The Goonies

The Goonies!

Anyone who grew up in the 80's will list the Goonies as one of their favourite films, or at least look back at it with a misty eye. The Goonies is a Steven Spielberg production, directed by Richard Donner. if there was a top 5 80's kids movie ranking The Goonies will share the list along with E.T., The Neverending Story, Ghostbusters & Stand by Me.
 
The Goonies was the kind of film that had everthing you could want, thrills, spills, pirates, booty, adventure, freaks and bad guys. I just wanted to be a Goonie or go on a Goonie style adventure. Even the place where they lived was cool. A big old house in a picturesque bay town.

Then there were the Goonies themselves who just seemed so cool. Data's gadgets and smart mouthed ..erm.. Mouth.

We are first introduced to them one by one in the fantastic introductory sequence. The bad guys of the piece, the Fratellis, organise a jailbreak in a huge 4x4. In the process of doing so they speed past every member of the Goonies, introducing their character traits. Then they all get together at the leader Mikies house and just doss around for a while feeling sorry for themselves, because a property magnate wants to but there little town and turn it into a country club (although the bay looks like it would make a poor golf course, but hey). So this is the Goonies last day together and they have to do something about it. And don't they just.

a Secret map that may save the day.

You better eat your vegetables sonny!

What follows is like a comedy Hardy Boys crossed with a game of Mousetrap. Some of the set pieces are genius (the pirate, One eyed Willie, had a penchant for elaborate traps to stop people pinching his booty) and the sets are equally inventive. The gang get themselves into various scrapes with the traps, or the Fratellis or both and somehow always come out on top.

Richard Donner's direction is always brisk, the young actors performances are superb (specially the fantastic 'Chunk'), the senior cast is very good and the dialogue is chock full of hilarious lines.

I must admit I look back at it through rose tinted glasses. I was in awe of it when I was a kid, and now when I watch it, it reminds me of my childhood and all the things that was great about it. I cant fault the Goonies, even now. I still believe it is the perfect kids film.

Andy loved flashing her panties!

I am probably preaching to the converted, but if you havent seen the Goonies, go and buy it now! And if you don't like it, what the hell is wrong with you!?!?!? 

Anyways, the film may have its flaws, or perhaps it may it be a bit corny compared to today's kids films but,  You got to believe me, this movie is totally iconic. In fact, I'd say this movie is the perfect depiction of what it was like to be a kid in the 1980's. If I was asked about items that would define the 80's I'd pick Pepsi, Michael Jackson, Star Wars, Transformers, Robotech & The Goonies. Some may say that this films may feel "too American" to be enjoyed by a wider audience but, that is just bullshit. 

So, what The Goonies is about?

Mikey Walsh and Brandon Walsh are brothers whose family is preparing to move because developers want to build a golf course in the place of their neighborhood -- unless enough money is raised to stop the construction of the golf course, and that's quite doubtful. But when Mikey stumbles upon a treasure map of the famed "One-Eyed" Willy's hidden fortune, Mikey, Brandon, and their friends Lawrence "Chunk" Cohen, Clark "Mouth" Devereaux, Andrea "Andy" Carmichael, Stefanie "Stef" Steinbrenner, and Richard "Data" Wang, calling themselves The Goonies, set out on a quest to find the treasure in hopes of saving their neighborhood. The treasure is in a cavern, but the entrance to the cavern is under the house of evil thief Mama Fratelli and her sons Jake Fratelli, Francis Fratelli, and the severely disfigured Lotney "Sloth" Fratelli. Sloth befriends the Goonies and decides to help them.

Still better than Superman Returns!

Richard Donner directed this movie and another famous director, Chris Columbus wrote the screenplay, based on a Steven Spielberg's story. Matt Sweeney was responsable for the special effects and the main theme ( They 'r good enough ) was written and performed by Cindy Lauper.

After the film, none of the kids became famous actors. Corey Feldman and Kerry Green took part in some teenage comedies, while Sean Astin showed up in "Memphis Belle" and Ke Huy Quan was the young Indiana Jone's chinese taxi driver in "The Temple of the Doom". The only one who joined some serious projects was Martha Plimpton.

I have an eye for business.

But these are just technical details. What really counts in "The Goonies" are the two hours of humanity, pleasure, inocence, friendship - and even the first love - that only children can show in their eyes. In fact, it's a small journey to our past, to a time when your deepest worries were about the girl (or the boy) on the next chair. 

 Here's the movie trailer:



And as a bonus, "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" as performed by Cindy Lauper:

Jaws

They don't make 'em like they used to.

a Long time (not in a galaxy far away) I posted a review about Piranha, a Roger Corman classic that was sort of the updated spoof version of today's review, and I say "updated" cause Piranha, being  a B class movie, was able of capturing the best elements of the original movie and create a very entertaining ride, something Jaws can not say during its two hour and a half run time. Maybe it's become dated just like many classic films. 

Jaws, born in 1975 directed by Steven Spielberg and starred by Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss was a huge hit back then, spawning sequels, spoofs, parodies and more. Can a 2000's movie fan watch Jaws? I guess there are two answers to that question: Yes, and obviously no.

Let's talk about the yes answer first. The reasons to watch Jaws today are many, for instance having a great bunch of good actors in the lead roles, or having high standards special effects, or even having the score composed by the master of soundtracks Mr. John Williams, or even more, the entertaining storyline of man against monster.

Seaman, Copper and Scientist: Our heroes.

"it's a Shark!!!!"

Set in the small town of Amity Island, Jaws features a simple story that captivates viewers with a strong amount of action sequences, plus the added tough heroes and some slightly wrong biology references, delivering a traditional dish, not your average fast food combo where everything happens quickly, so if you're ok with waiting a little longer to see the key moments in a film, definitely this is a movie for you. Before I go to the "No" answer let me tell you a little more to turn you into the yes side of the force. Steven Spielberg is one of the best American directors working today. He has made many films that have been hailed as classics. Yet before the Dinosaurs, Holocaust, Peter Pan, UFO's, and Indy there was the Shark. Jaws represents one of the masterpieces on Spielbergs resume. It is also probably the "Quintessential Spielberg Film."

Jaws was very popular when released, it was the gighest grossing film of 1975. It spawned three sequels, which were all inferior. In fact, no film about Sharks or any killer fish has been able to come close to the level of Jaws.

The genius in Jaws is its ability to build suspense. The Shark is never really shown till near the end of the film. When ever the Shark is approaching its victims, we get the Sharks point of view, instead of seeing the Shark. These POV shots combined with John Williams very effective score, make the scenes when the Shark is about to devour his victims much more effective.

Every actor does a nice job with their performances. Roy Scheider brings Martin to life. Martin is not a showy character but Scheider is able to make us like him. Richard Dreyfuss exhibits energy in his performance as Matt Hooper. Robert Shaw is very effective as Quint, that Indiannapolis speech is still very chilling to me. Lorraine Gary and Murray Hamilton also give solid support.

People always talk about how fake the Shark looks. I think its passable but today it would definitely be done by CGI. However, the Shark is not seen that much in the film so its not that big of a deal.

I would like to say Jaws is Spielbergs best film, Indiana Jones & Schindlers List closely follow...

Where's the shark?

"Lemme brush your teeth, pal"

"Holy stinking breath you got there sharky"

Now, for those who are to go to the No side of the force, why wouldn't you like Jaws? here a few reasons why you wouldn't be an eligible candidate:

A) the hype about Jaws makes everyone who hasn't watched it think the movie moves at a fast motion, featuring lots of gory action scenes. That is not so true (not until the very last minutes of it)

B) there are no actressese portraying nude scenes or sexy deaths, none, none at all.

C) compared to today's standards the movie features plenty of neverending dialogues and "wait for the shark to come up" scenes that do seem boring at times.

D) The silly idea that the the great white shark actually thinks as a human being and is always looking forward to piss its hunters and then dissapear to return later for some more. 

E) Can a shark actually come so close to humans? I mean like, beach close? no, it can't, that's a science fact.

"Believe me, the situation is under control"

Here's the movie trailer:

Back to the Future

Cool it bro!

Today  I will find myself having difficulties, cause I'll be reviewing one of the many favorite films I myself have classified in a neverending list of random genres movies. The year is 1985, the setting is a wonderful sci-fi comedy, probably one of the best there has ever been: Back to the Future! one of the best films of all times! thousands & thousands of movie sites & bloggers as yours truly, praise this movie to the highest ratings paradise. Say, if you haven't heard of Marty McFly, Dr. Emmet Brown and a flying DeLorean it can only mean one thing: you are a big smelly piece of crap.

Heroes & their ride.

Back to the Future, is probably one of the most original & refreshing ideas presented in the big screen since Star Wars and the awesome exploitation genre. The succesful recipe is quite simple, in fact  I'd state that the 80's delivered the most interesting sci-fi ideas despite their special effects limitations,  Robert Zemeckis took the elements of a family rated comedy plus the exact amount of fantasy science fiction and a spoonful of talented actors with the final touch of the 80's pop scene and voilá: you have a masterpiece. Zemeckis knew this very well, so he built a strong storyline that would ensure audiences to love the movie for ages. 

The startling effects of modern science.

So, shoulders to the wheel! When you build a time machine, it just has to be a GMC Deloren and I mean it. The corrupt car manufacturer's ultimate advert for his death trap vehicle, "Back to the Future" was your regular 1980s classic. Well written, entertaining to watch and with a killer soundtrack, it's a film which has managed to survive the test of time. Released midway through one of the most irrelevant decades in history, this Michael J Fox driven piece is great.

Marty meets his parents in the 50's.

When Dr Emmett Brown (played masterfuly by Christopher Lloyd) creates a time machine, he's made his greatest, and most risky invention. Shot for stealing the plutonium power source, Brown's invention undertakes it's first major expedition with young Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox, the man himself) behind the wheel. Travelling back thirty years to the 1950s, Marty finds himself in his home town of Hill Valley and in the company of his lovestruck mother (Lea Thompson) and useless father (Crispin Glover). Destroying their entire relationship, Marty manages to completely screw up his entire future. Still, with no way to get home, and a school bully on the prowl, he's got all the time in the world to fix it.

Bullies were always there.

Perhaps the one set of films that Robert Zemeckis will ever be remembered for, "Back to the Future" and it's two sequels will forever be remembered as an entertaining piece of cinema. From the opening of the film where Fox glides around the fictional town of Hill Valley to the sound of Huey Lewis' "Power of Love", you can tell what decade it is, and yet you continue to watch.

It might be harsh to really slate the 1980s as much as we do, after all, we did get entertaining films like "Ghostbusters", "Ferris Bueller's Day Out" and "The Breakfast Club", but for every one good film, there were so many dire productions. A bit like the current box office climate, you knew that the majority were a disappointing mess, but there would always turn up one rare beauty. "Back to the Future" is one of those.

Like father, like son?

Led by some straight forward but solid performances, the film just has something about it. The witty notion of the hypocritical mother and her secret youth, that one magnificent scene where Michael J Fox performs "Johnny B Goode" at the school prom and Marvin Berry (Harry Waters Jnr) phones his cousin Chuck, all add together to leave you with a huge grin on your face. It's an icon for an age, and for once it makes you grateful for the decade.

Robert Zemeckis has never really found the highs of the "Back to the Future" trilogy (1994's "Forrest Gump" is his only other major success) since the final part was released in 1990. Ultimately though, there are worse positions to be in. A rare joy in an otherwise dire decade, this film and the continuing parts, was an entertaining piece of cinema which left you happy and content. It's perfect afternoon viewing, and the one surprise is that it isn't shown more often.   

Go time machine, Go!

Marty McFly rocks!

Overall an entertaining movie for all sorts of audiences. This movie has it all you could want to have in a movie that defines the word entertaining in the dictionary: Jokes, humor everywhere, an easy to follow plot line, high quality special effects, top charts songs, a DeLorean, the 80's vibe, 50's retro nostalgia and cool actors portraying iconic characters.