Daniel Witkins short dramedy about a boarding school and a group of unruly young boys is a film that definitely has potential for a feature length treatment, should Witkins ever decide to re-work the premise. While it works well within the confines of its short length, it could also be an entertaining coming of age indie for audiences that can appreciate this type of entertainment.
Tag Archives: Comedy
The Carol Burnett Show: Christmas with Carol (DVD)
The “Christmas with Carol” DVD from Time Life isn’t much of a visit to the show’s best comedy offerings, as it’s mainly a singing and dancing compilation, but it definitely puts on display why Carol Burnett is such a wonderful comedian with a humongous fan base. This compilation of two “Carol Burnett Show” Christmas specials, along with chosen holiday segments in the extras features really isn’t based around the comedy of the show, so much as the whimsy. Carol Burnett has a love for Christmas, and doesn’t partake in the classic segment comedy, but fills her two episodes with musical numbers and sweet comedy skits.
Zone Troopers (1985)
One thing I can say about “Zone Troopers,” is that it definitely wasn’t what I expected. Judging from the film’s poster, you’d probably go in thinking you’re going to see another “Bad Taste.” In reality, “Zone Troopers” is very much like “ET” except with soldiers in place of children. And it’s also directed like a television mini-series, with goofy fade outs, very limited violence, and colorful characters that paint this PG rated story about a group of American soldiers that befriend an abandoned alien.
Our Top Ten “The Simpsons” Episodes of All Time: 7. Itchy & Scratchy Land
7. Itchy & Scratchy Land
Season Six
1994
The writers on “The Simpsons” pull off one of their many excellent satires of classic films with “Itchy & Scratchy Land,” this time spoofing “West World,” and “Jurassic Park.” Much in the realm of “The Shinning,” the episode doesn’t so much mock the films as they twist the conventions of the narrative to fit the comic elements of the series. With summer now on its way, Bart and Lisa are convinced by Krusty the Klown to go to Itchy and Scratchy Land. Bart and Lisa do whatever it takes to go there, even convincing them that Bart’s dead. Dead serious about going to Itchy and Scratchy Land.
The Borrower Arrietty (Kari-gurashi no Arietti) (2012)
I can understand why Disney loves Studio Ghibli so much. Many of their epic films revolve around death and lack of parental units in the lives of youngsters, and Hayao Miyazaki quite often depicts a world where children are either without a mother and father, or are at risk of losing their mother and father. Like many of Studio Ghibli’s animated works, there’s an entirely vast and amazing world that many never explore unless they’re given that privilege.
The World’s End (2013)
Director Edgar Wright finishes his “Cornetto Trilogy” (the first two being “Shaun of the Dead,” and “Hot Fuzz”) finally with “The World’s End,” a film very much in the tradition of the first two installments. Wright and co. dwell on the prevalent themes that have fueled the first two stories. They’re tales about xenophobia, alienation, conformity, coming of age, the fear of progress, and the dangers of nostalgia. Much in the way Woody Allen did with “Midnight in Paris,” director Wright warns about nostalgia and how our memories can lie to us and become a crutch, preventing us from growing up and moving on with our lives.
This Is the End (2013)
You would think that “This is the End,” a movie about a group of Hollywood actors that basically play themselves for no reason would be self serving and self indulgent. And you’d be correct. Even in its breaking of the fourth wall and satirizing of its stars (that probably only the stars and their friends really would find laugh out loud funny), “This is the End” isn’t a bad movie. In fact for the first forty five minutes, it’s really funny and works as a goofy apocalyptic horror comedy. The rest is just filler, endless montages, and flat improv (mostly from Rogen).