Every night I’m free, I put up a poll over on my Instagram and ask my followers which of the three VHS tapes I should watch. At the end of the year, all movies will be ranked. Here’s this week’s Rental Shelf Round-Up.
I was gone for a week in Dallas. Before I left I watched Galaxy Quest (1999), which is an old favorite of mine. I did a lot in Dallas. First up I moderated a Q&A for my dad, Roger Avary, for both The Rules of Attraction (2002) and Killing Zoe (1994). Then, I appeared over on There are Too Many Movies talking about Punch Drunk Love (2002) and the corresponding short film Blossoms and Blood (2003). While I was in my hotel room, I caught 22 Jump Street (complete with hotel motion blur). I was shocked to find that it had a split screen sequence a la Rules, but done absolutely terribly with a giant black bar in the middle of it.
I was excited to get back home and pop a few things from my shelf on. Besides the titles featured below, I also viewed the following movies: Nomads (1986) and The Hearse (1980). If you’d like a review of any of these, make sure to leave me a comment!
Side note: we covered The Hunt for Red October over on The Video Archives Podcast.
March 06 - Twister (1996)
I was supposed to see Twister in 4DX when I saw Twisters, but the theater changed the showtimes without telling us. So, I saw Twisters without any background. If I had seen Twister before, I would have known that it was a hollow shell of the original. Readers will recall me bringing this title up previously when I watched Four Weddings and a Funeral, so let me break down the dilemma for you. I don’t like cheaters, but what is going on with the relationships in this movie? Without going too far into it, I’m not sure who Bill Paxton’s character would be betraying. This title deserves a much larger, fleshed out review, so let me know if you'd like one. Also, on my next trip to Dallas, I slept through a tornado warning and then went to the botanical gardens during the storm. IF YOU FEEL IT, CHASE IT!
March 07 - Physical Evidence (1989)
I’m finishing up a Crichton retrospective so I tracked down his remaining titles on tape. Physical Evidence ranks low. I do not like Theresa Russell’s acting in this. Maybe at a later date I should get into my Crimes of Passion vs Whore debate, but for now I’ll stick to Physical Evidence. Even at 99 minutes this movie drags. There’s zero chemistry in the movie, and no matter how much I love Crichton, I did not like this one.
Want longer reviews of any of the titles mentioned above? Make sure to leave a comment and let me know! Until next time…
xoxo gala