Jurrasic Park

 

Timing: Summer

Movie:
What starts out with innocent intentions ends up to be a tale of greed & a "what did the five fingers say to the face" lesson from mother nature.  This movie screams 90's with it's Ford Explorers, summer blockbuster aspects, Americans' love for theme parks, Laura Dern before she got dumped by Billy Bob, Spielberg & Jeff Goldblum with all of this quirks on full display.  The good news here is that even after all of these years the iconic scenes still remain iconic & the children are still well...annoying.  All that aside though the serious angle would be that even in 1993 we recognized our ill perceived notion that we as humans can do whatever we want & with no environmental repercussions. 

"Hold on to your butts." - Samuel L.

Mel's Rating: 91%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Rushmore

 

Entrée: Pizza cut into square pieces.
Timing: School starts.

Movie:
On paper Max Fischer looks like a future presidential candidate but in reality he follows with thru with none of it & plays by his own rules.  In the end you don't know if Max is a loser or just smarter than the rest of us but that is what makes this movie a great character study.  It was ahead of its time in terms of sense of humor & style yet it is dated with every shot including the 90's granola heroine played by Olivia Williams.  Bill Murray pulls in a smart performance as well but most audiences at the time did not know what to think of him in a role that does not require overacting. 

Mel's Rating: 82%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

James Bond: Thunderball

Drink: Martini
Entrée: Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad

Movie:
With an abundance of scenes taking place underwater you sometimes feel like you are watching a silent film.  In addition to the lack of dialogue the treatment of the sharks used in the film is not acceptable according to today's standards...thank god!  I would guess that alone is one big reason why you do not see this one running on cable very much. 

Mel's Rating: 25%
O a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Back to the Future I

Entrée: Hot Dogs

Dessert: Root Beer Float
Timing:  Huey Lewis & The News concert

Movie:
This movie is a money making machine.  I mean the DoLorean might as well have had dollars bills spewing from the back instead of flames when it whisks us away not into the future but into the franchise.  With that said the most impressive aspect of the film is that the shameless product
placements & ground laying for a sequel don't take away from the fact that it stands on its own.  The DoLorean, the red vest, the "McFly"s have all stuck with popular culture which would not be possible after all of these years if it was a bad movie.

Mel's Rating: 85%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.
     

JFK

Drink: Sazerac
Entrée: Low Country Boil
Timing: JFK's birthday May 29th
Picture: From our trip to DC in 2008.

Movie:
The outstanding supporting cast of Sissy Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon, Donald Sutherland, Laurie Metcalf, John Candy & Joe Pesci keep this rather lengthy movie rolling.  The meat of the movie is of course all of the different hypothesis surrounding the assassination which takes you on a journey with unexpected turns including a prison, mafia, Cuba, New Orleans & the FBI.  However despite all of this those that are not history buffs will not be as enamored by the film's significance nor by the ending which as with most real life stories lacks luster.  Regardless keep in mind that the story is continuing to unfold as previously classified documents are released conveniently as those involved are deceased. 

Mel's Rating: 84%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Gone Girl

Drink: Schlafly Beer (St. Louis brewery)
Entrée: Imo's Pizza (St. Louis style pizza)
Dessert: Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

Movie:
This is one of those rare cases where the movie is better than the book.  It managed to cut out parts of the book that dragged & wrapped up the ending in a more satisfying fashion.  I was impressed by the accurate job of portraying the Midwest setting & stereotypes.  Details such as Midwest landscaping, t-shirts worn by Nick, hairstyles & a reference to frito pie were not overlooked.  As far as casting goes I would have preferred someone with a little more intensity or what I call "crazy eye" to play Amy.  On the other hand Neil Patrick Harris almost stole the show making his character much more three dimensional than he was in the book.  Overall this is a solid present day thriller though probably not a good choice for a first date!

Mel's Rating: 86%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Godfather I





Appetizer: Bruschetta
Dinner: Lasagna
Drink: Chianti

Movie:
A young man emerges unscathed from a brutal war with his entire future in front of him & a bride waiting in the wings.  However before he can make any real decisions about the direction his life will take he is granted the unwanted legacy of running the family business.  By the end everyone is depending upon him because the machine must keep going & there was, "not enough time."  Most people say that part II is better which is the more obvious choice but the subtleties of part I is what makes it an equal contender in my mind.  Calculation can be read into every action & word uttered by Michael Corlene well before he is the Don.

Mel's Rating: 100%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.