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Post by delon on Oct 5, 2019 16:06:59 GMT
Comments/ratings/recommendations/film posters are welcome and much appreciated.
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Post by wmcclain on Oct 5, 2019 16:28:00 GMT
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Post by OldAussie on Oct 5, 2019 20:30:12 GMT
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Post by teleadm on Oct 5, 2019 20:49:05 GMT
Here is the movies that Tele have seen: Horror Challange have started, I don't participate but there is a few clues further down the line, as I follow that whirlwind...  Not bad Hallmark movie where they save swans.  Slam bang action but this time it worked very well, some annying acting with personal problems along the way, but one survives that war too. To concentarate on the enemy above...  There is something very 1970-ish over the movie, paranoia and New York Locations that's not sunny. We who have seen it knows how it ends, but do we? Not sure if it's even possible to figure aout the whole plot, Redford and Max are tops, as Max is only "a crook" when he is payed to be (He has mentioned that it was the reason he took tha part on Danish TV) Insightfull and interesting interviews with Redford and Pollack too in DVD extras.  Very entertaining horror movie with good black comedy, Is Vincent already dead when he starts a revenge spree on doctors that couldn't save his wife once. Impressive set and decoration pieces that works well in this macabre storyline. Not scary, but I was genuinly entertained!  Typically overexagerating poster, there is now woman chewed by the titled eight-legger. Science project gone sour, about creating food for the future, Leo G. Carroll of future UNCLE injects rats, mice and guinea pigs with something so they grow bigger, and that makes sence, to create food for the future , but why a spider? For the fun of it to see what happens? The Giant Tarantula leaves traces like skeletons and saliva traces, but for being that big, no footprings whatsoever. It's enetertaing nonetheless for what it is! According to Clint Eastwood (uncredited) who saves the day with napalm bombs of Air Force, nobody told him the object was a giant spider, when he played his scenes.  If you have an original poster of this movie laying around in some loft or cellar, you could be a millionaire! When I was a kid 1965-1969, a TV chanel showed this movie late at night, the day after all the tough guys was too afraid to look up, they were genuinly too scared to look up above roofs, or that giant gorilla would look down! It's interestung what an impact a movie could have back in those days when we had very few TV-canals here. Seeing it again it offcourse don't scare a shit, and one feels sorry for the ape instead, and wishes Fay Wray to stop screaming, since he ain't going to harm you! Chrome-steel don't work!  This was actually good, and much easier to follow than Frits Lang's more famous Metropolis, Impressive actions scenes and car chases too, with very daring stuns. Strange gambling casinos. same set pieces walls wabbled a bit. Glad I took the time to watch it.  Bye for now!!! |
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Oct 5, 2019 20:55:30 GMT
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). Batfleck, Wonder Gal & Neck-snapper vs the Social Netjerk... Black and blue/god vs man/day vs night/fans vs haters...who will win? Like the two heroes pitted against each other, this film will be divisive. Best not to go into it wanting to hate it. Make up your mind after having actually seen it for yourself. Our movie begins with a brief recap of the Wayne murders (which is all we need, as we know the story by now) intercut with flashbacks to the destruction porn of Man of Steel from Bruce Wayne's perspective on the ground. The valid points regarding the massive loss of life in MoS are finally addressed. You see how civilians could interpret Superman's actions/the consequences of his fight with Zod. Who is in the right? The movie attempts to show both sides of the argument, and your enjoyment of this film will depend on which side you land. Aside from Antje Traue's Faora, I thought MoS was a bore ( The Simpsons said it best: “Superman has never been less fun.”) and wasn't impressed with Henry Cavill's Clark Kent/Superman nor Amy Adams as Lois. While Cavill played his dual identities virtually the same, lacked charisma (he was better in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) and did away with everything that made the character inspiring (even the iconic/uplifting Superman Theme!), Adams became my least favourite version of Lois thus far. This movie hasn’t changed my opinion of them. Some dull exchanges and attempts at developing the ‘romance’ can’t save the most unengaging/snooze-worthy superhero love story in comic book movies. One of the few admirable aspects of Cavill's Superman is his love for his mother, and although they only share a brief scene together, that relationship between mother and son proves much more effective and significant to the film. Diane Lane also gets probably the best line in the movie when she meets Batman. I feel Superman should've been portrayed as a symbol of hope/optimism/safety, but instead he’s too similar to Batfleck. Trying to force him into the 'dark/gritty' tone has led to a lack of contrast between the two, making them not so much "day vs night" as "night vs night". Consequently, the one who belongs in the shadows, the character of Batman, emerges more or less intact. He's certainly merciless when fighting bad guys, but that's more fitting of his character. Batfleck is much more grizzled/hardened than we’re used to, holding grudges for all the lives lost. When you see things from his perspective, it's little wonder he dislikes Superman. Despite all the complaining over Affleck's casting, he does okay. Bruce gets to be clever, using his brains/creativity against Superman's brawn. He and Jeremy Irons' Alfred make some attempts at banter/'humour', though it pales in comparison to Christian Bale/Michael Caine’s dynamic. Some may not like the lack of 'light' moments, but I for one found it a welcome relief to not have some snarky superhero jerk spouting one-liners constantly. What I liked best about this Bats was what finally made him listen to Supes. They have something in common, and it's one of the only 'emotional' moments in the film that has any impact (of course, by now it's become somewhat of a 'joke', but that's only because of people who miss the point of it). It's not as simplistic as 'their mothers share the same first name'. It's about Batfleck seeing Superman as someone who loves his mother (just like Bruce loved his mother, thus reminding him of how he felt when he tragically lost her) and coming to regard him as more 'human' than 'alien'. Easily the best part of the movie is Gal Gadot's Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. Those who felt she lacked the muscle to play the part need to do some research into her having been an athletic trainer in the Israeli Defense Force, with weapons and combat training, who knows all about workout regiments...and it SHOWS, which should hopefully put an end to the thin-shaming/judging Gal Gadot's strength solely based on her looks. Although her mysterious appearances are lightly sprinkled throughout most of the movie, when she does eventually make her entrance (and what an entrance it is!), there's no doubt that she is THE Wonder Woman for the new age. She's universal. Our first big screen incarnation of the character makes a hell of an impact, showing off her various skills, the weapons at her disposal and her strength, but she also displays compassion/intelligence, works well with the two guys and, if nothing else, this film will leave you wanting to watch her solo movie ASAP. Meanwhile, appearances from other members of the Justice League amount to mere cameos. The most 'controversial' part of the movie is likely Jesse Eisenberg's casting as Lex Luthor. Is he an evil mastermind? The same character Eisenberg always plays, now with really bad hair and who seems drunk half the time? Or something in between? There's one moment where the 'crazy' side of this Lex becomes abundantly clear, and Eisenberg does well in that respect. I also enjoyed his comment to Lois as he flicked her forehead. I'd say he's really a 'take him or leave him' character. At least he has some LIFE to him, though (one might say 'too much'), which supervillains often seem to lack. Of particular note is his Howard Hughes urine jar moment. The movie itself is rather bizarre, as it starts seemingly all over the place, cutting from scene to scene (which appear largely unrelated), but eventually things come more or less together towards the end. There's a few major action sequences, though it takes quite a while to reach them (especially Bts vs Supes). Those craving non-stop action may be disappointed (but at least the big battles lead to less collateral damage this time around). The movie is rather 'grim/dark', which has caused quite the debate, but in the end, it's not a question of who wins out of Batman vs Superman...since I'm Team Wonder Woman all the way! She's more of a hero than either of them.      (2009). Justice League (2017). Couldn’t the Justice League battle the band responsible for ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ instead?... The film begins with something Superman obviously filmed before his apparent demise in BvS, then it cut to black, which elicited an "Um...okay?" reaction from my audience. We're next treated to Batfleck vs. insect-man (called a 'Parademon'), which got a "WTF?" reaction. The third reintroduction of a character we'd come to know was Diana's/Wonder Woman's, which was easily the best, as she saved a bunch of people, displayed how effective her bracelets are against machine guns and made you wish you were watching Wonder Woman 2 instead. Gal Gadot as Diana/Wonder Woman continues to prove she's the best part of these movies (though there'll no doubt still be her detractors refusing to accept this fact). She exudes warmth/compassion/kindness (her final scene in the movie is most "Aww"-worthy), but also strength (and I don't just mean physically). She's everything a team leader *should* be. Diana plays well off Batfleck (even when he's being a jerk). If you're no fan of Batfleck, it's doubtful this movie will change your mind. Thankfully, the others call him out on his jerky behavior (Diana gives him a well-deserved super shove when he brings up Steve Trevor, while Barry lets Bruce know exactly where he stands in regards to him ticking off Diana/what she could do to him and how the team would be on her side), thus making Batfleck bearable (Jeremy Irons as Alfred tries his best to create an enjoyable dynamic with Batfleck).      Aquaman, Flash & Cyborg all get short introductory scenes, which leads to scenes feeling like a bit of a shambles, as we cut between them back and forth. Just as something interesting is happening with one, we cut to another. I was interested in the stuff between Jason Momoa's Arthur Curry/Aquaman and Amber Heard's Mera (who seems to kick a reasonable amount of underwater butt), but it was sadly cut short and she didn't appear again. At least Aquadude brings a different sort of personality to the team. Ezra Miller's Barry Allen is much more manic than we've come to know him as in his TV iteration (though I think Grant Gustin's scenes with his onscreen father have this movie beat). He provides the majority of the 'comic relief'. He may start to bug after a while depending on your tolerance level for such characters. Some of his jokes work and some don't (much like Batfleck's attempts at humour). I think the 'humourous' moments work best with the characters you LEAST expect them from, such as Diana, Alfred and (to some extent) Arthur (there's a particularly funny moment involving him and Diana's Lasso of Truth).  Ray Fisher does quite well as Victor Stone/Cyborg. He's not given a lot, but makes the most of what he's got (the CGI didn't bother me). Everyone acknowledges Diana's obvious awesomeness (they'd be fools NOT to). Her ability to hold her own/lead is never called into question by the other characters (nor should it be), which is refreshing (unlike certain other superhero team-up movies). It's Diana herself who experiences some self-doubt, which she overcomes; she saves everyone's butt on more than one occasion.     The team all saves each other, actually. It's never a case of one person doing everything/'taking all the glory' (again, unlike with a certain other so-called superhero 'team'). They work well, and it's good to see Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg all respect Diana. Speaking of, complaints regarding 'lingering shots' of Gal Gadot being 'exploitative' have been rather overblown. There's no more 'leering camera' on her than there is on at least two of the male heroes who have their shirts off at one point or another (and what about all the male shirtlessness we're subjected to in other superhero films? How is it that's 'okay', but a 'butt shot' of a female character here or there upsets everyone?). This film's unnecessarily CGI'd villain, Steppenwolf, is just another forgettable comic book movie villain (so...basically the usual)). The most memorable part involving him is a game of 'Keep Away' the Amazons play with this film's McGuffin ('Mother Boxes') on horseback. I wish we could've spent more time with Diana's people, along with Aquaman's, as I would've gladly given up all the Lois/Lois & Clark scenes (as well as most of the scenes focusing on a random family in need of rescuing) in exchange for more Amazons/Atlanteans. Obviously Superman eventually returns. This version of Lois & Clark continue to be the most chemistry-free comic book romantic pairing, scenes between them kill any momentum/bring proceedings to a screeching halt, and watching them trying to be 'cute'/'funny' is painful (they waste time talking in a cornfield when he's most needed to help the team and Diana's forced to do the heavy lifting in his absence).  Henry Cavill's Clark/Superman works much better interacting with the other heroes. It really should've been Diane Lane's Martha (instead of Lois) playing the 'important' part in calming down the freshly resurrected, not to mention dangerous to his teammates (just look at Flash's "Oh, crap!" face in reaction to Superman super-glaring at him), Zombie Clark...especially considering how important Martha was in BvS.  Also, I would've preferred anybody but Lois providing the movie's end voice-over. If you dislike battles filled with CGI, then...sucks for you, as there's plenty on display and not all of it works, but there are some decent action sequences, and it's interesting seeing everyone's abilities/fighting styles on display. The score uses some old themes (I missed John Williams' 'Superman Theme', which MoS sadly lacked, but I caught Danny Elfman's 'Batman Theme') as well as the always awesome/welcome 'Wonder Woman Theme'. The ending feels a bit abrupt in a "That's it?" sorta way, and there are two credits scenes (the mid-credits one reminded me of similar scenes in Smallville and Supergirl, involving two superheroes racing. If you don't like Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor, there's no reason to wait until the end). The Justice League has united/'come together'...so, now what? Answer: Bring on Wonder Woman 2! What? We have to wait until 2020?!  (2016). Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014). Alita: Battle Angel (2019).
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Post by petrolino on Oct 6, 2019 1:12:51 GMT
Hi everyone. Saw a couple new movies this week ...
'Assassination Nation' (2018 - Sam Levinson)
Survival drama.
'Riot Girls' (2019 - Jovanka Vuckovic)
Survival drama.
Enjoy the weekend. Thanks.
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Post by politicidal on Oct 6, 2019 1:20:24 GMT
Gojira (1954) 6/10
Godzilla Raids Again (1955) 5/10
The Fan (1996) 3/10
Divide and Conquer: The Rise and Fall of Roger Ailes (2018) 4/10
Alita: Battle Angel (2019) 8/10
The Wheeler Dealers (1963) 5/10
The Double Man (1968) 4/10
Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964) 7/10
Dead Ringer (1964) 6/10
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Oct 6, 2019 8:18:35 GMT
wmcclain - If it's alright, my I ask what your thoughts were on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)? OldAussie - What did you think of Joker (2019)? It sounds like it's quite divisive. Not bad Hallmark movie where they save swans. I watched that^ movie not too long ago, teleadm, and I agree that it wasn't too bad (and some of those Hallmark movies leave a lot to be desired). Alita: Battle Angel (2019) 8/10
I just watched that^ movie this week too on Blu-ray and that's the same rating I would give it, as I quite enjoyed it.
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Oct 6, 2019 8:51:17 GMT
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Post by OldAussie on Oct 6, 2019 9:38:02 GMT
@chalice_Of_Evil
Joker was very good - MUCH darker than films usually associated with the genre. More in common with Taxi Driver. Plus quite a bit of King of Comedy.
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Post by claudius on Oct 6, 2019 10:30:05 GMT
Hitchcockthelegend, I was only referring to my Billy Wilder films for United Artists. THE APARTMENT is my annual New Years film and next year is the 50th Anniversary for THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, so I'm not permanently finished with him.
DARK SHADOWS (1969) “Episodes 851-855” 50TH ANNIVERSARY. MPI Video DVD.
RED RIVER (1948) UNITED ARTISTS 100TH ANNIVERSARY Howard Hawks’ Western Epic about a cattle transportation and the struggles for its success (as emphasized by a father and his adopted son). MGM/UA DVD.
THE MIGHTY ORBOTS (1984) “The Dremlocks” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. YouTube.
DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS (1984) “The Traitor” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Geez, two Jeffrey Scott penned episodes (This and ORBOTS) dealing with Smurfs/Ewok ripoffs. First saw this back in 1984, and it was always a squirmy episode- as everyone thinks Hank/Ranger betrayed them. Anyway, I just noticed this probably has the first interracial kiss on a Saturday Morning Cartoon (Acrobat kisses Presto).
MUPPET BABIES (1984) “Dental Hyjinks” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. Fozzie gets a loose tooth, and he and the rest of the gang think of the horrrors of the dentist (one of which involves a Franskenstein fantasy, with stills from YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN). Bootleg DVD.
SUPERFRIENDS THE LEGENDARY SUPER POWERS SHOW (1984) “The Case of the Shrinking Superfriends/The Mask of Mystery.” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. Zan, Jayna, and Gleek make their return appearances in the first episode. Lex Luthor appears in both episodes. I’ve had a VHS recording of this episode back in 1985. Warner DVD.
THE WORLD’S GREATEST SUPERFRIENDS (1979) “Lex Luthor Strikes Back” 40TH ANNIVERSARY Probably in view of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE, Lex Luthor is the villain of this episode, with movie-lifted aspects like a bumbling sidekick and an underground lair. Warner DVD
THE SCOOBY DOO AND SCRAPPY DOO SHOW (1979) “The Night Ghoul of Wonderworld” 40TH ANNIVERSARY The gang head to some WESTWORLD/FANTASY ISLAND amusement park, dealing with a robot Sherlock Holmes and a recreation of Victorian London. Warner DVD
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF FLASH GORDON (1979) “Chapter Two: The Monsters of Mongo” 40TH ANNIVERSARY
THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER (1975) UNITED ARTISTS 100TH ANNIVERSARY. Peter Sellers reunites with Blake Edwards in the revival start of the series, a combination of the first two films (The Diamond and the Phantom/Sir Charles from the first film; Dreyfuss, Kato, and Graham Stark from the second). This was my favorite of the revival, first seeing it on TBS in the 1980s, first seeing the Widescreen version on American Movie Classics in 1998. Artisan DVD.
THE CARE BEARS AND THE FREEZE MACHINE (1984) 35TH ANNIVERSARY this Year. The second Care Bear special. First saw this on USA Network back in 1984. Family Home Entertainment VHS.
BEETLEJUICE (1989) “Stage Fright/Spooky Tree” Shout DVD.
HEATHCLIFF (1984) “Monstro VS the Wolf-Hound”, “Say Cheese/Iron Cats”, “Meow Meow Island/Cat’s Angels”, “Family Tree/Where’s the Chocolate?” and “Be Prepared.” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. Mill Creek Entertainment DVD.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES (1980) “Episode Seven” One highlight of this BBC Serial is Judy Parfitt’s Madame DeFarge. Although Vengeance on Wheels, she brings a sympathetic dimension to the character. She’s the one cradling the dead child run over by Evermonde. She consoles her husband’s doubts over the reventual revolution. In today’s episode, after the reading of Manette’s damaging letter, she does her pissed off “Save him now if you can!” with tears in her eyes. It should be noted that little Lucie doesn’t appear at all in this adaptation. Nor, at least right now, Lucy is portrayed as pregnant (like the 1958 version did). One major novel-based addition (that other adaptations avoided) is that the trouble-making Barsaad is Miss Pross’ long-lost brother. Just Entertainment PAL DVD
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN (2012) “The Ino-Shika-Cho Formation!” Viz Media DVD.
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST (2004) “Laws and Promises” 15TH ANNIVERSARY. And so the series ends with a cliffhanger that will be resolve with the next year’s CONQUEROR OF SHAMBALLA movie. The final eleven episodes were a tense amount when I watched it back on Cartoon Network in Winter 2006 (it was one of the reasons I skipped the BROTHERHOOD Series.), always feeling anticipation and anxiety over the weeks between broadcasts. When I finally watched this episode, I watched it with Episode 25, the second part of 50, and after all that, watched the movie. Funimation DVD.
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (1964) “Episode 7: Evidence of a Crime” CoMC 175TH ANNIVERSARY SimplyMedia PAL DVD.
ER (1994) “Going Home.” 25TH ANNIVERSARY. Warner DVD.
SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU? (1969) “Mine Your Own Business.” 50TH ANNIVERSARY. Warner DVD.
THE FIRST CHURCHILLS (1969) “Bridals” 50TH ANNIVERSARY. Acorn Media DVD.
NARUTO (2002) “Naruto Uzumaki!” NARUTO 20TH ANNIVERSARY. October 4 marked the 20th Anniversary of Kinimoto’s Manga series, so I watched this episode while reading the first manga chapter. One difference between the two is that the first chapter hinted to Naruto being a reincarnation of the Demon Fox, which was retconned into a host in the second chapter. The Anime, made on a later date, goes by the retcon. Viz Media DVD.
THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY (1965) UNITED ARTISTS 100TH ANNIVERSARY. The final part of Sergio Leone’s Spagehetti Western Trilogy. First saw this back in 2001, watching it with neighbors (of whom I gave this film as a birthday present). This is the 162-minute cut on MGM/UA DVD.
MIRACULOUS: TALES OF LADYBUG AND CAT-NOIR (2017) “Riposte” & “Befana.” Disney Channel Broadcast.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (1999) “The Freshman” 20TH ANNIVERSARY The beginning of the fourth season has Buffy starting college with Willow and Oz. This will not be a complete watching. Most of the episodes I will watch will be part of the crossovers with ANGEL. FoxVideo DVD
ANGEL (1999) “City of” 20TH ANNIVERSARY Popular spinoff of BUFFY, as haunted vampire Angel moves to Los Angeles (joined with fellow BUFFY alum Cordelia). I first saw this episode around the end of summer 2005. FoxVideo DVD
GANKUTSUOU: THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (2005) “Act 1: At Journey’s End, We Meet” 15TH ANNIVERSARY and CoMC 175TH ANNIVERSARY. Japanese Animated Sci-Fi version of the Dumas novel (originally, the studio Gonzo wanted to adapt Alfred Besters’ THE STARS MY DESTINATION, but copyright limits forced them to do this adaptation instead). First saw this on fansub back in early 2005.
ONCE AND AGAIN (1999) “The Scarlet Letter Jacket.” 20TH ANNIVERSARY. Buena Vista DVD.
MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS “Whither Canada?” 50TH ANNIVERSARY. Ah, Monty Python. I was a big fan during high school, when I would watch the show on Comedy Central every Saturday (and then on weekday mornings). This was probably my second full-watch episode (the first episode was the series last), highlighted with The Killing Joke Sketch. Paramount VHS.
DRAGON BALL SUPER (2018) “A Miraculous Conclusion! Farewell, Goku! Until We Meet Again!” The concluding episode of the series. Cartoon Network Premiere Broadcast.
Earliest film this month: HIS MAJESTY THE AMERICAN (1919)
In Between: SCOOBY DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (1969)
Latest film (or show) this month: DRAGON BALL SUPER (2018)
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Post by wmcclain on Oct 6, 2019 11:31:40 GMT
wmcclain - If it's alright, my I ask what your thoughts were on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)? Unless I've seen them recently I have a hard time distinguishing this from the previous film: Order of the Phoenix. They are from that second half of the series which becomes more somber, less joyful. I have no specific praise or criticism of this title. In retrospect I like this second half more now than I did when the films were new. I'm not a big fan and struggle with the mythology, but once a little sub-world has been created it is good to revisit it. I liked watching the kids grow up. I'm glad the series was made and came out as well as it did.
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Post by wmcclain on Oct 6, 2019 11:38:05 GMT
Silver Bullet (1985), directed by Daniel Attias. Without warning, residents of a peaceful little town are being murdered in a savage fashion. The kid in the motorized wheelchair figures it out first: werewolf. How to convince the others? Soon they know the identity of the cursed being. Now what to do? This seems like a "date" horror film, something like Carpenter's The Fog (1980): a few scary moments but not terribly gruesome. The director -- on his first job -- said he did not care for horror films and tried to put in more humor and human interest, hoping for a PG13 rating. Producer Dino De Laurentiis and writer Stephen King had other ideas and it is in fact "R". The werewolf effects are rudimentary and we mostly get glimpses. For some reason effective wolf-beast-man creatures are hard to present. Carlo Rambaldi is credited as "werewolf suit creator"; he had no time or budget. The young people are very good. Corey Haim is just excellent as a happy kid in a wheelchair without a trace of self-pity. He gets one quiet moment watching the other kids playing baseball and we understand that it's not all good times. Megan Follows is very natural as his over-burdened big sister. Love in the large, but much irritation day by day. Then we have Gary Busey as Uncle Red, a big kid himself. He has his own disability -- booze -- and the parallel he draws between the brother/sister and he and his own sister (the mom) eventually comes home to him. The director wanted Busey for the role, but says he was high maintenance, requiring more time than both kids put together. Great ensemble of loved character actors: Terry O'Quinn and Bill Smitrovich (who would both be in the Millennium TV series a decade later), and James Gammon as the first victim. I mostly know Everett McGill from Twin Peaks, but also remember him from Dune (1984) and Heartbreak Ridge (1986). I recall a pair of TV critics finding this really vile for putting a wheelchair kid in peril. Not Siskel and Ebert; must have been the other guys. Available on Blu-ray on an all-region import from Umbrella in Australia. Quality is just fair. Several extras and two commentary tracks: a conversation with the director and another with the composer. 
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🎄😷🎄 on Oct 6, 2019 15:02:31 GMT
October is Halloween month, so it's all horror all the time for me!  The Lodgers (2017)  Atmospheric and beautiful, but overall a bit ordinary. Wanted to really love this one but it doesn't quite deliver all that much. I did enjoy it though, loved the Irish scenery and that cast is really going for it too. Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things (1972)  I waited decades to see this, it was directed by Bob Clark, but it was not great. The first hour we have to endure a bunch of hammy jibber-jabber, at least we are slightly rewarded by the end when everyone is eaten by zombies. Only I wanted them to suffer more, like I did watching this. Deep Red (1975)  More wild and crazy Italian horror from Dario Argento. Some vicious meat cleaver attack scenes and an extremely varied soundtrack help to keep you off your toes and on the edge of your seat. Does drag a bit in places, but well worth it. Campfire Tales (1991)  Cheaply made and cheap looking, but its heart is in the right place. The campfire tales are mostly satisfying. Nice to see Gunnar "Leatherface" Hansen in a pivotal role. The Little Stranger (2018)  This movie leads you one way, only you wind up some place else. Some might find it all a bit boring, but I'm fond of period pieces with good actors, so I enjoyed it all. The slowness to the telling of the story increased the spookiness factor, in my opinion. Huge points for originality, that ending will have me thinking and rethinking about this for awhile. Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)  A classy production starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Donald Sutherland. How cool to see all three in the same scene together.  An anthology of five horror tales, none are overly exciting but well told and engaging. Was not certain if "Terror" was anyone's actual surname, but that is addressed early on. Also, why is it called "House of Horrors" when it all takes place on a train? Those were my only complaints, otherwise, a fun spooky viewing. There's Nothing Out There! (1991)  Stumbled upon this by accident, had never heard of it before. It's independently made, but don't let that scare you off, it's quite well done. A green slimey octopus/tadpole-type creature terrorizes teens at a summer cottage. This movie is hyper-self-aware that it's a horror movie, one character in particular makes that pretty obvious. The whole movie is a spoof of the genre, but a lovingly made one. Definitely not meant to be taken too seriously, so just relax and have a few chuckles. Did I mention the creature shoots green laser beams from its eyes and wants to reproduce with all the girls? Kinky!  Zombie High (1987)  Umm...this was bad. It has a good cast, and the premise had potential, but it just meanders, boringly going nowhere. I only watched it because it features 90's sex siren Sherilyn Fenn, who is barely in it and horribly wasted in a nothing role.  Head Count (2018)  College kids staying at a cabin conjure up a demon who plays mind tricks on them. Has some creepy scenes but slightly lacking for excitement for most of the running time. I expected some beheadings with a title like that! Grotesque (1988)  Scream queens Linda Blair ( The Exorcist) and Donna Wilkes ( Jaws 2) together in one movie! Except neither one is in the whole movie much at all.  The movie suddenly switches gears and goes in another direction. Tab Hunter, of all people, shows up to kick some ass!  This was all over the place, plot-wise, but never boring. Loved that the father was a Hollywood F/X artist. That ending was a bit bonkers, however. And with a title like Grotesque, I expected more gore, but it's pretty tame.  Who knows what horrific nonsense awaits me this coming week, I'll be sure to share it all with you next time! |
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Post by wmcclain on Oct 6, 2019 19:10:16 GMT
Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things (1972) , written and directed by Bob Clark. A sarcastic, domineering theater director takes his cast to a cemetery island where they will -- for some damned reason -- dig up a corpse and perform satanic rituals. The director has a decadent, sick sense of humor and has many games in mind. His cleverness vanishes when the joke becomes real. We want to see these people get what's coming to them because:
- They are obnoxiously witty.
- They have no respect for the dead.
- Zombie apocalypse is the appropriate revenge for such mockery and desecration.
- They are actors. Theater actors. You know how slappable those people are.
Another shoestring-budget indie horror film with theater actors making their first movie. Yes, it is self-referential and the actors use their own names. Is it of the genre where fools mock that which is about to get them, or is it a satire on same? Hard to tell. When you see this in your pre-calloused age of impressionable horror film-watching -- as I did -- it's the stuff of nightmares. Definitely in the same space as the original Night of the Living Dead. Now I see it classed as "campy comedy horror", but that's not quite right. Yes, it has a bit of humor, but the honest revulsion we feel at what these people are up to is real. "Alan" marries the corpse and spends some private time with it. He's sickening, but so are the timid actors who won't cross him. Cleverly, we have pre-zombie phase when shadowy ghouls flit just out of view, but that's a trick. The zombie makeup in the final minutes when they finally erupt from the grave is pretty amazing. It happens so fast we barely have time for a siege. Those rotting corpses are hungry. Apart from the fun and games, the actors do actual assault and kidnapping of the cemetery caretaker. How were they planning on getting away with that? The director would later do Murder by Decree (1979), Porky's, and A Christmas Story. Alan Ormsby ("Alan") cowrote the screenplay and did the zombie makeup. The score is electronic weird planet SF music. Are we entering another world? The DVD is not very good quality, but has a happy, fond commentary track by the cast.  Deep Red (1975), written and directed by Dario Argento. With my third title I begin to see the pattern of Argento films: a bystander witnesses a psycho-killer's crime, then hunts the psycho while the psycho hunts him. Because it's a psycho there is no "reason" behind the mysteries and the plot details are mostly irrelevant. Throw in some quirky comedy and absurd policemen plus various amounts of gore. Don't you go breaking into long-sealed hidden rooms. What do you think you're going to find there? This time we have David Hemmings and his gal-pal, a spunky reporter trying to get into his pants. Sort of a screwball comedy framework, now that I think about it. There is no doubting that Argento and his photographer have a fine eye for composition, and this time we have really strange extreme closeups of physical objects like keys and toys. He has another eerie trick: for the fade to black between scenes he cuts the set lights while filming. I kept expecting someone to scream at each scene change. The image quality seems better than I remember from The Bird With the Crystal Plumage (1970), also on Blu-ray. The music is exceptional this time. It seems totally inappropriate for a slasher/thriller but I like it a lot: it adds another dimension of weirdness and unpredictability. The gore level of the longer "Italian" cut is more than I like seeing. Available on Blu-ray from Blue Underground, not available at Netflix. It has both the shorter cut (done by the director) with an English language track, and the longer cut with both English and Italian tracks. The English track reverts to Italian from time to time, but there are subtitles. 
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Post by morrisondylanfan on Oct 7, 2019 14:29:48 GMT
Hi all,I hope everyone had a good weekend,ans with having had the flu since mid last weeks, my viewings slowed down a bit! Horror flicks!  Beautiful Teacher in Torture Hell (1985) 7 Getting tied up in the middle of the 80's when the Pinku genre had shifted to being glossy, debut director Masahito Segawa is joined by cinematographer Nobumasa Mizuno'o in taking Pinku back into the Grindhouse pit, via grime covered walls surrounding Morita, and jabbing panning shots at the fellow people at the school betraying Morita's trust. For the stable rape sequences of the Pinku genre, Segawa interestingly appears divided over which way to take things, going between a psychological horror edge of the camera being carefully positioned to fill the frame with Morita's tortured face, and the expected eyeful of sleaze, that actually helps to thread a uneasy atmosphere reflecting the sharp shifts in terror Morita's is gripped with. Taking one of Oniroku Dan's novels (a major inspiration on the genre) into torture hell,the screenplay by Toshimichi Saeki coils up a nicely cynical mystery, charged from Morita believing at first that she has saved a student from being attacked,only to learn that it was actually the first part in a twisted game. Even as the movie visually gets packed with skin on show, the cynicism of Saeki's script is kept as the spine, which builds a terrific bitter picture of all those Morita has placed trusted in being utter scum, hitting a chillingly cryptic final note. Tied up and tied down,Nobutaka Masutomi gives a excellent performance as Morita, bringing out a expressive, never say die attitude within Morita, captured in the yelps and anguished face of the beautiful teacher in torture hell.  The Door & The Butcher's Wife (1969) 7 Planned as the first in a anthology series of movies, but falling at the first hurdle, co-writers/(with Pedro F. Miret and Mario Hernandez) co-directors Luis Alcoriza/ Ismael Rodriguez & Chano Urueta leave out the traditional wraparound story of anthology films, instead linking the tales together in their sharing of a macabre atmosphere. The stand-out segment, director Luis Alcoriza sends up the Mexican bourgeoisie society in sparkling Sci-Fi Horror fashion. Opening the door to a happening party,Alcoriza twirls the camera round the glittering,gossipy chatter filling the house, landing on the door handle. Walking into the surreal, Alcoriza slyly touches on prudery and homophobia, via the corridor to another dimension containing a naked man who walks up and down,being placed (to quote the dialogue) "In the closet", and tortured by the guests opening/slamming the door to laugh and play games with those they do not deem of being welcomed into their society. Peeling away from the surreal to the Mexican Revolution, segment directors Ismael Rodriguez and Chano Urueta fire up Gothic Horror with a Western atmosphere, lit in stylish tracking shots of Revolutionaries robbing a train leading to sizzling red dashes criss-crossing on the floor to a murder hidden behind the door.  Exists (2014) 3 Going right back to the inspiration of The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972) as a major root for Blair Witch, co-writer/(with Jamie Nash) director Eduardo Sanchez makes it clear that he still has a ear for ambiguous sound effects, with the fleeting moments of unease being Sanchez & cinematographer John W. Rutland zooming in on a vague shape stomping in the woods. Whilst having kick-started the wave of Found Footage over the last 20 years, Sanchez moves away from the grounded rules of camera moves for Blair Witch, in order to drop in shockingly poor shaky cam, which shakes to one of the other friends in the flat script holding a camera, in situations where all the characters are clearly not holding cameras in the moment of their Big Foot battles, and impossible to perform in real time camera moves (from a zoom-in to a wide-shoot!) breaking any sense of realism in Bigfoot's Found Footage.  Garden of the Dead (1972) 4 Planted for a hour (wise move) and filmed in 10 days, director John Hayes & cinematographer Paul Hipp pull up a deep-fried Drive-In atmosphere of shoddy zombie make up and poorly lit "daylight" scenes. Breathing in the zombies by making a chain gang a bit too keen to have a sniff of toxic formaldehyde fumes, the screenplay by Jack Matcha and Daniel Cady bring out a slight charm that slots into the cheap Drive-In mood,via the cops stumbling over themselves to plant the zombies back into the garden of the dead.  Museum of Horror (1964) 6 Melting House of Wax with the "Mad Scientist" genre,held by the cloak and dagger of the long-coat wearing killer hanging round the pitch-black, smoke covered streets of Victorian Gothic Horror,with Burke and Hare-type figures lurking in the corner, out to make a quick deal, director Rafael Baledon & cinematographer Raul Martínez Solares mould a creepy atmosphere of panning shots tracking the murderer, jumping to screeching smash cuts,as the latest victim sees the face of the killer when they get grabbed. Going back to the hideout of the psycho, Baledon blissfully dips into visceral horrors splashing wax on the face of the screaming victim across the screen,zooming in on the left over body parts from the handy work of the psycho. Blowing away the smoke early on in order for the viewers to know who the Mad Scientist-style psycho is, the screenplay by Jose Maria and Fernandez Unsain brew the Gothic chills from others getting closer to unmasking the killer, as bubbling, lingering doubt tips over Marta,who cracks open secrets of the locals. Confronted by her suspicions, elegant Patricia Conde gives a great performance as Marta which really brings out the Gothic Horror mood, thanks to screaming with fear from being in the museum of horror. |
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Post by morrisondylanfan on Oct 7, 2019 15:28:31 GMT
October is Halloween month, so it's all horror all the time for me! The Lodgers (2017) Atmospheric and beautiful, but overall a bit ordinary. Wanted to really love this one but it doesn't quite deliver all that much. I did enjoy it though, loved the Irish scenery and that cast is really going for it too. A good summing up of Lodgers, Lebowski. Finding it on Netflix after reading Kim Newman give it a good review,I found it very atmospheric,but not reaching the heights I hoped it would. From Oct 2018: 7/10. 1 out of 3 found this helpful. (Me going for the popular vote!) Filmed in the real "haunted house" Loftus Hall, director Brian O'Malley & cinematographer Richard Kendrick lodge an unshakeable,slow-burn Gothic Horror atmosphere of weaving shots round the grounds giving Loftus the appearance of being stuck in time, and a precision in the movement of the inhabitants giving them a ghostly shade. Joining Rachel and Edward in their family estate as they attempt to to follow the rules of The Lodgers, O'Malley dips into the surreal with striking water effects giving The Lodgers a slippery shine,and the estate that of a watery grave, with stylish mirror shots reflecting the tide coming in towards Edward and Rachel. Also co-composing the simmering score with Stephen Shannon and Kevin Murphy, the screenplay by David Turpin brews an elegant Gothic Horror brimming with the frozen in time family trauma Rachel and Edward are haunted by. Keeping the reason for the existence of The Lodgers clear, but holding them out of sight for the majority of the time, which makes their slithering appearance towards the duo ring with an urgency. Played by an excellent Charlotte Vega and Bill Milner (with David Bradley and Eugene Simon being very good visiting guests) Turpin splinters their faithful following with touching encounters with outsiders opening up their greatest weaknesses, which leads The Lodgers to lodge a deadly complaint. 
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