Archive for October 6th, 2008
October 6th, 2008
PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE is often described as the worst movie of all time, but it’s not. In fact, it’s not even close.
It’s a simple question, but I want you to think before you answer. I’m not talking about a movie you don’t like, or a blockbuster that was disappointing, or a movie with a bad performance, or bad direction, or a bad script.
I’m talking terrible. Awful. So bad you can’t believe it was made. So bad you can’t believe the people who made it had enough sense to load film into a camera and press the “start” button.
Post your picks in the comment section. Feel free to name more than one, and feel free to explain why you think your choices deserve the title of “Worst Movie Ever.”
 Because in next week’s Movie Man column, I’m going to top them all.
I guarantee it.
October 6th, 2008
Not only is Jeff Bridges one of the best (and most underrated) actors working today, he’s laid-back enough to not be embarrassed by his early work. As you may remember, one of Bridges early roles was in the 1982 film TRON. Now, I love TRON as much as any movie geek who came of age in the 1980s can love a movie, but even I realize it’s essentially a kids film, and not an especially good one at that. What makes TRON special is the truly groundbreaking special effects work that went into creating a world inside a computers, way back in the days when computers were something mysterious and not that thing that’s sitting in the family room of every home in America.
Bridges played Flynn, a proto-slacker who developed the “hit” video game Space Paranoids, had it stolen away by an evil corporate type and spent his post-programming days running a popular arcade. The script is serviceable at best, but Bridges (as always) brings energy and enthusiasm to his performance. Special effects aside — and they are pretty damn special, even 26 years later — he pretty much makes the movie.
The good news? He’s coming back for the sequel, TR2N (dumb name, I agree). There’s not much info about it yet, but Bridges did talk a bit with The Guardian, and he seems to be having fun with the whole concept:
 ”[It’s] another unique, wild experience that was too good to turn down. Engaging in that world again feels just like it did all that time ago. Basically, I’m still a child, I love being childlike, and here was another chance to play with these crazy toys. And the cutting-edge technology makes it exciting.”
With Bridges on board, is it possible Cindy Morgan (best known as Lacey Underalls in CADDYSHACK) might return to the world of TRON as well? Stay tuned!
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October 6th, 2008
Hey, gang. Sorry about the lack of posting last week, but I was on vacation — and not just any vacation, either. I was with the family at the Most Magical Place On Earth, aka Walt Disney World. And allow me to offer you one tip, that happens to be (sort of) movie related:* No matter how harmless, charming and amusing you might think the Haunted Mansion ride is, I can guarantee it still seems pretty terrifying it you’re 3 years old.
Trust me on this one.
* Remember the bad Eddie Murphy HAUNTED MANSION movie that was Disney’s failed attempt to jump start another PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise? You don’t remember it? Don’t feel bad. No one else does, either.
