Zombieland: Double Tap

Zombieland: Double Tap

Columbia etc.

October 18, 2019

Comedy, Horror

DVD

C-

I can see why some people would like this, though it's not really my thing.  (And, no, I haven't seen the first movie.)  Ruben Fleischer directed.

Year One

Year One

Columbia etc.

June 19, 2009
Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

Coasts too much on Black and Cera's established images, but could've been worse.  Harold Ramis directed and co-wrote, and, yes, he's done better (and worse, with Analyze That).

White House Down

White House Down

Columbia etc.

June 28, 2013

Drama

DVD
D+

Laughably clichéd, but at least this Obama-era movie has an African-American fictional president.  Roland Emmerich directed, and this is the fifth of his movies I've rejected.

White Boy Rick

White Boy Rick

Columbia etc.

September 14, 2018

Historical Drama, Crime Drama

DVD

D+

I kind of liked the period details.  Yann Demange directed.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Where the Crawdads Sing

Columbia etc.

July 15, 2022

Historical Drama, Crime Drama

DVD

D+

At least it had scenery and a cat.  This is based on the novel by Delia Owens, and directed by Olivia Newman.

Vertical Limit

Vertical Limit

Columbia etc.

December 8, 2000

Sports Drama

DVD
D+

Kind of forgettable, except for the sibling angle.  Martin Campbell directed, between The Mask of Zorro and Green Lantern.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Columbia etc.

October 1, 2021

Sci-Fi, Action

DVD
D-

Creepier than necessary.  Tom Hardy not only stars but co-wrote, while Andy Serkis directed.

Vantage Point

Vantage Point

Columbia etc.

February 22, 2008

Action
DVD
C-

I didn't really care about the story, but the variety of viewpoints was kind of interesting.  Pete Travis directed.

The Trouble with Angels

The Trouble with Angels

Columbia

March 30, 1966

Comedy

DVD
C+

I'm not surprised this is based on a book, in fact Jane Trahey's memoir Life with Mother Superior, because it feels like one of those books that could make a great movie, but doesn't.  It also feels like a stageplay, with so much action happening offscreen.  Still, it's probably something I watched as a kid and it passed the time mostly pleasantly this week.  Ida Lupino directed.

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.

America's Sweethearts

America's Sweethearts

Columbia etc.

July 20, 2001

Romcom

DVD
C+

I saw this at the time and thought it was all right.  This time, I was most struck by the following:

• It's so weird to have the Internet a non-factor in publicity
• The "Hector" stuff is pretty racist
• Catherine Zeta-Jones is easily the best part of the movie
• Billy Crystal co-wrote a script where his character is in a lust-hate relationship with a dog, that parallels the title characters'.

Anyway, it's still watchable but yeah, mostly as a period piece.  Joe Roth directed, five years before Freedomland.

This is on a Julia Roberts "Triple" pack, but I've already rejected Mona Lisa Smile.

3:10 to Yuma (1957)

3:10 to Yuma (1957)

Columbia

August 7, 1957

Western

DVD
C-

Better than most Westerns, in that it actually adds a little depth to the (two) female characters.  This is based on an Elmore Leonard short story, and directed by Delmer Daves.

Disorder in the Court

Disorder in the Court

Columbia

May 30, 1936

Comedy

DVD
D+

This is on a Three Stooges collection and I am not a Stooges fan.  I might've gone with a C-, but it actually annoyed me that they bothered to resolve the "plot," and in such a half-assed way.  Jack White (not that Jack White, or him either) directed.

13 Going on 30

13 Going on 30

Columbia etc.

April 23, 2004

Fantasy, Romcom

DVD
C+

This is what I call a popcorn movie, nothing fancy, not particularly filling, but in its own way somewhat satisfying, even if some of it gets stuck in your teeth.  I have to note that, like most movies that look nostalgically back at the late '80s (e.g. The Wedding Singer, Romy & Michele), the soundtrack is more early '80s, because pop music was better in the first half of that decade.  Gary Winick directed, six years before the weaker Letters to Juliet.

Texas

Texas

Columbia

October 9, 1941

Western
DVD
C-

While not my kind of movie, especially with a boxing match, I did appreciate the touches of humor.  George Marshall directed.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Columbia etc.

August 4, 2006

Sports Comedy

DVD
D+

Director Adam McKay and star Will Ferrell co-wrote the script, which contains many lines in the form of jokes.

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

Columbia etc.

June 12, 2009

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

I'm assuming that the '70s version at least had fun fashion.  This is based on the novel by John Godey, and directed by Tony Scott, after Crimson Tide and Spy Game, which are also D-s.

S.W.A.T.

S.W.A.T.

Columbia etc.

August 8, 2003

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

Yeah, we all knew I wouldn't like this, but it least it had a moment of Josh Charles being snarky.  Clark Johnson directed.

Superfly (2018)

Superfly (2018)

Columbia etc.

June 13, 2018

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

I've never seen the original, but I assume it as least had better music and fashion.  Director X. directed.

Stand by Me

Stand by Me

Columbia

August 22, 1986

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

I'd of course heard of this movie since the time but never had much interest in it.  I will say I like the setting, but I didn't care about the story.  This is based on the Stephen King novella The Body, and directed by Rob Reiner.