Film: Starman (1984)

Blu-Ray


Review: John Carpenter has made several great films about aliens, but this is probably his most mainstream and it is very effective. Jeff Bridges received a well-deserved Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a visiting alien assuming the form of a widow's dead husband after his craft is shot down over Wisconsin. Karen Allen plays the woman struggling to cope as she is taken on a cross-country trip by the alien trying to reach his rendezvous point while the government attempts to track them down. It combines two of my favorite movie genres, fish-out-of-water stories and road trips. (I really like the Starman theme music and the picture quality on this Blu-Ray is great.)

Quotes:
"So they're sending you guys on meteorites now?"
"Uh, only when they change course."
"Change course? Can they do that?"
"This one did. So they tell me. Twice. Either that or some airhead over at NORAD misread a glitch on his monitor. It also came down slower than suborbital speed. So, naturally, they decided to fire some missiles at it."

"You are really some kind of Martian or something, aren't you? What do you want here? What are you doing? What do you want with me? Where are you taking me? Why do you look so much like Scott?"
"I can't get no... satisfaction!"
"That does it!"

"What the hell is that?"
"Well, it's sort of an invitation, Major. You remember that package we sent up with the Voyager probe? There was a gold anodized disk with greetings from Earth in 54 different languages. Complete with a nice speech from Kurt Waldheim, 'To whom it may concern. Come and see us some time.'"

"Shit."
"Don't mind him. He's just learning to speak English."
"Well, he got a hell of a start on it."

"Are you crazy? You almost got us killed! You said you watched me. You said you knew the rules!"
"I do know the rules."
"Well, for you information, pal, that was a yellow light back there."
"I watched you very carefully. Red light, stop. Green light, go. Yellow light, go very fast."

"What's it like up there?"
"It is beautiful. Not like this, but beautiful. There is only one language. One law. One people. And there is no war, no hunger and the strong do not victimize the helpless. We are very civilized... but we have lost something. I think you are all so much alive. All so different. I will miss the cooks and the singing and the dancing. And the eating... And the other things."

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: Some Like It Hot (1959)

Blu-Ray


Review: A classic comedy starring Tony Curtis and Hollywood legends, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe. Two broke musicians who need to flee Chicago after witnessing a mob massacre, dress up as women in order to hitch a ride with an all-girl band leaving for Florida. When they both fall for the band's singer, Sugar, they end up maintaining their disguise longer than they expected.

Quotes:
"What kind of band is it anyway?"
"You gotta be under 25."
"We could pass for that."
"Gotta be blond?"
"We could dye our hair."
"And you gotta be girls."
"We could..."
"No, we couldn't."

"Look at that. Look how she moves. That's just like Jello with springs. They must have some sort of built-in motor or something. I tell ya, it's a whole different sex."
"What are you afraid of? Nobody's asking you to have a baby."

"There are two things I will not put up with during working hours. One is liquor and the other one is men."
"Men? Oh, you don't have to worry about that."
"We wouldn't be caught dead with men. Rough, hairy beasts with eight hands."

"I can't trust myself. I have this thing about saxophone players. Especially tenor sax."
"Really?"
"I don't know why, but they just curdle me. All they have to do is play eight bars of 'Come to Me, My Melancholy Baby' and my spine turns to custard. I get goose-pimply all over, and I come to 'em."
"That so?"
"Every time."
"You know, I play tenor sax."
"But you're a girl... thank goodness."

"Pull in your reel, Mr. Fielding, your barking up the wrong fish."
"If I promise not to be a naughty boy, how about dinner tonight?"
"I'm sorry. I'll be on the bandstand."
"Oh, of course. Which instrument do you play?"
"Bull fiddle."
"Oh, fascinating. Do you use a bow, or do you just pluck it?"
"Most of the time, I slap it."
"You must be quite a girl."
"Wanna bet?"

"Have I got things to tell you."
"What happened?"
"I'm engaged."
"Congratulations! Who's the lucky girl?"
"I am."

"Look at all that silverware."
"Uh, trophies, you know... skeet shooting, dog breeding, water polo..."
"Water polo? Isn't that terribly dangerous?"
"I'll say. I had two ponies drown under me."

"Osgood, I gonna level with you. We can't get married at all."
"Why not?"
"Well, in the first place, I'm not a natural blonde."
"Doesn't matter."
"Well, I have a terrible past. For three years, I've been living with a saxophone player."
"I forgive you."
"I can never have children."
"We can adopt some."
"You don't understand Osgood... Aw, I'm a man."
"Well, nobody's perfect."

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

Blu-ray


Review: This is a great piece of work and you can tell that it is a made by a master of a director, Peter Weir. I have always liked movies based on the British sailing navy, but have always wanted to see one made with today's technology. The sailing battles are amazing and Russell Crowe was made for this type of role. I think that this is one of the best movie of 2003.

Favorite Scene: The naval battle in the fog.

Quotes:
"Damn, he was good. Just came out of nowhere. Hit us with a full broadside and cut across our tail and took out our rudder. Damn fine gunnery. We only slipped away because of the fog. Quite fortunate, really. He may have had the weather gauge, but we had the weather gods."

"The Surprise is not old. No one would call her old. She has a bluff bow, lovely lines. She's a fine seabird: weatherly, stiff and fast... very fast, if she's well handled. No, she's not old. She's in her prime."

"Well done, Gentleman. To wives and to sweethearts."
"To wives and sweethearts!"
"May they never meet."

"What is it with this man? Did I kill a relative of his in battle, perhaps? His boy, God forbid?"
"He fights like you, Jack."

"Timing?"
"Two minutes and one second, sir."
"Lads, that's not good enough. We need to fire two broadsides to her one. You wanna see a guillotine in Picadilly?"
"NO!"
"Do you want to call that raggedy-ass Napoleon your king?"
"NO!"
"You want your children to sing 'La Marseillaise'?"
"NO!"
"Mr. Mowett, Mr. Pullings, starboard battery! Jump to it, lads. Cadence and rhythm."

"We shall head home before peace breaks out with France, God forbid."
"Jack, I fear you may have burdened me with a debt I can never fully repay."
"Tosh. Name a shrub after me. Something prickly and hard to eradicate."
"A shrub? Nonsense. I'll name a great tortoise after you. Testudo Aubreii."

"England is under threat of invasion. And though we be on the far side of the world, this ship is our home. This ship IS England."

5 out of 5 Stars

Film: Watchmen (2009)

Blu-ray


Review: This film takes place in 1985 on the eve of nuclear war as a masked vigilante, Rorschach, investigates the death of The Comedian, a former teammate from the disbanded Watchmen crime-fighting group. The opening credits sequence of moving photographs beautifully sets up the back-story of the Watchmen & the alternate history of the USA populated by superheros and villains. This film improved for me upon a second viewing. While I appreciated the craft and the storytelling the first time, I had missed a lot of the details because I had never read the original comic.

Quotes:
"Is this bean juice?"
"Human bean juice. Badge belonged to The Comedian. Blood too. He's dead."

"Meeting with Dreiberg left bad taste in mouth. A flabby failure who sits whimpering in his basement. Why are so few of us left active, healthy and without personality disorders? The first Nite Owl runs an auto-repair shop. The first Silk Spectre is a bloated, aging whore dying in a California rest resort. Dollar Bill got his cape stuck in a revolving door where he got gunned down. Silhouette, murdered, a victim of her own indecent lifestyle. Mothman's in an asylum in Maine. Even Adrian Veidt, possible homosexual. Must investigate further."

"Do you remember that crazy guy? What did he call himself... Captain Carnage. The one who used to pretend he was a supervillain just so he could get beaten up all the time?"
"Yeah, he tried that on me once. I just walked away. He starts following me down the street in broad daylight, yelling 'Punish me! Punish me!' I'm just saying 'No! Get lost.'"
"God. Whatever happened to him?"
"Well, he pulled that on Rorschach, and Rorschach dropped him down an elevator shaft."

"It's a joke. It's all a fucking joke. You know, I thought I knew how it was. I thought I knew how the world was. I've done some bad things. I did bad things to women. I shot kids. In 'Nam, you know. But that was fucking WAR! This... I never done anything like this. God, here I am... spilling my guts to one of my archenemies. But the truth is, you're the closest thing to a friend I got. What the fuck does that say? Shit!"

"Maybe we should get a cab. These are bad neighborhoods."
"Yeah, well, I'm in a bad mood."

"None of you seem to understand. I'm not locked in here with you. You're locked in here with ME!"

"Dan? Is everything alright?"
"God I'm tired of being afraid, afraid of war, afraid of the mask-killer... and afraid of this goddamn suit, and how much I need it."
"Me too. So to hell with it; let's take Archi out."
"You're serious."
"I used to be a masked avenger too, you know; I'm used to getting up at 3 in the morning and doing something stupid."

"John, please. You have to stop this. Everyone will die!"
"And the universe will not even notice. In my opinion, the existence of life is a highly overrated phenomenon. Just look around you. Mars gets along perfectly well without so much as a microorganism."

"So in order to save this planet... I had to trick it with the the greatest practical joke in human history."
"Killing millions!"
"To save billions. A necessary crime."
"You know we can't let you do that."
"'Do that', Rorschach? I'm not a comic book villain. Do you seriously think I'd explain my masterstroke to you if there was even the slightest possibility you could effect the outcome. I triggered it 35 minutes ago."

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Film: Superman (1978)

Blu-Ray


Review: Superman's first long introduction sequence (set to John Williams' score) that starts with him saving Lois from the crashed helicopter and ends with him rescuing a cat in a tree is perfect cinema magic. Christopher Reeve was born to play Superman/Clark Kent and there is an earnestness to his acting style that allows me to suspend disbelief when he is tunneling under the earth to stop an earthquake or reversing the rotation of the Earth to go back in time. Except for some slow parts in the beginning setting up the story, this is an amazing film.

Quotes:
"If he remains here with us, he will die surely as we will."
"But why Earth, Jar-El? They're primitives thousands of years behind us."
"He will need that advantage to survive. Their atmosphere will sustain him."
"He will defy their gravity."
"He will look like one of them."
"He won't be one of them."
"No. His dense molecular structure will make him strong."
"He'll be odd. Different."
"He'll be fast. Virtually invulnerable."
"Isolated... alone."
"He will not be alone. He will never be alone."

"What are you writing, Miss Lane?"
"An Ode to Spring. How do you spell massacre?"
"Uh. M-A-S-S-A-C-R-E."
"Thank you."
"Golly, Miss Lane, how come you got all the great stories?"
"A good reporter doesn't get great stories, Jimmy. A good reporter makes them great."

"Look Lois, Clark Kent may seem like just a mild-mannered reporter, but listen... not only does he know how to treat his editor-in-chief with the proper respect... not only does he have a snappy, punchy prose style... but he is in my 40 years in this business, the fastest typist I've ever seen."

"Easy, miss. I got you."
"You... you've got me? Who's got you?"
"Well, I certainly hope this little incident hasn't put you off flying, miss? Statistically speaking, of course, it's still the safest way to travel."
"Right... Wait! Who are you?"
"A friend. Bye."

"Why are you here? There must be a reason for you to be here."
"Yes, I'm here to fight for truth and justice and the American Way."
"Ha! You're gonna end up fighting every elected official in this country."

"It's open. Come in. My attorney will be in touch with you about the damage to the door. Otis, take the gentleman's cape."
"I don't think he wants me to, Mr. Luthor."

"Now call me foolish, call me irresponsible... it occurs to me that a 500-megaton bomb planted at just the proper point would, uh..."
"Would destroy most of California. Millions of innocent people would die. The West Coast as we know it would..."
"Fall into the sea. Bye, bye California. Hello, new West Cost. My West Coast. Costa del Lex, Lutherville, Marina del Lex, Otisburg... Otisburg?"
"It's just a little-bitty place."
"Otisburg?!"

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Film: Shrek (2001)

Blu-ray


Review: A fun fairy tale that plays off and skewers the established Disney tropes we all know and love. Mike Myers is great as the unlikely hero, Shrek, a grumpy ogre who agrees to rescue a princess for the villainous Lord Farquaad in order to win back control of his swamp. What pushes the movie into greatness is Eddie Murphy's voice work as Donkey, the jabber-mouthed animal who latches onto Shrek as his unwelcome sidekick after the ogre saves him.

Quotes:
"Next. What have you got?"
"This little wooden puppet."
"I'm not a puppet, I'm a real boy!"
"Five shillings for the possessed toy. Take it away."
"Father, please! Don't let them do this!"

"I guess you don't entertain much, do you?"
"I like my privacy."
"Y'know, me too. That's another thing we have in common. Like, I hate it when you've got somebody in your face. You're trying to give them a hint and they won't leave. Then there's that big awkward silence............................ Can I stay with you?"

"We can stay up late, swapping manly stories, and in the morning, I'm making waffles!"

"You! You're coming with me."
"All right, that's what I like to hear, man. Shrek and Donkey, two stalwart friends off on a whirlwind, big-city adventure. I love it! On the road again... Sing it with me, Shrek!"
"What did I say about singing?"
"Well, can I whistle?"
"No."
"Can I hum it?"
"All right, hum it."

"The champion shall have the honour, no, no, the privilege to go forth and rescue the lovely Princess Fiona from the fiery keep of the dragon! If for any reason, the winner is unsuccessful, the first runner-up will take his place, and so on and so forth. Some of you may die, but it's a sacrifice I am willing to make. Let the tournament begin!"

"Phew! Shrek! Did you do that? Man, you gotta warn somebody before you just crack one off. My mouth was open and everything!"
"Believe me, Donkey, if it was me, you'd be dead! It's brimstone... we must be getting close."
"Yeah, right, brimstone. Don't be talking about no brimstone. I know what I smelled, it wasn't no brimstone and it didn't come off no stone neither..."

"So where is this fire-breathin' pain in the neck, anyway?"
"Inside, waiting for us to rescue her."
"I was talkin' about the dragon, Shrek."

"All right, I hope you heard that. She called me a 'noble steed'. She thinks I'm a steed."

"I just know before this is over, I'm gonna need a whole lot of serious therapy. Look at my eye twitchin'."

"Say, Shrek, what're we gonna do with our swamp?"
"We? Donkey, there's no WE. There's no OUR. There's just ME and MY swamp! The first thing I'm gonna do is build a ten-foot wall around my land."
"You cut me deep, Shrek. You cut me real deep just now."

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Film: Aspen Extreme (1993)

Blu-Ray


Review: This movie is a surprisingly effective drama about two close friends who move to Aspen to become ski instructors. T.J. has the looks and everything seems to come easy for him, but he struggles to find a deeper purpose in his life. His friend Dexter, trying to keep up with T.J.'s success, falls into drinking and drugs which causes a rift between them. There is a lot of great skiing footage and views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

SPOILER: I have one huge nitpick with this movie. They should not have tied the extreme skiing portion of the movie to the Powder 8 competition that T.J. and Dexter want to win. The Powder 8 is a precision team event where two competitors ski back and forth in tandem to create perfect figure-eights on a wide and evenly sloped course, but the script always has them extreme skiing off-piste as their only training method. It's the equivalent of playing hockey to train for a figure skating event.

The plot hole is compounded by T.J. winning the competition by skiing off-course with his partner, essentially cheating as they impress the crowd with extreme skiing and jump tricks that have nothing to do with the actual skills the event is judged on. If this had been a slap-stick ski comedy, I might have bought this craziness but it clashes with the real and dramatic tone of the rest of the movie.

Quotes:
"Where are you guys from?"
"Detroit."
"Out here to see if you can be ski instructors, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Ah, about a hundred of you guys show up every year for that. The locals call that the freshman class. You read about movie stars in ski magazines and you want to move here."
"Yeah, I mean, that's all part of it, right?"
"Hope you guys are good."

"I think you're making a real mistake in not hiring, Dexter, I mean he'd make a great ski instructor."
"How would you know? You have only been a ski instructor for 15 minutes."
"Well, I just know. He's a great guy."
"Our clients pay $400 a day for private lessons. For that they expect ski instructors to be a certain type and look... like you. Part of the job is fulfilling a fantasy and you are the fantasy. I'm afraid your friend is not. You ski very well."
"So does he."
"Skiing is the easy part."

"You can come pick T.J. up in the morning. He can stay the night here."
"Wait, how about I stay the night and T.J. comes and picks ME up in the morning, huh?"
"How about not."
"He might have a concussion, guys?"
"You got a lot of luck, T.J."
"I know."

"This isn't your swing."
"Nobody was using it."

"I'm gonna go home to Detroit. Put my name on the list of Ford, maybe get your old job. I just don't want to go back empty-handed. I would like to ask you a favor... Well, I want to win the Powder 8 and I want you to be my partner. I want you to ski with me."

"I just came by to tell you I'm very sorry, T.J. I know you loved him a lot... Things happen, T.J., to everyone."
"It didn't happen to me."
"Yeah, it did."
"You know, I was afraid to come out here without him."

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: The Wrestler (2008)

Blu-Ray


Review: An amazing character study that gave me a whole new respect for wrestling and Mickey Rourke. Randy "The Ram" is an aging broken-down wrestler still holding onto his glory days from the 1980s as he continues to fight in the ring twenty years later. Marisa Tomei is excellent as an older stripper that he forms a bond with and who is entering the twilight of her career as well. The intense scene of Randy getting patched up in the locker room after his brutal match with the Necro Butcher is a graphic display of the mental and physical toll of his profession after the adrenaline high from the crowd has dissipated.

Quotes:
"As for as tonight, I don't know what you wanna do. I had a few ideas. I was thinking, you know, maybe just for the heat, I would give you a low blow, follow it up with a bulldog."
"Just bring the cheap heat, bro."
--------
"Maybe make your comeback right off there."
"Bang off the ropes, then super kick and, uh, Ram Jam, and then we go have a beer, okay?"
"That sounds great, man."
"You hang in there. You got a lot of ability."
"All right."
"Okay?"
"Thank you."
"Bless you."

"Oh, Jesus. You're bleeding. Oh!"
"Yeah, I got cut tonight."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's nothing."
"They say wrestling's fake."
"Look at this. 1986, Denver Coliseum, Billy Bob Banjo hit me with a two-by-four. It had a loose nail in it, split my bicep right in the hell open. Look at that. I got a better one than that. Take a look at this here. 1988, okay? Orlando Civic Center. Mr. Magnificent threw me over the top ropes. I landed on my shoulder and cracked my clavicle right in half."
"Oh, my God. Does it hurt?"
"Well, it hurts when I breath, but, I mean, you know, you hear the roar of the crowd, you just motor through, you know?"

"Yeah! Goddamn, they don't make 'em like they used to."
"Fuckin' '80s, man. Best shit ever."
"Bet your ass, man. Gun N' Roses fuckin' rules."
"Crüe, Def Lep."
"Then that Cobain pussy had to come around and ruin it all, you know."
"Like there's something wrong with wanting to have a good time."
"I tell you something. I hated the fuckin' '90s."
"Nineties fuckin' sucked."

"I use to try and forget about you. I used to try to pretend that... you did not exist. But I can't. You're my girl. You're my little... You're my little girl. And now... I'm an old, broken-down piece of meat. And I'm alone. And I deserve to be all alone... I just don't want you to hate me... Okay?"

"I'm doing my thing. I'm going to work."
"Yeah, but... but your heart."
"My heart? My heart's still tickin'"
"Yeah, but the doctor said..."
"Listen, I know what I'm doing. And, you know, the only place I get hurt is out there. The world doesn't give a shit about me."
"I'm here. I'm really here. What do you call that?"
"Hey! You hear them? This is where I belong. I gotta go."

5 out of 5 Stars

Film: Money Train (1995)

Blu-Ray


Review: This is a perfect little action film. It's got the amazing chemistry between Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Lopez at her most attractive, and a great loathsome villain in their overbearing boss, Robert Blake. The heist plot to steal from the New York Subway's revenue train is a simple but effective framework for the fun performances, including a small role for Chris Cooper as the Torch.

Quotes:
"You're stopping trains. I wanna know why."
"We got a police action, sir. Six line, south of Wall Street. Decoy cops in the tunnel."
"Where is the revenue train?"
"We're holding it at Wall Street."
"Send it though."
"Sir, we got cops on the tracks down there."
"Send it through! Nothing stops the money train."

"You got any cash on you?"
"What for?"
"Well, if you must know, I'm buying you a Christmas present."
"You're gonna buy me a Christmas present with my money?"
"Yeah, so don't be stingy."
"You know, you never cease to amaze me."
"You don't have to count it. I trust you, man. I'm out, see ya."
"So you're really gonna buy me a present, huh?"
"I love you, man!"
"If you love me, let me keep my money."

"No, you ain't gonna hit him."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm gonna hit him!"

"You do much decoy?"
"Six months in the outer boroughs. I liked it. But this transfer's definitely a lucky break. And they say you guys are the best."
"Oh, well, modesty prevents me from... Well, no, it does not. We are the best. You see the way he's swaying back and forth. He's got his arm swinging, you know, like he wants to take a whiz but he forgot how? He got that from me."

"You're right on the edge. You're a wreck looking for someplace to happen. I'll be there, and I'll fuck you dead."
---------
"Do you think he wants to fuck us before we're dead or fuck us afterwards?
"I understood that when we're dead, that's when he wants to fuck us."
"Either way, it's a pain in the ass."

"Hey Charlie, come back to Earth, man. All right, just... just calm down. Come on. Come on, now."
"What are you talking about?"
"Look, look. Charles, we're not gonna rob the money train."
"Why not?"
"Because, uh, uh... we're cops. And you know, remember: Serve, protect, break a mugger's neck, all of that. That's our credo."

"Hey, don't turn your back on me, bro!"
"Whoa, whoa. Now, we're not brothers, all right? We don't think alike, we don't act alike, and we damn sure don't look alike. Ever since we were kids, I've been carrying you on my back. I wipe your fucking nose, I clean up your messes. And now I'm gonna give up my badge... and my career for YOU? No, no. This is shaking time. You can get the fuck out of my life."

"Oh, now's your chance to turn me in and get a medal."
"Or you can get this damn train moving and get us the hell out of here."
"Thought you'd never ask."
"Charlie, when this is over with, remind me to knock you out."

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: Up the Creek (1984)

DVD: Anamorphic


Review: This was a favorite of mine as a teenager. I see a lot of its flaws now, but Tim Matheson is still entertaining as the charismatic Bob McGraw, the worst student at the worst university in the nation who has to win the intercollegiate white-water raft race to earn a degree from the Dean. It's not worth the 4 stars I would have given it back then, but it has held up pretty well as a knock-off of Animal House.

Quotes:
"Aah, I need a shave, a bath, a cup of coffee and a good woman. Something tells me we've come to the wrong place."

"You get in my way again and you'll be sorry you were ever born."
"He knew then and there that the friendship they had since childhood had died a sudden and tragic death. Destroyed by the love of a woman."

"Hey, watch it..."
"Watch what?"
"Watch what a fool I can make out of myself."
"Is that worth watching?"
"Oh, I'm very good at it. Especially when I'm in the company of such an attractive woman. Haven't we met somewhere before?"
"I suppose that next your going to ask me if you can buy me a drink."
"Ah, ah, he says to himself. Here's a woman who knows a come-on when she hears one. He thinks he has her where he wants her, but he has to make sure... Can I buy you a drink? Oh, she refuses with a shake of her beautiful head. That's perfect. She passed the second test, but she's not an easy mark. Still he must try the last line. What... What is your Major?"
"Gin and Tonic."
"Ah, Gin and Tonic for the lady! Make it two, will ya? So, you want to fool around, you want to get married, perform fellatio or what? If I'm being to forward, just tell me to back off."
"Um, how about a name first?"
"An old-fashioned girl, I like that. Bob... Bob McGraw."

"I guess this means no bedtime story?"
"If I'm not back in two hours, borrow a book."

"This is it guys. We can do it, guys. I can feel it. It's just water and rock! That's all. We'll show this river who's boss. This river will be ours!!"
"This is not a good sign."
"Sorry, guys. I just got carried away."

"Do you need any help?"
"No, thanks. I've been dressing myself for years, but I appreciate the offer. Oh, and when this is over and someone has won this damn thing. I'd like to think I could jump on you again sometime."

3 out of 5 Stars

Film: Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Blu-Ray


Review: A gritty film showing a hard-core drunk spiraling around the drain. Nicholas Cage does a outstanding job showing Ben's final descent as he uses a severance check to finance his last days in Las Vegas while revealing small hints of the successful and charismatic man before alcohol took control. He finds a soul-mate in Elisabeth Shue's prostitute, but it is too late to change his fate harnessed to the extreme edge of addiction. It is Sera's reactions to Ben's sickness that elevate the film to it high level.

Quotes:
"I came here to drink myself to death."
"How long will it take you?"
"I'd say about three to four weeks."

"Are you desirable? Are you irresistible? Maybe if you drank bourbon with me, it would help. Maybe if you kissed me and I could taste the sting in your mouth it would help. If you drank bourbon with me naked. If you smelled of bourbon as you fucked me, it would help. It would increase my esteem for you. If you poured bourbon onto your naked body and said to me 'drink this'. If you spread your legs and you had bourbon dripping from your breasts and your pussy and said, 'drink here', then I could fall in love with you."

"Don't you think you'd get a little bored, living with a drunk?"
"Well... that's what I want."
"You haven't seen the worst of it. I knock things over... throw up all the time. These past few days I've been very controlled. You're like some sort of antidote that mixes with the liquor and keeps me in balance. But, that won't last forever."

"We both know that I'm a drunk. And I know you are a hooker. I hope you understand that I am a person who is totally at ease with that. Which is not to say that I'm indifferent or I don't care, I do. It simply means that I trust and accept your judgment."

"You can never, ever ask me to stop drinking. Do you understand"?
"I do. I really do."

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Film: Grumpy Old Men (1993)

Blu-Ray


Review: A perfect little film with great chemistry between the two comedic superstars, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. The winter setting perfectly complements the long-running cold war between two neighbors who have lived next to each other their entire lives. Their feud comes to a head when an attractive widow moves in across the street.

Quotes:
"I need something for my lumbago. The pain is killing me."
"Ah, it's killing you, my ass. He doesn't know the meaning of the word pain, Phil. I got a pinched sciatica that makes your lumbago look like eye strain."
"Pain. He wants to talk about pain. I had a gallstone the size of a baseball."
"Gallstones, yeah. Gallstones are for pussies. When I had the shingles, did you see me in here complaining to Phil? Did ya?"
"Shingles, schmingles. When I had my ulcers, I was... farting razor blades."

"Give me two packs of camels and a cup of your special coffee, you love muffin, you."
"You're supposed to be smoking filter cigarettes, Pop."
"Yeah, well, I'm 94 years old. What the hell do I care, huh? Oh, thank you, dear."

"Max, oh, he's just magnificent."
"Magnificient? He's a damn record-breaker. You've got a three-footer."
"Oh, Max. I can see the beauty in this now."
"Can you see it?"
"Yes, the lure. No, the fight."
"The fight! Wait till I show the guys!"
"The catch..."
"What a catch!"
"And then the release."
"The release!!! What release? There's no release."
"Oh, yes, it's beautiful."
"No, I'll tell you what's beautiful. This monster on my wall... stuffed."

"Who are these little guys?"
"Oh, ha. That's me and the moron."
"Max?"
"Of course it's Max. He's ugly, isn't he?"
"Ha, ha. Oh, you mean you were friends?"
"Well, I was 10. I didn't know any better."
"What can make two grown men spend most of their lives fighting each other?"
"Oh, guess."
"A woman."
"Uh, yeah."
"How romantic."

"It looks like Chuck is taking the skin boat to tuna town."
"Jesus, Dad!"

5 out of 5 Stars

Film: Out for Justice (1991)

Blu-Ray


Review: Steven Seagal peaked with Under Siege but his earlier work created consistently great genre films. What raises this one is the intense acting by William Forsythe as the coked-up, short-tempered villain, Richie Madano, who terrifies and disgusts even his fellow criminals. The story takes place over one day as Seagal, the Brooklyn detective Gino, hunts down the cop-killer who wants to go out in a frenzy of violence.

Quotes:
"Why won't this man run?"
"You know, Vic. You never understood nothing about the neighborhood. Did you, huh?"
"No, I guess I never did."
"Let me tell you something. You kill a cop on 18th Avenue in front of a hundred witnesses, you're gonna die. The only difference is, this guy wants to die in his own neighborhood."

"Hey Vinnie! How you doing?"
"Officer Big Shot, come to bust my balls? This here is a detective! In what, Narcotics now?"
"That's right."
"Now I want you all to be very nice and tell this big fucking mamaluke over here anything he wants to know."
"Vinnie, come over here. Listen, you shouldn't talk to me that way because, like, you and I don't know each other so good. You were still sucking your thumb when your brother was going around town sucking dicks."

"The only balls he has is that badge and gun."
"Is that right? Let me show you something. Here's my gun! Fair game, now, okay? And here's my badge! This is your trophy. This is your trophy, okay?! Come and get it. Tell one of your fuckin citriolis to come and get it."
"I offer 5,000 for that badge, right now."

"Gino, you have not even told me what I've been arrested for."
"Let me see here. What could we do? Ah, how about 240.25?"
"What's that?"
"Prostitution, honey."
"Are you fucking kidding me?! Let me out of here right now, Gino!"
"I told you I was going to do this. Now, how's your memory? Who is Roxanne?"
"Gino, you're really starting to piss me off!"
"Jack, did you ever find this one over here on the street?"
"Many times."
"And how much was she?"
"10 bucks."
"Oh, ten bucks this, my friend! Fuck you, Gino!"

"After pop died... and the neighborhood kids wanted to go to Coney Island or something to play... one of the other fathers, Mr. Madano, used to slip me a little money so I could go play with the kids too. You know how I repayed Mr. Madano? You know how I thanked him tonight? I arrested him. Just so I could get to Richie. That's how crazy I am."

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: Avatar (2009)

Blu-Ray: Extended Edition


Review: I bought the Blu-Ray even before I had a HDTV because I knew I could only watch it again with a high quality display. It now looks amazing on my new TV. While pushing the limits of special effects, James Cameron still pays attention to the story. While some people complain that it was too simple or familiar, it is expertly-executed and paced. Zoe Saldana was great as Neytiri and brought the necessary emotion to give the film it's heart while Stephan Lang had the perfect blend of evil and humor as Colonel Quaritch. Sam Worthington brought the right excitement level as we experienced the new culture through his character, Jake Sully.

Quotes:
"You are not in Kansas anymore. You are on Pandora, ladies and gentlemen. Respect that fact every second of every day. If there is a Hell, you might wanna go there for some R&R after a tour on Pandora. Out there beyond that fence every living thing that crawls, flies, or squats in the mud wants to kill you and eat your eyes for jujubes. We have an indigenous population of humanoids called the Na'vi. They're fond of arrows dipped in a neurotoxin that will stop your heart in one minute - and they have bones reinforced with naturally occurring carbon fiber. They are very hard to kill. As head of security, it is my job to keep you alive. I will not succeed. Not with all of you."

"I'm gonna have to call it, guys. We're not allowed to run night ops. Colonel's orders. I'm sorry, Doc, he's just gonna have to hang on till morning."
"He won't make it till morning."

"Is the avatar safe?"
"Yeah, Doc, it's safe, and you are not gonna believe where I am!"

"Look, Sully, I want you to learn these savages from the inside, I want you to gain their trust. I need to know how to force their cooperation or hammer them hard if they won't."

"Ha, ha! That moron's going to die."
"Don't be afraid, warrior!"
"Make the bond."

"I came like this. This you. I turn."
"Yeah, yeah."
"I feel the wind. I turn very strong."
"Look, yeah, see, I banked so hard..."

"Tree of Souls. It's their most sacred place. See the Flux Vortex in these false color images?"
"Yeah, that's what messes up my instruments."
"There is something really interesting going on in their biologically. I would die to get samples. Outsiders are strictly forbidden. You lucky swine."

"You crossed the line. [PUNCH] Wheel this meat outta here..."

"You let me down son! So, you find yourself some local tail, and you just completely forget what team you're playin' for?"

"Shut your pie hole!"
"Or what, Ranger Rick? You gonna shoot me?"
"I can do that."
"You need to muzzle your dog."

"The Sky People have sent us a message... that they can take whatever they want. That no one can stop them. Well, we will send them a message. You ride out as fast as the wind can carry you. You tell the other clans to come. Tell them Toruk Macto calls to them! You fly now, with me! My brothers! Sisters! And we will show the Sky People... that they cannot take whatever they want! And that this... this is our land!"

"You're not the only one with a gun, bitch."

5 out of 5 Stars

Film: United 93 (2006)

DVD: Anamorphic


Review: I don't think a 9/11 movie will ever be made that is better than this one by Paul Greengrass. Even though everyone already knows the ending, it still slowly and expertly builds the tension until the final moment.

The events that took place inside United 93 actually only take up about a third of the story as the rest of the film follows the FAA officials, air-traffic controllers and the military struggling to track the unresponsive hijacked planes and react to their unexpected crashes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon. The standout is Ben Sliney, playing himself, as the FAA National Operation Manager who started his first day in the new postion on 9/11.

Quotes:
"All right, sir, we've got a small system in the Southwest. Nothing too big. Shouldn't be a big problem. Some low ceilings over San Francisco, nothing major. That system finally moved off to the East and we've got clear skies."
"Good. It'll be a good day on the East Coast."

"Everything okay?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
"Before we get started... Well, that was a possible hijack, American..."
"What?"
"Yeah."
"Hijack? Anybody remember..."
"Haven't seen that in years."
"Anybody remember when was the last time we had a hijack?"
"Yeah, I know. It's been quite a while."
"'91, '92?"
"I can't even remember precisely. No, no, It's Boston to LAX, American 11. They're on it and they're gonna keep me informed. I'll brief you."

"I don't know. I'll tell you what, that is not a small plane. No way."
"A Cessna would have bounced off that. Look at the size of that hole!"
"I've got a bad feeling about this. I'll tell you right now."

"All right, hold on. Hold on. I got a primary on the target."
"Where?"
"He's rapidly descending. Can you see that right right there? He's coming down quick, yeah. Can you see that?"
"Well, who is it?"
"I don't know."
"You see him out the window?"
"Is he out there?"
"Descending rapidly."
"No, there he is. There he is."
"Where?"
"Right there, over the Verrazano Bridge."
"Oh, yeah. Look how fast he's going."
"He's going right up the Hudson River Center. Oh, my God!"
"AHH! Jesus!! Shit!!"
"What?!! How does he do that?!"
"Did you see that? Did you see that, sir?"

"Cleveland just called. There's a United 93, the controller heard screams coming from the cockpit."
"Jesus!"
"Sounds like American 11. This is starting to look like a pattern."

"Hey, this is a suicide mission. We have to do something. They are not gonna land this plane. They are not gonna take us back to the airport. I don't think there's any other option we have."
"If we're gonna die, we're gonna die. They're flying us into a building. We're gonna die."
"We should not interfere with them."
"There's a lot of us but we got to do something. You see how low we are?"

5 out of 5 Stars

Film: Zombieland (2009)

DVD: Anamorphic


Review: Hilarious zombie road trip movie! I love Woody Harrelson in these type of roles. The slow motion opening credit sequence backed by Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" set up the movie perfectly. The survival rules concept popping up throughout the movie was a nice touch.

Quotes:
"Why am I alive when everyone around me has turned to meat? It's because of my list of rules. Rule number one for surviving Zombieland: Cardio. When the virus struck, for obvious reasons, the first ones to go were the fatties. Poor fat bastard."

"So, Tallahassee, you wanna stick together. Least for a while?"
"Here's the deal, Columbus. Ah, I'm not easy to get along with and I'm sensing you're a bit of a bitch so, ah, I give this relationship to about Texarkana."
"Really?! Yeah! You'll take me as far as Texarkana?"
"You're a peppy little spit-fuck, aren't you?"

"I haven't cried like that since Titanic."

"Oh, it's a '97"
"Yeah. Was that a good year?"
"Oh my God! It was a great year! Are you kidding me? I saw my first R-rated movie that year. Yeah, Anaconda."
"Ah, Anaconda."
"First tattoo, porpoise."
"Really?"
"Fake. First kiss... Scotty Lynch."
"You guys... used tongue?"
"Maybe. You jealous of Scotty Lynch?
"Yes, I am. Actually, I think I'm jealous of your whole 1997."

"My mamma always told me someday I'd be good at something. Who'd have guessed the something would be zombie killing?"
"Probably nobody."

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Film: Rambo III (1988)

DVD: Enhanced 16x9


Review: The Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan is considered their version of the Vietnam War so it is fitting that Rambo joins the fight to rescue his captured friend, Col. Trautman. I think Rambo III is slightly better than the second and a source for much of the hilarious parody in "Hot Shots! Part Duex".

This film is an interesting companion piece to the excellent "Charlie Wilson's War". It is sad that the Mujahideen protrayed so sympathetically in these two films would squander their victory over the Russians by embarking on a destructive civil war that didn't end until the Taliban took power.

Quotes:
"Rambo, something went wrong."
"What happened?"
"Soviets intercepted the team just over the border. From what we gathered, Trautman and the rest of his party have been taken to a regional command post."
"What are you doing about it?"
"We can't do anything about it. I'm sorry. I just thought you should have known."

"You don't look like you are with the military."
"I'm not."
"What you are, mercenary?"
"No."
"You are not with the military, you are not mercenary. What are you? Lost tourist?"
"I'm no tourist."

"This is Afghanistan. Alexander the Great tried to conquer this country. Then Genghis-Khan, then the British. Now Russia, but the Afghan people fight hard. They never be defeated. Ancient enemy make a prayer about these people. Do you wish to hear?"
"Mmm-hhm."
"Very good. It says, may God deliver us from the venom of the cobra, the teeth of the tiger and the vengeance of the Afghan. Do you understand what this means?"
"That you guys don't take any shit."
"Yes, something like this."

"How's the wound?"
"You taught us to ignore pain, didn't ya?"
"Is it working?"
"Not really."

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: Sunshine (2007)

DVD: Anamorphic


Review: Like almost all of Danny Boyle's movies, this great film has a weaker final act. It takes the thrill and intensity of surviving a journey toward the sun and turns it into a slasher horror at the end. The intense heat of the sun, the freezing vacuum of space and the dangers of human error and emotion used during the majority of the film were more effective and believable obstacles to the mission's success. Still, the last act only removes a half star from my rating.

SPOILER ALERT: The concept of the Captain of Icarus I going insane is not bad, but they should have kept him off the Icarus II. Let the failure of Icarus I just remain a mystery for the second crew to solve.

Quotes:
"Kaneda, Searle, report to flight deck."
"What's up?"
"We have an excess of manliness breaking out in the comm center."

"Icarus, how close is this to full brightness?
"At this distance of 36 million miles, you are observing the sun at two percent of full brightness."
"Two percent? Can you show me four percent?"
"Four percent would result in irreversible damage to your retinas."

"The question is: Does the risk of the detour outweigh the benefits of an extra payload?"
"We'll have a vote."
"No, no. No, we won't. We're not a democracy. We're a collection of astronauts and scientists. So we're gonna make the most informed decision available to us."
"Made by you by any chance?"
"Made be the person best qualified to understand the complexities of the payload delivery: our physicist."
"Shit."

"In order to change the route, I had to manually override Icarus. So I made all the calculations myself, and I double- and triple-checked them. They all worked out. So I set the new coordinateness and put us on our way."
"So what's the problem? The trajectory is wrong?"
"The trajectory is good. But it changes our angle of approach to the sun by 1.1 degrees."
"You didn't reset the shields to the new angle."
"I forgot. My head was so full of velocities and fuel calculations and a million different... I FORGOT!!! ALL RIGHT?! People do shit. They get stressed and... and fuck up. I fucked up."

"We should split up."
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea..."
"You're probably right. We might get picked off one at a time by aliens."

"With Searle and Harvey gone, we lost two breathers. We have enough oxygen for four crew to make it to the payload delivery point."
"So we'll do it."
"I'll do it. I'm not passing any bucks."
"Well, then..."
"We'll vote this time. Unanimous decision required. Well, you know where I stand."
"And me."
"What are you asking? That we weigh the life of one man versus the future of all mankind? Kill him."

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

TV: That '70s Show - 2nd Season (1999-2000)

DVD: 4 Discs


Review: This was the season where Eric and Donna finally do it and Michael and Jackie break up. Tommy Chong joined the cast this year as Hyde's boss at the photomat. Some of the best episodes are "Vanstock", "Hunting", & "Parents Find Out".

Quotes:
"You moron, a girl movie is a make-out movie."
""Well, then, I'm in."
"Me too. I will come and watch."

"Wait, Fez, what are you doing?"
"You're a dead man!!"
"Could I have avoided this? Let's review. First, Jackie said I was funny. Next, she ate popcorn from my groin. Then, I sucked her face. Nope, it was meant to be."

"Guy, guys, this thing is like a bedroom on wheels. No more, Michael, the backseat is too small. Michael, you're on my hair. Michael, your choking me. That's over!"

"Okay, that's it. You must let me in."
"Why?"
"Because I feel the hot rhythm of disco burning in my loins. Watch."
"Okay, you're in."
"So long, Losers!"

"Excuse me. May I please have a hickey, please."
"No."
"Please?"
"No!"
"Jackie?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No!"
"So... the two of you do things to please your man. Well, Fez is a man. Why will you not please him? Why?"
"Jackie, just give him a hickey!"
"I'm leaving!"

"You mean, you were in his bed and he didn't whine and beg for, like, two hours until you were so sick of hearing his stupid voice that you just gave in so he would shut up?"
"No."

"This way there will be even more things to remind you of me. Don't you like thinking of me?"
"No, of course I do. The thing is... How can I say this without hurting your feelings? Oh, okay. I don't want your stupid things in my cool van."

"Donna wouldn't even talk to me. She just kept sticking her tongue down my throat."
"Oh, boo hoo, Forman. You get to fool around with a totally hot chick and never have to talk about her feelings. You poor French-kissing bastard."
"Yeah, Hyde's right. One time I asked Jackie what was wrong and she didn't shut up for, like, three straight days."

"You really think I've been yelling at you for 17 years?"
"No... You were probably okay with me as an infant. I just can't remember."
"Boy, it was right around thirteen when you started gettin' a little lippy... and twitchy."

"Ever since I threatened to tell Jackie about the two of us, you've seemed distant."
"Laurie, that's just crazy. All right? You blackmailing me... It's just brought us closer together."

"It was great. It just wasn't what I expected. I don't think we did it right."
"So, Eric's not good?"
"It was more like... like neither of us were good."
"Donna, it's not up to the woman to be good."

"How come you never go to church?"
"Eric... God and I had a heart-to-heart while I watched my destroyer go down in the South Pacific. We're real good... You're not. Go!"

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Film: Toy Soldiers (1991)

DVD: Full Screen - 1:33


Review: After a Columbian drug lord is extradiated to the US, his son takes an American Prep School hostage in order to free his father. It is a fun tightly-paced film with Sean Astin as the school troublemaker who leads the other students against the terrorists. Louis Gossett, Jr. is excellent as the Dean, walking the fine line between authoritative and sympathetic. I wish they would release this movie in the original widescreen.

Quotes:
"Lights out, boys!"
"Eat shit, Mr. Peterson!!!!"

"I'm not going to expel you. Three schools have done that and it's obviously done nothing for your character... Are you listening to me?!"
"Yes, sir."
"I'm going to do much worse. I am going to keep you here until you graduate. It'll probably take years at this rate."
"I might wear you out before then."
"Don't you worry about wearing me out. I'm going to wear you out."

"Is he a friend of yours?"
"Yes, he is."
"Well, tell your friend he's lucky I didn't shoot him. What's your name?"
"William Tepper."
"What does your father do, William?"
"He's a contractor."
"According to this, he owns the third largest construction company in the world."
"Yeah, he's a contractor."
"You're not afraid of me. Hmm?"
"Yes, I'm afraid."
"Good. Don't fuck with me."

"We have a shot at a successful assault here. We know the location of every terrorist. The kid can get the other students out of the line of fire."
"What kid? This kid has been kicked out of two schools."
"No, three schools."
"Three schools. Come on. All this is unreliable."
"That's not really true. I may not rely on Billy to get to class on time, but I would rely on this."
"Why?"
"Because he's got guts. He's a leader. You can see that he's thought this thing through. Now, if Billy says he can do it, I gotta believe he can."

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: Once (2006)

DVD: Anamorphic


Review: A modern musical about a street musician and an immigrant girl from the Czech Republic who bond over music in Dublin, Ireland. It's a simple story supported by a strong collection of songs. Their first duet in the music shop was amazing and a deserving winner for the Best Song Oscar.

Quotes:
"How come you don't play this song during daytime? I see you everyday."
"You know, during the day, people want to hear songs they know, just songs that they recognize. I mean, otherwise, I wouldn't make any money. I play these song at night. They wouldn't listen."
"I listen."
"Yeah, but you gave me ten cent."

"Good to meet ya. We've got a few little bits and pieces to set up. I want to check the drums inside."
"We've already set up the kit."
"Yeah, I just want to, you know, check them for sound."
"I checked them already. It's fine."
"Okay, we need to set up mics on them for recording, yeah?"
"Oh."

"I think it's time we did the, uh, car test."
"What's the car test, Eamon?"
"We've been listening back on these big studio speakers. So it's time we had a go on some shitty speakers. So... Let's go for a spin and have a listen in me car."

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Film: Paradise (1982)

DVD: Anamorphic


Review: This is a "Blue Lagoon" clone that takes place in the Arabian desert, but I think this is better film because Phoebe Cates is a much more talented actress than Brooke Shields and I am a fan of Willie Aames from "Charles in Charge." While Phoebe is famous for her topless scene in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" that came out the same year, that was nothing compared to the amount of skin she shows here in her first film.

Quotes:
"Al Aziz, I delivered them into your hands as agreed. I demand my payment."
"Payment? For what? The girl escaped. There is little else of value."
"You have captured many women, Al Aziz. They will bring you a good price. One less will not make you a poor man."
"The English girl will not be for sale. She's for me."

"We shouldn't be looking at this."
"Why not?"
"Could be a sin."
"But their beautiful. How could looking at something so beautiful be a sin?"
"My father said it was wrong to look upon nakedness."
"Well, this is a book for doctors. Doctors have to look at you with no clothes on."
"The doctors have no clothes on?"
"Ha! No! You have no clothes on. Doctor's dressed."

"We'll look again tomorrow. The girl can not be far away."
"Lying English! Who would think that he would send us on a false trail."
"Indeed. He died more braver than I thought."

"I couldn't believe it. I looked up and this ugly woman comes in and I thought, 'Oh God, not another one!' And it was you. You were fantastic."

3 out of 5 Stars

Film: If Looks Could Kill (1991)

DVD: Enhanced 16x9


Review: Preposterous plot, but well-crafted fun. A lot of films like this age very badly, but this has stayed as entertaining as the first time I saw it. Richard Grieco plays a high school student who goes on a trip to Europe with his French class and is confused for a secret agent with the same name on his flight. It's a witty James Bond spoof that reminds me alot of the film, Gotcha. A favorite gag is the rotating drivers who take turns trying to capture the students' bus, believing them to be mercenaries.

Quotes:
"I'm real sorry. I don't know what to say, you know."
"You don't know what to say? I'll tell you what to say. How about, sorry Mom and Dad, I would have liked to graduate high school, but I couldn't really fit it into my dating and partying schedule, huh? Or how about, sorry, I was too busy doing jack-shit instead of going to my French class!"

"Oh no, not French. Uh look, parlez vous English?"
"Monsieur, what I said is, you look like a piece of horribly scented American dogshit. Change your clothes!"

"I want out, Richardson, got it? That tux with the BO Blasters was real cute, just gassed three people, probably killed them."
"Ha, ha, ha. No such luck, Corben. They'll wake up in an hour or two with a hell of a headache. That's all."
"Richardson, this is not my idea of a good time."
"What were you expecting, Corben?"
"At the moment, I was expecting to be cramped into a cheap hotel room in Paris, probably holding a farting contest with my roommates."

"Put that on. Your having dinner with Steranko in 10 minutes."
"Jerk! If he thinks I'm going to put on this Army Surplus reject, he's out of his mind. It's not my style."
"Michael, Number 1, this is a very nice Armani suit. Number 2, you have no style."

"Oh my God, we're all going to die!"
"No, Corben's here."
"That's what I mean!"

4 out of 5 Stars

Film: Rocky Balboa (2006)

DVD: Anamorphic


Review: This is an amazing final sequel for the Rocky films. I think without the television success of Sylvestor's entertaining boxing show, The Contender, this movie would never have been made. Stallone understands this role better than any other and it shows in the great writing as Rocky struggles after the death of his wife. Burt Young brings great pathos and comic relief as Paulie. The best part about this movie is that it washes out the bad taste of Rocky V. Now you can pretend that chapter never existed.

Quotes:
"Time goes by too fast."
"Not fast enough."

"What's the matter with you, Paulie?"
"You're living backwards, Rocko! Change the channel from yesterday! Yesterday wasn't so great!"
"It was to me."
"Not to me!"
"You treated her good. You had the good times. I treated her bad. I don't have to think about this."
"She always loved you, Paulie."
"Sorry, Rocko, I can't do this no more."

"Hey, come on. We're about to serve today's special."
"Italian food cooked up by a bunch of Mexicans ain't so special, Rocko."

"So you nervous about the fight?"
"Scared to death."
"You don't look scared."
"Well, I ain't supposed to."
"Then you don't have to do it."
"Yeah, well, I think I do."

"You know all there is to know about fighting, so there's no sense us going down that same old road again. To beat this guy, you need speed - you don't have it. And your knees can't take the pounding, so hard running is out. And you got arthritis in your neck, and you've got calcium deposits on most of your joints, so sparring is out."
"I had that problem."
"So, what we'll be calling on is good ol' fashion blunt force trauma. Horsepower. Heavy-duty, cast-iron, piledriving punches that will have to hurt so much they'll rattle his ancestors. Every time you hit him with a shot, it's gotta feel like he tried kissing the express train. Yeah! Let's start building some hurtin' bombs!"

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

Film: Demolition Man (1993)

DVD: Enhanced 16x9


"We're police officers! We're not trained to handle this kind of violence!"

Review: This Sylvester Stallone action film has aged a bit, but it is still fun. He plays a wrongly-convicted badass cop who is unfrozen in a more peaceful, but naive future after a violent criminal from his time has escaped from the cryo-prison. It is a fish-out-of-water tale as he struggles against the new cultural norms while trying to recapture Wesley Snipes with his old school methods. I would only give it three stars now, but I am adding a forth for how much I enjoyed it when it came out.

"You are fined one credit for a violation of the Verbal Morality Statute."
"What? Fuck you!"
"Your repeated violation of the Verbal Morality Statute has caused me to notify the San Angeles Police Department. Please remain where you are for your reprimand."
"Yeah, right."

"While you were sleeping, everyone in the city was installed code. Sensors all over the city can zero in on anyone at any time. I can't even conceive a visual of what you police officers did before it was developed."
"We worked for a living. This fascist crap makes me want to puke."

"I thought you wanted to make love?"
"Is that what you call this?!"
"Vir-sex has been proven to produce high orders of alpha waves during digitized transference of sexual energies."
"Look, Huxley, let's say we just do it the old-fashioned way?"
"Eeewww, disgusting! You mean... fluid transfer?"

"Now, I'll have carte blanche to create the perfect society. My society. San Angeles will be a beacon of order with the purity of an ant colony and the beauty of a flawless pearl."
"Look, you can't take away people's right to be assholes."
"Hmm?"
"That's who you remind me of: an evil Mr. Rogers! Will you please kill him? He's pissing me off!"

"Let's go blow this guy."
"Away! Blow this guy away!"
"Whatever."
"Hmm, she's got a way with words!"

4 out of 5 Stars