I've Totally Seen That Movie Before

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) Director:  Stephen Herek Writers:  Chris Matheson, Ed Solomon Cast:  Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin, Terry Camilleri, Dan Shor, Tony Steedman, Rod Loomis, Al Leong, Jane Weilden, Robert V. Barron, Hal Landon Jr., Bernie Casey, Amy Stoch Synopsis: Perennial slackers Bill S. Preston (Winter) and Ted "Theodore" Logan (Reeves) are in danger of failing history. They are told by their teacher Mr. Ryan (Casey), that if they don't get an A+ on their final oral report, they will flunk the class. Worse yet, Ted's father (Landon Jr.) threatens to send him to military school in Alaska if he fails, and they'll never be able to form their rock band, "Wyld Stallyns." Help comes in the form of time traveler Rufus (Carlin), who was sent from the future to ensure that Bil and Ted pass history. Rufus lends the boys his time machine, and they travel back in time to "borrow" famous historical figures, such a...

In the Line of Fire (1993) Directer:  Wolfgang Petersen Writer:  Jeff Maguire Cast:  Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich, Rene Russo, Dylan McDermott, Gary Cole, Fred Thompson, John Mahoney, Gregory Alan Williams, Jim Curley, Clyde Kusatsu, Steve Hynter Synopsis: Veteran Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan (Eastwood), who was assigned to JFK in 1963, is a legend in the agency as he is the only active agent to have lost a president, a fact that continues to haunt him to this day. Those memories come flooding back when he and his partner, Al (McDermott), are assigned to investigate a threat on President Traveler's (Curley) life by the deranged ex-CIA agent Mitch Leary (Malkovich). Leary has spent hours studying Horrigan and his involvement in the events at Dallas, and he taunts Frank with phone calls about his failure that day. Frank must track Leary down before the violent sociopath can carry out his plans to assassinate the President. First Impressions: I caught this one on vi...

Back to the Future (1985) Director: Robert Zemeckis Writers:  Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale Cast:  Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, Thomas F. Wilson., Claudia Wells, Marc McClure, Wendie Jo Sperber Synopsis: Small town teenager Marty McFly (Fox) is transported back to 1955 when an experiment by his eccentric scientist friend, Doc Brown (Lloyd), goes sideways. While visiting the past, Marty runs into his parents George (Glover) and Loraine (Thompson), as teenagers. Unfortunately, his chance encounter with his mother interfered with his parents' first meeting, corrupting the timeline and threatening his very existence. Marty must help George and Loraine meet and fall in love, or he will cease to exist. In addition, Marty and Doc must find a way to get him back to 1985, where he belongs. Movie history ensues. First Impressions: I think I saw this in the theaters, though I could be wrong. If I didn't, then I saw it not long after release on VHS. I was o...

Maverick (1994) Director:  Richard Donner Writers: Roy Huggins (original television series), William Goldman Cast:  Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Garner, Graham Greene, Alfred Molina, James Coburn, Geoffrey Lewis, Paul L. Smith Synopsis: Ace poker player and gambler Brett Maverick (Gibson) dreams of playing in a winner-take-all poker championship, but he's short $3,000 of the $25,000 entry fee. He ends up trying to acquire the extra cash by winning it in local poker games, where he encounters fake Southern Belle, Annabelle Bransford (Foster), who happens to be heading to the same poker game. Annabelle, along with veteran marshall Zane Cooper (Garner), continuously vexes Maverick as he deals with bandits and hostile natives as he makes his way to the game. In addition, a hired gun named Angel (Molina) was hired by an unknown benefactor to prevent Maverick from playing in the championship. Old west shenanigans ensure.  First Impressions: I caught this one on video with so...

Tremors (1990) Director: Ron Underwood Writers: S.S. Wilson (story, screenplay), Brent Maddock (story, screenplay), Ron Underwood (story) Cast:  Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire, Robert Jayne, Tony Genaro Synopsis:  People in the small, isolated town of Perfection, Nevada, must defend themselves against unknown subterranean creatures bent on killing them. Local handymen Val (Bacon) and Earl (Ward), along with grad student Rhonda (Carter), determine that the creatures can only move through sand, and they decide the safest place for the remaining populace is the granite mountains several miles away. Unfortunately, the creatures can stop cars and trucks, so the town must figure out how to cross the expansive desert floor without becoming the creature's next meal. Glorious B-Movie schlock ensues.  First Impression: I missed this one in theaters. Though, to be fair, I don't think Tremors even made it to my local theater. Nevertheless, I managed...