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Post by teleadm on Sept 19, 2020 17:27:13 GMT
Comments/ratings/recommendations/film posters are welcome and much appreciated. Just taking this moment to show appreciation to all character actors/actresses now called supporting actors and actresses over the years, that can make a dreary movie watchable to the end, make a good movie better, and give a great movie some extra punch.  The Great Jack Warden was born 100 years ago last week, Juror number 7. And after that let's go on with movies you have seen: |
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Post by mikef6 on Sept 19, 2020 18:37:30 GMT
Nancy Drew, Detective / William Clemens (1938). Warner Bros. Cinematography by L. William O'Connell. The first of a 4 movie series based on the Stratemeyer Syndicate books. Nancy Drew (Bonita Granville) is the 16-year-old daughter of prominent lawyer Carson Drew (John Litel). Rich Mrs. Eldredge promises a large donation to the girl’s academy where Nancy is a student but the very next day she suddenly goes away, canceling the gift. Nancy is convinced that foul play is involved so, dragging along her reluctant neighbor and would-be boyfriend Ted Nickerson (“Ned” in the books), she proceeds to uncover a dastardly plot and almost gets herself and Ted killed but is praised for her cleverness. Ted Nickerson is played by Frankie Thomas, one of my favorite child actors of the era. For once there is age appropriate casting. Thomas was 17 and Granville was 15. A fun adventure comedy. Hey, watch that right hand, bub!   Nancy Drew…Reporter / William Clemens (1939). Warner Bros. Cinematography by Arthur Edeson (Casablanca). The second film in the series. Nancy, looking to win a prize from the local newspaper, decides that an heiress charged with murder is innocent and that solving the case would get her the prize. But it is not that easy. She and Ted are hounded by thugs and strongly discouraged by Mr. Drew and the cops. An extended action finale as Nancy and Ted try to record the killers’ confessions is the highlight.  Nancy drives a cute and sporty 1936 Chevrolet Standard   Daredevils Of The Red Circle / William Witney and John English (1939). Republic Pictures. Cinematography by William Nobles. One of the greatest of the cliffhanger serials and my favorite. Escaped criminal mastermind Harry Crowel, mostly known by his prisoner number, Thirty-Nine-Oh-Thirteen (Charles Middleton, Ming the Merciless in the Flash Gordon serials), is impersonating rich Horace Granville who is locked in a cell in the basement of his house. Thirty-Nine-Oh-Thirteen wants to ruin Granville so plots to destroy all the mogul’s properties. His first attempt at sabotage kills the young brother of one of three circus performers (Charles Quigley, Bruce Bennett, and ace stunt man David Sharpe). The three vow to prevent any further attempts at destruction and capture Thirty-Nine-Oh-Thirteen. The action editing, music, and build up to chapter endings are worthy of any “A” picture. Witney and Englsh are rightly lionized by serial fans. Thrills galore.   Terry And The Pirates / James W. Horne (1940). Columbia Pictures. Cinematography by James S. Brown, Jr. In contrast to “Daredevils” this cheesy jungle cliffhanger, based on a popular newspaper comic strip, is almost MST3K worth. In fact, riffing on it is exactly what My Lovely Wife and I did during all 15 chapters. The “jungle” is obviously southern California hill country, probably at one of the studio’s “ranches” where outdoor adventures were filmed. On the other hand, maybe it was Griffith Park in Los Angeles. Terry, supposedly a boy in early teen age is played by 23-year-old William Tracy. The plot is way too convoluted and silly to describe here but suffice it to say that there is a lot of chasing and being chased around hills, hiding behind boulders, going into caves, getting trapped in narrow passages in secret temples, and a lot of other nonsense. Can’t say it wasn’t fun, though.   The Dam Busters / Michael Anderson (1955). Based on a true incident from WWII, the Big One. This acclaimed film tells how the British, who have targeted three major dams on the Ruhr River that provide a large amount of the energy for the German war effort. The dams, however, are so thick and reinforced that direct hits by bombs on their tops are ineffective. Maverick engineer Doctor B.N. Wallis (a real life person played by Michael Redgrave) comes up with a crazy plan that the bureaucracy says will never work. Wallis finally goes to the military itself to get his project greenlighted. The focus of the film then shifts to Wing Commander Guy Gibson (Richard Todd) whose memoirs were the basis for the movie. Gibson’s job is to train his pilots in the unusual flying techniques they will need to know but without telling them their ultimate goal. The finale is an exciting 30-minute set piece as the British planes attack the dams. NOTE; the DVD comes with a warning that some language may be disturbing to modern audiences but the movie will be shown as originally released. They are warning about Gibson’s black Lab named N----r. The word is said, I dunno, maybe 15 to 20 times, always referring to the dog.   Perry Mason S.9, Ep. 21 “The Case Of The Twice-Told Twist” February 27, 1966. The only Perry Mason filmed in color was done so as sort of a pilot for a 10th season (which didn’t happen). The episode’s first half contains more of the kind of crime drama that was popular in the 1970s but at about the half-way point, we get the expected murder, arrest of an innocent person, and the concluding trial, so it ends on familiar ground. Young juvenile offender Lennie Beale (Kevin O’Neal) is part of a car stripping ring run by Ben Huggins (Victor Buono). Huggins recruits street kids to do the criminal acts and bring the spoils back to him in a light riff on “Oliver Twist” (Perry and private eye Paul Drake point out the parallel, just in case we don’t get it). I didn’t think I had ever heard of Kevin O’Neal before but his face, voice, and mannerisms were so familiar it was driving me crazy trying to figure out who he grew up to be. Well, just a little bit of exploring revealed that Kevin is the younger brother of Ryan O’Neal (Barry Lyndon, Love Story) but, at age 21, he looks as if he could grow into his big brother.   Eastern Promises / David Cronenberg (2017). My second viewing a dozen or more years since it was first out on home video. This time around I was very impressed. I might almost call it masterful. Anna Khitrova (Naomi Watts), a midwife in a London hospital, delivers a baby to a young woman who dies after hemorrhaging. The dead woman has no I.D. on her. Nothing but a diary written in Russian. She finds Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl) a kindly Russian restaurant owner, who agrees to translate. But he is not kindly. He is the brutal head of a crime syndicate specializing in smuggling everything from wine to human beings. He knows who the girl is and what is in the diary. Meanwhile, his wild impulsive alcoholic son Kirill (Vincent Cassel) and Kirill’s driver and right-hand man Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen) stand ready to follow any orders. But Nikolai, even though he doesn’t flinch at cutting off the fingertips of one of Kirill’s victims, seems concerned about Anna’s safety. Many great scenes. Amazing performances from all four leads. A triumph for Cronenberg. One scene late in the movie got a lot of critics’ attention: a fight in a bath house where Mortensen is totally naked but his attackers are clothed and armed. Curiously, there is a very similar example of this under the same circumstances and location in one of the Japanese “Zatôichi” series – to be precise, “Zatôichi #21: Zatôichi: The Fire Festival” (1970). I wonder if Cronenberg had seen it. The original script is by Steve Knight. Also with Sinéad Cusack and Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski as, respectively, Anna’s English mother and Russian uncle.    
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Post by wmcclain on Sept 19, 2020 18:46:37 GMT
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Post by teleadm on Sept 19, 2020 19:35:13 GMT
Here is the Tele stuff:  My Generation 2017 documentary directed by David Batty with Michael Caine. Not a definitive documentary about the late 1960s but a good reminder of a time that is now gone. Back when it was Swinging London and all that.  The Score 2001 directed by Frank Oz. An old fashioned Rififi updated theft movie that at least gave a decent screen farewell to screen legend Marlon Brando. Entertaining without being anything special. The three male stars make it better.  The House That Dripped Blood 1971 directed by Peter Duffell, an Amicus anthology movie where a house connects the stories. four stories and a frame story tells about the different inhabitants of the house. Most of the stories are on the cozy side, and even if it says "dripped blood", there is no drop of blood whatsoever. All stories end with a little surprice. Pleasant enough to watch. Just to let you know Lee and Cushing don't share any scenes together, they are in different stories. Jon Pertwee was a big star at the time since he was the current Dr Who at the time.  The Chairman aka The Most Dangerous Man Alive 1969, directed by J. Lee Thompson. Commie China has found an enzyme that can make anything grow in any weather, America and USSR work together in this case, so they send a scientist over on a good-will trip. One of the lesser known Gregory Peck movies, and sadly not very good, though interesting enough to watch to the end. Some good touches here and there, and the chairman of the title is Mao himself, played by an actor who's wig looks very plastic. Taiwan and Wales played China. Anne Haywood is who is the supposed female star only appears in a few scenes.  Dear Heart 1964 directed by Delbert Mann. Glenn Ford is a womanizing travelling salesman doing his last round before he has plans to settle down and marry (Angela Lansbury, who only appears late in the movies), Geraldine Page on the other hand is an annoying enervating 40 something on her way to a Postmasters convention, used to be on her own, still haven't accepted that she might become an old maid or virgin. The two bumbs in to each others, at the same hotel, and even if they have nothing in common, they start opening up to each others, and even liking each others company, but how much are they willing to give up of their usual ways. When they both enter a restaurant, she just rushes in, he waits outside, she comes out again wondering why he didn't enter, he says "can't you please for once let a man open a door for you". Glenn Ford is at his charming best as he goes from womanizer to understanding what he have missed during all years as a traveling salesman, while Geraldine Page goes from enervating and annoying to maybe sharing life with a man isn't that bad after all. I liked this movie, it's sweet, tender, mature and I met a lot like the Page character over the years but I never had that Ford charm to unlock them.  Ani Imoto aka Older Brother, Younger Sisters 1953 directed by Mikio Naruse. What attracted me watching this was Mashiko Kyo who I have only seen in Teahouse of August Moon, and knowing that she was a big star in Japan. While it's certainly interesting to watch, it feels like a too Japanese story. Strange how long lonely roads they have to walk all the time. Thankfully English subtitles.  The Last Days of Pompeii 1935 directed by Ernest B. Shoedsack. How much do we care as we meet both Jesus about a back story, it's the eruption scenes we want to watch anyway. As this story goes it's many years before the last days as we meet both Jesus and Pontius Pilate (Basil Rathbone, who is good in a restraint role). Following a story about a blacksmith who became a gladiator and later a corrupt dinardiare (billionaire in Roman money). It's still the last 15 minutes that counts from the boys who gave us King King. A relic that should be seen at least once. If you care much about the rest of the story depends on how much you are a Preston Foster fan. A huge financial flop of it's time.  Murder on the Blackboard 1934 directed by George Archainbaud. Enjoyable if unremarkable murder mystery with unlikely duo horsefaced Edna May Oliver and hardboiled James Gleason solving the case of a dead music teacher. I liked the touch that it wasn't an upper class school, as there was lots of litter on the corridor floors. Oliver and Gleason seems to have a very good report in their scenes.  Well that was my week, so what have you been up to? |
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Post by teleadm on Sept 19, 2020 20:20:41 GMT
@belladonna
Thanks for participating
None of the movies you have watched rings a bell with me, so I have no opinions, but I might say that I've seen a too few Huppert movies.
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Post by teleadm on Sept 19, 2020 20:34:13 GMT
mikef6Thanks for participating! For some reason Nancy Drew was called Kitty Drew in Sweden and they were my mothers childhood favorite books, I've only seen the public domain version of the movie versions. Watching those old entertaining serials I'm always afraid a chapter might be missing. Daredevis of the Red Circle sounds familiar but I'm not sure. The Dam Busters needs a re-watch be me. Eastern Promises, I liked it too in all it's rawness.
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Post by teleadm on Sept 19, 2020 20:43:16 GMT
wmcclainThanks for participating! I liked Impact, maybe a tad too long though. Mysterious Island 2 felt like too much of too much, maybe I'm just getting old. Read oppinions about Mr Lucky, but still thinks it's worth looking up. Joan of Arc is on the verge if I really care Great mix as usual!
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Post by OldAussie on Sept 19, 2020 21:23:12 GMT
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Post by teleadm on Sept 19, 2020 22:44:50 GMT
OldAussieThanks for participating! I know nothing about Lik Wong, but I like to try things at least once. Lambs, Katie and Cardinal When a local chanel more or less shows The Silence of the Lambs every week it becomes too usual and one just stops caring, as if they gonna show it until every Swede have seen it, it sort of stops being an attraction anymore. Lambs, Katie and Cardinal all three needs re-watches from me
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Post by politicidal on Sept 19, 2020 23:44:53 GMT
Mr. Jones (2020) 8/10
Casino (1995) 7/10
Cry Terror! (1958) 6/10
Harlan County U.S.A (1976) 7/10
Reefer Madness (1936) 2/10
Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959) 1/10
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Post by waldolydecker on Sept 20, 2020 2:17:19 GMT
I rewatched some noir/thriller films that I hadn't seen in a while:
Out of the Past (1947) 10/10
Notorious (1946) 9/10
Shadow of a Doubt (1943) 8.5/10
Kiss Me Deadly (1955) 7.5/10
Phantom Lady (1944) 7/10
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Sept 20, 2020 5:54:48 GMT
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996). Footloose (1984). Always Shine (2016). Tamara (2005). The Bookshop (2017).
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Post by claudius on Sept 20, 2020 12:00:19 GMT
So, with the new season, I’m approaching anniversaries of Animated series from 1970, 1980, 1985, and 1990. Most of them with Frank Welker.
Sunday 13
SHE-RA PRINCESS OF POWER (1985) “The Battle for Bright Moon” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The conclusion of “The Sword of She-Ra” storyline, as the siblings strike a major victory against the Horde. Although I saw this back in its broadcast month, it gained notoriety in the turn of the century to my brother and me for a SoundAmerica.net soundbite of Alan Oppenheimer’s Skeletor calling King Randor a ‘Royal Boob’. BCI Eclipse DVD.
THE PRIVATE LIVES OF THE WINDSORS (2019) “Rebellion” Part One of a three-part documentary on the children of George V of England and Queen Mary, focused on the writings of their only daughter Mary. Amazon Prime.
TALE SPIN (1990) “Mommy for a Day” 30TH ANNIVERSARY. Disney DVD.
SUPERFRIENDS (1980) “Bigfoot/The Ice Demon/The Make-Up Monster” 40TH ANNIVERSARY After two seasons of full-length episodes, the fifth season of the franchise returns to S2’s three-episode structure. This also gets a new intro that includes Black Vulcan, Samurai, and Apache Chief (the next season intro would include El Dorado). This variation was probably my first introduction to the series. Warner DVD.
DRAK PACK (1980) “Mind Your Manners, Dr. Dred.” 40TH ANNIVERSARY. This episode- Dr. Dred steals Egyptian treasures and frames the Drak Pack- was my only episode for years, due to a 1981 VHS recording. YouTube.
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF THE LONE RANGER (1980) “Hansa the Monster” 40TH ANNIVERSARY The classic masked gunslinger makes his second Animated series (there was one in the late 1960s), with William Conrad as the Ranger with Frank Welker playing many voices. This production aired on a double bill with Filmation’s THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (1976). It’s also notorious for forbidding the amount of gunplay due to TV Cartoon standards. BCI Eclipse DVD.
PETER PAN AND THE PIRATES (1990) “The Rake” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this month. Despite what Wiki and IMDb state as a once-a-week schedule, I remember Fox broadcast the series weekdays and not in the order planned. So, I have been watching it according to what I remember. The last three episodes I viewed were broadcast that same week, as well as this one- which adds another new character in James Hook’s Ghostly brother, although he makes only two appearances. YouTube.
Monday 14
The following are from a VHS recording of Saturday Morning Cartoons taped on Saturday, September 14, 1985.
-THE BERENSTEIN BEARS SHOW (1985) “Go Fly A Kite” & “The Trojan Pumpkin” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Stan and Jan Berenstein’s classic series finally became an Animated series with some more alterations than the TV specials (Mama Bear is now completely devoid of white dots on her clothes), but using the Elliott Lawrence score. The episode is in two parts. The first is an adaptation of a book, in this case GO FLY A KITE. The second is an original story with a consistent piece throughout the series, where the Bears deal with weasels and Raffish Ralph (voiced by Frank Welker).
-THE WUZZLES (1985) “Bulls of a Feather” 35TH ANNIVERSARY 1985 saw the premiere of Disney’s first two Animated TV series. CBS had this offering, a comedy series (with the voices of Jo Anne Worley, Henry Gibson, Alan Openheimer and Bill Scott) about the misadventures of inhabitants of the Land of Wuzz, who are a combination of two animals. I had Bumbleheart Lion as a stuffed animal (my sisters had Rhinokey, Eleroo, and ButterBear). Lasting only one season, I had little seeing of the series until Toon Disney in the early millennium. Love the Stephen Geyer theme song.
-MUPPETS, BABIES & MONSTERS (1985) “Piggy’s Hyper-Activity Book” & “In the Beginning” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The success of MUPPET BABIES led to Jim Henson adding a new show to the series, a sketch show combination of puppets and animation (animated segments of “Pigs in Space” and “Kermit: Private Detective” with Jim Henson as Live Action Kermit and Frank Welker as Animated Kermit). It proved to be a mixed result that was cancelled after only three episodes were aired. Somehow, seeing the Muppets animated is rather off-putting. Now, don’t get me wrong. I had zilch problem with the Muppet Babies, but I think that was because the version had less existence in Live Action (aside from MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN and MUPPETS’ FAMILY CHRISTMAS), I grew more familiar with their animated form. So with my major familiarity of the Adult Muppets as Live Action, it didn’t work here. However, there were two ramifications that this flop would play on MUPPET BABIES. The intro would usually be shortened (goodbye character introductions) and the closing would play the LITTLE MUPPET MONSTERS theme for the remainder of its seven-year run. The recording is somewhat edited, as if someone kept turning the record button off and on. The ending of MUPPET BABIES is cut off, so I fixed that by watching the missing stuff on Youtube.
-THE SUPER POWERS TEAM: GALACTIC GUARDIANS (1985) “The Ghost Ship” & “The Bizarro Super Powers Team” 35TH ANNIVERSARY In the second installment, Bizarro returns, not as the villain depicted in earlier seasons, but the canonical (though not for much longer) misunderstood comedy character. Mr Myxylplk (voiced by Welker) makes his final appearance in the series, guiding the Bizarro versions of the heroes into many disasters. Again, this is another edited recording. Later that day I watched the restored version on DVD (Warner).
-HULK HOGAN’S ROCK & WRESTLING (1985) “The Four Legged Pickpocket” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Wrestlemania gets its own cartoon, with Hulk, Captain Lou Albino, Andre the Giant, Junkyard Dog, and others (voiced by different actors) having misadventures (Gene Oklund popping up everywhere). Mixed with the series are live-action segments with the actual wrestlers. I watched Wrestlemania at the time, so I was familiar with the show. I didn’t realize Jim Steinman wrote the intro.
-CBS STORYBREAK (1985) “C.L.U.T.Z” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. Beginning in 1984, this showcase of animated adaptation of children’s books made its 2nd season premiere with this futuristic story by Marilyn C. Wilkes, about an out-of-date robot befriending a kid. Evidently the junior novel had the characters Caucasian while the adaptation makes them black. Interesting to hear Hamilton Camp as the title character, considering his Fenton/Gizmoduck role in DUCKTALES (where he mentally competes and defeats a robot- voiced by Frank Welker).
-DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS (1985) “The Dungeon at the Heart of Dawn” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The third season premiere leads to the summoning of a great evil that depowers Dungeon Master, Venger, and the childrens’ weapons. This was a bleak episode as I remember it, especially at the end, as DM forecasts the enemy’s return (although that never happened).
-LAND OF THE LOST (1975) “The Longest Day” A CBS broadcast of Sid and Marty Kropt’s 1970s time-lost adventure.
Commercials include a promo for Captain Crunch (the captain went missing), Barbie’s Peach swirl sash/Home Office/Workout Studio, a Mary Lou Retton exercise segment, etc.
ROBOTECH (1985) “Booby Trap” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. The Anime series that revolutionized America’s interest in the market, its mature content (even under Harmony Gold’s edits) a sharp contrast to other American animated fare at the time. Although it premiered in March 1985, I remember my first experience was CBS’ broadcast on Saturday Mornings before its regular schedule. Rewatching the series again (on VHS) in the summer of 2002 made me recognize several voice actors like Tony Oliver, Wendee Lee, Rebecca Forstadt, etc. YouTube.
TALE SPIN (1990) “I Only Have Ice for you” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this month. Disney DVD.
CARE BEARS (1985) “Birthday/Camp” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The Care Bears get their own series and different animation for the third time. It’s a combination of the Movie (the Cousins, the voice cast of Billie Richards, Dan Hennesey, etc.) and the TV specials (the music & villains). Much of my experience with this version was on THE CARE BEARS FAMILY series, which added all its different incarnations to its syndicated form. Mill Creek Entertainment DVD.
INSPECTOR GADGET (1985) “Gadget Magic” 35TH ANNIVERSARY After two years, the series returns with changes. Don Adams and Frank Welker (Dr. Claw, Brain, and Mad Cat) return but with Holly Berger replacing Cree Summer as Penny (who has added to her wardrobe a couple of jackets) and Maurice LaMarche succeeding Dan Hennesey as Chief Quimby. Gadget gets a new Gadget-automated house. The narrative also changed. Instead of the episodic tone of the first series, this one has a three-episode arc with a common theme or villain. In this case, the MAD magician Wambini. DVD.
THE 13 GHOSTS OF SCOOBY DOO (1985) “Scooba Kadoobra” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The Ghost Hunters search for their first ghost, the wizard Madlor (voiced by Peter Cullen, no stranger to playing evil sorcerers). This episode introduces a self-effacing humor to the series (at one point, the gang do a sing-a-long; then there is a breaking the Fourth wall segment where Scrappy chews out a Censor official protesting the subject material). Warner DVD.
TINY TOON ADVENTURES (1990) “The Looney Beginning” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Steven Spielberg and Warner Brothers put together this next generation series of the Looney Tunes characters. The first episode originates Buster Bunny (Charles Adler), Babs Bunny (Tress MacNeille), Plucky Duck (Joe Alaskey, who would end up playing Daffy Duck), Hampton J. Pig (Don Messick, the Hanna-Barbera Voice Actor), Furball (Frank Welker), Sweetie (Candi Milo), Dizzy Devil (Maurice LeMaurche), Elmyra (Cree Summer) and Montana Max (Danny Cooksey). I first saw this episode on a CBS Prime Time broadcast on September 14 1990. However, due to station unavailability, I would not see the series until Fox broadcast it in September 1991. Warner DVD.
DISNEY’S ADVENTURES OF THE GUMMI BEARS (1985) “A New Beginning” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Disney’s other animated series that year proved to be more successful than THE WUZZLES. Starring Bill Scott, June Foray, Lorenzo Music, Noelle North, Paul Winchell, and Christian Jacobs as the first of five actors playing the boy Cavin. Tell the truth, I may have only watched two or three episodes on its original NBC broadcast. I didn’t became a fan until it was added to the Disney Afternoon in 1990 (albeit with a shortened opening and a changed closing. I also loved the intro by Joseph Williams). Disney DVD.
THE EWOKS/DROIDS ADVENTURE HOUR (1985) “The Haunted Village” & “Escape Into Terror” 35TH ANNIVERSARY YouTube.
Tuesday 15
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING (1995) “The Gundam They Called Zero” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Crazy Quatre comes back with a vengeance, bearing a new Gundam. Japanese with English Subtitles. Bandai DVD.
THE SLAYERS (1995) “X-DAY! The Demon Beast is Reborn!” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Japanese with English Subtitles. Sculptor Software DVD.
SHE-RA PRINCESS OF POWER (1985) “Duel at Devlan” 35TH ANNIVERSARY this year. The first post-pilot episode. Infamous for introducing Loo-key, another one of those annoying cute sidekicks. At least here he’s usually regulated to a cameo and the post-show message segment. BCI Eclipse DVD
BEETLEJUICE (1990) “Scare and Scare Alike” & “Spooky Boo-tique” 30TH ANNIVERSARY The second episode, where Beetlejuice does a mass-hypnotism to get the town to Lydia’s store is the highlight. “Shop ‘til you freak! At the Spooky Boo-tique!” Shout Factory DVD.
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (1985) “The Resident Patient” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. Holmes tries to solve a man’s paranoia…unfortunately too late. I admit my first viewing of this episode in the fall of 1992 was the final part. The episode ends on a humorous note, with no, to quote Holmes in HIS LAST BOW, ‘an east wind coming.’ MPI Home Video DVD.
MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS (1970) “Face the Press” 50TH ANNIVERSARY Monty Python makes its second series premiere. Highlights include a documentary about the Piranha brothers and the Ministry of the Silly Walks, one of the more famous sketches (although Cleese’s least favorite). I remember mimicking some silly walks at my school when I first learned of it in 1992. Paramount VHS.
Wednesday 16
DADDY LONG LEGS (1990) “Full of Memories” Japanese with English Subtitles. Bootleg DVD.
SHE-RA PRINCESS OF POWER (1985) “The Sea Hawk” 35TH ANNIVERSARY BCI Eclipse DVD.
FREAKAZOID (1995) “Candle Jack/Toby Danger/The Noob” 25TH ANNIVERSARY The second segment is a JOHNNY QUEST spoof, right down to the limited animation style (Don Messick reprises a version of Dr. Quest). Bootleg DVD.
G.I. JOE (1985) “The Further Adventures of GI Joe”, “Rendezvous in the City of Dead”, “Three Cubes to Darkness”, and “Chaos in the City of Lost Souls” 35TH ANNIVERSARY After two hit mini-series, JOE finally becomes a TV series. Like the previous stories, the beginning showcase is a five-parter called the Pyramids of Darkness. Cobra plants four giant black cubes around the world to emit a electricity-blocking field. First appearances of the Cobra Twins Xamot and Tomax, and Joes Barbacue, Dusty, Airtight, Alpine, Bazooka, Quick Kick, Footloose, and Polly the parrot (voice by Frank Welker). Otherwise the standard formula is used (Duke gets captured, locational set pieces, the Joes accidentally end up at Cobra Temple). I watched the first four episodes Wednesday through Saturday. Youtube.
Thursday 17
TENCHI MUYO TV! (1995) “No Need for a Showdown!” 25TH ANNIVERSARY. The final fight between Tenchi and Kagato. Japanese with English Subtitles. Pioneer DVD.
SHE-RA PRINCESS OF POWER (1985) “The Red Knight” 35TH ANNIVERSARY BCI Eclipse DVD.
THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR (1990) “Bang the Drum Hillary” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Will Smith’s music partner Jazzy Jeff makes his first appearance as Jazz Townes (and getting the first of his many Uncle Phil-induced departures). Warner DVD.
TINY TOON ADVENTURES (1990) “Quack in the Quirk” 30TH ANNIVERSARY. The first episode features Plucky in a STAR WARS spoof. A lot of other Sci-fi references (a Spaceship parking lot shows the Enterprise, the Tardis, the rocket from TINTIN). Warner DVD.
PETER PAN AND THE PIRATES (1990) “The Play’s the Thing” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this year. Seeing the Lost Boys butcher William Shakespeare’s JULIUS CAESAR, Hook decides to call a truce and put up a more respectful rendering of the Bard, much to the consternation of his Pirates. Of course, Hook still intends to cause a tragedy behind the scenes as well. Memorable for Tim Curry’s quotation of Shakespeare quotes. YouTube.
Friday 18
EQUALIZER (1985) “The Equalizer” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Season premiere of 1980s TV series starring Edward Woodward as an ex-secret agent using his skills to ‘Equalize’ situations for the downtrodden. With William Zabka as his estranged son. I was aware of the series back in its day, but never watched it until A&E in the early millennium. Universal DVD.
GARGOYLES (1995) “City of Stone Part 1-2” 25TH ANNIVERSARY One thing I liked about this series was it threading a tapestry continuity that grows bigger. This four-parter reveals the origin of Macbeth (yes, he was the Scottish King that inspired Shakespeare, although his story is in some ways more historical and yet more fanciful than the Scottish Play). It also focuses on how Demona survived throughout the centuries and her genesis as a villainess. I viewed the first two episodes from Friday to Saturday. Disney DVD.
TINY TOON ADVENTURES (1990) “Wheel of Comedy” 30TH ANNIVERSARY The first three-short episode, with showcases on Dizzy Devil, Elmyra, Furball, and Babs & Buster. Warner DVD.
PETER PAN AND THE PIRATES (1990) “Hook’s Mother” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this month. Peter and the gang steal a portrait of Hook’s mother, the joke being that the never-seen image is a horrible sight. YouTube.
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN (2013) “Izanagi and Izanami” English Dubbed. VIZ Media DVD.
Saturday 19
SHE-RA: PRINCESS OF POWER (1985) “The Sorrowful Dragon” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. BCI Eclipse DVD.
TALE SPIN (1990) “Vowel Play” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Spelling-challenged Baloo is tricked into making smoke signals for a criminal mastermind. One of the few times where Baloo-stripped of his shirt- resembles his JUNGLE BOOK counterpart. Disney DVD.
PETER PAN AND THE PIRATES (1990) “Demise of Hook” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this month. Captain Hook has been killed in an explosion…or has he? The episode takes a nuance look on Peter, who finds he misses the guy. Youtube.
SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU? (1970) “Mystery Mask Mix-Up” 50TH ANNIVERSARY The gang cross masks with Chinatown ‘ghosts.’ Most memorable of this episode is the musical chase scene “I Can Make You Happy” one of the few times the whole gang is involved. I remember taping this scene around Christmas 1995, watching the scene constantly. Warner DVD
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS (1970) “A Green Thumb is Not a Goldfinger” 50TH ANNIVERSARY Warner DVD.
TINY TOON ADVENTURES (1990) “Test-Stressed” 30TH ANNIVERSARY. The subject is school, with episodes focusing on Plucky, Furball, and Buster’s dealings with Shirley the Loon (Gail Matthius, she of the infamous SNL 6th season cast), Li’l Sneezer (Kathie Soucie), and Fowlmouth (Rob Paulsen). Warner DVD.
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (1970) 50TH ANNIVERSARY The premiere of the classic 1970s TV series and a model to feminism and female independence. I remember watching a couple of episodes on Nick at Nite in the early 1990s. FoxVideo DVD.
ORDINARY PEOPLE (1980) 40TH ANNIVERSARY Just as this day marks the debut of Moore’s most famous TV show, it also was the premiere of her most famous film. A Robert Redford directed film about a suicidal teenager dealing with Survivor’s guilt over his popular brother’s death, getting little to no help from his superficial, emotionally distant mother. I first read about this film from John M. Considine’s book THE CINEMA OF ADOLESCENCE. When I got the old VHS at a Rental store clearance sale, I would usually watch it in the winter. Paramount VHS.
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Sept 20, 2020 18:59:06 GMT
Beatriz at Dinner (2017)  Beatriz made everyone at dinner so uncomfortable and squirmy, and they deserved every second of it. People who take from and abuse the world being called on it is one of my favorite movie genres. Making the excuse that we're all here for a short time, so why not just enjoy ourselves is the most selfish thing ever said. People with the resources should be helping others in some way, not just helping themselves. Salma is fantastic as Beatriz. Lithgow is too, as the smarmy billionaire. This movie will give you a lot to think about. It may not be for everyone, and the outcome is not completely satisfying. I thought I was getting a comedy, seeing as it was written by Mike White, who gave us School of Rock. Blue Jay (2016)  It's official, every Mark Duplass movie has become a must-see from now on. Add in the dependably great Sarah Paulson and I am in your thrall for the next hour and twenty minutes. This movie was raw, real and relatable. There are moments of hilarity and moments of real drama. Just like a slab of life. Fubar (2002)  "Turn up the good, turn down the suck!" 🍁🍺 A low-budget mockumentary about two Canadian headbangers and their ups and downs. It's a little scary to admit that I found this to be very relatable. I have known and encountered guys just like this all my life. That camping sequence seems like it was lifted from my own terrible camping adventures, I still have the scars. The story begins in a quite goofy way, then swerves into some unexpected drama, then back again. It might surprise some viewers thinking this was just another silly headbanger rampage. Some laughs and plenty of what I call cringe-comedy moments. Just give'r a try! Fubar II (2010)  The sequel heads up to Fort Mac as Terry and Dean get high-paying oil jobs. This time, the mockumentary aspect is gone, it's just a regular movie. On equal footing with the original, maybe even better. There's much more happening with the characters this time, a few unexpected twists, but still maintaining that headbanger attitude. Just give'r a chance, if you liked the first, you'll like this too! Corner Gas: The Movie (2014)  The long-running Canadian sitcom about a small down in Saskatchewan comes to the big screen. The few times I've seen the Corner Gas TV show always seemed to be in my dentist's waiting room. So, I'm probably missing a lot of in-jokes in this movie, but I still found reasons to like it. Best part - Finally getting to see a robot fight a werewolf, yes really! 🤖🐺 Swept From the Sea (1998)  Rachel Weisz plays a lonely girl in a small English village who falls for Vincent Perez, the last Russian survivor of a terrible shipwreck. It's another classic adaptation set in old England. Full of wanting glances and some of the most miserable townsfolk I can recall ever seeing in a movie. I spent most of the running time wondering why Rachel and Vincent didn't just get the heck out of that rotten little burg and sail off to America. Of course, it all goes horribly wrong and ends tragically. Ian McKellen and Kathy Bates play two of the nicer townfolks, not sure why Bates got cast, but her accent is okay. Hick (2011)  Great performances but the script is a weird mess. Made me feel creepy too since Moretz was only thirteen when this was made, and yet her character points guns at people, tries drugs and is sexually assaulted. I think it's meant to be a comedy too, or maybe it was a drama, I couldn't tell. Berlin Syndrome (2017)  An Australian girl backpacking in Germany alone is lured into a local stranger's apartment...and can't get out! Sounds like the basis for a more lurid thriller than it is, it's played out in a more realistic fashion, which only adds to the terror of the situation. It's a longer movie than most of the thrillers pumped out of the Hollywood factory, so just know that going in. It builds quietly and slowly, so if you're used to jump scares every eleven minutes, you may be disappointed. Also, it has a satisfactory ending, but not the type you see in the majority of thrillers. I enjoyed this different variety of thriller, the characters seem realistic and even the captor is presented to be quite likeable, up to a certain point. Teresa Palmer says so much with her expressive face, the confusion and terror is all there. Max Riemelt is quietly and eerily calm, and scary because he seems real and not like the usual movie bad guy. The Devil All The Time (2020)  There's a great deal to be said about going into a movie completely blind. All I knew beforehand about this movie was it was set in the south in the 40's, 50's and 60's, Tom Holland was in it smoking a lot of cigarettes, and it appeared to be a dark story of some kind. I didn't even look up the cast list online, so when actors like Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska started popping up, I was pleasantly surprised. The Devil All The Time is a dark, spiritual, generational southern epic tale that you just know is going to go down certain dark country roads and the characters will do some suffering. Yeah, it's not a happy tale. There's a married couple that serial kills together. There's a scene with spiders that will give you arachnophobia even if you didn't mind them before this movie. Someone eats deep-fried chicken livers, which sounds absolutely disgusting. This movie has a lot going on. Tom Holland is pretty intense as Arvin, more so than I've seen him before. Riley Keough always seems to be playing the same confused, lost white trash girl in every movie, but she is good at it. Robert Pattinson plays a smarmy southern preacher like he's Elvis just getting back from the prom and wants to get laid. The movie unfurls steadily, with some cool narration by the author himself, Donald Ray Pollock, in a storytelling manner that eases you in like you've been greased up for a spontaneous proctology examination at the last minute. I love these kinds of stories that span years and generations and then all come together at the end. I wouldn't dream of spoiling anything but just hope you'll enjoy this ride as much as I did.
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Sept 20, 2020 19:22:33 GMT
Cattle Town (1952) - www.imdb.com/title/tt0044490/referenceReview > www.imdb.com/review/rw6110985/?ref_=rw_urv 5/10     The Five Pennies (1959) - www.imdb.com/title/tt0052809/referenceReview > www.imdb.com/review/rw6111225/?ref_=tt_urv 8/10        With thanks to mdf who sent me this as part of one of his care packages :-)
Réquiem para el gringo (1968) - www.imdb.com/title/tt0063528/reference 7/10 Review > Logan's Run...Once sheared of twenty minutes, "Requiem for a Gringo" is now available to be seen in a full uncut version. Not that it's outrageously violent or sexually repugnant, it would appear some stiff backed suits back in the late 1960's had a bug where the sun doesn't shine. This is a little treat for fans of Euro-Westerns of the 60's. Plot holds familiar traits, where a ruthless gang of scumbags terrorise locals and kill indiscriminately. Enter a lone stranger, Ross Logan/Django (Lang Jeffries), who after having been dealt a family mortal blow, sets about revenge - good job he is one seriously hard and smart dude! Logan is a wonderful creation, he rides a mule, he wears a leopard skin poncho, and crucially he is a lover of astrology and uses it to define his life outcome (the best weather man in the history of Western genre cinema). There's a nice bit of splintered narrative used by directors Eugenio Martín and José Luis Merino here, while they also give the pic a supernatural vibe (Martin had his roots in horror). Pic is full of macho brooding, murder death kills (splendid stunt work), scuzzy close ups, intense fights, beautiful girls (seriously, some of the prettiest girls ever in a Pasta/Paella Western), stunning Almeria location cinematography (Mario Pacheco) and some inventive camera work. Very underseen, this may not be a high point in the genre, but it's certainly one that fans of such should be seeking out. One question though - how the hell did Lang Jeffries get to marry Rhonda Fleming? Must have been the gringo look that did it... 7/10     Demolition Man (1993) - www.imdb.com/title/tt0106697/referenceReview > www.imdb.com/review/rw1833218/?ref_=tt_urv 9/10     Gojira vs. Desutoroiâ (1995) - www.imdb.com/title/tt0113187/referenceReview > www.imdb.com/review/rw6111068/?ref_=tt_urv 8/10    %2BDesuGoji%2B(Destoroyah).jpg)
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Post by hi224 on Sept 20, 2020 20:42:26 GMT
well lets see:
The Appalooosa 7/10
The Bounty(1984) 9/10
Tootsie 10/10
My Left Foot 9/10
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Post by hi224 on Sept 20, 2020 20:45:41 GMT
megaville.
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Post by morrisondylanfan on Sept 23, 2020 1:26:54 GMT
Hi all,sorry about the late post & I hope all of you are having a good week. I last week saw: CBM duo:  Iron Man 2 (2010)-I first saw this at the cinema,and found it to be a real let down after the fast-paced IM1. Like with Thunderball,I decided to watch this as its own thing,rather then comparing it to the film before. Original rating 4. New rating:7. Getting in a push-pull with the studio over the direction of the film,leading to him turning down the offer of directing the third flick, director Jon Favreau & cinematographer Matthew Libatique keep the troubles off screen with a lively atmosphere of soaring camera moves gliding with Iron Man taking down the baddies. Smoothly blending CGI with real stunts, Favreau gives the slick CBM action set-pieces a crunch with close-ups on the pounding Iron Man V Whiplash punch up, rolling to whip-pans spinning to Black Widow's take downs. The main focus of disagreement on the production, the screenplay by Justin Theroux brushes off some of the fast-paced sparks from the first,for a more even screen time divide between Iron Man and the baddies,with the highlight of the flick being Sam Rockwell's arrogant swagger of Justin Hammer's bouncing off the intimidating, dead-pan grumbling of Mickey Rourke's Whiplash.Very keen on the next films in the series being set up here, the sub-plot with Nick Fury and Black Widows peels off pressure from if Iron Man had been the lone superhero, whilst the scenes when the trio are together show a enticing ease in the early stage of forming a team.  The New Mutants (finally!) (2020) 6. One of the last Fox productions and the final film to list Stan Lee as a executive producer (!), co-writer/(with Knate Lee) director Josh Boone & David Lynch's regular cinematographer Peter Deming claw open the original Horror intentions of this first in what was a planned (now canned) trilogy, via a long upwards tracking crane shot bringing Dani's nightmare towards her, breaking in a match-cut awakening in a hospital. Whilst the CGI has clearly been left far from finished since Fox was sold to Disney, the decision to film in the real former psychiatric hospital Medfield State Hospital still allows for some Horror sparks to fly, in long, clinical corridor shots where the bright powers of the mutants are dimmed by the grey hospital they are locked in. Misspelling New Mutants co-creator Bob McLeod's name in the credits, the screenplay by Lee & Boone is the subject left with the most wounds from the studio changes, from sub-plots going into the origins of each mutant appearing to have lost the establishing sequences,to a hilariously awkward final narration,where a ending setting up the second film should/had been in place. Similar to the visual aspect, the writers thankfully included eerie elements which have survived, a highlight being the passive aggression of Dr. Reyes and Sinclair facing the sins of her greatest fear. In a cast where fake accent attempts results in mixed results from scene to scene,Blu Hunt gives a terrific, sincere turn as Dani,who Hunt has being eager to learn more about her mutant powers, whilst bringing the curtain down on the Fox X-Men saga. Cinema duo:  The Roads Not Taken (2020) 7 Spending the majority of the film saying garbled, broken dialogue, Javier Bardem gives a harrowing performance as Leo, whose suffering from dementia is expressed by Bardem in disconnected, far-off glances, with only brief glimpses of recognition towards those around him. Caring for Leo on her own,Elle Fanning gives a excellent, measured performance as Molly, whose love and compassion for her dad is played by Fanning with increased sorry from seeing the increased deteriorating state of Leo. Having cared for her brother Nic Potter during the last two years of his life as Nic suffered from Pick's disease, composer/writer/director Sally Potter & cinematographer of Slow West and The Favourite (2015/2018-both also reviewed)Robbie Ryan sail into a intimate, raw atmosphere of grainy, partially obscured close-ups on Molly attempting to hold the relationship together,with Potter wisely deciding to play with no score the moments when all the pressure is cast across Molly's face. Taking place over one day, the screenplay by Potter keeps the drama between father and daughter neatly understated and grounded, following Molly having to change Leo out of his clothes, and the sudden shock of fear, as Molly takes her eye off him for one moment whilst out shopping, to be met with the sight of Leo having wandered off. Initially appearing to be fragments of Leo's memories, Potter increasingly makes clear that the flashbacks are actually several parallel lives Leo is living through, which comes off as poorly judged, due to how delicate and up close and personal the drama with Molly and Leo is, leading to a sudden jolt of a abrupt ending on the road not taken.  The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) 5 Taking a wrong turn after a break-up that leads to a meet-cute with Nick (played by a charming Dacre Montgomery) Geraldine Viswanathan gives a bubbly turn as Lucy Gulliver, whose neurotic side at holding mementos of her ex, is balanced by Viswanathan with a growing Rom-Com sass over establishing her exhibition. Making her directing debut after writing a number of TV episodes for shows such as Gossip Girl, writer/director Natalie Krinsky & A Simple Plan (1998-also reviewed) cinematographer Alar Kivilo weave glossy Rom-Com close-ups with amusing visual background gags lining up Lucy's gallery. Taking a new turn in her life by accidentally sitting in Nick's car, the screenplay by keeps the Rom-Com love moving at a slick pace, with snappy,cute one-liners from Lucy's pals helping her to mend a broken heart gallery. |
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Post by morrisondylanfan on Sept 23, 2020 23:26:28 GMT
With thanks to mdf who sent me this as part of one of his care packages :-)
Réquiem para el gringo (1968) - www.imdb.com/title/tt0063528/reference 7/10 Review > Logan's Run...Once sheared of twenty minutes, "Requiem for a Gringo" is now available to be seen in a full uncut version. Not that it's outrageously violent or sexually repugnant, it would appear some stiff backed suits back in the late 1960's had a bug where the sun doesn't shine. This is a little treat for fans of Euro-Westerns of the 60's. Plot holds familiar traits, where a ruthless gang of scumbags terrorise locals and kill indiscriminately. Enter a lone stranger, Ross Logan/Django (Lang Jeffries), who after having been dealt a family mortal blow, sets about revenge - good job he is one seriously hard and smart dude! Logan is a wonderful creation, he rides a mule, he wears a leopard skin poncho, and crucially he is a lover of astrology and uses it to define his life outcome (the best weather man in the history of Western genre cinema). There's a nice bit of splintered narrative used by directors Eugenio Martín and José Luis Merino here, while they also give the pic a supernatural vibe (Martin had his roots in horror). Pic is full of macho brooding, murder death kills (splendid stunt work), scuzzy close ups, intense fights, beautiful girls (seriously, some of the prettiest girls ever in a Pasta/Paella Western), stunning Almeria location cinematography (Mario Pacheco) and some inventive camera work. Very underseen, this may not be a high point in the genre, but it's certainly one that fans of such should be seeking out. One question though - how the hell did Lang Jeffries get to marry Rhonda Fleming? Must have been the gringo look that did it... 7/10 Terrific to read your encounter with the Gringo went well Spike! In Spaghetti Western sets & writings on the genre,I've never really gotten why it gets so overlooked (perhaps due to it being more of a Spanish production?) This was one of my first Euro Western,I was really taken by how this could have easily been a Horror,but the makers went for something more groovy.
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Post by morrisondylanfan on Sept 23, 2020 23:40:58 GMT
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996). Footloose (1984). Always Shine (2016). Tamara (2005). The Bookshop (2017). Hi COE! I hope you are having a good week,and what did you think of Hunchback? Even though the 1939 version is in my all time top 20 films, the pre-credits opening sequence is incredible, ending on that long shot upwards towards Notre Dame,backed by operatic music. I've felt that the rest of the film is one that suffers from being stuck in the middle, where each attempt it makes to be a more serious film ( eg: the Hellfire set-piece) is undermined by the need for Disney wisecracks to be sloted in.
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