‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ – Never Less Than Entertaining

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

Well, we are finally back in IMF territory where Ethan Hunt keeps taking a lick but keeps on ticking, just like the Energizer Bunny. Like Nicole Kidman keeps saying at your local AMC multiplex, we come into this theater to see if Tom Cruise and his director of choice for this franchise, Christopher McQuarrie, can top what they did previously in “Mission: Impossible: Fallout” which itself was one of the best action films in recent memory. Better yet, can it be the equal of last year’s exhilarating spectacular, “Top Gun: Maverick,” which Cruise starred in and McQuarrie co-wrote? Whenever these two are presented with a challenge, they always rise to the occasion no matter what the cost. And speaking of cost, “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” is the most expensive installment of this franchise yet, let alone in Cruise’s film career.

“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” begins with what I would like to believe is an ode to “The Hunt for Red October” as we encounter a Russian submarine with stealth capabilities, and its captain believes he is in command of the most lethal weapon on planet Earth. But before he knows it, the submarine is destroyed in a way similar to how the Konovalov went down, and we are introduced to this film’s McGuffin: a key which will give one power over an experimental AI (artificial intelligence) called the Entity. Originally designed to sabotage digital systems, it went rogue like Ethan often does, but in the process, it has infiltrated defense and military systems and intelligence networks. As a result, all the major powers are racing to get control over the Entity before it does the whole planet in.

These days, AI is the perfect villain as it threatens to take over all our lives and the work human beings are supposed to get paid a healthy salary to do. Clearly, audiences need to revisit the first two “Terminator” movies as James Cameron was really onto something. You remember what happened when Skynet became self-aware, right?

As always, it is fun to see in what format Ethan will receive his mission in, should he choose to accept it. In the past, he has gotten it via vinyl record, a pair of cool-looking sunglasses, a disposable camera, and a small videotape. This time, it comes to him in a food delivery bag like the kind Door Dash and Postmates often utilize. The irony, however, is inside it is a micro-cassette recorder, an allusion to the past which Ethan will be forced to confront. And while many “Mission: Impossible” installments are made to stand on their own, this one remembers how its characters, particular Ethan Hunt, have a history which has come to inform where they are now. Peter Gabriel said it best when he wrote how “nothing fades as fast as the future, nothing clings like the past.”

Following the plot of “Dead Reckoning Part One” is a bit hard as, like some of the other sequels, it gets a bit convoluted as so many ideas are brought up to where the plot is a little hard to follow. Then again, we do not go into these movies for logic. We go into them for the action and amazing stunts.

Still, I was reminded of how McQuarrie won an Oscar for writing “The Usual Suspects” and how brilliant that screenplay was while watching “Dead Reckoning Part One.” Like “Usual Suspects,” this film is a puzzle piece filled with characters trying to figure it all out before the timer on that bomb, any bomb, reaches zero. Also, I am not sure I have seen another movie in recent memory with so many actors putting on their best poker faces. As I watched everyone do their emotions hidden and not show any sign of vulnerability, I kept waiting for Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” to start playing on the soundtrack. It doesn’t, but maybe Cruise and McQuarrie are saving it for “Dead Reckoning Part Two.”

But yeah, let’s talk about the stunts. There have been several trailers and featurettes dealing with the key stunts which include a massive train crash and Ethan riding a motorcycle off a cliff, and it made me wonder if Paramount Pictures was giving too much away in advance. But sure enough, they are amazing stunts which thrilled me to no end as Ethan is forced to catch up with a train in the worst way possible, and the payoff is priceless.

As for the train crash, everything leading up to is pulled off ever so skillfully. Clearly, Cruise and McQuarrie have watched the best action films out there and look to one up the stunts which have enthralled us before. While the situations seem similar, the screws have been tightened ever so tightly to where the room for error is miniscule. This is especially the case when the characters are on top of the train, looking to take one another out while also avoiding certain tunnels and structures which could knock them out of the way without much warning.

And wait a minute, I forgot to mention the car chase which precedes these scenes in Paris as Ethan and the ever so clever burglar, Grace (Hayley Atwell), race through the streets of Paris, and it featured a moment where one has to be grateful for the existence of airbags. Unlike your average car chase, this is one which puts you right behind the wheel, and just when you think things are getting better, they do not.

Cruise has always been a better actor than people typically give him credit for, but this film reminds one of what an excellent producer he can be. Along with McQuarrie, he remains determined to give audiences around the world a very good reason to see movies in a theater long before they have a chance to stream them at home. Indeed, the spectacle on display is best experienced on the biggest silver screen in your neighborhood as it will make your cinematic experience all the more invigorating.

When it comes to Cruise’s co-stars, they all deserve a wealth of credit. Simon Pegg has been this franchise’s comic relief for a while now as Benji Dunn, but here he shows how this character has evolved from his meek beginnings in the IMF to where he is not the least bit naïve about how his life compares to this or any other mission. Ving Rhames who, like Cruise, has been in every single “Mission: Impossible” movie since the 1996 original, remains an ever so powerful presence as Luther Stickell, a man who will never give up on Ethan even if someone forces him to. And let us never forget Rebecca Ferguson who once again returns as Ilsa Faust, one of the coolest MI6 agents you could ever hope to see on the silver screen. Ferguson remains an ever so indelible presence in this franchise, and she also shows an inescapable vulnerability which just might prove to be her undoing.

But when it comes to returning characters to the “Mission: Impossible” movie franchise, the most notable one to be found in “Dead Reckoning: Part One” is Eugene Kittridge, played once again by Henry Czerny for the first time since De Palma’s “Mission: Impossible” back in 1996. A Canadian actor, Czerny has proven to be enigmatic presence in films like “Clear and Present Danger,” “The Ice Storm” and “Scream VI” among other works. Here, he proves to have the greatest poker face of them all.

As for the new faces, we have Hayley Atwell prominently on display as Grace. She gives a very strong performance here as she matches Cruise scene for scene, and watching her character evolve throughout helps to give this installment more depth. Kudos also goes to Cary Elwes who is memorable in everything he does, and that includes his role here as Denlinger, Director of National Intelligence. And then there is Pom Klementieff who proves to be a lethal and maniacal presence as the French assassin, Paris.

In terms of villains in the “Mission: Impossible” movie franchise, they have been a mixed bag at times. But for my money, Esai Morales proves to be one of its best as the powerful terrorist, Gabriel. Like Philip Seymour Hoffman’s villain in “Mission: Impossible III,” he is a nemesis who enjoys the suffering and humiliation more than the kill, and he is a seething presence from start to finish to where I could not wait for Ethan to lay waste to him.

I have a hard time ranking the “Mission: Impossible” movies as this franchise has been around for several decades, and I get frustrated a lot with numbers. For me, this installment is not quite as good as “Fallout,” but that was a hard one to beat. Plus, we know there is going to be a direct follow up to this one next summer, and it has me wondering, and quite fearful, about what crazy ass stunts Cruise and McQuarrie will come up with next. Like many, I am convinced Cruise is going to get himself killed in a future sequel, but nothing seems to be stopping him.

“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” is superb entertainment, and I cannot wait to see what comes next.

* * * ½ out of * * * *

Walking the WGA and SAG/AFTRA Picket Line at Paramount Studios

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

On July 20, 2023, I did something I had been meaning to do for a long time: walk the picket line alongside members of the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG/AFTRA). Both unions are in a furious labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) as streaming has forever changed the landscape of entertainment. The residual deals many actors and writers previously enjoyed are no longer such a thing, and streaming services have not been quick to give out the numbers of viewers or streams their programs have received thus far. Also, with artificial intelligence (AI) on the rise, many careers threaten to be rendered obsolete as those with all the money keep finding new ways to eliminate the human equation. Plus, when you compare the amount of money someone like Bob Iger makes to the average worker, one cannot help but be infuriated by the infinite corporate greed on display. As John Carpenter once said, the 1980’s never left us.

Signing up to walk in the picket line was very easy, and you do not have to be a member of either union to participate. Considering the continued divide between the haves and the have nots and the dangers posed by AI, I encourage you to participate as the technology itself poses dangers not just to acting and writing careers, but to careers in other fields as well. Clearly, many people still need to watch the first two “Terminator” movies to understand what happens when AI becomes self-aware.

It was a privilege to be walking with these people, union and non-union alike, along Melrose Avenue outside of Paramount. It quickly became clear to me of how everybody was looking out for one another, and this was great considering the hot temperatures we are currently enduring. The temperature reached up to around ninety degrees at one point, and there was only so much shade we could hide in. Paramount does not have any Ficus tress outside their studios, but if they did have any, they would already have had them trimmed.

Big applause goes out to the strike captains who made sure everyone was safe and kept everyone in line, and to all those who donated food, water, snacks and tons on sunscreen for us to utilize. You can never wear enough sunscreen on a day like this. I also have to say how much I appreciated everyone crossed the street both safely and legally. These days in Los Angeles, no one seems to know how to cross the friggin’ street anymore.

With the video I shot and edited above, I wanted to show the harmony of the strikers on display as this event has brought Los Angelenos together in ways I have not seen outside of the LA Marathon. Also, this video shows how everyone was looking out for one another, and how everybody was respectful of the rules set out for them. These visuals really do speak for themselves more than words can. Granted, writers can say a lot about the strike too, but we need to pay them more first.

If you are interested in helping out in the strike or want to make a donation, please visit the following websites by clicking down below:

Writers Guild of America

SAG/AFTRA

Motion Picture & Television Fund

Entertainment Community Fund

WGA on Strike

WRITER’S NOTE: For the record, I am not currently a member of the WGA or SAG/AFTRA. This video is my creation alone and is not endorsed by either union or any other organization.

Exclusive Interview with Ashley Rickards about ‘A Haunted House 2’

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

I got to attend the press day for “A Haunted House 2” back in 2014. This satirical horror comedy sequel was released one year after the original, and it catches up with Malcolm Johnson (Marlon Wayans) as he moves into a new home with his girlfriend Megan (Jamie Pressly) and her two children, Becky (Ashley Rickards) and Wyatt (Steele Stebbins). As you can imagine, Malcolm and company are soon met by a bizarre series of paranormal events, and the sequel goes out of its way to spoof such horror hits as “The Conjuring,” “Sinister,” “Paranormal Activity” and “Annabelle” among others.

In addition to speaking with Marlon Wayans and Jamie Pressly, I also did get to sit down with Ashley Rickards to talk about her role as Becky. For various reasons, this interview was not published at the time of this film’s release, but I present to you now after rediscovering all these years later.

Rickards is best known for playing Jenna Hamilton on the MTV comedy-drama series “Awkward,” and as the troubled Samantha Walker on “One Tree Hill.” She graduated from high school at the age of 15, and is currently a member of MENSA. In addition, she also published a book entitled “A Guide to Getting it Together Once and For All” which we did talk a bit about during this interview (although she did have a different title for it back then), and she helped to launch the Project Futures Somaly Mam Foundation which works to prevent and end human trafficking and sexual slavery in Southeast Asia.

Please check out my interview with Ashley Rickards down below, and you can also watch the interviews I conducted with Marlon Wayans and Jamie Pressly which I did for We Got This Covered.

Exclusive Interview with the Cast of ‘The Gallows’

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

Looking through my vast collection of movie interviews, I came across this one which I did with the cast of “The Gallows.” Released back in 2015, it is a found footage horror film written and directed by Chris Lofing and Travis Cluff, and it opens up on a production of a play called, coincidentally, “The Gallows” which was done at Beatrice High School back in 1993. Everything looks to be going smoothly, but then an actor named Charlie Grimille is accidentally hanged and killed when the prop noose around his neck ends up malfunctioning, and the students and parents look on in horror.

The film then moves forward twenty years later to 2013 when the school attempts to put on a new performance of “The Gallows” in honor of Charlie’s memory. But, as you can expect, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and the young adults who are part of this production soon find that they are not alone as something ominous is hiding in the shadows. Suffice to say, they find themselves in fear for their lives, and some learn in the worst way how certain things are better left alone.

This interview took place at Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, California, and it quickly proved to be one of the most cinematic press days I have ever been a part of. “The Gallows” stars Cassidy Gifford (the daughter of Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford), Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown who would go on to appear in “The Gallows Part II,” and Ryan Shoos who co-starred in “The Red Tie Massacre.” We had fun talking about the improvisation they did on set, working with the video cameras given to them, and of the advantage of playing characters with the same first names as theirs.

Please check out the interview below. “The Gallows” is now available to own and rent on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital. Watch it if you dare…

‘OZ’ Audio Commentary on ‘The Routine’

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

Continuing on with my series of audio commentaries, I have decided to take a break from “Homicide: Life on the Street” and do one on another show, the infamous HBO prison drama “OZ.” I became aware of this show when I found out that, like “Homicide,” it was executive produced by Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson. It was created by Fontana who originally sought to create a show about a minimum-security prison which he would have called “Club Med,” but he opted instead to do one on a maximum-security penitentiary once he got permission to do so from the head of HBO Original Programming.

It needs to be noted that “OZ” was the first hour-long drama ever produced by HBO. Most people forget this as “The Sopranos” came on a year or two later and quickly upstaged this groundbreaking show. Like “Homicide,” “OZ” never got much love from the Emmys or other major awards show, but it laid a solid path for the hour-long drama to exist on HBO. Shows like “The Sopranos” and “Game of Thrones” would possibly never have existed without the success of this show.

This commentary is on the premiere episode of “OZ” which is entitled “The Routine.” Written by Fontana and directed by Darnell Martin (“I Like It Like That”), it perfectly sets up the visual style which would quickly define the show and introduced us to a plethora of actors and actresses including Edie Falco, J.K. Simmons, Eamonn Walker, Harold Perrineau, and Kirk Acevedo. This episode also demonstrates quite dramatically how not a single character we see here will ever be safe. Anyone could die at any time, and this continually filled me with endless anxiety as a viewer.

Please check out the audio commentary below. “OZ” is available to stream on Max (formerly HBO Max) and to own and rent on DVD.

‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ Commentary on ‘Night of the Dead Living’

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

I am back with my latest audio commentary on an episode of “Homicide: Life on the Street,” and the one on display here is “Night of the Dead Living,” a nice little play on words on the title of the classic horror film, “Night of the Living Dead.” It was directed by Michael Lehmann who gave us one of the greatest black comedies ever made, “Heathers” which starred Christian Slater and Winona Ryder. Lehmann also directed “Hudson Hawk” which starred Bruce Willis and proved to be a critical and commercial bomb, but has since become a cult classic of sorts. The teleplay was written by Frank Pugliese who won a WGA Award for his work on this episode. Pugliese is a writer and playwright, and his plays include “Aven’U Boys” which an Obie Award, and he wrote the screenplay for the 2006 film “Infamous.”

“Night of Dead Living” was the third episode of “Homicide’s” first season, but NBC decided to air it as the season finale due to its slow pace and the fact they were trying hard to “woo” more viewers for this show which was already suffering a decline in ratings. For me and many others, the airing of this episode in this order was confusing as hell as it looked as though Tim Bayliss and Frank Pembleton had another chance at closing the Adena Watson case. Watching it now, it feels like the cruelest of teases.

What I love about this particular episode is how unusual it is for “Homicide” let alone any other police drama as it is one without any murders or crimes committed. The detectives are working the night shift during a hot summer night, and Lieutenant Al Giardello is furious because the air conditioning is off in the office and everyone is sweating like crazy to where they are taking off their ties. That is, except for Frank Pembleton who remains as cool as can be despite the heat.

Please check out the commentary track below and let me know what you think about this episode.

‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ – Yes, I Liked It

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

Leading up to the release of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” I was often reminded of a piece of dialogue from “Live Free or Die Hard” in which Thomas Gabriel described John McClane as being “a Timex watch in a digital age.” This was certainly the case when Harrison Ford put back on that fedora and bullwhip in 2008 with “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and it remains the case with this fifth and final installment in this thrilling franchise. While practical effects were the thing for Steven Spielberg and company back in the 1980’s and 1990’s, CGI has taken over to give some de-aging power to Ford and to create, or even re-create, those creepy crawlers Indiana hates with a passion. Indeed, times did change for Dr. Jones and us but, like him, I wonder if we can adjust to the changes from what we grew up on and loved.

Following an exciting prologue in which Indy and fellow archaeologist Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) discover half of Archimedes’ Dial during the last days of World War II, the action then shifts to 1969 where we find an aging Indiana Jones being woken up by the Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour” and teaching classes at New York’s Hunter College. And while the students at the university he previously taught it had crushes on him, the ones he teaches here could not care less about artifacts from the past, especially when man has only recently landed on the Moon with the Apollo 11 mission. At this point in his life, Indiana has become a curmudgeon of sorts, and anyone has to be considered such if they don’t like any songs by the Beatles.

Into the picture comes the Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), Basil’s daughter and Indy’s goddaughter, who herself has a degree in archaeology and is eager to find the other half of Archimedes’ Dial. This is the prize of this Indiana Jones installment as this device is said to locate fissures in time. That’s right, Indy and company are dealing with an artifact which allows for time travel, so you know the spacetime continuum rules from “Back to the Future” will come into play at some point.

With its middling reception at the Cannes Film Festival, and with many fans still complaining about how bad they thought “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” was with its aliens and nuking the fridge, I think one should go into “Dial of Destiny” not expecting the greatest action movie of all time, but instead an Indiana Jones film directed by James Mangold. Having given us such excellent films like “Logan,” “Copland” and “Ford Vs. Ferrari,” he takes over director’s chair from Spielberg and gives us something he cannot completely make his own, but that’s okay because this is not a franchise in need of too much change.

Okay, let me get some of my issues with “Dial of Destiny” out of the way here. At 154 minutes, this film could have used some tightening. There are moments where the story and action drag when they should not, and my mind did wander at times And yes, sometimes the CGI effects took me out of the film such as when our characters encounter those eels which could only hope of being as scary as the one in “Jaws: The Revenge” or those thousands of snakes in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

Still, I was very much entertained by “Dial of Destiny” as it does have the heart, soul and the action we come to expect from these action extravaganzas. When it comes to Ford, I am glad he gave us one last go around as the man with the hat. With each “Indiana Jones” film, he gives us a different side of this iconic character. In this one, Indy is a broken man on the verge of retirement and living in a time which does not seem to have much use for him. Marion Ravenwood is in the process of divorcing him, and the retirement gift of a clock from his staff is one he is understandably quick to give away to a stranger. Despite all the great adventures he has been on in his lifetime, no one outside his inner circle knows or cares about what he has been through. As for the villains of this piece, he is only a means to an end for them as he simply holds the key to an artifact which is far more interesting to them than anything else.

While the Nazis were a thing of the past in the previous installment, they are back in force this time around as Jurgen Volter (Mads Mikkelsen), a former Nazi whom Indy encountered back in World War II, looks to correct the mistakes Adolf Hitler made years ago and to where the world a better place to live in. Mikkelsen plays Jurgen in the same way he played his James Bond villain in “Casino Royale,” as a man with a cool façade who eventually unravels when things do not go his way. While I hoped Mikkelsen would have had more fun playing this Nazi sympathizer in the same way Alan Rickman did when he played a most memorable villain in “Die Hard,” he does give Indy the formidable foe this picture needs.

And there is no escaping Phoebe Waller-Bridge when it comes to reviewing “Dial of Destiny.” Does this film have too much of her character, Helena Shaw? Perhaps, but can you blame Mangold and company for featuring so much of the “Fleabag” star? She is such an infectious presence in life, let alone in this film, and she gives the proceedings the excitement and enthusiasm it desires. Also, like many classic characters in this franchise, she has quite the poker face which eventually comes apart as Helena gains a perspective on life which affects her original stance of being in this just for the money.

Other than that, we have John Rhys-Davies returning as Sallah, Indy’s longtime friend who was sorely missing in the last film. Antonio Banderas is a fun presence as another friend of Indy’s, Renaldo, who captains a boat Indy and Helena set sail on. Shaunette Renée Wilson gives us an interesting presence as Mason, a US government agent who represents the kind the FBI and CIA recruited back in the 1960’s to infiltrate certain groups like the Black Panthers. And I enjoy seeing Boyd Holbrook (“Logan” and “The Predator”) here as Klaber, a right-hand man to Jurgen Volter and an especially nefarious individual who is quick to kill someone without a second thought.

As for Mutt Williams, Shia LaBeouf’s character from “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” he does not appear here, but he is mentioned. I think this was a smart move on the part of the filmmakers because to pretend this character never existed would have been thoughtless to where he would have come across as total mistake in retrospect.

When it comes to “Dial of Destiny’s” final act, many have described it as being “bonkers,” but these people are the same ones who decried “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” for being “unrealistic.” While these films take place in historical periods which have long since passed us by, the filmmakers do a great job of capturing those time periods with a good deal of authenticity to where it vividly comes to life. This helps ground the action in a reality we know and understand while the fantasy elements reign supreme on the silver screen.

I cannot spoil the last half of this film for anyone, but I loved how it proved a few things for me and, I sincerely hope, many others. When it comes to mathematics, it is more useful tool in life than we realized while in high school as it truly provides us with a universal language. Also, when certain characters do not take continental drift into their plans, I hope this reminds everyone around the world about how science can only be refuted by more science, and it made me love this film’s final act all the more.

When it comes to “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” I think we are coming into this one with a lot of trepidation as expectations are so hard to deliver on or surmount. A lot of people had their daggers out for this one before it was released as they wanted it to be a certain kind of motion picture, and while many of them will not get past their individual prejudices, I hope there will be enough to accept for this film for what it is as opposed to what they want it to be. It has its flaws as most films do, but this one still had me engaged for the most part, and I walked out of the theater with a smile on my face as seeing Indiana grab that fedora of his was a most pleasing sight. I expected a fun time at the movies, and that is what I got.

And yes, we do get another monumental music score from the great John Williams which adds to the action in a glorious way. Even at 91 years old, this man still knows how to deliver, so don’t tell me someone is too old to do something. I hope, if I ever reach that age, that I can still be every bit as creative.

* * * ½ out of * * * *

‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ Movie and 4K Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

When it comes to comedy in films, I’m well aware of the fact it is subjective.  In fact, film criticism as a whole is subjective, but I feel as though with comedy, it is especially subjective. What I find funny in film, you might find painfully stupid and vice versa. When it comes to the National Lampoon films with Chevy Chase at the helm, I find them annoying and tedious.  They fall completely flat for me.  I initially watched “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and was completely unimpressed. Now, it was my first time watching the initial film, “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” and I’ll just say I have no desire, whatsoever, to watch “European Vacation” or “Vegas Vacation.”

Upon researching this film, I discovered readers of Total Film Magazine ranked it as the 46th greatest comedy of all-time. I’m truly baffled by this. It starts with its lead actor in Chevy Chase.  I don’t find his style of comedy particularly interesting, funny, or unique.  He is overplaying it in these films with his facial reactions and mannerisms, and I found his character of Clark Griswold to be rather exhausting and laborious to spend time with, even if it’s only for a little over an hour and a half.  It comes down to laughter, and I might have smirked once or twice during this film.

In “Vacation,” the Griswolds are looking to take a trip from Illinois to California by car, to visit Walley World, a world-famous amusement park, as Clark is looking to spend more quality time with his family. He feels as though if they were to travel by plane, they would just listen to music and tune each other out.  Even though it’s a lengthy trip, he looks forward to getting to bond with his wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo) and their two children, Rusty (Anthony Michael Hall) and Audrey (Dana Barron). Audrey is a teenage girl who likes to live on the wild side while Rusty is looking to take the next step into being a man.

Along the way, they run into every possible problem you can imagine with their mode of transportation, traffic issues, misfortunes, folderol, and even death. They also stop by and visit everyone’s favorite Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid), who is always looking for a handout or a quick buck by telling his latest sob story. Either you like these characters or you don’t.  Personally, my favorite character is Ellen, played by Beverly D’Angelo, as she plays the straight woman perfectly during all of this mayhem and mischief.

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION, Anthony Michael Hall, Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Dana Barron, 1983

The expression, “Whatever can go wrong will go wrong” definitely applies to the Griswolds.  After a while, as an audience member, you see it coming from a mile away.  It doesn’t work because you know trouble is right around the corner.  If everything were going well, there wouldn’t be a movie to be made here. If you want a road trip movie which can produce great laughs, look no further than “Midnight Run.”  However, if you don’t have quirky and likable characters, the film is going to fail.  As a film critic, I’m driven by characters more than plot. A film needs a plot of course, but I can overlook the lack of one if the characters are keeping me glued to the screen.

Now that I’ve seen two of these films, I can safely state this brand of slapstick, gimmick comedy is not my cup of tea.  I know these films are hugely popular, especially “Christmas Vacation,” but I found them extremely painful to sit through as a viewer.  It’s even more surprising this film didn’t connect with me because it was written by John Hughes and directed by Harold Ramis, two of my favorites.

* out of * * * *

4K Info: “National Lampoon’s Vacation” is being released on a single-disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.  It is rated R and has a running time of 98 minutes.  It also comes with a digital code for the film.

Video Info:  The 4K transfer on this forty-year-old film is terrific. It is crisp, clean, and quite colorful.  They really upgraded this one in a masterful way.  It looks beautiful and has no issues whatsoever.

Audio Info: The Dolby Atmos track is a very nice touch here, and the film sounds terrific from start to finish.  It is a dialogue heavy film, and you can hear all of the dialogue without skipping a beat.

Special Features:

Commentary with Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Matty Simmons, Harold Ramis, Anthony Michael Hall, and Dana Barron

Should You Buy It?

If you are a fan of the franchise and this film, it is a must-own because Warner Brothers has done a phenomenal job with making this film really pop on 4K. Even though it was my first time watching it, I can’t imagine it gets much better than this from an audio and visual perspective.  The commentary track comes from the previously released Blu-ray, but at least there is something to listen to if you want to hear some interesting tidbits about the making of the film.  As stated early on, you either like Clark and the Griswolds or you find them insufferable like myself.  I’ve seen “Christmas Vacation” and “Vacation,” and it is more than enough for me.  It comes down to your personal preference. As the old saying goes, “For those that like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like.” However, if you do love it, you would be making a grave mistake not to own the 4K of this film.  They really hit a home run here from a technical aspect.

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free.  The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ Commentary on ‘Ghost of a Chance’

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

So here I am with another commentary track for an episode of “Homicide: Life on the Street.” This one is titled “Ghost of a Chance,” and it is the second episode of the first season. The story is by Tom Fontana, the teleplay was written by Noel Behn, and the episode was directed by Martin Campbell. Campbell would later go on to direct to James Bond films, “Goldeneye” and “Casino Royale.” After the brilliance of “Gone for Goode,” I wasn’t sure the next episode would be anywhere as good. Thankfully, it was.

“Ghost of a Chance” starts off with the murder of Adena Watson, the first case for rookie detective Tim Bayliss (Kyle Secor), and the one case which would haunt him the most throughout this series. There are also some other plotlines explored here. John Munch (Richard Belzer) and Stanley Bolander (Ned Beatty) investigate the death of Thomas Doohen whose widow, Jessie (Gwen Verdon), cannot wait to be rid of him, Kay Howard (Melissa Leo) and Beau Felton (Daniel Baldwin) work to find much-needed evidence in a murder case, and Bolander develops a crush on Carol Blythe (Wendy Hughes) which has him acting rather awkwardly.

We are also introduced to Officer Chris Thormann (Lee Tergesen), a character who will become especially important in later episodes.

Please check out the commentary below.

‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ – It’s Not Bad

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

WRITER’S NOTE: This review was written back in 2008.

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is another in a long line of films listed as the most eagerly awaited in cinema history. However, what the “Star Wars” prequels and “The Matrix” sequels taught us, whatever you thought of them, is that the expectation of something tends to be far more exciting than the finished product. This always works against movies like these because we are just so excited about sitting down to see them, and we have images of what we would like to be inside our head, but they never quite meet our expectations. Ever since I saw “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier,” I have done my best to keep my expectations in check. It is far too easy to be disappointed by a movie you wait impatiently for. I came into this latest Indiana Jones adventure just wanting to have a good time, and you know what? That’s exactly what I got.

This Indiana Jones cinematic installment is not without its flaws, and this is typically the case with all the sequels in this franchise. The screenplay at times is a bit convoluted, and it’s a little hard to figure out what the whole deal with the crystal skull is (a second viewing may end up rectifying that). It’s not the equal of “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” but expecting it to be an instant classic is ridiculous. The first adventure of Dr. Jones is such a favorite of moviegoers everywhere, and it has since been held so far up in the pantheon of cinema to where it is impossible to beat it in terms of its entertainment value and freshness. For myself, just seeing Harrison Ford put on that fedora one more time was more than enough for me.

“Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” moves Indiana Jones to the 1950’s. The Nazis are all gone (or so we thought), and in their place are the Russians, the villain of choice back in the day. Indy and his pal ‘Mac’ George McHale (Ray Winstone) have been captured by them and taken over to Area 51 in New Mexico, the warehouse where the United States government hides all the things it wants no one to see. This leads to the first big action sequence which gets things off to a rousing start. While the circumstances might seem a bit ridiculous, these movies deal with death-defying actions and situations which do not instantly lend themselves to reality, and these are stories which take a place in a reality somewhat removed from our own.

Dr. Henry Jones Jr. (his real name as we learned it from “The Last Crusade”) still teaches archaeology courses, but he soon finds himself dismissed as he is under suspicion of being a Communist. Back in the days of the Joseph McCarthy era, you were guilty until proven innocent. Time has certainly passed by for Indy and his university friend Dean Charles Stanforth (Jim Broadbent), and they have both lost friends over the years like Indy’s father and Marcus Brody (played by the late Denholm Elliott, who is appropriately acknowledged here years after his death). But just as Indy heads off to go around the world, he is visited by Mutt Williams, a 1950’s greaser played by Shia LeBeouf. Mutt informs Indiana his mother has been kidnapped and needs his help to get to the Crystal Skull of this film’s title.

The Russians are led by Irina Spalko, and she is played with utter relish by Cate Blanchett. Irina is a cold, steely Russian whose interest in psychic powers and education proves to be more dangerous than anyone can quickly realize. Like all the villains in this franchise, she lusts for ultimate power and is determined to get it at any cost. Of course, her lust and greed will lead to her eventual undoing. You know how these movies go, and while Irina may not be the greatest villain in this franchise, she is still a formidable foe as embodied by Blanchett, one of many actresses out there who can play just about anybody.

“Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” does feature great stunts which, even if they are not entirely believable, still generate a good deal of excitement. Some are ridiculously over the top, like Shia’s character swinging along vines with the monkeys. But then again, not everything in this movie is meant to be completely believable. Spielberg said he would not rely so much on CGI effects in this movie, but you do notice them when you see them, and it does take away from the action a little. In the end though, the movie keeps up at a pace which never lets you catch your breath.

When this film was first announced, many said Ford was just too damn old to play this or any other role in your average action film. Frankly, I am sick of all this talk about any actor or actress who is at the AARP age level. Ford certainly doesn’t look his age (who does these days?), and he still handles the action scenes with a supreme gusto which proved how serious he is about staying in shape. No one will ever surpass Ford in this iconic role, and I would hate to see anyone else try.

But one of the greatest moves which Spielberg and Lucas did here was bring back Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood, Indiana’s love from “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” It is so great to see her again as she matches wits with Indiana at every step of the way. Marion also turns out to be Mutt’s mother, and this leads to other revelations ehich I invite you to see for yourself. There is a line of dialogue where Marion and Indy are in the back of a truck trying to escape, and she asks Indy why his other relationships didn’t last, and Indy says:

“Because they weren’t you, Marion.”

This points the obvious of how the other heroines of these movies didn’t even come close to matching the wonderful presence of Marion, and Allen continues to be such an immensely engaging presence in this and other movies she is in. Her character is not a whiny pain in the neck like Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) in “Temple of Doom,” nor is she the underwritten cold-blooded character played by Allison Doody in “The Last Crusade.” It is clear that everyone involved knew that they could do no worse than to bring Allen back. I am very glad that they did.

The big surprise I got from this movie was the performance of Shia LeBeouf. I expected him to be an annoying sidekick a la Short Round from “Temple of Doom,” and essentially give the same annoying performance he gave us in “Transformers.” But this was not the case as he perfectly slipped into the mold of a 1950’s greaser out to save his mother. He matches wits well with Ford as they journey to other countries on a search and rescue mission. Thus, we get another one of those scenes where we see a map and a red line showing where our heroes are going, silhouetted against the planes and other transportation they use to get to their final destination. LaBeouf is very good here, even if he does end up on the verge of some Wesley Crusher-like moments.

Ray Winstone is also very good, as he is in everything else he does. At first, I started to wonder if his character was necessary, and if was basically just there as a foil for both Indy and the plot. Winstone’s performance, however, helps to make some of the more implausible moments in more believable as he sucks us into what his character wants, and he convinces us of this as much as he does Indiana Jones.

I have to give the filmmakers some credit as they took their iconic hero and placed him in another period of time. Having Dr. Jones go up against the Russians showed that at least the filmmakers were trying something a little bit different instead of just giving us the same old thing. There are a lot of moments where Spielberg and Lucas pay homage to the earlier Indy movies as well as to other Spielberg movies like “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” There is a big science-fiction/B-movie element to this one in particular, something the previous installments would have never gone near, but these movies have always indulged in the world of fantasies be it real or imagined, so why not deal with extra-terrestrials?

There is actually a surprising lack of snakes in this sequel, but one does make a memorable cameo appearance. The main animals to fear here are red ants who, even in their CGI form, are terrifying man and woman eaters. We even worry about them devouring the bad guys. Even if the angry red ants do look a bit fake, they still left me unnerved like all the dangerous animals in an Indiana Jones do.

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is by no means a perfect movie, but then again, we should never have expected it to be. None of the sequels in this series were perfect either, but whatever flaws they had were eventually redeemed by their entertainment factor which was far above most other blockbusters overcrowding the local multiplex. The only movie in this franchise that has any right to be called perfect is “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and nothing is ever going to top that. Ever.

I would probably rate this particular sequel just right above “Temple of Doom.” While that one may have been a little more entertaining, it also had a first half and characters that drove me up the wall. It doesn’t have the same amount of heart and character as “Raiders” or “The Last Crusade,” but these characters still remain true to their origins and they keep us engaged in the action. And yes, I had no problem with the “nuke the fridge” scene.

In terms of the summer movies released thus far, “Iron Man” is still the movie to beat. “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is not quite as good, but “Iron Man” is a strong movie for more or less the same reasons “Raiders of the Lost Ark” was when it was first released. They both brought a freshness and energy to their genres which had become somewhat dormant, and they were created by filmmakers who cared about the stories and the characters involved. “Iron Man” will eventually lead to a number of sequels, most of which will probably not hold a candle to the original. While we want some of the same old stuff, we also want something new which brings a fresh edge to what we saw before. With the latest adventure of Indiana Jones, it was business as usual, but that was more than enough for me.

And stop telling me that Harrison Ford is too old to be doing movies like this because, quite frankly, I don’t give a shit!

* * * ½ out of * * * *