Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

This week, Jeff, Buddy, and Chad look at the first of two Eddie Murphy/John Landis films, 1983's "Trading Places!" This was the second movie that featured young comedian Eddie Murphy in a leading role, after his first film "48 Hours." Teaming him with SNL alumnus Dan Aykroyd, and putting him alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, Denholm Elliott, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, and Paul Gleason, created one of the best comedies to come out that decade, and demonstrated why Eddie Murphy would go on to become one of the top stars of the 80s. Also featuring cameos by Bill Cobbs, Bo Diddley, Jim Belushi, Tom Davis, and Al Franken (yes, Senator Al Franken), this modern twist on the Prince and Pauper stands still as one of the top comedies of all times!

Episode 51 is the second in the sequence of disaster films, this time from the 1990s. Directed by Jan de Bont, and written by Michael Crichton and Anne-Marie Martin, 1996's "Twister" is a disaster film set in the heartland of America, in what is commonly called "Tornado Alley!" Starring Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt, Cary Elwes, Jamie Gertz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Lois Smith, and Alan Ruck, the story centers on Jo (Hunt) and Bill (Paxton), a former couple and storm-chasers both, coming back together so that Bill can get Jo to sign his divorce papers. She, and her crew, are still traveling the roads of America, trying desperately to learn more about these disasters and how to predict them. And while the trio have radically different attitudes on the quality of the film, the majority agree that it's a fun popcorn-movie of the disaster genre! Plus, at the end Buddy, Chad, and Jeff discuss which two films made the cut for episodes 52 and 53 from the catalog of Eddie Murphy!

Episode 51 is the second in the sequence of disaster films, this time from the 1990s. Directed by Jan de Bont, and written by Michael Crichton and Anne-Marie Martin, 1996's "Twister" is a disaster film set in the heartland of America, in what is commonly called "Tornado Alley!" Starrring Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt, Cary Elwes, Jamie Gertz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Lois Smith, and Alan Ruck, the story centers on Jo (Hunt) and Bill (Paxton), a former couple and storm-chasers both, coming back together so that Bill can get Jo to sign his divorce papers. She, and her crew, are still traveling the roads of America, trying desperately to learn more about these disasters and how to predict them. And while the trio have radically different attitudes on the quality of the film, the majority agree that it's a fun popcorn-movie of the disaster genre! Plus, at the end Buddy, Chad, and Jeff discuss which two films made the cut for episodes 52 and 53 from the catalog of Eddie Murphy!

Episode 50! This episode begins our look at disaster movies with one of the few (perhaps the only) to ever be nominated for best picture, 1974's "The Towering Inferno!" Written by Stirling Silliphant, based on two different novels, and film also featured two directors: John Guillermin and Irwin Allen himself (who directed all of the action sequences in the film)! Starring Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, Susan Blakely, Richard Chamberlain, Jennifer Jones, O.J. Simpson, Robert Vaughn, and Robert Wagner, this story explores what happens to a 130+ story building when fire breaks out and the sprinkler systems don't work! At over two-and-a-half hours, this is truly one of the most epic disaster films made to date, and with this cast, you know there are great stories from the production as well!

Episode 50! This episode begins our look at disaster movies with one of the few (perhaps the only) to ever be nominated for best picture, 1974's "The Towering Inferno!" Written by Stirling Silliphant, based on two different novels, and film also featured two directors: John Guillermin and Irwin Allen himself (who directed all of the action sequences in the film)! Starring Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, Susan Blakely, Richard Chamberlain, Jennifer Jones, O.J. Simpson, Robert Vaughn, and Robert Wagner, this story explores what happens to a 130+ story building when fire breaks out and the sprinkler systems don't work! At over two-and-a-half hours, this is truly one of the most epic disaster films made to date, and with this cast, you know there are great stories from the production as well!

Episode 49 is the second half of our look at later Disney films, this time with the truly ground-breaking animated film "Lilo and Stitch" from 2002! Although it was almost entirely traditional cell animation, the storyline and depictions in this film took Disney places none of their films had explored before. From having a broken, dysfunctional family at the center of the story, to its theme of "ohana," to its more realistic (and completely non-traditional for Disney) depictions of its characters, this is a moving story with unusual depth. Directed and written by Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, and starring the voices of Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carerre, David Ogden Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Ving Rhames, Zoe Caldwell, Jason Scott Lee, and Kevin Michael Richardson, this film delivers all the fun and sentiment we've come to expect from "the mouse!" And at the end, Buddy, Chad, and Jeff reveal which films in the "Disaster" genre they'll be tackling for episodes 50 and 51!

Episode 49 is the second half of our look at later Disney films, this time with the truly ground-breaking animated film "Lilo and Stitch" from 2002! Although it was almost entirely traditional cell animation, the storyline and depictions in this film took Disney places none of their films had explored before. From having a broken, dysfunctional family at the center of the story, to its theme of "ohana," to its more realistic (and completely non-traditional for Disney) depictions of its characters, this is a moving story with unusual depth. Directed and written by Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, and starring the voices of Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carerre, David Ogden Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Ving Rhames, Zoe Caldwell, Jason Scott Lee, and Kevin Michael Richardson, this film delivers all the fun and sentiment we've come to expect from "the mouse!" And at the end, Buddy, Chad, and Jeff reveal which films in the "Disaster" genre they'll be tackling for episodes 50 and 51!

Episode 48 is the first of our two-episode look at Disney's "renaissance," the second wave of truly popular and successful animated films started just three years earlier. But 1992's "Aladdin" was truly special, both for the amazing performance of the late Robin Williams as the Genie, and for the fact that this film took home an award not at all related to visual media! Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, with screenplay by Clements, Musker, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, starring the voices of Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Frank Welker, Gilbert Gottfried, and Douglas Seale, and featuring music from the award-winning duo of Alan Menkin and the late Howard Ashman, this film delights fans of all ages, but nevertheless stirred up some controversy as well. Regardless, it's one of Disney's strongest outings and performers in its 2nd wave!

Episode 48 is the first of our two-episode look at Disney's "renaissance," the second wave of truly popular and successful animated films started just three years earlier. But 1992's "Aladdin" was truly special, both for the amazing performance of the late Robin Williams as the Genie, and for the fact that this film took home an award not at all related to visual media! Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, with screenplay by Clements, Musker, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, starring the voices of Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Frank Welker, Gilbert Gottfried, and Douglas Seale, and featuring music from the award-winning duo of Alan Menkin and the late Howard Ashman, this film delights fans of all ages, but nevertheless stirred up some controversy as well. Regardless, it's one of Disney's strongest outings and performers in its 2nd wave!

In episode 47, the second episode of our look at movies from Jim Henson, we talk about one of the most difficult kinds of puppet-based movies: Integrating puppetry with live action and actors! In 1986's "Labyrinth," the true genius of Jim Henson is put on display for all to see! Directed by Jim Henson, and written by Dennis Lee, Jim Henson, and Terry Jones (of Monty Python fame), this story follow Sarah, a young girl stuck in the throes of her early teen years, and that hesitation to put aside childhood in favor of adulthood. She is forced by her parents to babysit her infant half-brother Toby, and calls upon the mythical Goblin King to take him away. After accidentally saying the right words to summon the Goblin King, her brother vanishes, and she must negotiated the trap- and monster-filled labyrinth to rescue him from the King's castle at its center! Starring a young Jennifer Connelly as Sarah, and David Bowie as Jareth, the Goblin King, this film also features the voices of Brian Henson, Ron Mueck, Dave Goelz, Michael Hordern, and Denise Bryer! Truly one of the best Henson films of all times, even if it didn't do well when it was initially released! Finally, the trio reveal the genre and films they'll be reviewing in Episodes 48 and 49!