SAW THEM AGAIN. “Ghost World.” / “Run Lola Run.” / “Misery.” / “Conan the Barbarian” (1982 and 2011). / “Drunken Master.”

“Ghost World" (2001, Roku) black comedy. Teenage outsiders Enid and Rebecca face a rift in their friendship as Enid takes an interest in an older man named Seymour, and becomes determined to help his romantic life. 


       I saw this fun movie 7 times already. This neo-classic, cult-level comedy isn't the riotous sort or irreverent Judd Apatow kind. But it's fun watching it. Not so trying-hard humor but with. enjoyable wit. Director Terry Zwigoff's “Crumb” (1995) is also a must-see.

       The main attraction: Deadpan teen angst as effortlessly delivered by Thora Birch's Enid and Scarlett Johansson's Rebecca. Enid is a modern-day youth that we all, children of the not-so-long ago could relate with, female or male. 

       I thought Thora Birch would evolve into a full-pledged A-1 star after this movie. But it was Scarlett Johansson who became a superstar. Still, it's hard to forget Ms Birch in this jewel of early 2000s cinema. 🎥💻📽


“Run Lola Run” (1998, Hulu) German avant-garde thriller, written and directed by Tom Tykwer. A woman named Lola needs to obtain 100,000 marks (equivalent to €71,000 in 2021) in 20 minutes to save the life of her boyfriend. 



       Fast moving as a snort of coke, MTV-styled snap that stays in you, and a playful craftiness that seems effortlessly made. It's all pretty much Franka Potente running nonstop. A script that could have been written by a high school student. But it is still fun to watch.

       Tom Tykwer's ensuing projects (or those that he was involved with) are obvious improvements: "Perfume; The Story of a Murderer” (2006), “Cloud Atlas” (2012), “The Matrix Resurrections” (2021), and the TV series “Babylon Berlin” (2017--). 🎥💻📽


“Misery” (1990, HBO Max) psychological horror thriller, directed by Rob Reiner from a screenplay by William Goldman, based on Stephen King's 1987 novel. A famed novelist is held captive by an obsessive fan. 


       Ms Bates won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her cold/warm derangement essay of crazed fan Annie Wilkes. Her interaction with James Caan's author Paul Sheldon is one of the most riveting, focused and thrilling indoor “duels” in cinema. 🎥💻📽


“Conan the Barbarian” (1982, YouTube) sword-and-sorcery film, directed by John Milius from a screenplay he co-wrote with Oliver Stone. A barbarian named Conan who seeks to avenge his parents' deaths at the hands of Thulsa Doom, the leader of a snake cult. Stars Arnold Schwarzenegger.



       For the sole sake of cinematic nostalgia, I watched this again, and amused myself with the quotable quotes. Like, Conan: “I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it.” And “Does anything hurt you?” Princess Jehnna asks. Conan answers, “Only pain.” To think that avowed director John Milius and Oliver Stone wrote those. (Yes, they shared screenplay credits.)

       But his movie is entertaining, too. 🎥💻📽


“Conan the Barbarian” (2011, Fandango) sword and sorcery film. Conan, a barbarian warrior who was the sole survivor of his village's slaughter as a child, on his quest for vengeance against the warlord responsible for the massacre. Stars Jason Momoa is Conan. 



       Honestly, I like this version better than the 1982 Arnold Schwarzenegger original, which was directed by the respected John Milius and co-written with Oliver Stone. Yes, regardless. This 2011 standalone is directed by Marcus Nispel, whose main work credit is 2003's “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” Weird?

       Let's not compare Arnie with Jason Momoa, okay? Mr Schwarzenegger's quotable quotes were hilarious but Mr Momoa's action sequences are more entertaining.

       A critic writes that this Jason version “forsakes three-dimensional characters, dialogue, and acting in favor of unnecessary 3D effects.” But I didn't even notice those. The two Conans certainly aren't filmmaking gems but they're enjoyable. Yes, notwithstanding the gore. And this is not a Texas chainsaw massacre, you dig? 🎥💻📽


“Drunken Master” (1978, Tubi) Hong Kong martial arts comedy. A mischievous young man is forced to endure brutal training under an eccentric hermit to master a legendary fighting style and save his family. Stars Jackie Chan. 



       Funny, funny! It's cool watching this hilarious classic again. 

       Seriously, what's so interesting to revisit is the amazing action-choreography by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping. Yuen honed and shaped the iconic comedic kung fu style that skyrocketed Mr Chan to global stardom. The dude later went on to choreograph major Hollywood action films including “The Matrix” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” 🎥💻📽


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