write_the_wrong Reviews

The Karate Kid Part III (1989)

So bad that it's good?

[5/10 · 8 December 2008]

The third installment in the Karate Kid trilogy proves to be director John G. Avildsen's most lackluster attempt at the series of films. It's almost as if he has given up with the process of making these films, perhaps taking a whole "Let's just see how this goes and hope for the best" approach to it. While it is possible that he directed this film with the intention of making a film that was "so bad that it's good" - it is more likely, however, that that was not the intention.

From start to finish, the film tends to break down new and exciting barriers of outrageous and ridiculous plots and actions. For one, the film begins with an unnecessarily long montage reminding the viewer of what happened in the first two films - stretching to about 5 minutes long. There's nothing wrong with a quick recap, but Avildsen's choice was to include whole scenes from the other films. As a result, the movie started at an awkward pace, already upsetting the usual flow of the first two films. Ralph Macchio acts as though he was tricked into participating in this movie, and as a result has decided to act in a most over the top and comically awful fashion. Not that Ralph Macchio has ever done anything worthy of an Oscar in the past, but this seems like an almost premeditated sort of low for the actor. Martin Kove returns as John Kreese, back and more ridiculous than ever. Pat Morita tries his best to save the film and maybe an attempt to make it slightly serious, but there is far too much overpowering this attempt.

The movie crosses the line of "so bad it's good" countless times. It is still possible to enjoy watching this film for the sheer fact that the outrageous acting and the obnoxious story in general is in fact so ridiculous that it allows the film to be enjoyed by some as a comedy, regardless of how it was originally intended to be.

Aisle Six (1992)

David Wain's first film

[9/10 · 16 November 2008]

David Wain's 1991 directorial debut short film, Aisle Six, is the absurd mockumentary about Brad, a high school student who wishes to become an electrical engineer - despite the pressures to become a plumber as that is what is considered normal by his friends and family. Because Brad is such as skillful plumber, he is considered the most popular boy in school. The school seems to be located in a sort of alternate universe where plumbing is considered cool, and playing football is for losers.

Despite the fact that it was a student film and the obvious lack of budget, Wain was able to assemble a stellar cast full of outrageous and talented individuals. Most particularly the scenes in which the students would talk to the cameras about their experiences with Brad were often the most enjoyable to watch. Considering the age and probable inexperience that could be attributed with that, the cast performances were absolutely hysterical, truly making the audience believe in their beliefs in plumbing.

The use of music throughout the film is used brilliantly to capture the various moods of the scenes involved. The beginning of the film features a simple guitar riff, perfectly capturing the essence of a 90s high school. For comedic purposes, the song "How Deep Is Your Love" is used as Brad and his girlfriend experience a high from their rebellious transition into electrical involvement. When Brad is explaining to his parents and the parents of his girlfriend that he wants to go to MIT, since he has no real interest in plumbing and wants to pursue electrical engineering - the music is used appropriately to convey the sense of immense pressure that is building on Brad, his feelings of isolation and exclusion from his family and friends.

David Wain was clearly ahead of his time with this bold and original debut film. The film was screened at Sundance and won countless awards at festivals despite the fact that it was made by a student.

Bottle Rocket (1996)

stunning debut

[10/10 · 16 November 2008]

1996's Bottle Rocket stands out as the arresting debut of director Wes Anderson, along with ongoing writing partner Owen Wilson. It immediately engages its audience in the ridiculous story of Dignan (Owen Wilson) and Anthony (Luke Wilson), two friends that aren't any good at being criminals - although they aspire to be. They work alongside their friend Bob Mapplethorpe (Robert Musgrave) or rather trick him into helping them due to the fact that he can finance their operations.

What's so interesting about this film is the true heart that started in the script and then continued to shine through with the actors' performances. The characters were developed deeply enough for the audience to truly get a sense of who they were, what they wanted, and where they were going. Although the film tells the story of a group of wannabe thieves, it becomes clear that the reason why they are no good at pulling off these crimes is simply because of the fact that they are actually really nice guys, incapable of actually hurting anyone.

The most remarkable aspect of the film would have to be in the brilliant performances featured throughout. Owen Wilson truly shines as Dignan, the group's leader - desperate to pull off at least one fantastic heist. He is hot-tempered, controlling, and he often lets his emotions get the best of him. Although he may screw up a lot, he is always quick to apologize. At the end of the film when he is sentenced to serve time, he claims to have no hard feelings showing a real growth in his character. Another standout performance came from Luke Wilson as Dignan's best friend Anthony. It's obvious that Anthony doesn't want to be a criminal, and that he simply participates because he doesn't want to make Dignan unhappy. After he falls in love with one of the maids at a motel they stay at, he realizes he can't work with Dignan anymore. Wilson's performance was outstanding - he was really able to convey both his character's indifferent side, and also being torn between love and friendship.

Bottle Rocket was an outstanding debut achievement for director Wes Anderson, marking the beginning of a series of stunning films full of character driven scripts, great music, and aesthetically pleasing visuals.

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Night of the Living Dead

[9/10 · 20 September 2008]

George A. Romero's 1968 cult classic 'Night of the Living Dead' could arguably be one of the most revolutionary horror films of its time. It may not have been the first zombie film ever made but it's the first one that actually made an impact on popular culture. On the surface, 'Night of the Living Dead' seems to be a run of the mill horror movie about a group of people hiding out in a farmhouse from these flesh eating beings that have been reanimated from the dead. What's so interesting about this film is its many satirical comments on American culture during the the late 1960's - criticizing society for its racism, its involvement in the Vietnam war, and a general attitude towards women.

George A. Romero chose Duane Jones to play the African- American hero of the film, which up until then was rarely heard of, only to have him gunned down in the very end of the film just as he thinks he is finally saved and everything will return to normal. It's supposed to remind the viewer of all the powerful black males in history that have stood up to their oppressors and revolted against the norms of society only to be assassinated by those who did not agree with their views and beliefs.

The zombies in the film are playing the same role the Vietnamese played in the Vietnam war. They seem to be everywhere and stop at nothing to take over everything in their path. The few humans that are left and trying to survive are the soldiers who were over in Vietnam during the war: they're trapped, they have little resources and have nowhere to run because the enemy they are running from are covering the entire area.

The women in this film are treated as fragile and useless in the situation they are facing. Barbra, portrayed brilliantly by Judith O'Dea begins the film terrified and running from the zombies, only to continue throughout the film helping out in no way possible. She sits on the couch in shock and rarely responds or has any input to the storyline. The only time she ever gets up and takes action is at the end - at which point she is absolutely no help, getting herself taken away (and presumably eaten). Portraying Barbra as silent and unable to help because of her mental state of shock only pointed out how America at the time (and to an extent still does) treat its women as helpless and powerless.

What is so appealing about this film is its ability to have all of these powerful, underlying themes while simultaneously coming off as a meaningless Friday night "Let's go to the drive-in!" B-horror movies of the 1960's. It has the ability to let you just sit down and enjoy it without having to think too heavily about its themes and context. It's a film that can be enjoyed and appreciated by both the brainless teenagers of America and the most analytical of film critics.

Empire Records (1995)

Why do people love this movie so much?

[7/10 · 12 September 2008]

Empire Records has been regarded as a cult favorite from the last couple decades. The story in general is nothing special. It's predictable, generic, and at times not even existent. Lets be serious here, the film ends in about a half dozen separate miracles, every problem was solved by the end of the day – everybody's never been better, and they all dance on a rooftop. So how has this film maintained such a dedicated fan base over all these years? What this film was so successful in was having such a great cast, and an even better soundtrack. Since the plot of the film was so lacking, the film had to rely heavily on dialogue in order to push the story forward and keep the audience engaged. Every role was cast perfectly, each character unique and troubled in their own way. All of the performers played very well off of each other, when you watched the movie it truly felt as though you were watching these people for a day at their record store. All of the characters were believable, and interesting to watch.

Perhaps the strongest attribute to the film, however, was its soundtrack. The music throughout the film was able to keep the audience into every character, every emotion, and every scene that was appearing before them. The music was refreshing, fun, and very fitting to the scenes they were attached to. The music will probably always be regarded as the most remarkable aspect of the film.

What's so interesting about this movie is the fact that it is able to be so successful even without a decent story. The filmmakers were able to use different resources in order to engage an audience and keep so many people interested in the film – even so many years after its release. Empire Records truly was revolutionary for its time.