Now And Then

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: October 20, 1995

DVD Release Date: December 21, 1999

Plot 411: Four small-town girls discover that the only people the can count on is each other.

Review: This is definitely the answering call to Stand By Me but for girls. It stars Christina Ricci and Rosie O'Donnell as Roberta, Thora Birch and Melanie Griffith as Teeny, Gaby Hoffman and Demi Moore as Samantha and Ashleigh Aston Moore and Rita Wilson as Crissy. The movie opens as the friends are reunited in present time when Crissy's pregnancy calls them back together. But, it takes place mostly during a summer in the 1970s, when the girls are about 12 years old. During this one great summer they learn all kinds of life lessons while discovering boys, uncovering town secrets, overcoming misconceptions and confronting mortality. They spend what is their last summer of childhood together before they become too old to continue to pretend life is perfect. They experience lives that are sometimes difficult and disappointing, thus taking that final step toward adulthood. It's a great coming-of-age story for girls that extols the power of friendship (plus, it has a rockin' soundtrack to boot), but it's definitely no Beaches.

Watch It: At your next slumber party with all your BFFs around and a tub of popcorn.

Skip It: Because it's a little saccharin even for my tastes.

Train

Rating:

Movie Release Date: May 2, 2009 (Japan)

DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009

Plot 411: Hostel on wheels with an even worse plot

Review: Thora Birch stars in this bloodbath of a film that is viciously brutal when not overly sexual. What happened to little Dani from Hocus Pocus? Her character, Alex, is a member of a US wrestling team that is making their way from one city to the next in a tournament. Alex, three teammates and an assistant coach go out partying (insert gratuitous nudity here) after a match only to miss their train the next morning. A freaky-looking Eastern European woman (what a stereotype!) helps the Americans hitch a ride on a different train. Then the movie proceeds from one kill to another in a very thin plot that emphasizes anything gruesome. I admit that I like me some horror with blood and guts every now and again, but this movie just takes it to the extreme and doesn't even do it in a new or clever way. It's as if they brainstormed the worst things imaginable and how to make it happen. I don't want to spoil the movie for you, but I suppose if you do watch this movie it's definitely not for the plot. This movie manages to imply or depict the following: xenophobia, orgies, gang rape, castration (while awake mind you), necrophilia, inbreeding and, organ harvesting. Need I even go on? If you can get yourself past that, the characters (both good and bad) act stupidly and do not do what normal people would do. Even time is messed up in this movie! How can an ocular transplant patient be up and moving and seeing mere days after the surgery?

Watch It: Because maybe you're interested in special effects manufacturing and you want a decent case study.

Skip It: Because besides all the gory details, the movie and its characters are illogical.

Hocus Pocus

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: July 16, 1993

DVD Release Date: June 4, 2002

Plot 411: Three witches are reawakened on Halloween and seek to absorb the lifeforces of children to remain immortal.

Review: I remember this movie being a lot of fun, but I honestly haven't seen it in a long time so I don't know if it holds up. The basic premise is that three witch sisters, Winnie (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Mary (Kathy Najimy), were sucking the lifeforces out of children in the 1600s and were killed for this during the Salem Witch Trials. They cast two last spells though - 1) one to bring them back to life if a virgin ever lit a black-flamed candle in their home and 2) to make a meddlesome boy named Thackery Binx (Sean Murray) live for eternity as a cat. Three hundred years later Max (Omri Katz) lights a candle and unleashes the witches. They have one day to absorb the lifeforce of Max's little sister Dani (Thora Birch). The rest of the movie is a cat and mouse game between Max and friends and the witch sisters. Who wouldn't love a little bit a magic, some singing and the love between brothers and sisters? This was a really great family fantasy/adventure movie and funny as hell too. I gotta say that I watch NCIS rather frequently but didn't realize that Timothy McGee was in Hocus Pocus till I looked it up. Wow, look how far he's come. Even Sarah Jessica Parker was a surprise. I'd forgotten about her too.

Watch It: And root for the witches because other than wanting to suck out your soul, they're not that bad.

Skip It: If you've got young children. Most of this movie isn't too scary, but there is a zombie character that has his mouth sewn shut that's kind of freaky.

Ghost World

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: August 3, 2001

DVD Release Date: February 5, 2002

Plot 411: Two outsiders, Enid and Rebecca, must decide what to do next after graduating high school.

Review: Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) don't really fit in with the cheerleader crowd at school. They are both more mature than their age, yet their actions still reveal them to be the teens that they are. When the girls respond to a personal ad they meet music-obsessed outsider Seymour (Steve Buscemi) and have a good laugh at his expense. As Enid gets to know him though, she discovers that she has more in common with him than first thought. Her fascination with him slowly pulls her away from Rebecca and strains the lifelong relationship. This movie isn't your typical teen comedy, although there are some quirky indie moments. Although many of the characters in this film are portrayed as outsiders and different, I think many people can relate to their feelings in one way or another. Another common theme is the painful but real situation of two friends who grow apart. People you've know your entire life can all of a sudden be completely different, especially at that age, and it's a difficult thing to reconcile. Dreams and goals change, and change is a big part of this film. What I found absurd is how Johansson could be cast as a social misfit. At 17, she was already a beauty. She should've been cast as Miss Teen Spirit rather than a social deviant. Also in this film are Brad Renfro and Illeana Douglas. David Cross also as a small part in this movie.

Watch It: If you normally like these indie teen flicks. It's got a pre-Juno sort of feel to it.

Skip It: In favor of Napoleon Dynamite (which I didn't particularly like but still think is better than this film) or Juno (which I enjoyed tremendously).