What the Star Wars Prequels Did Right

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

The Star Wars prequels are not great films. Many people have gone into great detail about what those films did wrong. So, instead of repeating all of their problems, I’m going to talk about what the Star Wars prequels did right.

Twentieth Century Fox Distributed

20th Century Fox logo, Deja ReviewerGeorge Lucas is a savvy businessman. When he inked his contract to make the first Star Wars film, he famously gained exclusive rights to all merchandise. But many people don’t know he also gained control of all sequels, prequels and spinoffs. Because of that oversight, Twentieth Century Fox had to negotiate to be the distributor for each new Star Wars movie. They did have one important bargaining chip, though: Fan expectations. Continue reading →

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Joke of the Week: Stephen King

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

If the author of The Shining made an information technology company, what would he call it?

The answer is… Continue reading →

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Battle of the Message Movies: Wall-E vs. Planet of the Apes (1968)

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

I liked Wall-E when I first saw it. Despite its slant against consumerism and over-the-top premise, Wall-E is a charming film. I also enjoyed the 1968 version of Planet of the Apes with Charlton Heston at his campy best.

What do these two movies have to do with each other? They’re both trying to say the same thing. These are message movies with a clear agenda to tell us something about ourselves and try to get us to see the world from a new perspective. So put on your best ape mask and replace that damaged eye so we can start seeing the world through the eyes of Wall-E and Planet of the Apes! Continue reading →

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Joke of the Week: Superman

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

What did the first sentence of the job description for Superman’s intern say?

The answer is… Continue reading →

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Movies That Get Worse on Multiple Viewings: Hitch

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

The first time I saw Hitch I was single. So it’s not surprising I really liked it. Hitch offers hope to those poor souls in the seemingly hopeless and endlessly frustrating world of dating. That’s why I was so surprised when I went back and watched it again after I was married. Suddenly the jokes fell flat, the story felt contrived, and the characters were annoying instead of charming.

Let’s dive into Hitch to see where it went wrong after just a couple of viewings. Continue reading →

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Joke of the Week: Optometrist

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

What did the optometrist call his best sale ever?

The answer is… Continue reading →

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Movies That Improve on Multiple Viewings: Enchanted

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Enchanted is a strange movie for me. I really didn’t get it at first, but after a while it started to grow on me until it finally won me over.

I should explain my relationship with Disney movies to give this discussion a little context. I like them. I neither hold them sacred nor openly disparage them – I just think they’re usually good movies. There are several standouts, of course, such as Beauty and the Beast, The Emperor’s New Groove and Mulan, but for the most part I look at Disney movies as good, old cotton candy. They’re sweet, but not particularly lasting. Continue reading →

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Joke of the Week: Puppy

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Why was the cantaloupe-eating puppy so sad?

The answer is… Continue reading →

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Bad Movies with Great Music: Iron Eagle

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

If ever there was a movie that deserved to be patted on the back and slapped in the face at the same time, it’s Iron Eagle. Man, this movie is conflicting. In fact, if I had a list of movies that are so bad, they’re good, this one would be pretty high on it.

Two Films That Rocked 1986

1986 was a banner year for Air Force movies. Iron Eagle came out in January, and it set the stage for the runaway hit Top Gun just a few months later. I first saw this movie as a young kid so I didn’t think I really understood it. All I knew was there was a cocky teenager who has to steal a plane to save his father from a bunch of bad guys. When I watched it years later, I realized that even as a child I understood this movie perfectly! That’s really all there is to it. Continue reading →

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Joke of the Week: Fabio

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

When Fabio discovered he was too old to go out with women as often as other models he knew, what had he become?

The answer is… Continue reading →

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