American Graffiti (1973)

Before George Lucas redefined modern cinema with the Star Wars universe, he brought us the quintessential coming-of-age comedy set in 1962, featuring fast cars, cute girls and the greatest rock 'n' roll soundtrack of all time. What this film captures so brilliantly is what it was like to live in that era during that last age of innocence, as Lucas pulls deeply from his own personal teenage memories. Featuring early performances from the likes of Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Harrison Ford and Suzanne Somers, it was a great launching pad for many careers and solidified Lucas as a competent and capable filmmaker (which would later become overshadowed by all those Star Wars films).

5 Wolfman Jack monologues out of 5

From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (1999)

A direct-to-video sequel staring Robert Patrick as Buck. He and his criminal cohorts plan to rob a Mexican bank, but they run into some bats along the way; not your regular garden-variety kind of bats - they're the Titty Twister kind.
In one scene the gang criticise a film on TV for its low quality and lack of memorable characters, when they themselves are that very thing in the movie they're starring in. I took it as a knowing, self-referential nod to its own failings, but it may have been just dumb luck. Elsewhere, references to better films and frequent use of odd perspectives made me think more than once that FDTD2 was probably more fun to make than it was for me to watch.

1½ peculiar POVs out of 5

Mutant (1984)

aka Night Shadows

In a case of 'wrong place, wrong time,' brothers Josh and Mike (Wings Hauser and Lee Montgomery) stumble into a rural town where trouble only begins when they become a target for the local rednecks. A mysterious illness has struck, leaving a scant few townsfolk alive during the day and growing hordes of "chemical zombies" by night. The fog machine is working overtime in this one as an effectively unsettling mood is created at dusk. The acting is above average for this b-movie as locals have a wealth of southern personality. The infected do stand out among other films with their pale blue skin and darkened sockets, though their blood does resemble something closer to nacho cheese than chemically degenerated hemoglobin. As it should be, the third act is the most thrilling with the population reaching its infected heights, but it suffers by lingering in one location for too long. Comparison to genre standards is inevitable, and while there is a colorful cast and a relatively intriguing plot, it all comes off a tad underwhelming.

2½ little green men and perverts out of 5

Sweet Sixteen (1983)

Jim Sotos directs this under seen slasher about promiscuous new girl Melissa (Aleisa Shirley) and the circle of death that surrounds her. The story is a pretty standard whodunnit with red herrings galore and an under-explained climax. There are plenty of '80s films like this one which are high on nudity and sex but low on comprehensive plots. This one just happens to be less than memorable. The bad transfer doesn't help it any as the night scenes are almost pitch black and the audio is very low quality. I only understood about half the dialogue but I doubt it mattered much. Slasher fans will be disappointed with the abbreviated death scenes and a real lack of drive the story holds.

1½ Chief Red herrings out of 5

A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986)

Dolly the songbird takes herself and her gravity defying assets and hides out in the woods. Things get as silly as the title suggests and it morphs into a kind of Snow White and the Seven Kids scenario, with a real evil witch in the mix. Lee ‘Fall Guy’ Majors rides up on his horse and assumes a handsome Prince role.
I’ll never live this down but I rather enjoyed all the nonsense. Dolly sings some Xmas songs and life goes on as the credits roll. The film equivalent of pocket fluff, it’s inoffensive and throwaway.

2½ wigs and a pretty duck out of 5