Topic: Riches Random Reviews

[richierich]

Booty Call



Some guys will do anything for a little something - What happens when a planned night of love turns into the double date from hell? A provocative comedy about two couples grappling with the difference between love and lust, 'BOOTY CALL' tells the outrageous adventures of Bunz (Jamie Foxx), and Rushon (Tommy Davidson), two friends hoping to "get it on" with their beautiful dates. But Nikki (Tamala Jones) and Lysterine (Viveca A. Fox) are women with more than one definition of 'safe sex', and getting them into bed is going to be more complicated than Rushon and Bunz imagined...

There are a million reasons to hate this film - non-existent storyline, pathetic scenarios, Foxx totally wasted, vulgarity, hopeless production etc etc etc
However, there are a lot of absolute belly laugh moments, some cringeworthy embarassing scenarios, and a hilarious dog, which made this short film a guilty pleasure to watch. 

[richierich]

Clerks



If you're in the market for what The Detroit News called "a lively comic adventure," Clerks delivers with wholesale hilarity! It's one wild day in the life of a pair of overworked counter-jockeys whose razor-sharp wit and on-the-job antics give a whole new meaning to customer service! Even while braving a nonstop parade of unpredictable shoppers, the clerks manage to play hockey on the roof, visit a funeral home, and straighten out their offbeat love lives. The boss is nowhere in sight, so you can bet anything can - and will - happen when these guys are left to run the store!

Original absurd college humour comedy, quite an interest viewing of what has become cultish.
At times warmly charming, at others bitingly offensive, but always very funny and watchable.
Infamously low budget, and shot in black & white, this movie is not recommended for the sensitive!
 

[richierich]

Punisher - War Zone



Waging his one-man war on the world of organized crime, ruthless vigilante-hero Frank Castle sets his sights on overeager mob boss Billy Russoti. After Russoti is left horribly disfigured by Castle, he sets out for vengeance under his new alias--Jigsaw. With the "Punisher Task Force" hot on his trail and the FBI unable to take Jigsaw in, Frank must stand up to the formidable army that Jigsaw has recruited before more of his evil deeds go unpunished.

Full of very graphic fighting and death scenes, as vivid as I can remember on any mainstream film, Ray Stephenson from Rome fame stars in this sequel. It is full of action, stunts, shocks, pumping music and brutal imagery.
Not for the faint-hearted, this movie has very little storyline, zero suspense or intrigue. It is purely a hunt em and kill em action flick, with an actor 10 years too old for the role.
 

[richierich]

This is Spinal Tap



A brilliant and hilarious documentary-style satire of a has-been British heavy metal band who never really was on an absurd American comeback tour that never quite gets off the ground, THIS IS SPINAL TAP practically birthed the mockumentary style. Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer are David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls, respectively--three clueless, self-absorbed men who form the nucleus of Spinal Tap, aging purveyors of overwrought songs with titles such as "Big Bottom," "Smell the Glove," and "Sex Farm." Shot in faux cinema verite-style with director Rob Reiner as fictional filmmaker Marty DiBergi, the film lampoons just about every rock & roll cliche (not to mention every rockumentary cliche) in the book as it follows these fallen rock idols from one disastrous gig to the next. Scenes of the tour's descent from desperation into total collapse are interspersed with interviews in which the band members delightfully prattle on inanely about the none-too-illustrious history and dubious vision of Spinal Tap. THIS IS SPINAL TAP is a striking and acutely hysterical directorial debut for Reiner and a deserved cult classic. Watch for an endless array of cameos by wonderful comic character actors along the way.

A film for geeks, headbangers, nerds or students (Just about upset enough of the population there  )
As possibly one of the first and most infamous mockumentaries I can fully respect this film, hence why it is a must for my collection. But I do not really enjoy it, especially now over 20 years later from it's original showing. The humour is just not my taste, the characters a bit too spoofed. There are many great moments, the stonehenge setpiece is brilliant, and the music and especially the lyrics are superb.
It is not for me, but i can understand why it is hilarious for others and has become such a cult classic.
 

[richierich]

Live and Let Die



Roger Moore makes his first appearance as "Bond...James Bond" in 1973's Live and Let Die. Bond is dispatched to the States to stem the activities of Mr. Big (Yaphet Kotto), who plans to take over the Western Hemisphere by converting everyone into heroin addicts. The woman in the case is Solitaire (Jane Seymour in her movie debut), an enigmatic interpreter of tarot cards. The obligatory destructive-chase sequence occurs at the film's midpoint, with Bond being chased in a motorboat by Mr. Big's henchmen, slashing his way through the marshlands and smashing up a wedding party. Clifton James makes the first of several Bond appearances as redneck sheriff Pepper, while Geoffrey Holder is an enthusiastic secondary villain. The title song, written by Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney, provides the frosting on this 007 confection


Top notch film, a young Roger Moore plays Bond as more of a dirty dog, bedding a multitude of women, suave, sophisticated and full of witty one-liners. His apprenticeship as Simon Templar helped carve his character, and it was a breath of fresh air following the last 2 007 movies.
So many memorable scenes and aspects in one movie, alligator hopping, speedboat chase, voodoo ceremony, Louisiana sherriff who is a riot, a curvy Jane Seymour, the train fight with claw handed man.
Connery would do Moore in a scrap, and that is the only negative I have with the eyebrow aching Moore taking the role - he isn't quite hard enough.
But for a film, it is one of my favourite 007 releases despite its straying from Flemings book in so many ways.
 

[Najemikon]

This is Spinal Tap
...the characters a bit too spoofed.

Have you heard about the Anvil documentary? Apparently they are very Spinal Tap-ish, except... it's real.

[richierich]

Man with Two Brains



A wacky brain surgeon, married to a beautiful but coldhearted woman, falls in love with the brain of another lady who has everything he wants... except a body!

Typical zany Steve Martin film, he became rather typecast at this stage of his career, and this is one of his less prestigious attempts. The storyline is ridiculous of course, the filming style and music very late 70's early 80's in style, which dates it considerably. The direction keeps it just on the right side of silly, so it is watchable.
Kathleen Turner is a leading lady I would typically not rate, but I was surprised watching this movie that 20 years ago she was an absolutely stunning voluptious woman, and perfect for the role as the scheming P.T. temptress.
Put your brain to one side and just enjoy the slapstick and whackiness of thisd film to enjoy.
 

[richierich]

Pursuit of Happyness



Inspired by a true story, Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a bright and talented, but marginally employed salesman. Struggling to make ends meet, Gardner finds himself and his five year old son evicted from their San Francisco apartment with nowhere to go. When Gardner lands an internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm, he and his son endure many hardships, including being homeless and living in shelters, in pursuit of his dream of a better life for the two of them.

Feel good tale of a man determined to succeed and provide a better life for him and his son, gritty portrayal of sheer perseverence.
Will Smith is admirable in his role, but his son in real-life Jaden outshines him and looks like a future star unless Hollywood ruins another promising child actor. The interplay between them is clearly natural and never forced, and helps the movie tick along at a good pace.
As a viewer you can relate to the various trials and tribulations that Gardner faced, and how he overcomes adversity to obtain his 'happyness'.
A cynic might question why a man dragged his young son through homeless shelters and sleeping in toilets, when he could have taken a normal job and put a roof over his head.
But aside from this I found it an enjoyable movie, perhaps a must see, heart-warming and emotional.
 

[richierich]

George of the Jungle



The clumsy ape man from Jay Ward's 1967 television cartoon takes on a jungle of another kind in live-action when he follows a visiting San Francisco resident back to the City by the Bay. There aren't as many trees, but he somehow manages to find plenty of other things to crash into--not the least of which are modern society's social norms.

Tarzan send-up, slightly charming, but on the whole pretty silly and irrelevant. it is too slapstick and unintelligent even I would have thought for very young kids, but as an adult it is a pointless viewing. The elephant 'puppy' though was very funny.
Fraser has improved since this outing - fortunately!
 

[richierich]

Joe Kidd



Clint Eastwood stars as the title character in this low-key, moderately politicised variation of his spaghetti westerns. In New Mexico in the late 1890s, the fiery Louis Chama (John Saxon) leads a group of Mexican-American peasants in a fight for their land after the evidence of their ownership has been destroyed in a questionable courthouse fire. The wealthy Frank Harlan (Robert Duvall), who also lays claim to the disputed land, has decided to bypass the legal system and hires a group of killers to take care of Chama. Kidd, who initially rejects Harlan's offer to join his hunting party, changes his mind when he finds that Chama has stolen some of his horses and brutalized one of his ranch hands. However, after seeing Harlan randomly pick off some Mexicans and becoming interested in Helen Sanchez (Stella Garcia), Kidd begins to think twice about his current employer.

Mis-firing Western with little to excite or interest.
The storyline is fairly woeful, plodding along at a snails pace, and given the names involved both in front of and behind the camera it's a waste.
Unless you are completing an Eastwood collection or have an hour and a half to waste, I'd pass this one by.
 

[richierich]

Cyborg



The Flesh Pirates rule the barbaric world and have no regard for the human inhabitants. Our Hero comes across a man and woman fleeing from the Pirates. The girl manages to escape and tells him that she is a Cyborg carrying information which could mean the end of the plague. The Pirates recapture the girl, leaving it to our Hero to rescue her...

Shallow offering that really hasn't dated well, I remember enjoying this a lot more 20 years or so ago.
Low budget with badly choreographed fight scenes, the dialogue is non-existent and the plot full of holes.
Give me Terminator, Mad Max or Escape from NY anyday!
 

[richierich]

Two for the Money



After suffering a career-ending injury, a former college football star aligns himself with one of the most reknown bookies in the sports-gambling business. Abrams takes on Lang as his protege, moving him to Manhattan and allowing him to grow used to the lavish lifestyle. But, the seemingly perfect father/son relationship gradually unravels as Lang loses his touch and Abrams seeks too much control...

Typecasted Pacino as the blustering, loud and brash boss, in this above average drama with sterling cast. The chemistry between the 2 leads was good, and Rene Russo again shines, the only major negative of the movie was a fairly uninspiring storyline.
The characterisation of the major roles makes the film an interesting insight and keeps you watching, and you find yourself caring more about what is happening to them than to which betting tips are bearing fruit.
An excellent alternative to Jerry Maguire
 

[richierich]

Dark Star



The first film from John Carpenter is a hilarious romp in a not-so-glamourous spaceship into the outer reaches of space. A team of astronauts manning the beat-up spaceship Dark Star are on a mission across the universe to seek out and destroy unstable planets. The journey is wrought with mishaps and danger seems to come from the most unexpected places. There are misbehaving pet aliens, suicidal bombs that see no reason to live and want to blow themselves up, frozen crewmates dispensing advice from beyond the grave and a surly, unhelpful main computer that holds the men it serves in total contempt. Despite all these problems, the crew is still bored to the brink of madness. Co-written by Dan O'Bannon, who would go on to write the script for ALIEN, the film is brimming with jabs at the science fiction genre. John Carpenter cut his directing teeth on this film, which he also co-wrote. Made while Carpenter was a college student and produced for very little money, DARK STAR is considered to be the most successful student film ever made.

Not a lot to add to this infamous cult film. Visual feast it is not, oscar inspired performances forget it, cinematography amateurish.
But what it does have is an intelligent, witty and wholesome script which if you can overcome the 70's dialogue and mannerisms is very watchable.
The philosophising with the bomb was brilliant, and the beach ball alien hilarious.
Despite the movie probably being more of a favourite for sci-fi fans, student hippies or 70's nostalgia freaks, this is still agreeable to the average Joe in the street.
 

[Najemikon]

Dark Star had a huge influence too. Red Dwarf is obvious, but only the other day I read a Judge Dredd story where a guy attempts to hold a block to ransom with a bomb. But he has second thoughts and the bomb takes control, with Dredd having to negotiate! Very silly, but laugh out loud moments...

[richierich]

Friday



Thoroughly charming and totally hilarious day-in-the-life comedy in which co-writer Ice Cube plays the stoic Craig opposite Chris Tucker's Smokey, a brilliantly rendered hyperactive marijuana enthusiast. The two twentysomethings, Craig recently wrongly fired and Smokey terminally slacking and scamming, barely make it through one highly eventful day. Eloquent commentary on themes like community, family, friendship, and violence is seamlessly blended with lighter treatments of young romance, bathroom emergencies, nosy neighbors and much more. Casually impeccable performances by the entire cast make this film a standout.

Scattered with hilarious one-liners, plausible plot and humorous undertone, Chris Tucker steals the film with a great performance.
Leave your brain aside, and enjoy some 'in da hood' humour, and occasionally some good music!