With his first film, John Hughes exploded onto the scene, not just capturing but shaping the zeitgeist of 1980s teen cinema. Houselights looks back on a film awash in nostalgia but regarded as problematic in execution, and debates what value there is within.
Released 21 days after The Thomas Crown Affair, this adaptation of Michael Crichton’s Eaters of the Dead starred Antonio Banderas and caused Omar Sharif to temporarily retire in disappointment. A big-budget bomb, Houselights closes out the House of McTiernan to ask, “Is this an overlooked gem?”
Starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo, this remake of Norman Jewison’s 1968 film was looking to be a surefire hit in the summer of 1999. But there was, fittingly, a twist only M. Night Shyamalan could write: Another box office sensation waiting to undercut John McTiernan’s latest.
Searching for a hit and retooling a good script, John McTiernan reteamed with Bruce Willis to salve the let-down of Harlin’s Die Hard 2 with "Die Hard with a Vengeance". Attaching Sam Jackson and Jeremy Irons, did they create new magic or dilute the memory of an action classic?
Grab your magic ticket and break the 4th wall to revisit Arnold Schwarzenneger flexing his muscles and clout to make a star-studded action-comedy, helmed by John McTiernan. Powered by high-profile talent and one of the biggest box-office draws ever...what could go wrong?
Houselights goes off the beaten path to discover Sean Connery in John McTiernan's film "Medicine Man." Did they discover a lost classic full of chemistry or a ruinous rainforest excursion?
Houselights enters the House of McTiernan with his work from the 90s. The classic "The Hunt for Red October," is first up and we ask that you give us one ping only, please.
In Houselights' final Tim Burton film of the 90s, we travel to the town of "Sleepy Hollow."
A creepy and genuinely funny movie with a powerhouse of cast makes this a go-to every Halloween. Listen to our take.
This week, Houselights discusses Tim Burton's "Mars Attacks!"
Does this homage to B-movie sci-fi films of the past hold up or should it have never left the 90s?
Tim Burton's "Ed Wood" is beloved by critics but was a massive box office failure. The opening credits cost more than the original Ed Wood's "Plan 9."
@DrScifi, @kesseljunkie, and @TheInsaneRobin take a look at this film about bad films. |