Month: July 2020

The Karate Kid – we review a classic ’80’s movie we loved (1984)

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the karate kid

the karate kid

The Karate Kid holds up and is maybe even more enjoyable now than when we were kids. Dusty’s seen it 4x with his kids and Sky loved it again. Great life lessons from Mr. Miyagi, bullies getting what’s coming to them and Daniel-san winning the tournament. What’s not to love? And don’t forget, Elisabeth Shue!!!

SPOILER ALERT!  Watch the movie before proceeding.

Life Lessons Learned from The Karate Kid

Listen to our episode on The Karate Kid

Sky: Listen to those with experience.

  • Kids nowadays don’t listen to their elders (have they ever?). Your elders have “been around the block a few times” and experienced more, so they’ve got more insight. If a Mr. Miyagi comes around and tries to impart knowledge, you’d best listen.

Everyone needs a mentor like Mr. Miyagi.

Dusty: Don’t turn away a girl when you are hurt. 

  • Just like in Back to the Future (Lorraine taking care of injured George/Marty), women love taking care of you. Let Ali dote over you, Daniel-san!

Kreese and Johnny are unforgettable baddies.

Sky: Balance is key.

  • Not just physical balance, but also balance between all of our roles in life.

Dusty: Never wear a towel around your neck and under your jacket.

  • You look like a tool (Ali’s dad coming back from the club). Also, avoid popped collars and scarfs when NOT in season.

The final moment! Love that balance and the Crane Kick to the face.

The Karate Kid crane kick (screen grab) Credit: Columbia Pictures

 

Rotten Tomatoes scores:

  • The Audience: 82%
  • The Critics: 88%

Grades:

  • A+ from Dusty
  • A from Sky

Check out the IMDB page for more info.

Check out last week’s episode on The Hunt.

The Hunt with Betty Gilpin and Hillary Swank… We loved it!

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the hunt

The Hunt was super fun, full of death and dismemberment. What’s that say about us? Who cares! We loved it and how it struck at both sides of the political spectrum.

SPOILER ALERT!  Watch the movie before proceeding.

Life Lessons Learned from The Hunt

Listen to our episode on The Hunt

Sky: Keep your wits about you.

  • There’s always a fool that goes off with guns blazing, losing his mind. That’s how you get killed.
Members of the hunted (from left, Ike Barinholz, back to camera, Justin Hartley, Kate Nowlin), including Daisy (Emma Roberts) and Don (Wayne Duvall), find weapons in a clearing in The Hunt, directed by Craig Zobel.

Dusty: Be prepared for anything. 

  • You never know when you’ll be put into a life-and-death situation like this, so… bone up on your hunting, shooting and survival skills.

They screwed themselves royally by picking the wrong “Crystal”.

Sky: Be mindful of what you say and do, it can easily make you a target. 

  • Social media is a job killer. We’re not saying to NOT say what you want, but just beware that with today’s over-reacting and politically charged climate, what you say can be held against you. Cancelled!

Dusty: If someone is going to kill you, its either you or them.

  • Don’t play by any “rules”. They’re hunting you, hunt them right back and don’t hold back.

Loved this final battle between Betty Gilpin (Crystal) and Hillary Swank (Athena).

 

Rotten Tomatoes scores:

  • The Audience: 66%
  • The Critics: 56%

Grades:

  • A- from Dusty
  • A from Sky

Check out the IMDB page for more info.

Check out last week’s episode on Eurovision Song Contest.

Eurovision Song Contest | Reviewing a Wonderful Will Ferrell & Netflix Comedy

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Eurovision

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga was incredible. You’ve got the comedy styling of Will Ferrell with the wholesome sweetness of Rachel McAdams… along with killer songs and a great underdog story. Loved it!

SPOILER ALERT!  Watch the movie before proceeding.

Life Lessons Learned from Eurovision Song Contest

Listen to our episode on Eurovision Song Contest

Sky: Don’t quit on the thing you love. 

  • Lars loved Eurovision and singing and always pursued it no matter the ridicule he faced. Sigrit loved singing but also Lars and never gave up on him.

Dusty: It’s OK to be a dreamer. But, dream big!

  • It’s a huge dream of Fire Saga to win Eurovision and their chances are 1 in a few million. But, they pursued it and look where it got them.

It ain’t over until the fat lady sings.

Sky: Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. 

  • Before a final performance of any kind (board presentation, singing on stage, filming a movie), you’ve got to rehearse it step by step so you don’t screw it up. It was quite stupid on Lars’ part to spring secret performance aspects on Sigrit. But, it lead to an incredible underdog story success.

Dusty: Don’t over complicate things.

  • Adding too many elements to their performance was overkill. Just let your song and voice reach through to the audience instead of theatrics.

Dan Stevens killed it as Alexander Lemtov and held his own with Ferrell on screen.

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: The Story of Fire Saga- Dan Stevens as Alexander Lemtov. Cr. John Wilson/NETFLIX © 2020

 

Rotten Tomatoes scores:

  • The Audience: 80%
  • The Critics: 64%

Grades:

  • B+ from Dusty
  • A from Sky

Check out the IMDB page for more info.

Check out last week’s episode on The Saint.

The Saint Movie Review Spying & Heisting with Val Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue (1997)

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The Saint

The Saint was a fun movie in 1997, but the story telling doesn’t work for today’s audience. The performances of Kilmer and Shue are great, but they’re encumbered by a slow moving story. There are better spy and heist movies we’d recommend over this one.

SPOILER ALERT!  Watch the movie before proceeding.

Life Lessons Learned from The Saint

Listen to our episode on The Saint

Sky: Don’t take a job just for the money, especially from a victim of one of your crimes.

  • Simon meeting and negotiating with the Tretiak’s makes no sense. They have it in for you, Simon!

Dusty: Always have an escape.

  • Simon demonstrated this rule very well with his break-fall truck placed 20 stories below. Dangerous, but smart.

Kilmer’s nerdy reporter disguise fits right in.

Sky: There ARE hookers with a heart of gold. 

  • That hooker took them in and gave them clothes and a place to warm up, but then grandma turned them in. Just like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, they really do exist.

Dusty:  Learn how to disguise your voice.

  • Great party trick, and can also put the bad guys off your scent.

A fun scene with Simon portraying his own handler while negotiating with the Tretiak’s.

 

Rotten Tomatoes scores:

  • The Audience: 63%
  • The Critics: 30%

Grades:

  • B+ from Dusty
  • D+ from Sky

Check out the IMDB page for more info.

Check out last week’s episode on Back to the Future.