Blankman

Starring:Jason Alexander, Gerry Black, Simone Brooks, June Christopher, Nick Corello, Robin Givens, David Alan Grier, Christopher Lawford, John Moschitta Jr., Harris Peet, Jon Polito, Mark Schiff, Robert Schimmel, Frazer Smith, Lynne Thigpen, Joe Vassallo, Damon Wayans Jr., Damon Wayans, Michael Wayans
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

"He's ...uh . . .gone Blank, ma'am."
They Were Onto Something...
Piece of crap
Blankman
Funny

Blankman
Starring: Jason Alexander , Gerry Black , Simone Brooks , June Christopher , and Nick Corello
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005T30A
Release Date: 2002-01-08

Customer Reviews:

"He's ...uh . . .gone Blank, ma'am.".......2006-03-31

When watching this movie you have to get rid of all your brain cells for the moment and prepare yourself for a goofy ride through a geek's fantasy of becoming a superhero.

Kevin is the one brother who is heavily into reality with his job at HARD EDITION, a low-level journalist news station that makes up the news as it goes along.

Darryal, on the other hand, has not grown up at all and although he is brilliant in his own way he still has wild-eyed dreams of constantly inventing helpful things. Sadly, all of his inventions are either too good to be true or simply aren't interesting to the public eye. One day, (as in many superhero stories.) a subtle accident at his workplace involving a fly catcher that can fly around the room crashes a combination of chemicals onto darryal's lab coat. This makes the coat and anything that is mixed with the checmical impervious to bullets and knives.

True, there are many flaws with this picture. The story is somewhat tongue and cheek and there are some moments where the humor is corny and overdone but damon wayans plays such a believable geek that it is absoluetly hard not to enjoy watching him struggle to become a bumbling superhero of the streets.

Some of this movie pays homage to the 1960's version of batman and robin. There is also one scene where they mimic the arrival of a villian via an explosion underground which is a nod, or you may think of it as ripp off, to BATMAN RETURNS.

The one thing that I liked about this movie was that DAVID ALAN GRIER plays the perfect straight man to DAMON WAYANS' goofy persona.

The Adventures of BLANKMAN and THAT OTHER GUY is what this movie should have been called. But, all in all, the movie is not groundbreakingly good but it is not that bad. Give it a look.

Enjoy!

They Were Onto Something..........2005-08-11

This is definitely one of the strangest superhero movies I've ever seen. Daryl (Damon Wayans) and Kevin (David Alan Grier) are two brothers who grew up on watching "Batman"...and nothing else is explored with that opening scene.

Kevin has grown up to be an writer for one crazed editor. Daryl, on the other hand, is an inventor who, of course, has dozens of ridiculous gadgets that will somehow pay off...or will they? Yes, his tools are creative, but they serve no purpose other than comic relief, which I didn't find funny except for Daryl's embarassment.

Sadly, the two brothers' grandmother is killed because she works for a City Mayor nominee who ticked off a cliched mobster (Jon Polito). Daryl swears revenge by dressing up in a ridiculous costume and using those odd gadgets to fight crime and build a secret hideout (which I'm surprised nobody finds since it's at the end of a train track).

Let me make this clear - there are some hysterical moments in this movie. The bickering between straight-laced Kevin and wannabe idealist Daryl is side-splitting. In fact, just about every scene with these two is very funny. The problem with this movie is that it has such a dark, dramatic tone in some scenes that just doesn't fit. For example, Blankman takes a reporter (Robin Givens, who's basically a black version of Lois Lane - that's not a racial slur) to this hideout, but there is some music that reminds me of a despressed version of Danny Elfman's score of "Edward Scissorhands," and some comedic actors trying to be serious about the world and love. That scene is absolutely disastrous.

There's another scene when the Mayor is going to publicly open a bank and asks Blankman to be present for the dedication. But then Polito's mobster and several thugs chain him up and set off a time-bomb that kills the Mayor, and possibly other people. THIS IS NOT FUNNY! The movie is not trying to have a dark sense of humor at all, but instead goes for laughs that seem like they belong in "Don't Be A Menace In South Central..."

The contrast of tones and themes don't work. Another case in point, Blankman fights crime on his first night out and confronts a pimp slapping a woman around, but then Blankman's genius idea is "Slap me around and call me Susan!" The scene is funny, if improbable...but seeing a woman slapped around and turned into comedic violence feels wrong to me.

Maybe I'm taking this movie too seriously, but when I see some jabs at classic superheroism that make me laugh uncontrollably (Daryl's inability to face life seriously instead of as a TV show is priceless), and then see some drama that is not only misplaced, but also horribly filmed and acted, then the potential hides itself underneath a movie that's trying to be a superhero comedy "PLUS" an urban drama "PLUS" a hip-hop flick.

This movie has a serious case of split-personality with no hope of control. I really want to like this movie, but it strikes so many wrong notes that I can't quite recommend it.

Piece of crap.......2005-07-14

Everone says this movie is very violent and funny but it is the least violent and funny movie I have ever seen.

Blankman.......2005-01-09

BlankMan is a laugh out loud riot for the entire family to enjoy. The film is about a nerdy African American, Daryl Walker, living in the New York area, suffers a tremendous tragedy when his grandmother is killed by a corrupt mafia leader; Michael Spinelli. Since then, inspired by the old Adam West T.V. show Batman series, Daryl dons the disquise of Blankman to fight crime to avenge her death. If you can imagine Steve Urkell from Family Matters pretending to be Batman, then you should have a good idea on who BlankMan is. The movie is simply hysterical and makes fun of all the typical super hero movie cliches. I loved how they used the old fighting sequences from the old Batman T.V. series to make fun of this genre. The movie will have you laughing histarically throughout the film with great scenes like when BlankMan confronts Spinelli or when David Allan Grier is talking to his crotch. Overall, this is a great comedy for the entire family.

Funny.......2002-09-29

This movie is funny including Damon Wayans, and David Alan Grier. They should have been known as a best team, including that David Alan Grier should be named Just_A_Normal_SidekickMan. I give it a ...(5 out of 5).

Average customer rating:

An excellent double feature
Fairbanks - King of the Action Stars
One of the better silent movies.
Have u seen this 1? Buckle all your swaches
Fairbanks in Fine Form

Mark of Zorro & Don Q Son of Zorro
Starring: Enrique Acosta , Mary Astor , Juliette Belanger , George Blankman , and Charles Byer
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000067IYE
Release Date: 2002-06-18

Customer Reviews:

An excellent double feature.......2006-12-08

As always, Kino has put out a marvelous DVD, this time featuring not just one but two classics. First up is 'The Mark of Zorro' (1920), the very first screen version of this famous oft-told tale of the masked bandit who fights injustice and the oppressors of the people in 19th century Spanish California. This film is special to me because it was the first Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., film I ever saw, though while it did make me want to see more of him, it didn't instantly make him into one of my favorite actors. However, he is very good in his dual role as both the athletic brash romantic brave Zorro and the shy Don Diego, who is a disgrace to his father because ever since he got back from school in Spain he spends more time doing tricks with handkerchiefs and idling around than trying to find a wife or solidify his place in society. As Zorro, he is capable of fighting the bad guys and romancing Lolita Pulido, the young lady his father wants him to marry, as though putting on the mask empowers him to do things that he wouldn't dream of doing as Don Diego. And as much as I normally dislike that old convention of the damsel in distress having to be saved by a man, even considering the era, what hotblooded heterosexual woman wouldn't want to be rescued by a nice drink of water like Doug? The ending is also really cute. As good as this film is, however, it does seem a bit chatty for a silent (not really necessary because of all of the great action sequences!), and it is a bit slow-moving at times, although one must consider that 1920 was sort of a transitional time for films. They were in the process of moving away from the conventions of the Teens and into the more subtle acting and more-developed plots that had come into prominence by about 1922 or so.

The second film, 'Don Q, Son of Zorro' (1925), while a sequel, is one of those sequels that can really stand on its own and make perfect sense without having seen the first installment. It's entirely its own story with its own new plot; the only recurring character is old Zorro, 30 years after the first film ended, though even he isn't the main character in this and doesn't have that much screen time. There's one flashback to the original film and that's about it in the way of relevant backstory. Once more he plays a dual role, as both Don Diego and his son (much like the dual role played by Rudy Valentino in 'The Son of the Sheik'). This film seems better-crafted and technically superior to the first, not least because the budget appears to have been bigger. The sets and costumes are gorgeous, and the plot is more complex, with more twists and turns. Doug's sister-in-law Lottie Pickford also has a fairly substantial role as Lola, one of his two faithful servants. Like his father before him, now Don Cesar de Vega too is away at school in Spain, and has gained quite some renown for his skill with the whip. This skill brings him to the attention of the queen, who invites him to a party at the palace, where he also makes the acquaintance of the queen's visiting cousin Archduke Paul of Austria. Cesar finds himself the target of Sebastian, one of the royal guards, because they both love the same woman, the lovely Dolores. The evil Sebastian succeeds in framing Cesar for murder, and the only person who knows Sebastian's secret, Don Fabrique Borusta, is threatened into silence. Cesar fakes his own death and goes into hiding at the ruins of his family's ancestral castle, where, together with his servants Lola and Robledo, he plots his revenge and concocts a plan to expose Sebastian for who he really is and to get the vital piece of evidence that will prove his innocence. Along the way, his father finds out about what's going on and sets out for Spain to help, reprising his role as Zorro. There's even more action and adventure in this picture than in the original, and the ending also hearkens back to the ending in the original. This was the film that really solidified Fairbanks as one of my favorite male actors.

The extras are a brief clip from the newsreel 'Fairbanks vs. Dempsey,' a home movie shot near his offices at United Artists, three entire chapters from a book he wrote in 1918, 'Making Life Worthwhile,' and an introduction to 'The Mark of Zorro' by Orson Welles. This lattermost extra includes clips from some of Doug's earlier films, with the special bonus of including a clip from his 1930 talkie 'Reaching for the Moon.' This was a real treat for me because I'd never heard his voice before. I would have expected a deeper voice, but he had a pleasant speaking voice regardless.

Overall, it's a great set, with two fantastic costume action-adventure pictures. They're but two great examples of how Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., was swashbuckling personified. This man was constantly in motion, barely staying still for a second, and doing these stunts with such ease and agility. Purists will complain that the print for 'Don Q' is a bit scratchy, but it's not like it's anywhere near unwatchable or distracting. Anyone who loves such old films should frankly be used to not always having pristine prints, instead of elevating the matter to such great importance, as though one's main concern is that the print actually shows its age and isn't as crystal-clear as other silent DVDs are, not how awesome the film is and how lucky we are that just about all of Doug's films are still with us, in comparison to the poor survival rate for many other silents. The scores for both films are also wonderful; I ordinarily prefer a score that has more than just a piano, but the instrument is used very well here and doesn't sound boring or monotonous.

Fairbanks - King of the Action Stars.......2004-08-19

If anyone doubts the temporal quality of fame, just think of Douglas Fairbanks to bring the point home. In his day, Douglas Fairbanks' fame was unprecedented. He and his wife, Mary Pickford, were thought of as America's royal family. Today, his marvelous action films are not watched save by film enthusiasts, and his face and name are lost to the youngest generation (if Jay Leno's "man on the street" interviews are any indication, our youngest Americans seem proud not to know the name of the Vice President, much less a silent screen actor like Fairbanks).

That Douglas Fairbanks should fade from memory is tremendously sad. "The Mark of Zorro" is a good example of the kind of film Fairbanks specialized in toward the end of the silent era, and were hugely popular because of the dynamic presence of its star.

There really has been nothing to compare with Fairbanks since his departure from films. No action star since can come close to his grace and power in an action film. If you doubt me, buy this DVD and see for yourself. Watch Fairbanks leap over tables, vault over chest-high walls to mount a horse, leap from a table top to a cornice near a ceiling, etc. And it was not just that he was able to do these feats, it is that he did them effortlessly. The sheer grace of the man was truly thrilling. He never seemed to strain for anything. I realized this while watching the Mark of Zorro during one scene when Fairbanks swings a leg up and dismounts a running horse, in full gallop, to land on his feet as easily as though he were stepping off the ladder. He made it look so easy, I went back and watched the scene again to make sure I had seen what I thought I saw. Yep, he had done it - smooth as silk.

Then there is his acting. In this film, Fairbanks plays a duel role: Don Diego, a foppish young noble, and his masked counterpart, Zorro. His portrayal of Don Diego is subtle and effective. His body seems shapeless and soft. His manner is distracted and indecisive and vaguely lost. He detests swordplay and is constantly wiping his face due to his great "fatigue." When his love interest declares "He is not a man - he is a fish!" she hits the nail on the head. Yet when he dons the mask, his body and manner are reborn. His body looks lithe and full of movement, and his smile, that tremendous, beaming smile that radiated pure happiness, is almost as devastating as his blade.

Finally, there is the art design and sets of this film. Fairbanks loved these period pieces, and he spared no expense on research and detail. His care, financial investment, and dedication to craft really show. Everything has a beautiful, "deep" feel.

As a side note, this review is based on the Kino DVD release of this film, and as with all the Kino releases, this edition looks simply great. God Bless Kino for being one of the best companies preserving and marketing silent films.

If you have bothered to read this review, please buy this film. If you do, Douglas Fairbanks will be popular and famous again, at least in your heart.

-Mykal Banta

One of the better silent movies........2004-01-02

While not as good as, say, Buster Keaton's The General, this is the best of the silent Zorro films. Buy the DVD that has both The Mark of Zorro and Don Q, Son of Zorro from King Video. "Mark" is entertaining, "Don Q" is even better. The original music by Jon C. Mirsalis for the two films is excellent.

Have u seen this 1? Buckle all your swaches.......2003-01-21

amzing. doug can jump like noone else before or since. a few chase sequences to rival buster.
zorro is excellent filmmaking. It starts with a soldier with a z on his face explaining it's not his fault.For 16 minutes zorro remains offscreen. When he does finally appear it's really cool.
don q, son of zorro, is even more amazing. Five years after zorro and doug looks even more athletic.The plot is far more complicated, but better than zorro. I'll never look at Mary Astor in Maltese Falcon the same way agin. She's breathtaking.
Score is excellent. If you like Errol and Ty and later swordsmen get this one.

Fairbanks in Fine Form.......2002-08-13

Although Kino makes no boast about print quality on the box, its print of MARK OF ZORRO seems to be from an excellent 35 mm source. This film is the first, and many say the best, of Doug Fairbanks' swashbucklers that he personally financed and produced during the 1920s. His subsequent films were more elaborate - he seemed to rival DeMille in epic production quality - but ZORRO is the most consistently energetic. Fairbanks remains in a class by himself as a superstar and he became a multi-millionaire by acting out his daydreams in films. That's nice work if you can get it!

DON Q, SON OF ZORRO is almost as good but bogs down here and there in story complications. The print quality and contrast is not as good as ZORRO and I suspect that DON Q comes from a 16 mm. print. The five years between the two films show Fairbanks' reputation as a producer having grown: DON Q looks as though it costs four times what MARK OF ZORRO cost. Jon Mirsalis' piano score is very qood and he captures everything that silent film accompaniment should be: melodic and never intrusive.

The bonus material is interesting but I wonder why KINO didn't include the five minutes or so of outtakes from DON Q that has been in circulation for years. The unidentified sound film excerpt of Fairbanks included with Orson Welles' introduction is from the 1931 talkie, REACHING FOR THE MOON. Even in the excerpt, Fairbanks seems rather constrained by the dialogue chores. When he enters a room by vaulting through the window, he lands with a "thump," showing why sound films would rob Fairbanks of the illusion of effortless agility so wonderfully masked in his silent films. Three chapters from his 1918 motivational book, Making Life Worthwhile, are included. Some say the book and others published during that time were ghostwritten for Fairbanks. In any event, I've wondered why he had nothing to say to the public during the years of the Great Depression in the 1930s when people really needed a boost.

I highly recommend this dvd as a superb example of energetic silent filmmaking and for the joy of experiencing the inimitable Doug Fairbanks personality.

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