ORBzine - 2000.02 Cinema Movie Reviews

ORBzine - Movie Reviews February 2000

TITLE & REVIEW VIDEOS

Muppets From Space
Gonzo is lonely, because everyone else has a family and he doesn't even know who his parents were. He suspects he is from out there, and stumbles across strange messages apparently aimed at him. It seems his family are coming to visit!
We go back to the days of ET, when the MIBs were the bad guys. The villain is Jeffrey Tambor [the fat warm-up guy from The Gary Shandling Show], a pseudo-Mulder character. His sidekick is a muppet-bear, while Hollywood Hulk Hogan and his GF from Suddenly Susan both pop up as security guards.
A couple of the stars of Dawson's Creek [ Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson] pop up too.
Search This Site

This is a surprisingly good film, produced by two competent professionals not normally associated with the horror genre - Robert Zemeckis & Joel Silver . This is a remake of a 1958 film directed by William Castle and starring Vincent Price, the man himself. Geoffrey Rush plays a professional practical joker, a man who made millions constructing fairground rides reminiscent of the stunts of Castle, and is called Price! Famke Janssen [ The Faculty ] is his wife, a hateful bitch who gets what she deserves. There are references to other horror genre works; the people Price invites include names like Seward and Valdemar. However, Price's list is mysteriously deleted and replaced with another list ...
Another, far more recent influence appears to be The Blair Witch Project . The film starts with b&w footage of the asylum riot, and Price is introduced through a TV interview. Of note, the camera-man is James Marsters [ Buffy the Vampire Slayer ]! Later on Brigitte Wilson [Last Action Hero, Mortal Kombat, IKWYDLS] stupidly wanders around the House alone, armed only with a camcorder. Finally, there is a telling sequence after the end credits.
The film is extremely well-made, although it descends into an SPFX-fest at the climax. Also, there are a number of loose ends in the plot, more or less swept away by the evil spirits did it explanation. But it is definitely a film worth watching!
Search This Site

Toy Story 2
Yes, the unthinkable has happened; they actually made a sequel to the original CGI cartoon. It is 5 years since John Lassiter & Co made Toy Story, and though it does not appear that 5 years have passed for Andy and the toys they are still together. Andy goes off to cowboy camp, and because Woody is slightly damaged he is left behind.
Woody is stolen by a toy collector, who now has a complete collection which he can sell to a japanese museum for any amount he cares to name! While Woody settles down with the other toys who made up the original set, Buzz leads a rescue party. But does Woody really want to go back?
On their way the rescuers encounter a new version of Buzz, which really shows up the changes that have taken place in the character. Also, to further counterpoint Woody's section of the plot, Buzz's arch-enemy Zorg makes an appearance.
All in all this film is not as original as the first one, but it is certainly better that the kind of straight-to-video sequel that it was intended to be before the Big Names [Hanks and Allen] signed up again. And watch for the out-takes at the end!:)
Search This Site

TITLE & REVIEW	VIDEOS
Muppets From Space Gonzo is lonely, because everyone else has a family and he doesn't even know who his parents were. He suspects he is from out there, and stumbles across strange messages apparently aimed at him. It seems his family are coming to visit! We go back to the days of ET, when the MIBs were the bad guys. The villain is Jeffrey Tambor [the fat warm-up guy from The Gary Shandling Show], a pseudo-Mulder character. His sidekick is a muppet-bear, while Hollywood Hulk Hogan and his GF from Suddenly Susan both pop up as security guards. A couple of the stars of Dawson's Creek [ Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson] pop up too. Search This Site
This is a surprisingly good film, produced by two competent professionals not normally associated with the horror genre - Robert Zemeckis & Joel Silver . This is a remake of a 1958 film directed by William Castle and starring Vincent Price, the man himself. Geoffrey Rush plays a professional practical joker, a man who made millions constructing fairground rides reminiscent of the stunts of Castle, and is called Price! Famke Janssen [ The Faculty ] is his wife, a hateful bitch who gets what she deserves. There are references to other horror genre works; the people Price invites include names like Seward and Valdemar. However, Price's list is mysteriously deleted and replaced with another list ... Another, far more recent influence appears to be The Blair Witch Project . The film starts with b&w footage of the asylum riot, and Price is introduced through a TV interview. Of note, the camera-man is James Marsters [ Buffy the Vampire Slayer ]! Later on Brigitte Wilson [Last Action Hero, Mortal Kombat, IKWYDLS] stupidly wanders around the House alone, armed only with a camcorder. Finally, there is a telling sequence after the end credits. The film is extremely well-made, although it descends into an SPFX-fest at the climax. Also, there are a number of loose ends in the plot, more or less swept away by the evil spirits did it explanation. But it is definitely a film worth watching! Search This Site
Toy Story 2 Yes, the unthinkable has happened; they actually made a sequel to the original CGI cartoon. It is 5 years since John Lassiter & Co made Toy Story, and though it does not appear that 5 years have passed for Andy and the toys they are still together. Andy goes off to cowboy camp, and because Woody is slightly damaged he is left behind. Woody is stolen by a toy collector, who now has a complete collection which he can sell to a japanese museum for any amount he cares to name! While Woody settles down with the other toys who made up the original set, Buzz leads a rescue party. But does Woody really want to go back? On their way the rescuers encounter a new version of Buzz, which really shows up the changes that have taken place in the character. Also, to further counterpoint Woody's section of the plot, Buzz's arch-enemy Zorg makes an appearance. All in all this film is not as original as the first one, but it is certainly better that the kind of straight-to-video sequel that it was intended to be before the Big Names [Hanks and Allen] signed up again. And watch for the out-takes at the end!:) Search This Site