DIRECTOR: John Carpenter
THE CAST: Kurt Russel, Keith David
THE PLOT: Scientists in the Antarctic are confronted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of the people that it kills.
BEN'S VIEWS: Horror master John Carpenter re-makes the 1951 horror film The Thing and does it better than the original as it is equally disgusting and suspenseful. The Thing is really the ultimate monster movie. It is about an alien life form that can imitate any species it chooses. One of the films highlights are the creatively grotesque creatures that Carpenter unveils. The special effects are actually really good for the time period. It also doesn't hurt to have the always intense Kurt Russel as the lead either. Carpenter increases the tension by bringing an uncertainty to who is the thing or not. The Thing is ultimately one of the better horror films made and one of my personal favorites.
DIRECTOR: Sam Raimi
THE CAST: Bruce Campbell
THE PLOT: Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods where they unknowingly unleash flesh-possessing demons.
BEN'S VIEWS: The Evil Dead is considered by many to be a horror classic. With the fountains of blood and copious amounts of over-the-top gore in the film I can see why. Their is more good stuff than bad that I have to say about this film. I'll start with the bad: the acting sucks pretty badly and makes it nearly impossible to give a crap about what happens to the characters. But the good news is that this problem ends as the film goes on and they start to die or become "possessed". The film is scary and shocking numerous times and it is all due to the direction. Sam Raimi (Spiderman) has always been a skilled director and it shows even in his early work. He uses odd camera angles and perspectives to heighten the element of horror as well as the soundtrack which is full of terrifying sounds and anxious music. The films limitations keep it from being one of the best horror films ever, but it is certainly one of the better of the 1980's.
DIRECTOR: Ivan Reitman
CAST: Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, Harold Ramis
THE PLOT: Three unemployed parapsychology professors set up shop as a unique ghost removal service.
BEN'S VIEWS: Ghostbusters is an amusing diversion if you want to shut off your brain for an hour and a half but not much more. The film is mainly a comedy and the premise is rich with possibilities. But the script barely skims the surface of these possibilities. Bill Murray does what he can to liven up the comedy but can't carry the film. Some of the special effects are really bad (a dog-like demon hopping around NY city) but some are pretty good (the "destructor" at the films finish) for the time period. Overall you will get a few chuckles from the film but most will be wishing the filmmakers had done a bit more with the story.
DIRECTOR: Rob Reiner
THE CAST: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher
THE PLOT: Harry and Sally are friends and have known each other for years, and are very good friends but fear that sex would ruin their friendship.
BEN'S VIEWS: Is love at first sight something that actually happens or is it just a fairy tale notion? When Harry Met Sally looks at the idea that it may take us a little longer than a first glance to realize you love someone and want to spend the rest of your life with them. The film is intelligent in how it presents adult relationships and that is a rarity in cinema. Whether you love or hate Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan they do make a good pair in the film. Director Rob Reiner sometimes tells his story in quirky ways that reminded me of a Woody Allen film, such as periodic interviews with older couples placed throughout the narrative. Only this film is better than most of Allens films. The film is smart, funny and ultimately touching. It's one of the best romances told on the big screen.
