Author: Martina Fetzer

Netflix Hidden Gem #19: Tombstone

Netflix Hidden Gem #19: Tombstone

Posted by | Nov 28, 2014 | |

Tombstone Director: George Pan Cosmatos Genre: Western, Action Buena Vista Pictures I love a good western. The lawlessness, the duels, the barfights, the uninhibited drinking, smoking, and gambling, the old timey piano music. Westerns are everything our claustrophobic modern lives are not, thus providing a fabulous sense of escapism. There’s one problem, though. A lot of westerns are badly dated in their style, dialogue, and/or overtly racist and sexist content. As a result, I am always thrilled to have something a little more modern to watch. Note the qualification of “a little more modern.” Say hello to Tombstone. Released in...

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Crappymoviesaurus Vs. Megastandards: In Defense of Bad Movies

Crappymoviesaurus Vs. Megastandards: In Defense of Bad Movies

Posted by | Aug 6, 2014 | |

I should be ashamed. When I first found out about Sharknado, last year’s SyFy channel smash hit, my first thought wasn’t “Oh God, why?” or even an internal groan. It was that there must be a way to turn the sequel into a versus movie in the vein of Megashark vs. Giant Octopus or Mega Python vs. Gateroid. Then it hit me: Sharknado vs. Gatorcane. It would, of course, be about a hurricane that picked up genetically altered alligators as it passed over Florida and could only be stopped by a lab-formed sharknado. After I spent a few hours...

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A Million Ways to Die in the West

A Million Ways to Die in the West

Posted by | May 31, 2014 | |

Overview: Seth MacFarlane moves from behind the camera to in front of it in this western parody. Universal Pictures; 2014; Rated R; 116 minutes. The Good: As someone who cannot stand Family Guy, I was pleasantly surprised by 2012’s Ted. I was once again surprised by A Million Ways to Die in the West as there are a lot of truly funny jokes in the movie. In particular, the gags related to the title are wonderful. There is a musical number that is a complete earworm (led by Neil Patrick Harris, of course), an amusing drug trip, and some...

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X-Men: Days of Future Past

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Posted by | May 24, 2014 | |

Overview: Mutants in a dystopic future try to correct their past as Bryan Singer returns to the franchise he created and merges discordant continuities into something beautiful. 20th Century Fox; 2014; Rated PG-13; 131 minutes. The Good: It’s my pleasure to say that the series slump that occurred with X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine has all but faded from memory. Days of Future Past continues the streak of quality that First Class and The Wolverine initiated. It maintains the focus on character relationships that made those films good and adds action scenes that are actually interesting....

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Recasting Gone Right and Wrong

Recasting Gone Right and Wrong

Posted by | May 16, 2014 | |

It happens all the time. Actors fight with their directors and quit or get fired. Budget constraints mean a high dollar star won’t be returning to a role. Family crises cause actors to drop out just before filming. Actors die mid-series. Sometimes it’s been decades and a movie is getting a reboot. Recasting is generally loathed by moviegoers, and there’s a good reason for that. Robin Curtis as Saavik in Star Trek III and IV lacked the charm and wit that made Kirstie Alley’s version of the character a success. The ever-changing ages and appearances of Audrey and Russ...

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