Jet boats, in-laws and bald-headed killer bears
"The Great Outdoors" (1988)
Directed by: Howard Deutch (Pretty in Pink, The Replacements)
Starring: John Candy, Dan Akroyd
Running time: 91 minutes
Rut's Rating: 4/5
With the weather finally cooperating and holiday plans being made, I thought I would reach into the vault this week, and review a movie that my friends and I believe to be required viewing every summer.
"The Great Outdoors" is an easy-to-like story of a family's trip to the scenic views of a lakeside cabin. In one of his funniest roles, legendary funny-man John Candy is Chet Ripley, a suburban guy who just wants a nice, relaxing vacation with his family. Ruining that dream is wealthy loudmouth Roman Craig, Chet's brother-in-law, played by Dan Akroyd. Roman brings his family; wife Kate, played by Annette Bening in her feature film debut, and twin daughters Cara and Mara. What follows is anything but some trusty R&R, as Chet accidentally gets dragged across the lake on water skis, gets two black bears roaming on top of his vehicle, and is pushed into eating a HUGE steak, dubbed "The Old 96'er."
This movie is just simple, family fun. The thing I love about it is that the comedy in it appeals to all ages; I myself have been watching this movie since I was 7 or 8 years old, and I still find it funny today. John Candy is at his best here, and you're only reminded how sad it is that this Canadian comedy icon is no longer with us. Dan Akroyd is a perfect fit for Roman Craig; he's obnoxious, annoying, and he probably knows it.
However, the film isn't without it's faults; I could have done without the teenage-love storyline involving Chet's oldest son Buck and a local girl named Cammie. And there's actually a big goof you can easily notice that takes place inside the cabin. After the family return from the restaurant and Chet has just ate a 96-ounce steak, he gets sick and vomits in the bathroom. The rest of the family follows him, and the camera slowly pans to the right as they tend to Chet. What we're not supposed to see is Dan Akroyd giving a cue to the rest of the actors to run outside after seeing how sick Chet gets. It's a mistake, but a big one, and I don't know why the filmmakers didn't do one more take to get it right.
Nevertheless, this movie is an enjoyable classic, and it even makes you want to pack everything up and head to a cabin near you. Looking back on my own cabin excursions, I fondly remember going to Candle Lake every summer with my own family when I was a kid, and I enjoyed going to Pratt Lake last summer with my best friends, Chris and Kyle. I guess the only "Great Outdoors"-type memory we all took back with us was when Chris and I plowed a golf cart into the ground, scraping my right arm up pretty good, and later that afternoon, the golf cart died on us. After much deliberation and mistrials, we were finally able to get it back to the cabin. But enough about my own moments of idiocy - that's a subject for another time and another rant.
If you're looking for some light entertainment that's funny and enjoyable, then I'm sure that you'll love this film. In a time now where summer movies are computer-driven, long-winded schlock-busters that cost $150 million or more, a short, sweet and funny movie like "The Great Outdoors" is as relaxing as being in, well, the great outdoors.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Ruttle's Reviews: The Archives
Resurrecting the Bat
"Batman Begins" (2005)
Directed by: Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Prestige)
Starring: Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Tom Wilkinson
Running time: 140 minutes
Rut's Rating: 5/5
Forget everything Bat-related from the last 18 years. Yes, that even includes Tim Burton's classics from '89 and '92, but especially the bombastic, unforgivable films "Batman Forever" and "Batman & Robin". Director Christopher Nolan strips away at the legendary DC Comics hero, and tells a story of one man's fight for justice in a city filled with corruption.
Welsh actor Christian Bale is the iconic title character, and is excellent at playing a dual role; one as the wealthy-yet-tortured billionaire Bruce Wayne, the other as the masked, crime-fighting Batman. Bale's portrayal of the Gotham City savior is arguably the best acting seen in any comic-book adaptation; this hero is mysterious, heartbroken and incredibly vulnerable. Bale is so committed to this role that in press interviews for the film's theatrical release, he spoke only in his character's accent, citing the deep history of this American icon as reasoning for doing so.
The film begins with young Bruce Wayne's terrifying first experience with bats. His father explains how fear made the creatures attack him. The emotion of fear is an ever-present omen in the film, most notably when Bruce's parents are robbed at gunpoint after attending a play. Things turn violent, and the young boy witnesses his mother and father being murdered. As a result of this tragedy, the family servant Alfred, played with a comforting presence by Michael Caine, is thrust into the role of guardian to a grief-stricken Bruce.
Years later, a grown-up Wayne returns home to Gotham City, present only to oversee the court hearing of the man who killed his parents. By this point, Bruce is seething with thoughts of brutal revenge, and jaded by what he sees as a corrupt and broken system of law. His childhood friend Rachel Dawes, played by Katie Holmes, tries to reason with him but to no avail. Bruce suddenly leaves his home, and ventures to the other side of the world, where he meets a mysterious man named Henri Ducard, played by Liam Neeson. Acting as a mentor to Bruce, Ducard trains him in combat, and teaches him that a heart filled with vengeance will ultimately destroy you in the end.
Wayne lives and trains in the cold mountains for what seems like years, and when he finally returns home to Gotham, he vows to instill fear into his enemies and fight for justice, not simply for his own personal gain.
Director Nolan wonderfully finesses the duality of the character; while Bruce Wayne and Batman are only but one man, they are both two very different personalities. You find yourself asking who the alter ego is at times. Is it Wayne secretly disguised as Batman, or Batman secretly disguised as Wayne? Nolan also shows the viewer a city in peril - Gotham's resident gangster Carmine Falcone, played by Tom Wilkinson, runs the city's underbelly and has a number of authority figures on his payroll. Meanwhile, criminal psychologist Dr. Jonathan Crane, played by Irish actor Cillian Murphy, terrorizes his patients with a mind-altering poison and a mask he uses to bring out pure insanity, earning the nickname of "the Scarecrow". Batman has his hands more than full with these villains.
Other high-profile names round out the cast in this film. Gary Oldman plays Jim Gordon, a good cop on the force at a time when there isn't many, who sees Batman as an ally when most of the city doesn't. It's a nice change of pace seeing Oldman as the good guy. He brings an easy presence to the screen and is actually pretty funny with some of his facial expressions. And Morgan Freeman is Lucius Fox, a weapons and equipment expert who unknowingly supplies Bruce Wayne with the tools and wardrobe he uses to become Batman. Freeman is his usual go-lucky self; it's different seeing him in a comic-book film, but it's more than welcome.
This movie stands out on it's own, far apart from the previous four, but they do give a nod to the Tim Burton-directed "Batman". When gangster Falcone shrieks in terror, "What are you?!?", our hero snatches him by the collar and growls, "I'm Batman!", in a moment that sends a shiver down my spine every time I watch it.
With an incredible, diverse cast and engaging, emotional story, "Batman Begins" is exactly how a super-hero film should be. It's powerful, exciting, and leaves you wanting more. As a matter of fact, the final scene will have you anticipating the sequel, entitled "The Dark Knight". And no............I am not joking.
"Batman Begins" (2005)
Directed by: Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Prestige)
Starring: Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Tom Wilkinson
Running time: 140 minutes
Rut's Rating: 5/5
Forget everything Bat-related from the last 18 years. Yes, that even includes Tim Burton's classics from '89 and '92, but especially the bombastic, unforgivable films "Batman Forever" and "Batman & Robin". Director Christopher Nolan strips away at the legendary DC Comics hero, and tells a story of one man's fight for justice in a city filled with corruption.
Welsh actor Christian Bale is the iconic title character, and is excellent at playing a dual role; one as the wealthy-yet-tortured billionaire Bruce Wayne, the other as the masked, crime-fighting Batman. Bale's portrayal of the Gotham City savior is arguably the best acting seen in any comic-book adaptation; this hero is mysterious, heartbroken and incredibly vulnerable. Bale is so committed to this role that in press interviews for the film's theatrical release, he spoke only in his character's accent, citing the deep history of this American icon as reasoning for doing so.
The film begins with young Bruce Wayne's terrifying first experience with bats. His father explains how fear made the creatures attack him. The emotion of fear is an ever-present omen in the film, most notably when Bruce's parents are robbed at gunpoint after attending a play. Things turn violent, and the young boy witnesses his mother and father being murdered. As a result of this tragedy, the family servant Alfred, played with a comforting presence by Michael Caine, is thrust into the role of guardian to a grief-stricken Bruce.
Years later, a grown-up Wayne returns home to Gotham City, present only to oversee the court hearing of the man who killed his parents. By this point, Bruce is seething with thoughts of brutal revenge, and jaded by what he sees as a corrupt and broken system of law. His childhood friend Rachel Dawes, played by Katie Holmes, tries to reason with him but to no avail. Bruce suddenly leaves his home, and ventures to the other side of the world, where he meets a mysterious man named Henri Ducard, played by Liam Neeson. Acting as a mentor to Bruce, Ducard trains him in combat, and teaches him that a heart filled with vengeance will ultimately destroy you in the end.
Wayne lives and trains in the cold mountains for what seems like years, and when he finally returns home to Gotham, he vows to instill fear into his enemies and fight for justice, not simply for his own personal gain.
Director Nolan wonderfully finesses the duality of the character; while Bruce Wayne and Batman are only but one man, they are both two very different personalities. You find yourself asking who the alter ego is at times. Is it Wayne secretly disguised as Batman, or Batman secretly disguised as Wayne? Nolan also shows the viewer a city in peril - Gotham's resident gangster Carmine Falcone, played by Tom Wilkinson, runs the city's underbelly and has a number of authority figures on his payroll. Meanwhile, criminal psychologist Dr. Jonathan Crane, played by Irish actor Cillian Murphy, terrorizes his patients with a mind-altering poison and a mask he uses to bring out pure insanity, earning the nickname of "the Scarecrow". Batman has his hands more than full with these villains.
Other high-profile names round out the cast in this film. Gary Oldman plays Jim Gordon, a good cop on the force at a time when there isn't many, who sees Batman as an ally when most of the city doesn't. It's a nice change of pace seeing Oldman as the good guy. He brings an easy presence to the screen and is actually pretty funny with some of his facial expressions. And Morgan Freeman is Lucius Fox, a weapons and equipment expert who unknowingly supplies Bruce Wayne with the tools and wardrobe he uses to become Batman. Freeman is his usual go-lucky self; it's different seeing him in a comic-book film, but it's more than welcome.
This movie stands out on it's own, far apart from the previous four, but they do give a nod to the Tim Burton-directed "Batman". When gangster Falcone shrieks in terror, "What are you?!?", our hero snatches him by the collar and growls, "I'm Batman!", in a moment that sends a shiver down my spine every time I watch it.
With an incredible, diverse cast and engaging, emotional story, "Batman Begins" is exactly how a super-hero film should be. It's powerful, exciting, and leaves you wanting more. As a matter of fact, the final scene will have you anticipating the sequel, entitled "The Dark Knight". And no............I am not joking.
Ruttle's Reviews: The Archives
For those who haven't read them, or those who want to read them again, these are the archived copies of Ruttle's Reviews. It all started with Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning 2006 film, "The Departed".
Dissecting "The Departed"
Welcome to a new feature making its debut in The Outlook. As an obsessed, over-analytical movie buff and budding filmmaker, I want to share with you my thoughts, opinions, and overall reviews of the best (and worst) that Hollywood has to offer. Through the latest titles to hit DVD to my own personal library, I hope this feature is helpful when the weekend comes, and you're looking for something to rent at your local video store to go along with that tub of popcorn and 1-gallon Coke. And so with that, please enjoy.
“The Departed” (2006)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull, GoodFellas, Gangs of New York)
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon
Running time: 151 minutes
Rut's Rating: 5/5
Think "GoodFellas" with a more-realistic edge. "The Sopranos" without the lasagna and cannoli. Scorsese's latest took home four Academy Awards, including the Best Direction statue that has eluded the filmmaker all these years.
"The Departed" is an American version of the 2002 Hong Kong thriller "Infernal Affairs". The film takes us to the crime-ridden underworld of Boston, owned and operated by Irish mob boss Frank Costello, played with welcoming intensity by the legendary Jack Nicholson. Costello ushers the viewer into his world, commenting through narration that when he was a kid, "they said we could either be cops or criminals. The question I ask is this; when you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?" These words seem to stay with you as the film progresses.
Meanwhile, Scorsese greatly balances the contrast between the film's two young stars. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Billy Costigan, a troubled young man fresh out of police training, who is assigned to go undercover to infiltrate Costello's gang. Having worked with Scorsese twice before this film, DiCaprio has displayed his skills incredibly over the past few years, showing that he's come a long way since "Titanic" and Teen Beat magazine. On the other side of the tracks, Matt Damon is Colin Sullivan, almost a son to Costello, who joins the ranks of the Boston Police Department on behalf of his "father". Damon has fun with the role, showing a darker side to his acting chops that we normally don't get to see. Personally, I think that both actors were robbed of Oscar nominations.
The universal theme of "The Departed" is deception. Who can you trust? Is everything as it seems? Nicholson, Damon and DiCaprio give us characters that are anything but one-dimensional; they're haunted, mysterious, and at war with their own personal demons.
With roles by Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin rounding out the cast, as well as a unique and diverse soundtrack featuring the Rolling Stones and Van Morrison, Martin Scorsese has made a film that stays with you, and it only gets better with each viewing. After taking a break from his "bread and butter" crime sagas, Scorsese makes it hard for you to depart with "The Departed".
Dissecting "The Departed"
Welcome to a new feature making its debut in The Outlook. As an obsessed, over-analytical movie buff and budding filmmaker, I want to share with you my thoughts, opinions, and overall reviews of the best (and worst) that Hollywood has to offer. Through the latest titles to hit DVD to my own personal library, I hope this feature is helpful when the weekend comes, and you're looking for something to rent at your local video store to go along with that tub of popcorn and 1-gallon Coke. And so with that, please enjoy.
“The Departed” (2006)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull, GoodFellas, Gangs of New York)
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon
Running time: 151 minutes
Rut's Rating: 5/5
Think "GoodFellas" with a more-realistic edge. "The Sopranos" without the lasagna and cannoli. Scorsese's latest took home four Academy Awards, including the Best Direction statue that has eluded the filmmaker all these years.
"The Departed" is an American version of the 2002 Hong Kong thriller "Infernal Affairs". The film takes us to the crime-ridden underworld of Boston, owned and operated by Irish mob boss Frank Costello, played with welcoming intensity by the legendary Jack Nicholson. Costello ushers the viewer into his world, commenting through narration that when he was a kid, "they said we could either be cops or criminals. The question I ask is this; when you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?" These words seem to stay with you as the film progresses.
Meanwhile, Scorsese greatly balances the contrast between the film's two young stars. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Billy Costigan, a troubled young man fresh out of police training, who is assigned to go undercover to infiltrate Costello's gang. Having worked with Scorsese twice before this film, DiCaprio has displayed his skills incredibly over the past few years, showing that he's come a long way since "Titanic" and Teen Beat magazine. On the other side of the tracks, Matt Damon is Colin Sullivan, almost a son to Costello, who joins the ranks of the Boston Police Department on behalf of his "father". Damon has fun with the role, showing a darker side to his acting chops that we normally don't get to see. Personally, I think that both actors were robbed of Oscar nominations.
The universal theme of "The Departed" is deception. Who can you trust? Is everything as it seems? Nicholson, Damon and DiCaprio give us characters that are anything but one-dimensional; they're haunted, mysterious, and at war with their own personal demons.
With roles by Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin rounding out the cast, as well as a unique and diverse soundtrack featuring the Rolling Stones and Van Morrison, Martin Scorsese has made a film that stays with you, and it only gets better with each viewing. After taking a break from his "bread and butter" crime sagas, Scorsese makes it hard for you to depart with "The Departed".
in the future, there will be news
Welcome to The Rants of Ruttle, where as a news reporter for The Outlook community newspaper, I'll be posting portions of my articles, as well as the anticipated return of "Ruttle's Reviews". Many have asked me where that section had gone, and to tell the truth, there just hasn't been enough time for me to sit down and write a review the last few weeks. But now that we at The Outlook are looking to the 'net to reach you, the reader, you can expect new movie reviews, as well as news stories and the occasional commentary or two.
Feel free to email me your comments, opinions, suggestions. Enjoy the new reviews and make sure to read The Outlook each and every week.
"The Joker"
Derek Ruttle
druttle@theoutlook.ca
Feel free to email me your comments, opinions, suggestions. Enjoy the new reviews and make sure to read The Outlook each and every week.
"The Joker"
Derek Ruttle
druttle@theoutlook.ca
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