A File of Ryan Pratt's Movie Reviews
And attention-span-sensitive advice to see-it, buy-it, rent-it, wait-for-it, or skip-it.
Wednesday, July 26, 1989
Dead Calm
Rent-it - One of the best thrillers since Hitchcock only needs three characters to induce claustrophobic suspense.
Tuesday, July 25, 1989
Batman
Buy-it - The Dark Knight
was amazing, and as was Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, but this version of Batman from 1989 directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as Batman (but more notably as the best Bruce Wayne ever), Jack Nicholson as the Joker, and Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale (Bruce Wayne's love interest) is still an incredible version of the dark knight saga and worth buying on Blu-ray!
All Dogs Go to Heaven
Skip-it - A Disney-ish animated-film actually from Sullivan Bluth Studios in Dublin, Ireland (An American Tail
and The Land Before Time
) released at the same time The Little Mermaid
was in theaters, but All Dogs Go To Heaven
is definitely not a Disney film, and is little "heavy" for younger children, as it follows a trouble-making dog recently released from prison and his friend who went to Heaven, despite not having done a single nice thing in his life.
Saturday, July 25, 1987
Broadcast News
Rent-it - Though there's nothing special about this 1987 Oscar-nominated comedy-drama starring William Hurt and Albert Brooks on Blu-ray, it's still the 1987 Oscar-nominated comedy-drama starring William Hurt and Albert Brooks.
Friday, September 12, 1986
Top Gun
Buy-it - Tom Cruise stars in this high-flying action film about Navy pilots, aerial dog-fights, sweaty sex, and even sweatier sand volleyball. The testosterone levels only go higher in high-def.
Friday, July 25, 1986
Big Trouble in Little China
Rent-it - Kurt Russell stars in the cult classic B-movie fantasy-action film that is as funny as it is totally awesome!
Aliens
Buy-it
- 7 years after the first deep space alien sci-fi film was released, the sequel, also starring Sigourney Weaver and still directed by James Cameron, hit theaters and quickly (quite literally at 1 hour and 17 minutes) became one of the best sequels ever made - in any genre!
Thursday, July 25, 1985
Back to the Future
Buy-it - If you don't already own Back to the Future
on DVD or Blu-ray go get this 80s adventure comedy now! If you do already own it, jump in your Delorian and go back in time to return it, because this is the special edition you have been waiting for!
Friday, September 28, 1984
Footloose
Skip-it - One can only hope the remake of this film about an ultra-conservative backwater Midwestern town that outlawed rock & roll and dancing is better than this 1984 version.
Monday, August 20, 1984
Conan the Destroyer
Skip-it - If you thought the Barbarian was over-the-top you won't believe how campy this sequel is - skip-it.
Wednesday, July 25, 1984
Children of the Corn
Skip-it - Children of the Corn is one of those scary movies you've heard about but never seen - there's good reason why!
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Rent-it - The original Nightmare
is one the best horror films ever, and though the sequels weren't great (except for Wes Craven's New Nightmare), this original is being rebooted and will be in theaters soon, so remind yourself how high the bar is set before venturing to theaters in a couple weeks.
Saturday, August 20, 1983
Easy Money
Skip-it - Names like Rodney Dangerfield and Joe Pesci can be tempting, but this film about a man giving up all of his vices for a year has few intended laughs.
Friday, August 20, 1982
Conan the Barbarian
Buy-it - This raunchy 80s adventure film about a slave seeking vengeance stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and has everything you love about his films - epic one liners, roided-up action, and ridiculous loin cloths.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Buy-it - This early 80s film about teenage life (school, work, sex, sports and cliques) rings true 30 years later where Sean Penn is now all grown up.
Monday, October 12, 1981
Halloween II
Skip-it - The original H2 sequel with Jamie Lee Curtis is only worth watching during a scary movie Halloween marathon in late-October, otherwise skip this emotionless mask of a film.
Thursday, August 20, 1981
The Fox and the Hound
Rent-it - If you have children this Disney film with a predictable plot about a friendship between traditional enemies has some morals worth watching -- otherwise skip-it as a mature non-grudge-holding adult.
Saturday, July 25, 1981
An American Werewolf in London
Rent-it - If you're looking for a vintage scary b-movie with genuine thrills and dark humor this Halloween season.
Friday, July 25, 1980
Caddy Shack
Rent-it - Though nothing special in HD, Caddy Shack
is one of the best sports films ever made and is hilarious, juvenile, slapstick comedy before juvenile slapstick comedy was overdone.
Wednesday, July 25, 1979
Alien
Buy-it
- It is hard to believe this deep space action thriller starring Sigourney Weaver came out in 1979 (four years before I was born), especially with the remastered special-effects in Blu-ray high def. Alien is still the best sci-fi horror movie ever made - 30+ years later.
Sunday, August 20, 1978
National Lampoon's Animal House
Buy-it - This original college comedy starring John Belushi in his famous "COLLEGE" sweatshirt is a must-see for any twenty-something/millennial who somehow skipped it all these years.
Monday, August 20, 1973
Enter the Dragon
Buy-it - The only thing I can say bad about my second favorite Bruce Lee movie (Game of Death
Wednesday, July 25, 1973
American Graffiti
Buy-it - Did you know George Lucas created the original high school dramedy about a group of teen's final day of summer? Did you know it came years before Star Wars
or Indiana Jones
? Did you know it's one the greatest, most nostalgic, feel good films of all time? Well then what are you waiting for? Go buy it
!
Sunday, July 25, 1971
A Clockwork Orange
Rent-it - Taken at face value, Stanley Kubrick's dark dystopian creation is an imperfect look at an imperfect future. It's one of those films that you watch drunk and stoned when you're a freshman in college. Diving deeper into it as an adult, you find numerous flaws and an ideological mess.
Saturday, July 25, 1970
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Skip-it - Dick Van Dyke stars in this holiday-ish children's musical about a wacky inventor with a flying car.
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