The Film Vindicator Review: Generation X

Yeah you heard right I'm reviewing Generation X a made-for-TV movie out came out in 1996 only on Fox. Based on a Marvel Comic of the same name that was met to catch on as a TV series but never did and you can probably figure out why.

So the film starts with a definition of the word mutation I guess to clue in non-fans about what a mutant is. We cut to the film's villain Dr. Russel Tresh (played by Matt Frewer) performing an illegal brain surgery on an innocent mutant until Emma Frost (played by Finola Hughes) interferes. Tresh gets fired from this secret government institution while the innocent mutant is taken away by the "MEA" for being an unregistered mutant. This pisses off Emma and goes to a little psychic rage and then walks away. We cut to five years later and we are introduced to Angelo Espinosa aka Skin (played by Austin Rodriguez) leaving his family to head to the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Later at a arcade place we are introduced to Jubilation Lee aka Jubilee (played by Heather McComb, that's right a white actress playing a Chinese mutant but I digress). Her powers began to manifest while playing Virtua Fighter; you heard me playing Virtua Fighter. This attracts the police she runs away and the police pursues her. She's soon cornered and captured by the police. We cut to Emma checking Cerebro to see that Jubilee has been detained at a police station. She and Sean Cassidy aka Banshee (played by Jeremy Ratchford) head out to the station and got her out. After which Emma, Banshee, and Jubilee head to a bus station where they met up with Skin. They return to the school and given Jubilee and Skin a registration scan before meeting the other students of the school. In the next scene we're introduced to Monet St. Croix aka M (played by Amarilis), Mondo (played by Bumper Robinson), Arlee Hicks aka Buff (played by Suzanne Davis), and Kurt Pastorius aka Refrax (played by Randall Slavin). Fun fact the two characters Buff and Refrax were created for this film as replacements for Husk and Chamber from the Generation X comic. Only because to avoid spending too much money in special effects on their powers. The film pads out for a bit with the students learning the ins and outs of the school. We cut to Skin doing security checks of the school until he comes across a section of the school that's off limits. Skin manage to gain access to this section and discovers that the sealed off room holds a "dream machine".

We cut to a board meeting where Tresh explains dreams can be used in the means of brainwashing or "advertising" the board's products into peoples' subconscious minds. By using a duplicated dream machine Tresh has the means to do so but this causes the board to be really spooked. Later Skin tells Jubilee about the dream machine and the two decided to try it out. Jubilee tries it first to visit her parents in their dreams until being interrupted by Tresh. She freaks out and wakes up leaving Skin to try it out. Skin visits a girl he met earlier at a diner while he and the other students took a drive to a small town. Tresh appears before him and wants to help Skin by brainwashing the girl to love him. They continue to until the police show up at Tresh place and while still connected to the dream machine the police disconnected him from the machine. Causing his consciousness to be trapped in the dream dimension separated from his body. The students head out to a carnival for some fun Buff and Refrax are kissing out and Skin and the girl (Kayla) are hanging out until Kayla's friends drop by to taunt Skin. Fight breaks out between the students and Kayla's friends causing all except M to get arrested. After being released from jail Skin is visited by Tresh and asked him to return his consciousness to his body otherwise he'll go after Skin's family. So Skin does so and this leads Tresh to capture Skin to perform his illegal surgery. His intent is to remove a small portion of a mutant brain and then insert that portion into his brain granting him mutant powers of his own. Skin manages to give out a psychic message to Jubilee...don't ask. So Jubilee tells Emma of the situation and Emma gathers the students a fight against Tresh. The final scene of the film is with the fought and defeated Tresh ended up with his consciousness separated from his body once again.

My Final Verdict: Many people found Generation X cheesy, low-budget, odd, and confusing. So why would I review this film? Well some of the sources say that Generation X came out on TV on February 20th. But as I recall it came out on my birthday of February 19th; which means it has a special place in my heart. If it didn't it still has a special place in my heart. Plus unlike the Roger Corman's Fantastic Four and the Justice League of America film Generation X had an official release date despite the huge flaws that goes on. And believe me there are flaws in this film and yet I still like it. I guess even film vindicators have their guilty pleasures. So if you're as much as a masochist as I am I recommending watching Generation X. So next time stay tuned as review another guilty pleasure of mine straight from the Sci-Fi channel Darklight.

The Film Vindicator Review: Twister

OK a lot of you are wondering where I've been in the last few days. Well it's a long story you see it's none of your business. The point is I'm back and I'm reviewing a movie so let's move on.

Aside from comics, video games, cartoons, and anime. Tornadoes were one of my special interest when I was a kid. Not sure why or how I got into tornadoes but just love tornadoes. Since elementary school I've been reading books about tornadoes, watching TV specials about tornadoes. Hell I even wanted to be a storm chaser when I grow up. And giving the fact that I live in Indianapolis where it's known for having tornadoes; why not review my favorite tornado film Twister. The film premiered in the summer of 1996 and has a rather interesting cast of actors. Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt, Cary Elwes, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and no surprise Jami Gertz.

The starts off on a stormy night of June 1969 when a F5 (Fujita scale) tornado appears on an unexpected family. The family rushes to a nearby underground shelter for safety. The door of the shelter begins to loosen, forcing the father to hold it down and you can imagine how that turns out. The door gets ripped off into the twister with the father in tow; this leaves the mother and daughter dramatized. OK out of all the silly things going on in this film this is the scene I'm nitpicking here. Did the father really think that he can hold down a flimsy door with a tornado outside? You would think that living in a tornado area you would have better doors for their shelters. And not only that after the father gets sucked right out; the mother and daughter are perfectly fine. As if the vacuum of that F5 twister just stops right at the doorway. Now I can forgive that director Jan de Bont doesn't understand tornado physics. But my point is that the father sacrifices his life for nothing aside from becoming the biggest dumbass in the film. We cut to present day Oklahoma to see Bill played Bill Paxton (seriously they couldn't come up with a character name for him). He's accompanied by his new fiancee Melissa played by Jami Gertz. Damn it woman stop following me around, although I should be glad that Jason Patric is not in this film. Bill and Melissa arrived at a field station where we meet Jo(who is also the daughter from the start of the film) played by Helen Hunt. The reunion gets cut short when one of Jo's station members gets the call about a possible tornado forming. So Jo and crew pick up and head out while Bill waiting for Jo to sign the divorce papers decided to join them with Melissa in tow. The team crosses paths with the film's douchebag Dr. Jonas Miller played by Cary Elwes. His goal is to take credit for Bill's idea for DOROTHY (a tornado research device) in the pursuit of fame and profit. Mainly throughout the film Bill, Jo and others are attempting to deploy one of these four instrument packs dubbed DOROTHY inside a tornado. If successful they'll have all the data they need to create advance tornado warning systems. Fun fact it's been well known that tornado scientists and storm chasers have created such instrument packs in order to study tornadoes from the inside. So I guess it's safe to say that director Jan de Bont did some research before making this film.

The first two attempts of deploying DOROTHY were unsuccessful due to some extremely close calls. After the second fail attempt the team takes a well deserve break and head out to Wakita where Jo's Aunt Meg (played by Lois Smith) lives. They share a few laughs until a weather report from the TV states that a storm is developing an F3 tornado. The team immediately head to intercept that storm. Once again things didn't go so well when DOROTHY II gets damaged by a falling power pole. It's here that Jo is obsessed of deploying DOROTHY while Bill manages to calm her down. It's night time and team are at a drive-in theater. But then unexpectedly a F4 tornado appears at the drive-in theater; causing the team and movie-goers rushing to a underground shelter. The F4 tornado destroys most of the drive-in theater before moving on. However, the worst is far from over as that same F4 tornado heads to Wakita. After hearing that the tornado is heading to Wakita; the team quickly rushes to Wakita to find the town completely wiped out. Bill and Jo manage to get the injured aunt Meg out of her house before it collapsed. Another weather report states that two storm fronts have combined into one storm creating a really powerful F5. Jo figures out how to make DOROTHY fly; what is it you asked? Well no idea I'm still figuring that out after all these years. Anyway the next morning the team regroups with the two remaining DOROTHYs and went pursuit for the F5 tornado. Some of the scenes are just padding to put some excitement in the last few scenes. Jonas and his wheel-man arrive next to the F5 tornado in position for deployment. However, Bill believes that it might shift its direction and head towards Jonas. Bill tries to warn him but with Jonas being a douchebag he ignores Bill and continues on. A long metal pole fly's through the windshield impaling the driver and the tornado carries the truck away into the air. And if you asked no he didn't survive as the truck crashes in the ground and explodes. With the last DOROTHY left; Bill and Jo intercepts F5 tornado and finally manages to deploy DOROTHY into the tornado successfully getting the much needed data. The final scene is with Bill and Jo running away from the tornado which is really impossible in reality but I digress. They go inside a shed and quickly anchored themselves to some pipelines ultimately surviving the tornado. The film ends with Bill, Jo, and company celebrating on deploying DOROTHY and gathering the new data.

My Final Verdict: Twister is one of those better disaster films that are not over the top with over-saturated CGI or bland character development. Some of logic in this film may be flaw but not to the point of having your intelligence insulted. And through the characters are a bit goofy but really likable. Stay tuned next time as I take you to a school for gifted mutants of the 1990s. That's right next time I'm reviewing Generation X and I promise you Jami Gertz is not in it.

The Film Vindicator Review: The Lost Boys

Well what did you thought I was going to review Batman Forever? Besides I said I’m reviewing a good Schumacher film not a crappy one that nearly raped my childhood. So the 80s was that decade where the classic movie monsters were getting a fresh new style of horror. From The Howling, to Fright Night, to Monster Squad, to well The Lost Boys. The film came out in 1987 with an ensemble cast; Jason Patric, Jami Gertz oh ho thought you two escaped me from Solarbabies didn’t you? Corey Feldman, Kiefer Sutherland, and the late Corey Haim.

The film starts off at a boardwalk and amusement park where we’re immediately introduced to the Cullens of the 80s (also of awesome). David (played by Kiefer Sutherland), Marco (played by Alex Winter), Paul (played by Brooke McCarter), and Dwayne (played Billy Wirth). So the 80s Cullens start some mischief at the carnival soon to get escorted off by a rent-a-cop. Not too long we get to say good bye to the rent-a-cop as he’s being drag off into the night (insert Scorpion’s GET OVER HERE! joke). We cut to the opening credits where we’re introduced to the Emerson family; Lucy (played by Diane Wiest), Michael (played by Jason Patric), and Sam (played by Corey Haim). As they’re heading to their new home in Santa Carlo also known as the MURDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD! Oh gee I wonder why? So after the opening credits end the family reaches their new home (owned by the brothers’ grandpa/Lucy's dad). We cut back to the boardwalk and amusement park where Michael and Sam are at a rather awesome concert in my opinion. Not before long Michael sees a young girl in the crowd named Star (played by Jami Gertz) and begins to stare at her. So the staring contest causes Star to leave while Michael goes after her with Sam in tow. A little bit later Sam ditches Michael and enters a nearby comic book shop where he meets the Frog Brothers Edgar (played by Corey Feldman) and Alan (played by Jamison Newlander). They exchange knowledge about comics before recommending Sam to read a vampire comic. Later we get another GET OVER HERE moment when the roof of a couples’ car is ripped off and the couple are drag into the darkness. The next morning Sam returns to the comic book shop being informed by the Frog brothers that Santa Carlo is the perfect hot spot for vampires. The next night at the boardwalk and amusement park Michael finally meets with Star before meeting with the 80s Cullens. David persuades Michael to join them at a makeshift home in a cave. A little bit later when they’re eating some Chinese food it turns out the 80s Cullens have some Jedi Mind Tricks as Michael sees maggots and worms in the food. The party really starts when David breaks out a creepy looking wine bottle and gives it to Michael to drink. Michael does so despite being warned by Star (because she too is a vampire) that the bottle is filled with blood. After a trippy party montage things pretty weird from this point Michael starts sleeping through the day, almost attack Sam but was stopped by their dog. Has almost no reflection in mirrors and he can fly…almost. All’s revealed to Michael when David brings him along to stalk some party-goers and I think you know where this is going. Well let me put it like this, the vampires in Twilight are lightweights compare to the 80s Cullens.

Sam is aware of what’s been going on and calls in the Frog brothers for help. They plan on to find and slay the head-vampire in order to return Michael to normal. So Sam and the Frog brothers head out to the makeshift cave during the day where they find the 80s Cullens sleeping Spider-Man style. Not sure which one is the head-vampire decided to slay them all which did not turned out so well. They manage to slay one of them while the rest have woken up in a RED LANTERN RAGE! Sam and the Frog brothers safely escape from the 80s Cullens and hail ass back to Sam’s place. Nearing the end of the film Sam, Michael and Frog brothers gathered some holy water and wooden stakes preparing for coming 80s Cullens attack. Night falls and the 80s Cullens arrived with lethal intent, the second 80s Cullen Paul is slayed by the Frog brothers by throwing him in a bathtub filled with holy water. And oh and a little warning throwing a vampire in a bathtub filled with holy water is not all that great with the house plumbing…just saying. The third 80s Cullen Dwayne is slayed by Sam with a bow and arrow and somehow gravitating towards a nearby stereo. You might say he met his shocking end heh heh...sorry. And the crowning post kill line goes to Sam with “Death by stereo”. A mid-air vampire fight breaks between Michael and David ultimately Michael kills David by impalement on to some gazelle antlers. However, Michael is still a vampire meaning that there’s still one out there. Michael and Sam’s mom returns home with her date Max (Edward Herrmann) (a video store owner that Lucy met earlier in the film). Here it’s revealed that Max is the head-vampire with the intention to have Lucy and the boys to join his family. Or as Edgar said it best “The bloodsucking Brady Bunch”. So who does gonna save everyone from vampire Max? Oh wait Grandpa can. That’s right he drives his jeep backwards through the living room, makes a hard stop for these giant wooden poles to fly off the back of the jeep. One of the poles impales Max gravitating towards the fireplace and then explodes. Yeah as much as that sounds silly, you can’t argue with the result. Plus I think Grandpa deserves some bad ass points. The film ends with Grandpa’s own crowning post kill line with “One thing in the world I never could stomach is all the damn vampires”.

My Final Verdict: Aside from Lifeforce, The Lost Boys is one of the greatest vampire films that ever came out from the 80s. The vampires are far scarier and have better social skills than the vampires from Twilight. Some scenes will scare you and some scenes will make you laugh and you should watch this film because of it. Now there were two sequels that came out...21 years later. I've already watched one of them and let's say they don't have the same flair as this film did. Sure I'll review them...at some point...ish. So stay tuned next week when Jami Gertz makes another appearance here on The Film Vindicator as I review Twister.