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danwroy
Reviews
Step by Step (1991)
Cody Lambert: Forefather of the Dell Computers guy
Mediocre Brady-Bunch rehash for students of ABC's TGIF lineup. Lame jokes, dialogue, acting, too much Ted Duffy hamming, and a hell of a lot of sexual innuendo for a show targeted at kids (at one point I remember Duffy wearing an outfit labeled "Horny little devil"). If nothing else, shows like "Step by Step" and "Family Matters" prove how callous "family programming" executives can be. And that no sitcom is complete without a dopey mascot.
Hey Dude (1989)
A highlight of the late eighties/early nineties Nickelodeon line-up
"Hey Dude," along with shows like "You Can't Do That On Television," "Clarissa Explains It All," "The Adventures of Pete & Pete," "Salute Your Shorts," "Roundhouse," and "Are You Afraid Of The Dark?" brings instant pangs of nostalgia to those who grew up on Nickelodeon as it passed from the 80s to the 90s, before it was overtaken by animated programming (though later shows like "The Secret World of Alex Mack" and "All That" managed to launch a few careers). While it wasn't perfect (Melody ISN'T the attractive one?), it was great fun, uncomplicated without being insulting to kids, and had characters who were unique and likable in context - except for Lucy as the all-purpose wisdom dispenser. The stories managed to stay lightweight yet engaging, and it was interesting observing what we would later know as sexual tension between the lead male and female (David Lascher and Kelly Brown). It's a shame that it never made it to video or at least reruns - it's due for a marathon.
Mindwalk (1990)
An excellent film, misunderstood
Mindwalk takes three people - a politician, a scientist, and a poet - and puts them in a beautiful but alien setting to discuss the nature of the universe. It is long-winded, seemingly aimless, and yet completely facinating; while most plots are a clothesline for sex and explosions, here an equally thin plot is used as an excuse for a series of brilliant intellectual discussions. Comparisons with My Dinner With Andre fall short, because while that film was content to engage and entertain the viewer, Mindwalk seems more driven towards a greater understanding of ourselves and the universe we live in.
Sam Waterston plays a US politician completely unlike Al Gore, "looking to get away from it all" after a recent campaign. He calls his friend, a poet and former speechwriter played by John Heard, who whisks both of them away to Mont St. Michel, a gorgeous and very old tourist spot that is completely surrounded by water at high tide. The isolation lends itself naturally to existential conversations about the meaning of life, and so the men leisurely begin their discussion.
As they examine an anchient old clockwork, Liv Ullmann overhears the men and joins in their conversation. She is a brilliant scientist, with her own philisophical and moral reasons for leaving the formal profession. As the discussion slowly becomes a lecture, she expounds on her theories: on the nature of understanding, of matter, of existance.
Films like Mindwalk cannot, cannot be enjoyed by people looking to BE entertained. The filmmakers set the table adequately enough (this film wasn't reaching for an Oscar in cinematography), but it is up to the viewer to take what is there. Like Andre (I digress), nothing really happens, but there is plenty to be digested. It is fun in the same way a theological debate between friends is fun; whether it gets anywhere or not, it generates excitment by giving us a sense that we've come closer to real understanding than we've come before.
(SPOILER WARNING; CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK)
Most of the detractors of Mindwalk argue over the philosophies presented, mainly those of the female scientist. They are missing the point. It's true, for the majority of the running time Mindwalk focuses on the very liberal, feministic theories of the Ullmann character. But notice how the more defined and confident her theories become, the more and more the John Heard character slinks away into the backround. The polician may seem a bit overawed by the scientist's theories, but it's merely a setup for the Heard character to return with a brilliant, even moving monologue about how NO theory, no person, not even the genius scientist, will ever be capable of truly understanding anything, especially himself. The suddeness and complexity of his speech (it's delivered as a poem, not a straightforward argument) might have caused some of the viewers here to believe that it defends the Ullmann character. To the contrary; he destroys her by recognizing that she is guilty of the same crimes of those she accuses. She thinks her way of understanding the world will save it.
Rarely can one phrase or plot turn completely redeem the meaning of a film; The Sixth Sense is the only recent movie that comes to mind. But Mindwalk accomplishes it. It presents a seemingly straightforward philosophical film, lead us along the path of false righteousness, then yanks away the rug. It could have easily been propaganda, but it is smarter than that.
Spaceman (1997)
I wanted to like it
Unless the other positive posts were sarcastic, or Dikkers' promotional campaign, or an ironic in-joke, I have no idea why anyone could be enthusiastic about this film. The budget was miniscule, yes, but that doesn't explain the sloooow pace or the misguided acting. The plot isn't funny in of itself - unless the FOW plot is new to you - and requires the director to invest the scenes with humor through acting, composition, or editing, which Dikkers is too inexperienced to accomplish. Each scene is left to drag on out FOREVER, as if he didn't want to waste any of his hard-earned footage.
David Ghilardi does a good job as Spaceman, but the character doesn't really go anywhere; by the end, he's essentially the same person. Deborah King does a decent job as Sue, although she too seems to have been left hanging by the director; her only reaction is amusement. It helps that she is extremely hot. The big surprise is the music, performed by an actual orchestra, which occasionally makes up for lost excitement.
The Onion is my favorite publication, and Dikkers' involvement there was the reason I chose renting this film over Raging Bull. But the fact that a writer for a newspaper so brilliant could come up with something so dull is salt in the wound. I only finished watching it because I was convinced it had to get better, that there would be a twist ending, or that I just hadn't figured out why this was supposed to be funny. IT GOT WORSE.
Josh Kirby: Time Warrior! Chap. 1: Planet of the Dino-Knights (1995)
Maybe I didn't get the joke...
This is one of the strangest and most idiotic shows I've ever seen. The premise is cheerfully boneheaded, but could only work with under a larger budget or better production values. While there are some rather original in-jokes littered here and there, namely the references to George Lucas (American Zoetrope Productions and THX 1138), the rest of the show - acting, plot, special effects, script - seems to be comfortable with it's sheer awfulness. I'm not tossing out the possibility that there is a higher intelligence at work here (the ridiculous premise and numerous in-jokes should make this show a cult classic alongside Beastmaster) but based on the empirical evidence... what an amazing piece of crap.