Champions (The Mighty Ducks)

Champions, 1992
(Emilio Estevez, Joss Ackland, Joshua Jackson)

midbus.

Disney produces this feel good ice hockey gem as only disney knows how to do. This is cheese at its all time quadruple-brie best but you can't help but warm to the young 'district 5' rapscallions who band together to take on the (would steal your nan's toffees) Hawks.

Estevez plays hot-shot lawyer Gordon Bombay who has lost sight of his humble pond-skating roots. Too focussed on winning at any cost, Gordon bombs out with an all American DUI. As often is the case, he gets away with coaching a local sports team while remaining on full-pay at his 'Ducksworth' law firm.

The now too familiar journey to redemption for Bombay is not exactly breaking the mould for disney but after 100 odd minutes, and 17 years later, this reviewer couldn't care - characters like Charlie Conway, Hans, Coach Reilly, Fulton Reed and Goldberg, the Goalie, still hold a special place in most people who grew up in the 90s' hearts. You may still roar with laughter at fart jokes and poo gags if you haven't matured quite as much as expected (personal gag - eds.)

Famed director Stephen Herek (pfft!) and most of the cast haven't been sighted since but you have to hope that even Matt Doherty, who plays the awkward ginger geek Averman, might still look upon 1993 with fond memories.

'It ain't worth winning, if you can't win big.'

A family classic.

7/10

Die Hard

Die Hard, 1988

There are moments in a man's life that he’ll remember forever. His first kiss, the first time he had a beer or the moment he realises he’ll never be captain of the Australian cricket team. Then there’s the moment he first sees ‘Die Hard’ – the quintessential mid 80’s action flick and greatest Christmas movie of all time.

Bruce Willis is John McClaine the role he was born to play, a divorced cop who has a knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. McClaine ends up stuck in a building during a robbery – a simple premise but in the hands of director John McLaughlin it becomes a textbook example of what a good action movie should look like. Sparse plot, plenty of glass smashing and violence and plenty of one liners.

Famous for its catchphrase “Yippee kay ay motherfucker” Die Hard transcends its 80’s origins to be a movie that is still as enjoyable today as it was when it was first released.

There are other actors in the movie, most notably Carl Winslow from that ridiculous Steve Urkel sitcom but lets be honest the entire movie is about Bruce and action, in that order. Spawning a number of sequels including the underrated third movie in the series Die Hard these days is a trip down memory lane to a simpler time when heros were police, villains were German and terrorism was strictly for money rather than religion.

9 out of 10

Umes

Shattered Glass

Shattered Glass, 2003

Based on a true story, Shattered Glass explores the tumultuous career of journliast Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen) during his three year stint at political and arts magazine, 'The New Republic'.

His stories are so interesting they might not be entirely true.

Directed by Billy Ray (Breach), Shattered Glass is an intelligent, well scripted look at some very interesting subject matter.

Christensen is good in the lead role but it's the supporting actors that make this film the winner it is. Peter Sarsgaard (An Education) plays a fellow New Republic writer and thrives in the role while Hank Azaria (Godzilla), Steve Zahn (Sahara) and Rosario Dawson (The 25th Hour) are also part of what really is an A-grade cast.

You'll cringe and squirm as the career of Stephen Glass painfully unravels but it's compelling stuff and a story deserving of being told this thoroughly. There are no bells and whistles here, but sharp writing and editing keep you glued.

Shattered Glass will make you question every magazine article you pick up and that's not a bad thing.

9/10

Nutbuckle

Star Wars - Episode IV - A New Hope

Star Wars, 1977

We all know about Star Wars - the global marketing phenomenon that started out with this low budget space opera from 1977. Responsible for launching George Lucas as a successful film-maker (his previous works THX1138 and American Graffiti while critically acclaimed were not commercially successful) as well as introducing Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo and Chewbacca to a legion of unsuspecting children who had never seen anything quite like it.

The plot when it comes right down to it isn't the most cutting edge. Indeed it rarely rises above B-movie level and relies heavily on plotlines from other movies. However Lucas somehow created a movie that became greater than the sum of its parts. While aficionados of the genre will swear that the sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, is the superior movie (and they'd be right), there's a certain charm in the original movie.

Harrison Ford is a standout in his breakthrough role as Han Solo, privateer with a heart of gold. Mark Hamill is constantly annoying as only a 17 year old teenager can - and Alec Guiness was an amalgam of every single mentor in every single coming of age movie of all time. The combination is magic on screen, complemented nicely by the villainous Darth Vader and the pretty Princess Leia.

The other movies in the series are much more complex and deal with more complicated themes, but the original is still fun for a wild two hour ride and imagining you're 7 years old and the fate of the Rebellion hinges on you 'Using the Force'. A modern classic.

8/10

- Umes

Houseguest

Houseguest, 1995

Is there a movie out there you've seen multiple times for no apparent reason? For me it's outrageous comedy Houseguest.

The irrepressible Sinbad plays a con man on the run from the mob. To avoid being caught he poses as the childhood friend of Gary Young (the late Phil Hartman) and winds up staying with his family.

This is silly stuff but there are reasons to not dismiss it completely.

Firstly, Phil Hartman, has a voice (see Troy McClure) good enough to make the phone book entertaining and in light of his death all of his work is worth cherishing.

Secondly, actors from two of TV's most decorated shows bob up in completely over the top roles. Jeffrey Jones (Deadwood) plays a dentist - not convinced that Sinbad is who he claims to be, while Paul Ben-Victor (Season 2 of The Wire) is the mobster chasing the star's tail.

Houseguest is ridiculous - complete with a terrifically stupid wine tasting scene and a bizarre trip to the golf course.

This is by no means a recommendation but if you're in the mood for something dumb and miss Phil Hartman's voice, well.....the offer's there.

4/10

Nutbuckle

Species

Species, 1995

Natasha Henstridge is a common sight on the small screen these days (Eli Stone, Commander In Chief) but in 1995 she had hundreds of teenage boys in a spin thanks to Species.

Henstridge plays Sil - the product of a DNA splicing experiment gone right.

Part human, part Alien - Sil needs to mate with a male to properly wreak havoc on Earth's inhabitants.

Also appearing in this soft porn sci-fi are the uber cool Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs), Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Ben Kinglsey (Gandhi) and even a very young Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain).

Critics didn't welcome Species with open arms but I think it's entertaining enough to warrant a look - the supporting cast has fun with what they're given.

It's directed by Australian born Roger Donaldson who was responsible for Cold War drama 'Thirteen Days' and the very watchable 'The Bank Job' and he keeps a good pace up here.

It's probably worth the hiring fee for Henstridge alone.

6/10

Nutbuckle

Highlander

Highlander, 1986

The good name of Highlander has been tarnished by a series of underwhelming follow-ups but the original remains a downright classic.

Frenchie Christopher Lambert (Mortal Kombat) plays immortal Scotsman Connor MacLeod - over 400 years old but still up for a fight.

Mentored by the Egyptian born Ramirez (Sean Connery, Goldfinger) - MacLeod prepares for 'The Gathering' - the grand final for immortal warriors.

Standing in MacLeod's way is The Kurgan (Clancy Brown, The Shawshank Redemption) - whose 3000 years on earth have left him a little cynical and nasty. The Kurgan's people were originally so evil they would throw children into deep pits full of hungry dogs. This sort of form makes him an easy man to root against.

The idea of immortality (decapitation is the only way to finish off an immortal) has always fascinated me and it's well thrashed out here. The concept of 'The Quickening' is original and clever.

With a killer soundtrack by Queen and a wonderfully dreary snapshot of New York in the 1980's - Highlander is rewarding viewing.

I encourage you to watch the whole franchise of movies (plus the TV spin-off) but after all - 'there can be only one'.

Dark, ominous and intriguing - Highlander is a worthy addition to your video collection.

9/10

Nutbuckle

Copy Cat

Copy Cat, 1995

Harry Connick Jr. and Sigourney Weaver play a serial killer and psychiatrist with serious history in this not too subtle nod to The Silence of the Lambs.

Tormented by a violent encounter with the now incarcerated Darryl Lee Cullum (Connick Jr.), Helen Hudson (Weaver) prefers not to leave her house.

This proves an obstacle for two detectives who need her help solving a string of grizzly murders.

Copy Cat suffers from a 'made-for-TV feel' and Weaver's not at her best without a gorilla or alien to bounce off.

Holly Hunter (The Piano) and Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend's Wedding) play the detectives on the trail of the 'Copy Cat'.

This isn't going to blow your mind but it's worth a peek to see Harry Connick ham it up. He's really quite good.

5/10

Nutbuckle

A Simple Plan

A Simple Plan, 1998

Bill Paxton (Apollo 13) and Billy Bob Thornton (Bad Santa) play a rather unlikely pair of brothers in this snow covered late nineties thriller.

The siblings, along with an out of work local, stumble across a plane crash complete with rotting pilot and $4.4 million.

The cash spikes their attention more than the deceased pilot and a plan to split and keep the money is hatched.

But before they even get a chance to buy themselves a holiday - trouble strikes and the trio is at odds with one another.

A Simple Plan is an interesting, albeit far fetched look at human character and our decision making skills under pressure.

Billy Bob Thornton changes gears from downright stupid to impressively cunning while Paxton is his usual curious self.

A late cameo from Gary Cole will bring a smile to the face of Entourage fans.

A Simple Plan could well be described as a poor man's No Country For Old Men - but hey - you could be called worse.

6/10

Nutbuckle

The Fifth Element

The Fifth Element, 1997

On a completely different scale to this reviewer's past work featuring Bruce Willis, the Fifth Element is a resounding success.

Luc Besson's vivd glimpse of a future comes fully equipped with George Jetson like flying cars, whizz-bang healing tubes and a memorable voyage into the world of blue alien opera.

Corban Dallas (Willis) is a ultra-washed up military man spending his days in the taxi industry when destiny comes a callin' in the very pleasant shape of all thats powerful and good in the world Milla Jovovich. And wouldn't you know it, Corban and the smoldering Serbian hit it off in a race against the clock battle to save humanity against complete Evil, epitomised by the superbly goulish Zorg (Gary Oldman).

The highlight to this movie, however, comes in the form of Rush Hour's own comic star Chris Tucker who plays the outrageous philandering radio presenter Ruby Rhod who makes Prince look shy and intraverted. Please check this movie out if only for this reason. Please.

While the Fifth Element was never destined for critical acclaim, it sits handsomely alongside other favourites in many DVD collections. This is an innovatively shot movie with a killer score that sees Willis win over many fans as the chain smoking hard ass.

Did I mention Jovovich looks fit dressed only in bandages? and just a tip - I'm not referring to tutankhamun like attire

Hilarious fun.

9/10

Midbus