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The Last American Hero , a review by samuelrichardscott

The Last American Hero (1973) - R2 UK DVD

Shortened Review:
Films that are loosely based on the true stories of people from underpriviliged backgrounds or of people being general underdogs going on to become successful sporting heroes are two a penny. Usually these films have some relation to Disney and include Coach Carter (Samuel L. Jackson), Glory Road (Josh Lucas), Remember the Titans (Denzel Washington) and Invincible (Mark Wahlberg). Usually these films relate to sports like basketball, american football, football and ice hockey but very rarely do we get a similar film related to motorsport racing. In fact, whilst the more imaginitive racing/car related films have a history of popularity, from The Cannonball Run to Death Race 2000 to The Fast and the Furious, the racing films that strive for seriousness are few. 1966's Grand Prix was one such film I enjoyed focusing on the lives of formula one drivers though this isn't based on a true story. I entered The Last American Hero knowing that I enjoy this particular genre and looked forward to watching it.

The Last American Hero is loosely based on a series of Esquire articles written by Tom Wolfe, telling the true story of Junior Johnson, a moonshine smuggler who became one of NASCAR's first champions and an American sporting hero. After Junior crashes into a police blockade whilst delivering his father's moonshine, the police arrest Junior's dad and he gets a one year prison sentence. To raise some cash to help his family, Junior enters a demolition derby, and then a stock car race. Realising he has a natural talent, he progresses on the stock car circuit until he meets a promoter (played by Ned Beatty) who gives him his break on the NASCAR circuit.

When I first hit play, the first scene put me off slightly. I felt like I had just put on a random episode of The Dukes of Hazzard, except this time Bo and Luke were driving a black car instead of The General Lee. Whilst I enjoy The Dukes of Hazzard TV show, I was looking forward to something different with this film. Thankfully, after the opening scene, I got what I was looking for. Jeff Bridges is excellent as the overly cocky racer who knows he has talent, forcing himself on to the stock car circuit as an independent driver by winning local and regional races. Ned Beatty is great in his role as the promoter and Gary Busey suits his as Junior's brother (even if his screen time is rather limited). Yes the story is sometimes contrived and yes, it is obvious what is going to happen, but this is an enjoyable racing film with spirit and determination with good performances all round and some fun and well shot racing scenes.

Full Review:
http://www.dvdcompare.net/review.php?rid=2501

Released 12th September 2011.

(From Never Ending Movie Marathon (short reviews) on August 18th, 2011)

Clerks, a review by DJ Doena

May, 20th


Brian O'Halloran    ...    Dante
Jeff Anderson   ...    Randal
Marilyn Ghigliotti   ...    Veronica
Lisa Spoonhauer   ...    Caitlin
Jason Mewes   ...    Jay
Kevin Smith   ...    Silent Bob
Scott Mosier   ...    Willam the Idiot Manchild

Synopsis: Dante is a convenient store clerk who isn't supposed to work today but has to come in anyways. Together with his friend Randal who works at the neighbouring video store he philosophizes through the entire spectrum of topics while unwillingly "serving" customers. When they don't work (which they mostly don't) and don't philosophize they play hockey or drive to a wake or talk to friends and girlfriends. And so the day goes by...

My Opinion: I got the idea of watching this again when I stumbled across the "ABC" dance video of Clerks II. It's funny how a movie is able to not to have an actual story and still be very entertaining for 92 minutes. I have always loved the part where they discuss the morality of destroying a Death Star while it's still under construction and thus having a lot of external contractors like roofers and plumbers are on board.

(From DJ Doena's movie watchings 2009 on May 20th, 2009)

Smallville Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

17. SLEEPER
Agent Double Uh-Oh: Government agents coerce Jimmy into spying on Chloe because of her suspicious computer activities. Kara sends a strange message to Clark... from Krypton. Lex finally obtains and opens the doubvle-keyed safe-deposit box.

My Thoughts:
Interesting episode. Not  100% sure how much I liked it. There was things I liked about it as well as things I didn't. But over all I think I enjoyed it well enough to say it is an above average episode.

My Rating:

18. APOCALYPSE


My Thoughts:
Another interesting epiosde. Like many series has... this is an "alternate world"... "what if I never came to be" type story. I think they did a pretty good job on it. I like the way they explained all his friends having a good life at first... making him think the world is better without him.

My Rating:

19. QUEST
A strange attacker from Zurich strikes again, this time leaving mysterious Kryptonian symbols carved into Lex's chest. Clark connects the symbols to a cathedral in Montreal... and meets grave peril when he arrives there.

My Thoughts:
I really am starting to tire of the whole Veritas arc. It has always been my least favorite arc of the series... though I can enjoy the episodes. This one while not bad... continuing the storyline I don't care for much brought it down a bit.

My Rating:

20. ARCTIC
Is Kara really Kara? If not, who is she? Will Jimmy be Lex's lap dog? Or will he stand up to the blackmail? Will Lana be Clark's forever love? Or will she be forever gone? Will Lex accept the truth he finally discovers? If not, will it push him into madness?

My Thoughts:
This is a good conclusion to the season. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Of course it leaves us with cliffhangers for the cast just like the previous years. So now I am kinda looking forward to starting my season 8 set.

My Rating:



(From Smallville Marathon on January 17th, 2010)