|
Independence Day 1996 ★★★★
The best way to deserve this movie? It did dumb well.
New fun drinking game: spot the lines that became funnier after "the slap".
Also: Bill Pullman is majorly underrated.
Also also: This movie probably has the best... extra... ever.
Teaching Mrs. Tingle 1999 ★★˝
I remember seeing the trailer for this one and being intrigued by the plot summary, but for some reason never got around to watching it in theatres or on video. Then I got in my twenties and into more arthousey stuff and Mrs Tingle went off my radar, until now.
Kevin Williamson delivers his first and only directorial effort, while riding the wave of success after Scream and Scream 2. Maybe he feels he is better at writing than at directing? Who knows.
It's an entertaining flick, although more twisted comedy than horror. This is also where the Scream-success becomes baggage: while this movie has some good ideas and plot devices here and there, you expect more. From the writer portrayed as clever and witty, you expect more than your standard small town folk trying desperately to escape thing. In its own, it's okay. If you let Scream set the bar higher, then you'll be more likely to notice the plotholes.
It was fun to see a few familiar faces pop up in the background (Molly Ringwald, Vivica Fox, Michael “David St Hubbins” Mckean), but if anyone makes this worth the price of admission, it's Helen Mirren. She is simply amazing as the titular Mrs. Tingle, with an Anne Robinson in The Weakest Link-type meanness to her.
__________________
|