All the latest Movieland investigations from detectives Dick Japowski & Joey Arizona.
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Big (1988)
A 13 year old boy visits a carnival and makes a wish on a Zoltar machine. The next day he's soon to be megastar Tom Hanks!
It's no wonder the world fell in love with Hanks with this film. His child-like wonder makes him effortlessly charming and makes this one of those classic feel good heart warmers.
This was a first time watch for the kids and it still plays well 30 years on. Shimmy shimmy cocoa pop indeed.
Rewatch: 5 Doughnuts
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Upgrade (2018)
Set in a pretty futurey world with nice futurey things. Not Tom Hardy is an old fashioned gear head who loves his revs, beers and wife in that order. After an accident he is offered the chance of being upgraded and with the help of "stem" (a voice in his head that gives him his power), Not Tom Hardy goes on a revenge trip.
This is definitely the better of the two Venom movies we got last year and fans of genre cinema will enjoy.
First watch: 3 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
The Great Wall (2016)
A group of opportunistic soldiers head to China to secure some of the fabled Black Powder, but China have their own problems to deal with right...a horde of relentless, near unstoppable beasts are laying siege to the Great Wall.
There was a little controversy surrounding The Great Wall upon it's release, caught up in the Hollywood Whitewashing witch hunt...well the keyboard activist and internet trolls should probably of held fire. There are exactly three Western characters in the whole movie, everybody else is Chinese, and only two of them speak English. One can only assume the CGI monsters were Westerners too.
First watch: 3 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
David Bowie: Finding Fame (2019)
Francis Whately closes out his trilogy of Bowie documentaries with a look at the Icon's early years, and numerous failures. A nicely constructed 90 minutes, but nothing here for the non-fan.
First Watch: 3 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
In 1920's New Orleans a hard working waitress dreams of owning her own restaurant, but Tiana's life is about to take a bizarre turn when a down and out prince arrives in the city.
Always partial to a bit of Disney, this isn't a bona fide classic, but definitely worth a rewatch every now and again. It will now though have a special place in the Arizona household as it's the first film my son's actually sat through start to finish. It still might be a bit early for Casablanca mind.
Rewatch: 3.5 Doughnuts
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
A Fat Wreck (2016)
A nostalgic documentary about NOFX's Fat Mike and the roster of bands he found to put on his fledgling record label.
This was a real trip down memory lane for me and was great to hear how each band wooed Fat Mike. Spoiler alert - Two members of Strung Out had to carpet his condo to get signed! If your inner punker is kicking to get out, this is worth a boot.
First watch: 3 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
She's Having a Baby (1988)
Following Jake Briggs, a young guy who doesn't know what he wants, from his wedding day to the day his wife gives birth.
In the space of eight years John Hughes wrote seventeen movies, directing seven of them, with a work ethic like that not every movies going to be classic. There's a reason people remember The Breakfast Club and not She's Having a Baby.
First watch: 2.5 Doughnuts
Have you seen any of the movies we've investigated? What's the verdict? Are they guilty or innocent? Let us know in the comments below.