Get Smart, Again - Spy-Spoof Movie Reviews by Robert Steven Mack

Would you believe that…this review is about two films that were more or less loosely based on the classic sixties spy spoof tv series Get Smart? Would you believe that I will first review The Nude Bomb and then Get Smart Again? As to The Nude Bomb, the original idea of this film was to relaunch the Get Smart franchise. Instead, it would almost destroy it!

Background
Get Smart (NBC, 1965-1969, CBS, 1969-1970,) was originally the brain child idea of David Melnick and David Susskind, but later passed on to Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. It starred Don Adams, stand-up comedian, television director, and comic genius who spent more than five decades on television entertaining people. As Maxwell Smart Secret Agent 86, Don Adams plays a bumbling, dim-witted, accident prone, yet undeniably cool secret agent working for Control. Control is a top secret government agency formed to fight KAOS, an international terrorist group of not-so-nice people fighting for the meanness of rottenness. The free world’s only hope is CONTROL who is constantly fighting for the “goodness of niceness” because nice is…nicer.

Despite his intellectual limits, Agent 86 always manages to foil KAOS's plans to world domination. Running on his own thin luck, he is accompanied by brilliant Agent 99, a young attractive spy played by lovely and talented Barbara Feldon. Smart reports to The Chief, played by Edward Platt, who, by the way, you can catch in Alfred Hitchcock's ''North by Northwest" and in Disney's ''Pollyanna". The Chief is the frustrated head of Control and often a victim to Max's comic antics. It is said that the only reason why he does not replace Max is that if he leaves the even more dim-witted agent Larrabee, Don Adam's cousin Robert Karvelas, would take his place. Secretary to the Chief, Robert Karvelas was given many bit parts in episodes throughout the series before his big break in the fifth season. In any event, between Smart and Karvelas, the Chief would rather take Maxwell Smart. Reluctantly…

Joining the cast would be Bernie Kopel as Siegfried - Max's reoccurring nemesis, Leonard Strong as Craw (or is it Claw?).Joey Froman plays the great Hawaiian detective Harry Hoo, and Dick Gariter stars as robot Hymie. David Kechem plays Agent 13, whom you might come across as stashed in a trash can, an ice-box or maybe just hanging out with some monkeys on the ship's hold. If you think Number 13 enjoys his job, forget it! Victor French is Agent 44, and Jane Dulo plays 99's mother. Would you believe that the idea to a full length Get Smart film actually goes back to 1966 when the show was still running? Back then, other successful tv shows sparked the idea to make full length feature films. For example, the success of a full-length Batman feature inspired other television shows to release their own movies. Unfortunately, the only one completed thereafter was Munster Go Home which flopped in theaters. As a result all other films were canceled and the proposed Get Smart silver screen spectacular was dormant…for over a decade.

Would you believe….Why the Nude Bomb Bombed at the Box Office
Producing a Get Smart movie was a great original idea until it got into the hands of people who did not want, or did not know how, to recreate the original magic of the Great Smart potion. For one, it might be argued that The Nude Bomb bombed at the box office because it featured hardly any one of the original cast. Don Adams reluctantly returned as Maxwell Smart, Robert Karlvarlas reprised his role as Larabee, and Joey Forman taking over the role agent 13. Barbara Feldom refused to appear. As far as she was concerned, the series was over, and it was time to move on. “Chief” Ed Platt had well, deceased in '74. Although Guest stars Bill Dana and Dana Elcar had roles in the film, their roles were confusingly different from the ones of the original series. In addition, the film makers sprinkled in some 80’s sex and language…not the good kind. Well, you have the typical 80's nudeness that isn't really that Get Smart at all!

Clive Donner, a good director, was not right for Get Smart. He was in charge of the characters, music, and through it all created something that was totally opposite the original series. whereas both Leonard B. Stern and Don Adams lost all creative control that they had during the original series. Indeed Leonard Stern was actually banned from the set!'' To make matters worse, Control was gone and replaced by Pits. Well, that certainly stands out!
Yet, despite many of the short-comings, The Nude Bomb was no Casino Royale (1967 version, see blogsites archives for my review). Clive Donner's direction was good, although Don Adams would have probably done a better job directing a Get Smart film as he directed some of the show’s best episodes. Don Adams said in an interview: "I didn’t really like the script, and I felt that the director, Clive Donner, was wrong for the show. I don’t think that I should have done it in the first place. I probably should have backed out. It had 18 different drafts. It was a hodgepodge of scripts and wasn’t what Get Smart was all about. The best stuff ended upon the cutting room floor. I had no hand in that.''-Don Adams .

Perhaps, the main problem was advertising: To be sure, The Nude Bomb is a hip title, the theme song has an internal value. However, the Nude Bomb was advertised as a Get Smart film. Not surprisingly, when people went to the theaters to see just that, they found nothing of the kind! They saw a different Max. Agent 86 was still a bumbling guy saying Smart's catch phrases. Yet, he was a more concentrated agent who never worked for Control and never knew any agent 99. Would you believe there never was an agent 99? Max never married. It's like he erased his entire past of the world he now lives in. One can imagine, that to the average movie-goer in 1980 this is all rather disappointing. The sentimental viewer must have wondered what happened to everything and everybody that we held so dear, such as the Chief and lovely Agent 99? What happened to Control? (It is mentioned that Control was disbanded in the 70's but not explained why.

Yet, in perhaps another dimension…if you look at The Nude Bomb not as a Get Smart continuance, but as something different, perhaps just a fun crazy spy spoof, then you'll find it quite enjoyable.

Would you believe…Why Get Smart, Again Hit the Spot...
Luckily, in February of 1989 another Get Smart telefilm debuted on ABC. This time the outcome was a little bit different! Get Smart, Again starred Don Adams once again, reprising his role as Maxwell Smart. Also returning was most of the original series cast, such as Barbara Feldon as Agent 99, Dick Gariter returns as Hymie the Robot, Dave Ketchem as ''13", Bernie Kopel as Siegfried, King Moody as side-kick Shtacker, and Robert Karavelas as Larrabbee. The story was dedicated to Edward Platt (1920-1974) as our beloved ''Chief". The events of The Nude Bomb were completely ignored for continuity purposes. Unlike the previous get Smart feature this film was a reunion film and not a reboot: Control was disbanded in the 70's. Max, now acting as protocol officer, gets reactivated when KAOS holds a new threat on the world: a devastating new weather machine, and if demands are not met thinks could get a little different around here.

Get Smart, Again is a joy for the family, not only in terms of capturing original tone series, but also in its loyalty to the original theme - which is absent from the Nude Bomb. It is nice to see the original opening back again. Leonard Stern both wrote and produced this film and the original series director Gary Nelson was back in the director’s seat. Although a great television and film director, I found his direction for this film was slightly uneven. Once again, I wish that Don Adams were allowed to direct. Although all older, the cast was able to deliver incredible performances. The film is littered with hilarity, including sequences like the Hall of Hush and a Hover Cover sequence, where Max fights the KAOS agent without letting Agent 99 know. The film is filled with scenes that will make you laugh and remind you of the magic of the original series. The success of the film later inspired a revival series running in 1995. Unfortunately, I am yet to watch it, as I'm still working it out with my mother Diana and my father Alex. I have not heard the most favorable things about it. Don Adams and Barbara Feldon did reprise their roles, yet they were not the main focus of the series.

Would you believe...I arrived at the Conclusion

I can recommend both The Nude Bomb and Get Smart, Again. When you watch, please keep in mind that The Nude Bomb is not really a Get Smart film. Instead, it is the kind of movie that you might watch at a party complete with popcorn and pizza and any other kind of junk food you eat at a movie night. You either like it or hate it. Get Smart, Again on the other hand is of the more peaceful and relaxing (G rated) kind. As a closing comment, I would like point out how amazing it is that so many people have time and time again fallen in love with Don Adams, Barbara Feldon and just the show itself. Watch Max and Agent 99’s trip into foiling KAOS, facing danger, horror, a broken nose (for Max) - and loving it!

Robert Steven Mack's movie rating on 0-100 scale: The Nude Bomb 94/100 and Get Smart Again 95/100
Copyright 2010 by Robert Steven Mack (all rights reserved)

Movie Review of Toy Story 3 by Robert Steven Mack

Ever since their first film Toy Story was released in 1997, Pixar Animation Studios has given us nonstop movie fun by releasing some of Hollywood's most treasured films. These include hits like Cars, Monsters Inc., Toy Story and Toy Story 2, Wall-E, Up, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, A Bug's Life and others have intrigued us, enchanted us, bewildered us and have become a part of our lives. Pixar’s Toy Story has been selected into the National Film Registry as being culturally, historically, and esthetically significant.

Pixar was actually founded in 1979 and would be working with Lucas film and other companies that would need their services and their know-how in computer graphics. Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan is yet another early work that did not make Pixar any more famous than it was before. However, about 15 years later, when working with Disney - who would buy the studio in 2006 - on a three-part movie deal, Pixar would release a picture that would make the growing company world-wide famous: Toy Story, the first film ever to be animated entirely by computers!

Since then, Pixar sprouted out movies like Old Faithful sprouts out water when the hourly alarm clock goes off. Disney came out of its unbearable 90's slump; and as the movie itself, it has received uninmaginable, critical acclaim. They subsequently sported a sequel, Theme park attractions, unstoppable press and commercial exploits. There even was a spin-off television series about Buzz Light-Years. Yet for eleven long, hard, miserably cold years -if you'll please excuse my overly exaggerated exasperation- we have waited in suspense for a third installment in the saga of toys.

Luckily, our waiting has not been in vain for it is finally hear: Toy Story 3! Taking place congruently with Andy now 17 years of age and ready for college, he never plays with toys any more. What makes matters worse is that his toys not only feel rejected but fear that they will be thrown away when the Big Day finally dawns; despite Woody's attempts to cheer them up. Indeed, Andy intended to put them in the attic and take Woody to college him, but an apparent mix-up make them all end up at "Sunny Side Day Care". Well, with a handsome, suave, pretty-boy sweeping Barbie off her delicate feet, toddlers transform the toys into anything: drum sticks turn to paint brushes or all flavored lollipop, a teddy bear, whose heart was broken, is practically shattered to pieces when a young girl named Daisy “repairs” him after she misplaced him. She then glued him back together with the wrong sort of glue. After dark, the place transforms into a gruesome concentration camp.

The toys only chance is to escape to freedom. But how? Through laughs, bangs and edge- of-the seat suspense and drama to the final scene so perfectly done that the moment will bring tears to your eyes! One of Pixar's redeeming qualities is spoofing well known classic movies. It is done here again. In fact, it is so well done that I believe even Mel Brooks would have applauded…hmm…”would you believe” Buck Henry, Don Adams? Well how about Joey, your next-door neighbor? Sorry about that Mel! These exquisite spoof moments run the gamut of films such as The Great Escape to classic western clichés, from Science fiction classics - a brief moments of Star Trek fun/StarWars! - to the wacky 70's/80's teen comedy's. So many more moments where bits and pieces of classic movie making brought to us in a fresh, new, exciting way. Although it is most probable that there will be a fourth installment, it was said in an interview that there are no current plans for it. If there is a fourth film it is likely to either feature a prequel story, i.e. an adventure either before this trilogy or one preceding the events in Toy Story 3, a continuation of the original trilogy - example: Andy comes home or has a son, or the return of Bo Peep whose absence in this film was never clearly explained -, or a sequel trilogy where they have an adventure with the complete absence of Andy!

Whatever happens, we will be waiting! Featuring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Crusack, Don Deckles, and many others, Toy Story 3 makes you laugh, cry, root for the good guys and ponder the bad guys, in this classic coming of age story.

Robert Steven Mack's movie rating: 100/100

Copyright 2010 by Robert Steven Mack (all rights reserved!)

Robert Steven Mack's Book Review of the Week: Project-00 by Dow Kump

Fame and Fortune – so they say – go hand in hand. Still talent and a good script, albeit necessary, are not sufficient ingredients for making a bestseller. Publicity and marketing are essential tools to “spread the word.” Project-00 by Dow Kump is an example of a great story with insufficient publicity. I was lucky enough to fetch one of the few copies in circulation…

It was Saturday when I decided to go to the weekly Library book sale and find some good deals to spend my three dollars with. I bought a total of three books and three movies for 50 cents each, and all of them were extremely good deals. One of the books I acquired was Project-00 by Dow Kump (www.dowkump.com). Although the story is not unusual and there have been hundreds similar to this story, Project-00 is an exciting, absorbing page-turner. The story is about an intelligent 13-year-old boy who goes on a quest to save the family business in a most unusual manner. Through his adventures, the young man learns the meaning of honesty, loyalty, and the power of keeping your promise. In the end he is forced to choose between is own personal happiness or the endangered lives of others.

It is a shame that this book has not been better well known for it is excellent. In fact, it seems that this book had been out of print for some time, and hence I was lucky to acquire it for a few dimes. What was even more amazing is that I found some writing on the front pages of the book. It said "To J. T. R…, follow your dreams!'' and was signed by the author. What treasure! The book was published by Endeavor Publishing Huntington Beach, California. This serves as further evidence that this book was probably written by a local author without a powerful publicity apparatus behind him.

You can tell that the author Dow Kump enjoyed writing this book from the way in which his vivid imagination carried the story in the most delightful way. As the author enjoyed writing it, I am sure that if only it were in stores and if only it had had the proper publicity others would have enjoyed it too!

Copyright 2010 by Robert Steven Mack (all rights reserved!)

Special Movie Review of the Week: Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" (2010) by Robert Steven Mack

A new era in entertainment has approached us in the last decade. The films of today have cast a shadow over the films of yesterday. New actors ascend to the thrones of stardom, while the old stars of yesterday fade away on the horizon.

As in the world around us, everything is changing in the movie industry: the technology, the style…even the Walt Disney Studios, a place where dreams had once come to us in the most vivid and exciting way. With a new kind of Hollywood in place, and that genius Walt Disney not able to lead them through changes, is the Magic Kingdom of Disney doomed? Did it lose its imaginative touch?

I have now the opportunity and great privilege to review one of Disney's newest films: Alice in Wonderland, directed by Tim Burton and starring Mia Wasikowska as Alice, Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Crispin Glover as the Knave of Hearts, Helen Bonham Carter as the Red Queen and, and Anne Hathaway as the White Queen.

The new story of Alice takes place several years from Alice’s first encounter with Underland, which, as we learn, she misunderstood as Wonderland. Alice, now at 19 years of age, is haunted by her re-occurring dream of a strange place far away that she had been dreaming about for years. Not finding her place in society, she accidentally falls down the “classic” rabbit hole to Wonderland. Yet, times have taken their toll and Alice is welcome to a run-down Wonderland with the Red Queen on the throne ruling with an iron heart and fist. It soon turns out that Alice was brought here to battle the ferocious Jabberwacky in order to win the land back to its rightful owner - the White Queen.

If you recall from my previous review of a 1933 adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, I came up with the testable hypothesis that visual effects were not necessary to tell the story of Alice in Wonderland. I said that all ingredients you need are good actors, costumes, and a good story line to drive a film and make a good movie.

That may be so. However, in that very same review I also made a prediction that the new film would filled with visual effects and less rely on real acting and STORY PLOT as the camera would take over the starring role. This made me wary to see the film, but I decided to have a little faith in the Walt Disney production. Although the usage of amazing special and visual effects were humongous, and the use of technology was extremely high; the storywriters did an equally amazing job and came up with an intriguing, original, an exciting story about Alice’s return to Underland. The acting was not bad either.

In other words, I was wrong! My mother, Diana, was positively exalted about the movie: “Alice is a new woman – a daring misfit. She rejects the safe haven of marriage, she is neither the Queen Bee nor her alter ego, the vindictive Red Queen. She decides to seek out new worlds…follow her own dreams and make her own fortune. Wonderful!”

It is interesting that it was Tim Burton - a visual genius, yet arguably a somewhat of a “nutty” director – who made the best Disney film that was not produced by a Disney/Pixar partnership in years! It may be that this film is the only actual sequel to the 1951 Disney film, even though Tim Burton said in an interview that this film was not a sequel but an extension or continuation of the original story. He added that he did not want to go by the usual list of characters and events but wanted to do something a little different. I surmise, it shall however be regarded by many fans as the actual sequel, if there is to a continuation of this film as then it would have to be quite different for it to be successful.

In any event, this is not the Alice in Wonderland that you remember, and it comes as no surprise that this film was one of the highest grossing films in 2010(and of all time!) This is a witty, charming, action-packed adventure with a delightful comic flair about a 19-year old girl who finds herself in the world! Just like Wonderland -or was it Underland? Prior to the release of Alice Disney Studios was not in the best of shapes. If Disney would make the wise decision of making more movies like this one, then perhaps this film has shone the way to a bright future for Disney Studios. Just like Alice had done for Wonderland!

Movie ratings on scale from 1-100: Robert Steven Mack (100/100), Alex Mack (95/100), Diana Mack (99.7/100)

Copyright 2010 by Robert Steven Mack (all rights reserved)

Of Rice and Men by Robert Steven Mack

Check out my video about a cool website I found: it can raise your word power and feed the hungry. Copyright 2010 by Robert Steven Mack (all rights reserved)

Robert's Movie Review of the Week: "Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This? by Robert Steven Mack

I read about it on Wikipedia, and I finally watched it at the Paley Media Center in Los Angeles: Alice in Wonderland or What’s a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This is a colorful and enchanting one-hour Hanna-Barbara animated TV Special which originally aired in 1966.

Although an important addition to television history, this piece has unfortunately not been released on DVD, and perhaps one of the only places where you can enjoy this classic might be at the Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles. This Alice television special is a valuable addition to the frolicking series of films based on the classic children’s novel Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll about a young girl that goes on one of the most curious adventures in the history of literature.

The story had been altered slightly and instead of Alice falling down the classic rabbit hole she falls through a television set which is most fitting for the times. Nowadays, it would have been video games! Also, Alice’s tender mice-eating cat Dana was replaced by a yappy playful pup named Fuffy. Perhaps one of the biggest surprises in the film would be the appearance of Fred Fintstone and Barney Rumpoble from the The Flintstones, voiced by Alan Reed and Mel Blanc, as the two-headed caterpillar. Most peculiarly, an introduction of yet a new character, Hedda Hatter, is voiced by Helda Hooper.

It stars the voices of Janet Waldo as Alice (the voice of Judy Jetson in Hanna-Barbara’s the Jetsons), Pentolope Pitson from the classic Hanna-Barbara animated series Wacky Races and it’s spin-off The Perils of Pentolope Pitson, and Judie McCoy from Judie and the Pussie Cats, yet another addition to the Hanna-Barbara’s legacy. Howard Morris is stars as the playful White Rabbit, writer Bill Dana as the clumsy White Knight, and Sammy Davis Jr. is singing the title song “What’s a nice kid like you doing in place like this?”

It is unfortunate that the Hanna Barbara Special has not been more popular in recent years for it is a truly enjoyable tele-film and would be a real treat for any Hanna Barbara fan or something to just watch for fun by anyone! In any event, I was thrilled to see be able to see this tele-film for I can consider it to be a real television classic.

Copyright 2010 by Robert Steven Mack (all rights reserved

Truly democratic: Special Movie Review of the Alice in Wonderland Collection by Robert Steven Mack

As we come to the final round of excitement of the new “Alice in Wonderland” film, I have decided that I shall review more film versions based on Lewis Carroll’s classics Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and its timeless sequel Through the Looking Glass. Not surprisingly, this film historical treasure chest has so far been overshadowed by the 1951 animated classic film adaptation produced by Walt Disney who had great admiration for both Lewis Carroll and his two unforgettable novels.

However, Walt Disney was not the only movie maker that was enchanted by Lewis Carroll’s whimsical literature. In fact, the earliest known film version of Alice in Wonderland was produced in 1903 and was just 8 minutes long. Dozens of film, television, and stage adaptations have been created since then. Thanks to the recent release of the new film starring Johnny Depp, a variety of hitherto obscure and unknown treasures of movie history have been released on DVD.

The Alice in Wonderland Classic Film Collection - now in stores - displays fine examples of these films. It is a marvelous collection of art, entertainment, and movie magic. It starts out with a 1915 silent version, which coincidentally was the first feature length adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. The film is done with spirit and an almost amateurish style as exemplified by the stage-like look of the scene where Alice comes through the three doors covered by curtains and the stool that holds the key. The surrounding of the scene looks like the back lot of a stage. Other signs of early film making techniques are the size of the trees vis-à-vis the giant mushrooms. Alice appears to be the size of a caterpillar and no taller than a mushroom. The trees in the background are of regular size. Filming wherever they could and just adding a touch of Alice to their chosen surrounding was the simple thing to do for this picture. The pastures, the beaches, the non-professional style of this film may prove what it says on the back cover of the DVD box: “Produced long before CGI, the creatures are all costumed actors and the absence in dialogue creates a surreal, dream-like quality.” In other words, the apparently mundane surroundings as described above may be that of places where Alice has visited in the past, with a sprinkle of Wonderland added!

This early movie is strong evidence and supports the idea that anyone can produce an Alice in Wonderland film. All you really need is some costumes, a few set pieces, and a touch of imagination! This movie was directed by W. W. Yough stars Viola Savoy along with Elmo Lincoln, starring as the first Tarzan in Tarzan of the Apes in 1918. Granted, this film may seem boring and non-significant to movie goers who are not yet familiar with the silent film Tarzan, it is a must-see treasure for any film historian!
The 1915 Alice in Wonderland version is followed by two 7-minutes animated shorts from the original Walt Disney Alice in Cartoonland, produced and directed by Walt Disney in 1925. These short films, generally referred to as an Alice Comedy series, star four-year-old Virginia Davis and Margie Gray respectively in their portrayal of Alice. These two girls are acting, or “pretending” as Walt Disney called it, in front of a white screen with animation added in later. Both shorts follow the adventures of Alice and her hot-tempered, mischievous cat battling the hilarious dunderheads of Cartoonland. It is rumored that the animation in these shorts particularly the first, Rattled by Rats, inspired the evolution of Mickey Mouse and possibly other classic cartoon characters!

Next in the collection comes an animated joyful semi sequel to the original Alice in Wonderland story called Alice of Wonderland in Paris. The story follows Alice, now quite famous for her adventures in Wonderland and dreaming of the adventures that story book heroine Madeline has. With the help of a kind mouse by the name of Francoise she travels to Paris in hopes of meeting Madeline. While Alice dreams of being Madeline, it turns out Madeline dreams of being Alice! Featuring a collection of classic childhood stories, such as “Madeline and the Gipsies “ and “Many Moons” this is a witty and enchanting tale featuring French animation and the voices of Carl Reiner and Howard Morris. Who could ask for anything more! Numerous other films were made, and have yet to be made. Watching more film versions is something that I deeply look forward to doing , for many people have gone through the looking glass and down the rabbit hole to true enchantment with the books, the movies, stage and television adaptations of Alice in Wonderland and have been brought to millions of people all over the world.

It is a wonder that not more Alice Comedies have been released on a DVD collection of their own for they would be a fine addition to this collection. In any event, these comedies will bring joy to you and your family at any time!

Robert Steven Mack's movie ratings from scale of 1-100: 1915 silent movie: 93/100; two Disney shorts: 95/100; Alice in Wonderland in Paris: 95/100

copyright 2010 by Robert Steven Mack (all rights reserved)