The second of our Tim Burton pairing is the somewhat Hollywood-ized biography picture about legendary (and legendarily bad) writer, director, producer, and actor Ed Wood, in a film that bears his name. Although not originally a Tim Burton project, he chose to take this film on, casting Johnny Depp in the title role. Burton provided Depp with an absolutely amazing cast of supporting actors, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones, Vincent D'Onofrio, Bill Murray, Lisa Marie, George "The Animal" Steele, Juliette Landau, and her father, Martin Landau who would go on to win a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this role! Although the subject matter is unusual, and Depp's performance may or may not be edging into charicature, the performances are extremely solid, and the story is very interesting, enough so that the faults the movie does have don't get in the way of enjoying this odd tale about a very unusual man! Plus, the trio reveal which "sequels better than the originals" they're going to be reviewing for the next pairing, coming up in late September!
It's the first of our Tim Burton pairing! Episode 116 is perhaps the most quintessentially-Burtonesque movie in his canon, 1988's "Beetlejuice!" Directed by Burton, and starring Michael Keaton in the titular role, along with Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones, Winona Ryder, Glen Shadix, and Sylvia Sidney, this is a supernatural romp like nothing else that's been put on film! With an outstanding score by long-time Burton collaborator Danny Elfman (that is also so very indicative of his scoring work), this is a film that all three geeks agree should be seen, and perhaps seen again! Plus, a few interesting tidbits about some of the alternate castings we could have had, and some of the other goings-on behind the scenes, makes this an episode well worth your time... just like the film itself!
In the second half of our look at storybook movies, episode 115 moves ahead 20 years from the last film to tackle the intricate tale of truly "star-crossed" lovers in the cinematic adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel Stardust! Directed by Matthew Vaughn, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jane Goldman, narrated by none other than Sir Ian McKellen, and starring Charlie Cox (Marvel's Daredevil on Netflix), Clair Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mark Strong, Sienna Miller, Henry Cavill, Kate Magowan, Peter O'Toole, Rupert Everett, Mark Williams, Ricky Gervais, and Robert De Niro in the most un-De Niro-like role ever, this film delivers a solid, if a bit overly complicated, entertaining romp from one world to another and back again! Interestingly enough, this film was also given a GLAAD award (for reasons you'll have to listen to find out)! And finally, the trio reveal which director, a favorite of Jeff and Chad's, but not necessarily of Buddy's, they'll be focusing on for the next pairing!<
Episode 114 begins the first of our pair of storybook movies with the film that became a cult classic, a true classic, and Rob Reiner's masterpiece, 1987's The Princess Bride! Starring Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, the amazing Wallace Shawn, wrestling legend Andre the Giant, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, Mel Smith, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, and Robin Wright in her first big-screen role, this epic breaks several cinematic conventions (including how the story is "told" to the audience). In spite of this, however, or perhaps because of it, this film delivers a tale that has... well... everything: Romance, swordplay, political intrigue, friendship, adventure, betrayal, and ultimately the power of true love! Plus, every single member of the cast delivers absolutely stellar performances, and everyone involved remembers the production fondly, despite the many injuries that were suffered on-set! Truly a top-movie-list film, and suitable for just about any type of audience!
There's no question that Hunter S. Thompson was a unique individual, with a decidedly odd view of the world. But to see that vision translated onto to film by none other than Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam, is a "trip" in the truest sense of the word! With a screenplay re-written from previous versions by Gilliam himself, starring Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro, and featuring appearances by (deep breath) Tobey Maguire, Katherine Helmond, Mark Harmon, Tim Thomerson, Laraine Newman, Debbie Reynolds, Verne Troyer, Penn Jillette, Cameron Diaz, Lyle Lovett, Flea (from the Red Hot Chili Peppers), Gary Busey, Christina Ricci, Michael Jeter, Harry Dean Stanton, and Ellen Barkin, this film does for the drug culture what Richard Nixon did for presidential ethics! Plus, the trio reveal which two adult- and child-friendly live-action fantasy films make up their next pairing!
The second of our Tim Burton pairing is the somewhat Hollywood-ized biography picture about legendary (and legendarily bad) writer, director, producer, and actor Ed Wood, in a film that bears his name. Although not originally a Tim Burton project, he chose to take this film on, casting Johnny Depp in the title role. Burton provided Depp with an absolutely amazing cast of supporting actors, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones, Vincent D'Onofrio, Bill Murray, Lisa Marie, George "The Animal" Steele, Juliette Landau, and her father, Martin Landau who would go on to win a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this role! Although the subject matter is unusual, and Depp's performance may or may not be edging into charicature, the performances are extremely solid, and the story is very interesting, enough so that the faults the movie does have don't get in the way of enjoying this odd tale about a very unusual man! Plus, the trio reveal which "sequels better than the originals" they're going to be reviewing for the next pairing, coming up in late September! 
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