Change Your Image
Little-Mikey
Reviews
Code Breakers (2005)
Worth watching again and again!
The DVD is made by ESPN Home Entertainment. It was probably featured on ESPN. So those who are either indifferent or just plain not interested in sports, would likely pass on this movie, which would be a shame because this movie is much more than "just another movie with a sports related theme". While the movie has a sports related theme, namely Army football, the story is rooted in the keeping of the honor code, a code that must never be broken. Loyalty is also a code that must never be broken. The movie, which is based on a true story, is about a group of cadets at West Point who after operating a cheating ring so they could play football for the greatest team in the country and maintain their grade average, are forced to choose between honor (a cadet never cheats) and loyalty (a cadet never betrays the trust of his fellow cadets). A lot of research went into this movie and a lot of homework was done to make this movie as authentic as possible, successfully capturing West Point as it was in 1950, complete with haircuts, uniforms, etc. I had to give this movie an 8 only because Harkins' ribbons were worn out of order and his collar device was worn wrong. As a (Go Navy) retiree, I have seen ribbon infractions on high ranking officers. So maybe I shouldn't be too hard on the make up crew for allowing the uniform infractions on Harkins' uniform. This is an excellent movie that could be watched over and over again.
Q.T. Hush (1960)
Where is Q.T. Hush?
I remember watching Q.T.HUSH in 1961 when it was shown around dinner time. I thought it was so cool. But then again, I was only 7.
In 1971, Q.T.HUSH was aired on WUTV Channel 29 from Grand Island, NY. Being older and wiser, I understood the tongue-in-cheek humor in the plots involving criminals with names like "Al Cologne". The episodes were short 10-minute cliff hangers which were to be continued. This idea would later be used with BATMAN in 1966.
Q.T.HUSH had the same silliness as ROCKY & BULLWINKLE, though the humor of Q.T.HUSH got lost in the artwork, which unlike ROCKY & BULLWINKLE was not "so bad that it was good". The artwork of Q.T.HUSH was dark and eerie (even though the animation was simple). The background images were well drawn and detailed. For example, the blinds in the police station looked old and in need of replacement. The street lights cast an eerie glow on the seedy city streets. And the music was done in a style that was clearly a jazz/blues fusion that was just too cool for words.
While watching a few episodes, I recognized the voice talents of the late great Dal McKennon. The vocal style of Q.T.Hush would be used for "Mr, Weatherbee" on the ARCHIE cartoon and the vocal style of "Seamus" would be used for "Archie" himself.
In spite of the flaws in the series, one must remember that it was intended to be a filler between a local program that ended with time to spare and the local news. Still, it was an entertaining feature that would generate quite a bit of interest as a DVD set. And, like it or hate it, Q.T.HUSH is better than the garbage being made today. There's no comparison!
The Partridge Family (1970)
Another overlooked classic!
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY was a big hit when it first aired in September 1970. Music from the TV show quickly got radio air play and sold millions. So the big question is "How is this 'another overlooked classic'?"
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY was aimed at the pre-teen audience. So those of us who were a bit older thought we were too cool to count ourselves as fans. What a shame!
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY was a really funny sitcom that did not resort to scraping the bottom of the barrel for ideas. At least not for the first three seasons. Yet, the writers did stick their necks out a bit, taking risks by tackling some of the issues of the time, such as women's rights, racial discrimination (with Richard Prior guest starring), even the ecology.
The chemistry was perfect. Dave Madden, comic veteran from CAMP RUNAMUCK and LAUGH- IN, playing the frustrated manager, Rueben Kincaid, who loved money as much as he disliked children, is forever matching wits with Danny, the 10-year old financial wizard. This alone is enough to make a great sit-com. Add Keith, whose interest in girls and Laurie, the feminist who wants to change the world to the cast along with 2 younger siblings and a nervous mother who is trying to make order out of chaos. And you have a hit show!
The music was great as well. But what do you expect when it is produced by Wes Farrel for Coral Rock Productions., which has also produced a lot of great '60s rock groups. With the best writers along with the best session musicians hired to provide the music, what else would you expect?. Give the music a listen and you will hear Beach Boys inspired harmonies and other musical influences from the great rock and roll acts. Throw in the musical talents of David Cassidy and Shirley Jones and the result is a wonderful sound that is uniquely their own.
Cutthroat Island (1995)
A masterpiece of swashbuckling fun, romance and adventure!
What a shame that this movie did so poorly at the box office. When it came out on DVD, it was already a budget DVD selling for less than $10.00. So it can be assumed that "Cutthroat Island" will never come out on Blue-Ray.
This movie is a pirate movie made in the tradition of all the other great pirate movies. It is a non-stop adventure that starts with a treasure map and continues with lots of swashbuckling, romance and an excellent plot that keeps on changing without slowing down.
The special effects were spectacular. Attention to detail was excellent. A lot of research was done to make sure that the weapons, the costumes, etc. were done to perfection.
As for Captain Morgan Adams' "pearly white teeth", not all pirates had rotten teeth. Though dentistry of the time bordered on cruelty (except that cruelty wasn't as painful), people did not eat as much sugar and sweets back then. So it was possible for people of that time to have a full set of healthy teeth.
On a scale of one-to-ten, I'd give this movie a perfect ten, in spite of that plastic garbage bag being dropped in the background in one scene.
Encrypt (2003)
Another video game gets made into a movie!
I love sci-fi flicks, always have and always will. But this movie reminded me of a video game that was made into a movie.
I had to rate it with 5 stars because the special effects were impressive and the movie held my attention from start to finish.
Our heroes, a crack team of commandos, led by two leaders who don't get along, perhaps due to the fact that they were on opposite sides at one time and are forced by a common cause to work together.
Their mission is to penetrate a villa that is full of hidden traps and snares to retrieve a precious artifact.
The first problem with this movie is in how this DVD was packaged. I couldn't help but to notice that the two stars are made to look as unphotogenic as possible. You would never guess that the female, Vivian Wu is one of the most beautiful actresses. She was depicted on the cover as a plain and unappealing Oriental, which is not so.
Vivian Wu plays the part of "Diana", a beautiful hologram who wins the respect of one leader and the hatred of the other as the team penetrates the villa in pursuit of what it was the team was assigned to locate.
The special effects are well done and since the story takes place in the future, this allows a lot of leeway as to what is believable and what is not. Remember, this is science fiction, not science fact.
The movie is entertaining, but exactly the type of movie that I would want to watch over and over again.
Rent the movie, if you must. If you're a sci-fi fan, you won't be disappointed. But don't buy it unless it is on sale.
Killer Instinct (2001)
Eight teenagers locked in an asylum with only their wits and their sexually aroused hormones...
Your typical teen-aged horror flick follows the same formula:
1. A murder occurs at some location many years ago.
2. Next, we move to the present time where a bunch of oversexed teenagers whose sex drives are inversely proportional to their intelligence, decide to party at that same location.
3. One by one, the teenagers meets a violent death.
4. The situation gets really horrifying, so horrifying, in fact, that the remaining teenagers decide that perhaps it might be a good idea to re-frame from the sex and the booze and try to survive the horrifying ordeal.
5. Because nobody has thought of simply jumping into his/her/the parent's car and simply vacating the premises as fast as possible, the casualty count of beheaded teenagers, continues to increase, until...
6. A lone surviver, usually a female, emerges, alive, but totally out of her mind.
KILLER INSTINCT pretty much follows this same formula, but with a few twists and turns that actually make this movie one of the better horror flicks.
For starters, the insane asylum was not haunted nor was there any "Jason"-like predators who allegedly return to the scene of the crime on the anniversary of whatever took place. The asylum was closed down but not abandoned. And the mysterious malicious person who remained hidden, closed the windows and locked all the doors before the body count takes place. When it became apparent that something was wrong, the teenagers actually decided that the sex and the booze would have to wait. First thing on the agenda was to get the hell out of that asylum, easier said than done.
the movie did not end with a lone survivor. It ended with a shocking proposal.
Bionic Woman (2007)
A darker and somewhat more sinister remake of the classic series from the 1970s.
I don't understand why so many people hate this remake of the classic series from the 1970s.
Actually this miniseries is pretty good. It is definitely different from the original series. For starters, the name of the main character is "Jaime" vice "Jamie". And while most of the plots of the original series involved Jamie Sommers out there dealing withe the bad guys and other members of the criminal element during the day, the new miniseries has our heroine fighting in a darker and more shadowy environment.
The plot involves Jaime Sommers, a bartender who is trying to support her younger sister. She is also in love with Dr. Will Anthros, a brilliant professor who is everything that Jaime Sommers is not. A car accident leaves her critically injured until a top secret operation gives her a new lease on life, along with a new arm, new legs, a new eye and a new ear, giving her almost super strength, super hearing and the ability to focus up to 2 miles away.
Unfortnately, the more she learns, the less she understands.
The comparison of this miniseries to the original series from1976, is not unlike the comparison of the recent Batman movies to the campy Batman TV series from 1966.
I must admit that having Jaime Sommers make all those bionic leaps and fast dashes, wearing fashionable footwear, ie. high heeled boots, was an oversight that shouldn't had been overlooked.
Casa Vianello (1988)
A funny sitcom about a funny couple...
CASA VIANELLO is a funny family sitcom about a real life family. The title is named after the man of the house, Raimondo Vianello, who plays the slightly henpecked husband of Sandra Mondaini, a frisky and independent housewife.
The show is wildly popular in Italy because it is about real people getting mixed up in very real situations (and not-so-real situations)that are often outrageous.
Sandra, who in real life is a professional clown with a registered painted face and who has starred and costarred in countless TV programs, many of which are classified as "telespettacoli" (another name for "variety" like THE Hollywood PALACE, THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW, etc, a concept that, though long fell out of favor with American audiences, is still very much alive and well with Italian audiences).
On one episode, some friends of the family had returned from some vacation abroad and came home with some popular cigarettes that they wanted to share with the family and some guests who also stopped by.
What nobody knew was that somebody's handbag had been mixed up with another handbag and that the cigarettes that the friend had passed around were laced with either marijuana or hashish.
So as the party smoked their funny cigarettes, with some very funny results. They all got higher than kites and stated laughing hysterically.
On another episode, Raimondo, though some internet dating, managed to convince his internet date that he was a very suave lover.
When his date showed up, he found out too late that is wife had changed her plans and had decided to have her friends over.
To prevent the wife and the girl from crossing paths, he locked his wife and friends in the kitchen and proceeded with his romantic overtures with the date, forgetting that the kitchen also had a door to the balcony, which also connected to the living room with another plane glass door, allowing the wife and friends to watch the whole thing from outside.
Combining some Italian humor with a little bit of slapstick and some tongue-in-cheek humor, this show remains popular on the Italian Mediaset networks.
The Road to Nashville (1967)
Maddening in more ways than one...
This movie is quite maddening in that it is truly a cinematic turkey. (Or is it a turkey in the straw?) The film quality has the quality of a very old print that hadn't been stored very well.
The plot and the acting is... well...uh...no comment.
Back in 1967, this movie was intended to turn the matinée crowd to contemporary country, the way teen-targeted movies bolster record sales of their featured stars (think HOLD ON with Herman's Hermits or HAVING A WILD WEEKEND starring the Dave Clark Five.) This movie has it all, bad plot, bad acting and bad jokes. Yet, for some strange reason, I found myself not only enjoying this guilty pleasure (YEE-haww... OK, Y'all can shoot me for feelin' all th' way Ah do. Shucks.) And as if that wasn't enough, this movie got me going through my record price guides and the internet in wild pursuit of any and all information on the featured artists and their records along with any movies or TV shows they may had starred in.
The movie, in a weird way, it a lot of fun to watch. And the music is classic country.
The Next One (1984)
A so-so cure for insomnia...
I rated this one a little high because of the nice scenery. At least this movie wasn't filmed on a set with painted backgrounds.
I've always enjoyed films involving time travel. Some time travel flicks are exciting. A few, like BACK TO THE FUTURE (all three) border on being comical. So eventually, somebody had to make a time travel flick that is boring, and here it is, THE NEXT ONE.
This movie has a list of cinematic giants. But in this movie, the giants take a fall.
There are a few special effects, like the electrical storm.
But this movie, at its high points, drags. Then, it's downhill.
This movie sits in my collection, waiting to be used as a door stop. A real disappointment.
The Ugliest Girl in Town (1968)
Long before there was "Tootsie"...there was "Timmie".
The Ugliest Girl in Town predates Tootsie by more than a couple years.
I remember this hilarious sit-com, about Timothy Blair, a "nobody" who accidentally becomes a very hot actress. Offers come in and "she" is a hit. However, his dream is to become a successful ACTOR.
Finally, an offer comes in and his dream appears to finally come true. He can be finally free of his alter-ego, "Timmie". So he plots to have her "killed" in a helicopter mishap.
He puts his plan into action. Dressed as "Timmie", he falls to "her" death, swims to a secluded spot were his girlfriend is waiting with a change of clothes and a new life as an actor.
But there is one catch! He later discovers that the reason he is hired is because he looks so much like "Timmie". But with "Timmie" assumed dead, his big break dies as well.
So he is forced to dress up as "Timmie" and emerge with an alibi.
And like it or not, "Timmie" is here to stay.
With so much many gender-bending comedies out on DVD, like TOOTSIE and TO WONG FU, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, LOVE JULIE NEWMAR along with so many other movies that have become hits, how nice it would be if this series would likewise come out on DVD, or at least in syndication.
M*A*S*H (1972)
Welcome to the 4077
This series was a total stroke of genius. How anybody could turn a movie box office smash whose merits were that it was bloody, gross, immoral and at times sacrilegious, water down what it was that made the movie such a hit, turn it into a family friendly sitcom without losing that edge and walk away with a hit series that outlasted the war that the series was based on, is truly a feat that would have even the wise old King Solomon impressed.
The series was at its best in the years preceding the departure of McLean Stevenson. The show never really ran out of ideas and the writers never had to dig down at the bottom, like the writers of, say, HAPPY DAYS had to do.
MASH went through various phases as its characters developed as certain members were replaced.
Still, the series was at its best when McLean Stevenson played the befuddled CO, LtCol Hnry Blake, who was manipulated relentlessly by Hawkeye and Trapper John. Any time Henry Blake had a memo to dictate to "Radar" O'Reilly, "Radar" would quote the memo as the CO was trying to find the words to say. Yet in spite of his cunning ability to outwit his CO, "Radar" still maintained his naive and child-like nature, even sleeping with his teddy bear at night.
Klinger was forever trying to get his coveted Section Eight, showing up every time with a new scheme and a new dress. Jamie Farr's portrayal of the transvestite Klinger was so hilarious that Farr will be forever live in our hearts, wearing a dress! Barry Linnville's Frank Burns was such a jerk that we couldn't help but to applaud Hawkeye and Trapper John for their cruel yet often deserving pranks on Frank Burns.
Wayne Rogers' Trapper John was the perfect accomplice for Hawkeye's many schemes. The two shared the same cunningness and the same love for their moonshine.
In the next phase, Harry Morgan came as Col. Potter, a by-the-book army colonel who was no nonsense, yet he had a heart and he truly cared for his troops.
Next, replacing Trapper John. came Mike Farrell's B.J.Hunnicutt, who though close to Hawkeye, provided a counterbalance.
The next phase came when Radar O'Reilly left and Corporal Klinger got promoted. On came a new rank and off came the dresses and evening gowns. This was a sad day for me. Klinger just wasn't the same without his wild schemes or his dresses.
As the series evolved, Hawkeye evolved into a kinder and gentler person without completely giving up his anti-military attitude.
Still, through thick and thin, the series stood strong. It remained popular and, in fact, the series, after taking a dip in the storyline, actually got better and won more fans. So the cast and crew had to pull the plug on the series, which was done in February 1983. The series went down with a bang. "Goodbye MASH" parties popped up and many bars and night clubs had their own "Goodbye MASH" parties, thus closing a chapter of TV history that will be hard to replace or duplicate.
M*A*S*H: Yankee Doodle Doctor (1972)
Brave young doctors and nurses, some volunteers, others volunteered...
If time allows only enough time to watch only one episode of MASH, this episode would have to be the one to see. It is the all time best.
A movie crew shows up at the 4077 to film a propaganda movie titles "Yankee Doodle Doctor" about the brave young volunteers who are serving in harm's way for the free world. In other words, it is way over the top.
Hawkeye, adding that he volunteered while under the porch trying to puncture his ear drum, was less than impressed and decided that the film must go! So, enlisting the help of his side kick and partner in crime, Trapper John and roping in Corporal "Radar" O'Reilly, the three merely substitute the propaganda film with a version of their own.
Their film version is absolutely hilarious, done in the tradition of the Marx Brothers. With Hawkeye, as Groucho, Trapper John as Harpo and "Radar" O'Reilly as the patient, the film is worth its price in laughter, which is of course worth more than gold.
This episode is a "must see" for both MASH fans and those with only a passing interest.
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster (1962)
...And I'm Puzzled!
John Astin has always been a laugh riot. As Gomez Addams on THE ADDAMS FAMILY, he was too much. Even on an episode of NIGHT GALLERY where he played a soul condemned to hell, his comical flair still shone through. And Marty Ingels is also a great comedian.
Put the two together and you can expect nothing less than total hilarity. Together, the two could turn even the lamest of scripts into classic comedy.
I remember this program when it was on prime time. If memory serves me correctly, this sit-com followed THE FLINTSTONES on ABC. Even at the tender age of 8, I understood this blue collar comedy about two bumbling carpenters for what it was, a laugh riot.
What I cannot understand is why this sit com was never picked up for syndication after the show got the cancellation ax.
What I understand even less, is why this series was never released on DVD or even as a budget VHS tape.
Hello? Is there anybody out there who feels the same? DVD? Please?
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Adventures in the Secret Service (1999)
History comes alive with the young Indiana Jones.
"The Adventures of the Young Indiana Jones" have every bit as much of the fun and excitement as the Indiana Jones movies.
Unless I am mistaken, I do believe that this episode, when aired on TV, began and ended with a segment featuring a very old Indiana Jones. On the DVD, this segment is missing.
In the final scene, the very old Indiana Jones is looking at an exhibit on the October Revolt, commenting that the exhibit was incorrect.
A museum employee, assuming that the old Indiana Jones is just an old fool who doesn't know what he's talking about, asked him what made him so sure that the picture was taken in July, vice October.
He replied "See that blurred smudge? That was me!"
The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
Gary Busey kicked and rocked. Great performance on a weak story.
I loved the movie. It was one of those movies I could watch again and again. The performance rocked. The actors were great and the story was non-stop fun. However, as a bio-epic, well, the movie just wasn't cricket (as one reviewer from ROLLING STONE described the movie in 1978).
For starters, the Baptist preacher did not make any indirect blasts from the pulpit at Buddy Holly nor were his parents ashamed of their wayward rock and roll rebel boy, as depicted in the movie. In fact, the pastor considered Buddy to be a talented musician and was not as hard core anti-rock and roll as many Baptist preachers tended to be.
Buddy Holly's mother was musically inclined and even contributed her song writing skills to Buddy Holly's music. (She wrote "Buddy's Song" which was featured on the Fletwood Mac album KILN HOUSE).
There were mountains in Lubbock, but no sign of Norman Petty.
While the part where that mad DJ was playing that Buddy Holly record non-stop on a radio station in Buffalo, New York, didn't really happen, that part was based on an event that allegedly did take place in that city.
In 1955, a DJ announced that he would play "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and his Comets, non-stop if listeners would beep their horns. So teenagers drove down to Lafeyette Square and started beeping their horns. This caused a traffic jam and more drivers stuck in the jam, also started beeping their horns and this publicity stunt caused a traffic jam that extended miles out in every direction until the police and fire department finally got to break down the door to the radio station.
As a bio-epic, the movie falls very short of its mark. But as a rock and roll movie, this movie delivers. It was so much fun to watch that immediately afterwords, I raced over to the record store and bought the soundtrack.
Daydream Believers: The Monkees' Story (2000)
Groovy
Any long time Monkees fan would have no trouble ripping this movie to shreds. There is a barrel full of inaccuracies in this bio-epic. But given the time factor, what do you expect? This movie was based on a true story. Time restraints resulted in certain characters being substituted by a combination of 2 or 3 individuals being rolled into one. I was puzzled over Micky wearing his hair naturally (curly) when every Monkees fan would point out and remind you that Micky's hair was worn straight (with the help of hair straightener) and that he didn't wear it natural until Season Two of THE MONKEES (1967-1968).
That, being stated, I must admit that I really enjoyed this movie. The actors who portrayed the Monkees did an excellent job. The resemblance was amazing. If Webster was to come up with a picture dictionary and needed a picture for the word "groovy", an ideal choice would be a picture of the Monkees.
For those of us who remember the Monkees, this movie is a perfect reminder of how that wonderfully groovy group from 1966 gave the Beatles a little bit of competition. Actually, they didn't really compete with the Beatles, except in the minds and imaginations of many young teens (and pre-teens). While they were praised by John Lennon who saw them as the rock and roll version of the Marx Brothers, those of us who remember the group would have to consider the Monkees more like "the Rodney Dangerfield" of 1960s rock and roll, loved by many, but they "didn't get no respect."
The Monkees gave us some really great music and contrary to popular belief, the Monkees could and did play their own instruments. Their live concert performances were proof of their musical abilities. They also wrote and directed a lot of really great material.
Their album, HEADQUARTERS was a classic, released shortly after the Beatles' SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND album.
Back to the movie, "Daydream Believers" is an ideal way to introduce the current generation to the music and the excitement that this group generated between 1966 and 1968.
Though the Monkees soldiered on after Peter quit and even stuck together after Mike jumped ship around 1970 (the joke that lingered between Davy and Micky was that when the next one quits, the remaining member would be known as "the Monkey"), the Monkees never enjoyed the fame they enjoyed when their TV show was on. Each new release simply peaked lower and lower on the charts until they couldn't even dent the charts.
The movie, despite its many faults, was an excellent portrayal of the Monkees, both the rise and fall of this underrated and talented bunch of guys from the West Coast, the East Coast, Texas and England. Groovy, man. Enjoy.
Kook's Tour (1970)
And the curtain falls, thus, sadly ending a glorious era of laughter...
The 3 Stooges are now living in retirement and are out to take it easy, even though some things do wrong, prompting Moe, always the boss to get mad. But hey, they are in retirement, so no more poking the eyes or any hair pulling.
What makes KOOK'S TOUR so maddening is that it isn't really very funny. Yet it is still an essential part of every Stooge fan's collection.
This film is, after all, the swan song of the 3 Stooges as a comedy act. The picture quality is poor because the only copy found of KOOK'S TOUR is an old 16 mm film and the color has deteriorated over time, as a grim reminder that this film is indeed something out of the distant past. It's even sadder yet when one realizes that Larry, during the filming, would suffer a stroke that would cripple him and ultimately result in his death in only 5 years.
At least one could smile at the thought that the 3 Stooges in KOOK'S TOUR are finally taking it easy and enjoying themselves in their final days as an act.
Ozzie's Girls (1973)
A nice show in a not-so-nice time
The big downfall of this program is that Ozzie and Harriet had been long typecast as the wholesome all American family. Everybody remembered them in the 1950s as "America's Favorite Family".
As the 1950s became the 1960s, tastes changed, the sons grew up and the the show's popularity slipped down lower and lower. By its last season, not every ABC affiliate was airing the show.
Fast forward to the 1970s, tastes really changed! The new strategy was to push the envelope and be the first to do something really radical. The "toilet heard around the world" was flushed on "All in the Family" in 1971. Next, hot issues were brought out in a comical manner on shows like MASH. Next, we have "Ozzie's Girls"! In other words, we have Ozzie and Harriet back on prime time! Good wholesome humor in a time when good wholesome humor is not in demand? Ozzie Nelson knew what he was doing. He was no fool! Had the networks gave the show a chance, it might had succeeded. Remember "The Waltons"? Here was a series that CBS saw as a sure fire flop so CBS aired it against NBC's number one on the Nielson Ratings all time hit series, "The Flip Wilson Show". "The Waltons" staggered and floundered like the networks expected. Then, almost suddenly, it shot up in the ratings and became a hit and it was "The Flip Wilson Show" got the ax.
Ozzie did push the envelope as well, tackling a controversial issue. Remember that he was renting to two female college students, one was black and the other was white female. The two females went on dates, which were of course inter-racial. This could've provided a ton of comedy potential.
Too bad nobody gave it a chance.
Dad's Army (1968)
Who do you think you are fooling Mister Hitler?
As I read through the comments, I was not surprised at how many were British but at how few were American. I was surprised at one comment that, while rating the show very high, also commented that the humor was not "laugh out loud" humor. I found this show to be hilarious! Jimmy Kroft and Mathew Perry were pure geniuses. Writing and working with so many hilarious episodes was a feat in itself. But coming up with such equally hilarious titles like "Be Young and Beautiful", "Knights of Madness" and "The King is in his Counting House" was pure genius, plain and simple.
Two of the funniest episodes are "Keep Young and Beautiful" and "My British Buddy". In "Be Young and Beautiful", the home guard, to look their best before the inspectors, used make-up. The results were hilarious. In "My British Buddy", the Americans arrive to join the Allies and it's a big event, so journalists and photographers show up to report the event, which doesn't quite turn out the way it was intended.
The humor is clearly British. And unlike classic British sitcoms like "In Sickness and in Health" and "Man About the House" which were recycled, given the American treatment and released as "All in the Family" and "Three's Company", there is no American equivalent to "Dad's Army". This show stands alone in more ways than one.
Though it would be downright criminal to classify this show along with "Monty Python" just because both happen to be British comedies, the two programs (note the American spelling!) have one thing in common. Either you'll love this show, or you won't. (I, for one, love this program, which has left me laughing out loud.) This show could never be classified as merely "OK".
Otherworld: Rules of Attraction (1985)
More than what the Sterling family bargained for.
This episode begins with the Sterling family on vacation in Egypt. At the Great Pyramid, the Sterlings meet a young man who offers the family a special tour inside the pyramid for special low price.
The tour is very interesting and the Sterlings are quite pleased until that guide informs them that the price was only for entering the pyramid. Now they must pay another fee to exit out. A confrontation takes place, and the Sterlings find themselves alone in a maze of tunnels and no flash light. So they try to feel their way out, only to fall into what appears to be a well into a torrential river that sweeps the family out into what appears to be some kind of lake or sea.
When they manage to swim to the surface, they find that they are far from the shore. But they see what appears to be a light house and they swim towards the light.
Once on dry land, they meet the Kommander Kroll, a zone trooper who informs the family that they are in a forbidden zone and are promptly arrested for a number of violations. The only way out is to overtake the zone trooper and take off in his vehicle, using the zone trooper's special key. It is at this point that the Sterlings realize that they are now on another world. The big question is how to get back, if it is even possible. As if that wasn't enough, the Sterlings now have the wrath of Kommander Kroll, who is now out for vengeance (not to mention his special key and his vehicle).
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952)
Here comes the Nelsons...
Ah, those were the days. THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET was such a wonderful piece of Americana, back in the days when the neighbor came in through the back door to pay his pal a visit. Nowadays, when the neighbor comes in through the back door, it's to spend a little time with his pal's wife! Sad to say, many people would consider the comedy of this wonderful sitcom as being obsolete, giving the false notion that this show is not funny. Actually, this show was really very funny, in spite of the lack of crude humor, the lack of profanity and the lack of, dare I say? sexual situations.
OZZIE AND HARRIET reminds me of that mythical sitcom featured on the movie, PLEASANTVILLE.
Even though Ozzie's character wasn't the most assertive person around, he was still the man of the house and he did keep his family together. He certainly did a far better job as the man of the house than (sad to say) too many so-called assertive husbands today as the number of divorces and dysfunctional households continue to increase.
The plots were funny enough. All those clever one-liners that took place throughout the program, only made what was originally a funny episode, even funnier, yet.
Before jumping to the ignorant conclusion that this show was bland, one must also remember that this show was one of the first sitcoms to feature real rock and roll as later episodes featured Ricky Nelson performing his hits.
This show not only brought rock and roll into American living rooms, it also made it acceptable to parents, proving that rock and roll music would not destroy American society.
One story that was printed long after the series was canceled involved Ricky Nelson and his mother, Harriet. Unlike too many mothers of that era, who thought rock and roll posed a threat to modern society, Harriet commented that when she was Ricky's age, the older generation made the exact same comments (in the 1920s) about jazz.
Another story that was printed involved Ricky Nelson's first encounter with Elvis Presley. Not knowing what to expect from this encounter, Ricky was surprised to discover that not only was Elvis a nice guy, he was also a big fan of THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET.
Life on Mars: Life Is a Rock (2009)
Is there life on Mars? (Spoiler alert!)
It is perfectly all right to rant and rave at this finale. A lot of people have and they have good reasons for their displeasure. However, I think this ending is brilliant! To compare Sam Tyler's "Luke Skywalker" to Marty McFly's "Clint Eastwood" (from BACK TO THE FUTURE-part 3) is an insult in light of the ridiculous way the BACK TO THE FUTURE trilogy was concluded.
This season finale was made on short notice since ABC announced that the series would not be carried into a second season. So it was necessary to wrap all the loose ends together and close out the show.
Ending the series with Sam waking up in his pod, numbered "2-B" by the voice that turned out to be the voice of Windy, who at the start of the series called Sam "2-B" named after the flat he was living in, was brilliant.
Sam Hunt would've been a "senior citizen in space" but in 2035, who is to say that there weren't other "senior citizens" who had gone into outer space prior? The mission to Mars, giving "Life on Mars" an entirely new meaning was pure genius.
With some minute details to the landing craft, such as some art decorations on the bulkhead that were purely "1970s" and with some equipment that was inspired by the sci-fi classic, SPACE 1999, which was made in the early 1970s, this gives enough leeway for yet another season since this could all be a dream by Sam Tyler who was either hit by a car in 2008 and landed in 1973, or it could the dream of a Sam Tyler who really lived in 1973 but only imagined that he was really from 2008. Who knows?
Life on Mars: My Maharishi Is Bigger Than Your Maharishi (2008)
Something very violent at a peace rally
A Vietnam War veteran has been murdered. As Detective Ray Carling put it, "May you rest in peace, because we certainly won't!" The episode opened with a peace rally as "Sweet Cherry Wine" by Tommy James and the Shondells )which charted in March 1969 and peaked at Number 7) played in the background. Of course, Sam's neighbor, Windy, being such a free spirited hippie chick, was thrilled to see that Sam was also there at the rally, not knowing that Sam was not there to "find himself" but to investigate a murder that tool place nearby.
The selection playing at that disco was "I'm Chief Kamanawanalea (We're the Royal Macadamia Nuts)" by the Turtles, from their 1968 LP, "The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands", a great album that sadly sold so poorly that the band members were quoted as saying that the royalties made off that album were barely enough to pay for their rented tuxedos.
The closing selection was "Reflections (of My Life)" by the Marmalade.
Life on Mars: Out Here in the Fields (2008)
Back in time...1973
Had I not seen the British version, I would've given this episode a 10. Initially, I was disappointed by the similarities between this version and the UK version because it seemed to copy the British story, with the names being the same, only the location is different.
However, there are some differences between the UK and the US version of this episode. The US version is a meaner than the UK version. The cops at the 125 are clearly more stressed out as they have to deal with a higher crime rate than their British counterparts, and both have to deal with mountains of paperwork.
The music proves that you can sometimes fix something, even if it ain't broke! The 2008 scene begins with GROUND ZERO playing on the car stereo though Sam's iPod. But the rest of the story, taking place in 1973, also provides a musical journey down memory lane with such selections as "Signs" by the Five Man Electrical Band (which charted in May 1971 and peaked at Number 3), "Little Willy" by Sweet (which charted in January 1973 and peaked at Number 3), "Baba O'Riley" by the WHO (from the 1971 LP, "Who's Next") and closes out with "Out of Time" by the Rolling Stones (from their 1967 LP "Flowers").