Movie #282 - From Dusk Til Dawn

From Dusk Til Dawn
1996 - Rated R - 1 hr 58 min
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Salma Hayek, Cheech Marin, Danny Trejo

So two bad brothers are making big bad deals and just happen to pick the one vampire hangout in town. Could happen. In fact, it's that randomness about this movie that makes it so much fun to watch.  It's completely implausible, and a little bit of ridiculous, but Robert Rodriguez says, "Hey, let's kill some vampires in the middle of this movie. Why not?"  And you say, "Yes sir!"

You gotta love it.  Plus, any time Quentin Tarantino gets to be a sick bastard on screen is pretty awesome. And surprisingly, George Clooney can indeed kick ass.

Movie #195 - Fanboys

Fanboys
2008 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 30 min
Director: Kyle Newman
Starring: Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington, Jay Baruchel, Kristen Bell, Seth Rogen, Danny Trejo, William Shatner, Carrie Fisher

Star Wars fans will take special delight in this geeked-out adventure movie.  Despite it's slap-stick Road Trip kind of comedy, the overall story is one I really enjoy.  Four childhood friends band together to storm Skywalker Ranch to see Episode One before it comes out, because one of them is dying from cancer.  The way I just explained it sounded lame, but it's not melodramatic or anything.  It's just a nice story about friends - with some hillarity thrown in for good measure.

Seth Rogen is arguably one of the better parts of this movie, and he only plays two small parts.  Fighting himself (one role versus the other) is possibly the highlight, but his Star Trek nerd taking down Dan Fogler is classic.  The laundry list of cameos doesn't hurt this movie either.

It's just fun, but not ridiculous beyond reason.  And don't we all want to break into Skywalker Ranch, either to save George Lucas's movies from himself or... no, that's why we all want to break in.  But before Episodes One, Two and Three came out, some of us probably wanted to watch those too.

Movie #158 - Desperado

Desperado
1995 - Rated R - 1 hr 44 min
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Cheech Marin, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo

Want to watch Antonio Banderas play some killer guitar? Check!

Want to watch him kill men with guitars? Check!

Want to watch him and Salma Hayek make sweet love then play guitar? Check!

So this movie is what it is: a story of revenge, a story of a bad-ass musician who doubles as an expert gun-slinger.  And also a story of drug busting, kinda.  There's lots of sweat and dirt, many bullets, and a fantastic body count...also some fantastic bodies. Just sayin'.

It's fun, easy to follow, and has lots of action.  It's a guy movie, which is not surprising since Robert Rodriguez directed it.  And oh hey, Quentin Tarrantino's in it too!

Movie #126 - Con Air

Con Air
Touchstone Pictures
1997 - Rated R - 1 hr 55 min
Director: Simon West
Starring: Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich, Ving Rhames, Steve Buschemi, Colm Meaney, Dave Chappelle, Danny Trejo

If only he'd put the bunny back in the box...  Can't anyone just follow Nicolas Cage's instructions? I mean, he's the good guy undercover as the bad guy, helping the good guys on the ground, and all so he can face his wife and daughter with a clean conscience.  Is this what happens when you accidentally kill a man? Or only if you're Nic Cage?

So once you learn to ignore his lame-o Southern accent, this movie's not horrible.  I like it because in the 90's I thought it was awesome. Now as an adult, I'm pretty 'meh' about it, but John Cusack is my boy...so I'll watch it.  After all, I gotta wait till R to watch The Rock and get some good Nic Cage up in here, so this has to do for now.

Also, John Malkovich is a creepy bad guy... but something about him doesn't work for me.  Not sure if 'one note performance' is the term I'm looking for, but you  get the idea.  He's all "I'm Cyrus the Virus and so I'll eat your children" but I'm kinda like, "Man, really? That's your tough prison nickname? And you were safe in the shower?" But whatever. I've never been to prison, what do I know?

Onward...

Movie #100 - Bubble Boy

Bubble Boy
Touchstone Pictures
2001 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 24 min
Director: Blair Hayes
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Swoosie Kurtz, Marley Shelton, Danny Trejo, Fabio, Zach Galifianakis

Let this movie stand as proof that Fabio can do more than pose for romance novel covers and peddle un-butter via TV.  He can also lead cults and strike the fear of God into innocent, brain-washed followers... right?

As stupid as this movie is, it still remains one of my goofy favorites.  Honestly, it just makes me laugh, even if I'm in a bad mood.  Jake Gyllenhaal is supremely adorable, even trapped inside that bubble, and Swoosie Kurtz is spot-on overcontrolling, battle axe mother.  In addition to Fabio, there are lots of other great cameos and a whole cast of wacky characters that make this movie fun.  Even the 'bad guy' is fun to laugh at.

Don't watch this for its intellectual content; just watch it when you need a good laugh.

Oh and by the way, Zack Galifinakis is in it... before The Hangover, he was a tiny bit-part actor.  See if you can find him :)

Movie #27 - Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
DreamWorks
2004 - Rated R - 1 hr 34 min
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Fred Willard, Seth Rogen, Danny Trejo, Kathryn Hahn

Oh, I looooooooooooooooooooooove this movie. Watching it again was just fun for me, quoting all my favorite lines and singing along with the four-part harmony to "Afternoon Delight." I just got to sit back and enjoy Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, and David Koechner be absolutely weird (and 100% bought-into their characters). In fact, that's probably what makes this comedy so awesome - you really believe they are these outrageous 70's era newscasters.

Oh yeah, and you get to add a little Fred Willard (and a brief moment of Jack Black).... sweet.