Stepmom

Stepmom

Columbia etc.

December 25, 1998

Drama

DVD
C-

Sarandon's and Roberts's acting helps elevate the cliches a bit.  Chris Columbus directed.

Rent

Rent

Columbia etc.

November 23, 2005

Musical, Historical Drama

DVD
C

I saw this in the theater and didn't think it was as bad as some people said, but I didn't think it was great either.  More than fifteen years later, on a television, it's less involving, although the opening song of course remains good.  Chris Columbus directed, although this wasn't his usual thing.

Reckless

Reckless

MGM

February 3, 1984

Drama

DVD
D+

Other than the music and Pac-Man, a reminder of why I don't miss the '80s.  Chris Columbus wrote, and James Foley directed.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Fox etc.

February 12, 2010

Fantasy

DVD
C-

I read the Rick Riordan books (well, the basic series) upon initial release, so I saw this in the theater and thought it was OK.  It just didn't interest me today.  Chris Columbus directed.

The Name of the Rose

The Name of the Rose

Columbia

September 24, 1986

Historical Drama

DVD
D-

Boring and a little gross.  This is based on the Umberto Eco novel and directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, fifteen years before Enemy at the Gates.

Mrs. Doubtfire

Mrs. Doubtfire

20th Century Fox

November 24, 1993

Comedy
DVD
C

I'd avoided this movie since the time, since the clips and quotes I saw and heard just never struck me as funny.  I made it to the halfway point, since I actually liked the very beginning, with Robin's character playing a temperamental actor, even if that was a little too close to Tootsie all things considered.  The acting was better than I expected, including poor miscast Sally Field as the Yuppie wife-mother.  But the random racism, sexism, and, yes, transphobia (including a throwaway joke about one of Robin's phone personalities), as well as the EXTREME, even for this sitcomic setup, implausibility (an acquaintance notices that two characters have the same eyes but the wife and children don't?), finally got to be too much.  Still, I've certainly seen worse, including from Williams.

This movie is based on Anne Fine's novel Alias Madame Doubtfire, which I think I did attempt reading in the last twenty years, but I wouldn't swear to it.  Chris Columbus directed, three years after Home Alone.

Home Alone

Home Alone

20th Century Fox

November 16, 1990

Comedy

DVD
C

I didn't have any strong feelings about the first fifteen or twenty minutes of this movie that I of course heard of at the time but had never actually watched before today.  I lost interest once Kevin realized he had the house to himself.  John Hughes wrote and Chris Columbus directed.

Gremlins

Gremlins

Warner Bros.

June 8, 1984

Horror, Comedy
DVD
B-

I didn't see this at the time, when I was sixteen, although I was certainly aware of it of course.  I first watched it maybe seven years ago and liked it more than I expected.  I do have to say, however, that I think that the gremlins are the least interesting aspect, sort of a necessary evil if you will.  I do like the themes of friendship, family, and romance, as well as the deliberately back-lotty small town and the many references to movies.  Now having seen some of the deleted scenes, I better understand, for instance, why Reinhold's character just disappears, but the movie definitely could've been more tightly edited prior to final release.  Still, it remains entertaining.  Chris Columbus wrote and Joe Dante directed.  I've tagged as many people as I can, but it's definitely an "Oh, look!" kind of cast.

The Goonies

The Goonies

Warner Bros.

June 7, 1985

Crime Comedy

DVD
D+

This was a little after my time, but even if I'd been younger than seventeen, I don't think I would've liked the characters.  Still, the setting of Astoria, Oregon is cool.  Chris Columbus based the screenplay on a Spielberg story, and Richard Donner directed.