Movie #53 - Basic

Basic

Sony Pictures

2003 - Rated R - 1 hr 38 min

Director: John McTiernan

Starring: John Travolta, Connie Nielsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Daly, Giovanni Ribisi, Taye Diggs, Harry Connick Jr.

Ok, I feel like I've been watching a lot of "mindless" entertainment so far, but here's one that will get you thinking for sure. Military intrigue is always a good time, and Basic does not disappoint.

If you haven't seen this one, I don't want to give too much away. I really recommend giving it a peek. Basically, the plot centers around the murder of Samuel L. Jackson and the special ops team that's accused of killing him. From beginning to end there are many twists and turns, and you'll be surprised to find out what's really going on here.

Travolta is great, Jackson is so good you want to punch him yourself, and the supporting cast are spot on. Well done all around. Definitely a favorite!

Movie #52 - Baseketball

Baseketball

MCA/Universal Pictures

1998 - Rated R - 1 hr 43 min

Director: David Zucker

Starring: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Dian Bachar, Yasmine Bleeth, Jenny McCarthy, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Vaughn

Want to watch a couple of the South Park kids all grown up? Here you go! It's fun to watch Matt and Trey in this live action (unrelated to South Park) comedy, but if you're a fan, you can easily spot the similarities. Especially when Trey Parker performs his best Eric Cartman in a clutch psych out.

If you haven't seen it, Baseketball is about a couple of losers who invent a cool new game that takes the sporting world by storm. It's a hoops shooting game that uses baseball rules, kinda like horse but so much cooler. With the existing sports leagues (NFL, NHL, MLB, etc) too fixated on winning big and getting paid, a new sport like this is refreshing. Too bad something like this doesn't exist... it seems like your "every man" type of game. And who doesn't want the chance to get famous playing a game that doesn't require you to break a sweat?

Anyway, if you've ever been irritated by overpaid sports players, this movie is one to see. Some moments are a bit corny or overly slapstick (i.e. the hospital debacle) but overall, it's a lot of fun.

Movie #51 - Balls of Fury

Balls of Fury

Rogue Pictures

2007 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 30 min

Director: Robert Ben Garant

Starring: Dan Fogler, Christopher Walken, George Lopez, Maggie Q, James Hung, Thomas Lennon

A movie about the dark and dangerous game of ping pong might sound a bit far-fetched, but this stellar cast's outstanding committment to the premise makes it work. Christopher Walken is hillarious, although not at all Asian (you'll get it when you see it), and attacks this character with his usual Walkenese fervor. It's the best part of this movie.

Unless you consider the fantastic Def Leppard soundtrack. That's pretty awesome, too.

I don't know much about the ancient Chinese tradition of ping pong, but this movie does a good job trying to educate you. But if you ever do find yourself in a sudden-death ping pong tournament, just watch out for Diedrich Bader and the courtesans of pleasure. Wow.

Movie #50 - Bad Boys II

Bad Boys II
Columbia Pictures
2003 - Rated R - 2 hr 27 min
Director: Michael Bay
Starring: Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Gabrielle Union, Joe Pantoliano

Eight years later, Michael Bay is still blowing sh*t up. And getting better at it, too. Mike and Marcus are still at each others' throats in a way that makes you forget their profession of love to one another at the end of the first movie. Especially since Mike is involved with Marcus's sister. Uh oh...

So we open on a shoot out with the KKK, which features Martin Lawrence "singing" the verse to the song Bad Boys. I remember this scene from the preview. And somehow, even though it's shot using Michael Bay's classic 360-degree circle approach, it's still funny.

Gabrielle Union is really just the eye candy here (sorry, Gabs) and sets up the plot by getting kidnapped. Save the girl, get the bad guy, uncover the money laundering. Standard stuff here, fellas. Still, it's done with such explosive panache from the director and such charming wit from its stars that you can't help but enjoy this one.

And, oh by the way, that's 50 MOVIES DOWN, ONLY 500+ TO GO!

Movie #49 - Bad Boys

Bad Boys
Columbia Pictures
1995 - Rated R - 1 hr 58 min
Director: Michael Bay
Starring: Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Joe Pantoliano, Tea Leoni

In this movie, Michael Bay blows some sh*t up. Shocking, I know. Also, Tea Leoni tries her hand at action films. That actually is shocking, but not as disastrous as you might think.

Martin Lawrence and Will Smith are lots of fun to watch in this movie. The whole "who's Mike Lowrey" subplot probably goes on a bit too long, but the mix up makes the interactions between them all the more priceless. Many shoot outs ensue, Tea Leoni is apparently a "bullet magnet," and the Bad Boys win. But they probably overuse the slo-mo action sequence thing. Guess I can't blame them... that technique was pretty revolutionary in 1995, wasn't it?

Overall, this is a fun buddy cop movie that's a little more intense than your average Starsky & Hutch episode. Lots of fire and guns, lots of diving through the air, and a little bit of a body count, too. Good times.

Movie #48 - Back to the Future Part III

Back to the Future Part III
Universal Pictures
1990 - Rated PG - 1 hr 48 min
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen, Thomas F. Wilson, Lea Thompson, Elisabeth Shue

Alright, I'm going to come right out and say it. They weren't ready to kill the series, so they decided to screw with time some more. Now it's Doc's turn to start causing trouble... I mean, he does deserve it. And apparently, a little something-something from Mary Steenburgen.

That's not to say that I don't like this movie... actually, as a kid, I thought this one was the most fun. It's good to see that Marty isn't selfish with his time traveling pursuits and will step up and help Doc save his life and his love. He really is a good guy. And Doc is still a crackpot.

Anyway, enjoy the little Irish accents on Lea Thompson and Michael J Fox in this one. I was pretty impressed, actually. Mad Dog Tannen is clearly Biff in disguise. I wouldn't put it past that old bastard to follow them to 1855. He was a really big jerk, you guys. It could happen.

So Part III might not be necessary to the overall story arc of this series, but it does make a nice, neat package. Three movies always seems to be the magic number and this is a worthy addition to the movie wall. It's not necessary but it really is fun. Just enjoy this whole series. And if you can, I really recommend watching them in order, back to back. The consistencies are even more meaningful this way.

Movie #47 - Back to the Future Part II

Back to the Future Part II
Universal Pictures
1989 - Rated PG - 1 hr 48 min
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Thomas F. Wilson, Elisabeth Shue

Oh, Biff! How much trouble can one cranky old man really cause? His character is a real jerk, but he's the kind of jerk we all love to hate. Cuz didn't we all know a Biff of our very own back in high school? His name wasn't likely Biff, but you catch my drift.

Anyway, watching these back to back is something I've never done. We pick up seamlessly where we left off (four calendar years after, four cinema seconds later). Except we've now added Elisabeth Shue! Hello, Elisabeth! We all know how much I love her, and her babysitting dramas. Anyway, now she's a knocked-out girlfriend in a time machine who ends up meeting her older self and passing out! Now that's plot, folks.

Again, Zemeckis and company are sticking steadfastly to their own rules as they travel ahead to go back-back, to fix ahead and then ahead-ahead. You still with me? On paper, this movie makes your head sping. In practice, you can actually follow it.

That right there is an achievement.

So we get everything sorted out. Biff is again repressed, Dad is again alive, Marty still has his hot wheels and of course, he gets the girl. Until! Oh no! Doc! Doc goes back to the past, and Western Union has been waiting for Marty. Thank God for Western Union (how much add money did they give Spielberg for this anyway?)

Enter cheesy-ass Western preview. And they're making a Part III! I've heard Mike talk about this "cool preview" and how psyched he was to see it in the theater. I think you have to truly be 8 to think it's cool.

On to the promised Part III!