"Children look. Great-Aunt Lavinia! She was beheaded by her own children!"

Review: The Addams Family

An Augustus Review of 9/10

I decided to do today’s review on a movie that was based off a television show in the early 60s: The Addams Family. This family is unlike any other; they are grim, scary, and most of all, strangely unusual. They live in a haunted house on the top of their manor; they wear dark clothing and interact with the dead. Although this may seem frightening, don’t be alarmed, they are very goofy as well.

The show was adapted into a movie in 1991. It stars Raul Julia as the father, Gomez Addams, Anjelica Huston as the mother, Morticia, Christopher Lloyd as brother Fester (or “Gordon”) and Elizabeth Wilson as the cruel stepmother, Abigail Craven.

The movie begins with Gomez reminiscing his brother, Fester, whom had separated from the family over 25 years ago due to a fight they had. Gomez’s lawyer, Tully (Dan Hedaya), is seriously in debt to a loan shark, Abigail Craven. At a meeting, Tully realizes that Abigail’s son, Gordon, looks a lot like Fester. He proposes to Abigail that they should allow Gordon to pretend to be Fester and rejoin the Addams family. In doing so, Gordon can find the family riches hidden deep within a family vault.

The Addams family decide to get together and attempt to summon Fester’s spirit. In the midst of the ceremony, Gordon shows up at the door as Fester. Overwhelmed with joy, Gomez greets his long lost brother. Gomez shows Fester the house and reunites him with a room full of the family riches and toys from his childhood. Fester and Abigail attempt later to find the vault but can’t get past the booby traps.

"How long has it been since we've waltzed?"
"Oh Gomez... hours"

As Gomez and Fester become reacquainted, Fester starts to feel as though he might almost belong with this family. Abigail dismisses his ideas and poses as his psychiatrist. She tells the family that Fester had been long lost in the Bermuda Triangle. The family become sceptical of Fester when he fails to remember his childhood memories with Gomez or the family traditions. Abigail is able to convince the family that their doubts are due to displacement.

The family warms up to Fester and he is beyond joyful with them. Tully finds out that because Fester is the older brother, the riches and the family estate belong to him. He is able to set a restraining order against the family, forcing them out of their home. Appalled by the actions, they start to doubt Tully and Abigail. Fester is torn between his stepmother and the Addamses.

One night, Morticia decides to confront Fester about his behaviour. She leaves the family in pursuit of the house. Once she arrives, she discovers the evil behind Abigail and the lies her family was fed.

The Addams Family grossed over $110 million in the box office. It was a great success and the 7^th highest grossing film in 1991. Film directors produced a sequel to the movie in 1993, Addams Family Values.

This creepy, dark yet funny film is a great one for a late night. You will end up loving the family regardless if they tie each other up in electrical chairs for fun!

- Augustus

"Wax on... wax off. Wax on... wax off." 

Review: The Karate Kid  (1984)

An Augustus Review of 7/10

For today's review, we will look into the movie of a bullied boy who must learn discipline, patience and the true meaning of karate to overcome his suppressors and develop a relationship with a father he never had.

The Karate Kid stars Ralph Macchio as Daniel Larusso and Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi. 

Daniel Larusso is a high school senior who moves to California with his mother from New York. They live in an apartment building where the handyman, Mr. Miyagi, is an Okinawan immigrant who is kind but keeps to himself.  At his new school, Daniel meets Ali (Elisabeth Shue) and immidiately becomes friends. Ali's ex-boyfriend, Johnny (William Zabka) is a hot-head who trains at a very strict martial arts dojo. Johnny and his friends see Daniel becoming close with Ali and decide to interfere. At every opportunity, the boys beat up Daniel, who in return, is not able to defend himself.

On his way home one night, the boys brutally beat Daniel. Mr. Miyagi witnesses the incident and jumps in.  With ease, he fends off the boys with a very experienced level of karate. The boys run off and Mr. Miyagi tends to Daniel's injuries.

Daniel is amazed by Mr. Miyagi and desperately asks him to teach him karate. To Daniel's suprise, Mr. Miyagi refuses. Daniel explains that if he doesn't learn to fend for himself, the boys will continue to harrass him. Mr. Miyagi decides that he will go with Daniel to Johnny's dojo and speak to the sensei.

At the dojo, the boys are taught a very cruel and brutal form of mentality. They are told to never hold back, "no mercy". Mr. Miyagi and Daniel witness the terrifying boys in training and begin to speak to the senei, a Vietnam-war veteran. The sensei refuses to let Daniel off the hook and tells Mr. Miyagi that he needs to fight his own battles. Mr. Miyagi decides to offer a wager, that the boys will fight in an up-coming karate tournament. If Daniel wins, the boys will have to leave him alone. The sensei agrees but only on one condition, if Daniel loses, not only will the boys continue to harrass him, Mr. Miyagi will also become a target.

Mr. Miyagi beings to teach Daniel the art of karate. However, instead of teaching him moves, he gets Daniel to do chores around his house: painting a fence, waxing cars, sanding floors. Daniel becomes irritated after a few days spent doing chores and demands that Mr. Miyagi teach him real karate. Mr. Miyagi then begins to throw punches at Daniel. Mr. Miyagi tells him to use the same hand motions that he used when he was doing chores. Daniel is able to block the blows by muscle mentality. Mr. Miyagi tells him that discipline and patience is the key to learning the true art of karate.

Daniel and Mr. Miyagi train together with every moment they get. They become very close and develop an almost father/son relationship. Through their training, they learn each other's secrets from their past that strengthen their bond. Together, Daniel is ready to face Johnny in the tournament and truly prove himself as a karate kid. 

This movie did very well during its release. It received a 90% positive review from Rotten Tomatoes and film critic, Roger Ebert, named it the best movie of the year, giving it 4/4 stars. 

The Karate Kid created a fantastic franchise and released a second, third and forth movie. In 2010, the movie was remade with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith.

I strongly recommend this watch for it is a very powerful and intriguing story. You'll get a real kick out of it. 

- Augustus

"Death has come to your little town, sheriff" 

Review: Halloween (1978)

An Augustus Rating of 8.5/10

Today I explore the wonderful and family oriented movie, Halloween. Full of laughs, fun and a memorable character, Michael Myers. 

I'm not a sociopath, I swear. 

Halloween  was directed in 1978 by John Carpenter and was Jamie Lee Curtis' debut movie. This movie is set in fictional Haddonfield, Illinois starring the killer psychopath, Michael Myers.

(Now that sounds much more believable.) 

The movie starts on a night of 1963 where Michael Myers is a young child. After witnessing his 15 year old sister have sex with her boyfriend, Myers proceeds to murdering his sister with a butcher's knife. He was admitted to a mental institution for 15 years until he managed to escape one faithful night, October 30th, 1978. 

 The next day, high school student Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) continually sees Myers wearing blue overalls and wearing a white mask. When she tries to tell her friends that a strange man keeps appearing, her friends dismiss her claims. Myers' psychiatrist, Dr. Samuel Loomis (Donald Pleasance), anticipated Myers' return and went to visit the grave of Myers' sister. He notices that the headstone is gone and quickly goes back into town. 

Due to low budget, the trademark mask

was purchased for $1.98

 That night, Laurie babysits a neighbour's child while her friend, Annie, is also babysitting across the street. Annie gets a phone call from her boyfriend to come pick him up. When Annie drops off the girl she was babysitting at Laurie's, she is killed by Myers in her car. 

The children witness Myers carrying Annie's dead body across the street and begin to panic. They tell Laurie that the Boogeyman is outside. Laurie, believing it is just a prank, tells them to simmer down. Laurie's other friend, Lynda, comes home with her boyfriend, unaware of Myers, who is patiently waiting for them in her empty house.

This was one of Carpenter's first big movies. He was requited by an independent film producer, Irwin Yablas, to write and direct a movie about a serial killer. With only a max budget of $300K and 4 weeks to film, Yablas had his doubts about this new director. 

Halloween ended up grossing $70 million in the box office. It was nominated for The Saturn Award for Best Horror Movie and was ranked 3rd scariest movie of all time by the Chicago Film Critics Association.

So for a really low budget and only a month to film, John Carpenter killed it.

- Augustus  

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_(1978_film)

"I just want them to know that they didn't break me."

Review: Pretty in Pink

An Augustus Rating of 7/10

Today I’ve decided to review an old time favourite of mine, Pretty in Pink. This 1980s movie illustrates the difficulties of being in a lower social class, love at first sight and believing in yourself.

Molly Ringwald plays the protagonist, Andie Walsh, a teenager in her senior year. She lives with her father, Jack (Harry Dean Stanton), who is unemployed and extremely unmotivated. Andie lives in a very low class neighborhood and is often teased about her working class family.

Andie’s best friend and childhood friend is her neighbor, Philip “Duckie” Dale (Jon Cryer). Duckie is in love with Andie but is so nervous that he plays his feelings off as a joke. He makes Andie laugh, but she doesn’t consider him anything more than a friend.

Andie develops a crush on a preppie, rich boy at her school, Blane McDonough (Andrew McCarthy). The two feel instant attraction but feel resistance due to their difference in wealth. Blane’s friends, Steff (James Spader), and Benny (Kate Vernon) constantly make fun of Andie and disapprove of Blane’s interactions with her.

Why yes, that is Alan from Two and a Half Men!

Andie and Blane try to advance their relationship by going on their first date. Andie is ridiculed by Blane’s friends but isn’t affected by their harsh words. When Blane tries to drive Andie home, she breaks down and admits that she doesn’t want him to know where she lives. Blane decides to ask Andie to the prom. Andie accepts and they passionately share their first kiss.

When all seems well, Andie and Blane’s relationship takes a rocky turn. The clash between the social hierarchies creates problems for every character in the movie. Hearts are broken; jealousy consumes friends and the one event that will decide true love: the prom.

Pretty in Pink was overall a commercial success. It earned over 6 million in its opening weekend and over 40 million during its theatrical run. The movie was the 22^nd highest grossing film in 1986. The movie earned its legacy in later years, mentioned in popular TV series such as Psych, Glee and Dawson’s Creek.

This movie is a heartwarming story of a girl whose courage and self determination was able to help her overcome her status and accept who she is.  A truly inspiring movie, why, I shed a tear every time!

-       Augustus

      SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_in_Pink

"Let's turn on the juice and see what shakes loose"

Review: Beetlejuice

An Augustus Rating of 7/10

Just the perfect movie for a fun, October night. Today's review is on the 1988 horror comedy, Beetlejuice, directed by the one and only, Tim Burton. By horror, I mean you see dead people and a few pussing but friendly ghosts. This movie stars Michael Keaton (Batman!) as the infamous Betelgeuse. 

The movie starts off with a recently deceased  young couple, the Maitlands, who are confined as ghosts in their vacation house on the top of a hill in Winterville. Unable to come to terms with their deaths, they are summoned to the underworld where they meet their "death counselor", Juno. In the meantime, an obnoxious family from New York, the Deetzes, move into the house. 

 Mr. Deetze is a former real estate developer and Mrs. Deetze is his second wife who is also a modern sculptor. Lydia is Mr. Deetze's goth daughter from his first marriage. She is very depressed and hates her life. The family begins to renovate the house into a more contemporary and stylish home. The Maitlands are furious of what has become of their loving house.

Juno tells the couple that they have to scare off the Deetzes in order to regain their house. While planning to scare the Deetzes, the couple meet Lydia, the only person that can see them, and befriend her. After numerous unsuccessful scare attempts, the Maitlands decide they need help.

The Maitlands are informed of a "bio-exorcist" ghost, Betelgeuse, who specializes in scaring the living. They are warned that he is only trouble and after experiencing his morbid and inappropriate nature, the Maitlands think twice about hiring him. Unfortunately, they are tricked into saying the magic words which bring Betelgeuse into the game. 

Tim Burton wanted his childhood favourite star, Sammy Davis Jr. to
play Betelgeuse, but the studio executives didn't like the idea at all!
(Too bad!)

 Beetlejuice was a great success in 1988. It became the 10th highest grossing film of the year. It reclaimed its $15 million budget, bringing home over $73 million in North America. At the 61st Academy Awards, Beetlejuice won the award for The Best Makeup. During The Saturn Awards, it won Best Makeup and Best Horror Film.

Overall, this movie was pretty great. Never thought I'd see Batman as a crazy ghost with white hair and a rotting complexion. So next time you feel the need to laugh at someone as nutty as him, watch Beetlejuice. 

... Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.

- Augustus

 

"Tell me Miss Trench, do you play any other games?"

"The name's Bond, James Bond"

Review: 007 in Dr. No

An Augustus Review of 8/10

Today we go back to the 1960s, where Ian Fleming's British secret agent novels first hit the big screen. Dr. No is the first of the worldwide popular James Bond series. In this movie, we meet the handsome 30 year old Sean Connery as 007. 

 In Dr. No, we are first introduced to the iconic aspects of the James Bond series: view of the character through a gun barrel and a catchy opening title sequence. The movie starts with the death of a British secret agent, John Strangways, in Jamaica by a group of assassins, "Three Blind Mice." Here we see secret agent 007 summoned to the case. 

Upon arriving to Kingston airport, Bond has his photo taken by a mysterious woman and is followed by two shadowy men. He is chauffeured by a strange character who Bond believes to be the enemy. After a short brawl, the chauffeur kills himself with a poisoned cigarette filter.

Bond’s investigation at Strangway’s house leads him to a boatman who refuses to be interrogated. Bond realizes that the boatman was the driver who was following him. Soon, the second man arrives and they fight Bond. They realize that Bond is a part of the British Secret Service and they too reveal they are the CIA. Together, they decide to find the mystifying Dr. No, who is tapping into USA space missile radios.

Bond’s exploration leads him to Crab Key, an island off the coast where he meets his Bond Girl, Honey Ryder.  Together, they find the infamous Dr. No who has nothing but trouble in store.

Although Sean Connery played an incredible Bond, Ian Fleming

actually wanted a younger actor for the role. (Pfft, rude!)

This movie does a phenomenal job at introducing the character of James Bond. He is a slick, sexy, a little naïve but very baddass spy. His character is portrayed as quite the lady’s man. (He rolls around in the sack with three different women in this movie!) Although he is sometimes very youthful in the situations he gets himself into, he always seems to know how to save himself.

The music in this movie really screams 1960s. The Bond theme is played numerous times as well as very overdramatic music. But hey, the scene where Bond almost soils himself when interacting with a tarantula wouldn’t have nearly been as exciting without the terrifying background music.

Dr. No opened up a whole new franchise of movies. Introducing the British spy that would be popular for years to come.

- Augustus

"It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's what you do with your dancin' shoes."

Review: Grease

An Augustus Rating of 8/10

For today's review, we step back into the 1950s, where love, friendship and singing dominate Rydell High School. 

Grease was an American musical directed in 1978 by Randal Kleiser. The film surrounds two teenagers, Sandy and Danny, who are lovers in their Californian high school. It stars John Travolta as Danny Zuko, Olivia Newton-John as Sandy Olsen, Stockard Channing as Betty Rizzo and Jeff Conaway as Kenickie.

 Sandy and Danny meet over the summer before their senior year. Sandy is originally from Australia and came to visit relatives in America. The two fall passionately in love; unfortunately, their love had to end as the summer passed and reality had returned. They separate, believing to never see one another again.

Danny Zuko goes to Rydell High, and belongs to a group of greasers by the name of the T-Birds. They're the "badasses" of the movie and play by their own rules. They wear leather jackets, smoke a pack a day and always have their hair slicked back with a gallon of hair gel. When he is with his friends, Danny acts tough and confident. Only when he is with Sandy does his true, loving personality come out.

Sandy's family has decided to stay in California and enroll her in one of the local high schools, Rydell High. Sandy, being new, is very shy and doesn't know anyone. She meets a girl, Frenchy, who is instantly friendly and warmhearted. Frenchy is a part of a girl's group, The Pink Ladies.

Danny and Sandy are oblivious to each other until the two groups meet up. At first, they are ecstatic to see one another, until Danny realizes his friends are boggled by his sudden behaviour. He immediately puts on a "macho" man persona and hurts Sandy's feelings.

Grease theme song by the Bee Gees

The movie circulates around Sandy and Danny's relationship. Throughout the story, they let their love blossom. A sub plot between Rizzo (leader of The Pink Ladies) and Kenickie (T-birds) identifies the hardships of love, sex and friendship teenagers face within their own relationship.

This story is illustrated mostly in song (hence, musical!) with 26 hits. About nine songs did not appear in the movie although were credited in the soundtrack. This movie grossed over $8 million in its opening weekend, ranking #2 at the box office. It is ranked the #1 highest-grossing musical in the United States.

So kick back, slick your hair and pop in this movie. With its catchy songs, memorable characters and stylish pants, Grease will make a musical lover out of anyone!

- Augustus

      SOURCES: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x18pVYUHJwA, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_(film)