The Weigh in 92

This week in my world:

James Cameron is a sci-fi director that hit it big with a sinking boat movie. Francis Ford Coppola directed a few movies about a crime family and then veered away to put together some war film about people going crazy. Steven Spielberg also does sci-fi with the occasional “small film” that keeps winning him Oscars and garnering him crazy acclaim. Point is, most directors can be pigeon-holed as one type of director that branches out and does other types of films. This week we are going to dig kinda deep into that grab bag of directors and take a look at a guy who has been all over the map. If I tell you our director is responsible for one of the coolest slasher flicks ever made, one of the raunchiest comedies ever made, and one of the most beloved Christmas films ever made, who would you think I was talking about? Any guesses? This week we are going to take a look at Bob Clark. Bob who? Never heard of him?

Don’t worry, he’s no George Lucas, Roger Corman, or George A. Romero and while I am sure you know his movies he really is no genre icon to most people. Here is a look at his filmography, and as with most directors you’ve never heard of, there are some pretty bad stinkers here too. Here are a few highlights and lowlights.

Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972): 

A great zombie movie before Romero came along and became the name for the genre. A real gut wrencher of a movie but definitely 70’s B movie fare (which is not always a bad thing). On a side note, according to imdb.com, he is actually remaking his own film, probably due out later this year. I don’t know how thrilled about that I am.

 

 

 

Black Christmas (1974): 
 

The original slasher flick before Halloween came along and actually named the genre. This film could have easily fallen into the mash of 70’s gore flicks but stands out and is considered by quite a few fans as the father of the slasher genre. If you haven’t seen it then you really should check it out.

 

Porky’s (1982) & Porky’s 2: The Next Day (1983):
 

If you haven’t seen any of these films you really should run out and check out the antics of PeeWee, Billy, Meat, and the boys in one of the funniest guy movies ever made (and it’s almost as good sequel).

 

A Christmas Story (1983):
 

Everyone has seen this move at least a hundred times. Try watching it after watching any of the above films and it certainly gives you a new perspective on this old classic.

 

Rhinestone (1984): 

Yeah, THAT Rhinestone. You a big fan of Rocky Balboa? Watch this Stallone/Parton clunker. He actually sings.

 

Turk 182 (1985): 
 

A really cool 80’s flick starring Timothy Hutton as a man who refuses to let the establishment kick his family while they are down. This film turns graffiti into a socially acceptable tool of social change.
 

 

From The Hip (1987):  

Don’t tell anyone but this is probably my second favorite Judd Nelson movie. Definitely an 80’s movie, it stars Nelson as an up and coming lawyer who has unorthodox ways of doing business. Of course a smoking hot Elizabeth Perkins probably adds to my love for this film. On a side note, this was written by first time scribe David E. Kelley, the Ally McBeal David E. Kelley.
After From the Hip, Clark pretty much completely fell off of the map, working on films like the Gene Hackman/Dan Aykroyd comedy Loose Cannons (1990) and the god awful atrocious Baby Genius franchise.

I hope you enjoyed this installment of our look at lesser known directors. If you haven’t seen any of these films add them to your Netflix list. Be sure to stay tuned in later weeks for more in the series.

All the news that’s fit to forget (real news, not so real commentary):

Rumor has it that with it’s less than stellar box office numbers from Superman Returns, the sequel may be shelved for a planned Justice League movie. Although the writers are still working on which secondary characters will make the film, one executive has let it slip that one of the characters may be a little too dark for what is probably going to be a light, family friendly film. In a strange turn, the NAACP is boycotting comic book shops until DC apologizes for suggesting that African Americans are not “family friendly”.

Supposedly, Zack Snyder is currently talking to Ron Perlman to play the part of the Comedian in his much anticipated new film, Watchmen. After hearing this news, Guillermo Del Toro announced that he is making his own Watchmen movie without Perlman and will no longer list him in his Christmas newsletter. Then he cussed a lot and passed out on his front lawn.

Emma Watson, known as Hermione Granger to fans of the Harry Potter film series announced that after the next film in the series she will be pursuing other interests and will not be back to finish the series. She was overheard explaining to her agent that if boys can stand around naked on stage then surely a girl can too.


This weekend at your local multiplex (3/23/2007):

TMNT: Animated/Family
(voices)Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mako
Plot: After the Turtles have put an end to the evil Shredder, they go underground and learn to live normally. Meanwhile, the Foot Clan is back and a 3000 year old immortal is putting together an army of fearsome monsters to recreate an ancient curse.
Buzz: see review

The Hills Have Eyes 2: Horror
Rashad Strik, Danielle Alonzo, Jessica Stroup, Lee Thompson Young
Plot: A group of National Guardsmen are on maneuvers in the desert and run into the mutant hillbillies.
Buzz: The first was full of enough violence and gore to keep this reviewer glued to his seat, if this sequel is anywhere near as good, it should be a grand old time.

Reign Over Me: Drama
Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler, Saffron Burrows
Plot: Two former college roommates run into each other at completely opposite points in their lives. One is withdrawn after his wife and family passes away and the other is too busy with work and life to cherish what he has.
Buzz: Being a big fan of Punch Drunk Love I am not afraid of Sandler trying to tackle a dramatic role and with Don Cheadle at his side I am pretty confident this will be a well acted film, if the plot doesn’t exactly send chills up my spine.

Pride: Drama
Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac, Tom Arnold, Brandon Fobbs
Plot: A college educated African American decides to start an after school swim team after hearing that the local rec center is being torn down. Battling racism and the city council, he fights to show that these average kids can make something of themselves.
Buzz: Even with Terrence Howard in the lead, this really seems like just another inspirational film to make us feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Watch at your own risk.

Shooter: Action
Mark Wahlberg, Kate Mara, Danny Glover, Elias Koteas, Michael Pena
Plot: A marine sniper is hired to protect the president and is set up for his assassination. While on the run he has to find out who is setting him up and why the president was murdered.
Buzz: This seems like it is a few big name actors away from the direct to DVD list. But plenty of movies are saved by a few good actors. Maybe this is one of them.

The Last Mimzy: Fantasy/Science Fiction
Timothy Hutton, Joley Richardson. Rainn Wilson, Michaal Clarke Duncan, Chris O’Neill
Plot: Two children find a box full of toys that start to give them higher and higher levels of intelligence. The adults try to find out what these toys actually are, they realize that they are dealing with a type of organic intelligence.
Buzz: This film actually seems pretty interesting it reminds me of some of the adventure films I used to enjoy as I kid. I’ll have to check it out.

This week on DVD (3/20/2007):

Blood Diamond
Rocky Balboa
The Nativity Story
Eragon
Everyone’s Hero
The Dukes of Hazard: The Beginning
Batman Beyond (season 3)
Re-Animator
Tomb Raider 2 Pack
Miami Vice (season 3)
Miami Vice (season 4)
JAG (season 3)
Justice League Unlimited (season 2)
Maude (season 1)
Newsradio (season 5)
Run’s House (season 1 and 2)
McHale’s Navy (season 1)

 

As always, you can send me your loving adoration and hate mail to DPlace76@yahoo.com. You can read about my random musings at http://bigdpimpin.livejournal.com/ and you can read about all of the comings and goings of the Stumblebum crew at www.myspace.com/stumblebumstudios.