The Rescuers

1977  G  ANIMATED  1h 17min

CAST— Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, Geraldine Page, Joe Flynn, Jeannette Nolan, Pat Buttram, Jim Jordan, John McIntire

MUSIC— Artie Butler  DIRECTORS— Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbery, Art Stevens  BASED ON— The Rescuers (book), by Margery Sharp

     Less than impressive animated effort from Walt Disney and company. The Rescue Aid Society, a team comprised entirely of mice, receive a bottle with a message of great importance, a cry for help from a little girl. The Society sends two members, Bernard and Bianca, to her aid. It seems as if she’s being held captive by Madame Medusa, a Cruella DeVille wannabe with a thing for jewels. Medusa is after the elusive Devil’s Eye, the world’s largest diamond, and she’s using the girl to find it. Inferior animation and unimaginative plotting are this film’s worst features. A forgettable family fable.

OUR RATING— **

FOLLOWED BY— The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

     Rescue Dawn

2007  PG-13  ACTION  2h 5min

CAST— Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies

MUSIC— Klaus Badelt  DIRECTOR— Werner Herzog  BASED ON— True events

     Christian Bale and Steve Zahn give strong performances in this highly detailed war drama. Bale plays a German-born fighter pilot, now an American citizen, whose bomber is shot down over Laos during the Vietnam conflict circa 1965. He is soon taken captive by the Viet Cong and taken to a prison camp. There he befriends a motley cluster of long-time captives whose independent spirit has been crushed. Bale begins to devise a means of escape for them all; but the challenge proves to be more than daunting… especially without full cooperation from his team. Though tension remains throughout, the film is never as compelling as the story demands. The filmmakers should be commended on their moderation as to violent subject matter; though certainly not one for the kids the film is a far cry from the torture filled gore-fest that could have been. All in all, fine storytelling but minimal delivery. Based on true events.

OUR RATING— ** ½

     The Reptile

1966  NR  SCIENCE FICTION  1h 30min

CAST— Noel Willman, Jennifer Daniels, Ray Barrett, Jacqueline Pearce

MUSIC— Don Banks  DIRECTOR— John Gilling

     Forgettable Hammer chiller that takes forever to make its point. A young couple moves to a Cornish village where a series of mysterious deaths have taken their toll on the locals. What one learns (eventually) is that a crabby theologian’s daughter has been naughty, turning into a ridiculous looking snake woman, killing the villagers on a whim. Don’t even.

OUR RATING— *

     Reign of Fire

2002  PG-13  SCIENCE FICTION  1h 42min

CAST— Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey, Izabella Scorupco, Gerard Butler, Scott James Moutter, David Kennedy, Alexander Seddig, Ned Dennehy, Alice Krige

MUSIC— Mad at Gravity, Ed Shearmur, Brad Wagner  DIRECTOR— Rob Bowman

     A gripping thriller, set in the dismal days of 2020, when man has been nearly wiped from the surface of the earth. A small band of survivors live a meager existence hiding from the scourge of this planet: dragons. No creatures of myth, these dragons have claimed the planet as their own, destroying all that once existed. The survivors soon receive some unexpected help: American guerrillas claiming to be dragon slayers join their fight. But can these rogues live up to their image, and stand against the greatest terror this world has ever known? Tense, exciting, entertaining through and through. A monstrous winner.

OUR RATING— ***

     Regarding Henry

1991  PG-13  DRAMA  1h 47min

CAST— Harrison Ford, Annette Bening, Bill Nunn, Mikki Allen, Donald Moffat, Nancy Marchand, Elizabeth Wilson, Robin Bartlett, John Leguizamo

MUSIC— Hans Zimmer  DIRECTOR— Mike Nichols

     A tender, moving drama that shines with touching performances. Harrison Ford plays a hotshot attorney who, after being shot, suffers brain damage. For him life practically starts anew. He learns to walk, to talk, and to live as an adult from scratch. His biggest challenge is reuniting with his family, none of whom he can remember. It’s an uphill climb against all odds for this survivor as he pieces his life back together amidst the love and support of his family. Some drawbacks are that the characters’ dramas seem to solve simplistically, and the sentiment can be a bit sticky-sweet. Otherwise, enjoy.

OUR RATING— ***

Artwork Unavailable

     Reefer Madness

1936  NR  DRAMA  1h 8min

CAST— Dave O’Brien, Dorothy Short, Warren McCollum, Lillian Miles, Carleton Young, Thelma White

MUSIC— Abe Meyer  DIRECTOR— Louis Gasnier

     Long-winded PSA about the dangers of smoking the chronic. Starts up as a Leave it to Beaver-esqe moral story, winds up as a courtroom melodrama. The only value the film has is for its cult status, and even then enter if you dare. Tell your children! AKA The Burning Question, Dope Addict, Doped Youth, Love Madness.

OUR RATING— *

REMADE AS— Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (2005)

     Red Sun

1971  PG  WESTERN  1h 52min

CAST— Charles Bronson, Ursula Andress, Toshiro Mifune, Alain Delon, Capucine

MUSIC— Maurice Jarre  DIRECTOR— Terence Young

     An interesting take on the ol’ “East meets West” idea. In the late 19^th century Japan has sent emissaries to the U. S. government, often with a token from the Japanese. Travelling through the West, certain Japanese officials are held up when their train is robbed, their gift of a precious Samurai sword stolen. After one of the Samurai guards is killed in the scuffle his counterpart vows vengeance and the safe return of the artifact. Together with a former bandit the Samurai travels the harsh, unfamiliar landscape in hopes of restoring his honor and bringing justice for his fallen comrade. At times a fun Western with a twist, at times all talk, this film surely qualifies as different.

OUR RATING— ** ½