Off we go... Placer County is no stranger to the film business. Not to brag, but Hollywood has loved our scenery since the silent era. Charlie Chaplin, of course, filmed The Gold Rush in Truckee. Nike, when much wiser and more daring heads prevailed in the PR department, used Foresthill Bridge for the bungee-jumping scene … Continue reading Hollywood Comes To Auburn
Stage To Screen: Shadowlands
Although he was a literary powerhouse, C.S. Lewis has very seldom been portrayed on the screen as himself (Sorry, Treebeard, although you still kinda count). One of the most major works associated with him is Shadowlands, which mainly focuses on Lewis's life with his wife, Joy Davidman Gresham. For those who aren't familiar with Lewis … Continue reading Stage To Screen: Shadowlands
Going Italian With Mama Valerie
Up goes the curtain... Muppet Show alum Valerie Harper was always a versatile lady, and one of my favorite credits of hers is The Great Mom Swap. Released in 1995, the year of my high school graduation, it's vaguely based on the Betsy Haynes novel of the same name and is unusually well-done for a TV movie. … Continue reading Going Italian With Mama Valerie
Page To Screen: The Sarah, Plain and Tall Trilogy
Remember the Hallmark Hall of Fame movies? I used to watch those with my parents all the time, and I don't know about anyone else, but my favorites next to Harvest of Fire was the Sarah, Plain and Tall trilogy. Based on Patricia MacLachlan's novels of the same name, they are prime examples of how to … Continue reading Page To Screen: The Sarah, Plain and Tall Trilogy
Walk Like A Ghost
One of my favorite movies from the nineties is 1993's Heart and Souls, which I first saw at the long-gone CineDome in Concord, California with my cousin, Cindy. She and I have always been Hekyll and Jekyll, and after a wild grab at a popcorn bucket (don't ask) we were hooting and giggling before the movie … Continue reading Walk Like A Ghost
Legend Has It
Remember when I said I would not, under any circumstances, review slasher films? Well, a slasher has sliced its way in (See what I did?). It's mild compared to others out there, but it's still a slasher. Yep, we're talking about 1998's Urban Legend. This movie came out when I was in college. It's about … Continue reading Legend Has It
Magic In the Kitchen
It's been a long time since we've had a good old guilty pleasure movie review here on the blog, and one of my favorites is 1999's Simply Irresistible, starring Indiana Jones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and a magic crab. I couldn't make this up if I tried. Well, maybe I could. Some of the things about this … Continue reading Magic In the Kitchen
With the Crew of the “Memphis Belle”
As we all know, a big part of the Second World War was each side bombing the other for various purposes. Britain and the United States tagteamed their bombing of German war production sites; the Brits went at night, but the Americans chose to drop their bombs during the daytime. Both actions were risky, but … Continue reading With the Crew of the “Memphis Belle”
Indiana Jones Vs. the Red Baron
Contact... Ever see the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles? Also known as The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, it was on in the early nineties and one of my favorite shows in high school. Not only was Sean Patrick Flanery really, really cute, but Indy got around. Forrest Gump would be jealous of the number of historical figures Indy … Continue reading Indiana Jones Vs. the Red Baron
Shamedown #1: The Beautician And the Beast
Shamedown Numero Uno, people. If anyone missed my Shame List post and wants to know what the heck a Shamedown is, please click here. Fran Drescher's brand always seems to be that of the big-haired, nasal-voiced misfit creating her own niche (Who remembers The Nanny? Or that pantyhose commercial?), and what I always liked about … Continue reading Shamedown #1: The Beautician And the Beast
Swing Heil
In my opinion, Robert Sean Leonard is one of the most competent and interesting actors of my generation. This guy has been in it since he was a young kid. He can sing, dance, read Shakespeare, and handle both drama and comedy. Basically everything that's respectable in show business. And of course, Leonard is a … Continue reading Swing Heil
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy…
"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed...Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20, NIV) Mention 1993's Rudy and a lot of sports fans will get misty-eyed. My dad is one of 'em. Based on a true story, the movie follows Rudy Ruettiger, a guy who flew in the … Continue reading Rudy, Rudy, Rudy…
The Robinsons Jump the Shark
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me... Except for maybe the 1940 version, it's odd that Swiss Family Robinson has several adaptations beside the 1960 Disney classic. Why mess with a good thing, right? On the other hand, it's an easily tweakable formula. Find a family who are at odds with each other, … Continue reading The Robinsons Jump the Shark
The Course of True Love
And now for our second Austen film in a month. That's kind of a record for this blog... 🙂 One of the nicest Jane Austen films in my opinion is the graceful and lovely Sense and Sensibility. This 1995 charmer won Emma Thompson an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as a Golden Globe … Continue reading The Course of True Love
Make Me A Match
*harp music playing* Nobody does romance quite like Jane Austen, and today we're going to look at the 1996 film, Emma, featuring a young Gwyneth Paltrow before Goop, a young Ewan McGregor before Obi Wan, and a young Toni Collette before almost everything else she's done. And we can't forget Jeremy North as the super-romantic Mr. Knightley. … Continue reading Make Me A Match
Coming To America
Homeward bound... Who can forget when Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were the world's It couple? And their smoldering chemistry? Who can forget 1992's Far And Away, when they put on Irish brogues? I saw Far And Away on VHS with my friend, Nikki in high school, and we kinda got into it. During the last ten minutes … Continue reading Coming To America
Burton Meets Irving
Yep, it's almost Halloween. Amazing, isn't it? I don't know about anyone else, but I always like visiting Sleepy Hollow around this time, and this year I thought I'd review the Tim Burton version of Washington Irving's immortal 1820 story. For those of you who haven't taken in this film, be warned: This isn't the … Continue reading Burton Meets Irving
Taking Up Room 