The Couch Potato Report – April 11th, 2009
This week The Couch Potato Report peels a Jim Carrey movie that I want to say yes to, but can’t, and two Keanu Reeves films I just can’t say no to.
If you are looking for something to watch this loooooong weekend, I have some good stuff for you…but let me get through the two mediocre ones first…including this week’s HOT POTATO….the re-imagining of Jim Carrey’s great comedy LIAR LIAR.
And Jim Carrey stars is this new version of an old idea, and this one is called YES MAN.
No, YES MAN is not technically a remake of LIAR LIAR…but there are many similarities between the two films…starting with the premise:
In 1997’s LIAR LIAR Carrey can’t lie for 24 hours, and in YES MAN he has to say yes to absolutely every opportunity, request or invitation that he is presented with, no matter what.
YES MAN isn’t a bad film, but it certainly is not a classic, manic Jim Carrey comedy.
But there are a few scenes and scenarios you might laugh at, and it does have some funny supporting characters…so I’ll call this one a good rental.
I’d call LIAR LIAR hilarious and IT is guaranteed to give you some BIG laughs, if you have never seen it, I highly recommend it!!
Whichever film you say YES to this Easter weekend is up to you.
If you have been trying to decide which version of the science fiction film THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL to say yes to watching – the 1951 original or the remake from last year – you don’t have to choose because the 3-DISC SPECIAL EDITIONS of of the newest release has them both.
In the original, classic sci-fi film THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL an alien named Klaatu lands in Washington and tells the people of Earth that they must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets.
In the re-imagining, because Hollywood folks don’t use the word “remake” anymore…in the re-imagining Canadian Keanu Reeves plays Klaatu and he lands in New York City and promises global destruction unless drastic measures are undertaken regarding the Earth and how humankind is destroying it.
I can’t remember the first time I saw the original 1951 version of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, but I also can’t remember a time when I wasn’t aware of how great this film is…it is a true science fiction classic.
Since I hold the film in high regard, I expected to completely despise the new version, yet I did not.
No, truth be told, the re-imagining is not as great as the original because the kid is sort of annoying, and some of the special effects aren’t very good…but some of them are good, Keanu Reeves worked for me as Klaatu, and Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly gives a good enough performance as the woman fighting on behalf of humankind.
I know I should be able to say no to the new version of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, but I can’t…and even though I don’t think we needed a re-imagining…I still liked it…but I still love the original…and both of them are available in the 3-DISC SPECIAL EDITION.
The main reason Keanu Reeves stars in action and science fiction films today is because of a movie he made ten years ago…yes, it has already been ten years – it was March 31, 1999, when we first asked: What is The Matrix?
I may not remember the first time I saw the original version of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, but I do remember the first time I saw THE MATRIX…and I didn’t care for it at all!!
My friends and I sat and discussed the film for hours after it ended, and they all loved it…and I hated it.
But then I went to see it again….and again…and again…and the simple truth is that the first time I saw it – I was overwhelmed by all of the groundbreaking special effects and characters…but – happily – I soon got over that.
This now-reveared film – by me, and millions of others – is about a computer hacker named Neo – played by Reeves – who learns from some rebels about the true nature of reality and his role in the war against the machines.
THE MATRIX is now available in a special 10th Anniversary Edition on Blu-Ray featuring a 47 page booklet with photos and insider information and a wealth of special effects!
Happy Anniversay, THE MATRIX!! Many happy returns…and viewings!!
Ten years later many folks continue to celebrate and enjoy THE MATRIX…in the year 2018 I doubt many will be doing the same for our next film…but then again, they might.
After all, it has been thirty-eight years since I saw WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, the first film I ever saw as a kid, so who knows…they might.
Yes, they – the youth of today – might be talking about Adam Sandler’s BEDTIME STORIES in 2018, or in 2046…they might.
In this film the one time funniest man in films – the star of BILLY MADISON, HAPPY GILMORE and THE WEDDING SINGER has watered his humour down yet again to star in a family comedy about a hotel handyman who dreams of becoming the manager of the hotel he works at, which used to be owned by his father.
His life starts to change for the better when the bedtime stories he tells his previously estranged niece and nephew start to come true.
BEDTIME STORIES is a great film for kids, but adults might not be able to sit through the whole thing as they will probably be thinking “Isn’t this really just BILLY MADISON…re-imagined for kids?”
I know I was.
It isn’t awful…but there is a better film that I can easily recommend, especially since ther eis a great new version of the film that is available in high definition on Blu-ray!
So, if you are an adult and you want a great film for your kids that you can also watch too…or you are just a person who loves great movies…well, this next film starts with Peter Falk telling a bedtime story to his sick grandson.
It is the story of The Princess Bride.
Rob Reiner’s modern day classic story shines in high definition and the remastered sound allows the film’s classic lines to continue to shine, almost 21 years after the film debuted.
This week’s BLU-RAY BEACON shines on THE PRINCESS BRIDE – a beautiful and fantastoc film that combines comedy, adventure, romance, fantasy…and revenge!
I love this movie…and hope they never try to re-imaginge it.
This one was done absolutely right the first time.
The modern day classic THE PRINCESS BRIDE, the not great but okay for kids Adam Sandler film BEDTIME STORIES, the 10th Anniversary Edition of the fantastic film THE MATRIX, the not-really-necessary, but not bad remake – and the 1951 original version of – THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL and YES MAN, Jim Carrey’s mostly un-funny remake of his much better movie LIAR LIAR are all available now on Blu-ray and on DVD.
LIAR LIAR is only available on DVDÖand that is no lie!!
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report
I will tell you about the six-time Genie Award nominated, Best Cinematography award winning Canadian film FUGITIVE PIECES and the five-time Academy Award nominated movie THE READER, that finally allowed Kate Winslet to win an Oscar.
Also next week, I will have some thoughts on the five-time Oscar nominee DOUBT, and the Academy Award winning movie 8 MILE starring rapper Eminem, which is making it’s debut on Blu-ray.
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!
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