I've Totally Seen That Movie Before

Death to Smoochy (2002) Director:  Danny DeVito Writer: Adam Resnick Cast:  Robin Williams, Edward Norton, Catherine Keener, Danny DeVito, Jon Stewart, Pam Ferris, Danny Woodburn, Michael Rispoli, Harvey Fierstein, Vincent Schiavelli Synopsis: Popular children's show host Rainbow Randolph (Williams) is fired after being arrested for taking bribes. To rebound from the controversy, network executives Frank Stokes (Stewart) and Nora Wells (Keener) seek a replacement that is above reproach. They find their man in the squeaky-clean Sheld Mopes (Norton) and his character Smoochy the Rhino. Sheldon soon learns about the seedy underbelly of children's television and must deal with jaded execs, shifty agents, corrupt charities and the Irish mob to boot.  First Impressions : Pretty sure I saw this in the theater, though I don't recall for certain. I know I was super excited to see it because the movie's marketing touted that it was from the director of Throw Momma From the Train,...

Stand By Me (1986) Director: Rob Reiner Writers:  Stephen King (novel), Raynold Gideon (screenplay), Bruce A. Evans (screenplay) Cast:  Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, Casey Siemaszko, Gary Reilly, Bradley Gregg, Marshall Bell, Frances Lee McCain, Richard Dreyfuss, John Cusak Synopsis: Following the tragic death of one of his childhood friends, a grown Gordie LaChance (Dreyfuss) recalls a time in 1959 when he (Wheaton) and his friends Chris (Phoenix), Teddy (Feldman) and Vern (O'Connell) set off on an adventure to find the body of a missing kid. Along the way, they learn about themselves, their friendship and about standing up for themselves and for what's right. First Impressions: I was 10 years old when this film hit theatres, and since it was Rated R, I wasn't allowed to see it. Honestly, at that age, I wouldn't have been terribly interested in it anyway. I ended up catching it for the first time in its entirety when...

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) Directors:  Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones Writers:  Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin Cast:  Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Connie Booth, Carol Cleveland, Neil Innes Synopsis: Arthur, King of the Britons (Chapman), along with his dutiful knights Sir Launcelot (Cleese), Sir Galahad (Palin), Sir Bedevere (Jones), Sir Robin (Idle) and the aptly named Sir Not Appearing in This Film, set off on a quest to retrieve the Holy Grail. On their journey, they are beset by all manner of peril, including the vicious Black Knight (also Cleese), vile taunting Frenchmen, the Knights Who Say Ni and the dreaded killer rabbit. Silliness ensues. First Impressions: This movie was released a year before I was born, so I didn't get to catch it in theatres. I wasn't introduced to the genius that is Monty Python until I was in high school, as is the case for many ...

Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) Director:  John McTiernan Writers:  Jonathan Hensleigh, Roderick Thorpe (characters) Cast:  Bruce Willis, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L. Jackson, Graham Greene, Colleen Camp, Larry Bryggman, Anthony Peck, Nick Wyman, Sam Phillips Synopsis: Lt. John McClane (Willis) is brought back off suspension when a terrorist blows up a department store in downtown New York City. The terrorist, a man named Simon (Irons), threatens to set off more bombs unless McClane completes the tasks he sets out for him. Simon has some sort of personal grudge against McClane and has him run around New York City, along with a civilian named Zeus (Jackson), participating in increasingly more elaborate tasks. McClane and Zeus soon discover that there is more to Simon's plans than meets the eye, but will they be able to find him in time before he escapes. First Impression: I missed this one in theaters but managed to catch it on home video not long after. I quite enjoyed the mo...