Steven Helmer Publications

As much time as I spend watching old movies and nearly as old television series, I probably shouldn't be surprised when I receive ads for hearing aids and retirement homes. However, while most of those movies and shows were before my time, I will be the first to argue many are better than what you can see at theaters and on TV today. In fact, Hollywood seems to agree with me, both because of the numerous movie remakes and films based on classic television series. While the latter is a bit hit or miss, with some of those movies being not-so-great, there are a few that do work. Here are four I personally enjoyed. Just a note: The Simpsons Movie would have made this list too, if the show wasn't still on the air. Sgt. Bilko (1996) I haven't seen more than a few episodes of The Phil Silvers Show but did see enough to get the gist of that series, which ran from 1955-1959, and while there are those who disagree, this movie version of Silvers ' military character, Sgt. Ernest...

Synopsis: Three years after saving the world in Summerville, Oklahoma, Callie Spengler, her two children, Trevor and Phoebe, and her boyfriend, Gary, have relocated to New York City resurrected the Ghostbusting business her father helped found in the 1980s, much to the chagrin of NYC mayor and long-time Ghostbuster antagonist Walter Peck. They soon find themselves once again needing to save the world when an ancient artifact containing an ancient god looking to wipe out the human race by freezing them to death is accidentally opened. Who's in it? The movie stars Paul Rudd , McKenna Grace , Carrie Coon , Finn Wolfhard , Dan Aykroyd , Annie Potts , Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson . Review: I had some serious doubts when Hollywood decided to reboot the Ghostbuster franchise in 2021 but I enjoyed Ghostbusters: Afterlife more than expected and was excited to see Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire as a result. I didn't get an opportunity to see it at the theater as I had hoped but did wa...

Synopsis: Master Sergeant Ernest Bilko, runs a successful gambling operation out of the motor pool at Fort Baxter Army base and has the commanding officer, Col. Hall, wrapped around his finger. However, this is all threatened when Maj. Thorn from the Inspector General's office arrives and decides to seek revenge against Bilko for an incident that happened years earlier. Who's in it? The movie stars Steve Martin , Dan Aykroyd , Phil Hartman , Glenne Headly and Daryl Mitchell. Review: My outdoor chores were hindered by rainclouds this past weekend and, while waiting for the sun, I came across this film on one of our movie channels. It had been a while since I had seen it and, after re-watching it, I remembered why it is one of my favorite military-themed comedies. One of the things I really like about this movie is it isn't as predictable as most comedy films are. Part of this is because Bilko (Martin) is so arrogant about the stuff he does, the addition of Thorn (Hartman) ...