my very brief thoughts on.... 'The 'Burbs'

i'm going to keep this brief, as i'm afraid of the possible backlash or repurcussions of writing this review....

i know that 'The 'Burbs' has a cult following.... and it's one of Tom Hanks earlier movies, back when he still did comedy.... it's directed by the well known, Joe Dante.... it's got a good cast.... but i just don't enjoy this movie.... i've watched it twice now and i liked it even less the 2nd time.... i don't know what it is about this movie.... i really like Tom Hanks.... and it seems like something i would enjoy, plot wise.... however, i don't get the attraction.... i just don't get it.... maybe i'm missing something....? the plot is clunky, the acting is not great, it just isn't very good....
you're all welcome to try and change my mind.... i am always willing to give a movie another shot.... and i've given 'The 'Burbs' two days in court and no matter how hard i tried, i just did not enjoy myself.... i lowered my rating from 2 out of 5 stars to only 1.... i still enjoy Joe Dante's work.... i still like Tom Hanks.... but this is one i won't partake in again....

if you like early Tom Hanks movies, watch: 'The Money Pit', 'Bachelor Party' or 'Big'

my brief thoughts on.... 'We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen'

before i get started, i just want to point out that The Minutemen were not skinheads, despite what the picture above would possibly lead you to believe.... they weren't punk rockers.... they weren't arena rock stars.... they were just The Minutemen.... and this documentary is their story....

i'm sure a handful of you will know who they are already.... but the majority of you will have never even heard of them.... which is a shame.... granted, they are an aquired taste.... you really have to be into the music scene at that time.... however, you should take a chance and check them out.... read their lyrics.... watch this movie.... if you weren't a fan before, you just might be afterwards.... i've known about them for a long time.... but it took me quite a bit of time to appreciate them for what they were.... like a lot of bands over the course of music as a whole who have been influencial, this is one of those bands.... like them or not.... and this documentary is so well done that it really lets the band shine.... the filmaker blends iterviews followed by a song followed by interview and so on.... it keeps the pace of the movie strong.... and while you're learning about the history of the band and all of their followers, you see them in action at the same time.... it's a good idea and a good blend.... that's what really makes this work....
D. Boon, Mike Watt and George Hurley are The Minutemen.... D. Boon and Mike were friends since high school and although George went to the same school and graduated with them, they never knew each other.... but after all was said and done, they got together and formed the band.... and magic happened.... or so the critics would say and the die hard fans.... and i mean some very prolific and well respected musicians share their thoughts and feelings about the band.... this entire movie is one big love letter to the band and everything they produced and the legacy they left behind....

i truly enjoyed this movie.... from start to finish i was fully invested in the bands story.... they were charasmatic, energetic and the music was something unique.... it made me appreciate them that much more.... even if you've never heard of them and may not like their music, it's still such a well done documentary that its worth watching regardless.... i gav it a strong 4 out of 5 stars.... and i think it stands as an excellent musicial document of a period in time and one bands part in it....

i won't recommend any other options, rather i'll just say to watch this.

my brief thoughts on.... 'Revenge of the Nerds'

i remember this was the first movie that i ever snuck into, if even for a brief moment.... just to see what all the fuss was about.... i mean it raised a bit of an uproar when it came out.... this was around the same time as 'Porky's', when teen sex comedies where at their peak.... it seemed like every other movie was either a low budget rushed horror movie or a sex comedy.... but never did the two meet for some reason.... seems to make sense in retrospect to put them together.... it could have been a blockbuster.... maybe i'm forgetting something and point it out if i am.... anyway.... this movie did so well that it spawned 3 sequels, each one worse than the last.... and luckily Anthony Edwards made it out when he did, so he could go on and have a career on 'ER'.... the rest weren't so lucky.... sadly, they may not be the only ones.... as a remake is in the possible works.

here's the plot in a nutshell.... nerds + jocks = hatred.... jocks push nerds too far.... nerds get their revenge against the jocks.... jocks lose, nerds get the girls and cheesy music plays us out.... the end.despite the simplicity of the script and the basic nature of the story.... this still stands out as a classic in the genre.... and what allowed me to give it 4 out of 5 stars.... it still makes me smile whenever i watch it.... it's just got some of that pesky 80's charm.... and holds up over the years.... i guess in a lot of way the themes are universal.... and are still relevant today.... or perhaps it's just because it has a main character named "Booger" and the classic line, "We've got bush!".... either way.... it's something every fan of 80's comedies needs to see before they die....

if you like this, check out: 'Weird Science', 'Real Genius' and 'Porky's'

my brief thoughts on.... 'Mother's Day' (1980)

this is a Troma Team release, so you already know what you're getting.... violence, nudity and a low budget.... and that's exactly what this has to offer ie: the usual 80's horror movie themes.... it's nothing new or special.... it came about as part of the trend of making movies based around holiday themes.... although, truth be told, this movie DOES NOT take place on Mother's Day.... not that it really matters.... i have to admit i was enthralled with this movie.... i'm not sure why.... i guess i'm just a sucker for the cheesy 80's horror....

3 former college roomates go on a camping trip and get kidnapped by a couple of psycho hillbillies who love their mother.... they torture the women, but eventually the women escape and have their revenge.... and that's about it....not a hard sell for fans of the genre.... but still only a 2 out of 5 star attempt.... the ending was piss poor.... and could have been much better.... however, it was just an example of what the 80's was.... there are a slew of these types of movies out there that are easy to find and are all about the same.... so if you're into that kind of thing.... this may be the movie for you.

other examples: 'My Bloody Valentine' (1981), 'April Fool's Day' (1986) and of course, 'Friday the 13th' (1980)