This page is dedicated to bringing you the latest in movie news hosted by the best character on SCTV (in this fan's opinion), played by the excellent Joe Flaherty.
AAAaaawwoooo! I bid you....welcome to issue #8 of Count Floyd's Movie News. I hope you had a scary Thanksgiving. The Count cooked a traditional Thanksgiving dinner here at the castle complete with pop-up timer. You should have seen that thing. It came right out at you when you least expected it to. Ohh, it was a scary scary pop-up timer.
I love the Horrordays, especially the movies. Scream 2 was just released, and by the time you read this the newest James Bond flick will be out. The Count and Countess got a chance to see Alien Ressurection at the local cineplex, The Odious. The film takes place 200 years after Ripley was killed in the last film. Of course thanks to cloning technology they are able to bring her back complete with memories. This time some nefarious government types (are there any other kind?) feel they could make a fortune by growing more Alien creatures. Add to the mix a band of renegades who dock with the research ship to cause their own brand of trouble and you have a fairly scary film. This time out you get to see more of the Aliens because there are 12 of them roaming the ship looking for food. Of course Ripley is there to lead the charge. This Ripley, however, is a little different from the Ripley we have come to know and love, but I won't spoil it here. Also there is a cool underwater scene where the Aliens swim after our lead characters. Pretty intense. For those who have followed the Alien series from the beginning this is a must-see. I recommend you see it on the large screen to get the full impact of the excellent special effects. The film stars Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Dominique Pinon and Ron Perlman and was directed by Jean-Marie Jeunet who has directed such films as "Delicatessen" and "The City of Lost Children".
Please help yourself to a fresh batch of movie news. AAAaawwoooo!
For this issue I thought I would rent 2 recent video releases and review them for better or worse.
First up is Liar Liar starring Jim Carrey. He plays a lawyer who has a difficult time telling the truth. (Now there's a unique concept.) Even though he is separated from his wife, played by Maura Tierney, he finds time to visit because of his young son. To add tension to the mix, the mom is seeing someone new who seems to be paying more attention to the boy than Carrey does. Time after time Carrey breaks his promises to his son to do things together. After failing to show up at the boy's birthday party the son blows out his birthday candles and wishes his father could go through one day without lying. The rest of the film deals with Carrey's burden of having to tell the truth even in court.
I have been a big Jim Carrey fan since his days with "In Living Color". Although this character is similar to the rest of the characters he has played before I feel he has toned it down a notch. My main concern is that Carrey is in danger of becoming a one trick pony. I found the laughs spaced further apart in this one but I would give it a marginal recommendation because of the interplay with his wife and son. I was touched by the ending. The film was directed by Tom Shadyac who directed "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" and the recent "The Nutty Proffesor".
Next is The Fifth Element. This film opens in Egypt in the year 1914. We see an archeologist trying to decipher some hieroglyphics in an ancient temple. Just as he is about to complete the translation a huge spaceship lands and the occupants enter the temple. They are there to collect some artifacts that when put together will repel an evil force that is not due to arrive for another 300 years.
The film then take us 300 years ahead. We are introduced to the main character played by Bruce Willis who has just retired as some sort of government agent and has become a taxi driver. Of course in the future cars do not travel on the ground. In the meantime scientists have cloned one of the aliens based on a piece found in the wreckage of a downed spacecraft as it approached the Earth of the future. The alien clone comes in the form of Milla Jovovich who escapes and hooks up with Bruce Willis who does his best to keep her out of the clutches of the authorities. The fur really flies once the chase is on.
I found this film entertaining and interesting. It is a bit strange but I thought it was well done. It reminded me of "Blade Runner" only the film took place more in the daylight as opposed to the night shots that pervaded "Blade Runner".
I'm not the biggest Bruce Willis fan but he is perfect for this type of role. The film was made by French director Luc Besson who directed "The Professional" and "La Femme Nikita". He has started off well in his American debut.
Congratulations to John T. who was the first person to answer the trivia question correctly. Which X-rated movie won an Aademy Award? A lot of you thought "Last Tango In Paris" was the answer. Sorry, no. It was nominated but no cigar. The answer is "Midnight Cowboy" which was originally released with an X rating but was later given an R rating.
The film won Oscars for best screenplay adaptation, best director and best picture for 1969. The following people answered the question correctly: Tonia O., Rabbi Mark K., Paula L., Chad F., Jeff B., John M., Charles D., Kevin J., Brian S., Robert M., Fred C., Hezzah, Don D., Bill W., James E., John B., Megan W., Irene P., Shoshana B., Mark, Rusty & Bob H., Helen & Pat K., Sean D., Jeff L., William B., Darren F., David C., J. O., William B., Fred D., Efrem S., Karen T., Leslie G-M. and KatRhub.
The Triviameister of Mellonville asks: Who was the first person EVER to play James Bond? Be the first person to answer the question correctly and you can become the new Triviameister of Mellonville. Click here to answer the trivia question and good luck to all.
First some old business. In the last issue was a list of horror movie hosts we remembered the most. One was unnamed but he whistled when he breathed. Richard R. wrote in to say his name was Sir Cecil Creep. Thanks, Richard. And now on with the show.
The survey question from the last issue was: "What was the first movie you ever saw in a theater?". The survey SAYS:
AAAaaawwoooo! Count Floyd will return in issue #9 titled "Diamonds Are Forever and So Is My Credit Card Bill" due out on 1-17-98 or so. Happy Holidays to all the boys and ghouls out there.
