DVD Collectors Online

Stop Making Sense, a review by Antares

Stop Making Sense (1984) 95/100 - I am awash in a sea of shame. Back in the late 70's, a friend turned me on to the Talking Heads and they instantly became my favorite band during the ensuing 80's. So for me to have never seen this outstanding concert film is incredibly embarrassing. What amazed me most about the concert was how polished and expressive the band had become in just 5 short years. I had seen them live in August 1979, as they were promoting their third album, Fear of Music, and they pretty much just stood still behind their microphones and played their instruments. Don't get me wrong, it was one of the best concerts I've ever attended, but man, I wish I had seen them on their Speaking in Tongues tour now! Demme does an amazing job of capturing the intensity of the performances with many different camera angles, which put the viewer right on stage with the band. What I found most incredible was the fact that never once do you see any of the other cameras he's using in any one shot. It's as if they were invisible. It's a shame that all concert films aren't shot in this manner. It was refreshing not to have to listen to inane interviews with either ego-maniacal band members or drugged out, wasted concert goers. There's no back stage footage or scenes of the roadies and sound crew doing sound checks in the empty concert hall, before the show. This is how I want my concert films!!!

As for the music... well ... it's the Talking Heads!!!! They were the most creative band of the 80's and it shows here. I loved the way the film began with just David Byrne coming out on stage with a small boom box and playing Psycho Killer. Usually it irks me to no end when a performer messes around with the way they play their most famous songs, but here, it works magnificently as it it acts as a precursor to the introduction of other band members, each coming on stage one at a time with each successive song. The playlist for this concert was heavily ladened with songs from the Speaking in Tongues album, and while it's a very good album, it means that a few other great songs aren't going to be played. That is why I give this film a score just south of perfection. I could have done without the token Tom Tom Club song, catchy as it is, because I'd much rather have heard The Great Curve or For Artists Only instead. The latter, a song which would have fit nicely right after the four song introduction set I mentioned, would have acted as a bridge to the conceptual performance that was to follow.

What the color coding means...

Teal = Masterpiece
Dark Green = Classic or someday will be
Lime Green = A good, entertaining film
Orange = Average
Red = Cinemuck
Brown = The color of crap, which this film is

(From Antares' Short Summations on July 26th, 2013)

Grumpier Old Men , a review by Dragonfire

Grumpier Old Men

My Thoughts

This movie is really entertaining, though it isn't as good as the first one.  The returning characters are still entertaining and likable overall, though a few of them aren't in as much of this movie.

I'm not sure how much time is supposed to have passed since the end of the first movie.  John and Arial are settled into marriage, Melanie and Jacob are planning a wedding with interference from their fathers and John and Max are actually getting along fairly well.  They still sort of bicker, but it isn't as bad as it was.  They are both horrified at the idea of the bait shop being turned into a restaurant, so they work together to sabotage things.  Max and Maria really don't seem to like each other much at all, but they end up starting to date.  More problems crop up, including one that causes the men to return to their feud.  The plot is entertaining even though it isn't that complicated.  Much of what happens is predictable, but that doesn't keep things from being entertaining.

The movie is very funny, especially with some of the things that John and Max do once they start feuding again.  Some of what happens with Maria is also funny.  I do think the humor works well in the movie, though I think the first movie was funnier.  There is more fishing in the movie, though since this one is set in warmer weather, it at least isn't ice fishing.  Only a few of the characters are actually seen fishing, unlike in the first movie when a lot of characters were at least shown where the ice fishing was going on.  There is a minor subplot going on dealing with a huge fish that John and Max have been trying to catch for years.

The relationships are important again.  John and Max's friendship becomes strained again, as do a few other relationships.  There is a developing relationship between Max and Maria that is entertaining.  Melanie and Jacob also have some relationship issues to deal with.  That does cause a bit of complication to what is going on. 

The characters are still very entertaining and likable.  John and Max are wonderfully entertaining.  The cast is really good.  I haven't seen a lot of movies with Sophia Loren, but I think this is pretty much the only comedy I've seen her in. I think she does well with the humor. 

There really aren't any extras on the DVD, which is a bit disappointing.  I really like this one and think it is definitely worth watching even though it isn't as good as the first movie.



I did get a review posted on Epinions.

Grumpier Old Men

(From Grumpier Old men on September 19th, 2010)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Wonderfalls
Season 1.13 Caged Bird
Writer: Krista Vernoff (Writer)
Director: Michael Lehmann
Cast: Caroline Dhavernas (Jaye Tyler), Katie Finneran (Sharon Tyler), Tyron Leitso (Eric Gotts), Lee Pace (Aaron Tyler), William Sadler (Darrin Tyler), Diana Scarwid (Karen Tyler), Tracie Thoms (Mahandra), Neil Grayston (Alec), Jeffrey R. Smith (Mall Security Guard), Glenn Fitzgerald (Bank Robber), Jewel Staite (Heidi), Elissa Lansdell (Reporter), Diego Fuentes (Cop #1), Susie Dias (Cop #2), Demetrius Joyette (Shoplift Kid), Bryan Hart (Night Cleaner), Michael Anthony (Costumer #1), Stefanie Drummond (Costumer #2), Scotch Ellis Loring (Muse Voice (voice))

A great show with only great episodes (except one: "Totem Mole" was garbage full of unindented racism). This last episode is just as good as the others. And a good conclusion. I have read how the series would have continued if it had another season or two. Could have been interesting, but could also have been bad. This way we got one great season without a major cliffhanger.



(From Tom's TV Finales marathon on January 13th, 2022)