DVD Challenge #20: TREMORS

Tremors
1990
PG-13
Run-time: 1 hour, 36 minutes

Directed by: Ron Underwood
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire


I remember seeing bits and pieces of this film back in my younger years, but I don't think I actually saw Tremors in its entirety until a few years ago. When I finally had the chance to give it a full viewing, however, I was amazed by what I saw. Tremors is one of those films that, on the surface, seems like it's going to be a trashy send-up of 1950s B-movie horror flicks, and in some ways, that's exactly what it strives to be. When you have a film that centers around a small town being terrorized by gigantic, worm-like monsters, there's only so much you can really expect. However, like those 1950s B-movies, Tremors delivers a fun-filled, albeit ridiculous, ninety minutes of entertainment.

One of my earliest memories of this film is actually of the creature itself. Once you see this worm (affectionately referred to once as a "graboid," the name that it would carry in the sequels), there's really no way that you're going to forget it. What's truly fascinating about the creature is that it's unlike anything that's ever graced the silver screen prior to or since this film's release in 1990. It's originality is undeniable, and it makes for an interesting storyline. The filmmakers were essentially given the opportunity to create a brand new monster, and they made it so convincingly real that it's not much of a stretch to think that animals like this could actually exist somewhere in the world. I loved this creature so much that it made my list of favorite animals and creatures from film. It's a dazzling spectacle to behold, even when it's looking horrendous and trashy.

To add to the seeming brilliance of this film is the stellar cast that plays their roles to a tee. Kevin Bacon is his usual fantastic self, taking his character above and beyond anything that a sane individual would do. He and Fred Ward have such a fantastic on-screen chemistry that it's difficult not to fall in love with their characters and their relationship. They bring the majority of the comedy in the film, and they play off each other - and the other members of the cast - incredibly well without ever breaking out of their individual character. Kudos, my good sirs. We also get some very good performances from the likes of Finn Carter as our main female lead, and let's not forget about Michael Gross, who's character was successful and entertaining enough to make it to the subsequent Tremors sequels. No, the acting isn't anything utterly brilliant, but in the constructs of a ridiculous movie such as this, the performances just might be flawless.

While the film doesn't necessarily offer a ton of scares, it definitely follows horror conventions very well, creating a good layer of suspense in some scenes. We're also given some schlocky, comedic gore, mostly at the expense of the graboids, to add to the hilarity. Tremors offers a great blend of action, comedy and horror, mixing the three genres very, very well. At the end of the day, it's a completely entertaining flick that doesn't require you to think at all. It's pure entertainment, which is exactly what we're usually looking for in a film. So if you haven't given this one a go, I strongly suggest you do so. I can't personally speak for any of the film's sequels (I haven't seen any of them), but definitely take in this first installment as soon as you can.


Previous DVD Challenge: MEMENTO (2000)

Movie Review: EDWARD SCISSORHANDS

EDWARD SCISSORHANDS

1990
PG-13

Edward Scissorhands is a 1990 dramatic fantasy film directed by Tim Burton that centers around a man who has, well, scissors for hands. When local suburban AVON representative Peg (Dianne Wiest) can't find anyone in her neighborhood to whom she can sell her products, she makes her way to the abandoned and mysterious mansion on the hill overlooking the town. What she finds is a young, scarred man named Edward (Johnny Depp) who has scissor-like contraptions in place of hands. Filled with compassion, Peg brings him to her home in suburbia, where he immediately becomes the talk of the town, despite his apparent handicap. He easily assimilates into Peg's home, quickly earning the trust and admiration of her husband Bill (Alan Arkin) and son Kevin (Robert Oliveri) after using his "hands" to create beautiful lawn art out of the bushes. When the neighbors start to take notice, they also fall in love with his skill, which he quickly expands into hair styling. However, things start to change after Peg and Bill's daughter Kim (Winona Ryder) comes home from a camping trip with her boyfriend Jim (Anthony Michael Hall), and Edward starts to develop feelings for her.

I could probably go a little further with the above synopsis, but I think cutting it there leaves a little bit of intrigue for those of you who may not have seen this film just yet. I know that it's taken me much too long to give this one a gander, and I've actually taken quite a bit of flak for waiting this long. Because I'm a bit of a fan of Burton's stuff - he ranks at number eleven on my list of favorite directors - I knew that I'd have to see it at one point or another.

Edward Scissorhands definitely has that Tim Burton feel to it, and it's absolutely unmistakable from the very first moment. I can't quite tell you just what makes Burton films so magical, but they're undeniably so and in the best way possible. Despite having that special stamp on it, however, I wasn't entirely impressed with the film's screenplay. It's definitely something special, but I felt like it sorta just started without giving a terrible amount of exposition. For some films, that works incredibly well, but in the case of this movie, I wanted a little bit more at the beginning to establish the overall setting. Once the film gets going, however, it's definitely captivating. The atmosphere presented in the suburban town is both ironic and bitingly funny. The contrast between Edward's Gothic exterior and the pastel coloring of the suburbs is astonishingly hilarious, and it sets the stage for the ultimate shift that occurs as the film progresses.

The acting does well to balance the screenplay, especially from our lead in Johnny Depp. It's a very reserved role, with his best moments coming when he's not saying anything at all. A lot is told through his eyes, which is just a testament to his effectiveness as an actor. The rest of the cast fills out nicely, with the aforementioned characters doing a very good job. I'd also like to give some credit to some minor characters, including Kathy Baker and a wonderfully fantastic Vincent Price in his last on-screen role in a theatrical film. If anyone ever needed to be in a Tim Burton film, it's the perennially brilliant Price, and even though he only spends a few minutes on-screen, his mere presence resonates throughout the entire film.

Overall, Edward Scissorhands is definitely an enjoyable film. Although I had a little bit of issue in the early going, it works itself out rather nicely and proves to pack a rather emotional punch at the end. I don't want to give too much away, but if you find yourself getting entrapped in this movie, then I think you're going to appreciate it all the more.

Movie Review Summary:

Grade: B+
1.5 Thumbs Up

Movie Review: BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III

BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III

1990
PG

Back to the Future Part III is the third and final installment in the Back to the Future franchise directed by Robert Zemeckis. It picks up just where Part II leaves off, with Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) stuck in 1955 and Dr. "Doc" Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd) stuck in 1885. With the help of the 1955 Doc, Marty unearths the hidden DeLorean, fixes it up and takes it back to the Old West to bring the Doc back to the future after learning that he's going to be shot and killed by a notorious gunslinger named Buford 'Mad Dog' Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson). Marty arrives in the past and finds the new township of Hill Valley, taking on the name "Clint Eastwood" around the townsfolk. After a brief run-in with Tannen, Marty finds Doc and tells him of his fate. The two start to plan their escape back to the future, but things become complicated when the Doc finds himself falling in love with a schoolteacher named Clara Clayton (Mary Steenburgen). As the two try to plan their way home and deal with the ever-present threat from Tannen, twist after twist comes to pass, making their trip home all the more difficult.

Literally everyone I've talked to about the Back to the Future franchise has told me that this third installment is the bad egg of the bunch. Considering our heroes were being sent way, WAY back in time, I can imagine why so many people would think so. Still, I went in with an open mind considering I've loved the franchise thus far, and to be honest, I loved this one almost as much as the rest. I'll admit that the screenplay isn't quite at the standard of the previous two films, and that magical aura that was presented in the original flick doesn't quite permeate into the sequels, but I thought that Part III was original enough to make an entire film devoted to life in the 19th century. The storyline is relatively predictable, but the film carries that lightheartedness that the rest of the franchise has had, so you're still in for an enjoyable adventure.

One of the things that I liked most about this installment is the fact that we get to see a more human side of Doc Brown. In the first two installments, Christopher Lloyd is damn-near brilliant as the manic scientist, and it plays well for the time. However, seeing him lose touch with logic because of a woman presents the real man inside the machine, giving us an emotional touch to a character we thought we already knew. Don't worry - he doesn't completely toss logic out the window, but Part III works well to add another dimension to his character. I also rather enjoyed the outlaw turn that Wilson takes as 'Mad Dog' Tannen this time around. In the past two films, Wilson was always a sore spot for me because I felt like his style of over-acting was just a little too much at times. I loved his Biff, but I could only take so much of him. However, as this gun-toting Western bad guy, you can hardly see the resemblance, and the over-acting is pitch-perfect for the setting. It's the best performance Wilson has given in the trilogy, and I think he should be commended for it.

As I did during my review of the second film, I'd like to commend Alan Silvestri for his musical composition for this installment. A lot of it is the same as we've heard, but we also get some of that western-style twang inserted throughout, and it gives the setting a little more authenticity.

Overall, I have to say that I loved Part III just as much as I loved Part II. Is it as good as the first two films? Not really, mostly because it's a little more mindless than the previous two. Does that make it a bad film? Absolutely not. It's a fantastic conclusion the three-parter, and it solidifies the Back to the Future franchise's spot as one of my favorite film trilogies of all time.

Movie Review Summary:
Grade: B+
2 Thumbs Up

Addition to Rankings:
Best Sequel - #18