“Neighbors” (1981) Movie Review

    Before the Seth Rogen and Zac Efron film “Neighbors” and it’s sequel, there was a little known 1981 film which was also titled “Neighbors”.  It’s hard to imagine why the film isn’t more well known especially considering the history behind the film.

    Comedic legends John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd star in this film about, well, neighbors one year following their successful turn in the comedy classic “The Blues Brothers”.  “Neighbors” was the last film performance of comedic legend John Belushi.  The film had a troubled production.  Belushi and Aykroyd switched roles during pre-production, the pair clashed with director John G. Avildsen and tried to get him removed from the project, and Belushi’s drug use proved to be a problem during production.

    One thing I was extremely curious about was how John G. Avildsen would handle a comedy.  For the most part, I am a fan of Avildsen’s work.  While there were comedic moments in his work like “Rocky” and “The Karate Kid”, they were primarily dramas.  I almost feel like Belushi and Aykroyd might have been right on wanting to remove him from the project.  While I feel like the movie had elements that worked and were funny, I feel like tone was a major problem with the film and has kept it from being remembered as a classic.  The film felt very rushed with most of the events taking place within a day’s time span.  I also feel like it either doesn’t go over the top enough to be silly or doesn’t make it realistic enough to relate to.  All that being said, there were a lot of parts I chuckled or laughed at which is the important part of a comedy.

    Aside from the comedy, I felt the incidental music took away from the film some.  The music cues felt straight out of “Looney Toons” and I personally thought it felt distracting.  Bill Conti, Academy Award winning composer of “The Right Stuff”, typically delivers strong scores but I did not care for his work on this project.  On the positive side, I really liked how the houses in the film felt real and lived in.  I appreciate attention to detail in films like that.

    My late parents had this film on a CED (Capacitance Electronic Disc) years ago.  This particular cover on the retro VHS blu-ray cover was the same cover on the CED so it brought back some fond memories.  I really appreciate the effort Mill Creek Entertainment put into this release.  I am also thankful to Mill Creek Entertainment for providing me a review copy.  They are one of my favorite home video distributors out there now and they are a very kind business.

    As far as the home video release, I adore the retro video cover.  As Heath at the YouTube channel Cereal at Midnight stated, I prefer the retro covers to movies that were actually old enough to have a VHS release over newer movies like the remake of “It” which came out last year.

Grade: C+

Buy “Neighbors” on Blu-ray with Retro VHS Slipcover Here!!!

"Fighting with My Family" Movie Review

    Growing up as a kid in the late 80s and the early 90s, the WWF (now known as the WWE) seemed like one of the biggest things ever.  Regardless if you watched wrestling or not, everyone knew who Hulk Hogan and André the Giant were.  They were larger than life figures who helped inspire many people my age to get into wrestling.  Then as I grew into my teenage years, the attitude era hit and then wrestling was ‘cool’ and figures like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Rock were anti-establishment figures we could live vicariously through.  One such young person who was inspired by the likes of The Rock was Saraya-Jade Bevis, the young English girl who would later rebrand herself as Paige.

    “Fighting with My Family” tells the story the Knight family and their obsession with wrestling through the eyes of Saraya.  Saraya and her brother Zak are extremely close and hope they can join the WWE together.  After awhile, they are both given a chance much to their parents (who are also wrestlers in the UK) delight.  Zak and Saraya both give impressive performances but NXT recruiter Hutch Morgan only sees potential in Saraya.  Saraya sets off to train at the NXT performance center but feels like an outsider while her brother Zak starts spiraling out of control due to being passed over.  Both Saraya and Zak have to overcome their personal battles and demons with the help of each other and their parents.

    I am personally a fan of the WWE and of WWE Superstar Paige so I was definitely interested in this movie when it was announced.  Thankfully, the movie was an enjoyable look at the life of Paige even non-wrestling fans can enjoy.  The movie does a good job helping the audience to connect with the insecurities Saraya was going through and showcased the importance of family, regardless if the family is perfect or normal.

    Now, WWE Studios normally don’t produce the highest quality of films.  Typically, the studio is used to produce direct to video films which showcase some of their talents in acting roles they otherwise probably would not get.  This was a bit different for the studio and is easily their best film to date (and also one of the few to be released in theaters).  Of course, I imagine WWE Studios was largely involved due to them owning Paige’s contract, access to their footage, use of their equipment, and because Dwayne Johnson still has a good working relationship with them.

    The cast of the movie was very strong.  Florence Pugh was convincing as Paige and brought a lot of heart and vulnerability to the role.  Jack Lowden was fantastic as Zak Knight and he had a lot of screen presence.  For two actors I am not familiar with, Pugh and Lowden felt like naturals and owned every scene they were in.  Nick Frost and Lena Headey were fantastic as their parents.  I loved their chemistry and comedic timing together.  Vince Vaughn gave one of his best performances in a long while as Hutch Morgan.  Lastly, Dwayne Johnson wasn’t in the film as much as was implied but he was great in the few scenes he was in.  Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson also served as a producer of the film and was driving force behind the project.

    Director Stephen Merchant seemed like an odd choice for the project being known primarily for his contributions to comedies like “The Office” but the film needed that level of levity.  Merchant also added a lot of heart to the project.

    “Fighting with My Family” manages to transcend wrestling and makes the film a crowd pleaser for everyone.  I almost feel like being a wrestling fan might make the film less enjoyable with it’s blending of kayfabe and reality.  Still, as a wrestling fan myself, I thought it was a fun watch!

Grade: B+

"Man of Steel" Movie Review

    I remember seeing the first trailer for “Man of Steel” attached to “The Dark Knight Rises” and the preview sent chills down my spine.  I am a huge Superman fan and seeing the names Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan attached to the project brought me much hope and delight.  When the film came out, I remember thinking Warner Bros and DC had a hit on their hands because it had everything the critics complained about “Superman Returns” lacking, namely a fresh more realistic take and more action.  I was extremely surprised at the time to see the same critics also panning “Man of Steel” for delivering exactly what they wanted.  After the dust settled, “Superman Returns” ended up getting better critical reviews than “Man of Steel”, although “Man of Steel” did manage to do slightly better at the box office.

    “Man of Steel” proved to also be just as divisive among fans.  It seems like some people wanted a more classic take on the character while others were extremely happy with the vision Zack Snyder had for the film.  I very much enjoyed both “Superman Returns” and “Man of Steel” but after awhile, it became more and more clear that Bryan Singer wasn’t going to be allowed to make a sequel to “Superman Returns”.  The studio wanted a reboot and they hired Zack Snyder, hot off of “300” and “Watchmen”, to direct the film while “The Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan would act as a sort of figurehead to the film.

    The film tells the story of Kal-El/Clark Kent and his journey to becoming Superman once again.  The film opens on Krypton with Jor-El sending his son Kal-El to Earth in order to escape the planet’s destruction.  As Kal-El is sent into space, General Zod’s rebellion on Krypton is stopped with the help of Jor-El and General Zod is sent to The Phantom Zone.  When Kal-El arrives on Earth, he is adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent who name him Clark.  Clark Kent grows up with amazing powers and soon realizes he is more than a typical man, he is a Superman!  Just as Clark starts to feel comfortable with new powers, General Zod arrives on Earth having escaped the Phantom Zone with one goal, start a New Krypton on top of the ashes of the Earth.  Only Superman can stop him!

    At the time it seemed like a wise decision to launch the DC Extended Universe with it’s oldest flagship character, the last son of Krypton himself, Superman.  I think making General Zod the main antagonist of the film was wise due to his ties to Krypton.

    As far as casting goes, this remake took a cue from the Richard Donner “Superman” movies and cast Hollywood heavyweights around a lesser known lead.  Henry Cavill steps into the role which Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh had played before him.  Cavill was a fan favorite for the role and was almost cast years before when McG was still set to helm what would become “Superman Returns”.  Cavill is a capable Superman but can be wooden at times as Clark Kent.  Kevin Costner and Diane Lane play Jonathan and Martha Kent with the weight you would expect from two iconic performers.  Michael Shannon plays a creepier and more menacing version of General Zod than seen before.  Still, I have to say I personally prefer Terence Stamp’s quiet nobility as the evil Zod in the original Donner films.  Amy Adams doesn’t hurt the film as Lois Lane but doesn’t vastly enhance it either.  Rounding out the main cast is Russell Crowe as Jor-El and Crowe is one of my favorite performers in this movie.

    Now, aside from the visuals, one of the most memorable aspects of the Superman movies was always John Williams fantastic score.  Everyone and their mother knows the main Superman theme so when I found out that Snyder wasn’t using the theme, I was a little angry.  Imagine my surprise when I hear the theme Hans Zimmer delivers and I really love that score as well.

    Looking back, I personally feel like “Man of Steel” was a fantastic start to the DCEU that hit a snag when all the critics decided to unfairly dump on it.  It told a solo Superman story well while including Easter eggs setting up future movies and characters without being in your face.  I guess every film is truly subjective though, with this film continuing to divide critics and the fan base.  Count me as someone who was all aboard for future DC films.

Grade: A-

"Idiocracy" Movie Review

    In 2006, a little movie called “Idiocracy” was released with almost no fanfare and with little awareness.  The film was essentially released direct to video (it played in a few theaters but never got a wide release).  Ironically, I was aware of the movie because I had seen a movie poster for it at my local theater and was curious about the title.  After realizing it was largely skipping theaters, I didn’t have much hope for it.  Direct to video titles are typically like Netflix titles, they are considered not good enough to release in theaters.  I still ended up buying it upon it’s release and I was pleasantly surprised.

    Let me start by saying that 2006 seemed like a simpler time looking back.   The idea the world could get so bad in five hundred years seemed ridiculous.  It’s 2019 and I feel like the world is already on the cusp of becoming as stupid as the one depicted in the movie.  What a difference a few years makes.

    The film focuses on Corporal Joe Bauers who is placed in suspended animation by the military along with a prostitute named Rita.  The two are forgotten about and are found five centuries later in a garbage pile.  The two wake up to an Earth in which only the dumbest people have kept reproducing.  Joe and Rita now have the highest IQs among everyone on the planet.  It is up to Joe and Rita to show the value of intelligence, despite being average at best.

    “Idiocracy” can now be looked back on as hilarious but also a little too on the nose.  Mike Judge, creator of both “Beavis and Butt-Head” and “King of the Hill”, makes us reevaluate our value of intelligence.  Luke Wilson and Maya Rudolph are great as Joe and Rita.  The real standout in the film is Terry Crews.  Crews plays President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho with such ham and stupidity that he steals every scene he is in.

    The film has become something of a cult classic and one of the most underrated comedies of all time.  How can a film manage to tell such stupid and crude jokes all while judging said humor?  It is definitely a layered comedy and it somehow works.

    This gem of a comedy is only available on DVD right now via physical media.  I wish it would get a Blu-ray release one day but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards anytime soon.  Regardless, if you love comedies with social commentary, this is the movie for you!

Grade: A-

Superhero Movie Showdown Round 5

    Hello again readers!  These are the results from the latest superhero challenge!  I wanted to also give you a quick update on what is going on here on my blog.  I will be posting a review on the classic “Neighbors” film which starred Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd soon.  (The Blu-ray for that review was generously provided by the good folks at Mill Creek Entertainment).  I plan to post my 2018 Movie Reviews in April after seeing as many of the 2018 releases as possible.  Let me know in the comments if you would like me to write something in particular.  Thank you for your support!

“Isn’t It Romantic” Movie Review

    It’s been a little while since I have been able to go to the theaters lately.  You see, I live in Michigan, and for the last few weeks, we have been randomly hit with ice storms and extremely cold temperatures.  Of course, most of these storms hit while I am off from work.  This week however, I caught a break and so my girlfriend and I set off to catch a screening of “Isn’t It Romantic”.

    The film had a theatrical release here in America but was released directly to Netflix in most parts internationally.  The film revolves around a woman named Natalie who grew up cynical of romantic comedies due to her mother and is oblivious to her friend Josh’s feelings towards her partly because of her cynicism.  Natalie ends up getting knocked out and wakes up in a romantic comedy version of her life.  This event takes her through a time of self discovery.

    Rebel Wilson leads the cast as Natalie and she is one of the funniest actresses working today.  Even when she is given the best material, she always finds a way to get a giggle from her audience.  Liam Hemsworth plays the attractive object of Natalie’s desires who falls madly in love with her.  Liam Hemsworth doesn’t have the same screen presence as his brother Chris yet but he still holds his own in this film.  Lastly, Adam DeVine plays Josh, Natalie’s best friend and possible true love.  Now, I am going to say I am not a big fan of Adam DeVine.  While I enjoy a lot of projects he is in including “Workaholics”, his humor gets on my nerves very quickly.  Luckily, DeVine gives a relatively reserved performance and he has great chemistry with Rebel Wilson (no doubt from their time filming “Pitch Perfect” together).

    “Isn’t It Romantic” isn’t the type of movie that is going to win an Oscar but it wasn’t made to.  It was made to be a fun date movie that both partners can find humor in and it very much lives up to it’s goals.  The film was also original in an era where everything is a remake or sequel and it’s refreshing to see a movie be different and have fun.

    This film isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea of course, but you would be hard pressed to find a film that can generate chuckles from both the men and women of the audience.

Grade: B

RIP Angel Zoom Smokey

    I had every intention of posting a new movie review tonight.  I had even started a few and were just waiting to put the finishing touches on them before I posted them.  I try my best to make the best reviews possible after all.  Things took an unfortunate turn this morning however when my brother called me this morning to tell me our dog Angel Zoom Smokey was sick.  Before I could even get home, she passed away.

    I am not going to lie when I say I was sobbing over the tragic news.  Angel Zoom Smokey was around twelve years old but up until today was in good health and active.  There is so much about her I am going to miss.  She was a fur ball of energy and it is still hard to process what happened.  All I know is that my heart hurts and I will never forget her.

    I wrote a post on Facebook and I wrote that I hope she finds happiness over the rainbow bridge and that I hope she is there to greet me when I pass away.  I know I would meet her with tears of joy instead of my tears of pain and loss.  Dogs are truly man’s best friend.  Angel and my other dog Demon both helped me so much when I was dealing with the grief of losing my mother that I will forever be grateful to them.  Angel was the best emotional support dog you could ask for.  Whenever I cried those nights, she would be there to kiss my face and I couldn’t help but smile.

    So why am I writing about Angel’s passing today?  Much of my content has (and still will remain) revolved around dog centric movies and tv shows.  The reason I enjoy dog movies and shows so much is because of Demon Flash Bandit and Angel Zoom Smokey.  Those two dogs have always been sort of a figurehead for me.  Years ago when Dogster was a website, I wrote for Angel Zoom Smokey quite a lot.  My dogs helped expose me to a social media presence and blogging.  They have and will remain mascots here at Next Level Blockbuster.

    While words can not express the importance Angel had in my life and my artistic endeavors, I will try my best to do so regardless in this blog.  Also, while the subject is sad and it will bring tears to my eyes for some time, I can’t help but remember that if she was here right now, the last thing she would want is for me to be sad.  So, out of respect for my little fur baby Angel, I will remember the good times we had together.  I will remember the movies we watched together in my room.  I will remember how I was your thunder buddy.  I will remember the times you barked at me in your sassiest way to let me know you disagreed.  I will miss you, simple as that.

    May you find peace my Angel and best friend.  Safe travels over that rainbow bridge.

RIP Angel Zoom Smokey