Don't forget to check out what
Wandering Through the Shelves picked, the blog that started Thursday Movie Picks.
I'm So Excited
After a string of brilliant serious, melodramatic and sometimes disturbing films, Pedro Almodovar went to back to comedy with some of the campest characters yet. Three male flight attendants performing 'I'm So Excited' is a definite highlight. After a issue with the plan is discovered mid flight, forcing the plane to stay in the air, the staff decide to put the passengers to sleep to avoid panic but without enough to knock the first class passengers out as well, the flight attendants think of other ways to entertain the passengers and themselves. It's bizarre and wonderful. It was refreshing to watch a comedy after The Skin I Live In.
Air Force One
This one couldn't be ignored. The US President is in danger on his famous plan, it has been hijacked by a British actor with a Russian accent. The President will not negotiate with terroists and yet he hold the safety of this crew, staff and family in his hands. Straightforward drama involving the White House but not at the White House soit has the edge.
Con Air
Another great 90's action film, this time its Nicolas Cage as a good guy who killed a drunk man while defending his wife, ends up in prison. Eight years later he is being transported home for release on a plane with notorious criminals, but he ends up in the middle of their escape plan. I never understood why there were so dew guards on board. I was late to the Con Air show but I loved it. Featuring John Cusack in sandles and my favourite Steve Buscemi as a creepy serial killer, who is actually calm as a cucumber throughout.
Air Force One is popping up a bit this morning. I almost saw I'm So Excited in the theater, but missed it (it was literally at our art house theater in Dallas for, like, a weekend). I need to see that one.
ReplyDeleteGET OFF MY PLANE!!! Gotta love Ford as the Prez. Con Air is just goofy fun. I love Almodovar and The Skin I Live In, but I somehow haven't heard of this one. Come to think of it, I've never seen any of his straightforward comedies. I need to check this out. Great work.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of these. I think I'll give Con Air a try, if it's bad after all I'm sure Nic Cage's facial expressions will make me laugh
ReplyDeleteAir Force One & Con Air are both so ridiculously absurd and I mean that in a good way. When I watch this sort of film that's just what I'm looking for. Terrific picks.
ReplyDeleteI'm So Excited is a new one to me but it sounds like fun, I'll have to track it down.
Love this type of picture to the point that I could only winnow down to five choices.
Airport (1970)-The big one that started the disaster trend of the 70’s. A little hokey to be sure but eminently watchable. Multiple storylines intersect during a major snowstorm inside an airport when a desperate man boards a plane bound for Rome carrying a bomb. It’s all rather melodramatic but the all-star cast keeps it entertaining. Helen Hayes won a best supporting actress Oscar for her performance but it’s Maureen Stapleton who gives a real and very touching portrayal of a woman in an impossible situation. Jacqueline Bissett is young and beautiful, the chicest stewardess to ever fly the friendly skies.
Flight of the Phoenix (1965)-During a sandstorm in the Sahara a plane crashes in the desert, by chance one of the passengers is an airplane designer who formulates a plan to build a flyable plane from the wreckage but they must rush before their food and water runs out. Great cast, Jimmy Stewart, Peter Finch, Richard Attenborough and Ernest Borgnine among others, in a tense adventure. This was remade with Dennis Quaid in 2004, avoid that version it is T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E!!
Five Came Back (1939)-Twelve people (including a young Lucille Ball) bound on a flight for South America are blown off course in a storm and crash land in a jungle known to be inhabited by head hunters. As the crew race against time to fix the plane the situation brings out the best and worst among the survivors. When at last the engine is repaired only five can fly out, who will they be? Trim little thriller was remade as Back from Eternity in the 50’s.
Bonuses-Jet over the Atlantic (1959)-Utterly preposterous low budget quasi-thriller with gaping plot holes and absurd actions but still sorta fun. It's the very absurdity of the story, poison gas floating through the plane that only effects certain people, guns being shot off willy-nilly without regard to the fact that they are aboard a plane that makes you suspend belief and enjoy it for what it is. Even with all its faults this is still more fun than suffering through many other more self-important films. Something for a rainy afternoon.
Zero Hour!
(1957)-The film that was the inspiration for Airplane! is a competently made drama if you can watch it as a separate viewing experience…but that’s a big if. Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell play it straight but you can see the influence they had on the other film. Sterling Hayden is stiff as a board, Lloyd Bridges had to change practically nothing to parody it. Even if you are trying to be detached and see it apart from the spoof a line will pop up like "Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit smoking." and it takes you right out of the movie.
I'm so Excites sounds like a hoot! Air Force One and Con Air are just fun to watch
ReplyDeleteLOVE Air Force One. I almost picked I'm So Excited, too - so much fun!
ReplyDeleteLoved both Air Force One and Con Air. I have yet to watch I'm So Excited. Great picks!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cool series, and I need to watch I'm so Excited:)
ReplyDeleteI caught it just in time too. It had a really short run which is odd as its Pedro, he's huge!
ReplyDeleteI'd start with Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown - great comedy. The film was released a few year after Skin I Live In. Complete opposite.
ReplyDeleteIt a great 90s action movie - the bad hair is expected plus FBI agents in sandels.
ReplyDeleteI've wanted to see Zero Hour because of Airplaine - the premise is ridiculous - along the lines of Con Air ridiculous. Unfortunately I saw the Phoenix remake and yes it was really bad - but I did like it they cast Miranda Otto, mixing it up - but otherwise terrible.
ReplyDeleteIt is! Its fun too but the better kind :)
ReplyDeleteYes! It's hilarious - plus it makes you want to sing the song :)
ReplyDeleteI need to go a check out everyones lists! Almost eh, I was actually kind of stuck in choices, I thought of one other but thought I'd save it for another theme (more army).
ReplyDeleteDefinitely go and chcek it out - if like Almodovar humour, you'll love it!
ReplyDeleteI'm So Excited sounds like a fun comedy.
ReplyDeleteCon Air is such a fun action movie. Brainless but fun. And yeah they really went all out with the bad guys, Didn't Steve Buscemi character wore like a Hannibal kind of mask?
He did! He was meant to be the worst of the worst but its not really clear what his crimes were.
ReplyDelete