Don

Another Champion of Hollywood Studio Avant-Garde, Mar 18 2004

A great atmosphere movie for any Friday night, "Neighbors" is still as funny and bizarre now as it was when released. This is a wonderful companion to films such as Scorsese's "After Hours" or Dante's "The 'Burbs." An often over-looked film, "Neighbors" is a brilliant symbiosis of the comedy and thriller genre.

Earl Keese is an unimaginative Walter Mitty stuck in boring suburbia. After Captain Vic and Empress Ramona move next door, Earl begins on a 24-hour journey to save his soul -- to be released from the stagnant swamp of dead-end living -- and 9-5 working. Both Belushi and Aykroyd expand their comedy by switching their normally stereotyped… Read more

Unbridled Goldsmith!, Dec 20 2003

Offering over 76 minutes of music (most of which wasn't used in the film), RAMBO III is Goldsmith's exciting coda to the action hero trilogy. Weaving motifs such as "It's A Long Road" from FIRST BLOOD and "Escape From Torture" from RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II, the maestro completes the story of Vietnam veteran John Rambo, bringing the themes around "full circle," to quote Col. Trautman (Richard Crenna) in the film. Forever the innovator, Goldsmith introduces some new themes, which thread through the score in tracks including -- "Preparations," "The Game," "Night Fight" and "Final Battle." Avoid the inferior Scotti Brothers release -- which features only about one-forth of the composers… Read more

Samurai Jack Unbound!, Dec 15 2003

Being a lover of myth and folklore, I was amused to read this adventurous Samurai Jack tale. Jack unwittingly frees a punished slave chained to a rock (Prometheus) -- and as punishment from the goddess Divina (Diana) -- must perform Seven Labors (inspired by Hercules' Twelve Labors), including the dread Cleaning Out the Cattle Stables. For an entertaining and educational session with your child, sit down with them and compare the Samurai Jack story with the Greek myths that inspired it. Readers of Joseph Campbell will get a kick out of it too. A fresh spin on an ancient tale, "The Seven Labors of Jack" is sure to please the young -- and young at heart!