Well, I got two movies to review. Keep in mind that from now on, all of the movie reviews I do are gonna be short. With that said, let's get on with it.

Home Alone

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Director: Chris Columbus

Producer: John Hughes

Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Hurt, and Catherine O' Hara

Genre: Comedy

Sub-genre(s): Christmas, Holiday, Family

MPAA: PG

Reason: Not described

Year: 1990

First of all, before you come to me saying "It's too early for Christmas movies", let me tell you that it's not to early, as the Christmas season is already upon us, even if Thanksgiving hasn't happened yet. Originally, without all the reds, greens, and a soundtrack containing Christmas songs, it's really an everyday slapstick comedy. Director Chris Columbus wasn't going for that, and because of that, we got a movie that's infamous for being one of the greatest Christmas films in movie history. Out of the entire franchise, this is the best one. The movie is about an 8-year old kid named Kevinwho was forgotten by his family when they were heading to Paris. Physically, not emotionally. While that happens, there are two burglars named Marv and Harry that want to rob the house of its goods, and it's up to Kevin to protect his home.

Now the movie, as I said, is just your average slapstick comedy taking place at Christmas time and it's infamous. This is the film that gave the young actor Macaulay Culkin publicity in the movie business. The acting is pretty good, and the slapstick comedy is well done in my opinion. Though there are some flaws and things that are not possible in the real world (example would be the iron to the face...seriously,Marv would be dead by the time the iron flattens his face), this is a pretty good family film. If you haven't seen this film during Christmas time (and I doubt that you haven't), now would be a good time to get it and see it.

7.5 PRETTY GOOD

Next movie...

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Director: George Lucas

Producer: Gary Kurtz

Genre: Science Fiction

Sub-genre: Epic film

MPAA: PG

Reason: Sci-Fi action violence and brief mild language

Year: 1977

It's indeed the apocolypse. I finally watched a Star Wars movie completely. GO ME!!! Now, the story (if you haven't heard it already) is that Luke Skywalker joins the Rebels and defeat the Empire from taking over the galaxy, and is part one of three movies in the original trilogy.

Now this isan amazing movie! I'm quite surprised. No wonder why it has a huge following. However, the version I have is the one with the special graphics, which include the infamous "Hans shot first" controversy tainting it. I dockthe filmdown by one point for unnecessary editing. A word of advice to Mr. Lucas, quit changing things in your movie. It doesn't make them better. I'm not just docking it a point for just that one scene. I'm talking about the entire picture. The movie was made in the 70s, for crying out loud. Let it stay that way to preserve movie history, people. But, the movie still is great, none the less. In fact, for my first viewing, it blew my mind. It was that great of a movie. The acting was spectacular, the story is amazing, andJames Earl Jones is badass as a bad guy (even if he's not in the suit).It may not be in my top 20, because I'm not a fan of Star Wars, but I do like the movie as a whole, and that's all that matters, making it one of the best sci-fi flicks I've ever seen since I last sawTitan A.E.

9.0 AMAZING

Man, I'm pulling the trippiness from everywhere, am I? First, I got a trippy musical movie, now I got a trippy game for my PSP, and with good intent, too. The game?

Brainpipe

This is another game from the "mini" collection on the PlayStation Store, and it's another trippy game on the system next to flOw. All you're doing in the game is navigating through a pipe avoiding obstacles and obtaining glyphs for bonus points. The goal of the game is to get the golden glyph at the end of Stage 10, according to the instructions. The game gets increasingly difficult once you progress, and I like challenges. So, bring it on.

Is the game any good? It's good, and it's one of the more interesting titles in the "mini" collection. Give it a try if you're at least curious. Before I go...

Whaddya think? It's Balto from...well...Balto. You know, that animated movie with Kevin Bacon and Bob Hoskins. Like always, I did this by freehand. I don't trace, and it took me only an hour to complete total. This is what I'm going to be doing at The Art Institute, people. Think I'm ready?

...and it fits right up there with Pink Floyd: The Wall andThe Beatles: Yellow Submarine, as with every other strange musical out there. This one took the cheesecake. I was browsing throughon demand. I went into the Impact category in free movies. Impact, is pretty much a section with action (both physical and sexual), where everyfilm is distributed by Metro Goldwyn Mayer. Over here inthe Portland area, the cable service known as Comcast owns a portion of the company, so go us. Anyway, back to the movie.So far, it currently holds a 3.7 rating on the Internet Movie Database. I, at least, gave it a 6, because it is an entertaining movie. What movie am I talking about?

The Apple

Studio: Metro Goldwyn Mayer

Starring: Catherine Mary Stuart, George Gilmour, and Grace Kennedy

Genre: Modern musical drama

Sub-genre: Rock n' Roll show

MPAA: PG (Parental Guidance)

Year: 1980

What is The Apple? Well it's a strange rock musical released in 1980. It's about a folk duo who performs at a competition, and even though they lost, they had the oppertunity to get a record deal because an evil music mogul named Mr. Boogalow (who looks like the devil's gay brother) had an eye on them. One of them, being a girl named Bibi, signs the contract and basically surrenders her soul to the company, as well as become a pawn of Boogalow to take over the world with pop music. As for the guy, known as Alphie (his parents must've hated him, so that could be the reason why he's named that), he doesn't sign the contract, and he's the only person that can save Bibi and the world.

Now, I'm going to keep this short. Call it a quickie movie review. The acting was OK. Definitely not oscar worthy, but the worst ofit has to go to George Gilmour (Alphie). Seriously, I could write better dialoguefor him on the flippin' toilet.The songs are also pretty good, butalso not award worthy; in this case,Grammy worthy.Oh yeah, and the story's pretty silly. Overall, this is quite funny to watch. Both ha-ha funnyand "Gee that's interesting" funny. A guilty-pleasurefilm at the best. I can also cla$$ify this as a hippie-movie.

6/10

MEH...OK.

#3

Robin Hood

I'd thought you'd see this coming. How can this movie not be on my list. It's my favorite movie made by Disney. I lost the VHS tape of it when I was 5, and I was pretty sad, but getting the DVD of it at age 17 was definitely worth the $20 I spent on it. This film couldn't have been casted better. It's a great movie for kids, and very entertaining for adults who enjoy the films they grew up with back in 1973. I absolutely love the storytelling in this movie, and the characters represented as anthropomorphic animals is pretty clever. For example, Robin Hood is a thief, so he's perfect as a fox. Little John was big as a giant, so he's perfect as a bear. So that's a check. Famous comedic actorPeter Ustinov provides the voice of Prince John, and every time I see him suck his thumb shouting "Mommy!", I can't help but chuckle. One of the lead animators, Don Bluth stated that the characters were well drawn, but the story had no soul. The characters I can agree with, but the "story having no soul" bit I have to disagree on, because it's movies like this that make me become a better writer.In fact, I already got college level on my writing placement test. HA! Plus, what other movie has country singer Roger Miller telling the story (besides Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey)?Overall, this movie deserves the #3 spot, because it's a movie I loved to watch in my childhood, and it still entertains me as an adult to this day.

#2

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

I remember watching this at my high school, and I loved every minute of it. The movie is basically an adaptation of "The Odyssey" by Homer. No, not Homer. George Clooney's dialogue is so out there that you can't help but find out what the outcome of it is, making his character,Everet Miguel,my favorite. Tim Blake Nelson as Delmar O'Donnel, is my second favorite, for one scene. Anyone remember when Pete was "magically" turned into a horny toad (leave the suggestive jokes to yourself, eh)? I can't help but laugh at every single moment during all that. It's hilarious. This movie really deserves my props.

#1

South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut

Yeah, you saw this coming! The movie adaptation of my favorite TV show, that is the perfect example of the word "satire". I love how it tackles soccermoms like Kyle's mother, and makes fun of Disney movies like Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid (it actually does that, folks) by being a musical comedyadventure.I can't really say too much about this movie, because I've said it already. It's a funny satirical musical that will leave you in stitches after watching it, making it my toppick, and my #1 favorite movie.

#6

Titan A.E.

This is the definition of underrated movies. Titan A.E. was a big financial failure at the box office, and it reallyshouldn't have been. This was pure eye candy for any fan of science fiction flicks, or Star Wars at least. This film did so badly, that 20th Century Fox literally closed down their animation studio, and this was Don Bluth's last film (for right now, I hope). Speaking of, this was very unusual for a Don Bluth movie. Usually a Don Bluth film would be about fantasy, princesses,and animal characters running around. Not this time. This one was more modern than any of his other work, and just as epic, and I love every minute of this movie. If you ever passed it up because you were watching other movies, I'd recommend checking this one out, especially for fans of the sci-figenre.

#5

Wayne's World

Based on the SNL sketches, Wayne's World is, in my opinion, the best adaptation of an SNL sketch, and perhaps the best movie based on a sketch of any TV show. The worst going to Good Burger. Many people remember Wayne's World for its great humor and the opening scene where Wayne, Garth, and thier crew are jamming to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody in "The Merth Mobile". Seriously, who wouldn't want to headbang to that! The film was about two rock n' roll boys who film a public access show, and some greedy jackass wants to completely exploit the show with the help ofthe owner of avideo arcade chain. This is how you make amovie based on acomedy sketch.You'll cry your heart out after you watch this dramatic and heartbreakingmovie...NOT!!! Seriously, if you haven't seen this one yet, shame on you.

#4

The Secret of NIMH

Now you know why I bash on this movie's direct-to-video sequel. I LOVE this movie. It's obviously one of the best animated films I've ever seen, even from the 1980s. The story is about a frightened mother named Mrs. Brisby, who's son is dying from Pneumonia, and in order to save him and the rest of her family from the plow, she must go to the rats that hide in a rosebush. Why the rats? Well, it turns out they came from NIMH, which is an acronym from "National Institute of Mental Health". They were experements that were injected with a drug that makes them intelligent. The film combines adventure and science fiction together, making it an epic experience that anyone can enjoy. Plus, this movie is considered Don Bluth's opus. While he did work on the animated segment in the 1980 musical film"Xanadu", and he did work for Disney back in the 1970s, this was the first film to have Don Bluth at the director's seat, as well as the lead animator, 3 years after he and 11others (could be wrong)left Walt Disney studios. What can I say? It's an amazing animated adventure flick, and Don Bluth's artwork and direction, as well as Jerry Goldsmith's musical score (he also did Alien and Total Recall) makes it a hell of a lot better.

3, 2, and 1 are tomorrow.