5 underrated time travel movies

 

Today is the 40th anniversary of one of my favorite movies ever, Back To The Future. I can't say enough good things about the first film and the franchise. 

While I get ready to pop my popcorn and watch the film like I've never seen it. And the concept of time travel, here are 5 underrated time travel films. While some of these are considered well liked films, they just do not get the credit they deserve. Away we go!

Totally Killer

This 2023 Amazon original, produced by the modern day horror guru in Jason Blum. Follows a young lady named Jamie, when her mom is murdered by a figure very similar to a mass murderer in town 30 plus years ago. In the process she has access to a newly built home made time machine, and accidentally sends herself back to 1987.

There, she works to change the events of the past to save her future. It's campy almost B-movie quality, and 100 % 80's culture and horror inspired. It's also a mindless good time.

Frequency 

This 2000 film starring Dennis Quaid and Jim Cavaziel, follows the two as a father and son Frank and John Sullivan communicating across time. That's right through the power of a ham radio, the two communicate in 1969 and 1999 respectively. When John helps his father prevent a mishap in the original timeline.

The butterfly effect comes into play, and other things that were supposed to happen did not. The two then must collaborate across time to fix some of those mistakes, while making sure everyone is happy without giving too much away.

The Adam Project

This 2022 Netflix film stars Ryan Reynolds as a fighter pilot in the year 2050. He uses time travel with the intention of heading to 2018, but crash lands in 2022. There he meets his 12 year old self who is going through a rough time in his life.

Together the two team together to heal and thrawt an assassination attempt on his future wife. The movie pays homage to several 80's films and has some good action, but can be clunky at times and was given a bad rap.

Men In Black 3

After 2002's absymal Men In Black 2 all seemed lost for the franchise. 10 years though they righted the ship of Men In Black. This 2012 film follows Will Smith's Agent J traveling back in time, to save Agent K from an assassination.

Traveling to 1969 he interacts with a younger Agent K, played by Josh Brolin. Brolin does a perfect dead pan impersonation of Tommy Lee Jones. The film has some emotional moments to go along with the laughs, and action scenes. It's use of time travel makes sense as well, and doesnt over complicate it.

See You Yesterday 

Released in 2019 and produced by Spike Lee, See You Yesterday was timely and dare I say ahead of it's time. The film follows a teen science prodigy who invents a time machine via a backpack (damn good time travel device by the way).

When her brother is killed by overzealous police, she uses the device to go back in time to save him. Always ending up in a endless loop that changes the situation. She learns the harsh lesson of messing with time and fate in the process.

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Five Of The Best Time Travel Devices

This week mark's 40 years of the first Back To The Future movie, featuring one of the most beloved time travel devices in film ever. The 1980's "cool" car a DeLorean with the gullwing doors, transformed into a time machine by one Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). In honor of the 40th anniversary I started thinking about other practical and cool time travel devices, I present to you all 5 of the best time travel devices in film entertainment. 

Photo Booth-When We First Met

Cameras of any type, disposal, instant, 360 cameras and more all capture a moment in time. So it is both brilliant and make's sense that a photo booth would be a time machine. That's exactly what one became in the 2018 Netflix film When We First Met. Starring Adam Devine (Pitch Perfect, The Righteous Gemstones), one of those "oh him" actors and Alexandra Daddrio (Baywatch, San Andreas). Devine plays a young man who meets the girl of his friends, falls into the friend zone, and through the magic power of the photo booth. Relives the same day until he get's out of the friend zone.

Turnstile-Tenet

                                       

Another brilliant time travel device that actually makes sense. Tenet is a 2020 mind bending film directed by Christopher Nolan (2000's Batman films, Inception). As such it's concept of time travel and how it works can be convoluted and confusing, but one thing they got right in my opinion is the turnstile. Starring John David Washington and Robert Pattison, Tenent deal's with time travel in the concept of time inversion. Meaning traveling subjects can only go back in time, there's a purpose behind it but it's a windy road to get there. 

The idea of a turnstile being your entry point into time travel is a freaking genius idea to me. 

Rocket Pod-Time Cop

1994's Timecop is one of Jean Claude Van Damme's better films during his 90's action hero run. While all time travel movies can become convoluted and confusing, the rules of time travel in this one are fairly straight forward. In this film time travel is possible and governed by a federal agency, time travel agents use little pod's with rocket jet power to flow through time. And once those pod's kicked off, the occupant was in another period of time in a matter of seconds. 

Now the only thing that never made sense was that once they entered the time period they traveled to. The pod was no more and they would appear out of thin air on foot. Very, very confusing but the pod as a travel device was cool as hell.

Hot Tub-Hot Tub Time Machine

Probably the funniest thing to be used as a time travel device because it's so far out there. The hot tub in 2010's Hot Tub Time Machine is one of my favorite time travel devices. Which make's it even more out there, is that the time machine only worked, because the group of friends accidentally doused it with some energy drink. Allowing them to wake up in 1986, as their younger selves to everyone else but still remembering the 20 plus years of their life in the future. They set out to stay on the right track but make some changes for the better.

Phone Booth-Bill & Ted

The Bill & Ted Franchise is probably my second favorite time travel franchise next to Back To The Future. To be honest they maybe neck and neck, because I love both film series for different reasons and can watch them over and over. The phone booth in the Bill and Ted film's is a very smart time travel device. When the film came out in 1989, phone booth's were everywhere so the device is practical, convenient and could hide in plain sight. There was a complete system in place on how to dial the keypad to get to the right period in time.

Now as the first film displayed 2 people in there could be one too many people, let alone more than 3. Now I know some Doctor Who fans would say Tardis is a better time machine, but damnit I'm sticking with the good ol phone booth with this one.

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Power Rangers 30 Years Later Random Thoughts

 

Today is the 30th anniversary of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. I remember my uncle, my cousin and I going to see the movie. I also remember 9 year old me, itching after the movie was over to go outside and live out my Power Rangers dreams.

In celebration of 30 years, I decided to watch it and offer some random thoughts I have as it's playing. So away we go.

1. The opening scrawl that starts the movie is very well done, and helps expand on the franchises lore. Unfortunately it'll never get the credit it deserves.

2. The Rangers are all under 18, how are they are skydiving with no supervision?

3. To be young again, go skydiving and then 10-15 minutes later rollerblade across the city without breaking a sweat.

4. It was never explained why Mordant was added to the film. He could have been used more than comedy fodder.

5. You could see the Ivan Ooze-Lord Zedd power struggle coming from a mile away.

6. While not really practical for everyday combat. Those leatherish power suits, as opposed to the spandex ones were fire.

7. You would think the command center would have been more fortified. Especially after thr green with envy storyline from the TV series.

8. The heightened sound effects when the rangers move their arms and such...can quickly become more annoying in my washed age.

9. The fight scene against the oozemen at the construction site still holds up.

10. Did Lord Zedd and Rita really think Ivan Ooze would work for them?

11. Again, that youthful energy. By time The Rangers got to the new planet. They didn't need a nap?

12. Yeah I know Zordon is on borrowed time, but they did have a busy day. And have been up 24 hours.

13. Better yet, they didnt need anything to eat to keep up their energy?

14. Dulcea defender of Phados, a skilled warrior who fought battles alongside Zordon. She deserved a deeper backstory.

15. This is news to me, but Mariska Hargity better known as Olivia Benson from SVU. Was cast as Dulcea and filmed some scenes before being let go.

16. When Ivan Ooze was pushing his product. None of the Angel Grove kids heard of Just Say No or stranger danger?

17. So Fred is the only child in Angel Grove that used his thinking cap and realized something not right?

18. The dinosaur skeleton scene definitely took inspiration from Indiana Jones films of the world.

19. The Rock guard fight scene is the best battle scene in the movie. It still holds my attention like I've never seen it.

20. I could have done without some of the corny one liners in the scene though.

21. The CGI is very dated but in 1995, this was some cutting edge stuff.

22. I know it's a kids movie, but Ivan Ooze was too campy. They could have made him just a pinch more diabolical.

23. How did the kids know water would get their parents out of their trance? Or did I not pay attention in science class.

24. It was nice to see Bulk and Skull as component good-doer's for once.

25. Ryan's Comet taking out Ivan Ooze was a cop-out.

26. The Ranger's bringing Zordon back to life..is still a feel good moment.

27. Now that I realize the Rangers went a day or so without eating. Their spread at the ending celebration makes a lot of sense. 

28. Somewhere in my nine year old mind. I really was waiting for a storyline where Fred became a power ranger.

29. This movie actually had a very good rock heavy, but diverse soundtrack. 

30. Welp, of course as an adult I see flaws in the film. But, the film and the franchise was a staple of my youth and I still love the film.

 For the 30th anniversary of the film Thank You Power Rangers for all the years of joy and imaginative playground battles saving the day you've given me.

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5 Underrated Summer Movies

 It's officially summer, which means freshly mowed lawns, bbq's or cookouts whatever you want to call it. It's scorching out so we need snowballs, smores, and slurpees. Of course for the kid in everyone, ice cream is consumed in abundance to cool down from the heat.

Summer also means movies, namely summer blockbuster movies. Often alongside those big blockbuster movies, are the little summer films that cater to a certain audience or are of a less popular genre. So in this blog I'm covering 5 underrated films that set in the summer.

5. Just Looking

Just Looking is a cleanish film for all the guys who were pervs when they went through the puberty stage. Directed by Jason Alexander of Seinfeld fame. Set in the 1950's the movie follows a 14 year old teen shipped to queens for the summer to stay with his aunt and uncle, and stay out of trouble. So intrigued by sex, he's on a mission to catch a couple in the act. He meets some new friends and they embark on their summer peeping tom mission.

While its not a great film. It has it ha ha moments, and is a coming of age film. That will remind you of the random things that crossed your mind when sex first came to the forefront of it.

Just Looking is currently available on Tubi and Pluto.

4.  The To Do List

Another sex based summer film. The To Do List a 2013 film starring Aubrey Plaza has its shares of laughs. Set in 1993, it follows Aubrey's character Brandy, a booksmart class valedictorian. Who decides before heading off to college, she needs to let loose and make up for things she didnt do in high school.

One thing being have sex with her crush, which she soon finds out requires a bit more work than she thought. With the help of her friends and a job at the local pool, summer season is in full swing in this film 

The To Do List is currently available on Pluto.

3. Summer of 84

Released in 2018, this film set in 1984 follows a group of kids enjoying their summer. Their small town in Oregon has grappled with the disappearance of 13 teenage boys over the years. Davey a young man in the group of friends thinks he may have a lead on who committed those crimes.

The boys spend their summer playing detective trying to make leads on the case, and convince the adults in town they have an idea of the killer. It's a typical kid summer adventure movie just a bit more dangerous in the horror genre. It's quite enjoyable though.

Summer of 84 is currently only available to rent.

2. The 4:30 Movie

This Kevin Smith directed semiautobiogrpahical film was just released last fall, and man what a  gem it is. The film set in 1986 follows main character Brian and his two buddies Burny and Belly who plan to hit the movie theater one day, and hop between film showings. A slight monkey wrench is thrown in when Brian's crush Melody agrees to go on a date with him for a 4:30 showing of a movie.

The quartet head to the movie theater and must battle with a egomaniac theater owner, hot girls, bullies, and bad ass kids. All while just trying to see a movie on a hot summer day.

The movie is currently only available to rent.

1. One Crazy Summer

This 1986 cult classic stars John Cusack and Demi Moore. Cusack plays a recent high school graduate hoping to attend an art school in the fall. To get accepted he has to write and draw a love story. So he heads to Nantucket with his friends and unintentionally falls in love with Demi Moore's character Cassandra.

In the meantime he and his friends must help Cassandra save her grandparents home from developers. While contending with some of the quirky, wacky, sometimes strange citizens of the island. While a cult classic it is still underappreciated as a film. It shows how fun a carefree summer just can be.

One Crazy Summer is currently available on Tubi.

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Big 3 League Has Potential

 

This past Sunday, I attended the Big 3 basketball game at CFG Arena. Founded by Ice Cube and some business partners the league has been around since 2017. Now I'm not a basketball spectator, I may watch the NBA playoffs casually but thats the most from me. 

And it took me a minute, and some explaining from my buddy before I understood the rules of the league and how they play the game. However, once I got how the game was played it was an enjoyable day. As I looked at the crowd everyone seemed to be into it and I thought this isn't a bad deal.

The tickets are affordable, especially for seeing 3 games in one day which amounts to about 3 hours or so of your time. Typical for any sporting event honestly. The rules are designed to make it more entertaining than strictly competitive. And I had no idea that the games air on CBS and Vice TV.

Which leads me to this, Ice Cube and company have something on their hands. Bringing stars who NBA careers have ended like Dwight Howard, is a step in the right direction. If they get more guys with personalities they can build around. The league could really grow, of course not reaching the NBA level but as a quality alternative to it. Not to mention an affordable alternative for families to enjoy a game.

Now if they manage to secure a video game license deal, and if the game play is reminisce of something like NBA Street. The league definitely will gain new life long fans young and old..ish.

The sky is the limit for the Big 3 league honestly. And I, a guy that really does not watch or keeps minimal tabs on basketball. Am now one of the organization's biggest supporters.

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5 Things I Learned From My Dad

 

Fatherhood is the most rewarding but toughest job out there. In fact its so tough, you don't understand how hard of a job it is until you become one. Which leads me to the latest blog entry, 5 things I've learned from my dad.

 Now full disclosure my dad and I did not have the best relationship, likely because although we have two different personalities. We are more alike than we both will admit to and that led to silly disagreements. But since I've gotten older, became a father and see things differently. Our relationship has greatly improved, and some of the things he often would drill in my brother's and I heads are so clear now.

So with that, here are 5 things I learned from my dad that damnit are so true. 

5. Always Carry I.D.

Along with the "talk" about how to conduct yourself if your pulled over by the police. My dad always told us, make sure you have your I.D. on you. One reason being, if you don't have I.D. you always fit the description if something goes down. Could have been a scare tactic but makes sense.

The older I've gotten I've met grown men who actually don't carry I.D. nor have I.D. period. A true head scratcher for me, but now it makes sense why my dad pushed that. Besides potential legal issues, you come across as a bum being a grown man with no I.D.

4 . Always Give Firm Handshakes 

Another thing he taught us is always give firm handshakes. Or in his word's shake hands like you have some balls. And he's right when you meet people for the first time and give a firm handshake, their respect level towards you inches up a bit more before a conversation. I've been told several times I have a strong handshake, even from professional athletes I've met that are typically big guys my handshake is firm.

3. Honesty is the best way

My Dad always prefaced this with people may not like it. He however always stressed honesty is the way to go. From dealing with young ladies, to work, to life in general. Just being honest about everything, take any heat that comes from it and move on.

He's right, you start lying you get yourself in more trouble. Trying to remember what lie you told, maintaining that lie etc. It becomes more work than just being truthful.

2. Someone's not gon like you just cause 

I'm one of those people in my mind, if you don't get along with me you have the problem. In my experience in the working world, I've worked with people that clearly didnt like me. And I couldn't tell you why, we rarely exchanged words or had much interaction that they would know my personality enough. To formulate an opinion that they did not like me.

However, I just chalked it up again to thats a them issue. And my father always told us, no matter who you are, what you do, how nice you are somebody is not going to like you. That constant reminder is how I learned to shrug them off and go about my day.

1. Sometimes you have to be the bad guy

Here's probably the biggest lesson my dad shared for years, that I totally understand now. Sometimes you have to be the bad guy and accept it. Not because you want to, but because thats what the situation calls for. As a husband and father, and a manager in my professional career. I 1,000% get it now.

Sometimes you have to make unpopular decisions, that go against what people want. Whether its flat out saying no, or we can't do that right now. You have to make the tough decision that may keep things from falling apart, or saying no on short term pleasures that will cause harm down the road. 

It's your responsibility to keep everything in order. To keep your stress levels down, you have to tell people no sometimes and let them get them over.

I dont always like being the bad guy, but sometimes I have to embrace it.

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Five Underrated Movie Dads

 

In the land of movie dad's, the criteria of a great dad isn't really defined. Even though there is a general agreement that figures such as Mustafa, Marlin, Gil Buckman, Bryan Mills, and even Henry Jones Sr. are considered great dads. In the realm of film though there are several great dad's that have been portrayed on the big screen, that either were misunderstood or just forgotten about. So with that, here are 5 underrated movie dads. 

5. Jackson Lamb- Super 8

In Super 8 Jackson Lamb is the sheriff of the small Ohio town the film take's place in. He has a distant relationship with his son Joe, as both are grieving the loss of Joe's mom. Jackson carries the weight of grief on his shoulders, but doesn't know how to heal from it except put it in the back of his mind. When the time come's to help Joe and his friend's save the town and help the monster, the two come together to heal. Jackson shows that all that time he cared but was too hung up in his own grief to show it 

4. Dill Penderghest-Easy A

                                       

Played by Stanley Tucci in 2010's Easy A, Dill Penderghest was a very peculiar father. Part hippie, part guy that just marches to the beat of his own dream, and a bit head strong. He also showed traits that he definitely smoked his fair share of weed. A bit of a free spirit, you just weren't sure what was going to come out of his mouth at times. One thing was for sure though, he loved his family and took care of them and that's all one could ask for. 

3. Jack Aarons-Bridge To Terabitha 

Jack Aarons was played by Robert Patrick in 2007's Bridge To Terabitha. Robert already has a stone face and cold demeanor anyway, so it's no surprise he portrayed the dad that way in this film. He also was the stereotypical dad in that he showed incredible love and care towards his daughter May Belle, while being cold towards his son Jess at times. It's not until Jess experiences the incredible loss, that Jack shows he is there for his son and truly loves him. 

2. Noah Levenstein- American Pie

                                    

Noah Levenstein better known as Jim's dad played by comedy legend Eugene Levy, is the personification of a supportive dad if there ever was one. While a bit tone deaf, geeky, and awkward, he always stood by Jim in some of his most embarrassing moments. While also offering life advice that when you stopped and thought about it, actually made a great deal of sense. Nailing the role of a dad trying to help him through that weird stage teenagers go through when sex is all that's on the brain.

1. Gomez Addams-Addams Family

                                             

Gomez Addams the wealthy patriarch of the Addams Family that under the quirks and the eccentric behavior. As well as the families macabre lifestyle, was a very loving husband and father. His love and devotion to his wife Morticia was always on display, but it was his love for his kids that was even stronger. His parenting style was unorthodox, but he was always there. Whether it was for school plays, school or camp drop-offs, or just to play a random game only The Addam's understood. Gomez Addams was a kooky but great dad.

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