rocketbook Reviews

Amadeus (1984)

Let's Go Crazy

[5 January 2003]

The classic "battle of the bands" movie, in which our hero (The

Kid) overcomes adversity and defeats the entrenched musical

establishment by kicking butt in a triumphant orchestral finale.

Oh wait, that's Purple Rain.

Um, this movie is basically a Purple Rain ripoff.

Miracle Mile (1988)

Call me a romantic, but it's my favorite apocalypse movie.

[9/10 · 6 September 2001]

This movie looks a little absurd now, living comfortably in the post-Cold War era, but there was a time not 15 years ago when we all knew that total nuclear anhailation was just 45 hair-trigger minutes away. Do you remember talking with your classmates or coworkers about what you'd do with your last 45 minutes on earth? Run and hide? Go get high? Make out with that chick you were secretly in love with in your English class? Life was a bit more exciting back when we were all about to be vaporized by the Russians. And if you can put yourself back in that 80s mindset, you might just love this flick.<p> It's a romantic thriller, set in the not-so-distant past, when survivalist freaks were your friends and neighboors, apocalyptic songs like 1999 were on the radio, and only the most important people in the world had things like laptops and cellphones. Fills a nice gap between war thrillers like Fail Safe or Dr. Strangelove and the depressing anti-nuclear fables like The Day After.

Idle Hands (1999)

Think Bill and Ted meet Texas Chainsaw Massacre

[3 July 2001]

As someone who generally doesn't "appreciate" horror movies, I

gotta give a double thumbs-up to Idle Hands. It's a stylish, witty,

well-produced film that's about as far from Jason Part XXII (or

whatever they're up to now) as you can get in terms of intelligence,

unpredictability, and even self-mockery. I hesitate to use the word,

but what the heck, this movie is just plain "brilliant." The effects,

cinematography, and acting are all first-rate. And Jessica Alba has

never, ever, looked better. A definite A+ rental.

Face/Off (1997)

suspend your disbelief

[30 June 2001]

All fiction requires one thing: suspension of disbelief. One has to allow oneself, for a short while, to believe the implausible. That said, if you can get beyond the ridiculousness of a "face transplant" operation, you've got one of the best action movies of the decade in store. It's a nonstop roller coaster of a movie.

Dream Master: The Erotic Invader (1996)

Lisa Boyle

[30 June 2001]

It's no Academy Award winner, but then no one watches the Academy Awards hoping to see Lisa Boyle tied to a bed in a girl-girl scene. Terrible dialogue and great scenery make this movie a decent rental for any Lisa Boyle fan.

I Like to Play Games (1995)

Not Lisa Boyle's best

[30 June 2001]

If you're looking to see a lot of Lisa Boyle (and if you're reading this review, there's a good chance you are), this isn't her best film. Sure, she has a lot of screen time, but the movie just isn't that hot. Not to mention the fact that she's wearing clothes in this flick a lot more than in many of her other films. Rent something else.