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In case you've missed it, all my Blog entries have been going on this one page and you will be able to read everything from New Movie Reviews to Classic Movie Reviews.

From TV reviews to my twisted take on the World. Consider it one stop-shopping for all things Freditor.

A virtual Super Wal-Mart of Nutty Writing and Tasteful Criticism.

As Always, Thanks for all your Continued Support.

The Freditor

True Romance--I completely underrated this movie when it came out

True Romance--Way Ahead of its time

* * * * (out of 5)

Fred's YouTube - True Romance Review


The Freditor

Fred's Top 30 Comedies of the Last 30 Years

Fred's Video:
YouTube - Top 30 Comedies of the Last 30 Years


The Freditor

Peter Pan is a better Disney cartoon than I remember

* * * (out of 5)

Peter Pan was playing on the Wonderful World of Disney a few weeks ago so I Tivo'ed it to see how it matches my memories. I saw it when i was a kid and about 15 years ago on video and remember that time falling asleep on it several times before getting through it. Well, this time it only took two viewings to get through it, but boy were the sleep bugs crawling in my eyes tonight. So-called "classic" Disney animation was made for a different time, I guess. All the old cartoons, like Cinderella, The Aristocats and Snow White are set at a tempo that puts me to sleep. And the music is just one notch above lullabies.

However, this one had more action than I remember and a quicker pace. Peter's skirmishes with Captain Hook are exciting and funny, but you never really doubt that Peter will emerge victorious. He can fly and Hook has one hand, that is a major advantage. I didn't remember Tinkerbell being such a jealous, spiteful thing. She almost has Wendy killed by the Lost Boys. And I loved the alligator waiting patiently for Hook to come near him in the water, tapping his front foot, one two three fingers at a time.

How many stages of Disney animation have there been now?

1--The Classic Era, that starts around 1937 with Snow White and runs through 1971 with The Jungle Book and Robin Hood. Walt knew how to entertain.

2--Is the Lesser Era, after Walt's death when the company tried to follow the same old formulas, but came up short. 1971-1987: Sometimes there'd be a good Oliver and Co., but then there was a Tron or The Fox and the Hound, which were poor substitutes. This era ended in 1987 with "The Great Mouse Detective", which was a fun story about a mouse who lived in Sherlock Holmes's house. The following year Who Framed Roger Rabbit came out and Disney animation was reborn.

3--The New Classics-- a short period, but what a fruitful one. 1989-1994: Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King. A Murderer's Row of animation. This era ended when Jeffery Katzenberg was forced out by a jealous Michael Eisner and Katz helped start Dreamworks. While Eisner greenlighted crap like Pocahontas and Mulan, Katz was making Shrek.

4--The Dog Era--From 1994 until 2006, Disney gamely tried to keep hand-drawn animation alive, but many of their new products were dreary (Hunchback of Notre Dame) or unmemorable (Atlantis), and even when they had a good one like Hercules, it didn't catch on with the movie going public.

5--Pixar Era---1995 until Infinity and Beyond. Starting with Toy Story, Disney formed an alliance with one of the greatest motion picture companies in history. Pixar has produced 9 movies over the years and each one has been a commercial and critical smash, collecting oodles of awards including Oscars and selling billions of Happy Meals. This year's WALL-E has an excellent shot at being nominated for Best Picture and gives tremendous hope to all us Disney fans that the future looks very bright indeed. As they sing in Peter Pan, we know "You Can Fly, You Can Fly, You Can Fly."

The Freditor

There's Something About Mary: One classic comedy that stands the test of time

* * * * * (out of 5)

I became a member of the online community in July 1997 and one of my favorite things to do then as now was to write movie reviews. In the summer of 1998, I went nuts extolling the virtues of the most original comedy of its time, There's Something About Mary . Back then I worried that maybe I was just flush with new excitement and the feeling would not last. Well, after at least 7 or 8 years I watched it again tonight. All the way through I've seen this movie maybe 4 times now, but tonight I laughed like it was all new again.

Along with Dumb and Dumber, the Farrelly Brothers' first movie, it has set the benchmark for all the funny comedies we see today. Will Ferrell, Sasha Baron Cohen (Borat), Adam Sandler and Judd Apatow have all taken the formula of the Farrelly Bros. and made huge fortunes with it. But Mary is some kind of movie.

A comedy about not one but four stalkers going after this girl in Miami. Ben Stiller was just wetting his feet in his first foray into utter embarrassment humor. This movie also made him a movie star and a household name. Matt Dillon revived his career acting in a comedy, playing against type as the sleazy dweeb, who doesn't mind killing a dog to get the girl. And Cameron Diaz once again shows that you don't have to be the best looking girl at the dance just the one with the sweetest energy to lure all the boys.

It is so appropriate to watch this movie tonight, first because it coincides with the release of Ben Stiller's new movie, Tropic Thunder and because it was Brett Favre's one and only movie appearance and what a shocking ending to find out he was the notorious "Brett Fa-Vava-Re". Plus, Brett made his playing debut tonight as the quarterback of the New York Jets.

I rarely channel surf or even watch a movie a second time on TV, but I lucked out with this one tonight. Thanks HBO.

The Freditor

What Are Your Favorite Movie Snacks?

What Are Your Favorite Movie Snacks? I'd love to know. Send all comments and answers to:
Freds.NoMoreStinkyMonkeys@gmail.com

For a very funny story on the same topic:
Stephen King's guide to movie snacks Stephen King: The Pop of King News + Notes Entertainment Weekly 1


When I go to the movies, I used to try and avoid buying snacks, because they are outrageously expensive, but then I had a change of heart a few years ago. I found out that movie theatres only make a small fraction, like 10% of the ticket price on a new movie. If it keeps the movie there for several weeks, the percentage rises in their favor. I remember Home Alone would play at a theatre for like 4 months and I'd wonder why. Because by that point every cent of the ticket goes in the theatre owner's pocket.

Now there is no doubt I love the movie theatre experience. I'm not really interested in making a home theatre for myself, because it would be a waste of money. No video system, no matter how special could ever truly replace the feeling I get when I see a new spectacular, on opening weekend. The energy in the crowd, the total immersion in the experience helped by the surrounding darkness and hushed quiet. I have yet to see the TV screen that can challenge a 50+ foot wide screen at a theatre. Well since I love the theatre and want to keep as many open near me as possible, doesn't it make sense to support them? When I was younger and poorer I'd sneak food and drink in, or just not eat at all. But to me part of the fun and anticipation is the waiting on line at the food concession. Modern theatres have TVs playing trailers and commercials for shows that I might be interested in. If it's a special night, the fellow patrons have a buzz about them. The food ads are surrounded by enticing lighting with primary colors whetting your appetite. Reminds me of going to McDonalds. Just once I'd love to eat a Big Mac that looked as good as the one in the signage.

As for which theatre offers the best treats. Regal Theatres are the most expensive in all aspects of the game. Their ticket prices are higher, they have less deals as far as matinees and such. And their food prices are expensive even by concession standards. But they are well-stocked. I think you can order 12 different types of fountain drinks, along with two different sized bottles of water. They have pretzel nuggets and regular sized pretzels. Popcorn, nachos, hot dogs and about 20 different types of candy. Many other theatres offer this kind of range, but few actually have them ready to sell. A Regal hot dog might be made with pig anus and cow vagina, but it's fresh anus and vagina. When I order a hot dog at another theatre in Fresh Meadows the wiener looks so old and dry that archaeologists could call it a fossil.

My favorite theatre for snacks is also my Snobby theatre. I feel like an elitist snob when I go here, but I enjoy it so I don't care. The Film Forum on West Houston Street in Greenwich Village shows foreign films and reissues of old classics. The seats are uncomfortable, but I still feel fancy going there. And the food. Oy. Fresh popcorn with real butter, not the monkey sweat that Stephen King called it in the past. Fresh lemonade, several different types of coffee for people who enjoy that. And fresh bakery items. I've had the lemon poppy seed cake, which is tasty and oatmeal raisin cookies. But my favorite is the apple sponge cake.

My brother is always pushing the gun when it comes to getting to places on time and this theatre is no exception. He picks me up way late and has to speed into the city to get a parking spot. We hope there's no line to get in, then wait on line for snacks. We invariably get in our seats after the lights have dimmed and sometimes when the movie has already started. Just once I'd love to get there a little early, be able to find a seat in the center. And enjoy my cake with a fork and some peace. Instead, I'm forced to find a seat in the dark and cradle my food so that I don't spill anything. Eating my cake with fingers because I can't see the plate well enough to use a fork.

I've heard of a theatre on Long Island, out in god's country, Exit 60 something that has a huge concession stand filled with hamburgers, pizza and the like. Sounds wonderful, but I could not go there without having another trip planned as well. Something like a trip to the Splish Splash waterpark tagged on.

The key to going to any concession stand is never go hungry. My weight class teacher often said, never go to the supermarket hungry or you'll buy the store out. The same goes for concessions. Too often I go right from work and skip a meal to make a show. Bad idea. Any money I might have saved on the matinee price, or even better a free ticket (which regular Regal goers often get), will be spent big time at the snack counter. The most I've ever spent on myself is probably $22. Which is not a lot of food. That would be a "value pack" of large pretzel nuggets with cheese and medium soda, $11. A liter bottle of water $4.25. A hot dog, $3.75. And a candy, $3.

My snacks: I love soft pretzels, even corporate, taste-free pretzels. If there are no pretzels, which is often the case I'll settle for nachos and cheese, although mustard makes a nice alternative. The cheese is never real cheese, but a soft orange Crisco-type substance. If I eat this too much, I often get a raging pain in my stomach that engulfs everything from hips to ribs on both sides of my torso. I try not to eat this too much. As a last resort I'll order popcorn, but I have to be real hungry. If I'm with others, they'll order popcorn and they always let me share some of theirs. Almost all theatres have a Coca Cola licensing agreement, so I order a Cherry Coke. I really don't like regular Coke and will drink that only if there's nothing else and I'm really tired. If it's night and I'm trying not to stay up late, I'll order a Sprite/7UP or orange soda, but not Sunkist, that has as much caffeine as cola. National Amusements has a deal with Pepsi, so that's nirvana.

Hot dogs if I'm hungry. National Amusements (N/A) has a deal with Sbarro Pizza and Nathan's, so of course I'll get a Nathan's dog there. Sbarro Pizza is like Pizza Hut left in the sun. They also have cinnamon pretzels, but that has to be one of the worst concoctions ever conceived in this Mallworld. As for candy: Peanut M&Ms, Milk Duds, I'll eat some of Barb's Junior Mints and Twizzlers, I love Starburst, but they pull out my fillings. I used to love Jujyfruits, but it's hard to tell the licorice from the green ones in the dark and the taste of licorice reminds me of the time I licked a Yak's ass. Actually, I try to remember the Yak's ass to replace the horrible feeling of having licorice in my mouth. Raisinettes are another treat, but I have to eat these sparingly, because all those raisins will give me what they call in German "Die Scheisserei." For a candy I will sneak in, always a Cadbury bar if it's been frozen (Fruit and Nut or Caramello).

When I'm being healthy, I'll buy a big bottle of Dasani water, because knowing that it comes from a leaky hose in the back of the Coca Cola plant always makes me think Healthy!

Enjoy!

The Freditor

Tender Mercies is a gentle, understated story of a broken down country singer

* * * (out of 5)

Wow. Robert Duvall underplaying a role. I didn't think it was possible. Certainly not since The Godfather. Duvall usually comes into a scene like King Kong with a Southern accent, but here in Tender Mercies he winds it down with a touch so light, it feels like his performance is made out of meringue. But a good one it is. He won his only Oscar as Mac Sledge, the alcoholic, broken-down, ex-country singer who is now working for a widow and her boy in a small Texas gas station/motel.

Mac was once a big shot. A big star who wrote a ton of songs for his now ex-wife, Dixie Scott (Eight is Enough's Betty Buckley). Mac used to be a big problem, beating on Dixie and one time almost killing her. She hates him to the point now that she hasn't allowed him to see their daughter in 9 years. And he hates her too, calling her "poisonous." We don't see any of this bad behavior, instead we are left to see a man who is paying mentally for his sins and an ex-wife who is flourishing without him.

I like Duvall with bravado. He's not a big man, but in many roles he plays them with such a strong heart that you know he has the biggest dick in the room. One of my favorite roles of recent years is as an opposing attorney to John Travolta in A Civil Action. Like a big bear off to hibernate, he loses himself in a small room to listen to a Red Sox game on the radio and peel an orange during his lunch break. He plays those eccentricities so well.

But as Mac, he's a man lost inside himself and the slow pace of rural Texas life only adds to that calm. I felt like the calm suited him, but I would have loved to see some of that drunken grizzly that made his ex-wife hate him before. It is a good performance and at least he was recognized once for his handsome career. Buckley seems out of her element playing a bitter Loretta Lynn type. His new wife, Rosa Lee (Tess Harper) is a better woman and a tougher person, who lost her young husband to Vietnam. If she suffers, she does it quietly and makes a great wife for this man. And to be honest, her singing is better here as a choir singer than Buckley is on stage. One of the best performances in the film belongs to the boy, Sonny (Allan Hubbard). According to IMDB, he never played another part and that's a shame, because he was a real natural.

Director Bruce Beresford, an Australian, does a nice job of capturing the quiet of rural Texas. He did a similarly good job, with the South in Driving Miss Daisy. Writer Horton Foote wrote the screenplay to To Kill a Mockingbird, so he knows his way around the South.

One last thing about this film. We are so used to movies with modern urban men, who are outward and dramatic, hugging and kissing and crying that when you see a film like this when even a husband and wife who love each other don't kiss and hug it sure feels like a different time. It was 1983, but it might as well have been 1883.

The Freditor