Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

by Edward Dunn

"I have some personal issues I kinda like to get fixed."

-Nick Cage as 'Johnny Blaze'

I heard Rob Schneider went up to Cage at a party and he said 'how 'bout we take it easy on the crappy movies, unless you want to put me in one of them'.

What options do you have if your last name is Blaze? It's like someone named Frank: inevitably, he becomes 'Frank the Tank', developing a serious alcohol problem in college.

The first film set the bar on the ground; with this one, it's like someone tripped on their shoelaces before being able to cross it.  Fans of the Ghost Writer franchise (yes, all 3 of them), will be thoroughly disappointed with this latest installment.

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Ghost Rider

by Edward Dunn

You didn’t do it for greed.
You did it for the right reason.
Maybe that puts God on your side.

 
Back in 2007, I heard about this movie. Mentally, all these wonderful possibilities filled my head. Those kids are well into their 30s by now; they can't play young teenagers anymore. Sam Jackson was Jamal's dad: it could be tough getting him back, unless he got paid to do it. Plus, the premise for the show was flimsy—at best.

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Upcoming Ghost Writer Review

by Edward Dunn

I will be reviewing the next Ghost Rider film. It occured to me, that I really should probably watch the first one. Because I didn't really know it based on a Marvel comic.

Two Nicholas Cage movies in one week, I tremble at very thought of completing this daunting task. Yes, my friends, this is the very essence of nightmares.  But like Johnny Blaze says, 'you can't live in fear', and I most certainly won't.  Although, I may have to detox next week with some Masterpiece Theater next week.

Retro Enemy Mine (1985)

by Edward Dunn

There is a lifelong competition between the Quaid brothers: who is the craziest? I'm not sure who is winning, or how you would define the 'winner' in this particular contest. Today, I review Enemy Mine, made in 1985, right before the Quaid-man received help with his cocaine addiction.

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The Artist

by Edward Dunn

The Artist
PG-13
100 Minutes
Director:Michel Hazanavicius
Writer: Michel Hazanavicius (scenario and dialogue)
Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman 

The Artist is ike Hugo, in that it is paying homage to film as a form of art. A silent, black-and-white motion picture. It's a charming flick, with broad appeal.

George Valentine is a middle-aged actor, who used to be an A-list film star. While filming a movie, he becomes a friend, mentor, and lover; to a one, Penny Miller. Penny Miller (Bejo) represents the future of motion pictures: movies starring young, attractive people...who can speak words.

The Great Depression was hard on well-to-do actors in silent pictures. George Valentin became destitute and poor. All he had left was his loyal companion, a Jack Burton Terrier. Eventually, to make ends meet, he and his dog reenacted Shakespeare in the park for pennies. That is cutest dog I have ever seen, if they gave Oscars for looking adorable, John Goodman would be shoe-in; I'd say the dog has a 50-50 chance.

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The Iron Lady

by Edward Dunn

I didn't know British coal miners had it so bad! There's blood on your hands, Mrs. Thatcher!

-Otto, (The Simpsons, FABF10)

Charlie Chaplin in: 'The Great Dictator' (1940)

Historical biopics are all the rage these days. While it is true that biographical films have always been around. The trend, as of late, is using polarizing, political figures (like J. Edgar, or The Queen).

If I created a list of things wrong with the 80s. Margaret Thatcher would be in the top three: placed squarely between 1. Ronald Reagan and 3. Van Halen.

So how can you humanize such a stone-cold bitch?

Particular people are difficult to portray in the movies.

Adolph Hitler would be difficult to pull off, but look to your left. Charlie Chaplin did just fine, almost better than the 'Führer' himself.  

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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

by Edward Dunn

As a profession, espionage demands a level of secrecy, deception, and telling bold-faced lies.
The Secret Intelligence Service is run by power-hungry, amoral men; deception is their chosen profession. Many an evil deed has been committed by paper pushers. Yes, bureaucrats can kill more than just your valuable time.

The BBC TV series is 290 minutes. Moves incredibly slow, by today's standards. Featuring, Alex Guinness and Patrick Steward. For the 'dorkus malorkus'; you may know them as 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' and 'Captain Jean-Luc Picard', commander of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D).

...word is you are the best.
-The Specialist (1994)

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