Afterhours Home


Message Board

HOT off the Press:
Back to Aug Issue
Current Issue
Archive

This Month:
At The Movies
Book Beat
Celebrity Cemetary
Dish It Out
DThrill Lady
Globetrotting
Jibbles 'N' Bits
Jock Talk
Soapbox
Sports Page
Vital Social Issues
Whisker Watch

E-Mail HOTP
E-Mail AH

Beseen.com


August 2001

 


Welcome to the HOT August edition of "At the Movies with tkt". It's HOT as Gershon outside, so what better time to HEAD to the air conditioned comfort of your local multiplex or the comfort of your own home to watch a nice movie...


Scary Movie 2

Rated: R

CAST: Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Tori Spelling

DIRECTOR: Keenan Ivory Wayans



What's It All About, Alfie?

The sequel to last year's comedy smash Scary Movie, this installment follows most of the same group of "teenagers" in parodies of famous horror films. While the first film parodied films such as Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, this one parodies more classic films such as The Exorcist and The Haunting.

My Two Cents
The first Scary Movie was non-stop hilarity from start to finish. Scary Movie 2 starts out that way, with the first 15 minutes being an uproariously funny parody of The Exorcist. Unfortunately, the movie is 90 minutes long. After the Exorcist part (which, to be fair, includes an hilarious allusion to "that unholy bitch Jerri from Survivor") is over, there are only about 3 more funny lines in the whole rest of the movie. Ironically, like the Scream series that Scary Movie makes fun of, the second one seems like it was put out too quickly, and therefore, the second movie is MUCH less entertaining than the first. There are entirely too many semen jokes (oh if I had a nickle for every time I'd said that), and the gay jokes involving Shawn Wayans' character are pretty much the same ones from the first movie. Anna Faris as the main Neve Campbell-type character is another problem. Her non-existent personality wasn't as evident in the first film, since the jokes were so funny you barely paid attention to the actors, but with the subpar jokes, her non-ability to carry a film is glaring.

Would I Buy This film on DVD?
"No". I own the first one, and watch it often, but other than the first 15 minutes of this one, there is no reason to ever watch it more than once. I'll probably wait until it comes on Sh0wtime and tape the beginning. My advice is to get the first Scary Movie and Repossessed as a HOT Halloween comedy double feature. Overall, I give this film 1 out of 5 FIREBALLS.



Retro Pick O' The Month
Superman

Rated: PG

CAST: Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, Margot Kidder (including her teeth)

DIRECTOR:
Richard Donner



What's It All About, Alfie?
The big screen star studded adaptation of the DC Comics superhero legend. New DVD features a ton of extras and a digitally remastered print.

My Two Cents
I cannot stress enough how good this film is. As comic book movies go, this is the best by far, completely eclipsing the Batman films. I've seen Superman close to 100 times. From the first time I saw it at the drive-in at the age of 3, until I watched it the last time just last month, I loved it. The performances are all excellent and the casting is perfect. Christopher Reeve was a relative unknown when he was cast as the Man of Steel, and the role of course defined his career. Even now, I think of him as Superman. The new DVD features screen tests of various actresses as Lois Lane (including Stockard Channing, Leslie Ann Warren and Anne Archer), and comparing them to Margot Kidder's, there's no question why they chose Kidder. She IS Lois Lane, giving the role just enough vulnerability while still remaining relatively headstrong. And really, what girl wouldn't want Superman to use his x-ray vision to see what color underwear she's wearing (pink)? Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor is excellent as well. The plot drags a little at first, the most boring parts being while baby Superman is in the spaceship on his way to earth, and when teen Superman is learning all about the universe from his birth father, Jor-El (who mentions that the "lesson" will take 12 Earth years, it sometimes seems like it's shown in real time). Yes, this movie was made in 1977, and the "modern" Metropolis is VERY dated, but if you can overlook the bell bottoms. polyester and 70's cars, it would be pretty much the same if it were filmed today.

Would I Buy This Film on DVD?
If you haven't already guessed, I already own it. The new DVD edition of "Superman" is without question, the best DVD ever released. The supplemental materials are first rate, including restoring several "deleted scenes". You can watch the scenes by themselves, or, HOTter yet, the scenes are actually inserted into their proper points in the film. Also included are the aforementioned screen tests, "making of" documentaries with recent interviews with the stars (SHOCKINGLY including Marlon Brando, who turned down like $69 trillion to appear in Superman 2), filmographies of the main stars, music only track, and a couple of different theatrical trailers. This DVD really does this wonderful film justice, which is saying a lot. Buy it, buy it now. In fact, buy the Superman 2 DVD while you're at it. They were filmed at the same time and it will make a nice 5 hour double feature. You can pass on Superman 3 and the completely HORRID Superman 4: The Quest For Peace, and let's not even talk about Supergirl. Overall, I give Superman 5 out of 5 THOME SIZED FIREBALLS because it is SCORCHINGLY HOT.