Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 8 out of 10

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman

Rated: PG

Genre: Action, Adventure

Runtime: 115 minutes

Sequels: Temple of Doom (1984), The Last Crusade (1989), Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Indiana Jones (Ford), college professor and archaeologist will go to great lengths to obtain rare archaeological finds for museums.  Word of his dedication and bravery has come to the notice of the United States government, who have an important mission for him: to find the legendary Ark of the Covenant, the sacred box claimed to contain the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses.  But this is no ordinary mission.  It's a race against time as Indy struggles to get to the Ark before his rival Dr. Belloq (Freeman) and the Nazis can get their hands on it.  The legends say that if an army carries the Ark into battle, they will be unstoppable.  And Hitler is greatly desirous to obtain such a powerful weapon.

The Indiana Jones movies have been on my "to watch" list for the longest time (just like Star Wars).  I've always been meaning to watch them, but I never got around to doing so.  Now, I'm sure that half of you out there are thinking that I must have spent my childhood living in a cave or something (and the other half really don't care either way).  But, I finally got around to watching Raiders of the Lost Ark, and I'll be honest; I'm really glad I did!  The movie was not only fun, exciting, and engaging, but it had a colorful cast of characters who balanced off each other perfectly.  Personally, my favorite had to be the villain, Dr. Belloq, but of course, our hero Indy came in a very close second.

Harrison Ford was perfect for Indiana Jones.  And I thought that his character was not only amazing, but amusing as well.  I love that Indy is this great, fearless explorer, but when he's back on campus, teaching a class of college students, he becomes meek, awkward, and easily rattled.  It's a very striking contrast.  I especially loved his reaction to one rather amorous young lady who writes "LOVE YOU" on her eyelids.

Dr. Belloq was a very interesting villian.  When we are first introduced to him, he seems to be quite a threat; commanding, calm and collected, and very calculating.  As the film progresses, you start to hate him (after all, he's working for HITLER!) and later, he actually becomes rather amusing.  One of my favorite scenes had to be when he gets totally drunk in his tent in Egypt.  Personally, I thought it was really amusing. :)

The action scenes were gripping and exciting.  I loved all the creative ideas for booby traps set up in all the rooms of the temples Indiana explores.  Of course, the classic giant rock cannot be overlooked, although I did think it was a bit cheesy and rather wtf (what the fudge).  Personally, I really liked the whole booby trap setup in the first temple-- when Indy tries to get the golden relic.  I also loved the fight scenes.  They were exciting, fast-paced, and just the right length.  I was on the edge of my seat for the epic showdown in Marion's (Allen) pub.

One last thing I would like to add....I know this film is only rated PG, but I would like to remind everyone that there is some things that might be a bit frightening for children, namely the unveiling of the ark toward the end.  If you don't know what happens, I don't want to spoil it for you, but it would most likely be a bit too intense for younger viewers.

The Wolf Man (1941)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 10 out of 10

Director: George Waggner

Starring: Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains, Maria Ouspenskaya

Rated: PG

Genre: Horror, Drama

Run Time: 70 minutes

Sequels: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), House of Frankenstein (1944), House of Dracula (1945), Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Remake: The Wolf Man (2010)

After his brother's tragic death, Lawrence "Larry" Talbot (Chaney) returns from America to his family's estate in Wales.  While fixing his father's telescope, he catches sight of the beautiful Gwen Conliffe (Evelyn Ankers) whose father owns the antique shop in town.  When he takes Gwen and her friend Jenny (Fay Helm) to see the Gypsy camp and get their fortunes told, Jenny gets attacked and killed a wolf who turns out to be Bela (Bela Lugosi) the Gypsy fortune teller who is cursed to become a werewolf.  When Larry goes to save Jenny, killing the wolf, and finding himself bitten in the struggle, Bela's mother Maleva (Ouspenskaya) warns him that now, he too will become a werewolf when the moon rises. 

I discovered the classic Universal Horror Films when I was either a sophomore or junior in high school.  I used to watch them with my dad (still do sometimes, although not much anymore, since I started college).  This was the first one we watched together and it has always been my favorite.  Larry is so human, so easy to connect and sympathise with.  I instantly fell in love with the character (it also helps that he's played by the incredibly handsome Lon Chaney Jr., but that's beside the point).  After watching this film, I threw myself into checking out all the other Universal Horror Films, and I've seen most of the standard cannon: Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), The Mummy (1932), and The Wolf Man.  I still need to see The Invisible Man (1933).

I love everything about this movie, but since I could rant on and on for ages, I'll be extra sure to keep it short.

I've always been squeamish about horror films because there was too much blood, or too much violence.  However, older films prove that you don't need blood and violence to be scary.  And even better, they don't need to rely on sex to hold the audience's attention.  In fact, the audience of The Wolf Man doesn't even get to see that much skin, not even Larry's.  When he opens his shirt to show Maleva his wound, he barely even unbuttons it.  One or two buttons are undone, and you don't even get to see anything.  Not saying that I think it was necessary, but I think it was nice that the director didn't need to focus on sex appeal like today's films do.

The Wolf Man is a wonderful springboard into the other Universal Horror films.  I've thoroughly enjoyed watching it again, and again, and again.  If you're interested in scary movies, but don't like sex and gore, then this is a good film to start with.  If you've enjoyed Bela Lugosi's Dracula and Boris Karloff's Frankenstein, then The Wolf Man might be a good film to watch next.  Interesting fact, Lon Chaney Jr. was one of the only Universal actors (if not the only one) to play all of the classic horror monsters: the Wolf Man (The Wolf Man, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, etc.), Frankenstein's Monster (Ghost of Frankenstein), Dracula (Son of Dracula), and Kharis the Mummy (The Mummy's Tomb, The Mummy's Curse, etc.).

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

,Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 9 out of 10

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries

Rated: PG

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 82 minutes

Napoleon Dynamite is one of those films that’s destined to be a cult classic for this generation…and it’s going to leave a lot of people scratching their heads, saying “What the heck is this??”  Napoleon Dynamite is a story without a really discernable plot.  Stuff happens, but a lot of nothing happens, too.  Sounds boring?  No, really; it’s actually amazingly funny.  Trust me on this.

Napoleon (Heder) is a socially awkward high school student living with his grandmother and older brother Kip (Aaron Ruell) in a small-town community where nothing really happens.  Then, things start to get interesting.  First, Grandma breaks her coccyx and Napoleon’s Uncle Rico (Gries) comes to stay with him and Kip.  A new student, Pedro (Ramirez) comes to the high school and decides to run for class president.  Kip, who spends his entire day “chatting online with babes” meets a girl in a chat room and things start getting “pretty serious”.  And Napoleon?  Well, he’s just caught up in it all.

This is one of those movies you have to see at least once in your life...And, then you have to see it again.  And again.  And again.  Because there is no way that you can do this movie justice on the first viewing.  Every time I see it, I find something new that I missed.  One thing to keep in mind is that this movie is incredibly dumb.  And that’s on purpose.  It’s supposed to be pointless.  But, even though it’s pointless, it’s still funny.  There’s something inherently amusing about Napoleon calling his grandma to pick him up from school because his lips are chapped, or the classic episode with the “tots,” or Napoleon’s favorite animal: the liger “It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic.”  This is an incredibly quotable movie, and one filled with such stupid situations and interesting characters.

I have to say that the characters are by far the best part of this film (perhaps because there is minimal plot, but most likely because they’re just so darn fascinating.  First, you have Napoleon, the freakishly awkward teenager.  There is so much that can be said about him, but I’d say “strange” about sums him up.  What makes him funny is that he is completely oblivious to just how weird he really is.  He seems himself as this awesome ninja warrior or something of the sort, when in reality, he’s an incredibly unusual breed of nerd.  Older brother Kip has no social life, and spends all his time on the computer talking to women.  Uncle Rico is living in the past, convinced that he would be the most awesome football player the world has ever know.  Pedro, the quiet transfer student decides to run for class president against the most popular girl in school.  Painfully shy Deb (Tina Majorino) is selling key chains to pay for college.  Grandma lives a double life as a crazy extreme sports woman on the dunes. 

Sadly, writing about this in a blog post does not do it justice; this is just one of those movies that has to be seen to be fully appreciated. 

Rooster Cogburn (1975)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 10 out of 10

Director: Stuart Millar

Starring: John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Zerbe

Rated: PG

Genre: Western, Action, Drama, Comedy

Runtime: 108 minutes

Prequal: True Grit (1969)

John Wayne stars once again as one of his most memorable characters: the drunken, smart-mouthed, one-eyed marshal Rooster Cogburn.  When outlaws ransack a small mission set up in the Indian territory, killing the minster Rev. Goodnight, his daughter Eula (Hepburn), the mission's teacher accompanies Rooster Cogburn to track them down.  The marshal, however, is reluctant to be tailed by a quick-witted preacher woman and her Indian friend Wolf (Richard Romancito)  To make matters worse, if Rooster does not bring the criminals--who not only killed Eula's father, but also stole a shipment of nitroglycerin-- back alive, he'll lose his job.

I think what I liked best about this movie was how much it had to provide.  Besides having a wonderful trio of heroes in Cogburn, Eula Goodnight, and Wolf, there was a great set of horrible villains.  Richard Jordan plays Hawk, the leader of the outlaws; a ruthless, cruel man who will do anything he has to in order to get the payoff.  Jordan's performance was deliciously vile.  His Hawk was both hated and feared; this is not some push-over baddie.  Anthony Zerbe also played an amazing character as Hawk's man Breed.  Zerbe brings another level of danger to the plot; because he once rode with Cogburn, he understands him better than any of the others in Hawk's employment.

The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful.  The water, crystal clear; the mountains, majestic; the trees and cliffs, rugged but awe-inspiring.  It makes you wish that you were there with them; riding horseback across the fields and through the woods.

Even though I loved the scenery and the characters, I think my favorite part had to be the wonderful chemistry between John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn.  The plot combines two rough and stubborn characters, and despite their hard-headed nature, it soon becomes apparent that Rooster has a little thing for Ms. Goodnight, and she likes him as well.  It was a wonderful little romance; not too overpowering, and a perfect supplement to the rest of the film.  Apparently even someone as mean as old Rooster Cogburn has a soft spot in his heart.

If you enjoyed  True Grit, either the original or the recent remake, then you need to see this movie.  Granted, John Wayne's Cogburn is a bit gentler than Jeff Bridges's, but that doesn't mean he's any less of a fighter.  And he's an amazing actor at that!

The Tooth Fairy (2010)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 9 out of 10
Director: Michael Lembeck
Starring: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Ashley Judd, Stephen Merchant
Rated: PG
Genre: Comedy, Family
Runtime: 101 minutes

When Derek Thompson (Johnson), a hardened hockey player (stuck in the minor leagues after a shoulder injury) tells his girlfriend’s little daughter that there is no such thing as the Tooth Fairy, he receives a shocking surprise: as punishment for his thoughtlessness, the council in the Fairy World has decreed that he take on the role of Tooth Fairy for one week.  Any attempts to skirt his duties will only end with more time being tacked onto his sentence.  So, dressed in powder-blue satin pajamas and big, fuzzy, fairy wings, Derek has to serve out his sentence AND hide his new “condition” from his girlfriend and teammates.  He is accompanied by Tracey (Merchant), his fairy advisor who keeps track of his progress. 

This is an adorable movie, and a great film for the entire family.  Dwayne Johnson continues to amaze me every time he comes out with another silly children’s movie.  I have a lot of respect for a former pro-wrestler who is totally cool with playing silly, possibly emasculating roles for the sake of a comedic children’s film.  Also, Stephen Merchant is a delight.  This is the first time I’ve seen a film with him in it, and with his considerable height, stick figure build, and large eyes, he’s quite a comedic presence.

For children, this movie provides inspirational lessons, including the importance of following your dreams and never giving up.  In addition, it reminds them that anything is possible and that dreams do come true.  The feel-good nature of this film will be felt by the whole family.

The Phantom of the Paradise (1974)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Director: Brian de Palma

Starring: Paul Williams, William Finley, Jessica Harper, and Garrit Graham

Rated: PG

Genre: Horror, Musical, Cult Classic

Run Time: 92 minutes

A disfigured, Phantom-esque anti-hero, a Faustian deal, and a trade straight out of The Picture of Dorian Gray; add a some awesome 70s music, a transvestite rock star, and black leather, and you have The Phantom of the Paradise. After his life's work is stolen by a demonic music producer and his face crushed in a record press, timid composer Winslow Leach sells his soul to ensure that the woman he loves will be able to sing his rendition of Faust at the opening of Swan's new music hall, The Paradise.

To be completely honest, I didn't think I was going to like this movie when I first started.  In fact, I thought it looked pretty dumb.  Mostly, I was watching it because of the Phantom of the Opera ties, and I just love POTO.  Looking at the trailer online, though, I couldn't help but think it was a nasty cross-over between POTO and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  But, The Phantom of Paradise is so much more!

Finley portrays a wonderfully sympathetic protagonist, Winslow Leach; tormented, abused, and eventually destroyed by Swan (Williams).  Besides his heart-wrenching portrayal of a 1970s American version of Leroux's classic character Erik, he also had really awesome makeup and a cool costume.  Its not too often that you see a Phantom dressed in black leather and donning a silver helmet instead of just a mask.  He was by far my favorite character in the movie.

As for the villainous Swan, Paul Williams was perfect!  Definitely one of the best "devils" I've seen in films.  His aura of mystery in the beginning leaves the audience in the dark just as much as Winslow, but the more we learn the more devious he becomes.  This is the first Paul Williams movie I've seen, and I'm very impressed with his acting.  He doesn't over act.  His character is powerful, devious, and harboring a dark secret, but he seems pretty cool with that.  Nothing worries him because he's already attained eternity.

Even though the movie was only rated PG, one must remember that PG-13 was not yet a rating, and honestly, I would not show this film to any children.  Its definitely PG-13.  The topics are too heavy for younger audiences, and the double unmasking at the end is going to be a little too intense.  That being said, the makeup was amazing for both of the unmaskings (although a little graphic); and (I believe) provided the desired effect. 

The best scene in the movie, though, without a doubt, had to be the shower scene when Winslow, in the guise of the Phantom, confronts rock-star Beef (Graham).  I'm not going to say too much, but it does involve a plunger. ^_^

If you're a POTO fan, you might enjoy this film, although I will say that its not as true to the story as some of the other versions are; in fact, apart from a disfigurement, a mask, an "opera house" (in this case a rock hall), and a character very loosely based on Christine, its not very POTO at all.  There's no Raoul, the manger is the villain, and the Phantom actually works for him!  Finley's Phantom is much more timid and weak than most of the others; you would never see Lon Chaney's cowering from an unarmed man who's over a foot shorter than him!  (6'4"/5'2")  But even so, I'd recommend this movie to anyone who's curious about it; its well worth it to check it out.  If nothing else, at least listen to the amazing soundtrack.  Most of the songs are written by Paul Williams (Swan).

**This movie has 2 bonus features!**