Amazon Women on the Moon 1986 R, 85 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: John Landis Cast: Rosanna Arquette, Steve Guttenberg, Carrie Fisher, Ralph Bellamy, Griffin Dunne, Michelle Pfeiffer, Peter Horton, Sybil Danning, Ed Begley Jr., Paul Bartel, Dick Miller
Lots of stars in cameos in this off-the-wall series of stories which is "highlighted" by a parody of "Cat Women of the Moon." The skits are intended to be funny, but most fail.
|  | |
An American Werewolf in London 1981 R, 97 min. Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: John Landis Cast: David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne, John Woodvine, Brian Glover, Frank Oz, David Schofield, Lila Kaye, Joe Belcher, Rik Mayall, Sean Baker, Paddy Ryan, Anne-Marie Davies, Don McKillop, Paul Kember
American students David Kessler and Jack Goodman (David Naughton and Griffin Dunne) are backpacking in the English countryside when they are attacked by a werewolf. David survives and is hospitalized, but Jack is killed. During one of David's ensuing nightmares, he is visited by Jack and warned that unless he commits suicide, he will turn into a werewolf during the next full moon. David ignores Jack's advice, and, when David is released from the hospital, he moves in with his nurse, Alex Price (Jenny Agutter). They begin a love affair, and now it is only a short time before the next full moon. Will David's nightmares prove to be true? Wry humor interwoven with horror.
|  | |
Beverly Hills Cop III 1994 R, 118 min. Genre: Action / Comedy / Drama / Thriller
Director: John Landis Cast: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Hector Elizondo, Theresa Randle, Bronson Pinchot, Timothy Carhart, John Saxon, Alan Young, Stephen McHattie, Jon Tenney, Joey Travolta, Eugene Collier, Fred Asparagus, Rick Avery, Gilbert R. Hill
Sometimes sequels fail to measure up to the originals. Eddie Murphy is back and very good as Detroit homicide detective Alex Foley, but the gimmick is getting old.
|  | |
The Blues Brothers 1980 R, 133 min. Genre: Action / Comedy / Musical
Director: John Landis Cast: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Carrie Fisher, Steven Spielberg, James Brown, Henry Gibson, Frank Oz, Kathleen Freeman, Charles Napier, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Steve Lawrence, Twiggy
Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi play Elwood and Jake Blues (of "Saturday Night Live" fame) who are reunited after Jake gets out of jail. They discover that the Catholic children's home where they grew up is in financial trouble and decide to get their band back together and put on a concert to raise money. In the process, they turn Chicago upside down.
|  | |
Blues Brothers 2000 1998 PG-13, 123 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: John Landis Cast: Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman, Joe Morton, J. Evan Bonifant, Nia Peeples, Kathleen Freeman, Frank Oz, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Steve Lawrence
The Blues are back as Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd) again tries to aid Mother Superior Mary Stigmata (Kathleen Freeman) in her quest for funds for a children's hospital. Elwood heads for New Orleans hoping to reunite the band and enter the New Orleans' Battle of the Bands. While the plot involves Elwood leading cops and Russian mobsters on a merry chase, this film works as a tribute to the blues.
|  | |
Body Chemistry II: The Voice of a Stranger 1992 R, 84 min. Genre: Horror / Thriller aka: Voice of a Stranger
Director: Adam Simon Cast: Gregory Harrison, Lisa Pescia, Morton Downey Jr., Robin Riker, Clint Howard, John Landis, Jeremy Piven, Robert Beecher, Frank Novak, Derek Hoxby
Sex psychologist Claire (Lisa Pescia) hosts a radio talk show on which she encourages a caller, Dan (George Harrison), to act out his sexual fantasies in this first sequel to "Body Chemistry."
|  | |
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story 2009 PG, 101 min. Genre: Documentary
Director: Gregory V. Sherman, Jeff Sherman Cast: Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury, Lesley Ann Warren, Julie Andrews, Debbie Reynolds, Ben Stiller, Jon Turteltaub, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, John Williams, Hayley Mills, Leonard Maltin, John Landis, Karen Dotrice, Samuel Goldwyn Jr.
The Academy-Award team of brothers Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman wrote the songs "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "It's a Small World," "Chim Chim Cher-ee," and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"–which were among their collaborations. While their songs were loved, the brothers did not get along, and their rift led to their sons not even knowing that they had family members living nearby. Their sons, Gregory and Jeff, made this documentary that tells the story of Robert and Richard's unique relationship that, despite their estrangement, produced cherished, classic music.
|  | |
Coming to America 1988 R, 116 min. Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: John Landis Cast: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Madge Sinclair, Calvin Lockhart, Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy, Cuba Gooding Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Shari Headley, Paul Bates, Eriq La Salle, Frankie Faison, Vanessa Bell Calloway
Another Eddie Murphy vehicle, but this time he stars as pampered, African Prince Akeem who, against his family's wishes, is trying to find a bride in New York City. Arsenio Hall costars as his buddy Semmi. Akeem and Semmi assume false identities as Akeem tries to find a woman who will not fall for him simply because he is a prince. They get jobs at Cleo McDowell's (John Amos) food emporium, and romance blossoms between Akeem and Cleo's daughter Lisa (Shari Headley). But now, Akeem's parents (James Earl Jones and Madge Sinclair) arrive on the scene prepared to take Akeem home to Africa. Eddie and Arsenio take on several other roles in addition to their primary ones. Good fun.
|  | |
Diamonds 1999 PG-13, 91 min. Genre: Drama
Director: John Asher Cast: Kirk Douglas, Dan Aykroyd, Corbin Allred, Lauren Bacall, Kurt Fuller, Jenny McCarthy, Mariah O'Brien, June Chadwick, John Landis
A retired prizefighter, Harry Agensky (Kirk Douglas), is recovering from a stroke when he talks his son, Lance (Dan Aykroyd), and grandson Michael (Corbin Allred) into driving him to Reno in search of 13 diamonds Harry insists that he hid in a house many years ago.
|  | |
Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby 1999 R, 90 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Matthew Bright Cast: Natasha Lyonne, Vincent Gallo, Maria Celedonio, David Alan Grier, Michael T. Weiss, April Telek, Max Perlich, John Landis, Bob Dawson, Jennifer Griffin
In a twist on the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale, Crystal (Natasha Lyonne) and Cyclona (Maria Celedonio) escape from a juvenile prison and kill and steal on their way to Grandma's/Sister Gomez's (Vincent Gallo) house.
|  | |
Innocent Blood 1992 R, 112 min. Genre: Horror / Comedy
Director: John Landis Cast: Anne Parillaud, Robert Loggia, Anthony LaPaglia, Don Rickles, David Proval, Chazz Palminteri, Luis Guzman, Rocco Siusto, Marshall Bell, Tom Savini, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee
Marie (Anne Parillaud) is a vampire out to "suck blood" from the criminal elements of Pittsburgh. Her "main meal" is mobster Sal "the Shark" Macelli (Robert Loggia). Joining forces with a cop, Joe (Anthony LaPaglia), in her quest, romance follows. A fun mix of horror, comedy, and action.
|  | |
Into the Night 1985 R, 115 min. Genre: Action
Director: John Landis Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Richard Farnsworth, Michelle Pfeiffer, David Bowie, Dan Aykroyd, Irene Papas, Clu Gulager, Carmen Argenziano, David Cronenberg
An aerospace engineer (Jeff Goldblum) learns of his wife's affair with another man and, in the middle of the night, heads for the airport to try to clear his head. Meanwhile, a woman smuggler (Michelle Pfeiffer) arrives at the airport, is met by four killers, and escapes by jumping into the engineer's car. Then the real intrigue begins.
|  | |
Kentucky Fried Movie 1977 R, 78 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: John Landis Cast: Bill Bixby, Henry Gibson, Evan C. Kim, Donald Sutherland, George Lazenby, Bong Soo Han, Marilyn Joi, Saul Kahan, Barry Dennen, Jim Abrahams, Marcy Goldman, Joseph G. Medalis, Rich Gates, Tara Strohmeier, Neil Thompson
Satirical skits from the Kentucky Fried Theater–a group that was formed at the University of Wisconsin at Madison during the early 1970s–are brought to the screen. This film contains over 20 segments, which include well-known stars, and features satire and parodies of a variety of subjects. One of the best segments is "A Fistful of Yen" that presents a spoof on martial-arts films.
|  | |
National Lampoon's Animal House 1978 R, 109 min. Genre: Comedy aka: Animal House
Director: John Landis Cast: John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Karen Allen, Donald Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, John Vernon, Verna Bloom, Tom Hulce, Cesare Danova, Mary Louise Weller, Peter Riegert, Stephen Furst, Bruce McGill, James Daughton, Mark Metcalf
This movie set a trend for several films to come. Faber College's Dean Wormer (John Vernon) plots with Greg Marmalard (James Daughton) of Omega fraternity to rid the campus of the disreputable Delta House fraternity. The fraternity boys–seniors Otter (Tim Matheson), D-Day (Bruce McGill), Boon (Peter Riegert), and "Bluto" Blutarsky (John Belushi)–at the Delta House provide plenty of laughs as they party, chase coeds, and battle school authorities.
|  | |
Oscar 1991 PG, 109 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: John Landis Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Chazz Palminteri, Don Ameche, Peter Riegert, Eddie Bracken, Linda Gray, Yvonne De Carlo, Kirk Douglas, Marisa Tomei, Ken Howard
Gangster Angelo "Snaps" Provolone (Sylvester Stallone) tries to make good on a deathbed promise to his father that he will leave his life of crime. However, he finds many obstacles standing in the way to an honest life.
|  | |
Psycho IV: The Beginning 1990 TV, 96 min. Genre: Horror / Drama / Mystery / Thriller
Director: Mick Garris Cast: Anthony Perkins, Henry Thomas, Olivia Hussey, CCH Pounder, Warren Frost, Donna Mitchell, Thomas Schuster, Sharen Camille, Bobbi Evors, John Landis, Kurt Paul, Louis Crume, Cynthia Garris, Doreen Chalmers, Alice Hirson
Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) is back one more time, and he's even more of a basket case. He calls into a radio talk show and tells about how his crazy, domineering mother (Olivia Hussey) has much to do with why he is what he is today as he reflects on his childhood. Now, Norman is plotting to kill Connie (Donna Mitchell) who is pregnant with his child.
|  | |
Quicksilver Highway 1997 TV, 88 min. Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Mick Garris Cast: Christopher Lloyd, Matt Frewer, Raphael Sbarge, Missy Crider, Veronica Cartwright, Silas Weir Mitchell, Bill Nunn, Bill Bolender, Amelia Neinle, Clive Barker, John Landis, William Knight
Christopher Lloyd hosts this made-for-TV film that presents two sub-par stories concerning body parts. In Stephen King's "Chattery Teeth," a man who has a set of chattering teeth picks up a hitchhiker, and the teeth do not seem to care for the guest. In Clive Barker's "Body Politic," a man's artificial hand takes control, leaves his body, and sets out to start a revolution of the hands.
|  | |
Spies Like Us 1985 PG, 103 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: John Landis Cast: Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Donna Dixon, Steve Forrest, Bruce Davison, Bernie Casey, William Prince, Frank Oz, Terry Gilliam, Charles McKeown, Tom Hatten, James Daughton, Jim Staahl, Costa-Gavras, Ray Harryhausen
Inept government workers Emmett Fitz-Hume and Austin Milbarge (Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd) yearn for the exciting lives of espionage agents. They cheat on their Foreign Service Board exams for the CIA and get promoted. What they do not know is that the CIA considers them to be disposable and uses them as decoys for the real spies. They are dropped off in Pakistan where they fight Pakistani rebels and become involved in trying to stop Gen. Sline's (Steve Forrest) plan to start World War III.
|  | |
Spontaneous Combustion 1990 R, 97 min. Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Tobe Hooper Cast: Brad Dourif, Cynthia Bain, Jon Cypher, William Prince, Melinda Dillon, Dey Young, Tegan West, John Landis, Michael Keys Hall, Dale Dye, Dick Butkus, Andre De Toth
In the 1950s, Sam's (Brad Dourif) parents participated in radiation experiments to find an antidote for nuclear radiation. But when Sam was born, it soon became obvious that he could cause spontaneous combustion, and his parents were his first victims. Now an adult, he is haunted by his past and is determined to find out more about what went on with those experiments, and people trying to stop him must be torched. Bad Hooper flick.
|  | |
The Stupids 1996 PG, 94 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: John Landis Cast: Tom Arnold, Jessica Lundy, Bug Hall, Alex McKenna, Mark Metcalf, Matt Keeslar, Christopher Lee, Bob Keeshan, Scott Kraft, Carol Ng
The Stupids are America's dumbest family, and their father, Stanley (Tom Arnold), becomes involved with aliens, terrorists, AND Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan).
|  | |
Surviving Eden 2004 N/R, 89 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Greg Pritikin Cast: Michael Panes, Cheri Oteri, Savannah Haske, Jane Lynch, Sam Robards, Peter Dinklage, John Landis, Conchata Ferrel, Billy Nash, Jackie Katzman, Kentaro Abe, Gary Rosen, Illeana Douglas, Tim Lane
In this satirical look at "15 minutes of fame," overweight loser Dennis Flotchky (Michael Panes) enters a reality show for weight loss, "Surviving Eden," in which the winning contestant will take home one million dollars. Dennis loses 200 lbs., gains his own fan club, and wins the big prize. He has found fame, but it goes to his head. Soon, his money is stolen, he is into drugs, loses his self-respect, and pays the emotional price for his fame.
|  | |
Susan's Plan 1998 R, 89 min. Genre: Comedy / Thriller aka: Dying to Get Rich
Director: John Landis Cast: Nastassja Kinski, Billy Zane, Michael Biehn, Rob Schneider, Lara Flynn Boyle, Thomas Haden Church, Carl Ballantine, Bill Duke, Lisa Edelstein, Sheree North, Adrian Paul, Dan Aykroyd
Susan (Nastassja Kinski) plots, again and again, to murder her ex-husband, Paul (Adrian Paul), after she learns about his life insurance policy. First, her new lover, Sam (Billy Zane), hires two thugs (Michael Biehn and Rob Schneider), but they fail to kill Paul. Next a biker, Bob (Dan Akyroyd), is paid to finish the job. The problem is that as more people become involved, more want in on the money, and complications ensue.
|  | |
Three Amigos! 1986 PG, 103 min. Genre: Comedy / Adventure / Western
Director: John Landis Cast: Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Martin Short, Patrice Martinez, Alfonso Arau, Tony Plana, Joe Mantegna, Phil Hartman, Jon Lovitz, Philip Gordon, Fred Asparagus, Santos Morales, Tino Insana, Kai Wulff, Norbert Weisser
This film is a parody of "The Magnificent Seven," minus four of the heroes. Three silent-screen cowboys–Dusty Bottoms (Chevy Chase), Lucky Day (Steve Martin), and Ned Nederlander (Martin Short)–have been fired from the studio when they receive a message from Carmen (Patrice Martinez) begging them to save her Mexican town. They think that Carmen is paying them to perform their singing routine in a show, but she really wants them to rid her town of marauding El Guapo (Alfonso Arau) who is terrorizing her friends and neighbors. They do head south of the border and arrive in Carmen's town and then learn that Carmen has been kidnapped by El Guapo. What do they do? They perform acts of heroism–just like they have done on the screen–and save the town.
|  | |
Trading Places 1983 R, 106 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: John Landis Cast: Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy, Denholm Elliott, Paul Gleason, Jamie Lee Curtis, James Belushi, Al Franken, Frank Oz, Robert Curtis Brown, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Cobbs, Bo Diddley, Philip Bosco
Just like in "The Prince and the Pauper," this movie goes with the premise of a rich man, Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd)–this time, a Philadelphia commodity broker–changing places with a poor man, Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy), who is a con-artist. The Duke brothers–Randolph and Mortimer (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche) make a bet on whether or not Louis will resort to crime when he loses his position in life. Throw in lots of good comedy, and you have a film worth watching.
|  | |
Twilight Zone: The Movie 1983 PG, 102 min. Genre: Sci-Fi
Director: Steven Spielberg, John Landis, George Miller, Joe Dante Cast: Vic Morrow, Kathleen Quinlan, Kevin McCarthy, John Lithgow, John Larroquette, Scatman Crothers, Selma Diamond, Abbe Lane, Burgess Meredith, Dan Aykroyd, Albert Brooks, Bill Quinn, Murray Matheson
This is Vic Morrow's last film as he and two Asian children were killed in a tragic helicopter accident while filming this movie. It is actually a remake of the TV show, and the last segment with George Miller directing is the best story with John Lithgow portraying a terrified passenger on an airplane. Each of the four Directors headed one segment.
|  | |
Venice/Venice 1992 R, 108 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Henry Jaglom Cast: Nelly Alard, Henry Jaglom, Melissa Leo, Suzanne Bertish, Daphna Kastner, David Duchovny, Vernon Dobtcheff, Zack Norman, Diane Salinger, John Landis
Dean (Henry Jaglom) is an American filmmaker who goes to the Venice Film Festival. While there, he falls in love with French journalist Jeanne (Nelly Alard), and their romance continues back home in Venice, California. This story presents an interesting contrast between love in the make-believe world of the movies and the more realistic love in true life.
|  | |
| 1. Amazon Women on the Moon (1986)
2. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
3. Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)
4. The Blues Brothers (1980)
5. Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)
6. Body Chemistry II: The Voice of a Stranger (1992) aka: Voice of a Stranger
7. The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story (2009)
8. Coming to America (1988)
9. Death Race 2000 (1975)
10. Diamonds (1999)
11. Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby (1999)
12. Innocent Blood (1992)
13. Into the Night (1985)
14. Kentucky Fried Movie (1977)
15. National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) aka: Animal House
16. Oscar (1991)
17. Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)
18. Quicksilver Highway (1997)
19. Spies Like Us (1985)
20. Spontaneous Combustion (1990)
21. The Stupids (1996)
22. Surviving Eden (2004)
23. Susan's Plan (1998) aka: Dying to Get Rich
24. Three Amigos! (1986)
25. Trading Places (1983)
26. Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
27. Venice/Venice (1992)
In The News
|