View-Masterpiece Thursday!

WHUH?!
That's right!
More reels I wish were real...

Special thanks to Phyllis Davis for... you know... being Phyllis Davis and all.
VERY special thanks!

More View-Masterpiece Theater!

As promised...

View-Masterpiece Theater Returns!

Another installment of my fantasized View-Master reels is long overdue. So, here's the first batch, with more on the way. Enjoy!

Behind Them Scenes: GET CARTER (1971)

GET CARTER
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1971
Directed by Mike Hodges
Starring Michael Caine

JAWS Rip-Offs

Steven Spielberg's JAWS has always been one of my favorite films, certainly the one I've been most obsessed with and have seen more than any other. To me, it's a perfect film. And, there's always been this unwritten rule that if I'm flipping through the channels and come across a showing that's about to begin or already in progress, I simply must cave-in and watch it. The same rule applies to THE BLUES BROTHERS and Spielberg's other epic, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND.

That being said, it's always proved to be a successful blueprint for exploitative producers to steal a little thunder here and there. Of course, the best era for the JAWS rip-offs were during the JAWS craze which spans roughly from when the original JAWS premiered in 1975 to the release of one of the last directly-inspired films from the over-bled trend, Lamberto Bava's DEVILFISH in '84.

So, being a JAWS fan, I've always loved all FOUR films (Yeah, I said it!) and most of the rip-offs from that period.

If you love them too, then it's time to test your noggin' on my masterful (not really) quiz!

TAKE THE BLOODY QUIZ, ALREADY!

Enjoy and best of luck!

Film House Fever (1979-1995)

To appease myself, I've opted to compile a growing list of all the films I've seen theatrically (yes, I was bored when I came up with the idea). Since I've had a mental block (i.e. 1982), I might occasionally update with further specifics, such as: actual theaters, multiple screenings and Disney re-releases (saw a ton in the '80s, just not sure what year), et cetera. Most all titles are first-run, unless otherwise indicated.

The list is divided by year from 1979 (my first theatrical experience) to 1995 (my theorized cut off, since I actually enjoyed everything I saw theatrically up to that point).

1979

• THE MUPPET MOVIE

1980

• THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
• POPEYE
• NINE TO FIVE *
• SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, PART II *
• STAR WARS (Re-release)

1981

• CLASH OF THE TITANS
• THE FOX AND THE HOUND
• THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER
• THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WOMAN *
• THE LEGEND OF THE LONE RANGER
• SUPERMAN II

1982

• ANNIE
• E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL

1983

• A CHRISTMAS STORY
• THE CURSE OF THE PINK PANTHER
• JAWS 3-D
• RETURN OF THE JEDI ***
• SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
• STAYING ALIVE *
• THE TOY *

1984

• CITY HEAT
• GHOSTBUSTERS
• INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM
• THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN
• PINOCCHIO
• ROMANCING THE STONE
• STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK

1985

• BABY: SECRET OF THE LOST LEGEND
• BACK TO THE FUTURE
• THE COLOR PURPLE
• E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (Re-release)
• FLETCH
• RETURN TO OZ
• ROCKY IV
• A VIEW TO A KILL

1986

• THE GOLDEN CHILD
• THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE
• HOWARD THE DUCK *
• THE KARATE KID, PART II
• LABYRINTH
• LADY AND THE TRAMP (Re-release)
• LEGAL EAGLES ***
• POLICE ACADEMY 3: BACK IN TRAINING
• SHORT CIRCUIT
• STAND BY ME
• STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME ***
• TOUGH GUYS

1987

• *batteries not included
• BLIND DATE
• BORN IN EAST L.A.
• DIRTY DANCING
• HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS
• JAWS: THE REVENGE
• LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
• MANNEQUIN
• MOONSTRUCK
• OVERBOARD
• THE PICK-UP ARTIST
• POLICE ACADEMY 4: CITIZENS ON PATROL
• PROJECT X
• ROXANNE
• SPACEBALLS
• TEEN WOLF TOO
• THREE MEN AND A BABY

1988

• ARTHUR 2: ON THE ROCKS
• BEETLEJUICE
• BIG
• BILOXI BLUES
• CROCODILE DUNDEE II
• LICENSE TO DRIVE
• THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR
• SWITCHING CHANNELS
• TEQUILA SUNRISE
• THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN
• TWINS
• VICE VERSA
• WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT?
• WILLOW

1989

• BATMAN
• BLACK RAIN
• GHOSTBUSTERS II
• HER ALIBI
• HIGH SPIRITS
• LETHAL WEAPON 2
• LOOK WHO'S TALKING
• NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION ***
• PARENTHOOD
• UNCLE BUCK

1990

• AIR AMERICA
• ARACHNOPHOBIA
• AWAKENINGS
• DANCES WITH WOLVES
• DICK TRACY
• EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
• GHOST
• HOME ALONE
• THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER ***
• LIONHEART
• OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
• PRESUMED INNOCENT
• STANLEY & IRIS
• TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE MOVIE
• THREE MEN AND A LITTLE LADY
• YOUNG GUNS II

1991

• THE ADDAMS FAMILY
• CITY SLICKERS
• DOC HOLLYWOOD
• THE FISHER KING
• FREDDY'S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE
• HOOK
• HOT SHOTS!
• JFK
• THE LAST BOY SCOUT
• PROBLEM CHILD 2
• ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES
• SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY
• STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY
• TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY
• WHAT ABOUT BOB?

1992

• ALIEN³
• BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA
• HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK
• HOUSESITTER
• LADYBUGS
• MO' MONEY
• MY COUSIN VINNY
• SCENT OF A WOMAN
• UNDER SIEGE
• UNFORGIVEN
• UNLAWFUL ENTRY
• WAYNE'S WORLD ***

1993

• CARLITO'S WAY
• CLIFFHANGER
• DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY
• FALLING DOWN
• THE FIRM
• GRUMPY OLD MEN
• JASON GOES TO HELL: THE FINAL FRIDAY
• LAST ACTION HERO
• LETHAL WEAPON 3
• NATIONAL LAMPOON'S LOADED WEAPON 1
• THE PROGRAM (Uncut)
• RISING SUN
• SCHINDLER'S LIST
• SOMMERSBY
• SPLITTING HEIRS
• WAYNE'S WORLD 2
• WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S II

1994

• ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE
• THE CROW ***
• DUMB AND DUMBER ***
• KILLING ZOE
• MAJOR LEAGUE II
• THE MASK
• MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE **
• NATURAL BORN KILLERS
• PULP FICTION ***
• STAR TREK: GENERATIONS
• TRUE LIES

1995

• BATMAN FOREVER (OR.)
• CONGO (OR.)
• DESPERADO (TX.)
• DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE (OR.)
• FATHER OF THE BRIDE, PART II (TX.)
• GOLDENEYE (TX.)
• GRUMPIER OLD MEN (OR.)
• HACKERS (TX.)
• HALLOWEEN ** (OR.)
• HALLOWEEN: THE CURSE OF MICHAEL MYERS (TX.)
• HEAT (TX.)
• LORD OF ILLUSIONS (TX.)
• MORTAL KOMBAT (OR.)
• OUTBREAK *** (OR.)
• THE PROPHECY (TX.)
• PSYCHO (1960) ** (OR.)
• SPECIES (OR.)
• TANK GIRL (OR.)
• UNDER SIEGE 2: DARK TERRITORY (OR.)
• VIRTUOSITY (I actually despised this one.) (OR.)
• WATERWORLD (I initially enjoyed this one, but my belief is that I was desperate for another "Mad Max" clone, and it had been a while since my last viewing of "Exterminators In The Year 3000". ACK!) (OR.)
  
  * Midway Drive-In
  ** OSU Campus Screening
  *** Multiple Screening