Greatest Thanksgiving Day movie of all time!!!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

Directed by John Hughes

To pick my favorite Thanksgiving Day movie was a real easy task. For one there aren't too many movies that take place on this amazing holiday. The other reason is this is a fantastic movie with a great story and real heart, plus it is damn funny. 

The movie was written and directed the the late great John Hughes. He was a real master of dialogue and a master of how people interact with each other. He was known for mostly teen movies by the time he made Planes. He really wanted to branch out and make adult movies with adult themes and actors. For this movie he hit a home run with his casting choices.

Steve Martin plays Neal Page a very uptight ad exec who works in New York but lives in Chicago. All he wants to do is get home for Thanksgiving to be with his family. That's where the drama comes into the picture. See Neal chooses a flight home on the wrong day, nothing goes right and there is only one man who can help. 

Enter the late and GREAT John Candy who plays Dell Griffith, shower curtain sales man. In tradition of the Odd Couple Dell is a very brash and sloppy guy, but he comes with a big heart and wants to help Neal get home for the turkey day. Dell is a man alone since his wife died and is looking for his place in life.

These two roles are perfectly cast and acted by these two comic legends. Up in till this film these two guys were better known for their silly movies like The Jerk and Summer Rental. They are the main reason this film is on a lot of top 10 list for best film of the 80's.

After the flight to Chicago gets bumped to Wichita, Kansas, Dell decides to get a room and figure out how to get home in the morning. Neal can't find a room so he decides to bunk up with Dell, thus the start of  Murphy's law in full motion. For starters the room only has one bed which leads to one of the funniest moments in the film. I won't ruin it but it has to do with two pillows that may or may not be in the bed.

The boys survive the night and end up on a bus headed to Chicago, there is one snag though they have no  money so they can only go so far. Can Dell get Neal home in time for dinner? Will they become friends? All these questions and more can be answered if you watch this all time classic.

This film is full of some great one liners that I still use to this day. 

• "You're going the wrong way!"
• "Oh, he's drunk. How would he know where we're going"
• "Those aren't pillows!"
• "Six bucks and my right nut says we're not landing in Chicago"
• "If they told you wolverines would make good house pets, would you believe them?"
• "Well, I'm still a million bucks shy of bein' a millionaire"
• "You'll never make the six."
• "You just go with the flow. Like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream."

This is an old family favorite that is quoted like crazy around this time of year. Steve Martin said in an interview that this is his favorite of all the movies he has made. It's a shame that Hughes and Candy are gone they left us too soon. At least we have this classic to see how great they were.

 

This is a holiday classic along the lines of Miracle on 34th St. and A Christmas Carol. Have a Happy Thanksgiving to all.

 

10/10 

11 - 11 - 11

So today is a very awesome day, true it is Veteran's Day but it is also Nigel Tufnel Day! One of the greatest guitar players of all time has his own day. For those of you that don't know Tufnel is the lead guitarist of the rock group Spinal Tap.

This has been in the works for one hundred years now and it is about time it is here. There is a whole blog about it: Nigel Tufnel Day! 11 is a magical number and even more magical that it is Nigel's day. 10 is great and all but today goes to 11.

Enjoy your day because we have to wait another 100 years for the next Nigel Tufnel day. Hope I'm still around. See you in 100.

Tonight we're gonna rock you!!!

Guess Who's Back...

That's right people I am back and ready for some more reviews and other strange pop mess. I got some good stuff lined up for the next few weeks. I took some time off to write a movie, turned out pretty good. But now I must get back to work. Keep reading and enjoy the future of Video Junkie: The Internet Site.

--Video Junkie

Why did this get canceled?! Episode 5

The Greatest American Hero (1981 - 1983)

Created by Stephen J. Cannell

Believe or not I really loved this show. As a child this and the Hulk were my two favorite shows. Sure the story line is stolen from the Green Lattern with the whole alien dying and giving a superpower item to a human. But the great thing about this show is he doesn't know how to use it. Let the laughter start now. 

The show starred William Katt as our American hero who can't fly strait. As his FBI partner we have the late great Robert Culp. Playing the ever loving girlfriend is Connie Sellecca. Katt and Culp had a great chemistry and were the  prototype for the great relationship in Quantum Leap.

The episodes were all the same a local bad guy and a kidnapping and Katt saves the day. But the way Katt played the hero was just the highlight of the show. He has no clue how to use the suit and Culp is there to back him up. It turned into a real detective show in the later seasons. By season three it turned into the hero fighting witches and monsters.

The one thing this show was missing was a real bad guy, like a super villain. The balance of Katt playing a teacher that also saves people is what really carried the show.  The theme song is in itself is a major part of the legacy of the show. Believe it or not is one of the greatest theme songs of any show. It was sung by Joey Scarbury and was a big hit in 1981. That's right I just said 1981. The song was used in an episode of Seinfeld, when George used it for his answering machine.

A few years back I read that Disney was going to make a full length feature of the show. I think this could work as a movie. Here are my ideas for a plot. Keep it like the show with the FBI agent as his partner and have the lead lose the instruction manual and he can't fly strait. But one big change I would make is give him a evil villain who has a suit like the hero only this guy has the instruction manual.

Here is my cast for the film.

• Ralph Hinkley - Jay Barushel

• Bill Maxwell - Val Kilmer

• Pam Davidson - Zooey Deshanel

• Anti-Hero - Tom Hardy

Here are my picks for a big movie. I feel Jay is the best cast, I know Val Kilmer?! Watch Kiss Kiss Bang  Bang and you will understand what I see in Mr. Kilmer as a older burned out FBI agent.

This show was canceled why too soon in the TV world. It had a lot of promise but hopefully we get a movie to make the show live on forever. I'm gonna go buy the DVD complete show. Till next time got to run.

Who doesn't miss rollerblading?

 

Airborne (1993)

Directed by Rob Bowman

Before you start to yell at me for this movie being anywhere on my page let me just start off with the 5 things that make this movie rock your socks off.

1. It has Jack Black
2. It has people named Blane and Wiley.
3. It has a very ginger Seth Green
4. It has a future playboy model as the female lead
5. It has Snake...

You gotta love a movie that is centered around a sport that is really just rollerskating, I mean come on people this is a sport that eight year old girls do for their birthday parties. It is not cool and stop telling yourself that it is. Everyone knows that skateboarding is much cooler and harder. That is all I'll say about rollerblading. I guess I'm just pissed because I have terrible balance. Stupid gravity.

The movie stars the future never to be heard of again, Shane McDermott. He went on the become a city councilman or something. He plays surfer boy Mitchell Goosen who's parents inform him that they are going on a trip to Australia to study plant life. On catch though, Mitchell can't go because he has school. His parents know that he is a surfer and they go to Australia and don't take their kid. Cool parents. Don't they realize that Mitch is so burned out that is really doesn't matter if he finishes school or not. Wake up and smell the pot head kid. Instead of hot chicks and Crocodile Dundee Mitch gets shipped off to the amazing dream like city of Cincinnati, Ohio. I love how when Goosen gets off the plane they show it snowing just to emphasize just how shitty it is in Ohio, hey director we get it, Ohio is a hell hole. 

Once in the magic city of Cincinnati we meet the rest of our A-list cast. Seth Green plays Wiley, Mitch's cousin who thinks he is the man. I'll give it to Green he is what makes this movie watchable if only for a second. The first day of school Mitch finds out that his cousin is a loser and the school hates his California hippie way of life. Well except for the girls, my god they all want a piece of the Goosen. 

The bullies make no sense in this flick. Jack played by some guy from The Next Karate Kid, Augie played by a semi young Jack Black and Snake played by some typical Spanish gang leader that is in the wrong movie.  think he is a left over from Stand & Deliver. So these big time jocks hate Wiley and the Goosen but for some odd ass reason they make them play in their off the books hockey game with the, get this name of the rival gang, The Preps. Come on writer, what is this a spin off of The Outsiders. Of course Goosen messes up and loses the game and everyone hates him but it is cool because he doesn't care from all the weed and Cali air that is in his system.

A great montage shows how they get picked on over and over again and again. During all of the hazing Mitch decides it is a good idea to start dating even though he leaves at the end of the semester. He likes to hit it and quit it I guess. He meets Nikki played by the future Playboy model Brittney Powell. They fall in love while he roller blades around her at a garden. He really loves those blades as you can see when he gets them sent from home. To be a teen again.

This is where the movie turns into every other teen movie, Mitch loses the girl because he tells everyone he could give two shits about Ohio, I thought for sure they would have agreed with him. Wiley loses his respect because he wouldn't fight Blane the leader of the Preps....Had to stop because I always laugh at guys named Blane and gangs named the Preps. Might as well call them the Sharks or the Jets, hell the Pink Ladies would do.

After the shit hits the fan Mitch has a dream about a shark or a kid or Popeye; I don't know he was high and I couldn't understand him. Oh yeah he was surfer on his bed, what an asshole. Goosen wins over the loser gang except Jack, who by the way is the brother of Nikki. They decide to go head to head in a roller blade race down the Devil's Backbone against the Preps...still laughing sorry. It is basically a big hill with a turn and then a pier at the end big deal. This is one thinks out loud who wrote this shit a roller blade company.

I won't ruin the end but lets just say it all works out in the end. I watched this movie the other day and have to say that it is timeless and not dated at all. Well except for the hair cuts the cloths, roller blades, music and the speech. Other than that the movie is pretty up to date with today's young people.

Till the next forgotten classic...

5/10

   

These kids need a nap...

Children of the Corn (1984)

Directed by Fritz Kiersch

If you like kids killing people and loving on the devil as much as me then this is the movie for you. I don't want to say that this is a poorly made movie, but after watching again recently I have to say this is a poorly made movie. 

It was painstakingly put together by Fritz Kiersch who went on to make a amazing two episode run on Swamp Thing the TV series. So right off the start of this bad Larry you know you are in good hands. Also and this is a small also it is based on a Stephen King book or should I say short story from way back. Now I like Stephen King, his books anyways. We can all agree his movies aren't always the best when they come out. There are a few like The Mist and Shawshank, but come on when I watch Shank I think about how great of a book by King this movie is based.

The movie is about a town that gets taken over by the children who believe the devil is coming back, they call him He who walks behind the rows. Very scary! A few kids take over the local diner and kill the adults. Apparently there are only seven adults in the whole town because it only takes a few minutes to kill them all. One of the main devil freaks is Malachi played by Courtney Gains, from The 'burbs. I knew he was off because he is a ginger, they are always off. Wake up people!

The leader of this rag tag group is Isaac Chroner played by John Franklin, he played It in the Adam's Family movies. He is one of those man child guys like Webster or Different Strokes. All I got to say is he is a bitch.

The heroes of this epic is Peter Horton from Thirty-something and that chick from The Terminator, Linda Hamilton. These two city folk are heading to the big city because Horton is a doctor now and he has money to make. Instead of flying they decide to drive, because who doesn't love a drive through Bible country. Long story short they crash and end up in Hell Town with mayor Isaac.

They meet a kid and hatch up a crazy plan to save Hell Town. Some of the best acting in this movie comes between Isaac and Malachi. These two couldn't act out of a plastic bag, although the guy that played Isaac got much better by the time he played It in Adam's Family. I really believed he was a hair ball. The director loves to show close up of hands doing stuff like killing of getting ready to kill or even after the kill. It's like Jaws don't show the shark till the end.

I watched this one a few weeks back for the first time in like ten years. I have to say that it really doesn't hold up to well. But I still have a place in my heart for devil kids that worship He who walks behind the rows. Go check this gem out and have a great time watch kids go bat shit crazy.

A great forgotten classic that has to be seen to believe.

5/10

My poor daughter...

With my daughter turning the big 3 this year I started thinking about the stuff I grew up with that she will have no idea what I am talking about. Like TVs with a back, beepers, no internet and my all time favorite thing to do in my early years was to go to the local mom and pop video rental store. 

I love movies... no really I love movies I think I would kill someone to watch one. When I was a kid every Friday night was video rental night. Our local store was called Video City. I miss this place, it was so low key that you didn't even have a rental card, everyone was given a three digit ID number.

That isn't a picture of the great Video City, couldn't find one, this is a picture from Movies 4 Sale that has long since closed. The cool thing about Video City was the fact that you could have the posters off the wall. My room was draped in posters from top to bottom. From Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure to The Last Boy Scout(personal favorite), I had them all. 

One of my favorite things from Video City was the staff. They were late teens to early twenty somethings that loved movies more than me. It was dream of mine to get a job there once I was sixteen. But the store closed before that could ever happen. I miss the clerk picks and the late fees and of course the lone arcade game in the corner. It was always Q-Bert or Pac-Man and you knew who had the high score. On a given Friday night there would be skateboarders and kids smoking outside the store, it was the place to be.

I know that I'm old and I should just embrace the downloading trend, but I really can't get on board. This is all coming from a guy that would not get a DVD player for years because VHS kicks ass. So what the hell do I know?!!

I was never that big of a Blockbuster fan just because of what they represented, which was the death of the mom and pop store. Now thanks to Blockbuster we see the death of the video rental store. 

The stores that were around the mom and pop rental stores were always nothing that would ever go with it. Like a tanning salon or a hallmark or dollar store. Mine was next too a buffet and a drug store, oh and a carpet store. Everything you want in one plaza, welcome to Florida home of the plaza.

Mom and pop stores always had the most out there videos that Blockbuster would never even think about carrying. Without Video City I would have never seen such classics like Evil Dead 2, Faces of Death, I Spit On Your Grave, Meatballs, Three O'Clock High, DC Cab, Red Dawn, the list can go on and on. I found a store once in Orlando where I bought a used copy of Evil Dead 2 for $9. This was back when the movie was very much out of print.

That was then and this is now. Those stores are long gone, I have found some online that still rent videos, they are still out there. I wish they were able to work with online and keep this great places alive. What can you do? Times change and we get older and older. One day my daughter will down load Evil Dead 2 and watch it and wonder what is wrong with my taste of movies. I bet she would like it after renting it from a store after playing some Q-Bert and drinking some Mountain Dew.

God bless America where the mom pop store closes and dies.

FIVE MONTH ANNIVERSARY!!

It's that time again, well not actually again because this is my first Five Month Anniversary; wait you only get one of these so welcome to my one and only Five Month Anniversary. To celebrate this amazing and some what above par moment here is a picture of me when we started this web page way back in March of 2011. Enjoy and please keep reading!

Thanks to everyone who takes time out of their lives to read my silly reviews and my rants about why Just the 10 of Us was taken off the air. Here's to you bad TV and Movies.

We went all out on the cake again.

Top 5 Bands from film...

Here is my list of bands from some classic movies. I'm sure you have heard of some but not all. I left some off because I am just to lazy to do a top ten list. Sex Bob-omb almost made the list as well as The Wonders. But I think I am going for great names over anything else. Check out my links. Here is my list...

5. Wyld Stallyns - Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

So this band never really plays a song in the movie but who cares. The name of the band is great and the fact that it is spelled wrong just makes it even better. True these heroes of the future couldn't play a note or even sing doesn't matter, everyone knew kids like this in high school. Love this band and movie... San Dimas High School football RULES!!!!!!!!!!!

Why they Rock!!! 

4. Randy Watson & Sexual Chocolate - Coming to America (1988)

You might remember Randy Watson as Joe the Policeman in the "What's Goin' Down" episode of That's My Mama. Okay it was just Eddie Murphy back when he was funny. This is a stand out scene in this movie and almost all of my friends still say the lines to this day. His rendition of "Greatest Love of All" is tear jerking. Mr. Watson you sit at number four. God bless the joy you have given me over the years.

Watch the greatest exit ever!!! 

3. Johnny Casino & The Gamblers - Grease (1978)

I know it is a musical and no one like musicals, well this is one of the best musicals and yes I said the word musical four times in one sentence. This is one of my all time favorite name for a band ever, it is long and you know the band rocks by the name. It is also one of the best scenes in the movie with some of the best songs. They are played by Sha-Na-Na in real life, who are actually a pretty good band. Take it away Johnny Casino & The Gamblers...

No good links for Johnny..

2. Spinal Tap - This is Spinal Tap (1984)

 

Who hasn't seen this movie!? If you haven't I feel sorry for you and everyone involved with your sorry excuse for a life. I love this group because their album Smell The Glove is actually pretty good. Not as good as Shark Sandwich but still pretty rockin. I know they should be number one with a bullet but you know what when you see who number one is you will understand. The consist of David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel and Derek Smalls. Great band and even better movie that can be summed up with one word Stonehenge!

Tonight I'm gonna rock you tonight!!!

1. Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem - The Muppets

   

This is the greatest movie rock band of all time!! The first appeared on The Muppet Show and then moved onto The Muppet Movie (1979). The band consist of Dr. Teeth, Janice, Sgt. Floyd Pepper, Zoot and the greatest drummer of all time Animal. They play all forms of music but like rock and roll the best. They travel in a giant bus. All hail the greatest movie band of all time...

It's time to rock!!! 

Till next time...

 

For Bubba...

Police Academy (1984)

Directed by Hugh Wilson

Today we kick it off with one of my all time favorite flicks from the HBO days of the 80's. It is Police Academy. I'll be the first person to defend this classic American film. The plot is one of those plots that have been done to death over the years, especially in the 80's.  For some reason good or bad all of those films made there way to HBO for repeat viewing. 

Academy stars the great and legendary Steve Guttenburg, from such flicks as Police Academy 2 and High Spirits. Oh yeah he was also in Police Academy 3 and 4. The film also stars Kim Cattrall from that show on HBO where she is a whore. It also has Michael Winslow, the guy that makes noises, you know who he is. Leslie Easterbrook, who only appears in these movies and not much else and George Gaynes, yep that same guy from Punky Brewster. It also features G.W. Bailey as the bad guy that wants the recruits to fail.

Two of my favorite characters are of course Moses Hightower and Eugene Tackleberry played by Bubba Smith and David Graf. Both of these men have since left us, Smith only a day ago and Graf back in 2001. Both of these men will be remembered for their roles in this classic and great series.

Police Academy follows a very simple and realistic story line, the city needs cops so the academy opens it's doors to anyone who wants to join up, let the hilarity ensue. This movie has so many gags and one liners, some good and some bad. It is your typical 80's broad comedy, it has boobs, check, it has a wise ass leading man, check and it has your stereo typical characters, check. What more could you ask for.

The Gutts plays Carey Mahoney as a smooth talking asshole with no charm, oh wait that is what I thought he was playing. Bailey plays his archenemy who wants nothing more then to end his career and life. See Mahoney is a loose cannon and the police force has no room for a guy like that. Well this was a few years before Lethal Weapon came out by then every police force wanted a loose cannon.

This is a great film because you know the ending before it happens so there are plenty of times to get up and do some chores or what ever you prefer.

I leave you today with a clip for Bubba Smith and David Graf enjoy... Check out a young David Spade!

Follow the Link and have a laugh!!!

Another forgotten classic in the books watch and enjoy.


8/10

Top Ten Nintendo Games!!!

 

Growing up Nintendo was  a very big part of my childhood. I remember going to buy the system in 1986, I want to say. We took a vacation to Ohio, I know who the hell takes a vacation in Ohio, and my mom took part in a reverse lottery. If you have the numbers they call out you lose. Luck went our way and we won the lotto. I helped pick the numbers so my mom let me get Nintendo with my big winnings, $100.00. Big money back then! Just think that is all it cost to get a pretty sweet gaming system back then.

It came with two games, Duck Hunt and the legendary Super Mario Brothers, two controllers and the classic gun. It was called the action set!

Here is my list of the top ten Nintendo games of my time.

10. Double Dragon (1987)

This is the story of two kung-fu loving brothers as they beat ass and take names. I was never very good at this game. My friends were so I was forced to play and get my ass beat down by the green abobos and the rest of the baddies. Great game and a real good time while playing it with friends. Don't check out the feature film with the guy from Party of Five. Dreadful...

9. Blaster Master (1988)

This game was a few years ahead of it's time. It was a run and gun game with very hard levels and some great 8 bit music. It is about a guy named Jason, great name by the way, who looses his frog down a hole in the ground. So he goes in and finds a world with mutants and a bitchn' car. With the car Jason heads out to find his frog and destroy the mutants. A must play for anyone who loves games. Jason has a unhealthy relationship with that frog...

8. Mega Man 2 (1988)

Any game that features a robot fighting other robots is always a good time in my book. This game is light years ahead of the first Mega Man. The is simple defeat the robot levels and then fight the evil Dr. Wily. Many weekends were taken up with this game. One problem why does he let Dr. Wily live at the end of the game, you think it could all be over with...

7. Castlevania (1986)

This is one hard Nintendo game. I never finished it and don't remember anyone doing it. Nintendo didn't play around back then with the difficulty levels. They were always on hard. In the game you control Simon Belmont, a vampire hunter from a long line of vampire hunters. You set out to fight Dracula the worst vampire of them all. Great game play and again it should be noted it had outstanding music. On a side note I love Simon Belmont in Captain N: The Game Master, just saying...

6. Metroid (1986)

Metroid is one of those classic games that everyone knows. It has a very hard game play and the levels look great and different. It was one of the first games with a code system in place to continue play. The game stars Samus Aran who is out to destroy Mother Brain and save the universe. This game brought back great memories of staying up late and trying to beat it. If you were lucky enough to beat the game you find out that Aran was a girl, what a mind fuck in a world where every video game hero was a guy...

5. Bionic Commando (1988)

I've been saying how old Nintendo games were real hard, well here is a game where you can't jump. Who would make a game where the hero can't jump or run. All you have is a robotic arm that grabs stuff. This game was light years ahead of it's time. I just downloaded a version on my XBOX 360, great game too. I was pretty good at this one. Any game where the bad guy is a resurrected Hitler is always a good time in my book. The end when his head blows up is still one of the greatest endings in video game history...

4. Metal Gear (1987)

This game was played in my house for years.  I beat the game with help from the phone hot line, this was before online gaming. The game was all about sneaking around trying not to get caught and even sometimes not kill anyone. Another hard Nintendo game that was ahead of its time. This is one great game with great sequels with each one harder and harder. The hero Solid Snake was based on the character from Escape from New York...


3. Dragon Warrior (1986)

The word obsessed can't described the way I feel about this game. My friends hated that I played this game all the time. This was another game that I used the game hot line on the phone. It is a simple story of a princess taken and a prince going to save her from the evil wizard. Doesn't get any batter than that in my book. This was the second greatest role playing game on Nintendo...

2. The Legend of Zelda (1986)

This is the best role playing game of all time. Don't give me that Final Fantasy crap. That game would be nothing if it weren't for the little gold box. This game has it all the princess in trouble and a hero that is a elf. It came in a fucking gold box just to tell other games that their time is up. Link is one of the greatest video game heroes of all time. The best part about this game is that after you beat it you can play it again and it is 10x harder than the first time...

1. Super Mario Brothers (1985)

Super Mario Brothers is the game that everyone my age has played more than any other game. I played it so long one night that it burned onto my TV screen. This game was played by everyone in my house for years. This game got me playing games. If it weren't for Mario gaming would be dead. Q-Bert is cool and all but it can't hold a candle to Mario. All other platforms tried to recreate Mario... Sonic I'm looking at you. No one could copy Mario. The music and levels were amazing and incredibly hard to complete. I beat this game once in my life time and never again. That is why the Brothers is number 1.


That is my list for the best NES games of all time. I left a few off that maybe should have been on the list. Punch Out comes to mind as does Tecmo Bowl. Hope you like the list and please give me your favorites.


Till next time...

It is a pit!

The Money Pit (1986)

Directed by Richard Benjamin

In honor of my wife and I getting a house I bring you the forgotten classic The Money Pit. This is one of those movies that did pretty bad when it came out but now it is on TV all the time. These are the years that Tom Hanks made any movie that came in front of him. He got big off of Splash and then he made these stinkers until he made Big.

The Money Pit was directed by Richard Benjamin who went on to direct Milk Money and the Whoopi Goldberg classic Made in America. This guy can craft a well made story into a amazing feature film. The funny thing this was produced by Steven Spielberg the director of 1942.

The stars of The Pit are of course Tom Hanks mentioned above and the newly freed from Cheers, Shelly Long. When the makers of this got these two comedy partners together I bet they thought they hit comedy gold. They were dead wrong. This was Hanks pre-any Oscar and Shelly Long after she left one of the best sitcoms of all time. But they both went on to have stellar careers with Hanks winning back to back Oscars and Long went on to make The Brady Bunch movie and Hello Again.

There are some great cameos in The Pit and they include Maureen Stapleton from Johnny Dangerous, Joe Mantegna from Babies Day Out and the greatest cameo any '80's movie could ask for Yakov Smirnoff. That's right the famous Russian comedian and exile. I love America! 

 

Let's get back on track...The Money Pit is about a couple who decide to buy a million dollar house to find out it is a run down fixer upper. Let the comedy ensue. The running joke is that everyone tells them that it will take two weeks. Low and behold it does not take two weeks. The young couple gets help from Long's ex husband played by Alexander Godunov the blond bad guy from Die Hard.

This is a classic '80's movie that I know a lot of people have seen. It is truly a forgotten classic. So check out The Money Pit today.

5/10

Top 5 Father's Day Movies!!!

In honor of Father's Day this Sunday I have decided to post my top 5 movies with the best daddies, some are miss understood but they are still your father. A team of movie buffs watched hours of film to find the perfect 5 so here they are...

5. A Christmas Story (1983)

Trailer Time!!! 

This is a personal favorite of mine since I was a child. The best part of the movie was when Ralphie finally got his BB gun. Through the whole movie he ask everyone but his father played by the master Darren McGavin. You might know him from Billy Madison playing his father. In A Christmas Story McGavin doesn't even have a name he is referred to as Old Man. It just tickles your heart that the Old Man was the one that came through in the end. A true classic.

4. The Shining (1980)

 Creepy Trailer!!!

One of my few favorite Kubrick movies and one of the best bat shit crazy dads out there. Jack Nicholson plays Jack Torrance, a writer that just wants to provide for his family. He gets this great idea to go to an old hotel and write away. But the hotel is haunted and he goes bananas and tries to kill his family. I still think it was because he got a tie for Father's Day again. What can you do? The end is the best!

3. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Crazy Trailer!!! 

This movie scared the living hell out of me as a kid. It look so real and there really isn't any blood in it. Jim Siedow should have got father of the year in my opinion. He was just a single fun loving father trying to keep this rag tag bunch together in hard times. If it was a mom played by Sally Field it would be an Oscar winner. Damn politics. The guy just wants to be left alone and make some good ole chili. MMMMM good ole chili.

2. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

 Old School Trailer!!!

I know it is really called Episode V but it will always be Empire to me. Darth Vader is like any father you know. He wants his only son to take over the family business. Can you blame the guy it took him years and a lot of sacrifice to get where his is in the galaxy. He is a single father that had some troubles and lost his children, but he build his life back up to show everyone they were wrong. Sure he is really into his religion but who isn't. This is another case where if it was a woman like Julia Roberts it would be a great come back story. By the way it is the best Star Wars movie ever.

1. The Stepfather (1987)

  Trailer Time!!! 

I know it is called Stepfather but there isn't a father's day movie unless you count that crap movie with Robin Williams and Billy Crystal. Trust me this one is better. The Stepfather is played by the amazing Terry O'Quinn, that's right it is Locke from a little show called Lost. His performance in this is great and out of control. He plays a serial killer that marries into a family and then gets sick of them and kills them, what more could you ask for in a film. He just wants the perfect family and each one is a let down. Poor crazy ass step dad. This should be watch with the family to show that you should never disappoint dad or make him grill on Father's Day because it sucks.

That concludes my list for this Father's Day. If you have some favorites please feel free to let me know.

Till next time...   

Hey, Eraser Head

 

House Party (1990)

Directed by Reginald Hudlin

Today I bring you a movie that is right up there in my top ten all time funniest movies. It is the 1990 classic House Party. I have to say that this movie brings up great memories from my child hood. I owned a copy on VHS - See kids a VHS is what we use to watch movies on back in the '80's and '90's. They were like giant tapes - Damn, see kids tapes were something we could record music on and make mix tapes for the ones we loved. Where the hell was I? 

House Party was watched at my friends house every weekend it seemed. We would eat bad food and drink and watch this amazing American classic. We still quote the movie today and I am pushing my mid thirties.

The flick was directed by Reginald Hudlin who went on to make Boomerang and The Great White Hype. Both of which are fine films in their own right. He also wrote it and it was the subject for his thesis for film at Harverd University.

It stared Kid-N-Play or Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin. Playing their best friend is Martin Lawerance, very young mind you, as Bilal the house party DJ. It also had a very young Tisha Campbell and the members of Full Force. But the real stand out is Robin Harris as Pops. He steals the show in one of his few starring roles as Kid's dad. We miss you Robin Harris.

The movie is a simple plot, Kid gets into trouble and has to sneak out to Plays house party. It follows the adventures of Kid as he tries to get to the party. The film also follows the quest of Pops who is trying to catch his son that defied him. This movie is very layered as it has Play trying to keep his cool as the kids destroy his house and Bilal has a problem with a party guest that bumps his DJ table. What will happen as the funny happens all over the place.

Like I said this movie is very special to me as it is to my friends that watched it many weekend nights ago. 

House Party spawned many sequels and even a little movie career for Kid-N-Play with a cartoon show added in for good measure. I only recommend House Party 2 for future viewing.

Please give this '90's classic a chance and check out House Party on VHS, by the way I went through at least two copies of this film on VHS. A true forgotten classic and an American classic. 

Till next time...

10/10

Video Junkie Extra:

This movie was written for Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff back in the day. But for some reason they didn't get to make it. Kid-N-Play were a last minute substitute. Thank God that they were not in this movie it would have ruined my teenage years.

Why did this get canceled?! Episode 4

 

Misfits of Science (1985-1986)

Created by James D. Parriott

Before there was a Heroes or even No Ordinary Family there was a little known show called Misfits of Science. It was a show about three people that get powers and use them for the greater good. I always thought that the super hero story would work well on television. Heroes could have been a excellent show but it did not live up to the hype. I don't want to turn this into a what happened with Heroes. So back to Misfits of Science...

The premise of Misfits is two scientist form a super human team to take on a evil government organization that is building a bomb. Pretty cool idea.

The show starred Dean Paul Martin as Dr. Billy Hayes, the only member of Misfits to have no super powers. Kevin Peter Hall, better known as the Predator, played Dr. Elvin Lincoln or El for short. He could shrink himself but for only a short period of time. Pretty cool power for someone '7'2. He would carry around doll cloths in case he had to shrink himself. Mark Thomas Miller played the coolest of the Misfits, Johnny Bukowski or Johnny B. He played a rock star that used electricity to fight off his enemies. Rounding out the cast is a young Courteney Cox playing Gloria Dinallo a troubled telekinetic teen.

The pilot did have a guy that had ice powers known as Ice Man but Marvel sued and his character was taken out of the show. The team rides around in an ice cream truck because of this story change. I guess they couldn't afford a new car.

The best character was Johnny B, he was the bad ass of the show with the best powers. Gloria had a major crush on him and it was played out over the course of the show. The show aired on NBC future home of Heroes. The creator of Heroes Tim Kring was a writer for the series, now we know where he got the idea from. Just saying.

The show was canceled before it aired its final episode. It aired at the same time as Dallas and in 1985 no one dared to compete with Dallas. I remember this show and wished it would have lasted a bit longer. Some shows get cut down before their prime.

Dean Paul Martin and Kevin Peter Hall have both passed on and we know what happened to Courtney Cox. But what happened to Johnny B? Why hasn't this been released on DVD? Sometimes the world doesn't make much sense to me.

Misfits of Science deserves another look, hope it find a place on some distant channel of bad reruns. Till the next why did this get canceled.

 

Man they are fat

 

Disorderlies (1987)

Directed by Michael Schultz

So back in '87 I saw a little movie called Disorderlies. I wish I could say it changed my life but it sure didn't. I bet the studio got together and asked the age old question, "Is it time to remake The Three Stooges for this generation?" I have the answer to that question; it is always a big NO. I love the Fat Boys, who doesn't, this movie was a head of it's time and that time still hasn't come.

Disorderlies was directed by Michael Schultz the same master behind the camera that brought us Krush Groove; a true classic and The Last Dragon. If you haven't seen the last picture I mention, you should just kill yourself.

The flick stars, well it stars The Fat Boys, who else could pull this movie off with out a hitch. The Fat Boys are Mark Morales, Damon Wimbley and Darren Robinson other wise known as the human beat box. Playing the old man was Ralph Bellamy star of Trading Places. Let's just say that for never being actors The Fat Boys are as bad as you might think. The best actor out of the group is Morales and that isn't saying much.

Disorderlies takes place in Miami, my home town. Mark Morales liked it so much he does a radio show here. The flick is about an old man who is slowly dying and his good for nothing nephew is trying to speed up the process so he can get the millions of dollars. The nephew decides to hire the worst orderlies possible hence The Fat Boys. At first the old man hates them because they are laid back home boys but when they loose his pills while playing poker, well lets just say the comedy ensues.

The boys take the old man to the roller rink, because that is what crazy home boys do in the '80's. This movie turns into one hell of a roller coaster ride from here on out. Can the boys stop the evil nephew or are they just too dumb for their own good? You'll have to watch Disorderlies to find out!

This movie is fun to watch at least once. I can admit that I saw this forgotten classic in the theaters as a young lad. That might explain this crazy site. Watch and enjoy the new Three Stooges.

Till next time...

4/10

Video Junkie Extra:

The human beat box/Darren Robinson passed away in 1995 at the young age of 28. He was one of the first rappers to preform the beat box and made it famous and a staple of hip-hop in the '80's. 

Ralph Bellamy has also passed away in 1991 at the age of 87. He was best known for his role as one of the brothers from Trading Places and again in a small cameo in Coming to America. He starred in over 100 pictures. Two very talented people that are missed today.

It's no Lethal Weapon

Tango & Cash (1989)

Directed by Andrey Konchalovskiy and Albert Magnoli

I really miss the buddy cop movies of the late '80's. They were all the same but really different at the same time. This one is about two white cops, one is uptight and the other is a slop. It's kind of like The Odd Couple with guns and a prison shower scene. 

Tango & Cash is about two cops named Tango and Cash played with Shakespearean ease by Stallone and Russell. This was a turning point in Stallone's career, he was coming off a few flops with Over the Top, Rambo III and Lock Up, man Sly loves those shower scenes in jail. Let's just say that this movie didn't help him out to good. Russell on the other hand is a legend and I will no soil his good name. The guys was Jack Burton. Where was I oh yeah so Cash & Tango are narcotic detectives who are so good that they get framed by the one guy they should have put away along time ago.

You need a few things when you make a buddy cop flick let's go down the list:

1. You need a bad guy with a crazy name.
2. Need a hot girl.
3. Cool car and guns.
4. Witty banter between the leads.

Damn it this movie has them all!!!

The villain is played by the great Jack Palance as Yves Perre, crazy name. The second baddie is played by the late great Brion James as Requin. The Hot girl is played by Teri Hatcher, back when she was hot. The car in this flick is a suped up SUV with guns and the whole works. This movie does have some great witty banter between Cash and Tango.

The movie really picks up when the boys go to jail and have to deal with all the guys they have ever put away. I never understand these movie bad guys, if it is that easy to set these guys up why not just kill them and be done with it. They always have to draw it out and make them suffer. If I made a buddy cop picture I would just have the bad guy kill them in the first ten minutes. That would be a great flick.

This movie gave the world a great word and that is FUBAR. Now I don't know if this movie came up with the word or not but it is a great word and I always think of this movie when I hear it.

I love this movie for all of its flaws and bad acting and corny jokes. I think I'm gonna go buy after I write this. So check out Tango & Cash and see greatness at work and then we can all go get FUBAR afterward. Another forgotten classic done.

Till next time...

7/10