A Yeti Adventure AKA The Yeti Adventures AKA Mission Kathmandu: The Adventures of Nelly & Simon

A Yeti Adventure AKA The Yeti Adventures AKA Mission Kathmandu: The Adventures of Nelly & Simon

10e Ave

5 October 2017

Children's, Animation, Historical  Comedy, Adventure?

DVD
C-

The story has potential, but the animation and the dialogue are disappointing.  Pierre Greco and Nancy Florence Savard co-directed, and Greco co-wrote with somebody else.

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).

The World According to Garp

The World According to Garp

Warner Bros.

July 23, 1982

Historical Comedy?

DVD
D+

I read the John Irving novel a couple times in my twenties, with mixed feelings, but I'd completely forgotten how much implied rape there is.  (Garth's conception, but also marital rape by Mr. Holm, and probably more incidents later.)  I tuned out well before Robin Williams showed up.  George Roy Hill directed, obviously after Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting.

A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop AKA A Simple Noodle Story AKA Sānqiāng Pāi'àn Jīngqí

A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop AKA A Simple Noodle Story AKA Sānqiāng Pāi'àn Jīngqí

Beijing New Picture Co.

11 December 2009

Historical Comedy

DVD
C-

This is a remake of Blood Simple, which I surprised myself by liking, and this isn't bad, but it just didn't click for me.  Yimou Zhang directed, after Not One Less AKA  tiān shàng yǒu ge tàiyáng, but before The Great Wall.

Wild Wild West

Wild Wild West

Peters Entertainment etc.

June 30, 1999

Western, Historical Comedy, Sci-Fi

DVD

D+

I enjoyed this in the theater at the time and thought the critics were too harsh, although the movie could never live up to its awesome title track.  Watching at home almost a quarter century later, the movie is pretty flat, but the song is still great.  Barry Sonnenfeld directed.

Wild Nights with Emily

Wild Nights with Emily

P2 Films

March 11, 2018

Historical Comedy, Romance

DVD
B-

While this is at times funny and/or touching, I'm not sure how well it works to deliberately go against the usual "serious historical drama" directing approach.  I might've preferred this as a book, or even the writer-director Madeleine Olnek's original stageplay.  Still, definitely worth watching, and thinking about.

Where the Red Fern Grows, Part Two

Where the Red Fern Grows, Part Two

Red Fern II

1992 (Straight-to-video I think)

Historical Drama

DVD

D+

I can't remember if I read the original book by Wilson Rawls, but it probably doesn't matter.  Jim McCullough, Jr., directed.

Sundance Cassidy and Butch the Kid AKA Vivi o, preferibilmente, morti AKA Alive or Preferably Dead

Sundance Cassidy and Butch the Kid AKA Vivi o, preferibilmente, morti AKA Alive or Preferably Dead

Compagnia Finanziaria etc.

17 September 1969

Historical Comedy

DVD
C-

This was hard to Google.  Duccio Tessari directed and co-wrote.  And, no, it's not exactly a Western.

Walking with Dinosaurs: The Movie

Walking with Dinosaurs: The Movie

Reliance Entertainment etc.

19 December 2013

Children's, Fantasy, Historical Comedy

DVD

D+

This feels like an unfunny educational videogame with nice graphics.  Barry Cook and Neil Nightingale directed.

Victoria & Abdul

Victoria & Abdul

Focus Features etc.

15 September 2017

Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

This tries to offer both splendour and humour but fails at both.  It's based on Shrabani Basu's book Victoria & Abdul: The True Story of the Queen's Closest Confidant.  Stephen Frears directed.

Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland

Disney

May 22, 2015

Sci-Fi, Historical Comedy
DVD
D+

Annoying, although it did make me wonder what the inevitable "It's a Small World" movie will be like.  Brad Bird directed and co-wrote.

The Tin Drum AKA Die Blechtrommel

The Tin Drum AKA Die Blechtrommel

Franz Seitz Filmproduktion etc.

3 May 1979

Historical Comedy, Fantasy

DVD
C

I enjoyed the movie when I saw it in '83 or '84, finding it funny and profound.  (My hippie aunt thought nothing of taking me and my same-age cousin to such a controversial film.)  I subsequently read the Günter Grass novel once or twice.  So I gave it over a half hour today, but I just couldn't get into it.  Volker Schlöndorff directed and co-wrote.

¡Three Amigos!

¡Three Amigos!

HBO Pictures/ Orion

December 12, 1986

Historical Comedy

DVD
C-

The funniest thing was the trio's 1920s garb.  John Landis directed.

Terms of Endearment

Terms of Endearment

Paramount

December 9, 1983

Historical Comedy

DVD
C-

I don't know if it's the writing, or Debra Winger's performance, but this felt really off to me, though I could see its potential.  Director James L. Brooks adapted the Larry McMurtry novel.

10,000 Saints

10,000 Saints

Screen Media Films

August 14, 2015

Historical Drama, Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

The acting was pretty good but I didn't really care about the characters.  Co-directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (who did The Extra Man and the surprisingly good American Splendor) co-adapted the Eleanor Henderson novel.

The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux

Relativity Media etc.

December 19, 2008

Animation, Fantasy, Historical Comedy

DVD
D+

I didn't care for the book by Kate DiCamillo, and the character design here doesn't help.  Sam Fell and Robert Stevenhagen co-directed.

The Sword in the Stone

The Sword in the Stone

Disney

December 18, 1963

Animation, Children's, Historical Comedy, Fantasy

DVD
D+

Kind of flat.  Based on T.H. White's novel and directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, who did four other Disney movies in this project, so far, Sleeping Beauty the best of the lot.

Support Your Local Sheriff!

Support Your Local Sheriff!

United Artists

March 26, 1969

Historical Comedy, Western

B-

This film was both better than I expected and somehow not living up to its potential.  I like its blend of gentle, even laidback humor with slapstick and cartoony violence, but it didn't seem to have a clear viewpoint.  Also, it's a late '60s G-rated movie that involves several deaths and a whorehouse, so the tone is definitely uneven at times.  Standout performances are from star Garner (post-Maverick pre-Rockford Files, and it shows) and of course Harry Morgan as the amiably cynical mayor.  (The way he pronounces "puberty" is classic.)  There were times I liked Joan Hackett, but she's not given a clear, consistent character to play.  Burt Kennedy directed, a few months before The Good Guys and the Bad Guys, which lived up to its potential even less.

Homo Erectus AKA National Lampoon's The Stoned Age

Homo Erectus AKA National Lampoon's The Stoned Age

Burnt Orange Productions etc.

January 2007

Historical Comedy
DVD
D+

I can kind of see what they were going for here, but I think Caveman is both funnier and more likable.  Adam Rifkin wrote, directed, and stars.

The Sting

The Sting

Universal

December 25, 1973

Crime Drama, Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I've watched this once or twice before, but, other than the very catchy "Entertainer" theme, it never stays with me.  George Roy Hill directed, four years after he directed Newman and Redford as Butch and Sundance.