I've Totally Seen That Movie Before

Romancing the Stone (1984) Director: Robert Zemeckis Writer:  Diane Thomas Cast:  Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, Zack Norman, Alfonso Arau, Manuel Ojeda, Holland Taylor, Mary Ellen Trainor Synopsis: Mousy romance novelist Joan Wilder (Turner) is sent a treasure map in the mail from her recently deceased brother-in-law. She is told by criminals Ira (Norman) and Ralph (DeVito) that she must travel to Colombia to give the map to them in exchange for her sister Elaine (Trainor), who they had kidnapped. Joan complies with the demands, and upon arriving in Colombia, she becomes lost in the jungle after being waylaid by the mysterious Colonel Zolo (Ojeda), who also wants the map. She is rescued by Jack Colton (Douglas), who agrees to bring her back to civilization and eventually convinces her to seek the treasure as leverage for her sister's life.  First Impressions: I know; this seems like the last movie that I would watch, let alone review. However, this film ...

Casino Royale (2006) Director:  Martin Campbell Writers:  Neal Purvis (screenplay), Robert Wade (screenplay), Paul Haggis (screenplay), Ian Flemming (novel) Cast:  Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright, Giancarlo Giannini, Caterina Murino, Simon Abkarian, Isaach De Bankolé, Jesper Christiansen, Ivana Milicevic, Tobias Menzies Synopsis: Newley promoted to 00 status, James Bond (Craig) is tasked with bringing in LeChiffre (Mikkelsen), a private banker, to the world's terrorists. LeChiffre sets up a high-stakes poker game at Montenegro's Casino Royale to recover a large sum of his clients' money after a failed attempt to short airline stock. Along with Treasury agent Vesper Lynd (Green), Bond is staked in the game to prevent LeChiffre from winning and, thus, forcing him to seek MI:6's protection from his enemies. Bond soon discovers that LeChiffre isn't acting alone and discovers a shadowy that may be pulling his strings. First Impression:...

61* (2001) Director:  Billy Crystal Writer: Hank Steinberg Cast:  Barry Pepper, Thomas Jane, Anthony Michael Hall, Richard Masur, Bruce McGill, Chris Bauer, Jennifer Crystal Foley, Christopher McDonald, Bob Gunton, Donald Moffat, Peter Jacobson, Seymor Cassel Synopsis: In 1961, two New York Yankee teammates, Roger Maris (Pepper) and Mickey Mantle (Jane), flirt with breaking Babe Ruth's record for home runs hit in a single season. Mantle, a long-time Yankee, is affable and popular, while Maris is more subdued and uncomfortable with the attention the race brings. While Mantle is showered with support from the New York fans, Maris is taunted and even threatened by a fan base that would rather see the beloved Mantle beat a record held by the most famous Yankee ever to play the game.  First Impressions: I didn't catch this one in theaters, mostly because it was never in theaters. The film was produced and aired on HBO in the early 2000s. Since I wasn't subscribed to that parti...

Conan the Destroyer (1984) Director: Richard Fleischer Writers: Robert E. Howard (characters), Roy Thomas (story), Gerry Conway (story), Stanley Mann (screenplay) Cast:  Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grace Jones, Wilt Chamberlain, Mako, Tracey Walter, Sarah Douglas, Olivia D'Abo, Pat Roach,  Synopsis: Conan (Schwarzenegger) and his companion Malak (Walters) are recruited by Queen Taramis (Douglas) to escort her niece Jenna (D'Abo) to an island castle, where she must acquire a magical key. The key opens a vault containing a magical horn prophesied to bring back to life the ancient god Dagoth. Along with the Queen's captain of the guards, Bombaata (Chamberlain), the wizard Akiro (Mako) and the savage Zula (Jones), Conan and company must contend with cannibals, fanatics, monsters and betrayal from within to ensure the safe return of Jenna and the horn.  First Impressions: I actually saw this film before I saw the first movie and right around the same time. I caught Conan the Destro...

Conan the Barbarian (1982) Director: John Milius Writers:  Robert E. Howard (based on the character created by) John Milius, Oliver Stone Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Earl Jones, Max von Sydow, Sandahl Bergman, Ben Davidson, Cassandra Gava, Gerry Lopez, Mako, Valérie Quennessen, William Smith Synopsis: After witnessing his parents' death at the hand of Thulsa Doom (Jones) and his snake cult, a young Conan the Cimmerian (Schwarzenegger) is sold into slavery and sent to be broken on the wheel of pain. After years of fighting in gladiatorial pits, Conan earns his freedom and sets out to gain vengeance against Doom. Along the way, he joins with Subotai (Lopez) and Valeria (Bergman), and together they steal a jewel from the cult bringing them to King Osric's attention. The king hires them to travel to the Mountain of Power and the temple of Set to rescue his daughter, who has been taken in by the evil cult.  First Impressions: I was six years old when this movie hit theaters,...