In 1985: Ronald Reagan began his second term as US President; Mikhail Gorbachev assumed power in the Soviet Union; Hulk Hogan and Mr. T defeated Rowdy Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff in the inaugural Wrestlemania; Elmo first appeared on Sesame Street; New Coke debuted and, after a disastrous couple of months, was removed from US stores; David… Continue reading The year after Big Brother started watching us all: A look back at 1985
Tag: Sequels
Green with fury
The Green Berets (1968) Colonel Mike Kirby (John Wayne) arrives in South Vietnam to lead a group of Special Forces while embedded journalist George Beckworth (David Janssen) reports on the conflict. Through a series of skirmishes with the Viet Cong, the film attempts to demonstrate the heroism and honor of American soldiers. I liked George Takei as… Continue reading Green with fury
My prince of Dogtown
The Prince and the Pauper (1990) Longing for freedom from his royal responsibilities, a prince switches places with a peasant doppelgänger. Mark Twain’s novel satirizes the rigid English class system during the Elizabethan period. As expected, this Disney short significantly dilutes the satirical elements and, to increase dramatic tension, adds Pete as an evil palace guard using the… Continue reading My prince of Dogtown
Elmo holds a grudge
The Raid 2 (2014) Immediately after the events of The Raid (2011), Rama reluctantly agrees to join an undercover task force. To earn the trust of Bangun, a local crime lord, he goes undercover in prison to befriend his son, Uco, and takes a position with Bangun’s organization after his release. When a slighted Uco… Continue reading Elmo holds a grudge
Saving Spider-Man from drowning
Waterworld (1995) In a world covered in water after global warming melts the polar ice caps, a mysterious Mariner (Kevin Costner) becomes a reluctant protector of Enola and her guardian Helen when Enola is hunted by The Smokers whose leader, Deacon (Dennis Hopper), believes she possesses a map to the mythical Dryland tattooed on her… Continue reading Saving Spider-Man from drowning
This summer: The next Karate Kid in the battle of the year!
The Next Karate Kid (1994) If the Karate Kid, Part III was an unnecessary coda, this film is an even more egregious sin: a reboot no one asked for. Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) travels to Boston and finds himself once again mentoring a troubled youth: the granddaughter of one of his old war buddies, Julie… Continue reading This summer: The next Karate Kid in the battle of the year!
It’s Wayne’s World; We’re just living in it
Wayne’s World 2 (1993) Good movies based on Saturday Night Live sketches are rare. Like turning a short story into a 1000 page novel, the entire nature of the work has to change. The few successful SNL movies are based on strong characters, like Jake and Elwood Blues, or Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar, and not awkward situations… Continue reading It’s Wayne’s World; We’re just living in it