I’ve watched a lot of movies. After a few, you begin to see patterns emerge and some things which appear odd or interesting once, reappear again and again. But I must admit some of them are unique to this little flick. A tip of the hat to the folks who can up with guard sheep with really sharp teeth, duck fights with boxing gloves on their webbed feet, popping that champagne cork up Joey Cortino’s (Billy Burke) nose and him digging it out, Pepper Gianini’s (Pamela Gidley) tongue going in an ear then coming out the other, the watermelon in Vincenzo Cortino’s (Lloyd Bridges) mouth and so on. But then I quite like fart jokes.

Director:  Jim Abrahams Writer:  Jim Abrahams; Greg Norberg; Michael McManus Cast:
Jay Mohr -  Anthony ‘Tony’ Cortino Billy Burke -  Joey Cortino Christina Applegate -  Diane Steen Pamela Gidley -  Pepper Gianini Olympia Dukakis -  Sophia Lloyd Bridges -  Vincenzo Cortino Jason Fuchs -  Young Vincenzo Cortino Joe Viterelli -  Dominick Clamato		Tony Lo Bianco -  Cesar Marzoni Blake Hammond -  Fatso Paulie Orsatti Phil Suriano -  Frankie Totino Vincent Pastore -  Gorgoni Marisol Nichols -  Carla Carol Ann Susi -  Clamato’s Wife Gregory Sierra -  Bonifacio Vera Lockwood -  Rosa Cortino

The poet and philosopher George Santayana once said those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. It is a lesson that Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff) has forgotten. He has decided that the old vampire guard, led by Dragonetti (Udo Kier), has passed its sell-by date. So he and his brood of goonish acolytes kidnap the elder and take him to the seaside to watch the sunrise. As the sun comes up over the horizon, Dragonetti pops, splatters, melt and finally explodes surrounded by the cavorting new kids drenched in SPF 60 lotion. Frost has so much to learn. You just want to slap him.

Director:  Stephen Norrington Writer:  David S. Goyer Cast:
Wesley Snipes -  Blade/Eric Brooks/’The Daywalker’ Stephen Dorff -  Deacon Frost Kris Kristofferson -  Abraham Whistler N’Bushe Wright -  Dr. Karen Jenson Donal Logue -  Quinn Udo Kier -  Vampire Elder Dragonetti Arly Jover -  Mercury Traci Lords -  Racquel		Kevin Patrick Walls -  Officer Krieger Tim Guinee -  Dr. Curtis Webb Sanaa Lathan -  Vanessa Brooks Eric Edwards -  Pearl Donna Wong -  Nurse Carmen Thomas -  Senior Resident Shannon Lee -  Resident Kenny Johnson -  Heatseeking Dennis

Sometimes an event is so preposterous, so peculiar, so strange or so downright gob-smacking weird, that all you can do is sit there with your eyes popping and your mouth agape. The sight of Maude Lebowski (Julianne Moore) swinging naked on a trapeze with a slight, clench-teethed English accent is just such an event.

Director:  Joel Coen Writer:  Ethan Coen; Joel Coen Cast:
Jeff Bridges -  The Dude John Goodman -  Walter Sobchak Julianne Moore -  Maude Lebowski Steve Buscemi -  Donny David Huddleston -  The Big Lebowski Philip Seymour Hoffman -  Brandt Tara Reid -  Bunny Lebowski Philip Moon -  Woo, Treehorn Thug		Mark Pellegrino -  Blond Treehorn Thug Peter Stormare -  Nihilist #1, Uli Kunkel/’Karl Hungus’ Flea -  Nihilist #2, Kieffer Torsten Voges -  Nihilist #3, Franz Jimmie Dale Gilmore -  Smokey Jack Kehler -  Marty, The Dude’s Landlord John Turturro -  Jesus Quintana James G. Hoosier -  Quintana’s Partner

Charm can go a long way. Even in the most serious situation, the presence of a charmer can ease the tension and make things better. So thinks the bank teller when Jack Foley (George Clooney) bluffs a robbery by saying that another customer has a gun and will shoot the assistant manager (who is actually discussing a bank loan). With a small smile, he whispers to the teller that she is doing fine after asking if it her first robbery. She is terrified but is gamely playing along.

Director:  Steven Soderbergh; Charles Kiselyak Writer:  Elmore Leonard; Scott Frank Cast:
George Clooney -  Jack Foley Jennifer Lopez -  Karen Sisco Ving Rhames -  Buddy Bragg Don Cheadle -  Maurice ‘Snoopy’ Miller Dennis Farina -  Marshall Sisco Albert Brooks -  Richard Ripley Nancy Allen -  Midge Catherine Keener -  Adele Delisi		Isaiah Washington -  Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Steve Zahn -  Glenn Michaels Luis Guzmán -  Jose Portencio ‘Chino’ Chirino Keith Loneker -  White Boy Bob Jim Robinson -  Mr. Gwendon Elgin Marlow -  Bank Customer Donna Frenzel -  Loretta Randall Manny Suárez -  Cop #1/Bank