Lycia Naff
- 1991
When a man is stabbed to death in front of a coffee shop, an unhinged "street person" named Lemonhead (Matthew Cowles) leads detectives Logan (Chris Noth) and Cerreta (Paul Sorvino) to the probable killer, a homeless man named Polesky (Stuart Rudin). Sure enough, the cops find the murder weapon in the Central Park clearing that Polesky calls "home." Unfortunately, the killer's prosecution may be stymied when the Defense argues that Logan and Cerreta didn't have a search warrant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
- R
New York's Troma Films continue their grand tradition of relentlessly bad taste with this horror epic, which follows the exploits of an all-girl motorcycle gang -- who go by the quaint moniker "The Cycle Sluts" -- and their fearless leader Rox (Catherine Carlin), who offers the freedom of the road to any frustrated small-town girl willing to slap on the leathers. Things take a nasty turn for Rox and her violent femmes when the gang rides into Zariah -- a town in the slimy grip of a deranged mortician named Ralph (Don Calfa), who has been busily turning the locals into cannibalistic zombie slaves. As if that weren't enough... a busload of blind, orphaned teens become stranded within spitting distance of Ralph's undead army, and it's up to Rox's twisted sisters to save the day. Troma is often guilty of slapping outrageously goofy titles on not-so-funny films (e.g. Surf Nazis Must Die, Fat Guy Goes Nutzoid!, etc.), but this is something of an exception, with wonderfully sleazy performances, lots of zany energy and many clever references to zombie and biker-movie genres. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jamie Rose, Don Calfa, (more)
In Paul Verhoeven's wild sci-fi action movie Total Recall, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a 21st-century construction worker who discovers that his entire memory of the past derives from a memory chip implanted in his brain. Schwarzenegger learns that he's actually a secret agent who had become a threat to the government, so those in power planted the chip and invented a domestic lifestyle for him. Once he has realized his true identity, he travels to Mars to piece together the rest of his identity, as well as to find the man responsible for his implanted memory. Verhoeven has created a fast, furious action film with Total Recall, filled with impressive stunts and (literally) eye-popping visuals. Though the film bears only a passing resemblance to the Philip K. Dick short story it was based on ("We Can Remember It For You Wholesale"), the movie is an entertaining, if very violent, ride. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, (more)
- 1990
The cast from the popular television cornball comedy series are reunited when Oliver must save Hooterville from developers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In this made-for-TV movie, the well-known DC comic book character the Flash must use his super-human abilities to stop the Dark Riders, an evil motorcycle gang who caused the death of his brother and now threatens to take over Central City. A TV series of the same name resulted from this pilot film. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1989
That exasperatingly dangerous alien life form "Q" (John de Lancie) is back for more deviltry. Hoping to join the crew of the Enterprise, Q is turned down flat by Captain Picard. In retaliation, Q thrusts the Starship into a deadly battle with the mind-controlling Borg (making their first major series appearance). This episode earned two Emmy nominations, both for Best Sound. First telecast May 13, 1989, "Q-Who" was written by Maurice Hurley, the series' co-executive producer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
The Enterprise transports Picard to Starbase Scylla 515 for a heart operation. During his absence, Geordi is taken hostage by the Pakleds, a group of primitive aliens who are in dire need of Geordi's technical expertise. The rest of the episode cuts back in forth between Picard's fight for life and Geordi's efforts to save himself and his "hosts." Written by Robert L. McCullough, "Samaritan Snare" was originally broadcast May 20, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
LA cop Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), whose wife has recently died, is a loose cannon with a seeming death wish. This makes him indispensable in collaring dangerous criminals, but a liability to any potential partners. Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), a conservative family man who wants to stay alive for his upcoming 50th birthday, is partnered with Riggs. As Riggs gets to know Murtaugh and his family, he begins to mellow, though his insistence on using guerilla tactics to catch criminals is still (put mildly) above and beyond the call of duty. The main villain is The General (Mitchell Ryan), a drug dealer responsible for the death of the daughter of one of Murtaugh's oldest friends. The General is also in charge of a deadly, militia-like gang of smugglers. Adding fuel to the fire is The General's chief henchman, played with all stops out by Gary Busey. Moviegoers familiar only with the relatively tongue-in-cheek Lethal Weapon sequels may be amazed to find out how dangerous and unpredictable Riggs is in the first Lethal Weapon -- and how likely it seems that Murtaugh might not survive until fade-out time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, (more)
Cinematographer Michael Chapman directed this John Sayles adaptation of Jean M. Auel's best-selling ode to Cro-Magnon women. The story begins at the moment in pre-history when the last of the Neanderthal men were becoming extinct and the superior race of Cro-Magnons were starting to supersede them. Focusing on a tribe of wandering Neanderthals who adopt a young girl named, Ayla (played as an adult by Daryl Hannah). She grows tall, lithe, and smart. The Neanderthals quickly accept her into their tribe, but once a tribal member, Ayla begins to question the tribe's male chauvinistic presumptions. Unable to conceive of why only men are given weapons, she takes it upon herself to learn how to use a slingshot. She then questions the tribe's assumptions concerning sexual politics. She learns to count and becomes the assistant to the local medicine expert. As the seasons wear on, the tribe utilizes Ayla's knowledge for their own good while Ayla's continues to try the patience of the tribe with her unspeakable feminist demands. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daryl Hannah, Pamela Reed, (more)
- 1985
Don't look for Alex Trebeck or listen for the familiar "thinking music" in the made-for-TV Final Jeopardy. This chiller-diller stars Richard Thomas and Mary Crosby as a small-town couple who find themselves stranded in an unfamiliar--and most unfriendly--big city. Weaving in and out of the proceedings (sometimes literally so) are a bunch of bad dudes with names like Slash, DOA and Ice. And they don't say "Your money or your life" in the form of a question. Final Jeopardy debuted December 8, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Thomas, Mary Crosby, (more)
- 1985
The career of boxer Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini is the subject of the made-for-TV biopic. Doug McKeon plays Mancini, while Robert Blake co-stars as his father, Lenny Mancini. An excellent pugilist in his own right, Lenny's career is cut short by his wartime service. Son Ray carries on the tradition into the 1980s, battling his way towards the WBA crown. Heart of a Champion's executive producer was Rocky star Sylvester Stallone, who (it says here) staged the boxing sequences. This heartwarming "do it for the old man" effort was first telecast May 1, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Doug McKeon, (more)
- 1985
In the first episode of a two-part story, a reluctant Hunter (Fred Dryer) is teamed with sleazy Manhattan detective Jackie Molinas (Dennis Franz), who has allowed cocaine dealer Sally LaPone to escape from his custody during extradition from Los Angeles. While Hunter and Molinas scour the city in search of LaPone, McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) goes undercover as a singer at a night spot owned by drug kingpin Vic Terranova (Dennis Farina). Little does anyone suspect that Molinas himself is in cahoots with Terranova--and he has no intention of bringing LaPone back alive. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Hunter (Fred Dryer) steps up his search for escaped cocaine dealer Sally LaPone (Lydia Naff). This assignment morphs into a rescue mission when it becomes clear that Manhattan detective Jackie Molinas (Dennis Franz), Hunter's temporary partner, is a dirty cop, determined to snuff out LaPone before she can rat out her boss, Vic Terranova (Dennis Farina). Meanwhile, McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) continues working undercover as a singer at a Terronava-controlled nightclub--a job that may be fatally terminated when her cover is blown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) is offended when his wife, Louise (Isabel Sanford), turns down an opportunity for the Jeffersons to host a marriage-enrichment seminar for newlyweds. He is also upset that the hosting chores have gone to his friendly rival, Tom Willis (Franklin Cover), and Tom's wife, Helen (Roxie Roker). But when Tom falls ill, George is given the opportunity to take his place -- whereupon he offers a stream of marital "advice" that nearly knocks Louise for a loop. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
