Recent Viewings, Part 2

[FatFreddysCat]

"Zapped!" (1982)
A lab accident gives a high school science whiz (Scott Baio) telekinetic powers, which he uses to get even with bullies, cheat at gambling, and (most importantly) make girls' clothes fly off.
This cheap, silly teen T&A comedy was a cable TV staple when I was in high school, so even though it's dumb as rocks, it was still fun to revisit it. The supporting cast includes Scott's future "Charles in Charge" co-star Willie Aames and a pre-"Fall Guy" Heather Thomas. Tragically, the end credits inform us that the topless scene involving Heather's character used a body double, not the real Ms. Thomas, which absolutely broke my heart when I was a teen.

[Dr. Whom]

Seven Samurai (1954)

At 207 minutes, this is epic in every respect. It is much more than your basic adventure story, with social commentary on a wide range of themes. It does suffer from what I'd call the Dune Syndrome, in that so many later productions have taken themes, tropes and story beats from it, making it now look more stereotypical than it is. Very impressive nevertheless.

I went in largely unprepared, so I was surprised by Mifune's character, who was a lot more insane than I expected. Also, he fights in some random pieces and a thong, a set up I had never seen outside of Frank Frazetta's illustrations.

[M.10rda]

I hang out here because a review of SEVEN SAMURAI can follow a review of ZAPPED! 

THIRTEEN (2003):
I believe this is the only film I've watched so far this month      but such is the life of a workaholic. I only sat down and watched this because my wife started watching it and I hadn't seen it since the Toronto IFF in 2003. Still I remembered many scenes vividly, including Jeremy Sisto's powerfully understated final big scene - what happened to Jeremy Sisto, incidentally? I did somehow forget that Deborah Kara Unger was in this film, in spite of her giving a monstrous performance as a trainwreck. Vanessa Hudgens and some other people I couldn't possibly have recognized in 2003 who now have had careers are also in it. Evan Rachel Wood was young in this and (for all I know) starring in this film screwed up her wiring enough to make her ideal prey for Marilyn Manson in years to follow, though Wood is completely credible anyway.

The main attraction though is Holly Hunter, who earned one of her four Oscar nominations for playing Wood's mom. (She's won only once, for THE PIANO.) Hunter is an incredible onscreen presence when given a worthy role, as in RAISING ARIZONA or MISS FIRECRACKER and in a very different, more subdued yet no less moving performance here. THIRTEEN is thoughtful and well-made enough to be a cut-above an Afterschool Special otherwise, but Hunter elevates it to inescapable Good Movie status.

Director Catherine Hardwicke co-wrote this with 15yo Nikki Reed, who plays Wood's toxic bestie. They went on to work on several other projects including at least one of the TWILIGHT movies.  THIRTEEN still holds up 22 years later. Teens still act like this and parents still feign utter horror and disbelief at the behavior. Hardwicke and Reed could probably easily turn this into a stage play and it would come across well.
4/5
Or, in the prevailing spirit of our pop culture, they could turn it into THIRTEEN! THE MUSICAL.