Michael-J.-Fox Movie Reviews

THESE ARE THE GREATEST MOVIES DONE OFF THE CUFF THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY WANT IN YOUR COLLECTION. I DO WISH THAT ALL 4 MOVIES WHERE ON DVD FORMAT SO THAT THEY CAN LAST FOREVER. THEY ARE A TRUE CULT CLASSIC SET AND HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF FOLLOWERS.

A hot French babe, WWI reinactments, MEGA-tomato, and an evil tomato concert (complete with a pirate tomato playing a B.C. Rich snakeskin Ironbird). The laughs are fast and furious, ala - 'I thought a threesome was when you used both hands!!'. Fuzzy tomato is back, but not as aggravating as usual. The King of France is cool too in his double role as GangGreen's sidekick. But man that French babe, what a tart.

First came Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, a low budget musical spoof of monster movies in which giant tomatoes go on a rampage and eat people, a good-natured and amusing small gem. Years later came three sequels, in which John Astin is introduced as the mad scientist who created the tomatoes and wants to rule the world. These films are slicker than the rough around the edges original, but just as much genial fun. I should warn you that my tolerance for silliness is near limitless, but I love John Astin and I loved these movies. By the way, for one season there was a Saturday morning cartoon with Astin and his tomatoes. Bless him, the dedicated mad scientist never gives up.

I ran across this movie quite by accident, and I am glad that I did. I really loved it. The acting by the sisters,(Allen and Rashad) were nothing short of outstanding. My only thing is at the end, I wasn't sure whether or not Husband was reluctant to meet up or if Ms Rashad's character changed her mind. I like to feel that the military probably caught up with him and took him.After all, it was during the Second World War, and not many were exempt from service. That was my only concern. Other than that, I loved it. My other problem is the fact that back in the day, ladies that never married were treated real bad and called "settlers". I felt that was real disrespectful. I was so glad though to see a young brother fall for Ms Rashad's character, and was applauding it all the way. I am so glad that it don't apply today. Kudos to the cast for this movie.

This film was just what I expected it to be.. great story, actors and of course directing. Debbie Allen has showcased her directing skills continually including, directing her sister Phylicia Rashad in a remake of Pollyanna, "Polly", also a great movie. I guess siblings can work together. Keep up the good work my sisters. Looking forward to your next project.

I saw The Old Settler on my local PBS affiliate and it's pretty solid movie. Good acting on the part of Rashad and her sister (I've forgotten her name) I've seen this film quite a while ago and was hoping it would be on DVD but it's not yet.

I like all the Ripping Yarns, some are better than others, but my favorite is in this collection: "The Curse Of The Claw". This bit is so great, that I never get tired of watching it. Michael Palin is wonderful in a dual role, as both the innocent boy Kevin and his hilariously diseased Uncle Jack. The actors who play his unbelievably oppressive parents are great. Everything is top-notch, the atmosphere, acting, dialogue, and the ending. This, and all the Ripping Yarns, are full of very subtle but hilarious humor that may go over the heads of many.

I don't want to give too much away, Mr. Russell. If you like Python, and you've never seen this, get it now! I wish they would release this on DVD.

If you like Ripping Yarns, then you will like More Ripping Yarns. It is the second of the Ripping Yarns series.

The Testing of Eric Olthwaite (1934): Michael Palin has two roles in this episode. He plays Eric Olthwaite, a very boring young man. His only interests or should I say obsessions are black pudding, shovels, and especially the weather. He is so boring that his mom, dad, and sister run away from home. He askes his girlfriend for help but she is too busy having a fling. Poor Eric, he goes and searches for them. After receiving some friendly advice he decides to change his life and apply at a bank. Michael also plays the head bank teller. It is an interesting scene with both characters speaking to each other. Suddenly a bank teller comes in and takes Eric hostage. Soon Eric's life takes a bizzare turn and he is not so boring after all. It's a funny episode and the song at the end is very catchy.

Winfrey's Last Case (1921): The Germans are planning to start the war a year early, who do they call on to be the hero? Michael Palin plays General Winfrey. He refuses by telling them he needs a holiday. He leaves for his holiday, but it has a few funny turns. He goes into an empty pub where he is served by an old women whose arms and hands are the only thing you see. She even drives him up to Smugglers Cottage. Don't attempt this stunt ever. He goes up to Smugglers Cottage where he is greeted by 16 servants in a very small home. Later on one of the servants is trying to kill him but thanks to the 23 exits he manages to escape. Now another bizzare turn happens to General Winfrey, and somehow he becomes the hero. The scenery is beautiful and makes a great vacation spot.

Murder at Moorstone Manor (1926): Stephen King could not of written anything this scary, or should I say funny. This episode has Michael Palin playing three characters. This is quite a challenge, but Michael pulls it off beautifully. He starts out as an old man named Kevin who is alone and is greeted by an explorer and his trible. He tells the explorer a story of fear, tragedy, and terror. The story is about THE CLAW! He tells about his childhood and his visits with Uncle Jack. Michael plays Uncle Jack who has more diseases than anyone. Michael also plays Kevin in his mid 20's. Again, both characters are speaking to each other. Uncle Jack tells Kevin he must deliver the claw back to the rightful owners. He is unsucessful on his trip, but later on the claw reappears. How it ends is unusual. I like this episode because it is funny, and again Michael does a great job with all three characters.

Brilliant. The Eric Oldthwaite epidode depicts the sudden charisma which the most boring man in Yorkshire acquires when he accidentally becomes a robber of banks (and rain gauge records). Dialogue you'll drive your friends mad with for years to come. Visuals which make loving mock of "When the boat comes in" and a host of other tv and film icons. The Whinfrey episode is only ok, but The Claw is back to form: sinister, sad, strange and screamingly funny. Buy it!! You must watch the other 2 tapes, #1 for Golden Gordon and the brilliant, cult-episode Tomkinson's Schooldays and #3 for the wonderfully anarchic but cozily conservative Roger of the Raj. They're all great, but Eric Oldthwaite is the greatest and the most grating of them all. P.S. watch out for a sly fleeting reference to Eric in the "Golden Gordon" episode on tape 1.

I've owned this video for a long time now but it is always fun to watch. Only Sin Deep is such a great story and Lea Thompson does such a great job in it. Lover Come Hack to Me is the second story in the video and it is a pretty creepy tale, but the third episode Collection Completed is more comical. Maybe they should have titled this video Tales from the Crypt Wives from hell, considering all three episides have somthing to do with woman viciously killing their men. If you liked the Tales from the Crypt t.v. show, then you will really enjoy all three of these classic episodes.

Considered to be "Volume 2" of our series, I will be reviewing "...Only Sin Deep" , "Lover Come Hack To Me" , and "Collection Complete" , all contained in the approximate 90-minute video. "..Only Sin Deep" , starring Lea Thompson, is the tale of a street girl who just needs a little cash. She gets it, all right, from a pawn store owner, in an unusual way. She rises to the top of her game, but no sooner does she notice something is changing...something truely horrifying.

"Lover Come Hack To Me" , starring Stephen Shellen , is the story of tortured love. When a gold digger marries a wealthy young lady, things really heat up the wedding night...just not the way you might think. Amanda Plummer co-stars in this houmerous shocker, professing the old adage: "What Goes around...comes around". "Collection Completed" is the story of a fresh off reiree, Jonas (M. Emmet Walsh) who looks forward to spending quality time with his loving wife Anita (Audra Lindley) , if only she did'nt have so many pesky animals! How Jonas hates them! So he starts a new hobby. Taxidermy. Perhaps Anita will follow up likewise...just not in the way you expect. These gory tales would make any horror buff proud. And just to make things clear, I am NOT writing any of my reviews from the back of the box! These are mine! Later!

I LOVED ALL THREE OF THESE STORIES. THE FIRST, ONLY SIN DEEP HAS GREAT ACTING FROM LEA THOMPSON, AND IS SCRIPTED VERY WELL. THE SECOND STORY DOESNT HAVE ANY GREAT TWISTS, AND IS VERY PREDICTABLE, BUT IS STILL VERY ENTERTAINING. THE THIRD STORY IS EXTRODINARY IT HAS A GREAT TWIST AT THE END, AND A VERY COMEDIC STRUCTURE. THIS TAPE IS WELL WORTH A WATCH. END

What does a bone-chilling story, a tomb, and a rotting corpse have in common? Tales from the Crypt! What else? This video contains DEAD WAIT with one of the best comedians/actors in history, Whoopi Goldberg. She plays a medicine woman on an island that is being taken over by a group of rebels. At the same time, a young man named Red is planning to take a valuable black pearl. What happens when their paths cross?

This film contains the episodes (which I will be reviewing) "Dead Wait", "People Who Live In Brass Hearses" and "Seance". I can't speak for other reviewers on this collection, but I found all installments in this video to be well-written and entertaining. "Dead Wait", which features hit TV and film star Whoppi Goldberg (who does a comedic stint with the Crypt Keeper at the end) is a tale of the strange cult of Voodoo and it's supposed magic. But how high do sacrifices go to steal a priceless treasure? Co-Starring James Remar and John Rhys-Davies, there should be lots of "heads rolling" after you see this tale! "People Who Live In Brass Hearses", starring Bill Paxton, in the tale of a common street robber and his mishappen brother (acclaimed film star Brad Dourif) as they try to take down a helpless Ice Cream vender. At the climax, the boys realize that two heads, legs, arms, etc. are better than one... "Seance" , starring Cathy Moriarty, takes a in-sight on the wicked world of tricks involvid psychics, gypsies and such. "But we all know the "Seance" we are seeing is fake, right?" , might be what our dear Alison Peters (Cathy) might say. Co-starring Ben Cross, Alison will learn how wrong she is. These three horrifying tales will do any ghoul's horror collection well. As The Cryptkeeper himself my say, "Til' next time, kiddees!"

IN THE FIRST EPISODE, WHOOPIE GOLDBERG IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS ANY GOOD. THE SECOND ONE IS EXCELLENT. BRAD DOURIF GIVES AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN THIS VERY COMEDIC EPISODE, WITH BILL PAXTON AS WELL. THE THIRD IS VERY GOOD AS WELL, IT HAS NO TWISTED SHOCK ENDING, AND DOESNT EVEN HAVE A VERY GOOD STORY, BUT IS STILL ENTERTAINING, ESPECIALLY WITH CATHY MORIARTY, SHE IS EXCELLENT. END

One of my favorite episodes is Dig that Cat..He's Real Gone. In this episode, a bum gets a procedure that gives him nine lives like a cat. He decides to do the whole side show bit and it doesn't turn out the way he thinks it will. The Man Who Was Death is a great episode about a executioner that gets put out of business by a new law. Then he decides to take the law in his own hands. This is great!

Tales From The Crypt Vol.1 is a great video tape. The Man Who Was Death is one of the first and best crypt episodes ever.The last two stories are okay,but buy the tape for the first and one of the best crypt episodes ever The Man Who Was Death Spooktactular fun and entertainment!

THE FIRST, AND THIRD ARE THE BEST STORIES ON THE TAPE. THE SECOND ONE WITH PRICILLA PRESLEY ISNT AS GOOD, BUT STILL WORTH WATCHING. THE FIRST, AND THIRD ARE DEFINATLEY WORTH WATCHING FOR THE GREAT STORIES, AND CASTS. END

Although Humbug is amusing, and well done, it is overshadowed by Anasazi. Written by Chris Carter, this episode is the season finale. I won't give away the plot (which can be found on websites devoted to The X Files, but make sure you get the follow-up episodes The Blessing Way and Paper Clip. This series of episodes is almost as good as Duane Barry (which guest stars C. C. H. Pounder who was later on ER)/Ascension/One Breath. Anasazi is set up when Mulder receives a DAT tape from a hacker who has broken into a Pentagon security and downloaded an "encrypted" file which purports to prove that the Pentagon knows about intelligent aliens who have visited Earth. Now you know enough to watch the episodes.

When I bought Humbug/Anasazi, I was expecting I would like Anasazi more than Humbug. it was the other way around. In Humbug, Mulder and Scully travel investigate several murders in a town inhabbited by circus sideshow preformers, (siamese twins, alligator man, ect). While Mulder suspects that the culprit is a legendary creature known as the FeeJee mermaid, the real killer is Lanny a siamese twin's borther Leonard. Who can detatch and reattatch himself to Lanny. SICK! Anasazi is a more dramatic episode that focusses on the existence of extraterrestrial life with one monster cliffhanger at the end. Bill Mulder invites his son over to confess his involvement in a secret project. Alex Krycek shows up and shoots Mulder's father however and wounds Mulder. Fearing that he will be convicted, Mulder and Scully travel to the Navajo reservation in New Mexico, only to discover a boxcar full of alien bodies. The Cigarette-Smoking Man appears when Mulder is inside the boxcar, and sets it on fire. The episode is continued in The Blessing Way.

This video contains two of season two's most popular episodes, "Humbug" and "Anasazi". The first episode, "Humbug", is about a murder in a small Florida town where many circus and sideshow performers live. The suspect in the case is hard to find and seems to be a contortionist. The second episode, "Anasazi" deals with the mythology and finds Mulder searching for the truth about alien existence. "Anasazi" is also the season two finale and the story continues into season three with "The Blessing Way/Paper Clip". This X-Files video is a must for any fan of the show. Get it now!

This film is wonderful. It takes Tom sawyer and Huck Finn and takes them on a new series of adventures. This is the sequel that Twain never got around to writing. The acting is top notch -- look for the young Cynthia Nixon and Anthony Michael Hall. It is fun for the entire family. A sort of kids Indiana Jones film. It should be called RAIDERS OF THE LOST TWAIN!!!

Rascals and Robbers was a made for TV movie from the early '80's. I'm not sure when it came out, but you can't go by the video release date, because it was aired well before '87. You can figure that by the fact that Anthony Michael Hall, the "Geek" from 16 Candles, plays Huck Finn in this film, and is a bit younger. I'm not up to speed on all my '80's movies, but I'm sure 16 candles was out before '87. Anywho, Rascals and Robbers has all the signs of a series Pilot, so I can only speculate that that may have been the plan.
The story seems to have nothing at all to do with the original books, and yet there are hints of both stories thrown in here and there. This is sorta like, the further adventures of Tom and Huck, or something like that. Still, the film is very charming, if not utterly ridiculous. The cast is so good and it has such a spirit of youthful fun and adventure, which is the main reason I have a fascination for Tom and Huck movies. If you are one of those people who watches them because you are looking for something as loyal to the books as possible, skip this one. It'll make you sick how different it is! Probably the most different Tom and Huck film ever made! Look for my listmania Tom and Huck list for other selections, but skip this if all you're looking for is a loyal retelling of the books.
One of the cool things about this movie is that both characters are given equal focus in the film. It's sort of a buddy picture. In addition, the fact that the story is so different provides a little variety for the average Tom and Huck fan who wishes there were more stories about the likeable rascals. Now for the synopsis.
The film opens with Tom Sawyer being his usual, trouble making self, and, on the run from a good switching, encounters a "spy" on the streets of St. Petersburgh. Hmm, I thought they lived in Hannibal? Well, I don't know much about geography, maybe they're the same place. Anywho, Tom seeks out Huck, and they make plans to run off for a while and look for adventure until the local Town Birthday Celebration is over. They realize they have no money though, and Tom says he knows where they could get some. That night, the enter the graveyard to spy on the spies. Here's a scene much like in the original Tom Sawyer story. Tom figures spies have loads of treasure. They overhear their "spies" discussing a scam they're pulling on the town, selling golden statues of angels for a huge amount of money, that are to be unveiled in the church for the town celebration. Of course no one has ever seen the non-existant statues yet, and the crooks intend to take the money and run before that problem comes up. Unfortunately for our two heroes, they're caught sneaking around in the bushes, and they head for the river. Here's some classic Huck Finn. They get separated, and Tom gets caught the next morning, while Huck finds himself in a haystack of a small shack. The owners of the shack, a kind young newly wed couple, take Huck in, but the young husband has plans for Huck to help him cheat in a Poker game that night to help them get out of their poor situation. One of the Poker players turns out to be the "spy" who caught Tom, and soon we find Tom tied in the barn and Huck in the attic flashing signals through holes in the ceiling to the young husband who is playing cards with the crookedest bunch of croanies ever to scourge the South. Tom and Huck manage to reunite, and together in the attic they bring down the ceiling! The jig is up and they're on the road again. They get caught again, and escape again, finding a traveling circus. The owner of a circus is a magician and his pretty teenage daughter. Seeing their only two employees quit, Tom and Huck decide to join up. The motley group later encounters a young black man who has been robbed and beaten. They suspect that he is a runaway slave, and contemplate whether to help him or turn him in. One of the funniest parts comes here, where the circus owner makes a statement that if they are caught hiding a runaway slave, they'd throw him in jail, and they'd possibly throw them in jail two. I found that pretty funny because more than likey, in reality, they ALL would have been hung! This is the pre-civil war South! But this is an '80's, made for TV movie, so this is what they wanted kids to believe at the time I guess. I will make the statement that the tame, political correctness of this movie makes it clear that it's made for kids, but hey, I still enjoy it! Although maybe that's because I enjoyed it as a kid. Anyway, they find out that the man is not a slave, but is indeed free, unfortunately, he had just come back from a plantation where he had attempted to buy his sister, and instead was beaten and robbed by the owner and his men. The group starts contemplating how they can rescue the man's sister from the evil colonel who "owns" her.
In the meantime, they have to head into town to buy a horseshoe. There, they witness a scene involving the Colonel, and devise a pretty ridiculous plan to get invited to the plantation. Surprisingly, or maybe not surprisingly, it works. THis part is right out of Huck Finn too, remember the Duke and the King? Well, they dress their black friend as an Egyptian King, and Tom and Huck go along as his servants, Tom being the only one who speaks English, and Huck playing mute. It's the Colonel's Birthday, and he invites the visiting King to a party at his plantation. During a comical dinner, their plot is foiled when they are recognized, and the crew grabs the sister they came to rescue, and heads for the door! Somehow, they get away. Later, we find the circus wagon, with all our heroes and damsels aboard, traveling through the woods, trying to get Tom and Huck home to warn their town of the plot from the beginning. There are several flashes to what's going on in town throughout the film, lest we forget. Not to mention the "spy" is always popping up close on their heels. And once again, he catches up to them in the woods, and the make a run for it, the whole Tom and Huck gang, towards a cave the boys know about. This is the cave from Tom Sawyer's book I imagine. A long chase takes place within the cave, and we find all manor of snake species within, some I didn't even think lived in the U.S.. They are pursued all the while buy Scree, that Spy I keep mentioning, who is wonderfully played by the great Anthony James. And of course, all's well that ends well. The heroes and their gang catch the criminals, retrieve the treasure, and everything is Jim dandy. The town even donates all the money to the companions Tom and Huck picked up along the way. Only thing is, they've helped a slave escape! Isn't that going to catch up with all of them eventually? Well, luckily this is an '80's movie.
My final comments, it's fun, it's corny and therefore funny, and the cast is great. It's pretty oldschool '80's, but that adds to its uniqueness. I recommend it to any Tom and Huck fan who wants to experience something different from the books, and doesn't take life too too seriously. I know one thing for sure, I watch Tom and Huck movies for the fun and adventure, and that's probably why I tend to actually prefer them to the books. This video is worth it for the fun, especially if you remember seeing it on the Disney Channel or when it premiered on whichever network as a kid. (I think I DID see the premiere, but can't say for sure.) Anyway, seek it out, even though it's currently not available on Amazon... Never consider any video "unavailable."

Came The Dawn is perfectly directed and written plus great acting from Brooke Shields and Perry King, this is one of the best Tales From The Crypt episodes ever due to the unexpected and surprise ending, a must see! Mournin Mess is only average but worth a watch. Watch the last story also for a surprise ending. A must own buy today!

THIS TAPE, WITHOUT A DOUBT, GETS A TEN DUE TO THE FIRST EPISODE, CAME THE DAWN, WITH BROOKE SHIELDS, AND PERRY KING. IT IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE EPISODE. IT HAS A BRILLIANT STORY, AND A TWISTED, UNEXPECTED, GENIUS ENDING. THE OTHER TWO EPISODES ARENT THAT GOOD, BUT YOU MUST SEE CAME THE DAWN. YOU WOULDENT BE SORRY!!!!!!!!!! END

jimmy wleck really outdid himself in this movie. A great show!

I had the pleasure to watch this episode while it was on tv, and although I have to admit one of the major reasons I watched it was because of Jimmy Wlcek, I have to admit this episode ROCKS! I highly recommend it to any and all Walker fans.