version showed Charles Dance’s character walking the shore when he see Ripley wash up on the beach.  When the prisoners retrieve the EEV, they don’t use a crane, they use oxen to haul the wreckage away.  There was a lot more character development and we got to see more of the relationships between these characters.

There was a subplot that severely truncated which made it make no sense whatsoever.  See, in the theatrical release of the film, the plan to capture the Alien failed.  In the Assembly Cut, they actually succeeded, because one of the prisoners sacrificed himself to save the others.  Earlier, though, we see the prisoner Golic, who was covered in blood tied up in a straight-jacket.  After Charles Dance’s character was killed, we never saw Golic again in the theatrical version.  The Assembly Cut fixes that by having Morse, release Golic, who in turns setting the Alien loose again.  That entire plot point was cut out of the theatrical release.  Why?  I don’t know.

In terms of narrative and story-telling, the Assembly Cut is a much better film than what moviegoers got 20 years ago, but it still doesn’t completely fix what is inherently an extremely flawed production.  When you see the behind-the-scenes features for Alien 3, there were a lot of interesting things they could have done with this particular movie, but instead, it’s a mish-mash of those ideas and they never really gel.  On top of that, you have characters that you really can’t root for, because they’re rapists and murders.  It’s a very confusing production.  What I really did love about it, though, was it’s aesthetic and atmosphere.  This film has a very distinct look and feel.  I actually like the fact that they set the film in a prison.  The isolation and the not knowing where the creature is lends itself to a very intense film.  The acting is absolutely top-notch, with Sigourney Weaver turning in one of the best performances of her career.  The music by Elliot Goldenthal is beautiful and extremely haunting.  The pace of the film is white-knuckle.  It’s a roller-coaster ride.

There’s a great movie in here, somewhere, it’s just that Fox Studios didn’t trust David Fincher to get it done and as a result we have a film that while decent enough, was extremely problematic in terms of narrative and story.  Because of the Assembly Cut, we got a film that’s actually much closer to what David Fincher had intended.  While Fincher had decided against returning to supervise the “director’s cut” of the film, he did give the film his blessing.  As a result, Alien 3 actually FEELS like a David Fincher movie.  That’s a good thing.  While the Assembly Cut of Alien 3 doesn’t actually fix a lot of the issues stemming from the studio’s interference, it is still a solid ending to Ripley’s story.  The overall reaction to the Assembly Cut has been mostly positive by many accounts.

So…which version do I prefer?  Truthfully, I’m not entirely sure.  I love both versions for different reasons.  I like the theatrical cut because it’s shorter with finished visual effects and moves at a breakneck pace.  I like the Assembly Cut, because it really expands on the world and gives audiences a different look at how things worked on Fury 161.  It fills in most of the plot holes that were present in the theatrical version and gave us a new angle on the prisoners and their particular religion.  It’s extremely interesting.  I still think Alien 3 is a decent film regardless of which version you watch.  Overall, I would have to give the entire film a solid 8/10.  I loved it when I was a kid, and I love it now.

Is Star Wars Day a legitimate holiday?  No.  Not in the slightest.  What it is, is a chance for Star Wars fans of all ages to celebrate George Lucas’s space epic together.  That’s what matters.  It doesn’t matter if you’re 5 years old or 50, if you love Star Wars, why not celebrate it?  With the recent release of Star Wars: Episode VII on Blu-Ray, Star Wars fever is in the air.  I should know, I’ve been happily suffering from Star Wars fever my entire life.  I know for a fact that there are millions of people out there who feel the same way I do.  I’ve already done a post on why I love Star Wars, so feel free to check that out.  I still plan on doing my final country for The Best Martial Arts Movies, but today, it’s all about Star Wars.  For this special edition of The Best, I will be talking about my favorite moments from the entire Star Wars Saga.  That includes all 7 movies.  This is The Best of Star Wars.

Lightsaber Duels

If there is a weapon more iconic than a Jedi’s lightsaber, I have not seen it.  Used by both the Jedi and the Sith, the lightsaber became iconic with the first duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader in the original film.  While the fight choreography is dated by today’s standards, it’s still impressive.  The choreography improved with each subsequent entry into the Saga.  Say what you will about the Prequel Trilogy, the lightsaber duels in those movies were phenomenally choreographed showing the Jedi at their best.  While those were great, I prefer the fights from Episodes IV-VII.  Why?  There’s a lot more emotional weight to those fights.  They were personal.  The lightsaber is so iconic that there have been multiple people on YouTube crafting their own unique lightsaber duels.

The Millenium Falcon

Ah, the Millenium Falcon:  Han Solo’s ship and the one that made the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs, NOT 14.  Once owned by Lando Calrissian, this YT-Model Corellian vessel became the most memorable ship in the entire Star Wars universe.  There’s not much more I can say about it.  Every time this ship is on screen, you become entranced by it.  It’s that awesome.  It’s just as bad-ass in Episode VII.

Darth Vader

You’re going to be seeing the word “iconic” thrown around here a lot.  Darth Vader is as iconic a villain as they come.  His first appearance sent chills down people’s spines.  This was a guy who really meant business and was willing to do whatever it took to get it done.  He was certainly not above killing his subordinates who failed him.  That’s why he was a Dark Lord of the Sith.  It wasn’t until Empire Strikes Back that we find out who he really is.  It was one of those “holy shit” moments.  From that moment on, the stakes were even higher, because this wasn’t just Luke vs. Darth Vader, it was Luke vs. his father.  It doesn’t get more personal than that.

The Battle of Endor

I have yet to see a space battle done as well as this.  From the moment the Millenium Falcon and the Rebels emerge from hyperspace, it’s a straight-on fight to the finish.  It’s not just the space battle that was phenomenal it was the fight on the moon itself.  The Battle of Endor is one of the most memorable battle sequences of any movie to date.  Revenge of the Sith opened up with an epic space battle, but it just wasn’t quite the same.

Luke Confronts Vader(Non-violent)

I think this scene is one of the most important moments in Star Wars.  At this point, Luke knows that Vader is his father.  Luke believes that Anakin is still in there somewhere, buried beneath the anger and the hate.  This is where they talk and Luke tries to convince Vader to let go of his hate.  I think towards the end of the scene, you can tell that Luke somehow got through to him, even though you don’t realize it until Vader saves Luke from The Emperor.  It’s moments like these that really make Star Wars as special and significant as it is.  It’s not all about the fights and the blasters, but there’s something deep and personal about these stories that resonate with audiences.

Order 66

This is probably one of the most haunting moments in the entire series.  Revenge of the Sith is when it all falls apart for the Old Republic.  The moment Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader, is when everything goes to Hell.  Because of the shrewd planning by Darth Sidious, the Jedi never had a chance.  Not even Master Yoda was able to defeat The Emperor.  That just shows you how powerful and ruthless that Palpatine was.  While people may have really come down hard on the Prequel Trilogy, most agree that Revenge of the Sith was pretty good.  This was the story that everybody wanted to see, and we got it.  While it’s not perfect, it definitely sheds light on why there are so few Jedi left in the galaxy.

Yoda

Star Wars is rife with unique and interesting characters.  One of the most unique characters to show up was the old Jedi Master Yoda.  Why is he memorable?  Aside from the way he talks, he’s not human.  His first appearance was in Empire Strikes Back.  He was a puppet, yet people fell in love with this character because despite his size, he was immensely powerful.  I would imagine after training Jedi for 900 years, that would earn you that description.  The most amazing thing about this puppet was how they made him feel like a real person.  Frank Oz’s performance is one for the record books.  This is one of the most extraordinary creations in cinema.

Han And Chewbacca in Episode VII

I loved Episode VII, and so did a lot of people.  Is there really anything iconic in the film?  This scene when Chewie and Han first board the Falcon for the first time in the film.  This was one of the most anticipated scenes in the film.  I remember seeing and hearing people’s reaction on opening night.  The reaction was amazing.

Star Wars is loaded with incredible moments.  The games, the books, the comics, there is an enormous universe to explore, even though the Expanded Universe has been set aside for the new trilogy.  The character moments from the Original Trilogy are just amazing.  The music is epic and the effects were unlike anything anybody had seen before.  Star Wars, in a word, is awesome.  Even the Prequels had their moments.  Anyway, those are my favorite moments from Star Wars.  This is Major Tom, signing off, and remember:  May the 4th be with you. Alwayth.