The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (June 30th, 2024)

In a cluttered and overwhelming world of cinema, it is literally impossible to watch it all (trust me…I try). There is a hard balance between rewatching your favorite films, new releases, and films from your ever growing watchlists. But there are so many gems in film history to enjoy so it is a great way to utilize your movie watching time. But how do you decide what to watch? Queue The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends!

This series will highlight my weekly journey through previously released films, whether they are rewatches for me or new discoveries. Here are my picks:

Scream (1996)

What film brought new life to the slasher horror subgenre in the 1990s? Wes Craven’s Scream. Craven had been a figure of slashers since the 1980s when he brought Nightmare on Elm Street to life and Freddy Kreuger became one of the greatest horror icons of all time. But all the big franchises were getting stale and silly (except for Craven’s own New Nightmare that came out before Scream). The world needed something new, brash, and fresh. Scream was exactly that. The meta commentary on horror was such a cool idea from writer Kevin Williamson. All the characters have seen plenty of horror films and even the film tells you… “Movies make killers more creative”. Ghost Face has become one of the iconic fixtures in horror as well with that mask and penchant for knives. The young cast has so much fun with Neve Campbell leading the way. Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard are having SO much fun along the way as well. Courtney Cox and David Arquette help create two of the most iconic characters in this franchise as well. Scream was so damn good that the late 90s brought the slasher genre back to the forefront.

Blade (1997)

What was the Marvel movie that made a big splash even before X-Men or ­Spider-Man? It was the vampire hunter himself…Blade. This film is about as 90s as you are going to get. There is plenty of techno and EDM as you can handle especially with the amazing opening meat-packing plant rave sequence where we get to see Blade introduced and in action for the first time. The music and filmmaking have that 90s edge and attitude that just doesn’t show itself in films made today. The cool black leather outfits are another shining relic of the period as well. Wesley Snipes is endlessly cool as the titular hero who is a half vampire and takes the fight to the brash and up-and-coming vampire leader Deacon Frost (a young Stephen Dorff bringing his tough guy attitude). Kris Kristofferson brings some weight as Whistler and has one of the more emotional moments in the whole film. The action is thrilling and full of cool shots and slick stunt work. Slow motion is used plenty for the most dramatic effects possible. This is a badass and thrilling film that captures the 90s and the source material so well.

Trip to Mars (1924)

What are some of the big building blocks for animation over the years? Most people assume Disney was the beginning but there were filmmakers like Dave Fleischer (the director) and Max Fleischer (the animator) who were doing amazing things for decades before Snow White graced the silver screen. Trip to Mars is a whimsical romp into space with Ko-Ko the clown. This wild adventure was meant for the Moon, but Ko-Ko overshot the mark and landed on Mars. This dangerous planet is full of crazy creatures and beings who are there to create a thrilling and fun adventure for the audience. But the animation escapes this cartoon world as Ko-Ko breaks into our and Max himself is sent for a fabulous cartoon ride alongside him. This is an ambitious fourth-wall breaking comedy that will certainly amaze you, especially when you remember that this film is 100 years old at this point.

Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

Why did Jim Henson Productions stop adapting classic novels to turn into banger Muppet movies? After Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island, it should have been a no-brainer to continue this trend of campy, fun, and Muppet classics. Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of treasure, pirates, and adventure on the high seas got the pitch perfect Muppet treatment. There are plenty of fantastic musical numbers from “Sailing for Adventure” to “Shiver My Timbers” to “Cabin Fever” to “A Professional Pirate”. Some of absolute blasts with the perfect Muppet silliness. The opening number brings some weight to the proceedings. “Sailing for Adventure” captures the swashbuckling adventure of it all. Tim Curry brings the right balance of camp, pathos, and sheer Muppet attitude to the iconic role of Long John Silver. The whole Muppet crew kills it in the roles and some of the running gags are too hilarious to ever forget (the man inside the bear’s finger has to be one of the silliest and funniest gags in any Muppet movie). You still have the spirit of Stevenson’s tale but done with top notch Muppet puppetry and buckets of heart.

Treasure Planet (2002)

What is the most ambitious of all the adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island? Disney’s Treasure Planet takes the story across the galaxy in a swashbuckling science fiction extravaganza. The animation is bold and ambitious for the time as it really is a true bridge between 2D hand drawn animation and the 3D worlds we expect to see today. The daring mixtures of animation styles help create some of the most thrilling and visceral action sequences in all of animation. The basic story is completely intact with a big connection between Jack and Long John Silver, adding some much needed depth in terms of this iconic art duo. The cool worlds and the rendering of space are some of the coolest and most interesting elements of the film for sure. The inclusion of cyborgs, animal/alien humanoids, space pirate ships, and robots voiced by Martin Short makes this such a fresh and different take on this classic tale. The voice cast is impressive with narrator Tony Jay bringing so much resonance and weight to the exposition. A young Joseph Gordon-Levitt shined surrounded by the likes of David Hyde Pierce, Emma Thomspon, Patrick McGoohan, Laurie Metcalf, and Brian Murray (who dazzles as Long John Silver). This came on the forgotten era of Disney animation and hopefully it gets a well-deserved rub.

Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015)

How do you make a film for the whole family without a single line of actual dialogue? Aardman animation sure knew how to create such an experience with Shaun the Sheep Movie. With the success of Wallace & Gromit as well as Chicken Run, Aardman had an amazing reputation. Maybe time has just dwindled, the love for their adventures is so important to the future storytellers of her generation. “Under Pressure”. But this dialogue-less romp truly leans into the bad stuff. Family animation must keep this story engaging and the characters fun in order to keep the whole family happy. The mission to save their amnesia reddened farmer who does not remember his roots and getting all muddy. Physical comedy is top notch and brings so much charm along with the fun animation styles of the people. Shaun is a great leader of his sheep (plus dog) crew and the number of shenanigans these sheep get into is quite crazy. There is plenty of charm and heart to go around for the whole sheep herd.

The Unholy Three (1925)

Who would have thought that a film about circus performers from 1925 would not be horribly offensive? The Unholy Three is an impactful thriller with such a genuine heart and romance. You have a ventriloquist, a person with dwarfism, and a strong man who team up to do robberies with a gorgeous pick-pocketing vixen. Lon Chaney leads the way as Mr. Echo who lives a double life as an old woman to keep their cover. Our vixen is also his main squeeze, but she falls for a genuinely kind and honest man…which sets up the fall of this criminal crew. There is some authentic romance that grows and intensity between the titular trio. Tod Browning brings plenty of impressive technical work and builds some real tension as the police get closer to their tail. A great early example of crosscutting between a remote cabin and a courtroom trial building a frightening and emotional third act that certainly sticks the landing. This early horror/thriller is such a great effort from the future Dracula director.