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Post by jeffersoncody on Jul 25, 2020 5:02:48 GMT
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Jul 25, 2020 13:51:31 GMT
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Post by kijii on Jul 25, 2020 19:31:31 GMT
Major Dundee (1965) / Sam Peckinpah In spite of some editing errors, this, for me, is one of the most engrossing westerns I have seen recently. There is something here for everyone....I hope to get back to expound on it further.
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Jul 26, 2020 2:01:15 GMT
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Post by kijii on Jul 26, 2020 17:52:49 GMT
The Getaway (1972) / Sam Peckinpah While concentrating on Peckinpah movies, I went back to re-watch this one. The first time I saw it was in a movie theater with my in-laws. It is just as I remember it with lots of fun and action, especially during the getaway it self.... This movie was later remade---with Alec and Kim--under the same name: The Getaway (1994) .
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Jul 26, 2020 18:04:55 GMT
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006)
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Post by Prime etc. on Jul 26, 2020 19:19:50 GMT
BEYOND ATLANTIS 1973 I generally avoid films that are said to have been made in the Philippines since they usually not only are terrible but they throw in some nasty animal cruelty. This film had cockfighting and a lamb thrown into a lake of (fake) piranha. This is a weird mishmash of a lost civilization movie with Treasure of the Sierra Madre--with Sid Haig as the Howard character (he's a pimp). Patrick Wayne is in the Curtin role kind of--John Ashley is Dobbs--and James Cody is a blonde woman who keeps getting berated by her tribe to mate. "You must mate!" She picks Wayne but he prefers the nerdy woman archeologist. There's a lot of scenes of the mermaid (Leigh Christian) swimming underwater. And not in the nude as one might expect--apparently Wayne insisted the film be family-friendly which probably is the reason it didn't do well. The islanders have big fake eyes-I am assuming this was to hide their Philippines identity.
Yet despite the family friendly label--the treasure seekers plan to escape by blowing up a temple--to which one character objects by saying "this temple is sacred to them" and Sid Haig replies: "my ass is sacred to me." They massacre a bunch of them and leave. Then laugh it up on the boat after their treasure (pearls) is lost in the water.
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Post by jeffersoncody on Jul 26, 2020 19:27:23 GMT
BEYOND ATLANTIS 1973 I generally avoid films that are said to have been made in the Philippines since they usually not only are terrible but they throw in some nasty animal cruelty. This film had cockfighting and a lamb thrown into a lake of (fake) piranha. This is a weird mishmash of a lost civilization movie with Treasure of the Sierra Madre--with Sid Haig as the Howard character (he's a pimp). Patrick Wayne is in the Curtin role kind of--John Ashley is Dobbs--and James Cody is a blonde woman who keeps getting berated by her tribe to mate. "You must mate!" She picks Wayne but he prefers the nerdy woman archeologist. There's a lot of scenes of the mermaid (Leigh Christian) swimming underwater. And not in the nude as one might expect--apparently Wayne insisted the film be family-friendly which probably is the reason it didn't do well. The islanders have big fake eyes-I am assuming this was to hide their Philippines identity. Yet despite the family friendly label--the treasure seekers plan to escape by blowing up a temple--to which one character objects by saying "this temple is sacred to them" and Sid Haig replies: "my ass is sacred to me." They massacre a bunch of them and leave. Then laugh it up on the boat after their treasure (pearls) is lost in the water. LOL. Sounds like a real gem Prime. Despite the presence of Sid Haig I am going to pass.
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Jul 27, 2020 12:28:35 GMT
The Constant Gardener (2005).
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Post by kijii on Jul 27, 2020 16:48:29 GMT
The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970) / Sam Peckinpah This "ballad" presents itself as a simple allegory about a hobo, Cable Hogue (Jason Robards), left for dead in the middle of the desert without any water... Cable Hogue (Jason Robards) praying to God: Yesterday, I told you I was thirsty and I thought you might turn up some water. Now about sinnin', you just send me a drop or two and I won't do it no more... whatever in hell it was that I did. I mean that, Lord.By "finding water where it wasn't" Hogue develops a watering station there that others come to depend on. He learns to use this place to his advantage to "pile it on" over those who had wronged him in the past. Cable Hogue : Those silly jackasses over there can laugh at me all they want, but they're in a spot of trouble. Now wouldn't you think a stage line could see that? In all the long, wrought out, back-breakin', kidney-shakin', bladder-bustin' miles from here to Lizard, there's not one spot of wet relief for man or beast! Now, if I could bring comfort to the passengers, rest to the teams, food and drink to the drivers, and water to all, well what would be wrong with that? Now listen, there's a preacher out at my diggings. He'll tell you. And you wouldn't doubt a man of the gospel, would you? Cushing (Peter Whitney): Of course! That's the first man I'd doubt. He also wins over Hildy (Stella Stevens), the prettiest whore...I mean gal.. in town.
Hildy (Stella Stevens): You've been awful nice to me, Hogue. Never bothered you none what I am? Cable Hogue : Hell no, it never bothered me. I enjoyed it. Now, what the hell are you? Human being. Try the best you can. We all got our own ways of living. Hildy: And loving? Cable Hogue : Gets mighty lonesome without it.
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Post by kijii on Jul 27, 2020 18:53:14 GMT
This is certainly one of Peckinpah's "lesser" movies, but if was probably part of the anti-hero period of American films. Some of us recall that period of the late 70s when everyone had a CB radio in their car as well as a "handle" to use while on their car CB. (It was a fade to be sure, but the time definitely DID exist!!) Truckers were thought of as the "modern cowboys" that no longer really existed: they were free, moving across the country, with eyes always on the horizon. They belonged to an exclusive cub of their own, with truckers' stops, conversations, and a close group of friends while on the road. Even the average CB owner could become a part of the club by getting a handle and joining in to the ongoing road conversations: "look out for Smokey if you are on I-95 headed north just south of Exist 15." The story is far-fetched but it has some action as "Rubber Duck" (Kris Kristofferson) pairs up with a girl, Melissa (Ali MacGraw) that he sees from his truck and they join forces with other truckers to fight off the law: Dirty Lyle (Ernest Borgnine). Not unlike other Peckinpah movies, there is massive destruction along the way...... Melissa (Ali MacGraw): Why do they call you the Duck? Rubber Duck (Kris Kristofferson) : Because it rhymes with "luck." See, my daddy always told me to be just like a duck. Stay smooth on the surface and paddle like the devil underneath!
Sheriff Lyle Wallace aka Cottonmouth (Ernest Borgnine) : [On the CB] Breaker one-nine, breaker one-nine. This is the bear in the air, officer Lyle Wallace calling Rubber Jerk in that rattlin' piece of black crap at your side door. Come on! Rubber Duck : Please don't be using that kind of language on the air, Lyle. Especially don't be using it regarding my beautiful black truck. Over. Sheriff Lyle Wallace aka Cottonmouth : That thing you call a truck is the worst pile of garbage I ever had the misfortune of writing a citation on.
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Post by kijii on Jul 29, 2020 4:13:19 GMT
Midnight Express (1978) / Alan Parker This movie was Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Alan Parker), Best Supporting Actor (John Hurt) and won Oscars for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Oliver Stone) and Best Music, Original Score (Giorgio Moroder). This is my 2nd viewing and I found it just as engrossing today as I did when I reviewed it here a couple years ago. Once you get into the true story, based on Billy Hayes' experience as a prisoner in Turkey, you must finish it before taking a second breath... ............It is that good!! Max (John Hurt): The best thing to do is to get your ass out of here. Best way that you can. Billy Hayes (Brad Davis): Yeah, but how? Max : Catch the midnight express. Billy Hayes : But what's that? Max : [laughs] Well it's not a train. It's a prison word for... escape. But it doesn't stop around here.
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Post by jeffersoncody on Jul 29, 2020 5:14:23 GMT
This is certainly one of Peckinpah's "lesser" movies,
\ It sure is kiijii, but Kristofferson looks wonderfully tanned and buff in it because he had finally given up drinking. This, of course, did not go down well with Peckinpah - whose drinking and cocaine use was now out of control, and it drove a bit of a wedge between them. Have you seen Peckinpah's melancholy rodeo flick JUNIOR BONNER? And his one-of-a-kind BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA?
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Post by Prime etc. on Jul 29, 2020 6:24:46 GMT
TARZAN THE MAGNIFICENT 1960 -- when I wasn't focusing on Alexandra Stewart (her IMDB credits go up to the present day) I assumed that the reason Jock Mahoney was giving Gordon Scott such a hard time was because he had played Tarzan before him. He really dominates without even saying anything--as fine as Scott is as a superhero Tarzan, Mahoney comes across as being in charge. I am surprised to learn he took over the role--he looked pretty old here. Anyway I have to get back to Weissmuller ones before I get to Mahoney Tarzans. John Carradine has a sinister part here too. I am surprised Cheetah was left behind though.
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Post by kijii on Jul 29, 2020 13:32:26 GMT
jeffersoncody-- I haven't seen these yet but I have the DVDs on order---along with Straw Dogs---witch seem to be the main Peckinpah movies I can't find steaming or on TV.
I did see Straw Dogs many years ago, but I want to see it again now, while concentrating on Peckinpah movies.
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Jul 29, 2020 14:19:52 GMT
Logan Noir (2017).
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Post by Archelaus on Jul 29, 2020 15:34:04 GMT
The Big Country (1958)
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Post by kijii on Jul 29, 2020 17:13:47 GMT
Set during the Cold War, this was Peckinpah's only modern spy-thriller. I liked watching the movie, but never could figure out who the good guys were and who the bad guys were. With Burt Lancaster playing Maxwell Danforth, the head of the C.I.A., I assumed that his role might have been something like the role he played in Seven Days in May (1964), that is, a man in an important position who was something other than what he appeared to be. Here is the plot with SPOILERS as presented on wikipedia: CIA director Maxwell Danforth watches a recording of agent Laurence Fassett and his wife having sex. When Fassett goes into the bathroom to have a shower, two KGB assassins enter the bedroom and kill his wife. The CIA had in fact sanctioned her killing. Fassett, unaware of his employer's involvement, was consumed by grief and rage. He hunted the assassins, eventually uncovering a Soviet spy network known as Omega. Three of the top agents in the Omega network are Bernard Osterman, a television producer who knows martial arts; Richard Tremayne, a plastic surgeon; and stock trader Joseph Cardone. Rather than arrest the three members, which would alarm the KGB, Fasset proposes to the CIA director that they turn one of them to the side of the West in order to unravel the entire network more efficiently. Fassett sees an opportunity in John Tanner, a controversial television journalist who is highly critical of government abuses of power. Tanner has been close friends with the three agents since all four were at Berkeley together, and Fassett believes Tanner can successfully turn one of them.
The CIA contacts Tanner. He and Fassett meet, and Fassett tells him that his closest friends are Omega agents. Although initially highly skeptical, Tanner becomes more convinced as Fassett shows him videotaped evidence of the three traitors talking with a Russian man, whom Fassett identifies as a KGB agent. In three different video clips, the KGB agent discusses with Cardone the prospect of "targeting" Tanner, seeing him as a threat. Tremayne expresses his desire to leave the country when "it" goes down; Osterman talks about wanting to see "radical change" in the current system, but makes clear that he's only interested if paid handsomely, asking for a Swiss bank account. Tanner eventually agrees to try turning one of them at their annual reunion, which is coming up that weekend (these reunions are named "Ostermans", in honour of their initial sponsor, Bernie Osterman), which this year is being held at Tanner's house; but only on the condition that Danforth, the CIA director, appear as a guest on his show. Danforth agrees to this condition.
Tanner's troubled marriage is not improved when he asks his wife, Ali, to take their son out of town for the weekend so the two of them would miss the reunion. He does not want them involved but cannot tell her why, which upsets her. Fassett tells Tanner that his wife and child are safer at home where the CIA can keep an eye on them, but Tanner disagrees. While driving his wife and son to the airport, their car is ambushed, and Ali and the child are kidnapped. With Fassett's intervention, they are rescued unhurt and the kidnapper is shot dead. In the meantime, Tanner's home has been wired with closed circuit video so Fassett can gather more evidence. Now that Ali is aware Tanner is involved with the CIA (although not knowing the details), Tanner has her and their son stay at the house for the weekend. Fassett sets himself up in a large van on the grounds with a squad of CIA agents on the outskirts of Tanner's property.
Osterman, Tremayne and Cardone arrive for the weekend, each having recently encountered difficulties engineered by the CIA in order to unsettle them and make them receptive to defection. The mood is tense. On the second night, Fassett sends a video feed to Tanner's dining room television, showing a clip about Switzerland that focuses on Swiss bank accounts and illegal financial manipulation. Virginia, Tremayne's wife, becomes furious, and Ali punches her in the face. Osterman tells Tanner that he's getting himself into something out of his league, and everyone retires to their rooms. Soon after, Tanner's son discovers the severed head of the family dog in the refrigerator, but it turns out to be fake. Tanner has had enough and demands that his guests leave. Tanner confronts Fassett and insists he arrest the suspects. Fassett sends an order to the CIA guards to kill Osterman.
Cardone and Tremayne and their wives escape in Tanner's RV. Tanner confronts Osterman and assaults him. Osterman easily overpowers him and demands an explanation. Tanner says that he knows that Osterman and his friends are Soviet agents. Osterman dismisses the accusation and explains that they have been illegally sheltering money in Swiss bank accounts to avoid taxation, but insists they are not traitors.
Fassett appears on the television and admits that he knows Osterman and his friends are only tax evaders. Fassett kills the Tremaynes and Cardones by remotely detonating an explosive device on the RV. He sends his soldiers into the house to kill Osterman and Tanner. Fassett taunts Tanner during the attack on the house, revealing that Danforth authorized his wife's murder. Fassett offers to release Tanner's family if Tanner will expose Danforth on television.
Sometime later, Danforth prepares for his remote interview with Tanner. Danforth is at his office and will speak into a camera and microphone crewed by the TV station. Tanner introduces Fassett on the air and Danforth becomes enraged when he realizes that he has been tricked. Fassett, who is also being filmed remotely, exposes Danforth as a murderer. Fassett's remote location is a secret, but it is clear someone is coming for him. It is revealed that Tanner himself has pre-recorded his questions for both men and has used the video feed to locate Fassett, whom he shoots and kills. He then rescues his wife, his son, and his dog. Cast Rutger Hauer as John Tanner John Hurt as Lawrence Fassett Craig T. Nelson as Bernard Osterman Dennis Hopper as Richard Tremayne Chris Sarandon as Joseph Cardone Meg Foster as Ali Tanner Helen Shaver as Virginia Tremayne Cassie Yates as Betty Cardone Sandy McPeak as Stennings Christopher Starr as Steve Tanner Burt Lancaster as Maxwell Danforth In addition, Merete Van Kamp makes a brief appearance as Fassett's wife, whose murder sets the plot in motion.
Though the plot (and setup of the plot) was a bit confusing, the movie was engrossing with lots of action. Maxwell Danforth (Burt Lancaster): Suppose I was to tell you that our enemies are capable of impairing rational thought, of dismantling our willingness to defend ourself, of dissociating whole societies from their value systems. John Tanner (Rutger Hauer) : You mean they've got televisions.
Lawrence Fassett (John Hurt): I know Maxwell Danforth very well; he killed my wife. Not with his bare hands, of course. The Danforths of the world don't murder that way. They use words like terminate, exterminate.
--------------- John Tanner : What you've just witnessed is, in many ways, a life-sized video game. You saw a liar talk to a killer and you couldn't tell them apart. But hey, it's only television. As you may know, television programs are just the filler between attempts to steal your money. So if you want to save some, turn me off. It's a simple movement, done with the hand and what is left of your free will. The moment is now. My bet is you can't do it. But go ahead and try.
I was also won over to John Hurt's wonderful "vocal acting." Hurt is one of those actors with sad eyes; but he could be quite commanding with that deep and powerful voice, and one whats to see his movies again just for that alone. Remember him in Rob Roy (1995) as Montrose??
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Post by kijii on Jul 30, 2020 4:42:54 GMT
Cross of Iron (1977) / Sam Peckinpah
Retreating from Russia in 1943, we meet two German soldiers. One is battle tested Sargeant and the other is a Prussian aristocratic Captain.
Sargeant Steiner (James Coburn): Didn't your Fuhrer say that all class distinctions were to be abolished? Captain Stransky (Maximilian Schell) : I'm an officer of the Wehrmacht .I've never been a party member.I'm a Prussian aristocrat and I don't want to be put into the same category. Sargeant Steiner : So we agree for once ,good. Captain Stransky : But he is till our Fuhrer Sargeant Steiner : Unfortunately . Captain Stransky : This is a different question sergeant.That's not up to us to judge. Sargeant Steiner : Why do you want it so badly? It's just a worthless piece of metal.Look! Captain Stransky : It's not worthless to me. Sargeant Steiner : Why is it so important to you.Tell me captain,why? Captain Stransky : Sergeant,if i go back without the iron Cross,I couldn't face my family Sargeant Steiner : [BOMB EXPLODING] Personally Sir,I don't feel you deserve the Iron Cross.
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Post by jeffersoncody on Jul 30, 2020 5:41:52 GMT
jeffersoncody-- I haven't seen these yet but I have the DVDs on order---along with Straw Dogs---witch seem to be the main Peckinpah movies I can't find steaming or on TV. I did see Straw Dogs many years ago, but I want to see it again now, while concentrating on Peckinpah movies. Cool, enjoy. PS. I hope you have seen Sam's magnificent and moving RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY?PPS. If you go in with low expectations, THE DEADLY COMPANIONS (1961) is also worth watching. WARNING. SECOND CLIP FEATURES SPOILERS.
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