You either die a hero or live long enough to become a villain. That’s the sad fate for Sheriff Brody who, years after the events of “Jaws,” is now seen as the crackpot of Amity Island. Despite the fact that the mayor admitted defeat in the end of “Jaws,” and in spite of academic backing, and a very experienced shark hunter dying at the teeth of the beast, Amity Island has a streak of memory loss prompting a lot of people to forget what Sheriff Brody accomplished at the end of the original movie.
Author Archives: Felix Vasquez
Jaws (1975)
I can’t imagine saying anything about “Jaws” that hasn’t already been said by hundreds of movie buffs all around the world. It’s all at once a movie about fear of the unknown, the trauma of being controlled by our fear, and man vs nature. “Jaws” is absolutely flawless gem that worked on little resources and so many accidents that director Steven Spielberg had to literally take bruised, busted, lemons to make lemonade. “Jaws” had every potential to fail and be an infamous box office flop, but its measured tension, deliberate pacing, and ability to establish our heroes before their fateful battle on the ocean with the shark.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Now Available to Stream and on Physical Home Media.
Director Martin Brest’s film came at just the right time at just the right period of the 1980’s. This was a time where Eddie Murphy was writing his own ticket in Hollywood and could do whatever he wanted, and with “Beverly Hills Cop,” he managed to carve out a pretty underrated action hero. In spite of the film’s massive success and cultural influence Axel Foley is often ignored in the annals of movie heroes alongside John McLane or Dutch. It’s probably because Eddie Murphy plays Axel more in the arena of comedy than he does as a straight forward police officer.
The Serena Variations (2024)
Selected to run at the 2024 Raindance Film Festival, director Warren Fischer’s “The Serena Variations” is a very powerful and dynamic look at music and the artists pursuit of perfection. Even if the perfection is personal, director Fischer peeks in to how much an artist is willing to sacrifice, even if it’s their own soul. Although a lot of the film’s setting and aesthetics are meant mainly for symbolism, the special effects and sound design still allow for an uneasy and unnerving experience.
Twister (1996) [4K UHD/Digital]
Available from Warner Home Entertainment.
Director Jan De Bont is one of the last remaining blockbuster directors that delivered a one two punch of big movies in the 1990’s. After his big debut with the thriller “Speed,” De Bont followed it up with a classic disaster film in the tradition of Irwin Allen. The climate was just right as disaster pictures had experienced a big resurgence and “Twister” hit all the right chords. While it might not be the most complex of disaster pictures, it has a great time staging huge scenes of weather wreaking havoc on land.
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
“A Quiet Place” has managed to balloon in to its own respectable horror/scifi series but through it all has remained an apocalyptic tale about people. Just when you thought you’d seen all apocalyptic scenarios, Krasinski and co have explored a reality where Earth is destroyed by super powerful monsters known as “Death Angels.” They hunt by sound and are merciless when pursuing victims. In spite of running the risk of tiring this premise, “Day One” finds a way to explore a new angle of this alien invasion. Here, director Michael Sarnoski likens the invasion of the “Death Angels” as a horrible catastrophe where in survival relies on isolation and alienation and not unity.
Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Hurdy-Gurdy-Hare (1950)
Hurdy-Gurdy Hare (1950)
Directed by Robert McKimson
Written by Warren Foster
Animation by JC Melendez
Music by Carl Stalling
I love “Hurdy Gurdy Hare” because it doesn’t really follow the traditional formula for Bugs Bunny toons. It feels a lot like a callback to the Abbot and Costello show where there’s not a real plot line. There’s just a lot of stuff that happens and Bugs Bunny is at the forefront of it all. Seriously, a lot of stuff just happens with not a lot of the usual Bugs Bunny defending people or whatnot. It’s just Bugs trying to make a living and coming across a devious, greedy little monkey.