Minutemen

Minutemen to the Rescue, 5 October 2008

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
When a friend of mine saw my movie selection, he vowed that he would never under any circumstances watch this film. Somehow he did end up watching it and liked it. I guess I did too. I'm not sure what I was expecting but it did end up being a charming and fun film to watch. It was free at the library so I though 'What's to lose but two hours of my life.'

It reminded me of similar but better films. 1985's 'Explorers' with a young Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix is one such film, along with 'Back to the Future' (also 1985), which they make reference to in the film, and 'Clockstoppers'. If the film was made more seriously like those films it would probably stand as a great sci-fi classic. But alas it was made with a Disney Chanel quality to it. It is a sci-fi scenario processed through a pre-teen comedy lens. But remember I said I liked it.

It has enough charm and fun moments to make it a satisfying viewing experience. Like any good sci-fi story it has some good food for thought. Three high schoolers become heroes who travel back in time to save nerds from embarrassment. The time vortex they use for time travel is a whirlwind of light they use a diving board to jump into. Is saving nerds from embarrassment a good thing? Once the nerds are saved they shed their humble and peaceful personas and develop cockiness and pride. Some people have never learned that suffering and embarrassment are sometimes vehicles that strengthen a person's character and keep them humble and good.

Overall not a bad little picture. Wouldn't be bad to own in your library and is at least worth a rental.

Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979)

Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979)

The classic Mark Twain tale ‘A Conneicit Yankee in King Arthur’s Court’ is given the modern updated wacky Disney treatment. UFO marks the end or the beginning of a era of Disney filmmaking.  Seeing it's feet are in both worlds, it's somewhat of a crossover film. The purly innocent filmaking of the Classic Disney era closes it’s door.

Mind you, I’m not making this film out to be a moral degenerate mess, but problematic content that was avoided in earlier films begins to seep its way into UFO. One of the running gags involves a ‘Playboy’ type of magizine. In a higher rated film I might not write about this as problematic, but coming from a company that was hearled as the champion of Family Friendly movies, it's somewhat problematic.

The film is funnier then the poor comic pacing and timing that plagues the film throughout. It has several slight smiles and interesting dialogue but nothing that makes it stand out as a MUST OWN/MUST SEE Disney film, although it is worth watching if you like watching Disney films before the comedic downfall of most of its modern comedies. There are several funny if unbelievable gags. At one point I could see the wires on the jetpack as the main character flew around medeval england. The funniest gag involves a sign in front of the Spaceship perched inside Camelot that reads ‘Property of US Government: Stay Out: This Means You Merlin’.

The most interesting thing about the film is seeing Jim Dale on Camera as Sir Mordred. I’m used to Jim Dale narrating audio books such as Harry Potter or TV shows such as Pushing Dasies, so it’s nice to see him act along with his great narrative voice. There are plently of better Disney films and then again there are plenty worce. See it, if it is available but better to seek out better Disney fare instead.

Other Yankee's in Court

A Connecticut Yankee with Will Rogers 1931

A Connecticut Rabbit In King Arthur's Court  with Bing Crosby and Rhonda Fleming  1949

A Kid in King Arthur's Court.   1998

The Cat From Outer Space (1978)

The Kitty From Disney Space, 15 September 2008


*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I remember loving this movie when I was a young lad. I mean it had a 'Cat from Outer Space'. A guy got beer spit into his face. The main character, what's his name (Ken Berry), was your typical Disney Nerd who did all types of wacky things that a kid of around 7 would find funny. He didn't even need to get hit in the nuts to make kids laugh. If it was remade today that would happen I'm sure. Looking at this movie 30 years later, it is still an amusing and entertaining Disney comedy, although perhaps not as fun as when as when I was young, as I have matured as a film viewer. But still there is some magic in this film.

The sci-fi concept is interesting. Cats have developed their brains to the capacity that they can move and manipulate the world around them. Man in his primitive state has to use boring old tools. My roommate laughed as the little kitty walked out of the spaceship. You don't expect a cat to come from a UFO, so that is funny. And there are occasional interesting yucks throughout the picture. What could have been a 5 minute skit on Saturday Night Live was stretched to 98 minutes of wholesome family fun. This won't make the AFI 100 laughs list, but its still a film to watch with a smile.

The film isn't without its problems. Too many people are to willing to believe without any form of skepticism that a cat from another planet needs to fix his spaceship. The big chase scene at the end isn't great but isn't enough to get it mocked on Mystery Science Theater.

But on the plus side, the film also shows how sometimes to help others out, you must sacrifice your own dreams and desires. The sacrifice made by one of the characters in this film is quite profound for a silly little Disney comedy, but raises it above your average Disney comedy. Extra added reasons the film is fun is because of MASH's Harry Morgan, actress Sandy Duncan and Planet of the Apes chimpenzee Roddy McDowell.

This would be worth having in your video library (if you're a person who does that sort of thing) simply because it is family friendly film that you could show your kids without being embarrassed. It's more entertaining then Disney's 'Moon Pilot' and is worth checking out for a care free night of lite comedic sci-fi fun.

Return to Witch Mountain (1978)

Return to Witch Mountain (1978)

I found myself disapointed at first as I rewatched RTWM. At the end of the first film, it had a really interesting premise lined out for a sequal. Their were other children separated from their allen clan who needed to make their way to Witch Mountain. Perhaps Tia and Tony would help to search for these children and there would be some interesting and deep science fiction themes explored and philosphied about.

Instead of picking up on this plot device they settled for a typical non-original Disney plot with a villian who wanted to use the children’s ablities for power and greed. Christopher Lee does what he does best and plays a villian who pits brother and sister against each other. The plot is not bad, it is just watered down from what could have been a more exciting film.

But the action sequences make up for the wimpy storyline. RTWM has some of the best chase sequqnces in any Disney film. Actually some of the action sequences stand up to some other non-Disney action films as well.

The sequal to Witch mountain may not as good as it should have been, but it is good enough to watch and have a good night out at the movies with your family.

Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)

Escape to Witch Mountain. (1975)

Sometimes we walk along life’s roads not knowing the impending doom that awaits us. Lucas Deranian was about to travel down the road of death until youngsters Tony and Tia come to warn him not to step into his limmo. For some reason he listens to these children and shortly after that, a car creams out of control and crashes into the place where he was going to be sitting.

His big thanks to the children is to adopt them and take them into his bosses home. His boss is a greedy power hungry man who wants to use the children’s powers to enhance his pocketbook. Mr. Deranian does his best to hunt down the children once they use their powers to escape their prison. This is his thanks to the children for having saved his life.

Despite how people react to our good deeds, does not change the fact that we should do good deeds. This is the great moral truth that this film address. Although Tony and Tia can do extrodanry things, the film focuses more on their plight as orphans then their ablity to talk to animals and to make things move by harmonica playing. These are fun aspects of the film but would mean nothing without the characters who exhbit these powers.

The kids who have these powers are normal kids. Sometimes they don’t always use their powers wisely and don’t hide them away from prying eyes. Tony uses his powers in the early stages of the film to fight a bully. If normal children had super-duper non-normal powers, they would most likely not have the restraint to restrain themselves from using it in normal everyday situations. This adds the first thing that stands out about ETWM, is the realistic depection of Tia and Tony as children with unnatural ablities. The film continues to travel along the film path at a good pace and uses characters and situations to tell the story and does not relay on special effects or wacky slapstick moments to carry the story.

The film is not flashy or IN YOUR FACE, but tells a science fiction story with ideas brimming in the glow of the interesting characters that are introduced to us in this story. It is therefore a worthwhile Disney film and a worthwhile Sci-Fi film to watch and enjoy.

Moon Pilot (1962)

Moon Pilot (1962)

When the Moon (Pilot) hits your eye with the big Disney pie, that's entertainment., 15 September 2008

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***  The Eagle has Landed.

Back in the good ol' days of Disney Live action films (before the 1980's) Disney produced quite a few wholesome, if not entertaining family films. Back then you didn't have to worry about dad sleeping with his kids tutor, or some wacky comic villain, hero, or sidekick getting hit in the nuts. There were hardly any poop jokes for kids to wet their paints laughing so hard to. Sadly some smoked cigarettes, which is the greatest evil known to mankind next to the destruction of polar bears in the arctic due to global warming. Some even drank beer and perhaps ate some sweets like cookies. Sesame Street realized this evil and transformed Cookie Monster into the Vegetable Monster (I think).

 This brings us to my  review of Disney's 1962 comedic Sci-Fi family friendly film "Moon Pilot” based on Robert Buckner's 1960 novel ‘Starfire'. It chronicles the space program’s efforts to send a man into orbit around the moon. The space program has a few kinks in it, such as the current mode of space flight that caused the experimental monkey’s brain to become scrambled. The man they pick for this mission happens to be the stereotypical goofy character you would expect in a Disney comedy.

This bumbling astronaut played by Tom Tryon causes the typical Disney army general to yell at him a lot for being a goofball. You all know Tom Tryon from, you know, those films he was in. Like 'I Married a Monster from Outer Space’ (1958). He got tired of acting in 1969 and become a pretty successful author with such books as ’The Other’ (1971). There is also a security chief yelling at him a lot plus lots of inept FBI, NASA, and CIA agents. When the film was released the FBI complained about the portal of the FBI guy for being portrayed as too silly and goofy.

This plight of flight has attracted the attention of some friendly aliens who have sent an alien chick named Lyrae from an alien planet to come and help out the pilot so his brain doesn't become scrambled like the chimp’s. Disney had a lot of chimps and chumps in this film, and this monkey does a great acting job if a monkey ever did.

Lyrae (French actress Dany Saval) helps Capt. Richmond Talbot (Tom Tryon) with space flight and he in turn teaches the chick from outer space how earthlings exchange affection. She is so fascinated by this she just has to try it again and again. You see in her culture they bite each other on the ear as opposed to the way we do it here on earth. Also in her culture when they predict the future they can bring a living thought into reality for just a moment. Her prediction of the future provides a future for her and her hunky moon pilot.

This is a fun entertaining little comedy with some lite sci-fi touches. Disney Mavericks Brian Keith and Tommy Kirk are on board as well as Sally Field in her debut film. Overall there is nothing particularly memorable about the film. Nonetheless it could be fun for the kids and the Disney die hard fan. 'The Cat from Outer Space', is a better Disney Sci-Fi comedy and is worth seeking out before letting the Moon Pilot orbit your DVD player. There are also plenty of other great family comedies out there to see in general. I Wouldn’t recommend  having it land in your family library but it might be worth a rental.

 X-A luna bot/X-A luna lot/There are seven moons/Of Beta Lyrae/Seven moons/All made for love/ X-A luna bot/X-A luna lot/Seven moons above/Seven kinds of love/There are seven moons of Beta Lyrae/Seven moons that shine above/Seven times the shine/For a girl and boy/Seven moons above/Seven times the love/From the deep blue sea/To the galaxy/Seven moons above/Seven times the love. -Lyrae: [singing the "Beta Lyrae" song]

The Eagle is now lifting off.