SimonW
Well-known member
lol...yeah. I told you I would review the movie..that why I suggested you review the DVD.
SimonW's Movie Reviews
- Thread starter SimonW
- Start date
lol...yeah. I told you I would review the movie..that why I suggested you review the DVD.
SimonW
Well-known member
lol..mine is more "mature".
Warning: Those who are under 15, do not read the next 4 reviews coming up. They are horror movie reviews and should not be seen by those under 15 years...though mostly because of the violance.
The Lost Boys: Movie Review (Halloween Special 1)
Okay, where shall I begin? Guess the title is the main thing so far. The title of this movie is The Lost Boys, not to be confused with Peter Pan's "Lost Boys", though it has that slight feel of it, hence the name. But, it is completely different. The Lost Boys is a 1987 horror/comedy movie about teenage vampires that live in California.
Directed by Joel Schumacher, this delightful vampire story stars Jason Patric, Corey Haim, and Kiefer Sutherland, and co-stars Jami Gertz, Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest, Edward Herrmann, Alex Winter, Jamison Newlander, and Barnard Hughes.
Here is the plot from Wikipedia (I left the ending out because if it is known the movie will lose it's glamour):
"Divorced mother Lucy Emerson and her two teenage sons Michael and Sam move from Phoenix to live with Lucy's father in Santa Carla, a coastal California town plagued with gang activity and unexplained disappearances.
At a boardwalk concert, Michael is fascinated by a beautiful young woman. After following her along the boardwalk, he sees her getting on a motorcycle with David, the leader of the local gang. The following night he finds the young woman again and learns her name is Star. As they are about to leave together on Michael's motorcycle, David reappears and provokes Michael into following him and his cadre. They drive to some sea-cliffs where Michael is almost baited into going over the edge. Michael punches David, who merely sees potential in Michael and invites him to the gang's lair, an old dilapidated hotel that sank beneath the ground.
At the hotel, the gang leads Michael through an unsettling initiation involving Chinese takeout. At the end, an annoyed Michael takes a swig from a bottle which contains a dark unknown liquid (which turns out to be vampire blood). The gang then takes Michael out to where some railroad tracks cross a foggy gorge; one by one the group jumps off the tracks and out of sight. Michael realizes they are hanging from exposed reinforcement bars. They talk him into joining them under the tracks. As the train roars overhead, the reinforcement bar shakes and one by one the members of the gang fall into the foggy gorge, but they do not die; Michael can hear them goading him to fall. Unable to lift himself up, or hold on any longer, Michael falls in as well.
Michael wakes up in his bed still in the clothes he wore the night before. He is groggy and disorientated. It's mid-day and he has no clue how he got there. He soon starts showing the symptoms of vampirism: he sleeps all day, he becomes sensitive to sunlight, and his reflection is transparent. Michael returns to the gang, and they reveal that they are indeed vampires and murder a group of teenagers at a bonfire party. David explains that Michael must feed in order to survive, but Michael refuses to kill and leaves.
With the help of Star, Sam, and two relatively inept teenage vampire hunters named Edgar and Alan Frog, Michael sets out to break his curse by killing the "head vampire". This proves difficult, as it is not immediately evident who this is. Sam and the Frog Brothers suspect Lucy's new boyfriend Max, but their tests during his visit to their house all indicate he is human.
The teens determine that David must be the head vampire. After unsuccessfully trying to kill him in their lair, although Marko is staked by Edgar, they prepare for a retaliatory attack. That night, the vampires invade the Emerson home. With the help of Sam's dog, Nanook, the defenders pick off the gang-members one by one, with Sam shooting Dwayne through the heart with an arrow, Nanook knocking Paul into a bathtub full of holy water and garlic and Michael impaling David on some deer antlers in his grandfather's taxidermy workshop."
So, pretty interesting stuff, right? Wrong. It is all well and good to read the plot, but it is another to watch it first-hand. And I felt there was a more sensual, darker essence displayed on the screen then what you can read on paper. One thing I hated in this was that Corey Haim looks nothing like Jason Patric and they are meant to be brothers (from the same father)! I know Corey Feldman would have played the role better and he had actually auditioned for the part but Corey Haim got it instead, making Corey Feldman only able to take the role of Edgar Frog. But aside from Corey Haim's acting and singing in the bath, he is decent in this film. Big kudos of acting has to go to Keifer Sutherland (of course!) because of his outstanding role as David, the leader of the rebel gang of vampires.
Aside nobody really died in the film besides the vampires themselves, some free-loaders and the couple at the beginning of the movie, it was still an enjoyable experience to watch this dark tale of young love between a vampire teenage girl and an almost-turned vampire teenage boy (which, let's face it, is one of the major themes in the movie...possiblty the only aside from Vampires). What also needs a great mention is the soundtrack and music that is in this (no, not a musical...actual music in a scene unknown to the characters), especially the song "People Are Strange" (by The Doors) and the main theme song "Cry Little Sister" (originated by Gerard McMahon), which is sung by a choir and is great in its simple yet deep meaning.
And as a special treat, I shall go over the deaths of each vampire (no big spoilers of the end) and rate how they appeared in the movie.
4: Marko (death by being staked through the heart) One of the bloodiest deaths ever in this movie. It is extra freaky because Marko becomes awake when stabbed and his blood goes spurting everywhere.
3: Paul (getting knocked into bathtub of garlic and holy water) One of the silliest daeaths because the vampire smells the garlic (in this garlic can't stop vampires) but does not notice it is holy water until he is pushed into the bathtub by Nanook. It is interesting though, because as his skin melts away, his skeleton pops up but soon it also melts away. Is also one of the bloodiest deaths because the sinks in the house burst out with his blood.
2: Dwayne (death by arrow/stereo) Okay, technically he is shot through the heart by Sam and is thrown back into the stereo system and Sam says the classic quote "Death by stereo" but I believe he died from the arrow, but thinking he died from electricity combined with the arrow makes it all that more cool.
1: David (death by antlers) The big showdown between Michael and David is as epic as they come, since they battle "mid-air"! Ultimately with David attempting to skewer Michael to the antlers, Michael turns at the last seconds and David gets skewered instead. Quite possibly the best death I ever witnessed of a vampire so far with David hanging lifelessly and the "Cry Little Sister" music going in the background, it is almost poetic justice really.
So, all in all, if you want a great movie to watch during Halloween, I recommend this one as a "Vampire Pick" because it really shows the darker side of human and vampiric nature. There is nothing really wrong with this movie aside with some fake-scares that might have worked well back in the 80's but will look stupid now, it is still a solid movie I recommend everybody see.
SimonW.
Warning: Those who are under 15, do not read the next 4 reviews coming up. They are horror movie reviews and should not be seen by those under 15 years...though mostly because of the violance.
The Lost Boys: Movie Review (Halloween Special 1)
Okay, where shall I begin? Guess the title is the main thing so far. The title of this movie is The Lost Boys, not to be confused with Peter Pan's "Lost Boys", though it has that slight feel of it, hence the name. But, it is completely different. The Lost Boys is a 1987 horror/comedy movie about teenage vampires that live in California.
Directed by Joel Schumacher, this delightful vampire story stars Jason Patric, Corey Haim, and Kiefer Sutherland, and co-stars Jami Gertz, Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest, Edward Herrmann, Alex Winter, Jamison Newlander, and Barnard Hughes.
Here is the plot from Wikipedia (I left the ending out because if it is known the movie will lose it's glamour):
"Divorced mother Lucy Emerson and her two teenage sons Michael and Sam move from Phoenix to live with Lucy's father in Santa Carla, a coastal California town plagued with gang activity and unexplained disappearances.
At a boardwalk concert, Michael is fascinated by a beautiful young woman. After following her along the boardwalk, he sees her getting on a motorcycle with David, the leader of the local gang. The following night he finds the young woman again and learns her name is Star. As they are about to leave together on Michael's motorcycle, David reappears and provokes Michael into following him and his cadre. They drive to some sea-cliffs where Michael is almost baited into going over the edge. Michael punches David, who merely sees potential in Michael and invites him to the gang's lair, an old dilapidated hotel that sank beneath the ground.
At the hotel, the gang leads Michael through an unsettling initiation involving Chinese takeout. At the end, an annoyed Michael takes a swig from a bottle which contains a dark unknown liquid (which turns out to be vampire blood). The gang then takes Michael out to where some railroad tracks cross a foggy gorge; one by one the group jumps off the tracks and out of sight. Michael realizes they are hanging from exposed reinforcement bars. They talk him into joining them under the tracks. As the train roars overhead, the reinforcement bar shakes and one by one the members of the gang fall into the foggy gorge, but they do not die; Michael can hear them goading him to fall. Unable to lift himself up, or hold on any longer, Michael falls in as well.
Michael wakes up in his bed still in the clothes he wore the night before. He is groggy and disorientated. It's mid-day and he has no clue how he got there. He soon starts showing the symptoms of vampirism: he sleeps all day, he becomes sensitive to sunlight, and his reflection is transparent. Michael returns to the gang, and they reveal that they are indeed vampires and murder a group of teenagers at a bonfire party. David explains that Michael must feed in order to survive, but Michael refuses to kill and leaves.
With the help of Star, Sam, and two relatively inept teenage vampire hunters named Edgar and Alan Frog, Michael sets out to break his curse by killing the "head vampire". This proves difficult, as it is not immediately evident who this is. Sam and the Frog Brothers suspect Lucy's new boyfriend Max, but their tests during his visit to their house all indicate he is human.
The teens determine that David must be the head vampire. After unsuccessfully trying to kill him in their lair, although Marko is staked by Edgar, they prepare for a retaliatory attack. That night, the vampires invade the Emerson home. With the help of Sam's dog, Nanook, the defenders pick off the gang-members one by one, with Sam shooting Dwayne through the heart with an arrow, Nanook knocking Paul into a bathtub full of holy water and garlic and Michael impaling David on some deer antlers in his grandfather's taxidermy workshop."
So, pretty interesting stuff, right? Wrong. It is all well and good to read the plot, but it is another to watch it first-hand. And I felt there was a more sensual, darker essence displayed on the screen then what you can read on paper. One thing I hated in this was that Corey Haim looks nothing like Jason Patric and they are meant to be brothers (from the same father)! I know Corey Feldman would have played the role better and he had actually auditioned for the part but Corey Haim got it instead, making Corey Feldman only able to take the role of Edgar Frog. But aside from Corey Haim's acting and singing in the bath, he is decent in this film. Big kudos of acting has to go to Keifer Sutherland (of course!) because of his outstanding role as David, the leader of the rebel gang of vampires.
Aside nobody really died in the film besides the vampires themselves, some free-loaders and the couple at the beginning of the movie, it was still an enjoyable experience to watch this dark tale of young love between a vampire teenage girl and an almost-turned vampire teenage boy (which, let's face it, is one of the major themes in the movie...possiblty the only aside from Vampires). What also needs a great mention is the soundtrack and music that is in this (no, not a musical...actual music in a scene unknown to the characters), especially the song "People Are Strange" (by The Doors) and the main theme song "Cry Little Sister" (originated by Gerard McMahon), which is sung by a choir and is great in its simple yet deep meaning.
And as a special treat, I shall go over the deaths of each vampire (no big spoilers of the end) and rate how they appeared in the movie.
4: Marko (death by being staked through the heart) One of the bloodiest deaths ever in this movie. It is extra freaky because Marko becomes awake when stabbed and his blood goes spurting everywhere.
3: Paul (getting knocked into bathtub of garlic and holy water) One of the silliest daeaths because the vampire smells the garlic (in this garlic can't stop vampires) but does not notice it is holy water until he is pushed into the bathtub by Nanook. It is interesting though, because as his skin melts away, his skeleton pops up but soon it also melts away. Is also one of the bloodiest deaths because the sinks in the house burst out with his blood.
2: Dwayne (death by arrow/stereo) Okay, technically he is shot through the heart by Sam and is thrown back into the stereo system and Sam says the classic quote "Death by stereo" but I believe he died from the arrow, but thinking he died from electricity combined with the arrow makes it all that more cool.
1: David (death by antlers) The big showdown between Michael and David is as epic as they come, since they battle "mid-air"! Ultimately with David attempting to skewer Michael to the antlers, Michael turns at the last seconds and David gets skewered instead. Quite possibly the best death I ever witnessed of a vampire so far with David hanging lifelessly and the "Cry Little Sister" music going in the background, it is almost poetic justice really.
So, all in all, if you want a great movie to watch during Halloween, I recommend this one as a "Vampire Pick" because it really shows the darker side of human and vampiric nature. There is nothing really wrong with this movie aside with some fake-scares that might have worked well back in the 80's but will look stupid now, it is still a solid movie I recommend everybody see.
SimonW.
SimonW
Well-known member
lol, yeah. That's the way I planned it.
Warning: This is not for minors. Those under 15 please do not read this review.
Child's Play: Movie Review (Halloween Special 2)
"Hi, I'm Chucky! Wanna play?"
With a movie title like this, you have got to wonder what kind of film this is. You may think it might be about a house burglar that has the mental state of a child or something like that. Or possibly a child going on a killing spree. But, that is not the case. Made in 1988, this cult-classic horror film is about a man named Charles Lee Ray (played by Brad Dourif) who is a wanted murderer and dies after getting shot and lightning hits him in a toy store. But not before he transfers his soul into a Good Guy doll. He is given to Andy (played by Alex Vincent) and is named Chucky. With this simple plot formula that was commonly used in the 1980's, the movie runs its course smoothly as Chucky the doll goes on a rampaging killing spree to get revenge on those who wronged him in his previous life. Though most of the first half is composed of wether Andy could be the killer or not (which if you think about the first scene when Charles Lee Ray is killed, it does not make sense), which tickled my fancy because I am drawn to child killers in movies, despite the lack there of since "The Good Son".
But, since we ultimately know the first part has to do with something of a plot in this movie, we are not all that surprised that it is Chucky, not Andy, whom is killing people. Especially with a scene where Andy skips out of school and travels to Eddie's place, a former partner-in-crime to Charles Lee Ray, whom ditched him in the opening scene.
At any rate, the story moves along (as I stated, smoothly) with a few more deaths (there are five, if you count Chucky's death) along the way and the ultimate battle between Chucky and Andy's mother (played by Catherine Hicks) and the policeman who killed him (played by Chris Sarandon...HUMPERDINK!) in the first scene, where of course, the good guys win.
Though it is a good point that Chucky is stuck in the body of the doll unless he transfers his soul into the body of the first person he revealed his real identity to...who is Andy. I would have thought what would have happened if he succeeded without the grown-ups ever knowing. But, guess that is not likely to happen but in my own twisted mind.
Though dark, it does have some witty humour in it and it is easy to see why Child's Play became a cult-classic/favourite before it got too goofy with it's later sequels.
There is a part that I think sets the tone nicely in this movie. It is near the end where Chucky is riding up the elevator and two old people are in it. The old woman notices and tells her husband some child left the doll here. He says to ignore it, somebody would eventually come to get it and it won't go anywhere. This next part really is a nice touch, though:
Old Lady (as she leaves elevator): Ugly doll.
(She leaves)
Chucky: [Beep] you.
And with that note, I want to recommend people to watch this, especially kids (over 12) that are not young enough to be frightened to think their dolls will come alive. Normally that would be a cool thing, but you never know.
Chucky: "We're friends to the end. Hi-de-ho! Ha-ha-ha!"
SimonW.
SimonW
Well-known member
Yeah, it is an old classic movie. I recommend you rent it if you see it at the video store. Or better yet, go watch it on YouTube. I did.
Warning: This movie review is on a movie rated R. Do not watch the movie unless you are over 18. People over 15 can read this review.
The Howling: Movie Review (Halloween Special 3)
I really, really REALLY don't want to do this review. I know I said I'd do Critters for you all but since I am unable to find it anyplace, decided to review one of the classic werewolf movies of all time...The Howling (1981).
The reason I don't want to do this review is because I have a fear of werewolves. Though I mostly got over that fear because I know it is all movie-made and not real, I still get a fright at the possibly a werewolf will kill me or stalk me from outside or I'll turn into a werewolf and have those pain-staking joints twisted around... *shudders * (Yes, I know it is in a differant movie, but it still freaks me out!)
At any rate, this movie also atoned to my fear of werewolves for different reasons.
The first reason is that they are indestructible unless killed by a silver bullet. But that is well known anyway. But I think what scared me the most was the way that werewolf/man was stalking the main character in this film and how he was set up in a projector room in the shadows, letting our own imaginations run wild. This disturbing sense of imagery made my heart leap up in fear.
Though the main plot is simple enough, about a news anchor, Karen White, who is in contact with a serial killer and she has to lure him into a trap by police. Eventually he is killed and Karen White goes about trying to solve the mystery of what she actually saw. She travels to a small town community in the woods and then finds out it is populated by werewolves.
Two reasons why this movie is the pinnacle in werewolf movies (aside from the original The Wolf Man):
1: As stated above, this is the first time we see a psychotic werewolf who takes the time to stalk Karen and uses the police's trap to his advantage, having her locked in a projection booth at a sleazy adult video store. With this twisted visual aid we don't see much of the werewolf but over the course of the movie the image gets slightly clearer.
2: This is the first werewolf movie that has werewolves having mature intercourse. Though erotic, it is also horrifying to see as the human forms change into wolf monsters. Still, the female werewolf is hot though.
Indeed, The Howling is an original movie that stood alone in the Werewolf Horror genre, having no really bad things about the movie itself aside from the fact you are thinking ahead of Karen when she is trying to escape the werewolves at a point in the movie.
Despite this, it is a testament that withstood time. It was films like The Howling that brought about films like more of The Howling legacy and Dog Soldiers.
Though I don't think I'll spend any time watching it soon (I'm that scared of it!) I recommend those who enjoy classic horror movies to watch this film. And let me make a point that this is a slightly psychological film, it will mess with your head A LOT. They convey what Karen is thinking in the film is sort of what you are thinking, unless you are thinking...THIS WOMAN IS CRAZY!!! Which I did, on several occasions.
I guarantee it will either make you think twice about turning your head when viewing a projection movie or simply fill your heart with joy at seeing a reliable movie that has an original concept and leaves you with a satisfied notion of watching a decent movie from 1981.
SimonW.
Last edited:
SimonW
Well-known member
Sorry I have not responded in a while, but doing so now. This is the first part of my final Halloween Movie reviews. I plan to review all 8 films of the Puppet Master series.
Warning: Those under the age of 18 do not watch these movies. Those over the age of 15 can read my review...but detailed death scenes will be mentioned. So if you feel you cannot take much more of the detailed gore, just stop reading!
Puppet Master 1-8: Movie Review(s) (Halloween Special FINAL PART 1)
When people think of puppets, they do not associate the darker side of life like murder and death with them. They are a joy to young and old but to a couple they are evil. Not just the way some puppets look but also how they move and talk. But in this case, those fears are justified when in 1989 a movie from Full Moon Productions made a horror movie called Puppet Master.
Being the first to explore the darker side of marionette puppets, this cult-classic, Puppet Master stood alone due to the fact it has an R rating. Yes, an R rating for a movie with puppets! Though it is understandable why they gave it an R rating back in 1989, especially when there is a very strong "mature incident" scene with nudity in the movie.
At any rate, the movie starts off with a puppet master named Andre Toulon (played by William Hickey) and he has some ancient Egyptian rite that enables him to make his puppets come alive and have no need for strings. He kills himself by blowing his brains out with a gun (no cut scene, we see him blow his brains out...joy!) because the Nazis (two German men in the usual black suits...gee, I guess they must be bad guys) want to steal the formula for their own selfish means. Die, Nazi scum!
Unfortunately, the Nazis don't die but they also can't find Toulon's carefully hidden puppets that are IN THE WALL!!! I mean, geez, all they had to do was knock on the side to find it!
Anyway, throughout this first scene we meet three puppets, two of which would become stable characters in the series of films. But for you to get the feel for them, I will put all the puppets with a short bio here.
Jester: Does not speak, has a spin around head that changes to different faces to display his feelings. Is more a trickster who pulls pranks and is more a thinker then a doer, though likes to watch the other puppets kill. It is later found out he is made from the "soul" of a Book Store Owner.
Blade: A black-coated and skull-faced puppet that has a hook for a hand and a blade for the other. Is mostly like a spy and is slightly perverted in the first movie. In the third film it is later known he is made with the "soul" of Dr. Hess. Is a likeness of the main Nazi villain in the third movie. Is able to hiss and make a slight yelp, but other then that does not speak.
Pinhead: Grunts, but does not speak. Is the "muscle" of the group. Has a small head but an overtly large body, including his hands, which are the size of a normal human's hands and are very strong. It is later revealed in the third movie he is made from the "soul" of a Truck Driver.
Leech Woman: The only female puppet of the group and is very sensual. She knows how to make a man squirm...with fear. She is not strong but has great accuracy with what she coughs out of her mouth. Yes, you guessed it, leeches. It is later revealed in the third movie she is made from the "soul" of Elsa Toulon. Though she dies in the second movie. Makes slight feminine whimpers as if in heat. Other then that, cannot talk.
Tunneler: A militant-looking officer who is not known for much besides tunnelling through things (including people) with his main and only weapon...a giant drill on the top of his bald head. Despite this setback, he is fairly good at aiming with his drill, even though he is unable to see where he is going because he needs to lower his head to ram at people with his spinning drill. Cannot talk.
Torch: Not much is known about Torch, having been made in the second movie. With his spike helmet acting also as his eyes (we don't know what is under there) Torch has no use other to look menacing, make his eyes glow red as a warning and...USE A FLAMETHROWER??? Oh my god! This puppet is awesome! It is too bad he was not used more in the series. Is only able to growl deeply.
Six-Shooter: Introduced in the third movie, Six-Shooter is the classic Cowboy puppet...but with one difference. He has six arms!! He is able to climb up walls like a spider and not only that, he is a crack-shot with his six guns (that actually work and shoot small but lethal bullets). He has a classic evil snide chuckle, but other then that does not speak.
Decaptitron: This puppet features in the fourth movie and is the rather anti-climatic puppet. It is styled like Frankenstein, needing electricity and the green liquid that makes the puppets alive. Without a head shape it is like a clay model head with a tight black body suit. Toulon speaks through this puppet, offering great wisdom. But when it is fully alive, this puppet's head becomes electric and it is able to produce a deadly amount of lightning. Does not speak and though Toulon speaks through this puppet, it does not count.
These are the main puppets.
Anyway, the first Puppet Master is moderately good, but after seeing the sequels it is definitely the best. Though with its bland and simple plot, Puppet Master makes up for it with the inventive ways the puppets kill people.
The only bone I have to pick with this movie is that we are drawn into a psychological look at the main psychic who has dreams of the future. I fell they keep repeating it throughout the movie to remind us it actually goes somewhere. We don't know if he is dreaming or if he is awake, but luckily we can tell if it is a dream sequence because it is in the same white room that he has every time he dreams.
Long story short, I liked the deaths most in this movie. The maid gets killed by Pinhead who bashes her with a fire poker, Tunneler takes out the sexy chick with his drill, Leech Woman takes out the woman's man who is tied to the bed practically naked and kills him with leeches...in a very erotic manner that made it seem somehow so right and wrong at the same time. The looney tunes psychic gets killed (finally...she is the most resourceful woman I have ever seen!) by Blade as he slits her throat and finally all the puppets destroy the main villain because he didn't treat them right. So the moral is...treat your dolls right or they will kill you? Yes, that sounds right. Pinhead literally tears him and Tunneler tunnels his ear and Blade holds him down while keeping his mouth open with his hook as Leech Woman coughs a giant leech into his mouth. Nasty, eh? I think so too and I like it!
Incidentally there is a scene that makes no sense where the dead maid is apparently brought back from the grave by the new Puppet Master (who is dead too, by the way) and says a line that was in a previous scene: "Don't touch the body!". But after that we move along to the dead guy getting trapped in the elevator and she is never heard from again!!! I mean, she was put there to keep the hero and heroine from escaping but a scene later she is no longer there! There is no point to have a character that has returned from the grave to suddenly disappear before our very eyes with no reason why!
The only other worthwhile scene is the "adult incident" scene with Blade and Tunneler peeping in through the keyhole from the hallway. I like it not just because of the naked woman (though that is just cause enough!) but also because of the humour of how the puppets accidentally come across this scene. In any case, this movie is the best of the series so I recommend you people watch it if you are able to stomach it.
SimonW.
LOOK OUT FOR PART 2 WHERE I REVIEW PUPPET MASTER 2!
Warning: Those under the age of 18 do not watch these movies. Those over the age of 15 can read my review...but detailed death scenes will be mentioned. So if you feel you cannot take much more of the detailed gore, just stop reading!
Puppet Master 1-8: Movie Review(s) (Halloween Special FINAL PART 1)
When people think of puppets, they do not associate the darker side of life like murder and death with them. They are a joy to young and old but to a couple they are evil. Not just the way some puppets look but also how they move and talk. But in this case, those fears are justified when in 1989 a movie from Full Moon Productions made a horror movie called Puppet Master.
Being the first to explore the darker side of marionette puppets, this cult-classic, Puppet Master stood alone due to the fact it has an R rating. Yes, an R rating for a movie with puppets! Though it is understandable why they gave it an R rating back in 1989, especially when there is a very strong "mature incident" scene with nudity in the movie.
At any rate, the movie starts off with a puppet master named Andre Toulon (played by William Hickey) and he has some ancient Egyptian rite that enables him to make his puppets come alive and have no need for strings. He kills himself by blowing his brains out with a gun (no cut scene, we see him blow his brains out...joy!) because the Nazis (two German men in the usual black suits...gee, I guess they must be bad guys) want to steal the formula for their own selfish means. Die, Nazi scum!
Unfortunately, the Nazis don't die but they also can't find Toulon's carefully hidden puppets that are IN THE WALL!!! I mean, geez, all they had to do was knock on the side to find it!
Anyway, throughout this first scene we meet three puppets, two of which would become stable characters in the series of films. But for you to get the feel for them, I will put all the puppets with a short bio here.
Jester: Does not speak, has a spin around head that changes to different faces to display his feelings. Is more a trickster who pulls pranks and is more a thinker then a doer, though likes to watch the other puppets kill. It is later found out he is made from the "soul" of a Book Store Owner.
Blade: A black-coated and skull-faced puppet that has a hook for a hand and a blade for the other. Is mostly like a spy and is slightly perverted in the first movie. In the third film it is later known he is made with the "soul" of Dr. Hess. Is a likeness of the main Nazi villain in the third movie. Is able to hiss and make a slight yelp, but other then that does not speak.
Pinhead: Grunts, but does not speak. Is the "muscle" of the group. Has a small head but an overtly large body, including his hands, which are the size of a normal human's hands and are very strong. It is later revealed in the third movie he is made from the "soul" of a Truck Driver.
Leech Woman: The only female puppet of the group and is very sensual. She knows how to make a man squirm...with fear. She is not strong but has great accuracy with what she coughs out of her mouth. Yes, you guessed it, leeches. It is later revealed in the third movie she is made from the "soul" of Elsa Toulon. Though she dies in the second movie. Makes slight feminine whimpers as if in heat. Other then that, cannot talk.
Tunneler: A militant-looking officer who is not known for much besides tunnelling through things (including people) with his main and only weapon...a giant drill on the top of his bald head. Despite this setback, he is fairly good at aiming with his drill, even though he is unable to see where he is going because he needs to lower his head to ram at people with his spinning drill. Cannot talk.
Torch: Not much is known about Torch, having been made in the second movie. With his spike helmet acting also as his eyes (we don't know what is under there) Torch has no use other to look menacing, make his eyes glow red as a warning and...USE A FLAMETHROWER??? Oh my god! This puppet is awesome! It is too bad he was not used more in the series. Is only able to growl deeply.
Six-Shooter: Introduced in the third movie, Six-Shooter is the classic Cowboy puppet...but with one difference. He has six arms!! He is able to climb up walls like a spider and not only that, he is a crack-shot with his six guns (that actually work and shoot small but lethal bullets). He has a classic evil snide chuckle, but other then that does not speak.
Decaptitron: This puppet features in the fourth movie and is the rather anti-climatic puppet. It is styled like Frankenstein, needing electricity and the green liquid that makes the puppets alive. Without a head shape it is like a clay model head with a tight black body suit. Toulon speaks through this puppet, offering great wisdom. But when it is fully alive, this puppet's head becomes electric and it is able to produce a deadly amount of lightning. Does not speak and though Toulon speaks through this puppet, it does not count.
These are the main puppets.
Anyway, the first Puppet Master is moderately good, but after seeing the sequels it is definitely the best. Though with its bland and simple plot, Puppet Master makes up for it with the inventive ways the puppets kill people.
The only bone I have to pick with this movie is that we are drawn into a psychological look at the main psychic who has dreams of the future. I fell they keep repeating it throughout the movie to remind us it actually goes somewhere. We don't know if he is dreaming or if he is awake, but luckily we can tell if it is a dream sequence because it is in the same white room that he has every time he dreams.
Long story short, I liked the deaths most in this movie. The maid gets killed by Pinhead who bashes her with a fire poker, Tunneler takes out the sexy chick with his drill, Leech Woman takes out the woman's man who is tied to the bed practically naked and kills him with leeches...in a very erotic manner that made it seem somehow so right and wrong at the same time. The looney tunes psychic gets killed (finally...she is the most resourceful woman I have ever seen!) by Blade as he slits her throat and finally all the puppets destroy the main villain because he didn't treat them right. So the moral is...treat your dolls right or they will kill you? Yes, that sounds right. Pinhead literally tears him and Tunneler tunnels his ear and Blade holds him down while keeping his mouth open with his hook as Leech Woman coughs a giant leech into his mouth. Nasty, eh? I think so too and I like it!
Incidentally there is a scene that makes no sense where the dead maid is apparently brought back from the grave by the new Puppet Master (who is dead too, by the way) and says a line that was in a previous scene: "Don't touch the body!". But after that we move along to the dead guy getting trapped in the elevator and she is never heard from again!!! I mean, she was put there to keep the hero and heroine from escaping but a scene later she is no longer there! There is no point to have a character that has returned from the grave to suddenly disappear before our very eyes with no reason why!
The only other worthwhile scene is the "adult incident" scene with Blade and Tunneler peeping in through the keyhole from the hallway. I like it not just because of the naked woman (though that is just cause enough!) but also because of the humour of how the puppets accidentally come across this scene. In any case, this movie is the best of the series so I recommend you people watch it if you are able to stomach it.
SimonW.
LOOK OUT FOR PART 2 WHERE I REVIEW PUPPET MASTER 2!
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ndfan1993
New member
I know I'm somewhat late in posting but...I adore Milo and Otis when I was little! It looked so boring and yet it was so....so....hypnotizing...but...It was adorable! I loved it!
And Elmo in grouchland.... I thought it was pretty good(it came out when I was like, 9 or 10) but still I was a bit 'old' for it. I thought my sister(two years younger than I) loved it though. My baby sister hasn't seen it yet...Nor has she seen Milo and Otis...Aww, thank you for these reviews! I haven't heard of Milo and Otis in years, and now my baby sister gets to!
(I read a few other reveiws, but I hadn't seen most of those movies so....=)!)
And Elmo in grouchland...
. I thought it was pretty good(it came out when I was like, 9 or 10) but still I was a bit 'old' for it. I thought my sister(two years younger than I) loved it though. My baby sister hasn't seen it yet...Nor has she seen Milo and Otis...Aww, thank you for these reviews! I haven't heard of Milo and Otis in years, and now my baby sister gets to! (I read a few other reveiws, but I hadn't seen most of those movies so....=)!)
SimonW
Well-known member
lol...they are gone. Decided to put up my "family friendly" ones again instead.
For now enjoy a review of Pete's Dragon. It is too long so I am cutting it in half.
SimonW's Movie Reviews: Pete's Dragon (part 1)
"A dragon! A dragon! I swear I saw a dragon!!"
Everybody will be singing/shouting this memorable quote/line from...you guessed it, Pete's Dragon (made in 1977). Believe me, I am one of these people who absolutely loves this musical family movie with a passion! But I will delve into the reasons later...
Now, to get past the technical stuff, Pete's Dragon is a Walt Disney movie based off a story (of course!) about an orphan boy named Pete (played by Sean Marshall...who is known for ONLY this movie by the way) and his dragon (gee, wonder how they figure out the name for this?) named Elliott. It is like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (which was made later in 1988) using excellent style to make live-action characters interact with animated ones. Which, by the way, was a new concept back in the day.
With an all-star cast of Helen Reddy, Shelley Winters, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons, Tim Dale and Jeff Conaway, it is easy to see that it was taken in high regard back in 1977 and this film had the best actors doing...what exactly? Make fools of them, of course! Though I do have to say one thing, a big hand for the supporting actors that played the townspeople of Passamaquoddy (a small fishing community/town). Quite possibly the most professional stunt-men and comedic actors reside in this town (just look at the entrance of Pete into the town and the pub dancing scene)! Not to mention their personalities, like Miss Taylor (the strict teacher who can't tell a dragon from a wagon) and The Mayor (an important man where things seem to go wrong every time he steps out of the Town Hall). This town is full of un-imaginitive (aside from Nora and Lampie) people that go about their daily lives where nothing interesting happens...that is until Pete arrives and also the main vagabound (villain) Doctor Terminus returns to town.
With a wagon selling phony elixirs, Doctor Terminus is a charlatan and his credentails (not that he has any to display, merely his word) is indeed questionable, as is his treatments. Believing to charge a fortune to help those in need is what drives this crazy Doctor with his goatee, moustache and top hat, the classic signs of a villain. But despite having cheated the good people before, Doctor Terminus convinces the townspeople of Pasa...maschloddy...whatever, to give him another chance with him and his cowardly but well-meaning assistant Hoagy.
After with what appears like ages after Pete has settled with Nora the lighthouse keeper (her father being too drunk to be in charge) and her father and Doctor Terminus starts to get the idea of trying under-handed tactics to "buy" Elliott from Pete, The Gogan family appear in the town looking for Pete. They are the owners of Pete, having custody of him for paying for him. Not much is known about this rag-tag bunch of yokels aside from the fact they rarely bathe, are extreamely lazy and don't look after Pete like reasonable guardians shoud (but I'll get back into that later). The main leader of this group is Ma (Lena) Gogan, who is the smartest of the bunch and keeps the rest of the family in line. She walks around with a cane and has probably beaten Pete with it on many an occasion. The next part of the family is Pa (Merle) Gogan, the second in command of this group. He mostly agrees with Lena on everything (mostly because she dominates him and threatens him to obey) and tries on occasion to keep the two younger Gogan Brothers in check, but mostly ends up in the fight anyway. He oversees the farm and keeps an eye on Pete, having beaten Pete many times for doing the chores wrong.
The two younger and last members of the Gogan family are called Willie and Grover. These two young men are like farmhands, but are relatively lazy and are the most destructive of the Gogan family, wanting to tear apart Pete (or themselves) in a variety of ways. Doctor Terminus makes a deal with the Gogan Family, they get Pete and he gets Elliott. After kidnapping Pete, Doctor Terminus sends Hoagy to lure Elliott to where Pete is, as well as a trap that was set up by the fishermen in the town, believing Doctor Terminus when he says Elliott is the cause of lack of fish.
Of course, Elliott and Pete escape and get back safely to light the wick of the lighthouse that helps a boat that has Paul (Nora's fiancee) make it to town.
What interests me is how Doctor Terminus and The Gogans work together, they are the pinnicle (or so near) of Disney Villainy and I feel they are under-appreciated. I mean, The Gogans want to steal back Pete and chain him up and Doctor Terminus is so desperate for Elliott he is willing to kidnap Pete and kill Elliott for his parts to use in medical science. That greedy scoundrel!
The main scene (which is my favourite) is of course the climax with the villains, where Doctor Terminus mans the harpoon that he plans to shoot at Elliott after Elliott is covered with tarp and nets. During the process Pete escapes The Gogans to point the harpoon away but Doctor Terminus flings Pete back into the arms of Ma and Pa Gogan. After a light scuffle with Hoagy to turn the harpoon the other way, Doctor Terminus tries to get aim after righting the harpoon back at Elliott. Meanwhile, The Gogans have Pete and plan to leave in their wagon, stuffing him in a burlap sack. A final effort cry from Pete makes Elliott able to fling the nets off himself and it covers Hoagy, Doctor Terminus and the lit harpoon. After rescuing Pete by stopping the wagon and getting him out of the sack, Elliotyt faces off Ma Gogan when she presents her bill of sale, claiming Pete belongs to her. Elliott burns the bill of sale and scares Ma Gogan into a barrel of tar oil.The three male Gogans help her but ultimately get tarred also. Ma Gogan mutters faintly "let him keep the brat," and Elliott roars, making the Gogan's wagon and horse run away, the tarred Gogans chasing after it.
As they laugh, Elliott and Pete don't notice Doctor Terminus has come out of the nets with the harpoon and Hoagy, getting a shot. But as he aims with a few seconds left of the wick, Hoagy notices Doc's foot is tangled in the rope attached to the harpoon. After almost untangling himself, Doctor Terminus (in urgency) accidentally points the harpoon up and the rope tightens, making him fly off through the air with a yelp (one you may be familiar with...it is Goofy's yelp...AHHH-HOOO-HOOO-HOOO!) and he gets hung upside down with the harpoon imbedded in a tall post. After refusing Doctor Terminus's offer to buy any unused parts, Elliott scares Doctor Terminus and Hoagy and then smashes their own getaway wagon, leaving them unable to escape from the town.
For now enjoy a review of Pete's Dragon. It is too long so I am cutting it in half.
SimonW's Movie Reviews: Pete's Dragon (part 1)
"A dragon! A dragon! I swear I saw a dragon!!"
Everybody will be singing/shouting this memorable quote/line from...you guessed it, Pete's Dragon (made in 1977). Believe me, I am one of these people who absolutely loves this musical family movie with a passion! But I will delve into the reasons later...
Now, to get past the technical stuff, Pete's Dragon is a Walt Disney movie based off a story (of course!) about an orphan boy named Pete (played by Sean Marshall...who is known for ONLY this movie by the way) and his dragon (gee, wonder how they figure out the name for this?) named Elliott. It is like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (which was made later in 1988) using excellent style to make live-action characters interact with animated ones. Which, by the way, was a new concept back in the day.
With an all-star cast of Helen Reddy, Shelley Winters, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons, Tim Dale and Jeff Conaway, it is easy to see that it was taken in high regard back in 1977 and this film had the best actors doing...what exactly? Make fools of them, of course! Though I do have to say one thing, a big hand for the supporting actors that played the townspeople of Passamaquoddy (a small fishing community/town). Quite possibly the most professional stunt-men and comedic actors reside in this town (just look at the entrance of Pete into the town and the pub dancing scene)! Not to mention their personalities, like Miss Taylor (the strict teacher who can't tell a dragon from a wagon) and The Mayor (an important man where things seem to go wrong every time he steps out of the Town Hall). This town is full of un-imaginitive (aside from Nora and Lampie) people that go about their daily lives where nothing interesting happens...that is until Pete arrives and also the main vagabound (villain) Doctor Terminus returns to town.
With a wagon selling phony elixirs, Doctor Terminus is a charlatan and his credentails (not that he has any to display, merely his word) is indeed questionable, as is his treatments. Believing to charge a fortune to help those in need is what drives this crazy Doctor with his goatee, moustache and top hat, the classic signs of a villain. But despite having cheated the good people before, Doctor Terminus convinces the townspeople of Pasa...maschloddy...whatever, to give him another chance with him and his cowardly but well-meaning assistant Hoagy.
After with what appears like ages after Pete has settled with Nora the lighthouse keeper (her father being too drunk to be in charge) and her father and Doctor Terminus starts to get the idea of trying under-handed tactics to "buy" Elliott from Pete, The Gogan family appear in the town looking for Pete. They are the owners of Pete, having custody of him for paying for him. Not much is known about this rag-tag bunch of yokels aside from the fact they rarely bathe, are extreamely lazy and don't look after Pete like reasonable guardians shoud (but I'll get back into that later). The main leader of this group is Ma (Lena) Gogan, who is the smartest of the bunch and keeps the rest of the family in line. She walks around with a cane and has probably beaten Pete with it on many an occasion. The next part of the family is Pa (Merle) Gogan, the second in command of this group. He mostly agrees with Lena on everything (mostly because she dominates him and threatens him to obey) and tries on occasion to keep the two younger Gogan Brothers in check, but mostly ends up in the fight anyway. He oversees the farm and keeps an eye on Pete, having beaten Pete many times for doing the chores wrong.
The two younger and last members of the Gogan family are called Willie and Grover. These two young men are like farmhands, but are relatively lazy and are the most destructive of the Gogan family, wanting to tear apart Pete (or themselves) in a variety of ways. Doctor Terminus makes a deal with the Gogan Family, they get Pete and he gets Elliott. After kidnapping Pete, Doctor Terminus sends Hoagy to lure Elliott to where Pete is, as well as a trap that was set up by the fishermen in the town, believing Doctor Terminus when he says Elliott is the cause of lack of fish.
Of course, Elliott and Pete escape and get back safely to light the wick of the lighthouse that helps a boat that has Paul (Nora's fiancee) make it to town.
What interests me is how Doctor Terminus and The Gogans work together, they are the pinnicle (or so near) of Disney Villainy and I feel they are under-appreciated. I mean, The Gogans want to steal back Pete and chain him up and Doctor Terminus is so desperate for Elliott he is willing to kidnap Pete and kill Elliott for his parts to use in medical science. That greedy scoundrel!
The main scene (which is my favourite) is of course the climax with the villains, where Doctor Terminus mans the harpoon that he plans to shoot at Elliott after Elliott is covered with tarp and nets. During the process Pete escapes The Gogans to point the harpoon away but Doctor Terminus flings Pete back into the arms of Ma and Pa Gogan. After a light scuffle with Hoagy to turn the harpoon the other way, Doctor Terminus tries to get aim after righting the harpoon back at Elliott. Meanwhile, The Gogans have Pete and plan to leave in their wagon, stuffing him in a burlap sack. A final effort cry from Pete makes Elliott able to fling the nets off himself and it covers Hoagy, Doctor Terminus and the lit harpoon. After rescuing Pete by stopping the wagon and getting him out of the sack, Elliotyt faces off Ma Gogan when she presents her bill of sale, claiming Pete belongs to her. Elliott burns the bill of sale and scares Ma Gogan into a barrel of tar oil.The three male Gogans help her but ultimately get tarred also. Ma Gogan mutters faintly "let him keep the brat," and Elliott roars, making the Gogan's wagon and horse run away, the tarred Gogans chasing after it.
As they laugh, Elliott and Pete don't notice Doctor Terminus has come out of the nets with the harpoon and Hoagy, getting a shot. But as he aims with a few seconds left of the wick, Hoagy notices Doc's foot is tangled in the rope attached to the harpoon. After almost untangling himself, Doctor Terminus (in urgency) accidentally points the harpoon up and the rope tightens, making him fly off through the air with a yelp (one you may be familiar with...it is Goofy's yelp...AHHH-HOOO-HOOO-HOOO!) and he gets hung upside down with the harpoon imbedded in a tall post. After refusing Doctor Terminus's offer to buy any unused parts, Elliott scares Doctor Terminus and Hoagy and then smashes their own getaway wagon, leaving them unable to escape from the town.
SimonW
Well-known member
Here is part 2...
SimonW's Movie Reviews: Pee's Dragon (part 2)
Now I am going to talk about the songs.
The Happiest Home In These Hills: The first song in the movie, sung by The Gogan family, with Lena Gogan pretending to be all sweet (though not for long...as she has a short temper) and her husband acting along with her...to an extent. Willie and Grover are singing of what they will do to Pete once they catch him, which consists of horrible things. Maybe not the greatest song, but a good way to start off the movie.
Boo Bop BopBop Bop (I Love You Too): Pete sings this song affectionately to Elliott, stating how he is lucky to have a friend like Elliott during the miserable time he had spent with the Gogans.
I Saw A Dragon: Perhaps the most elaborate scene shot in a bar, this song is sung by Lampie and with Nora and the Tavern Patrons about Lampie's description of a dragon, how Nora thinks it is the fault of the beer-guzzlers for making her dad so drunk and of course how the Patrons patronize Lampie, not believing he saw a dragon.
It's Not Easy: Sung by Pete and Nora, basically what every musical has. A song that started as the description of Elliott to veering off into how it is great to have friends (cause "it's so easy").
Passamashloddy: Sung by Doctor Terminus, it is the first song that introduces him as a character and what a character he is (regular cad, folks!)! One line is sung by Hoagy ("I'll collect...") and of course the Townspeople sing in it, talking about how he fooled them once but won't fool them again. But it ends with Doctor Terminus winning the crowd over after saying he got the tonics brought back from Paris...France. And he sells his tonics for a dollar, but since this is a dated movie (like Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer era), a dollar is worth a bit.
Candle On The Water: This received an Academy Award nomination but did not win. It is sung by Nora on the top of the lighthouse at night and is about how she will guide Paul back if he is still alive.
There's Room For Everyone: Sung by Nora at the start and then joined in by Pete and the other school children (most likely the main child population of the town) about how there is room for everyone (including a dragon) in this world. Seriously, those kids can dance. And the last line of the song is "Just the way God planned it...Just the way God planned,"
Every Little Piece: Sung by Doctor Terminus and Hoagy, mostly about how the "good doctor" will experiment on Elliott and make a profit from him. This is the most dated song, with a line of "tens and twenties...cash". Back then twenty dollars was a big amount of money. Hoagy seems slightly less enthusiastic then Doctor Terminus but is very prominent at the notion of getting a lot of money. Though during the song he is afraid to face Elliott again and says if the Doctor wants to "drag him from the cave", he would "have to go yourself" (have to go himself without Hoagy). It is my second most favourite song in this movie. There is a small reprise of this song in the next scene.
Brazzle Dazzle Day: Sung by Nora, Pete and Lampie as they clean the lighthouse. Now, sure, you could look at it the wrong way and think it is talking about an acid trip, but seriously, it is just about throwing the past behind you and the similarities are coincidental. This song is sung as the three of them clean the lighthouse and it is a good song mostly with the overhead angle shots.
Bill Of Sale: THIS...is my favourite song from Pete's Dragon. It has The Gogan family singing it and Nora singing some responses/comments back to this unruly gang of vermin. With Ma Gogan being rather more "posh" then usual in the legal sense that she has a right to Pete because she has a bill of sale claiming Pete her property. Again, Pa Gogan sings along with her at the start but gets into the rhythm with the two younger Gogans (as does Ma Gogan but later). This is probably the first time publicly the Gogans show their true intentions. Willie and Grover of course are coarser and sing about "break you (Nora) in half before we bring you before the judge", but they sing as a unit in this sense, making their claims quite clear. But Nora does not think they have the right, yelling accusations on deaf ears as when they lose their cool the Gogans finally say of the cruel things they made Pete do as he worked on the farm. After a big confrontation and the Gogans trying to row to Nora's boat, Elliott comes back and blows the boat to pieces. The Gogans get flung into the air and each have their one line snippet (though the same words) before all of them land in the water.
I Swear I Saw A Dragon (Reprise): This reprise of the earlier song "I Swear I Saw A Dragon" has Lampie, Nora and the townspeople singing about how Elliott helped them all. This is the final musical song snippet in the film and is a nice recap of everything that has been occurring in the movie...full circle if you will.
Now, to the darker side of Pete's Dragon. Though it is rated G and is a great film, it is anything but with adult overtones (like alcoholism) and slight ones as well (intent to kill or harm). The lesser of these evils is alcohol, which is prominent throughout the film (littered in scenes more like), including a scene where Elliott gets drunk...though it is comical and not intentional, it does worry me when the main cartoon character drinks beer or whisky. With two staple characters (Hoagy and Lampie) as drunk comic relief, it seems to me that it does not add to the comedy, only the tragedy of what made them sink this low. Next on the list is kidnapping. Though it is true Doctor Terminus did NOT forcibly kidnap Pete, he did trick him away from the lighthouse and hold him captive with the help of The Gogans. Next is child-abuse. Beating Pete is what drove Pete away from The Gogans and the stupid or not sensible adults of Passamaquoddy seem to use the old method of hitting the child they think is the cause of their ill fortune. Next is attempted murder or cause to harm. With a big harpoon you have got to think Doctor Terminus intended to kill (or at least injure to secure) Elliott. Despite his intentions, Hoagy is just as bad, luring Elliott to his almost certain doom.
But, despite this, it is a great movie from Disney to watch. The acting and story is brilliant and although it seems at times it takes a while to get to the interesting points, it is poignant and rich and full of interesting characters. So, if there was a Disney film to recommend, I recommend Pete's Dragon because a boy with an invisible (when he wants to be) dragon friend is definitely the kind of movie worth watching!
SimonW.
SimonW's Movie Reviews: Pee's Dragon (part 2)
Now I am going to talk about the songs.
The Happiest Home In These Hills: The first song in the movie, sung by The Gogan family, with Lena Gogan pretending to be all sweet (though not for long...as she has a short temper) and her husband acting along with her...to an extent. Willie and Grover are singing of what they will do to Pete once they catch him, which consists of horrible things. Maybe not the greatest song, but a good way to start off the movie.
Boo Bop BopBop Bop (I Love You Too): Pete sings this song affectionately to Elliott, stating how he is lucky to have a friend like Elliott during the miserable time he had spent with the Gogans.
I Saw A Dragon: Perhaps the most elaborate scene shot in a bar, this song is sung by Lampie and with Nora and the Tavern Patrons about Lampie's description of a dragon, how Nora thinks it is the fault of the beer-guzzlers for making her dad so drunk and of course how the Patrons patronize Lampie, not believing he saw a dragon.
It's Not Easy: Sung by Pete and Nora, basically what every musical has. A song that started as the description of Elliott to veering off into how it is great to have friends (cause "it's so easy").
Passamashloddy: Sung by Doctor Terminus, it is the first song that introduces him as a character and what a character he is (regular cad, folks!)! One line is sung by Hoagy ("I'll collect...") and of course the Townspeople sing in it, talking about how he fooled them once but won't fool them again. But it ends with Doctor Terminus winning the crowd over after saying he got the tonics brought back from Paris...France. And he sells his tonics for a dollar, but since this is a dated movie (like Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer era), a dollar is worth a bit.
Candle On The Water: This received an Academy Award nomination but did not win. It is sung by Nora on the top of the lighthouse at night and is about how she will guide Paul back if he is still alive.
There's Room For Everyone: Sung by Nora at the start and then joined in by Pete and the other school children (most likely the main child population of the town) about how there is room for everyone (including a dragon) in this world. Seriously, those kids can dance. And the last line of the song is "Just the way God planned it...Just the way God planned,"
Every Little Piece: Sung by Doctor Terminus and Hoagy, mostly about how the "good doctor" will experiment on Elliott and make a profit from him. This is the most dated song, with a line of "tens and twenties...cash". Back then twenty dollars was a big amount of money. Hoagy seems slightly less enthusiastic then Doctor Terminus but is very prominent at the notion of getting a lot of money. Though during the song he is afraid to face Elliott again and says if the Doctor wants to "drag him from the cave", he would "have to go yourself" (have to go himself without Hoagy). It is my second most favourite song in this movie. There is a small reprise of this song in the next scene.
Brazzle Dazzle Day: Sung by Nora, Pete and Lampie as they clean the lighthouse. Now, sure, you could look at it the wrong way and think it is talking about an acid trip, but seriously, it is just about throwing the past behind you and the similarities are coincidental. This song is sung as the three of them clean the lighthouse and it is a good song mostly with the overhead angle shots.
Bill Of Sale: THIS...is my favourite song from Pete's Dragon. It has The Gogan family singing it and Nora singing some responses/comments back to this unruly gang of vermin. With Ma Gogan being rather more "posh" then usual in the legal sense that she has a right to Pete because she has a bill of sale claiming Pete her property. Again, Pa Gogan sings along with her at the start but gets into the rhythm with the two younger Gogans (as does Ma Gogan but later). This is probably the first time publicly the Gogans show their true intentions. Willie and Grover of course are coarser and sing about "break you (Nora) in half before we bring you before the judge", but they sing as a unit in this sense, making their claims quite clear. But Nora does not think they have the right, yelling accusations on deaf ears as when they lose their cool the Gogans finally say of the cruel things they made Pete do as he worked on the farm. After a big confrontation and the Gogans trying to row to Nora's boat, Elliott comes back and blows the boat to pieces. The Gogans get flung into the air and each have their one line snippet (though the same words) before all of them land in the water.
I Swear I Saw A Dragon (Reprise): This reprise of the earlier song "I Swear I Saw A Dragon" has Lampie, Nora and the townspeople singing about how Elliott helped them all. This is the final musical song snippet in the film and is a nice recap of everything that has been occurring in the movie...full circle if you will.
Now, to the darker side of Pete's Dragon. Though it is rated G and is a great film, it is anything but with adult overtones (like alcoholism) and slight ones as well (intent to kill or harm). The lesser of these evils is alcohol, which is prominent throughout the film (littered in scenes more like), including a scene where Elliott gets drunk...though it is comical and not intentional, it does worry me when the main cartoon character drinks beer or whisky. With two staple characters (Hoagy and Lampie) as drunk comic relief, it seems to me that it does not add to the comedy, only the tragedy of what made them sink this low. Next on the list is kidnapping. Though it is true Doctor Terminus did NOT forcibly kidnap Pete, he did trick him away from the lighthouse and hold him captive with the help of The Gogans. Next is child-abuse. Beating Pete is what drove Pete away from The Gogans and the stupid or not sensible adults of Passamaquoddy seem to use the old method of hitting the child they think is the cause of their ill fortune. Next is attempted murder or cause to harm. With a big harpoon you have got to think Doctor Terminus intended to kill (or at least injure to secure) Elliott. Despite his intentions, Hoagy is just as bad, luring Elliott to his almost certain doom.
But, despite this, it is a great movie from Disney to watch. The acting and story is brilliant and although it seems at times it takes a while to get to the interesting points, it is poignant and rich and full of interesting characters. So, if there was a Disney film to recommend, I recommend Pete's Dragon because a boy with an invisible (when he wants to be) dragon friend is definitely the kind of movie worth watching!
SimonW.