Intro:

Sometimes we see, hear, and feel things that are so bizarre, so frightening, that they must be from an alternate reality, a different dimension. Perhaps the stories of four otherwise ordinary people encountering the in The Twilight Zone. You’ll meet an angry bigot, a cheerful old man, an unusual little boy who befriends a wayward teacher, and a very anxious flyer during your travel through the rift between shadow and light

Dialogue:

There were some great lines in all four segments, but I felt that some of the deepest dialogue came from the Stephen Spielberg short, which was a remake of the episode “Kick the Can”. In all, however, each segment was fairly strong and stayed entertaining throughout.

Acting:

Besides unlikely and surprising cameo from Dan Aykroid, other notable cast members included Albert Brooks, Scatman Crothers, John Lithgow, Vic Morrow, and Kathleen Quinlan. Throughout the four segments, the acting was genuine and believable, giving you the impression that the actors were experiencing the supernatural in The Twilight Zone.

There was also a disaster while filming the first segment starring Vic Morrow, which was directed by John Landis. During shooting of a helicopter scene in the Vietnam war setting of the segment, pyrotechnics caused the helicopter to crash, decapitating Morrow and an illegally hired child actor. Another child actor in the scene was fatally wounded by the helicopter. It caused a large amount on controversy and ended the friendship between Spielberg and Landis.

Plot:

There is an prologue and four segments that make up the movie:

The Prologue is a short scene with Dan Aykroid and Albert Brooks driving in the country, singing along to a cover of “Midnight Special”. The tape breaks and the two discuss their favorite Twilight Zone episodes. The car ride ends abruptly with a frightening event, and the Twilight Zone theme begins to play. Directed by John Landis.

Segment I is the story of an angry bigot who soon becomes the object of his own hatred as he is sent to Nazi Germany, the Jim Crow South, and Vietnam. John Landis directed and Vic Morrow was the lead role.

Segment II features Mr. Bloom, an elderly man who just moved in to the Sunnyvale Retirement Home. He offers the other residents a chance to enjoy their youth again through a magic game of Kick the Can. Stephen Spielberg directed and Scatman Crothers was the lead role.

Segment III is the tale of a unique little boy who has very powerful abilities and doesn’t know how to use them correctly. Joe Dante directed and Kathleen Quinlan was the lead role

Segment IV highlights John A. Valentine, a very anxious flyer that thinks the plane is being sabotage by a monster on the wings of the jet. George Miller directed and John Lithgow was the lead role.

Music:

The score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith, and was EXCELLENT! There’s also the classic Twilight Zone intro that is ubiquitous to every episode of the TV series.

Overall:

The Twilight Zone Movie was a great throwback to the cult classic TV series of the late 60s. Even though the stories were adapted from the original series, They were very much entertaining and well executed. Overall I feel that this is one of the best anthology films I have ever viewed, along the lines of The Cat’s Eye and Creepshow 2. It’s definitely not too scary and will have you thinking what else could be lurking in…The Twilight Zone!

5/5 Reels
Platinum Squid Rating
This is a fantastic anthology film!

Trailer:

Purchase:

Twilight Zone - The Movie

Fellow SquidFlickians, I am leaving today for my five-week stay in the Governor’s Scholar Program. I will not be able to participate fully in much of the SquidFlicks Summer School content, but I am leaving you in good hands – Patrick Farmer will take over as head editor during my absence. I will continue to post minor updates whenever I can. See you  at the end of July! I have a surprise for you if you’re good! (actually two surprises….) Bottom line here is: YOU BETTER BE GOOD!

Also, SquidFlicks has a Facebook group. Join it or I wont be your friend anymore! Kidding! But join it please! =) Go here - http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/group.php?gid=93904702509

See ya! I can be reached by the SquidFlicks contact form or through Patrick if you need me!

Anthology Week - (Anthology film reviews, Video Reviews, Creepshow Marathon)
Monday - Written Review - Twilight Zone: The Movie
Tuesday - Written Review - Cat’s Eye; Video Review - Cat’s Eye
Wednesday - Written Review - Tales From The Hood
Thursday - Written Review - Creepshow 2; Video Review - Body Bags
Friday - Written Review - Tales From The Darkside: The Movie; Creepshow Marathon

Files of Police Squad Week - (Written Reviews/ Naked Gun Marathon)
Monday - Written Review - Police Squad:The Series
Tuesday - Written Review - The Naked Gun
Wednesday - Written Review - The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear
Thursday - Written Review - The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult
Friday- Naked Gun Marathon

Mosquito Week - (Written Reviews; Video Reviews)
Monday - Day Off!!
Tuesday - Written Review - Mansquito
Wednesday - Written Review - Mosquito
Thursday - Written Review - Skeeter
Friday - Video Reviews for Mansquito; Mosquito; Skeeter

Kick-A** Action - (Written Reviews; Lethal Weapon Marathon)
Monday - Written Review - Lethal Weapon
Tuesday - Written Review - Lethal Weapon 2
Wednesday - Written Review - Lethal Weapon 3
Thursday - Written Review - Lethal Weapon 4
Friday - Lethal Weapon Movie Marathon

Intro:

Drive-ins. When you hear that phrase you think of a place where you could go to and have no worries, no fears, no responsibilities of the outside world. You could get lost on a Saturday night in the madness that is, was, and always will be the Drive-In Movie. You’d never think that a place where you could lose you imagination, could be a place where you have to fear for your life! Like in the 1977 release of Stu Segall’s “Drive-In Massacre.”

Dialogue:

Written by John Goff and B-movie genre actor George “Buck” Flower, the film’s dialogue seemed very bland, and boring. There were a few funny and memorable lines throughout but they couldn’t hold up the sinking ship on this one.

Acting:

The acting in this was very poor.  Bruce Kimball and Steve Vincent played two very scrappy cops. You really didn’t feel like they felt right in their roles, and sadly that shows in their performances. There was one shining light among the horrible cast in my eyes, and that was Douglas Gudbye. He played the role of the drive-in helper, who is a few cans short of a six-pack, down to a T. Sadly that was the only real performance that stood out for me in this one.

Plot:

The plot of this was generic, yet original at the same time. Having a mysterious killer attacking teenagers at a given location isn’t really that creative. It’s really the basic plot to almost every slasher film that came out during the mid to late 70s and early 80s. Now the part that I found to be creative was the fact that there is no killer found, we assume it’s someone and it turns out not to be them. The case, the horror, the madness is never solved. Considering this was probably shown in drive-in theaters, it was clever to have an announcer come on at the end after it reads the killer could be at any drive-in and says there is a murder in the drive-in, classic!

Music:

The music in this was just really, I don’t know, some of the worst stuff I’ve ever heard. They used the same annoying, VERY annoying score again and again, which when we got towards the end of the feature I was about ready to shoot my eardrums out!

Overall:

Overall “Drive-In Massacre” is a BAD film; However, it’s so bad its good. It deserves a sitting for sure. Does it have as many good points as bad, no. It’s it a prime example of that great 70’s cheesy exploitation films that were selling like hot cakes in the era. Kudos to George Flower, and Douglas Gudbye.

1/5 Reels
Dying Squid Rating
Rent at your own risk!

Trailer:

Purchase:

Drive in Massacre

Intro:

There is a fascination that seems to reach certain celebrity die hard fans. When their beloved idol passes on into the afterlife, they have a hard time dealing with it. They might say “oh he/she faked their own death, and they are in Cuba.” The two celebrities that get this the most are Tupac and the King himself, Elvis Presley. Now I personality believe, sadly, that they have both deceased, but its fun to imagine they are not, and indeed faked their own death, like Elvis did in the 2002 release of Don Coscarelli’s “Bubba Ho-Tep.”

Dialogue:

Written by Don himself, the dialogue of this film was hilarious!!! There’s no way you will be able to sit through this whole film, and NOT laugh until you cry. Old people don’t give a damn about what people think about them, and they will usually just say what’s on their minds, and that is definitely the case here. Through the dialogue we learn, especially from Elvis, that behind the false fronts, there are caring, thoughtful, and considerate old men.

Acting:

The acting was superb. Bruce Campbell plays a elderly Elvis Presley, and goes from jackass jerk, to tearjerker jackass. He portrayed this role as if it was his last and gave it his all. He was very dedicated to making and selling this elder Elvis and his completely accomplishes that goal. Ossie Davis plays a man who, well, believes he is JFK. Ossie brought that same eagerness and dedication to his role as Bruce did. He sells the fact that he does believe he is Mr. Kennedy. Kudos to them both.

Plot:

The plot, based on a novella in the anthology collection titled The King Is Dead: Tales of Elvis Post-Mortem by Joe R. Lansdale, was original beyond anything I could have imagine. You just don’t sit and think “Hmm, this MIGHT work,” no, you know as soon as someone tells you that old man Elvis fights a mummy to save both himself and his fellow retirement home patients, that this is a sure hit!

Music:

Composed by Brian Tyler (Rambo, Godsend), this music worked very well at portraying the scenes; to help completely bring out the given emotion of the scene. Either in seriousness or humor, the music cues in and doesn’t let go.

Overall:

Overall this film is everything you want to see in a comedy, horror, drama, and life-lesson film. Bruce Campbell is just a extra bonus that we all appreciate, and he really made the film, however I think if would have done great even if his presence wasn’t there. Kudos to Bruce and Ossie for two heartfelt performances in an instant classic.

5/5 Reels
Platinum Squid Rating
BUY THIS NOW!!!

Trailer:

Purchase:

Bubba Ho-Tep (Limited Collector’s Edition)

I hope you kids have enjoyed your summer vacations, because it’s all over now! You have to complete all the work you didn’t do during the year! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!

Your class schedules will be posted soon! Enjoy your summer kiddos! In the meantime, check out all the reviews below that our students have been writing as part of their punishment!

Intro:

The latest Star Trek film boldly goes where no one has gone before, and it pays off big time. What is quite possibly one of the most popular Sci-Fi franchises of all time received a series reboot with director J.J. Abrams at the helm. It also is a great way to start off a summer filled with blockbuster releases. Will it set phasers on fun? Let’s find out! =)

NOTE: I am not a Trekkie; I love Sci-Fi films and know basic Trek facts, but I am no expert on the subject. I am writing this review for those who want to see a movie that is both entertaining and different. (aka the layman’s review)

Dialogue:

Star Trek has some great lines through the entire film, many adding new information to the viewer, but there are plenty of throwbacks to Trek past. Probably the most well known would be Spock and his Vulcan salute: “Live long and prosper.”

The dialogue helps you understand the plot, which can get confusing at times (see more on that later.)

Acting:

Kudos to the casting crew for this production – we now have a flawless replacement for the crew of the Enterprise, and that is nothing short of a miraculous feat. Star Trek is a legacy in the Sci-Fi world, and it’s unique characters make it so enjoyable for fans.

It’s hard to think of Star Trek without William Shatner as Captain Kirk, but replacement Chris Pine does the job incredibly well (and looks eerily similar to young Shatner). Other notable returns are Spock, Sulu, Scotty, Bones, Chekov, and Uhura.

Plot:

Here’s where things get tricky in Star Trek. The new film sets out with a new, alternate reality that causes all past Trek events to not apply anymore. There are numerous flashbacks and sometimes the dialogue can be hard to follow, but it’s a great plot and is executed with near perfect accuracy.

In the end, it means that with an alternate reality in place, the starship Enterprise can once again Boldly go. That definitely means sequels in the future, which, if executed as well as the first film, I eagerly look forward to!

Music:

The scores of Star Trek were fabulous – both the new and remixes of the old. In addition, the sound effects were both realistic and fantastic. The sound helped make the experience seem real and amazing.

Overall:

I would have to say that this is one of the best Sci-Fi films I have seen, and it is better than all the other Trek films that came before it. This is a great summer blockbuster and a worthy watch for all moviegoers. It’s also worth picking this up on DVD or Blu-Ray when it’s released!

5/5 Reels
Platinum Squid Rating
Boldly go and watch this movie!

Trailer:

Purchase:

Not available on DVD yet! Patience!

Intro:

The future. Many of us wonder what is in store for us all years from now. What if you knew something horrible was going to happen, not only to you, but to the entire human race, and you knew that you would have to change it. Well when that time comes for many of us, we are uncertain as to what we have to do. What we expect doesn’t always turn out the way it should, Just like in the 2009 release of McG’s “Terminator Salvation.”

Dialogue/Acting:

Written by John Brancato & Michael Ferris (yes the same two that wrote the HORRIBLE “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”) the dialogue was pretty standard and basic here. All of the long sequences flowed well and barely lagged at all. As far as the acting goes, I was really surprised by it in this one. First and foremost a big shout out to Christian Bale, who played John Conner- the battered and worn soldier fighting against Skynet. he really keyed in on this role and delivered a superb job. Not to chop down Bale’s accomplishments, the best two actors in my eyes were Sam Worthington and Anton Yelchin. Worthington is this films Heath Ledger, he stole the show, and Yelchin hit the bull’s-eye on playing a younger Kyle Reese, kudos to them both.

Plot:

One of the best things about the film was the plot. The time that we FINALLY get to witness for ourselves the war against the machines, and not only a few minutes in a flashback, no we are finally here. I’m really happy that this new trilogy is going in this direction, we need to see the events foretold in the first three films, but in the future time. I really thought since there is two more films that this served as an EXCELLENT opening film.

Music:

The music worked very very well in this film. It REALLY helped set the tone for each and every scene and it pays off greatly. The fact that “You Could Be Mine” by Guns N’ Roses made another appearance in this series was enough for me to talk good about the music!

Overall:

Overall this film continues the line of good strong summer hits. Was it perfect? No. Was it horrible and degrading like many critics are saying it is? HELL no. this film works on the Terminator mythology and promises only to continue it until it is all over, and the war is FINALLY over. Kudos to the plot, Sam Worthington, and Anton Yelchin.

4/5 Reels
Golden Squid Rating
DEF. see this film!! You don’t want to miss it!!!

Trailer:

There are two parts to the marathon. Part one is the reviews from the SquidFlicks staff, and part two is reviews of the Psycho series from two SquidFlicks YouTube contributors, Jdog and Nicklert. I really appreciated their addition to the great marathon, and I hope you will too.

Part 1:

http://www.viddler.com/explore/osquid/videos/3/

Part 2:

There are six videos from SquidFlicks Contributors Jdog and Nicklert. Check them out!

Intro:

When a strange alien robot lands in San Francisco, it’s up to a top secret government organization to deploy its captured monsters to subdue the robot. It ends up being a shallow victory when the mother ship arrives with a full invasion force. So the question stands: Who will win in the ultimate battle-monsters, or aliens?

You’ll have to watch to find out!

Dialogue/Acting:

The character depth and voices were astounding for an animated film, and I think it helps the public opinion of animated features if big name celebrities lend their voices versus the traditional acting for a role.

As far as acting goes, the graphics and animation were fantastic, especially in Tru3D technology. Furthermore, the voices fit the style of the characters. There are a TON of big names in Monsters vs. Aliens: Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie (from HOUSE, M.D.), Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute from The Office), Stephen Colbert (of The Colbert Report), Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Renee Zellweger, and John Krasinski (Jim from The Office)

Plot:

It’s your standard alien invasion plot with a 50’s style and quirky characters. After all, the title of the movie is Monsters vs. Aliens, so what other movies have featured such a combination? A few Godzilla movies and AVP come to mind, but those aren’t particularly great movies, MUCH unlike Monsters vs. Aliens.

I thought it was greatly original even though it was an alien invasion – see kids? You can still make an original idea! I love originality, and creative borrowing of elements. (See more in the music section.)

Music:

Where would we be without Hans Zimmer? He has produced some of the best film scores ever. Period.

Another great bonus of Monsters vs. Aliens were the little cameos of other famous movies – the president’s encounter with the robot results in the communication sound from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, then the Vulcan greeting from Star Trek, and finally the playing of the ‘Axel F’ theme from Beverly Hills Cop. Another great cameo was that of the phrase ‘E.T. Go Home’ on the side of a rocket launched at the robot. A blast of the E.T. theme was also played during the scene.

I suppose that the music from Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. were a joke for Steven Spielberg, since he directed the two films and is an executive of Dreamworks.

Overview:

This is an outstanding animated film, and easily ranks up with classics from DreamWorks like Shrek and even Pixar creations. Animated films are getting better and better every year, and I personally enjoy a good animated film. The 3D graphics didn’t hurt either!

The movie entertains audience members of all ages, and I would be surprised if you don’t end up seeing this!

5/5 Reels
Platinum Squid Rating
You’re CRAZY if you don’t see this!

Trailer:

Purchase:

Not yet available, will be added ASAP!