SCI-FI MONTH: "JOHNNY MNEMONIC"

Another failed cyber punk movie. Bummer. At least its a lot more entertaining and unique compared to "Freejack". This movie follows a man, Johnny Mnemonic, that has a storage chip implanted in his head. The world is ruled by large evil corporations and they are out to get Johnny and dominate the planet. The package in his head is too large and he must deliver it before it kills him. Yeah crazy, I know.

This film was a huge failure in all aspects. It was not a hit in theaters and it was a disappointment to the hardcore cyber punk fans. I never read the short story by William Gibson, but I am familiar with some of his work and his style. I know for a fact that the film wasn't true to the source material and that the studio re-cut it and made it more "movie-goer" friendly. Such a shame that this happened to so many movies. We may actually have some decent movies on our hands if the studio's allowed more artistic freedom. Sadly, "Johnny Mnemonic" is a casualty of dictatorship movie studios and we are left with a horrible, yet very entertaining movie. Chop this up in the "so bad it's good" category.

*2 Lance Approvals*

SCI-FI MONTH: "STRANGE DAYS"

"Strange Days" is a strange film indeed. An excellent director, great actors, great everything really - but for some reason, it misses the mark just slightly. Still a very enjoyable science fiction movie none the less. The story follows an ex cop, now street hustler, involved in a police conspiracy while obsessing over an ex lover. He deals data discs which you upload to your head for recorded past memories and emotions. He eventually gets his hands on a data disc that witnesses a brutal crime. With the help of his friend and some other odd characters he tries to solve the mystery behind this horrible act.

Biggelow ("Near Dark", "Point Break", "The Hurt Locker") directs this film and although it is not one of her best, it is still a fine film. The problem for me is the casting. Fiennes, Bassett, and Lewis are all great actors, but they don't fit the parts. Fiennes does well with what he is given, but this isn't the kind of part you imagine Ralph Fiennes playing. Lewis is drugged out like always, but doesn't really strike me as the perfect woman every man dreams of. Bassett is probably the most realistic casting along with Sizemore, but the futuristic world they live in somehow make it seem a little less believable to me. Regardless, a great millennium film with great actors and great filming done by the movie crew.

*3 Lance Approvals*

SCI-FI MONTH: "SILENT RUNNING"

This may not be considered a science fiction classic, but it has a decent following and seems to be getting some remembrance these days. A lone crew member watching a nature reserve goes renegade and enters space by himself after the rest of the crew is ordered home. He is ordered to destroy what he holds dear but he escapes with the nature reserve and 2 robots into deep space. Here he must learn to live alone and take care of the last bit of true nature our world has.

"Silent Running" is the one of the earliest sci-fi movies that looked this good. Besides "2001: A Space Odyssey", not many films had special effects to this nature. Everything looks real and was well done. That being said, it has it's slow moments and rightfully slow. A man stranded in outer space by himself can only be interesting for so long. Bruce Dern does an excellent job and besides the recent "Moon", it is one of the better movies about isolation in outer space I can think of off the top of my head. It also has a great environmental message without being too preachy. Even though it's from the early 70s, it still holds up today with its decent special effects and its message that rings more true today than ever before.

*3 Lance Approvals*

SCI-FI MONTH: "MINDWARP"

This phrase is used often on this blog, but they just don't make them like this anymore. In no way shape or form would this film be acceptable today, yet it is strangely compelling and interesting for a low budget gory sci-fi fantasy movie. "Mindwarp" follows a woman who rebels against the system and decides to live outside the fantasy everyone has been living through technology. This rebellion has consequences though and she soon finds herself banished to a desolate world. Is this reality? Or is this the fake virtual world?

Fangoria Films creating a gory movie, who would have thought? I do like that they went a sci-fi fantasy route though, instead of just straight horror, although there is a tinge of horror in this movie. Really where to begin? Bruce Campbell is awesome as the hero, but I'm not sure I like all the plot twists and character changes. The unknown lead female does a decent job and Angus Scrimm is creepy as ever, but on a whole different level. He plays the iconic "Tall Man" in the Phantasm movies, a menacing giant figure, but here he plays a creepy incestuous evil king. And for the obvious low budget, some things do look really cool. A lot of it is covered up by the dark sets, but the space station settings are decent and the monsters are pretty cool, kind of reminded me of "The Beastmaster" for some reason.

*3 Lance Approvals*

SCI-FI MONTH: "ESCAPE 2000"

"Turkey Shoot" aka "Escape 2000" wasn't breaking any new grounds, even in the 80s. The formula has been done. In the not so distant future, the world is ruled by a dictatorship. If you don't conform to the rules, measures are taken. In this film, the measures taken are basically being sent to a giant concentration camp where non-conformists are tortured and abused. A group of escapees play the game by trying to escape but our hunted by the leaders of this camp.

Like I mentioned above, this is not the most original film. But for what it is - it actually does a pretty decent job. It's Australian, and one thing I've noticed from doing this blog is that Australian movies are weird. This is the director of "Dead End Drive-In" which is a really weird movie in it's own right. Things don't really make sense, like one of the hunters of the escapees being some werewolf man, but for some reason it works. This movie is very low budget, yet the effects are cool and the stunt work is top notch. The dialogue isn't anything to write home about, but the unknown actors do a decent job with what they are working with. Once again, you won't find anything challenging about this film, but if you want to watch an exciting cult sci-fi action flick, this might be for you.

*2 and 1/2 Lance Approvals*

SCI-FI MONTH: "FREEJACK"

I'm a big fan of the cyber punk genre, but this movie really dropped the ball. What really amazes me is that a lot of time, money, and effort was put into this piece of garbage. Its hard for me to give a good plot description because really, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense and I wasn't paying attention. But from what I gathered, in the future, bounty hunters transport people from the past. The "freejack" from the past is none other than Emelio Estevez himself and the mind of an evil billionaire will be transfered into his body.

This film has a pretty stellar cast. Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Mick Jagger, Emelio Estevez and a plethora of other recognizable faces. Sadly, they don't do anything with them because the script is horrible. The special effects are decent and well done, but not imaginative in the least. I'm trying to think of something redeeming about this movie, but there just isn't anything. This, along with some other horrible sci-fi movies killed the cyber punk scene in the 90s. So I won't cut "Freejack" any slack. This movie sucks. BIG TIME.

*1 Lance Approval*

SCI-FI MONTH: "D.A.R.Y.L."

What to say about "D.A.R.Y.L"? It's cheesy. It's dated. It's a lesser known children's movie. But for some reason it has staying power. This movie tells the simple tale of a boy who is really a machine. But the film explores more human aspects, such as why he is alive? Can he feel? Can he be a regular boy? He is taken in by a normal family, but his creators are out to get him.

Daryl is played by the kid from "The Neverending Story" and there are some other recognizable faces. Some of the acting is cheesy, but for a kids movie, it kept my attention. Kids films of today could really learn something from a thought provoking film like this. This movie is very 80s, this review could be posted during 80's month, thats how much it fits into the decade. Although it may seem dated, I'd say its worth checking out for almost any audience.

*3 Lance Approvals*

SCI-FI MONTH: "THE LAST STARFIGHTER"

"The Last Starfighter" takes a simple premise; what if a video game was real? What if everything you had been playing was a test for something real? This movie is basically the day dream of any typical 80's boy. A loser teenager who lives in a trailer park is recruited by aliens to head a starship in an important space battle.

If you love the 80s like me, you've probably seen this movie. It's not as well known as other 80's sci-fi such as "Star Wars", but it isn't the most obscure. Still it seems somewhat forgotten. This is just a fun movie. I remember watching it at 2am many nights on TV growing up. The effects aren't horrible and the acting is above average. This is not a science fiction film that requires deep thought, but it is a well done film and very enjoyable.

*3 Lance Approvals*

SCI-FI MONTH: "THE QUIET EARTH"

I rather enjoyed this movie. It has it's slow moments, but it is real sci-fi, not the CGI infested modern action flick. "The Quiet Earth" follows what seems to be the last man on earth. Just when he seems to be going completely mad, he meets two other survivors, one being a woman. The two male characters become friends, but eventually start to fight over the woman. This is where the conflict ensues...

You won't see a lot of special effects in this movie. What you have is a post apocalyptic setting outlining a much more human conflict. This movie deals with characters/personalities clashing in extreme circumstances. In some ways being alone on this planet is beautiful, in other ways it is horrible and all of this can be seen through this movie. This is classic thought provoking science fiction, not the kind where wall to wall action dominates character development. Original, interesting, but maybe not the most "entertaining". Still I back it, especially for an 80's foreign film.

*3 Lance Approvals*

SCI-FI MONTH: "THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON"

Sorry guys. It's been awhile. But I finally have some free time, and just in time really because it's science fiction month here at the blog. Lets start out with a lesser known sci-fi horror movie called "The Dark Side of the Moon". I want to begin by warning you that this movie is not good. The acting is bad, the director isn't very good, the budget is low, and the story is somewhat confusing, BUT it is interesting and worth checking out for a couple reasons.

The biggest reason, in my opinion, to check out this flick is because "Event Horizon" completely rips it off. Fans of that movie will see the giant similarities. Still, "Event Horizon" is probably a better movie, but it may be interesting to see if they were influenced by this movie at all. But "Dark Side of the Moon" has an equally interesting premise as "Event Horizon". A crew is stuck in outer-space on the dark side of the moon where evil things start to happen. People become possessed, others die gory deaths, and it is up to someone to figure out the mystery behind these dark deeds. Another reason to check this out is the atmosphere. The music, or lack thereof, and dark shots made it worthy of keeping my attention. I wasn't always listening intently to the bad actors delivering corny lines, but I was glued to the minimalist style space station and the darkness surrounding it.

*2 Lance Approvals*

2010 MISSES: "WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS"

For a sequel, this isn't horrible. But I couldn't get over my initial thoughts, what was the point of this movie? None really. Gordon Gekko isn't as tough. Shia LaBeouf is well, Shia LeBeouf. There are talks of the current financial crisis, and Charlie Sheen is used in a pointless cameo. That is a summary of what was interesting to me about the film. Oliver Stone is a fine film maker. There are all the elements that make a film great here: good actors, solid script, solid production, drama, etc. But "Money Never Sleeps" is missing the what makes you care factor. The original "Wall Street" is one of the great dramas of the 80s. It may be a cliche at this point, but at the time it was innovative and one of the best movies of all time on corporate greed. "Money Never Sleeps" continues that story in today's age, but why? I'm not really sure other than to comment on our country's financial crisis, which everybody is well aware of. We don't need a multi-million dollar movie filled with images of expensive apartments and nice suits to remind us of that.

*2 and 1/2 Lance Approvals*

2010 MISSES: "THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE"

Yes, you've probably heard of this movie. Yes, it is one of the sickest films in recent history. And yes, it will make you extremely uncomfortable. Surprisingly though, it isn't the most graphic or gory film out there. You don't see all the surgical details, you are mostly sickened by the idea and way the film plays out. If you are looking for some sort of comeback or positivity, you won't find it here.

The film follows 2 idiot girls traveling across Europe alone. They break down on a country road and find refuge in a house owned by an old Nazi doctor. He has sick fantasies of performing strange medical experiments on humans, and he has found the perfect subjects in these two girls. What unfolds next is a serious of disturbing sequences that have to been seen to be believed. Roger Ebert went as far as to not award this film any stars, saying something along the lines that he doesn't believe this is really a film and it doesn't deserve stars, yet it will have an audience who will see it regardless. At Death of the B-movie we aren't above rewarding the disgusting, but we also don't generously handout Lance approvals to trash. "The Human Centipede" is stuck somewhere in between. I find myself sickened by parts and bored with others. I felt it actually could have been done better. It could have been sicker. It could have been moving. But there is no denying it is one of the most controversial movies in recent memory.

*2 and 1/2 Lance Approvals*

2010 MISSES: "CYRUS"

Now this was a comedy I was actually looking forward to. I like the cast and the premise seemed like it could at least provide some laughs. I could tell from the trailer it wouldn't be a ridiculous comedy like the films Jonah Hill and John C. Reilly usually act in, but if it was able to have decent dramatic moments, I would still be down. Sadly, it fails on all fronts. I did not laugh, I did not smile, the sadness of the main character did not move me, and the quirky moments did not amuse me. What we have here is your typical Hollywood style indie movie that is subtle, to the point of pointlessness. To put it simply, I was bored.

The film has a simple, yet potentially exciting premise. A middle aged loser falls for a beautiful woman, but the only problem is she has the worst son in the world. Their relationship is strange, but not in any way that provides laughs, just awkward moments. Eventually our main character gets into a war with Tomei's son and she is forced to choose between her son and the man she has fallen for. This is one of those films you see that wins independent film awards, but aren't really sure what those awards mean. Is it one of the best independent films of the year? Are critics just giving out awards left and right? What does it mean to specifically win this award? I really don't know, but I didn't think this film deserved any praise. If anything, it was a huge disappointment. I'm not the most forgiving when it comes to comedy, but usually I am able to point out some good in a slew of bad concepts and ideas. This film did not have a bad concept. It did not have bad actors. It was not poorly made. The package just wasn't put together in any sort of interesting way.

*1 and 1/2 Lance Approvals*

2010 MISSES: "GROWN UPS"

Before the year is halfway over, I should probably mention the other films of 2010 that I loved, or hated. I've done a couple posts entitled 2010 misses this year: "Catfish", "Tron:Legacy", etc, plus my best/worst of 2010. Now it is time to get into some comedy, my most avoided genre (excluding 80's teen comedy). Let's just say I have a love/hate relationship with Adam Sandler. More of a hate relationship I guess. But I have a soft spot in my heart for "Billy Madison" and "Happy Gilmore" and I think he's put in some surprisingly well done performances, such as "Punch Drunk Love". But beyond that, the garbage he usually puts together is predictable, formulaic, and just stupid. That doesn't mean these films don't get a few laughs.

One positive I can say about Adam Sandler films is that I've never been bored. They are always filled with ridiculous cast members, cameos, and strange scenes that end at odd times. "Grown Ups" falls right into the Sandler tradition. Sadly, it doesn't break any new ground. You could probably take his character in this film and throw it into about 15 of his other movies and you wouldn't know the difference. The lovable, but troubled misfit, who somehow has the hottest wife/girlfriend and is surrounded by idiots. His cast mates aren't much better. Chris Rock is extremely unfunny as the bitchmade stay at home husband, Kevin James once again plays the fat guy where every joke revolves around his clumsy fatness, and Rob Schneider plays the oddball character who is completely out there and cartoonish. To me, it seemed like this film was more about Adam Sandler and his friends hanging out in real life, while putting together a sub par movie about old friends hanging out. It should have been the other way around. I'm all for nostalgia, but this film fails, not without a few laughs though.

*2 Lance Approvals*

80's MONTH: "THE BOYS NEXT DOOR"

Spheeris follows up her low budget punk rock drama "Suburbia" with a gritty drama that goes into the mind of a disturbed teenager. What makes human beings do the things they do? Why do some men do the horrible things they do while others have the conscience not to? This seems to be the theme of "The Boys Next Door" where 2 young men skip out of town after graduation and wreak havoc in Hollywood. Things go from bad to worse quickly when violence and robbery turns into murder.

"Suburbia" had an effect on me, but it was hard to get over the horrible acting and shoe string budget. Spheeris does something different here and with a bigger budget, plus real actors, and the emotion she wants to portray comes through cleaner, more clearly. To me, besides "Platoon" this is one of Sheen's best early roles. I wouldn't call this film a masterpiece, but everything comes together nicely. Great soundtrack, good actors, good scenes, good emotions, and a haunting beginning intro that really sets the mood for the entire picture.

*3 Lance Approvals*

80's MONTH: "RENEGADES"

I hadn't heard much about this film, shocking because I am the 80's expert. I was excited to view it. Two solid actors of the 80s, a cop action/drama, native american references, etc. All of the above sounded good. I popped this bad boy in once it came in the mail. Sadly, it was overall mediocre. I was entertained for the most part, but I wasn't thrilled with this film. It had moments of potential greatness, but it flounders near the bottom end of some buddy cop pictures.

The plot is very basic. Keifer Sutherland is an undercover cop. The criminals he is working with steal something important to a Native American tribe. The young Lou Diamond Phillips is sent out by the Native Americans to retrieve this item. Together he meets up with Keifer and they do battle against the criminal underworld, but not without many instances of Keifer abandoning "chief" and being a completely generic asshole white guy. Really you don't need to know much else. There are some cool chase scenes, and Keifer seems to be more brutal than usual, but unfortunately I'm going to chalk this up as a basic cop movie.

*2 Lance Approvals*

80's MONTH: "VALLEY GIRL"

Another formulaic plot with stupid characters, but damn it, why do I love this? Maybe it is just because I am biased towards the 80s, but it really wouldn't be done like this if it was made in 2011. Nick Cage is a punk rocker, Deborah Foreman is a rich valley girl. Somehow they fall in love, but friends and peer pressure break them apart. Can it work? I guess you'll have to watch to find out.

Yes it falls under the horny teen comedy romantic drama. It's been done 1000 times. And Nick Cage resembles a gay pirate more than a legit punk. But this is a gem only recognized by those who love the 80s. For one, the music is excellent. The pacing is a little strange, but I found myself interested in the odd timing. I wasn't really sure what was going to happen next or how long this scene would last, which is something very easy to figure out in a movie like this usually. Sure it rips off Romeo & Juliet for the 1000th time, but it has heart. Cage puts more effort into this than any of his recent movies. Check it out, especially if you don't completely remember it. It will make your life better. I promise.

*3 Lance Approvals*

80's MONTH: "JUST ONE OF THE GUYS"

This movie is completely retarded. The supporting characters are beyond moronic, the lead actress is so obviously a girl pretending to be a guy. You must just assume that it is OK to be an idiot in this film's world. The plot is cliche, it has the generic perverted little brother, and the smart/intelligent/beautiful lead, but she still has some idiot boyfriend. The problems with this film usually irk me beyond belief, but dammit, I'm really down with "Just One of the Guys".

As stupid as it is, it is still better than the garbage of the teen comedy/drama genre being spewed out today. It is entertainment, at almost it's lowest form. But little glimmers of emotion shine through, and the film is packed full of memorable 1980s moments such as the lead actress revealing she is a woman by flashing the audience. Also there is an early appearance by 80's/early 90's babe Sherilyn Finn who you might recognize from "The Wraith", "Boxing Helena", and Twin Peaks. Check it out for some 80's fun.

*2 and 1/2 Lance Approvals*

80's MONTH: "SUBURBIA"

Fresh off the success of her documentary "The Decline of Western Civilization", Penelope Spheeris makes her feature film debut with punk rock drama "Suburbia". The film follows a group of punk rock kids squatting in an abandoned house living on their own, away from the families that don't care for them. It also focuses on some "regular" people who want the punks to stop ruining their suburban society with trash, graffiti, and theft. It all culminates in a climactic battle between the punk underground and the norms of society.

Let me start off by saying this is super low budget and you won't find any recognizable actors. In fact, the majority of the actors were real punk rock kids at the time. This creates some authenticity to the product, but also makes it suffer in the quality acting department. If you can get past some of the bad acting, you will enjoy this film. It has excellent music, a decent story, and has moments of sadness I didn't quite expect from the film. It evokes as much emotion as it can out of it's low budget. This is probably some of the better C-grade film making I've seen out there. Worth checking out, especially if you grew up on punk rock like I did.

*3 Lance Approvals*

80's MONTH: "1969"

This movie had all the makings for a really good film. A young talented cast, a compelling story, and a decent message to go along with the plot. Sadly, it falls a little short. It is still a solid movie, but the potential isn't met. With the cast and subject matter you would think it would be remembered more, but for now it seems to be a pretty obscure movie, where all the other actors are more famous for their other works.

"1969" follows two friends in the middle of the Vietnam crisis. The older generation supports the war, while the teenagers rebel against it. This creates tension between Scott (Kiefer Sutherland) and his family. His brother enlists to the approval of his father while Scott goes off and leads a hippy lifestyle of activism, sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Eventually he comes back home, where he and his family are forced to recognize the truth face of war.

Like I mentioned earlier, "1969" has all the potential in the world. I really wanted to love this film. I was entertained for the most part, but I don't think I'd ever watch it again. To me, it was just a decent coming of age story. There are some great moments, but the overall effect of the movie isn't as powerful and engaging as it could be. It may be worth checking out if you enjoy Vietnam War films that don't focus on the action and more on character conflict.

*2 and 1/2 Lance Approvals*

80's MONTH: "PERMANENT RECORD"

This is the kind of movie 80's month is based around and also the kind of the movie that embodies what this blog is about. Obscure, unknown, hidden gems that really are great movies, not just in the cheese department. I don't want to give the plot away, but it involves suicide and how it affects the people directly involved with the person who decides to commit the act. I haven't been moved by a teenage film like this in a long time. Without getting too corny, this is really something special.

Yes, the 80s cliches do show. It looks very 80s, which is not a bad thing, but if it is for you, get past it. This film portrays great emotion and originality. This is easily one of Keanu Reeve's best performances as an actor. He's been in a lot of good movies, but he is always dull or comical. This time around he pulls out all the punches. There is also a lot of great music in this film. Soundtrack wise and performance wise.

*3 and 1/2 Lance Approvals*

80's MONTH: "HIDING OUT"

Completely unrealistic 80's cheese at its finest. None of these characters exist in reality and the scenarios would never happen in real life. The acting is bad, the story is ridiculous, but damn, it is still enjoyable. John Cryer of "Pretty in Pink" plays a stock broker brought to court to testify against the mob. Through a series of crazy events he ends up hiding out as a high school student.

It may not be up there with the classic teen flicks, but this lost gem brings the 80s flavor. John Cryer does the best he can, even if he is involved in a creepy love interest with an underage girl. For all it's faults, the movie flows and kept me entertained. I can't give it a great rating, but there is no way I could give it a bad one, even if it is a bad movie. This is a must for obscure 80's cheesiness lovers.

*2 1/2 Lance Approvals*

80's MONTH: "THE NIGHT BEFORE"

I'm all about the lost collection. 80's films that have been out of print for many years but feature some of our favorite stars. "The Night Before" has all the makings for an 80's classic. A young Keanu Reeves, a young "Full House" mom, and a series of wacky adventure's in bad cinema's ultimate play ground; Hollywood.

"The Night Before" has its moments, but I found myself not overly interested in anything going on. This is the kind of film you watch drunk or high and laugh at how C level it is. Still, there is something that draws me to it. Maybe it is the performances or the mystery of what actually happened to our young hero? I appreciate some of the comedy, but I felt like they could have gotten a little darker and dirtier with the disgusting streets these young teenagers are stuck on. They didn't go there, probably for the young audience, but it leaves me, an old man in my mid 20s wanting something more.

*2 Lance Approvals*

80's MONTH: "CLASS"

It's been a year and February has been dubbed 80's month here at Death of the B-Movie, so lets start off with a movie so 80's it hurts. 80's heart throbs Rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy star in this "coming of age" comedy/drama about a college student having an affair with his friend's mother. Only in the 80s this movie would work... well, in the way it is portrayed.

I wasn't blown away by this film, but it provides you with the typical 80s entertainment you expect, nothing more nothing less. Bisset is the attractive older woman, with a somewhat deeper layer. McCarthy is the tortured baby face as always, and Lowe; I guess is the nerdier character although I wouldn't classify him as that per say. Pretty stereotypical overall, but has hints of a more serious nature, possibly separating it from the rest of the pack. Don't just expect raunchy laughs (although there are many). You will probably judge the movie on which layer you choose to pay more attention too and how you view it. On one end, you may be entertained by the teenage sex farce angle, but you may also be bored with it. Nothing new is explored there. On the other hand you may be interested in the love angle or it's take on the subject of friendships/relationships, but also weighed down by the dramatic heaviness the film puts on us after many moments of pure raunch and comedy. Maybe it actually falls somewhere in between, which is where I land with this film.

*2 and 1/2 Lance Approvals*

2010 MISSES: "THE AMERICAN"

If I had seen this movie before the year end I probably would have included it in my top 10, or at least in my honorable mentions. "The American" is a great film. Yes it is slow, but it has excellent acting, directing, and all of the above that makes a movie great. The slow style, in my opinion, works to it's benefit. You understand the atmosphere, the characters, the situations better because of it. For a movie called "The American", I don't think the mass American audiences can get down with this film. Not just because it takes place in Italy, but the film style has a very European vibe. Clooney has a very subdued performance and besides brief moments of action and nudity, this film doesn't really embody the spy thriller we are accustomed to. The obvious comparison here is "Le Samourai" with a hint of Japanese thriller, and while I wouldn't say it is as good as the classics I am comparing it to, it is definitely worth your time and one of the better modern spy thriller genre pictures.

*3 and 1/2 Lance Approvals*