The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (June 8th, 2025)

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

Castle in the Sky (1986)

What would you do as a child if a cute girl just lowered down from the sky right into your life? That is the magical call to action in Hayao Miyazaki’s Castle in the Sky. A magic amulet imbued young Sheeta with the ability to float through the sky, and she teams up with her new friend, Pazu, to seek out the mythical floating castle of Laputa. This fantasy/science fiction adventure is filled with imagination, fun characters, and wondrous world-building like any great Miyazaki film. The animation and music are absolute perfection as they deliver awe and wonder. The dynamic airship creations, mining towns, giant robots, and the towering titular castle are just some of the most iconic creations you will find in animation. The wonder of youth combined with fascinating world-building and a sense of adventure makes this an amazing cinematic experience.

Xanadu (1980)

Do you love wild musical camp? Do you love cheesy 80s chic? Do you want to watch Gene Kelly dance across the screen one last time in his final film? Do you want to listen to some bangers from pop musical legend Olivia Newton-John? Well…then there is a movie just perfect for you! Tuen back the clock to 1980 for this campy panned musical Xanadu. A story of love, dreams, and art, Xanadu is not going to be a thick, compelling, and engrossing narrative. What it lacks in writing and acting, it makes up for in cheesy, big, and ambitious musical elements. Newton-John and Kelly are worth the price of admission as they are engulfed in this campy romance filled with wild 80s effects and production design.

Role Models (2008)

Who doesn’t love to see grown men mentoring the youths? Role Models fits perfectly in this 00s era of comedy with so many fantastic comedic performers around. Paul Rudd is in all his dry sarcastic best and Seann William Scott is channeling the raunchy and douchey attitude that made him so popular in American Pie. They are paired with a pair of wayward young men (a role-playing fantasy geek and a sassy black kid with abandonment issues). There are plenty of fun LARPing moments and other crazy shenanigans to enjoy. There are plenty of hilarious moments even if some of the humor feels a bit outdated. There are plenty of familiar faces along the way and hilarious supporting characters. This might not be the best of that era, but Role Models is still worth a watch.

Deep Blue Sea (1999)

What would you do if you were stuck on a deep-sea installation with giant, super intelligent sharks ready to kill you? You would simply not…but you can just watch Deep Blue Sea instead! The sharks are dangerous and made from silly 1999 CGI and just deliver the right level of self-seriousness and absurdity. Samuel L. Jackson delivers one of the best speeches in his career and it ends with quite a shocking twist. There are some fun castings with Thomas Jane as a rugged hunter, Stellan Skarsgard as a scientist, and LL Cool J as a chef who we can all root for. The film has some crazy, thrilling moments for sure. This is not a top tier shark movie thrills like Jaws, but the silly dialogue gives this bonkers film the right amount of charm. This is not a smart film (like the sharks in the film) but it is such a wild concept that can only be at least fun. From the thrilling opening and cheesy scene up until the rap music about sharks over the credits, this is a wild ride.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)

What do you get when you take a bunch of famous literary characters and turn them into a superhero team? You get the early 00s action/adventure flick, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Based on a beloved graphic novel, this Sean Connery vehicle (his last live action role before retirement) is action-packed and full of wild literary references and characters. Connery is joined with some stand out turns from Tony Curran, Jason Flemyng, Peta Wilson, and Naseruddin Shah as they bring to life some of the most iconic of characters. There are twists and turns and some impressive effects (for the most part) for a film at this period of CGI blockbuster growth. This is certainly not perfect and even that good but there is an ambitious and wild bit of fun to have with this compelling concept for sure.

The Lost Boys (1987)

Who wouldn’t love a campy, 80s, vampiric flick about teenage vampires? Joel Schumacher crafted a film full of vibes, style, mood lighting, and cool teenage vampires. The Lost Boys is packed with plenty of 80s music bliss with the likes of “Cry Little Sister” and “Walk This Way”. There are buckets of blood, exploding vampires, flames, and a sexy sax player. The cast is filled with the Coreys, Diane Wiest, and a killer turn from Kiefer Sutherland as the coolest vampire of them all. There are just too many nostalgic vibes to ignore and plenty of great vampire trappings to sink your teeth into. Schumacher had quite a vision for The Lost Boys, and he fully committed to the bit and delivered this beloved entry in this classic horror subgenre.

The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold (1981)

Just how obnoxiously and stereotypically Irish can one Rankin/Bass special be? Well…just watch The Leprechauns’ Christmas Gold to find out! There are plenty of leprechauns, magic islands, and banshees to go around. This lean special packs in fun musical numbers, plenty of colorful stop motion design, and the most over-the-top Irish accents you can possibly find. There are good themes at the core that the whole family can enjoy. There are even a few creepy moments that might even give you a scare. Watch out for the banshee’s tears and have an Irish good time with some Christmas Gold.

The Twelve Chairs (1970)

How far would you go to find jewels sewed into one of twelve vintage chairs in Soviet Russian? Mel Brooks tackles this wild concept with his second and mostly forgotten directorial effect, The Twelve Chairs (aptly named). This dramedy has a good heart with Ron Moody’s former wealthy man seeking out his family’s chairs which were taken during the Russian Revolution. But he is not the only one on the hunt! Frank Langella (looking young, lean, and almost unrecognizable) is a rogue who teams up with Moody’s former upper-class socialite. But it is Dom DeLuise who steals the show as the local priest turned treasure hunter. His wild and over-the-top performance is by far the best part of this charming and clever film. This is not top tier Brooks, but it is an under-appreciated gem that is worth seeking out.

Brief Encounter (1945)

What is the most British film you have ever watched? That is a classic drama from 1945 that might give any of your selections a run for their money. Legendary filmmaker David Lean offers a lean, engrossing drama that feels like such a far cry from his massive epics like The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia that defined his career. Brief Encounter is framed as an internal struggle of a woman (Celia Johnson) who has a safe yet unsatisfying existence with her husband and children. But a chance meeting with a doctor (Trevor Howard) might just tempt her away from her family. A grounded experience, heightening tension through the manifestation of depression, and some dynamic camera work makes this seemingly simple premise come to life in such a complete way. The raw performances by this main duo, with their subtle emotions, make this such a unique and emotive experience.

Friends with Kids (2012)

What could two friends do for each other to start a family when they are both feeling dejected? Have a baby! This intriguing premise for a rom-com is the core of the film Friends with Kids. This film fits perfectly in that cinematic era of the early 2010s with its big ensemble of familiar faces and it mixes humor with a dramatic core. There is some good humor for sure, but this film moves much more into that romantic drama territory as we see the film navigating the potential romantic connection between these two friends. Adam Scott and Jennifer Westfeldt (who also wrote and directed the film) have great chemistry as the film explores their actual connection. The ensemble is stacked with Maya Rudolph, Chris O’Dowd, Kristen Wiig, Jon Hamm, Edward Burns, and Megan Fox. This is a film with genuine emotions and engaging experience.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

How impactful is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the history of animation? This is the original Disney Animation feature that started it all. There are plenty of trendsetting and trope-setting elements in this film when it comes to fairy tale films. The animation is so rich and gorgeous with dynamic colors and imaginative design. The music has become so iconic as it channels the musical stylings of time and still has a timeless feel. The cute animals and the dwarfs all have personalities that make them so joyous. Walt Disney took a classic tale and gave it that Disney vibes. This fantasy world has plenty of great moments and elements. There are certainly some elements that feel a bit outdated, but this is still a classic that delivers plenty of excitement and joy.

Knocked Up (2007)

What would you do if you got pregnant or got someone pregnant after a one-night stand? That is the premise of this beloved Judd Apatow comedy aptly named…Knocked Up. Not a subtle title but quite fitting. The Type A professional Allison (Katherine Heigl) and the aimless Seth Rogen type Ben (Seth Rogen) both get drunk one evening and then they are connected for the rest of their lives. This comedy certainly has plenty of drama along the way, but that Apatow style of humor works perfectly for a cast full of the likes of Leslie Mann, Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, and Martin Starr. There are even some fun minor roles for recognizable comedic performers of this era. There is a surprisingly nuanced approach in this dynamic that puts Allison and Ben in a situation that is challenging, engaging, and moving. Apatow delivers on the laughs and heart with this comedy that helps define that 00s era of comedy and launched the careers of so many iconic comedic actors.

Final Destination (2000)

What will you do to cheat Death? You might avoid dying in a plane crash, but Death’s design will find you eventually. That is the concept put into play with this beloved horror film from 2000 that would launch a 25-year-old franchise…Final Destination. This franchise has become known for the crazy setups that fill out the narratives and the wild deaths that are put on the big screen. This initial entry does not quite have the creativity or dark humor of the later entries, but it still has an entertaining feel throughout. This darker toned first entry has some solid emotional weight with a core romance budding between the male and female leads. The franchise has gotten more creative and bonkers but Final Destination is a fully early 00s horror flick that makes for a good start.