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Post by teleadm on Oct 17, 2020 18:19:39 GMT
Comments/ratings/recommendations/film posters are welcome and much appreciated. Ok Okey little bird, let's see what exciting movies everyone has seen:
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Post by wmcclain on Oct 17, 2020 18:24:40 GMT
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Post by OldAussie on Oct 17, 2020 18:27:15 GMT
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Post by politicidal on Oct 17, 2020 18:45:26 GMT
Urban Legend (1998) 4/10
The Black Sleep (1956) 3/10
Night of the Lepus (1972) 2/10
Warpath (1951) 5/10
The Cassandra Crossing (1977) 6/10
The Burnt Orange Heresy (2020) 4/10
Just Mercy (2019) 8/10
Dead of Night (1946) 6/10
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Post by teleadm on Oct 17, 2020 21:04:58 GMT
Here is what Tele has been watching: Baby Driver 2017 directed by Edward Wright. Somehow it was refreshing to see a totally immoral movie, that reminded me of movies from the 1970's, until the ending that was PC. I also liked that the actions scenes were not made with too much shaky-cams. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, somehow. The Abyss 1989 directed by James Cameron. Aliens in the sea movie. Seeing it again after many years has offcourse a nostalgic value, since I thought it was awesome once, though some of that has faded away, it's still a good movie. I enjoyed it. Capricorn One 1977 directed by Peter Hyams. Bend your imagination and it's an enjoyable conspiracy theory ride. The mission to planet Mars that never took place. In the future? since everything looks very late 1970's on Earth. Since it was a fake the astronauts must be expired, but it turns out that it's hard to get rid of them. Dr Terror's House of Horrors 1965 directed by Freddie Francis. Five men meets a mysterious 6th man in a train compartment heading somewhere, the 6th can read tarot cards and tell the future of the other five. Since they are dumb (or else there wouldn't have been a movie) they take the challenge. The stories that follows are filled with a werewolf, murderous vines (!), voodoo, severed hand and a vampire story. It might have been scary once, while still enjoyable to watch with a little surprise at the end of each story. Any movie with Cushing and Lee is worth watching, and with a young Donald Sutherland who might just have married a vampire... The main story takes place in a train compartment and not in a house as the title suggests. Antoine and Antoinette aka Antoine et Antoinette 1947 directed by Jacques Becker. A very nice little light French drama with comedic situations. Antoinette buys a lottery ticket just to be friendly, and forgets about, turns out they won a million French Franc's but where is the ticket?, since it always seems to disappear, on the subway, at the grocery, at a wedding. While it is very French, it was very easy to follow and enjoy with subtitles. It won the "Prix du meilleur film psychologique et d'amour" at Cannes, before it was called Palm d'Or. Dragonwyck 1946 directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz (replacing a sick Ernest Lubitsch). Something strange is going on in that big house called Dragonwyck that gives it a very eerie feeling. Story takes place before the American internal wars, and that is very rare, since this story suggests that there was a sort of European style society on the upper east coast, since most stories from that time are about pioneers heading westwards. Lovely Gene Tierney, a very very very distant cousin heads for Dragonwyck, thinking that she might be the masters and mistresses kind of nanny for their only kid, but something isn't right, since the kid hardly knows it's parents, and the parents hardly knows about the kid, or don't care at all since she is of the wrong sex. When the mistress of Dragonwyck suddenly dies, the master makes hasty moves towards Gene. Is it love or is it just to breed a heir, and might the master be plain mad? Gene Tierney's character might seem weak at first, but as the story goes along she becomes strong. Interesting to see Vincent Price in something else, very versatile here (replacing Gregory Peck who backed out and Laird Cregar who died). Been on my to-watch list forever, and I don't regret watching it. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 1920 directed by John S Roberton. Before alcohol slowly killed him, John Barrymore was a damn good movie actor as he showed here from debonair to a maniac. It's a great movie slightly below Fredric March's take on Hyde. It's one of those movies I've wanted to see for ages since seeing a few pics in old horror movie books, and this one turned out to be a good one! Well that bird still looks very angry Until next week!
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Oct 17, 2020 21:28:09 GMT
Don't Breathe (2016). Life (2017). The Descent (2005). Doctor Sleep (2019) - 3-Hour Director’s Cut.
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Post by teleadm on Oct 17, 2020 21:46:36 GMT
wmcclainFeels a little need to fresh up my memory about Douglas Fairbanks Jr movies though did see the one with the uranium egg. Green for Danger, read the book, it's on my to-watch list, as is Desperate Journey. Rio Bravo, a classic in my house. The Eagle has Landed, haven't seen it for years, liked it back then, have a DVD somewhere. Thanks for the inspiration!
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Post by teleadm on Oct 17, 2020 21:52:43 GMT
OldAussieThe Magnificent Seven, one only needs the first few beats of the great Bernstein score, and the magic begins... Night of the Demons was a great old horror as I remember it Psycho classic The others, well I look them up.
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Post by teleadm on Oct 17, 2020 21:59:53 GMT
politicidalThe Black Sleep and The Night of the Lepus, been wondering about those if they are as bad as I've heard they are. They have great veteran casts. The Cassandra Crossing I might have given a point higher Dead of Night I rate higher though, it's the eerie feeling i like
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Post by teleadm on Oct 17, 2020 22:08:49 GMT
@belladonna
Thanks for enlightening me about movies at least I never heard of.
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Post by teleadm on Oct 17, 2020 22:15:34 GMT
Chalice_Of_EvilThank for enlightening us, or at least me, for mentioning movies I know very little about. I liked the cat!
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Post by politicidal on Oct 17, 2020 23:31:50 GMT
politicidalThe Black Sleep and The Night of the Lepus, been wondering about those if they are as bad as I've heard they are. They have great veteran casts. The Cassandra Crossing I might have given a point higher Dead of Night I rate higher though, it's the eerie feeling i like Unfortunately, they are. Incredibly bad.
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Post by mikef6 on Oct 18, 2020 0:52:12 GMT
The Fallen Sparrow / Richard Wallace (1943). RKO Radio Pictures. Cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca. John “Kit” McKittrick (John Garfield) is back in the U.S. after two years in a fascist prison during the Spanish Civil War. (I wonder if he met Hemingway.) The fascists still pursue him, however, because he never broke and gave up his secrets. When he learns that his friend, who had helped him escape, has been murdered, he suspects it was about him so begins to investigate even though having serious flashbacks of his time and torture in the prison. Maureen O’Hara co-stars as a woman who knows more than she is telling. Kit wants to believe she is on his side but fears her as well. Walter Slezak also co-stars. Check out Hugh Beaumont as a Nazi button man. I can hear the Beav asking, “What did you do in the war, daddy?” Danger Signal / Robert Florey (1945). Warner Bros. Cinematography by James Wong Howe. Zachery Scott, at his smoothest con-man best, is a seducer of women who steals their money and then murders them. His most recent target is Hilda Fenchurch (Faye Emerson) who has a bit of money put by. He sweeps her off her feet until learning that Hilda’s younger sister Anne (Mona Freeman) comes into a large inheritance at her marriage. He then switches lady loves even though living as a boarder in the same house with the two of them. A neat trick. Can a furious Hilda convince anyone of his treachery? Stay tuned. The Undercover Man / Joseph H. Lewis (1949). Columbia Pictures. Cinematography by Burnett Guffey. Underrated and undervalued director Lewis (Gun Crazy, The Big Combo, My Name Is Julia Ross) is working with top cinematographer Guffey and undervalued actor Glenn Ford and all show just what they can do. Ford plays a Treasury Agent trying to bring down a Capone-like mob head by catching him on tax evasion charges. Several usually small role actors get a chance to strut their stuff also, viz. John F. Hamilton, Frank Tweddell, Barry Kelley, Anthony Caruso, and Leo Penn (father of Sean, Chris, and Michael). Nina Foch turns in a sensitive portrayal of Ford’s supportive wife and we see James Whitmore in his film debut as another Agent. Doctor Who: New Series. Complete Twelfth Season. January 1, 2020 – March 1, 2020. Finally got to see and marathon the most recent season. Jodie Whitaker has some rough times during her first season as The Doctor (several actors who have taken the role could say the same thing), but in her current series she is totally up to speed. Sacha Dhawan has taken the role of The Master, arch enemy to The Doctor, and is a very scary incarnation of the character. Of the three regulars who travel with The Doctor, I am particularly taken with the performances of Mandip Gill who plays Yasmin “Yaz” Khan. CLASSIC TELEVISION “Maverick” (September 22, 1957 – April 2, 1962), a one-hour comedy-adventure western was a favorite around our house when I was growing up, esp. the first three seasons. At least, that’s when I stopped watching. James Garner starred as Bret Maverick, a gambler who was essentially a coward and preferred to talk or con his way out of a ticklish situation. Comedy led the way instead of fighting and gunplay. The first season production company starting falling behind schedule so a second company was formed to shoot episodes featuring Jack Kelly as Bret’s brother Bart. Kelly appeared in 9 of the first season’s shows, two of them joining brother Bret. For seasons 2 and 3, Bret led about 60% and Bart the rest. After year 3, Garner left the show over his remuneration or lack thereof. Amazingly, “Maverick” went on for another three years without him but with diminishing results. Roger Moore was brought in for a season to alternate with Kelly as English cousin Beau Maverick. Garner, meanwhile, not only made the difficult transition from little screen to big screen, but had yet another major hit TV series that premiered about 10 years after he left “Maverick.” Maverick S.3, Ep. 11. “A Fellow’s Brother” November 22, 1959. A bounty hunter comes to town with a Wanted poster offering a reward for “Maverick” (no given names) for murder and robbery. Furthermore, the brother of the murdered man is on his way. People keep coming up to Bret telling him, “When a fellow’s brother is killed, he has to get the killer.” Diane McBain guest stars. Maverick S.3, Ep. 12. “Trooper Maverick” November 29, 1959. Bart is blackmailed into going undercover as a disgruntled cavalry recruit so the people stealing from the fort and arming hostile Natives can be caught. The last few minutes of the story finds Bart on the gallows with a noose around his neck. Dragnet 1967. 4 season half-hour crime drama, a revival of the iconic “Dragnet” series that ran for 8 season from 1951 to 1959. Jack Webb is back as Sgt. Joe Friday while Harry Morgan steps in as his partner Bill Gannon. Webb’s familiar narration (beginning with “This is the city. Los Angeles, California”) brings back memories but, unlike the previous classic, Webb’s right-wing politics finally reared its head. Hence, at the time, I didn’t get to far into it. Dragnet 1967. S.2, Ep. 1. “The Grenade” September 14, 1967. A bullied teen pours acid down the back of one of his tormentors. After being turned over to his parents, the kid, a military enthusiast, takes to streets with a live hand grenade to use against his classmates. Dragnet 1967. S.2, Ep. 2. “The Shooting Board” September 21, 1967. This one is a hoot. Sgt. Friday comes across a crime in progress. When he announces himself, the thief turns and fires. Friday returns fire and kills the suspect. Then the story goes into fantasy land as Friday is seriously investigated over the shooting. His commander gives a lecture on how strict the police are with Use Of Force always following policy. It looks like Joe will lose his job unless new evidence is found. This is all nonsense, of course. Although the script sets Friday up as a straight arrow, we now know that “investigations” of cops by cops are designed to protect the officer doing the shooting.
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Post by claudius on Oct 18, 2020 11:11:45 GMT
Sunday 11 THE SAPHEAD (1920) 100TH ANNIVERSARY Buster Keaton’s first feature film, cast in a play adaptation not written for him (the originator was Douglas Fairbanks, but it was he who chose Keaton for the film). I first read of this film from the late Mike Clark’s review of THE ART OF BUSTER KEATON Set 1 in USATODAY in the winter of 1995. Then later in October, I saw it on American Movie Classics on the morning of Keaton’s Centennial October 5 1995. YouTube.
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF THE LONE RANGER (1980) “The Presidential Plot” 40TH ANNIVERSARY this month. This episode focuses on the May 1869 joining of the railroads, with the Ranger and Tonto protecting President Grant. BCI Eclipse DVD.
SUPERFRIENDS (1980) “Voodoo Vampire/Invasion of the Gleeks/Mxyzpltk Strikes Again” 40TH ANNIVERSARY. Warner DVD.
THUNDARR THE BARBARIAN (1980) “Harvest of Doom” 40TH ANNIVERSARY. Warner DVD.
THE HEATHCLIFF & DINGBAT SHOW (1980) “Pumping Irony/The Watchcat/Nutty Knights/There’s Snow Job” 40TH ANNIVERSARY The first three episodes of this airing were my first surviving viewing of this series from a 1981 VHS recording. Even though it has been 30 years since I watched that wrecked recording, seeing those scenes penetrated my brain. Warner DVD.
DRAK PACK (1980) “Night of the Terbites” 40TH ANNIVERSARY YouTube.
ELLEN (1995) “Hello, I Must Be Going” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Series regular Ayre Gross departs from the series. Amazon Prime.
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (1995) “Unfamiliar Ceilings” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Japanese with English Subtitles. This is the Renewal Platimum version. ADV DVD.
THE FLASH (1990) “Watching the Detectives” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this month. A corrupt DA has an investigator (Joyce Hyser) learn Barry’s secret ID and blackmail him. Remember seeing this one on its date a week later. Warner DVD.
BEVERLY HILLS 90210 (1990) “The Green Room” 30TH ANNIVERSARY The Late Great Luke Perry debuts in this episode. If Brandon and Brenda Walsh were the heart of 90210, then Dylan McKay was its soul. With this episode, things are starting to formulate. Gone are the mullets and the teachers, the characters are being established (Kelly’s group of friends is minimized to Donna), and the standard Walsh House is introduced. And yet, this episode has a unique introduction, with different music and a narrative (it begins with a mail man picking up the Walsh’s mail from their former snow-covered Minneapolis neighborhood and concludes with said mail reaching it to their sunny new residence). Although I watched several episodes in 1990 and 1991, I didn’t really watch the series until Soap Net in the spring of 2009. I was fortunate to start watching when the broadcasts got to the beginning.
Monday 12 THE SUPER POWERS TEAM: GALACTIC GUARDIANS (1985) “Brainchild/The Case of the Stolen Super Powers” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The last multi-parter in the series. The first episode has Brainiac (in his final appearance) transferring Cyborg’s mind into an all-robot body he created (Donald L. Glut wrote the episode). The second episode marks the first and only appearances of Felix Faust and the Penguin. It also marks the last time Wonder Women uses her magic lasso (this time effectively). Warner DVD.
THE 13 GHOSTS OF SCOOBY DOO (1985) “Ship of Ghouls” 35TH ANNIVERSARY All this real monster-hunting has left its mark on Scooby’s nerves. For his convalescence, the gang takes him on a cruise voyage, not realizing the ship is cursed. For decades, this episode was treated as a filler to the narrative. By the time of THE 13TH GHOST movie came in 2018, it was acknowledged that the ship’s captain is Ghost No. 4. Warner DVD.
MUPPET BABIES (1985) “Out-of-this-World History” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. The babies explore history, with Gonzo looking at science fiction. This episode educated me about Edward Teach aka Blackbeard the Pirate (Skeeter emulates the pirate; Nanny educates her wise). They adopt the Brontasaurus from THE LOST WORLD (1925) then go to the underground city of THE PHANTOM EMPIRE, trading words with Dorothy Christie’s Queen Tika (dubbed by Laurie O’Brien). YouTube.
THE EWOKS/DROIDS ADVENTURE HOUR (1985) “The Tree of Light” & “The New King” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. YouTube.
THE WUZZLES (1985) “Moosel’s Monster” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. YouTube.
ADVENTURES OF THE GUMMI BEARS (1985) “The Oracle” & “When You Wish Upon a Stone” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. Disney DVD.
CARE BEARS (1985) “Forest of Misfortune/The Magic Mirror” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. Professor Coldheart and his minion FrostBite, from the original Specials, finally makes their appearance in the series. Mill Creek Entertainment DVD.
INSPECTOR GADGET (1985) “Crashcourse in Crime” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. Cinemagic DVD.
ER (1995) “What Life?” 25TH ANNIVERSARY. Warner DVD.
Tuesday 13 MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING (1995) “Passing Destinies” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Another recap episode, this time narrated by ex-OZ head Trieze Krushenada as he sees both the Gundam pilots and his strike force fall to the whims of the Romefeller Foundation. The end of the episode introduces a new Gundam. Japanese with English Subtitles. Bandai DVD.
BEETLEJUICE (1990) “Dr. Beetle & Mr. Juice” & “Running Scared” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Shout DVD.
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 (1990) “Catalina Caper” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Joel and the Bots handle the Beach Party film CATALINE CAPER (1967). I first saw this episode in the spring of 1992. Although I have the DVD, I decided to view a YouTube presentation of an April 1991 broadcast during the Comedy Channel era.
JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS (1985) “The Beginning Part 1 Act II” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The middle part of the premiere episode (I am viewing it according to the divided parts broadcast on SUPER SUNDAY in the fall of 1985) has Synergy the holographic AI helping Jerrica Benton and company become Jem and the Holograms. Rhino DVD.
OLIVER TWIST (1985) “Episode One” 35TH ANNIVERSARY 12-part BBC-TV Serial of the Charles Dickens’ novel. I first saw this on CBS FoxVideo I got for Christmas 1998. To my experience, having seen the Lean version, the 1968 musical, the 1982 TV film, this was the closest adaptation I had ever seen. Donald Eccles had previously played the caretaker in the 1962 BBC-TV Serial. Amazon Prime.
ALL ABOUT EVE (1950) 70TH ANNIVERSARY Joseph Mankiewicz’s witty take on behind-the-scenes stage behavior as Stage Diva Bette Davis’ Margo Channing takes Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) under her wing, eventually suspecting the girl wants everything- her career, her popularity, everything. I first read about the movie in books. Then I saw the film on the Fox Movie Channel January 1, 2010. I also saw it in theaters as part of Cinemark’s. FoxVideo BluRay.
Wednesday 14 THE TRANSFORMERS (1985) “Megatron’s Master Plan Part 1 & 2” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Megatron frames the Autobots of villainy, turning humanity against them. Pretty much all the Autobots and Decepticons make an appearance in this one. Saw this on Wednesday and Thursday. Shout DVD. GI JOE (1985) “Money to Burn” 35TH ANNIVERSARY YouTube.
MASK (1985) “Magma Mole” 35TH ANNIVERSARY YouTube.
THE BBC COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1980) “The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark” 40TH ANNIVERSARY this year. The adaptation starring Derek Jacobi, Claire Bloom, Patrick Stewart, Eric Porter, and Lalla Ward. I first read of this adaptation from ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY’s video review of the Kenneth Branagh version (the review is mainly an annotation of what to check out in the four-hour production), commenting on Jacobi’s performance and recommending the 1980 TV Play. I eventually saw it on an Educational video on VHS that I got on a book sale. Ambrose DVD.
THE FLINTSTONES (1960) “The Swimming Pool” 60TH ANNIVERSARY Revision of the original FLAGSTONES short (which I first saw in 1994), spread out into a full plot. Warner DVD.
Thursday 15 GI JOE (1985) “Operation Mind Menace” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. YouTube.
THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR (1990) “Mistaken Identity” 30TH ANNIVERSARY A dramatic episode, as Will and Carlton get pulled over and jailed for car theft, giving Carlton a reality check. However, the highlight is Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv coming to the rescue. Warner DVD.
TINY TOON ADVENTURES (1990) “Gangbusters” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Buster gets framed for robbery and goes to reform school (with Plucky). An attempt at escape leads to the Bat Cave, designed like the comic book rather than the movie (hints to come). Warner DVD.
VACATION FROM MARRIAGE (1945) 75TH ANNIVERSARY One of MGM’s Exports. A timid couple (Robert Donat and Deborah Kerr) join the war effort in their separate ways, undergoing a change in looks and personality. First saw the ending of this film on Turner Classic Movies, and then saw the rest of it on a later broadcast. Warner DVD.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1995) “Episode Four” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Composer Carl Davis lifts a piece of music from his HOLLYWOOD score for the scene of Elizabeth travelling to Pemberley (and the piece would be used later for his score for STEAMBOAT BILL JR.). BBC Video BluRay.
CINEMA EUROPE: THE OTHER HOLLYWOOD (1995) “The Unchained Camera” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Germany’s filmmaking in the 1920s is explored from THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI, DIE NIBELUNGEN, THE LAST LAUGH, METROPOLIS, etc. Several times model work is used to demonstrate the revolutionary effects (like the Schufftan Effect for METROPOLIS, done with a combination of models and mirrors). Image DVD.
Friday 16 THE EQUALIZER (1985) “Lady Cop” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. Universal DVD.
SHE-RA: PRINCESS OF POWER (1985) “The Price of Freedom” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. YouTube.
THE TRANSFORMERS (1985) “Autoberserk” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Shout DVD.
GI JOE (1985) “Battle for the Train of Gold” 35TH ANNIVERSARY YouTube
TALE SPIN (1990) “Baloo Switcheroo” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Amazon Prime.
Saturday 17 THE TRANSFORMERS (1985) “City of Steel” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Unlike the majority of the first two seasons, this episode was animated by the South Korean Animated studio AKOM. They will eventually animate most of Season 3 in the future. Shout DVD.
TINY TOON ADVENTURES (1990) “Citizen Max” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this week. Spoof of CITIZEN KANE, to the plot and designs. Hampton J. Pig reporter of ACME WITLESS NEWS interviews everyone associated with ruined millionaire Montana Max and his cryptic message “Acme” (the big joke is the name is everywhere but no one knows). It was a good thing I saw CITIZEN KANE on American Movie Classics prior to watching this episode in 1991. Warner DVD.
TO SERVE THEM ALL MY DAYS (1980) “Episode One” 40TH ANNIVERSARY 12-part BBC-TV Serial on R.F. Deldlefield’s novel about a shell-shocked WWI officer (John Duttine) taking a job as a teacher to a University. First saw this from a Library Rental in 2016. Don’t know if I’ll watch the whole series (I will be watching one episode for next year’s 50th Anniversary of MASTERPIECE THEATRE). Acorn Media DVD.
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS (1970) “X Marks the Spot” 50TH ANNIVERSARY. Warner DVD.
SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU? (1970) “A Tiki Scare is No Fair” 50TH ANNIVERSARY. The only episode of the season without a chase song. Warner DVD.
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (1970) “Dropping the Guard” 50TH ANNIVERSARY. FoxVideo DVD.
VANDREAD: THE FIRST STAGE (2000) “This is the Path I Choose to Live” 20TH ANNIVERSARY The two sexes get settled in their situation, as well as dealing with a new threat to both their worlds. Japanese with English Subtitles.
ANGEL (2000) “Untouched” 20TH ANNIVERSARY. Angel protects a Telekinetic girl. This was probably the first episode I saw a good amount of before I started watching the series for real (between 2003 and 2004). FoxVideo DVD.
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Post by morrisondylanfan on Oct 18, 2020 16:50:58 GMT
Hi all,I hope everyone is having a good weekend,and I saw: Horror flicks The Zodiac Killer (1971) 4 Taking the grime off the street and into the Grindhouse as the real Zodiac was still active, director Tom Hanson circles a grubby atmosphere, as the illegal filming in outdoor locations gives the title a fittingly murky atmosphere, with Hanson being surprisingly restrained on skin being shown, but smashing the camera into quick-fire zoom-ins on Zodiac's latest attack. Opening the case with a introduction written for the film by San Francisco Chronicle columnist Paul Avery, the screenplay by Manny Cardoza & Ray Cantrell note down the real murders of Zodiac,which they quickly depart from for dry proto-Slasher vile,which along with unmasking the killer in a tension-free mystery,also add additional murders to the real killings of the Zodiac. Anaconda (1997)6 Making the stand-out contribution to the movie, casting director Mindy Marin (who since Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015-also reviewed) has cast the franchise) gathers a eager team of up & coming stars to take down the snake, from Ice Cube melting the screen with his trademark snarl & J-Lo getting hot under the sun in a fight to kill the snake, to Owen Wilson confronting the Anaconda with a Surfer Dude coolness, and Jon Voight chewing out the flick with a gloriously hammy boo-hiss baddie turn. Costing $100,000 per second for the CGI anaconda (voiced by Frank Welker), the times director Luis Llosa & Jaws (1975) cinematographer Bill Butler go for practical effects allows for some nifty Creature Feature Horror set-pieces from the huge snake covering the whole of the screen,opening its jaws for the next victim, which then chomps on terribly aged CGI. Having shown their chops on Dick Tracy (1990-also reviewed) Jim Cash & Jack Epps Jr are here joined by debut screenwriter Hans Bauer in chewing up a tasty mix of pulp Adventure thrills from loose cannon baddie Paul Serone, and the waiting to strike, Animal Attack menace of the anaconda. Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987)8 Renamed Prom Night 2 by the studio at the last minute after no one had shown interest in turning Prom Night into a franchise, the change in title actually fits the atmosphere director Bruce Pittman & cinematographer John Herzog take to the prom: A wonderful Pop Horror, Greasiest Hits mood. Pittman pays loving tribute to the supernatural Horrors of the of the era, with impressive practical special effects bringing Mary Lou back to the high school for avenging, nightmare-logic set-pieces splashing bright red splatter across the screen as Mary squeezes students to death inside lockers,and pulls all into a chalkboard whirlpool. Later directing a large number of Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark? Episodes, the mischievous comedic Horror those shows would have, is wonderfully conjured in Ron Oliver's debut screenplay, sending Mary back to a high school with cracking dialogue playing on the comedic cynicism of the high school jocks,whilst treating Mary as a serious Horror threat.Kicking off the film with what was the longest running-fire stunt in film history, Oliver keeps Mary (played with a wicked snarl by Lisa Schrage) flames burning, with a delightfully feel-bad twist ending, as Mary becomes queen of the prom night. Other flicks: That'll Be the Day (1973)7 Made when the lead actor was at the top of the charts with the hit single Rock On, director Claude Whatham & David Cronenberg's regular cinematographer Peter Suschitzky surprisingly avoid a glossy Pop shine with a dirt under the fingernails Kitchen Sink grit, with Whatham touring with MacLaine's restlessness in naturally dimly-lit bedrooms with a new lass each night,and long panning shots across the rising damp sinking into MacLaine's life in dour coloured, crumbling households. Filmed on location in the Isle of Wight, Whatham soaks up the location with fluid hand-held camera moves trekking with MacLaine round the local shops, night clubs and sights, recording the period with the New Wave-style of "capturing the moment" in the movie being filmed around locals going about their day. Hired by producer David Puttnam to write a script based on the Harry Nilsson's song "1941", the debut screenplay by Ray Connolly follows the verses of the song, but takes a welcomed turn by modelling MacLaine on the upbringing of John Lennon, most prominently in MacLaine's dad leaving the family home at a early age, which Connolly unveils in dissolving flashbacks as continuing to haunt MacLaine's outlook on life. Thor: The Dark World (2013)6 Stating later that the changes Disney made to the film in post-production was something he "(hoped) never to repeat, and (doesn't) wish upon anybody else." after he had replaced Kenneth Branagh, who turned down making the sequel due to disagreements with the studio over the original film, the ability of director Alan Taylor to build the impression of a vast canvas during the early years of Game of Thrones, is sadly lost in his first directed film since Kill The Poor (2003). Joined by regular Game of Thrones cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau, Taylor's attempt to give Asgard in this movie to have a more natural look, sadly ends in a grey mash, due to the pulpy Comic-Book colours being replaced for a dull green which causes the baddies to blend into the background.Unlike in his GoT credits, Taylor paints a odd small-scale atmosphere, with even the fights shot on the streets of London being presented in limited whip-pans which freeze from getting up-close to the action. Whilst not helped by gloomy Christopher Eccleston as the main baddie, who later said he felt during the whole production that it was "Just a gun in your mouth." (Odd how he kept so quiet until after the big bucks were in his bank account)Chris Hemsworth & Tom Hiddleston shine as Thor and Loki, with Thor's fish out of water status and Loki's evil cackling being bended here with a new sense of brotherly love. The last film he worked on before dying from bone cancer at age 48, returning Don Payne is here joined by regular MCU writers Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, and Saving Private Ryan writer Robert Rodat, all tied by Comic-Book writer Christopher L. Yost (excellent run on X-Force) for a screenplay that slickly brings cosmic elements into the MCU, as the Shakespearean Rock-Opera of the first is replaced by a snappy hard-knocks fight with the Dark Elves,as Thor enters the dark world.
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Post by morrisondylanfan on Oct 19, 2020 0:33:20 GMT
Here is what Tele has been watching: Antoine and Antoinette aka Antoine et Antoinette 1947 directed by Jacques Becker. A very nice little light French drama with comedic situations. Antoinette buys a lottery ticket just to be friendly, and forgets about, turns out they won a million French Franc's but where is the ticket?, since it always seems to disappear, on the subway, at the grocery, at a wedding. While it is very French, it was very easy to follow and enjoy with subtitles. It won the "Prix du meilleur film psychologique et d'amour" at Cannes, before it was called Palm d'Or. Well that bird still looks very angry Until next week! It's great to read you had a fun meeting with Antoine and Antoinette, Tel. I find it such a irresistible offering, with Roger Pigaut & Claire Mafféi sharing such breezy chemistry. Have you seen any other Comedy movies by Becker? I found Edward and Caroline (1951) to be a witty tale, with Stanley Kubrick having also called E&C one of his favourite films.
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Post by Prime etc. on Oct 19, 2020 3:39:26 GMT
Dr Terror's House of Horrors "A more exact translation would be terror. An unfortunate misnomer for I am the mildest of men." "I must warn you gentlemen this is obviously a well rehearsed prelude to some shabby form of confidence trick!"
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Post by teleadm on Oct 19, 2020 17:26:32 GMT
morrisondylanfanUnfortunately, the only other Becker movies I've seen is Grisbi 1954 and the Arsene Lupin movie from 1957.
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Post by Fox in the Snow on Oct 20, 2020 2:13:00 GMT
A City of Sadness (1989) - 9/10
Love that film, Hou is one of my favorite directors
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Post by Fox in the Snow on Oct 20, 2020 9:06:51 GMT
Love that film, Hou is one of my favorite directors It was my first film of the "master of the long views". It definitely won't remain the only one. Great film. I'd recommend The Puppetmaster [1993] next, if practical, it's the next film in his loose "Taiwanese History" trilogy. My personal favorite is his most recent, The Assassin [2015] which is arguably his most well known/popular, but I'm not sure how highly it's regarded among his "hardcore" fanbase. It's quite opaque narratively but visually one of the most beautiful films of recent years. Really you can't go wrong with anything from The Boys From Fengkuei [1983] onward.
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