I've Totally Seen That Movie Before

Die Hard 2 (1990) Director: Renny Harlin Writers:  Walter Wager (novel), Steven E. de Souza (screenplay), Doug Richardson (screenplay) Cast:  Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, William Atherton, Reginald VelJohnson, Franco Nero, William Sadler, John Amos, Dennis Franz, Art Evans, Fred Thompson, Tom Bower, Sheila McCarthy Synopsis: It's deja vu all over again for Detective John McClane (Willis) when visiting his in-laws in Washington DC, terrorists seize control of Dulles Airport taking thousands of travellers hostage. The terrorists, led by rogue U.S. Army Colonel Stewart (Sadler), want the government to free the notorious South American drug lord, General Esperanza (Nero), who is scheduled to land at the airport later that evening. The terrorists cut off the airport's ability to communicate with incoming flight, forcing dozens of planes to circle the airport stranding hundreds of people in the air, including McClane's wife Holly (Bedelia). John must contend with a well-trained ...

Die Hard (1988) Director:  John McTiernan Writer:  Roderick Thorpe (novel), Jeb Stuart (screenplay), Steven E. de Souza (screenplay) Cast:  Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Paul Gleason, De'Voreaux White, William Atherton, Hart Bochner, James Shigeta, Alexander Godunov Synopsis: NYPD detective John McClane (Willis) travels to Los Angeles to visit his wife, Holly (Bedelia) and kids for the holidays. While attending Holly's office Christmas party, John is caught up in an apparent terrorist attack led by Has Gruber (Rickman). The only support John has is from Sgt. Al Powell of the LAPD, who offers him a friendly ear through radio communications. Alone and barefoot, McClane must fight off the terrorists and save his wife. Awesome Christmas action ensues. First Impressions: I was 12 years old when this movie came out and, unfortunately, was prohibited by my mom from seeing it in the theaters. Fortunately, I had a friend whose mother wasn't so co...

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) Director:  Richard Marquand Writers:  Lawrence Kasdan (screenplay), George Lucas (screenplay & story) Cast:  Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Ian McDiarmid, David Prowse, James Earl Jones, Warwick Davis, Frank Oz, Alec Guinness, Kenny Baker Synopsis: After rescuing Han Solo (Ford) from the clutches of the evil gangster Jabba the Hutt, Luke Skywalker (Hamill), Chewbacca (Mayhew), Princess Leia (Fisher) and Lando Calrissian (Williams) rejoin the rebel alliance as it plans one final assault against the Emperor (McDiarmid) and his new Death Star. Han, Leia, Luke and Chewy, along with the droids R2-D2 (Baker) and C-3PO (Daniels), are tasked with infiltrating an Imperial installation on the forest moon of Endor and destroy a shield generator protecting the unfinished Death Star to open the door for the assault on the space station, led by Lando. Luke struggles with...

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Director: Irvin Kershner Writers: Leigh Brackett (screenplay), Lawrence Kasdan (Screenplay), George Lucas (story) Cast:  Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Alec Guinness, James Earl Jones Synopsis: After the destruction of the Death Star, the rebels flee to their hidden base on the ice planet of Hoth. While there, the hero of the Rebellion, Luke Skywalker (Hamill), is visited by the ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Guinness), who tells him to seek out Jedi Master Yoda (Oz) on the remote planet of Dagobah. Soon after, the rebels' base is discovered and attacked by the Empire, led by the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader (Prowse/Jones). During the battle, Han Solo (Ford) escapes the base with Princess Leia (Fisher) and C3P0 (Daniels) but are pursued across the sector by Vader's fleet. Meanwhile, Luke travels to Dagobah with R2-D2 (Baker) to meet t...

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) Director: George Lucas Writer:  George Lucas Cast:  Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, James Earle Jones (voice) Synopsis: Farmboy Luke Skywalker (Hamill) sets off with his two droids C-3PO (Daniels) and R2-D2 (Baker) and the reclusive hermit Ben Kenobi (Guinness) to deliver secret plans of the Death Star, the ultimate weapon in the hands of the evil Galactic Empire, into the hands of the Rebel Alliance. Along the way, they meet the smuggler Han Solo (Ford) and his first mate Chewbacca (Mayhew), who assist them in not only delivering the plans but also in rescuing Princess Leia Organa (Fisher), who is being held captive aboard the giant space station. After their escape, the heroes are pursued by the villainous Darth Vader (Prowse/Jones) and Grand Moff Tarkin (Cushing), who uncover the rebels' hideout, forcing the Alliance to execute a high-...

Dr. No (1962) Director: Terrence Young Writers:  Richard Maibaum (screenplay), Johanna Harwood (screenplay), Berkley Mather (screenplay), Ian Fleming (novel) Cast:  Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman, Jack Lord, Bernard Lee, Anthony Dawson, Zena Marshall, John Kitzmiller, Lois Maxwell Synopsis: Super-spy James Bond (Connery) travels to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of a fellow British agent. Along with CIA agent Felix Leiter (Lord) and local sailor, Quarrel (Kitzmiller), Bond learns of the mysterious scientists Dr. No (Wiseman) who lives on his own private island, Crab Key. While investigating Crab Key, Bond discovers a plot by Dr. No to sabotage NASA rockets launched out of Cape Canaveral and learn of the shadowy organization, known as SPECTRE. With the help of local shell diver Honey Ryder (Andress), Bond must stop No's plan before the next rocket launch. First Impressions: In a first for this blog, I have no first impressions of this movie, as I've ...

Sleepy Hollow (1999) Director: Tim Burton Writers:  Washington Irving (story), Kevin Yagher (screen story), Andrew Kevin Walker (screenplay) Cast:  Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Casper Van Dien, Jeffrey Jones, Richard Griffiths, Ian McDiarmid, Michael Gough, Christopher Walken, Marc Pickering, Steven Waddington Synopsis: New York City Constable Ichabod Crane (Depp) is sent to a small town upstate called Sleepy Hollow, which has experienced several murders with the victims found decapitated. When he arrives in the town, the town elders led by rich farmer Baltus Van Tassel (Gambon) advise the constable that the killings were made by the mythical Headless Horseman. Being a man of science, Crane passes off the elders' warnings as mere nonsense, but he soon proved wrong as he discovers that the horseman is not only real, but it has an agenda. With the help of young Masbeth (Pickering) and Van Tassel's daughter Katrina (Ricci), Crane works to unco...

Ghostbusters (1984) Director:  Ivan Reitman Writers:  Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis Cast:  Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, William Atherton, Ernie Hudson Synopsis: After having their research grants at Columbia University cancelled, scientists Peter Venkman (Murray), Ray Stanz (Akroyd) and Egon Spengler (Ramis) go into business for themselves selling paranormal investigations and elimination services, calling themselves Ghostbusters. They are hired by musician Dana Barret (Weaver), who experienced an unsettling paranormal encounter in her kitchen. As the investigation progresses, the Ghostbusters become busier and busier as New York seems to be exploding with paranormal activity. They soon discover that Dana's apartment building could be the source of all their troubles, as they find that it is a conduit for the return of the ancient Sumerian god of destruction, Gozer. First Impressions: In my previous review of The Goonies ,...

Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) Director:  Richard Donner Writers:  Jeffrey Boam (screenplay), Robert Mark Kamen (screenplay), Shane Black (characters) Cast: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Stuart Wilson, Steve Kahan, Darlene Love, Traci Wolfe, Damon Hines, Ebonie Smith, Alan Scarfe Synopsis: Riggs (Gibson) and Murtaugh (Glover) are busted down to patrolmen after an incident with an explosive device caused the destruction of a building. While on patrol, the pair of foil and armoured car heist is linked to an arms dealing outfit with LAPD connections. As Riggs and Murtaugh investigate the connection, they run afoul of Internal Affairs detective Lorna Cole (Russo), who is currently investigating the case. Eventually, Cole agrees to let Riggs in on the investigation, while Murtaugh deals with his son Nick's (Hines) friend's death while trying to make it to retirement. Violence ensues. First Impressions: I missed this one in the theatres but managed to catch it on video wh...