Reviews

Jordan Needleman’s Film Corner

Jordan Needleman, staff writer|May 31, 2021

Junior Jordan Needleman’s screening room

Since I’ve had plenty of downtime and movie theaters were not an option, I was relegated to watching movies in my basement the past 13 months, which has not only given me a chance to watch new films but also re-watch some of my favorites.

The Muppet Movie (1979)

The movie is an origin story of how the Muppets came to be. Of course, you might think it is a bit odd that a 17-year-old boy would be watching the Muppet Movie but I disagree. This film is quite amazing and probably even funnier than the first time I saw it about 10 years ago. The film features cameos from actors such as Mel Brooks, Steve Martin and Dom DeLuise, amongst others. 84/100

Watch The Muppet Movie now on Disney Plus. If you like to make it a double, triple or even quadruple feature, I suggest Disney Plus’ entire Muppet collection. Trust me, you will not regret it.

Troll 2 (1990)

This is one of, if not the best, worst movies ever made. My emotions varied from uncontrollable laughter due to terrible dialogue or absolute confusion for a plot that made absolutely no sense. From the terrible acting to the dialogue that matches, no, surpasses the works of Sir William Shakespeare, not to mention the fact that the word Troll is never actually said, Troll 2 is one of those films that is a must for any filmgoer. 100/100

Catch this now on HBO Max and if you’d like to make it a double feature, the documentary Best Worst Movie details how the cult phenomenon has come to be.

King Kong (1933)

Boy oh boy, where do I even start this one. Fair warning, this film is very much a product of its time. There are multiple instances of poor representation of Asian and indigenous cultures but they don’t linger too long on it. In Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds he describes the film as a metaphor for the American slave trade. If you’re willing to move beyond this, the film is a spectacle in visual facts, storytelling and an overall masterwork in how to tell a gripping action-adventure story. Although from an effects standpoint it may not compare well to CGI-heavy movies such as The Avengers, you most certainly will be immersed in the film’s universe by the point it would become unnoticeable. 93/100

You can find this movie on HBO Max or for free on TCM. I highly recommend pairing this with the original Godzilla.

The Thing (1982)

This is one of my absolute favorite films. I could gush all day about the score or the effects. This is a story about paranoia and a group of men stuck and isolated in a hopeless situation. The character work in this film is unparalleled, stemming from Kurt Russell’s unmatchable performance as RJ McReady to Wilfred Brimley’s mad doctor Blair. This film will have your attention from the first frame and long after its last. (Legitimate) 100/100

Why it’s only available on the Criterion Channel, which I know for a fact nobody owns, the film is available for rent. Don’t be fooled: the 2011 remake is also called The Thing and that sucks. Do not watch that; if you do want a double feature there’s a multitude of films I could suggest but I think I’ll go with Escape From New York, which also stars Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken.

If you’d like to check out my IMDb list of the movies I saw over quarantine here’s the link: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls500074512/

I hope you enjoy.