Thursday, June 28, 2007
AFI GOT IT WRONG HERE IS MY CHOICE FOR 11-20 By Stanton Heck
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
THE WORSE REMAKE EVER IS
Now there may be worse but on the top of my head it has to be "The Poseidon". Here was an overblown remake that took the charm out of the 1972 classic. Now I understand having new characters this way you don't know who will die but you should of had characters that were more than one dimensional. The special effects were not even that special.
In 2007 The original "Poseidon Adventure" most likely outsells the remake and always will.
So what is your vote for the worse remake and why?
KATHY GRIFFIN PLEASE COME TO NEW ORLEANS
STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP COMING TO DVD
3 MOVIES WORTH RENTING THIS WEEKEND
LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD BY STAN HECK
Die Hard 2 was lots of fun. The movie was so good I went and saw it again. It was violent and funny but it was after all an ACTION MOVIE where you expected lots of violence.
Die Hard with A Vengeance I was not crazy about seeing. As a matter of fact I only saw it because it was playing with 9 1/2 months. I thought this movie was bad. I don't remember too much about it however what I do remember was I hated the fact they put children in jeopardy. To me that's a no-no. I never saw it again and to this day I still never want to see it again. I thought the plot was stupid and the movie was too slow.
Live Free or Die Hard I had no intention of ever seeing. However it was a hot day in the south and I was off work so we went to the movies. I went in thinking it was going to be bad so I am happy to report that I was wrong. Now the plot is stupid if you stop to think about it. There is action scenes that are stolen from other movies (Jurassic Parks SUV and True Lies Airplane Attack in the city). Now the movie runs over 2 hours but its never slow. This is something.
I am happy to report that I did have a good time. I"ll buy the DVD if FOX releases an R RATED VERSION. I did miss my F-words & over the top violence.
BROADWAY HEAVEN PATTI LUPONE IN GYPSY AS MAMA ROSE
I am jelous of New Yorkers. LAst year I was jelous of people from the Chicago area. What they both have in common is the voice of Broadway Patti Lupone in Gypsy. Last Summer she was in Chicago playing MAMA ROSE and this year she is in New York playing Mama Rose. This is something I dreamed of seeing for as long as I can remember. When Gypsy was on Broadway a couple of years ago a friend of mine says Bernadette Peters was doing Patti Lupone as Mama Rose. To me that sounds funny but I wasn't there. However if hurricane KAtrina didn't hit me 2 years ago I would be in New york this year to see this limited run of Gypsy. Below is the press release for the production of GYPSY.
BOYD GAINES AND LAURA BENANTI JOIN PATTI LUPONE IN GYPSY JULY 9-29, 2007 Directed by Arthur Laurents New York , NY, June 1, 2007 –Laura Benanti will play Louise and three-time Tony-winner Boyd Gaines will play Herbie in GYPSY starring Patti LuPone, in the New York City Center’s Encores!
Summer Stars debut presentation directed by Arthur Laurents, running July 9 - 29 at New York City Center, W. 55 th Street between 6 th & 7 th Avenues. A July 14 press opening is planned.
Boyd Gaines has been nominated for a Tony Award for his current role in Broadway’s Journey’s End. He has won three previous Tony Awards for Contact, The Heidi Chronicles, and She Loves Me. His other Broadway credits include the recent Twelve Angry Men, The Show Off, Cabaret, Company, and he has made many off-Broadway, film and television appearances.
Laura Benanti made her Broadway debut in the cast of Swing!, and at the age of 19, played the lead opposite Richard Chamberlain in the Broadway revival of The Sound of Music. Last season, the New Jersey-born performer was again cast in the lead role in The Wedding Singer on Broadway.
Patti LuPone will play Rose, the quintessential stage mother, in this musical suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee. One of the greatest musicals of all time, Gypsy is a musical fable with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The 1959 blockbuster, originally directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, features some of the biggest songs in Broadway history: “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Rose’s Turn” and “Some People.” The cast (as of June 1) also includes Leigh Ann Larkin, Tony Yazbeck, Marilyn Caskey, Alison Fraser, Nancy Opel, Bill Bateman, Jim Bracchitta, Sami Gayle, Bill Raymond, Brian Reddy and Emma Rowley. Patti LuPone's memorable New York performances include Mrs. Lovett in last season’s acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd, for which she received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical; Noises Off ; Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning play Master Class; Anything Goes (Drama Desk Award, Tony nomination, Best Actress in a Musical); The Cradle Will Rock; Nancy in Oliver!;Evita (Tony and Drama Desk Awards, Best Actress in a Musical); Working; and The Robber Bridegroom (Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations, Best Featured Actress in a Musical). Ms. LuPone has appeared in the Encores! productions of Pal Joey and Cole Porter’s Can-Can, both directed by Lonny Price. She originally played Rose last summer in the Ravinia Festival 's concert production of Gypsy, also directed by Mr. Price.
Arthur Laurents’ first play, Home of the Brave, opened on Broadway in 1945 followed by The Time of the Cuckoo and A Clearing in the Woods. He also has written the books for several musicals, including West Side Story, Gypsy, Anyone Can Whistle and Do I Hear a Waltz ?, which was based on his play The Time of the Cuckoo. Laurents has directed several Broadway productions as well, including the musicals I Can Get It for You Wholesale and La Cage Aux Folles, for which he won a Tony Award. Laurents has also written two novels, “The Way We Were,” and “The Turning Point,” both of which became successful films for which Laurents wrote the screenplays. He also wrote the screenplays for The Snake Pit, Anastasia and the
Alfred Hitchcock film Rope.
David Letterman has turned into Kathie Lee Gifford
NO SUMMER REPEATS ENJOY THE STARTER WIFE ANF HELL'S KITCHEN
WANTED DVD JOHN RITTER CARRIE FISHER LEAVE YESTERDAY BEHIND
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
WANTED THE DAY THE WOMEN GOT EVEN
The Day the Women Got Even
1980-USA
PLOT DESCRIPTION In this made-for-TV movie four suburban wives become vigilantes to protect innocent actresses from an amoral, blackmailing talent agent. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
AFI JERKS PUTS RAGING BULL AHEAD OF GONE WITH THE WIND
10th Anniversary 2007 List on the bottom
Change
1.
Citizen Kane (1941)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Stan Heck says- I disagree. "Gone With the Wind" should be here.
2.
Casablanca (1942)
The Godfather (1972)
Stan Says- Citizen Caine
3.
The Godfather (1972)
Casablanca (1942)
Stan- Casablanca
4.
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Raging Bull (1980)
Stan- The Godfather. Raging Bull Should not be in the top 10
5.
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Stan The Wizard of Oz
6.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Gone With the Wind (1939)
Stan - "Snow White"
7.
The Graduate (1967)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Stan- Lawerence of Arabia
8.
On the Waterfront (1954)
Schindler's List (1993)
Stan- The Sound of Music
9.
Schindler's List (1993)
Vertigo (1958)
Stan- Singin' in the Rain
10.
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Stan- "Some Like it Hot"
I will do 11-20 Later
11.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
City Lights (1931)
+65
12.
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
The Searchers (1956)
+84
13.
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Star Wars (1977)
+2
14.
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Psycho (1960)
+4
15.
Star Wars (1977)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
+7
16.
All About Eve (1950)
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
-4
17.
The African Queen (1951)
The Graduate (1967)
-10
18.
Psycho (1960)
The General (1927)
NEW
19.
Chinatown (1974)
On the Waterfront (1954)
-11
20.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
-9
21.
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
Chinatown (1974)
-2
22.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
-8
23.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
-2
24.
Raging Bull (1980)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
+1
25.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
+9
26.
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
+3
27.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
High Noon (1952)
+6
28.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
All About Eve (1950)
-12
29.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Double Indemnity (1944)
+9
30.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
-2
31.
Annie Hall (1977)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
-8
32.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
The Godfather Part II (1974)
33.
High Noon (1952)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
-13
34.
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
+15
35.
It Happened One Night (1934)
Annie Hall (1977)
-4
36.
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
-13
37.
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
38.
Double Indemnity (1944)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
-8
39.
Doctor Zhivago (1965)
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
-13
40.
North by Northwest (1959)
The Sound of Music (1965)
+15
41.
West Side Story (1961)
King Kong (1933)
+2
42.
Rear Window (1954)
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
-15
43.
King Kong (1933)
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
-7
44.
The Birth of a Nation (1915)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
+7
45.
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Shane (1953)
+24
46.
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
It Happened One Night (1934)
-11
47.
Taxi Driver (1976)
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
-2
48.
Jaws (1975)
Rear Window (1954)
-6
49.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Intolerance (1916)
NEW
50.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
NEW
51.
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
West Side Story (1961)
-10
52.
From Here to Eternity (1953)
Taxi Driver (1976)
-5
53.
Amadeus (1984)
The Deer Hunter (1978)
+36
54.
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
M*A*S*H (1970)
+2
55.
The Sound of Music (1965)
North by Northwest (1959)
-15
56.
M*A*S*H (1970)
Jaws (1975)
-8
57.
The Third Man (1949)
Rocky (1976)
+21
58.
Fantasia (1940)
The Gold Rush (1925)
+16
59.
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Nashville (1975)
NEW
60.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Duck Soup (1933)
+25
61.
Vertigo (1958)
Sullivan's Travels (1941)
NEW
62.
Tootsie (1982)
American Graffiti (1973)
+15
63.
Stagecoach (1939)
Cabaret (1972)
NEW
64.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Network (1976)
+2
65.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The African Queen (1951)
-48
66.
Network (1976)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
-6
67.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
NEW
68.
An American in Paris (1951)
Unforgiven (1992)
+30
69.
Shane (1953)
Tootsie (1982)
-7
70.
The French Connection (1971)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
-24
71.
Forrest Gump (1994)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
NEW
72.
Ben-Hur (1959)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
NEW
73.
Wuthering Heights (1939)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
-23
74.
The Gold Rush (1925)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
-9
75.
Dances with Wolves (1990)
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
NEW
76.
City Lights (1931)
Forrest Gump (1994)
-9
77.
American Graffiti (1973)
All The President's Men (1976)
NEW
78.
Rocky (1976)
Modern Times (1936)
+3
79.
The Deer Hunter (1978)
The Wild Bunch (1969)
+1
80.
The Wild Bunch (1969)
The Apartment (1960)
+13
81.
Modern Times (1936)
Spartacus (1960)
NEW
82.
Giant (1956)
Sunrise (1927)
NEW
83.
Platoon (1986)
Titanic (1997)
NEW
84.
Fargo (1996)
Easy Rider (1969)
+4
85.
Duck Soup (1933)
A Night at the Opera (1935)
NEW
86.
Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
Platoon (1986)
-3
87.
Frankenstein (1931)
12 Angry Men (1957)
NEW
88.
Easy Rider (1969)
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
+9
89.
Patton (1970)
The Sixth Sense (1999)
NEW
90.
The Jazz Singer (1927)
Swing Time (1936)
NEW
91.
My Fair Lady (1964)
Sophie's Choice (1982)
NEW
92.
A Place in the Sun (1951)
Goodfellas (1990)
+2
93.
The Apartment (1960)
The French Connection (1971)
-23
94.
Goodfellas (1990)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
+1
95.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
The Last Picture Show (1971)
NEW
96.
The Searchers (1956)
Do the Right Thing (1989)
NEW
97.
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Blade Runner (1982)
NEW
98.
Unforgiven (1992)
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
+2
99.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Toy Story (1995)
NEW
100.
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
Ben-Hur (1959)
EVAN THE ALMIGHTY BOMB I TOLD YOU SO
Now "Evan Almighty" stars Steve Carell who was a supporting actor in the original. Since then Steve has become a "MINI STAR" because he had a hit on his own called "The 40 Year Old Virgin". He is also the star on NBC/Universal TV'S "The Office". Now as much as NBC loves to tell you that "The Office" is a hit show please remember that the show doesn't even land in the top 30 shows on Network TV. In fact it gets its ass kicked by "Survivor" and "Ugly Betty" on Thursday Nights. So in turn this doesn't make Steve Carell a star. In fact it makes him a familiar face but not a known face outside of NBC-Universal.
Now back to " Evan ALmighty". The movie again is a sequel to a Jim Carrey movie without him. Universal Studios has ended up spending iver $150 million dollars on the movie. This is do because the movie had to spend lots of money on CGI animals because in real life the director of the movie had to many on set problems with real animals. So CGI has to save the movie.
Because of the cost overruns and a semi-weak screenplay Universal Studios seems to know that they have a BOMB on their hands. In fact the director "Tom Shadyac" is already firing people around him because of the fact that Universal isn't spending much money on promoting the movie. Its not known at this time if the stars of the movie will be hitting "Letterman" or "Leno" because most people involved think that "The movie is going to be remembered as the Evan Albighty". IN other words this movie sucks
Monday, June 25, 2007
1408 A MOVIE REVIEW BY STAN HECK
Sunday, June 24, 2007
JUDY DAVIS STEALS THE STARTER WIFE
The Best year of movies is 1978 not 1939
There are 3 of my all time favorite movies that were released in 1978. Those movies are "Grease", "Superman-The Movie", & "Halloween". What is so funny these movies still generate huge dvd sales each year. Do you think today's will hold up as well in 29 years? I don't think so. In fact I am willing to bet that in the year 2037 "Grease" "Superman" & "Halloween" will still be out selling most movies that Hollywood makes for the year 2007. In fact I haven't seen one movie this year that I would buy.
Alright I am kidding about 1978 having better movies then 1939 however if you take any given year since movies were first made I am pretty sure 1978 is on of the best years of movies ever.
Here is some of the classics of 1978
Grease
Animal House
Halloween
Dawn of the Dead
Coming Home
Magic
The Deer Hunter
Superman
Every Witch Way But Loose
The End
Foul Play
Up In Smoke
Midnight Express
An Unmarried Woman
The Buddy Holly Story
The Boys from Brazil
Same Time Next Year
California Suite
IF KATHY GRIFFIN JOINS THE VIEW
EVAN ALMIGHTY SEQUEL LOSER GOD HAS REVENGE ON UNIVERSAL
Steve Carell proved not nearly as all-powerful as Jim Carrey.
"Evan Almighty," with Carell taking over for Carrey in a follow-up to the comedy smash "Bruce Almighty," debuted a solid No. 1 with $32.1 million, though that was less than half the $68 million opening of its predecessor, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Released by Universal, "Evan Almighty" has Carell as a new congressman instructed by God (Morgan Freeman) to build an ark for a coming flood.
NOW HERE IS THE SPIN THAT UNIVERSAL HAS PUT ON THE BOX OFFICE RETURNS
Carrey's "Bruce Almighty" was an adult comedy, while the PG-rated "Evan Almighty" was aimed at a family crowd, which could give it longer shelf life, said Nikki Rocco, head of distribution at Universal.
"Family films have an incredible ability to just play and play," Rocco said. "I'm very optimistic about it playing out over the course of the summer."
Now this is the third sequel in a row that has less than stellar results at the box office. "Evan Almighty" maybe #1 however its not going to recoup its cost. Call this a box office bomb.
"Ocean's 13" opened to #1 as well but to less ticket sales then the previous installments. "Fantastic Four" also sold less tickets then the previous entry.
Now on the bright side "Knocked Up" is still doing very well and could end up making as much as $150,ooo,ooo at the box office.
"Fantastic Four" slipped 64% this weekend. This is not a good sign. "Pirates" is slipping as well as "Shrek the Third".
Friday, June 22, 2007
A GREAT YEAR FOR MOVIES 1978 vs 2007
If i were to describe a perfect Summer then that Simmer would of been it. I could go on & on but I am here to talk about the movies of 1978.
This Summer was great. Everyone knew that "Jaws 2" was coming. However there were bigger surprises and better movies that were released that Summer as well.
No I have to admit that I saw "Star Wars" that Summer allot. My sister worked at a ONE SCREEN movie theatre and "Star Wars" finally came to my home town area of Oxnard, CA. Now "Star Wars" did play in Ventura (the next town over) the previous year however to a 10 year old (at the time) it may as well been the moon.
Now these are the movies that were released in the Summer that year.
"Jaws 2", "Animal House", "Hooper","Heaven Can Wait","Foul Play","Grease", and in the Winter Time we got "Halloween", "Magic" ,"Invasion of the Body Snatchers", "Superman-The Movie" and Disney re-released "Pinocchio". 1978 was a great year of movies. All of these movies also still make millions of dollars each year for the studio that made them "Grease" "Superman", "Animal House" are on lots of all time best list.
Now if you look at the above list what is so special is that the only sequel is "Jaws 2". In fact its the only sequel released that summer. This year (2007) every weekend the #1 movie has been a sequel.
I miss the movies of the 1970's. I hope one day the studios will go back to making better ORIGINAL movies and stop giving us remakes and sequels!
COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME JIMMY DEAN DVD & REUNION
The cult hit "Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean" should be released on DVD. Its the movie that proved that Cher could act. It was also a big break for Kathy Bates. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Broadway play (which opened & closed almost overnight) & the movie.
Well god only knows why this movie hasn't had a DVD release. What is remarkable is that its directed by Robert Altman so where is the DVD?
Well a brief history of the VIDEO release is that in 1983 Embassy Home Video held the rights. Embassy had them for years. The second video release was from J2 communications. They have since gone into bankruptcy. So maybe the home video rights are tied up in Bankruptcy court?
Now VIACOM owns the Pay Channel Showtime. Showtime might own part of this movie. Which in turn that maybe Paramount Home Video might have (or in the future) have the rights to release the movie on DVD.
Now if they do a SPECIAL EDITION DVD they should have a Reunion of the surviving cast members. In the 25 years since the films release Sandy Dennis (MONA) & Sudie Bond (Juanita) have passed on.
The reunion of the cast members must include Cher, Karen Black, Kathy Bates but, they MUST INCLUDE MARK PATTON. SPOILERS AHEAD
The role Mark plays is groundbreaking. It was the first time a movie gave the audience a positive role model of a TRANSGENDER woman. The movie portrayed Joe (then later Joanne) with no holds bared and no apology's and why should there be.!
Mark he is however better remembered for "Nightmare on Elm St Part 2" with the public. However people who love "Jimmy Dean", they all know Mark owns the scenes he is in!
Mark WHEREVER you are if they get around to a JIMMY DEAN reunion make sure your a part of it. You are a part of movie history.