|
|
Post by stefancrosscoe on Mar 22, 2021 14:22:44 GMT
I finished off, with my little Sly Stallone movie weekend last night, and had started up with the best of the bunch (no real question about that), with Cop Land, then followed up with the poor and trashy D-Tox (2001), then closed it with a childhood favorite:  "The world meets nobody halfway. When you want something, you gotta take it."After having lost touch with his son, trucker Lincoln Hawk (Sylvester Stallone) is to be called up one day by his ex-wife who are lying in the hospital with a serious illness, and her only wish is that father and son might get a second chance to catch things up and get to know each other, before it is too late.
But that is easier said than done, as now the wealthy and very strict businessman and grandfather of Michael Hawk, Jason Cutler (Robert Loggia) wants him to continue with his stay at the military school, and are not to fond of the idea of seeing the more ordinary and laid back Lincoln put new ideas into his own grandson's mind.A childhood classic. Sly Stallone once more is up against impossible odds in a fight to win back the love of his son in a hugely enjoyable action-sport adventure roadtrip, which ends up in a very memorable final showdown in a arm wrestling tournament that takes place in Las Vegas. Not among his best films but when it comes to pure entertainment, it sure does not disappoint. For me, up there with The Karate kid (1984) as one of those fun filled "the underdog take on the world" 80s stories which really do live up to its title and where one get several hilarious figures appearing, and an always great Robert Loggia and all in all solid little film which I have always enjoyed re-watching every now and then. All in all, this is not a film meant to be taken too seriously (there are those who seem to do so) and just sit back and enjoy all the silliness that goes on, as I sure get a good laugh at all the stuff that takes place, specially during the arm wrestling tournament, so much cheese is going on there but I'll love it. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. As with any respectable action-sport 80s film, this one also is packed up with great, catchy and very motivational rock ballads and power-pop numbers.   Well, I guess with last night re-visit, I still have a soft spot for this absolute cheesy and very enjoyable road trip drama, but one that I guess the nostalgia might have been a bit too overwhelming, as the last 30 minutes, kind of feels a bit "flat" or underwhelming, at least compared to the final climaxes of the Karate Kid and Rocky films of that era. And I guess my old DVD badly needs an upgrade, as the sounds, dialogue, music and picture were really bad at times. Could not hear what was said at times, the subtitles were rather shady as well, and the songs sounded just thin and the image was really poor and grainy. Of course, it could just be a classic case of being unlucky with the DVD version, but yeah, it actually looked like something straight off well used VHS tape. Anyway, I have probably been a bit too generous with my rating, as I noticed it lied around a 7/10, and yeah, that is surely a bit too high. Still, I had lots of fun and decided that it deserves at least a: 6,5/10for pure entertainment sake. |
|
autopsy_12
Sophomore
@onedoomedspacemarine
Posts: 126
|
Post by autopsy_12 on Mar 22, 2021 21:49:18 GMT
Bad Boys.
I actually didn't hate it at all. It was shallow but still fun and entertaining. Going into a movie like that though I don't expect complexity.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dramatic Look Gopher on Mar 23, 2021 2:55:12 GMT
Love and Bullets (1979) A police lieutenant is recruited by the FBI to escort a mobster's girlfriend from Switzerland to the U.S. to get her testimony, but with hitmen in pursuit. There have been much better Bronson vehicles than this one. It lacks excitment and suspense, moving at a slow pace. Stuart Rosenberg was not much of an action director. Acting wise, I wasn't sure if Jill Ireland was playing it as a straight-up bimbo or southern belle, but either way her performance was irritating. Also, Rod Steiger shamelessly overacts as the stuttering mobster. Yep, that is also how I remembered this rather slow moving and forgettable late 70s Bronson movie. It was featured in a box-set, which also came with Borderline (or something), and then an earlier 70s action-thriller with Telly Savalas, I believe. None really impressed me, and as of now, I own none of them in my collection any longer. Still, I think Love and Bullets actually were the one I rated the highest, with a kind 5/10. I hadn't seen Borderline in a very long time and couldn't remember anything about it, so I found it on Tubi and watched it tonight. It was pretty standard as well, not to mention anticlimatic, yet it was still better than Love and Bullets. That other Bronson movie with Telly Savalas you mentioned, that would be the Italian-made Violent City (aka The Family). From back in day when Bronson was involved in many European productions. From what I remember it was rather blah.
|
|
|
|
Post by mikef6 on Mar 23, 2021 2:57:50 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by mikef6 on Mar 23, 2021 3:00:13 GMT
Point Of No Return / John Badham (1993). Based on a French film by Luc Besson (Besson gets a writing credit on this one), it is one of the first of the female assassin sub-genre that is still alive but ailing today (Hannah, Colombiana, Anna, Ava). Maggie (Bridget Fonda) kills a cop during a robbery for drugs. She is sentenced to death, but after the execution, she wakes up to find that a secret government organization has chosen her to train as a expert killer. She rebels at first but finally, under the guidance of Bob (Gabriel Byrne) and Amanda (Ann Bancroft), she finally trains and passes. But when she gets out into the world and meets a sensitive young man (Delmot Mulroney), she begins to hate the idea of taking lives. There is an action finale that seems to go on and on, yet overall this is a good and successful film that makes you actually root for the lead murderer.   
|
|
|
|
Post by mikef6 on Mar 23, 2021 3:01:53 GMT
D.O.A. – Dead Or Alive / Corey Yuen (2006). Three women, all martial arts experts in different styles, receive special invitations to an exclusive contest on an secret island. While this sounds like the set-up to “Enter The Dragon,” the results are far from it. On the island, they meet another woman, the daughter of the founder of the tournament. They all must fight each other and also male opponents for a one million dollar prize. The first two thirds of the movie has only brief encounters, mainly to set up the main characters. The rest of the time is spent down on the beach and in the women’s bedrooms. Lot of bikini (and other skimpy clothes) wearing and volleyball playing, yet no real nudity (rated PG-13). It is like a ‘60s beach party movie with Frankie, Annette, and martial arts action. The last third shifts to a ‘90s direct-to-video mad-scientist-wants-to-take-over-the-world-with-only-seconds-left-to-stop-him thriller. It is all very silly. The four leading ladies are played by Jaime Pressly, Devon Aoki, Holly Valance, and Sarah Carter. And speaking of ‘90s Bad Guys, we have Eric Roberts on hand. I gotta say, for 50-year-old man he looks in great physical condition. Glad he is doing well. Don’t know whether to recommend this movie or not. It is certainly a hoot but light as a feather, all empty calories.   
|
|
|
|
Post by stefancrosscoe on Mar 23, 2021 9:02:18 GMT
I hadn't seen Borderline in a very long time and couldn't remember anything about it, so I found it on Tubi and watched it tonight. It was pretty standard as well, not to mention anticlimatic, yet it was still better than Love and Bullets. That other Bronson movie with Telly Savalas you mentioned, that would be the Italian-made Violent City (aka The Family). From back in day when Bronson was involved in many European productions. From what I remember it was rather blah. Borderline, was that the debut of Ed Harris? Anyway, yeah, Bronson also had a mobster/crime drama, The Valachi Papers, made back then as well. Sadly, I had a "talent" of picking up, pretty much anything starring Bronson back in the day, on DVD. But sadly a lot of these films turned out to be, yeah, as you put it so well, blah   and not much else to say. I have yet to watch a few other of his 70s releases. But I notice from time to time, that many of them are probably or most likely uploaded at Youtube, so I will save my money and if some might turn into a pleasant surprise, then that would be nice.
|
|
|
|
Post by mgmarshall on Mar 23, 2021 17:07:00 GMT
I hadn't seen Borderline in a very long time and couldn't remember anything about it, so I found it on Tubi and watched it tonight. It was pretty standard as well, not to mention anticlimatic, yet it was still better than Love and Bullets. That other Bronson movie with Telly Savalas you mentioned, that would be the Italian-made Violent City (aka The Family). From back in day when Bronson was involved in many European productions. From what I remember it was rather blah. Borderline, was that the debut of Ed Harris? Anyway, yeah, Bronson also had a mobster/crime drama, The Valachi Papers, made back then as well. Sadly, I had a "talent" of picking up, pretty much anything starring Bronson back in the day, on DVD. But sadly a lot of these films turned out to be, yeah, as you put it so well, blah and not much else to say. I have yet to watch a few other of his 70s releases. But I notice from time to time, that many of them are probably or most likely uploaded at Youtube, so I will save my money and if some might turn into a pleasant surprise, then that would be nice. You ever see The Stone Killer? That one's pretty ridiculous and fun.
|
|
|
|
Post by mstreepsucks on Mar 23, 2021 17:14:40 GMT
hudson hawk of course. I only watched it to see how many things in it couldn't be done today, on that basis, i liked it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dramatic Look Gopher on Mar 23, 2021 17:26:17 GMT
Borderline, was that the debut of Ed Harris? Anyway, yeah, Bronson also had a mobster/crime drama, The Valachi Papers, made back then as well. Sadly, I had a "talent" of picking up, pretty much anything starring Bronson back in the day, on DVD. But sadly a lot of these films turned out to be, yeah, as you put it so well, blah and not much else to say. I have yet to watch a few other of his 70s releases. But I notice from time to time, that many of them are probably or most likely uploaded at Youtube, so I will save my money and if some might turn into a pleasant surprise, then that would be nice. You ever see The Stone Killer? That one's pretty ridiculous and fun. I like The Stone Killer. Saw it again recently as a matter of fact. Charlie did a good Dirty Harry imitation.
|
|
|
|
Post by FridayOnElmStreet on Mar 27, 2021 20:38:42 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by FridayOnElmStreet on Mar 27, 2021 20:39:25 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by stefancrosscoe on Mar 28, 2021 15:51:26 GMT
 Radioactive Dreams (1985) by Albert Pyun Having lived most of their childhood, being sheltered away from the "ordinary world", because of the big nuke. Some 15 years later. Two young men, who have grown up together, along with their love of 1940s crime-novels, have absolute no idea, of what might lie outside the walls of safety. But decides that it is time to finally leave home, and head out, into the real world, or what little is left of it.Well, I am glad I finally caved in, and gave this very exciting and fun filled post-apocalyptic adventure, a chance. As with Albert Pyun, I sadly seem to have found little luck, with most of my picks of his films, at least of recently. Vicious Lips (1986) was another post-apocalyptic title, that looked like fun, and as I went through it, last fall, it started as with so many of his movies, very promisingly. Often lots of attention to details, lightning and music, clothes, hairstyles and stunning women, but where the plot and characters, sadly often tend to be the least of interest, and there on and out, films like Vicious Lips turned from fun, straight into, complete boredom. Thankfully, that never did happen, last night. As Radioactive Dreams managed to keep me on my toes, from the beginning till the end, something which only the late 80s Van Damme movie, Cyborg (1989) has done, at least of the directors work of films, that I have seen as of now. The whole film, just oozes of cool, thrilling and colorful madness, of everything from the characters, the sets, the city and wasteland, and yeah, it sure helps having such a fun and catchy soundtrack as well, where it melts in punk, disco and new wave, and where Sue Saad surely steals the show, once more (she seems to have done quite a few films along with Albert Puyn), and I also dug her work with the underrated 80s sci-fi/thriller, Looker (1981). In fact, the film feels and looks very much like a big and overlong music video, but I guess musical/fantasy is maybe more fitting. Another important reason to why the film succedeed, where so many other of Pyun and his films failed (for my part, that is), is the great chemistry and acting to the two main leads (John Stockwell and Michael Dudikoff), and where the latter surely steals the show. I have mostly seen him, in the usual b-movie martial arts roles, but here he combines comedy, slapstick and a bit of drama, and you also get a few scenes with likeable veterans as George Kennedy and Don Murray. The film is surely one I might have to re-watch, as I believe it comes heavy with a re-watchability factor, but I was surprised to learn that this little gem, has not yet been given a DVD or Blu-ray release. What is up with that? I mean so many of Pyun and his way worse turds have been given some solid looking and sounds DVD releases, even Vicious Lips, but I really hope, that day might happen, as this film I would surely love to have a copy of, in my post-apocalyptic collection. 6,5/10Anyway, I would not mind getting my hands on the soundtrack, either:
|
|
|
|
Post by FridayOnElmStreet on Mar 29, 2021 21:00:33 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by lostinlimbo on Mar 29, 2021 21:49:19 GMT
 An amusing little early 90s ‘The Karate Kid’ knock-off. Way more enjoyable, and competent than I expected. Billy Blanks plays the Mr Miyagi role. Patrick Kilpatrick in the John Kreese role. Christine Taylor in the Alli Mills role. Then you have a scene stealing Brion James wandering the school grounds berating students as the deputy principal. The formulaic story provides the usual cheesy goods, including a new kid in town who gets beaten up by the school bullies, falls for the girlfriend of the hot-headed leader, and gets help from the school janitor (Blanks) which leads to a couple training montages before the big final fight involving illegal underground fights. Saving the best for last between Blanks and Kilpatrick, which their characters share an unforgettable past. The fight scenes are well-staged, which is no surprise with the director’s other work, but the best moments, which shouldn’t surprise, always involved Blanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dramatic Look Gopher on Mar 30, 2021 2:37:58 GMT
 Runaway Train (1985) Picked up the new Kino Lorber blu-ray release of Runaway Train. Loved it when I first saw it in the 80s and I love it now. This raw, gritty, violent action thriller still holds up very well today; hasn't really dated at all. Spectacular action sequences and stunt work involving the train make this a real rollercoaster ride. The acting is top-notch, especially by Jon Voight in his Oscar-nominated peformance. Voight plays this extremely hardened criminal who was likely dealt a bad hand in life, but is also quite intelligent and even philosophical at times. John P. Ryan is also superb as the not-so-nice warden out to get Voight by any means necessary, including dunking someone's head in a urine-filled toilet to get information. There are also some interesting dynamics and interactions among the dispatchers at the control base, with lots of good and sometimes humorous dialogue. However, the one irritant of these characters is Ruby the receptionist, who is basically an annoying bimbo caricature. Anyway, I do recommend Runaway Train for anyone who is a fan of fast-paced action thrillers. It is one wild ride! |
|
|
|
Post by stefancrosscoe on Mar 30, 2021 5:27:08 GMT
An amusing little early 90s ‘The Karate Kid’ knock-off. Way more enjoyable, and competent than I expected. Billy Blanks plays the Mr Miyagi role. Patrick Kilpatrick in the John Kreese role. Christine Taylor in the Alli Mills role. Then you have a scene stealing Brion James wandering the school grounds berating students as the deputy principal. The formulaic story provides the usual cheesy goods, including a new kid in town who gets beaten up by the school bullies, falls for the girlfriend of the hot-headed leader, and gets help from the school janitor (Blanks) which leads to a couple training montages before the big final fight involving illegal underground fights. Saving the best for last between Blanks and Kilpatrick, which their characters share an unforgettable past. The fight scenes are well-staged, which is no surprise with the director’s other work, but the best moments, which shouldn’t surprise, always involved Blanks. You know, that film (judging from your review/trailer) does not look all that bad. At least compared to many of these "martials arts will help you overcome any problem in your life" beat em' up late 80s and early 90s films. Patrick Kilpatrick (somehow, I always read that as Killpatrick) looks crazy, Brion James and Billy Blanks? Well, I guess I will have to add this later on, as I have always had a soft spot for these type of Karate Kid/Bloodsport b-movies, and I did enjoy the first two Best of the Best films as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by stefancrosscoe on Mar 30, 2021 5:42:32 GMT
Runaway Train (1985) Picked up the new Kino Lorber blu-ray release of Runaway Train. Loved it when I first saw it in the 80s and I love it now. This raw, gritty, violent action thriller still holds up very well today; hasn't really dated at all. Spectacular action sequences and stunt work involving the train make this a real rollercoaster ride. The acting is top-notch, especially by Jon Voight in his Oscar-nominated peformance. Voight plays this extremely hardened criminal who was likely dealt a bad hand in life, but is also quite intelligent and even philosophical at times. John P. Ryan is also superb as the not-so-nice warden out to get Voight by any means necessary, including dunking someone's head in a urine-filled toilet to get information. There are also some interesting dynamics and interactions among the dispatchers at the control base, with lots of good and sometimes humorous dialogue. However, the one irritant of these characters is Ruby the receptionist, who is basically an annoying bimbo caricature. Anyway, I do recommend Runaway Train for anyone who is a fan of fast-paced action thrillers. It is one wild ride! I kind of regret it, that I did not pick up this through my recent Blu-ray/DVD shopping day, as I did notice the Arrow Blu-ray version went for a very nice and tempting price, but I had already double (or triple) dipped another favorite of mine, with Phantasm (1979) and the Arrow special edition. I have plans to try and upgrade a big favorite, every now and then, and I feel Arrow is someone who never have let me down, and I guess I will just keep a look up, of that Blu-ray release, as Runaway is surely one that I believe deserve an upgrade from my old 2004 DVD copy. But then again, just last day, I saw the same moviestore I visited, also had some neat looking new and cheaply priced Blu-rays of Midnight Run (1988), The Blob (1988), Last Action Hero (1993) and many more, so I guess I will just have to cool off, for now. Anyway, I very much agree with your review of Runaway Train. I really enjoy how impressive this escape/survival adventure-thriller were put together, and how great it still stands firmly, compared to so many other similar themed films, but who rarely manages to keep up my interest, or somehow tend to pay more attention to special effects and less towards the human side of the story. Jon Voight was such a beast in this film, like an trapped animal, but one you surely would not underestimate, as that will most likely be the last thing you do in your life. John P. Ryan, damn, another fine character actor, always deliver the goods, and I just love the scene where early in, some inmate tries to badtalk his wife or mother, and is all loud and vulgar, "safe" behind the bars. But the moment Ryan decides to pay the foul mouthed prisoner a little attention, the latter just fades back silently, into the dark, like a little scared rat. And it just shows how cruel and ruthless Ryan and his ways of dealing with these "animals" most likely is, at his prison. The film also packs some great comedy, I love Eric Roberts and his eccentric and slightly naive character, specially when he wants some shoes, but I guess who can blame him. Wandering around in the ice cold freeze, for such a long time, I guess any shoes would do nicely. By the way, did the Kino Lerber copy, include any bonus features?
|
|
|
|
Post by stefancrosscoe on Mar 30, 2021 6:03:27 GMT
The Killers Edge aka Blood Money (1991) by Joseph Merin
Its been a while, since I visited one of the many late 80s and early 90s action "classics", of PM! Entertainment.
Anyway, last night, I decided to continue on, with a bit of b-movie Wings Hauser late night movie watch, and as many of these incredible cheesy PM titles, this one, surely does not disappoint. Well, at least not in the beginning.
The film opens up with some absolute laughable sleazebags, laundering money, only to be brutally gunned down by Robert Z’Dar and his goofy mobster henchmen, and then we head straight into a ridiculous (I wonder if this took many takes to complete?) diner scene, at some shady restaurant, where the hero (Hauser) is about to propose to his beautiful lady, and half the time, he laughs or is about to crack up, and then some "random" creeps arrive, shooting up the place, Hauser comes to the rescue, kills two people in cold blood. And the lady, who just earlier, were not all too "impressed" of his romantic behaviour, is now asked if she wants to marry a guy, who just killed a couple men, and is still pointing a gun in her direction. And of course, she says yes, right there on the spot.
Hilarious stuff, and I guess a big part of why I often is lured in, to watch the craptastic PM films.
Later on, Karen Black also joins in, but sadly most of the time is spent firmly behind an office desk and where she does a whole lot of smoking.
Speaking of smoke, I guess a "fun" drinking game, would be to take a sip, every time you notice either Black or Hauser smoking or holding a cigarette in their hands, as that would probably be lethal if one was to drink, every time that happens.
Sadly, as with the usual PM stuff, the film looses heat after a while. It does not get bad or terrible, but somehow a bit boring and surely underwhelming.
The whole flashback scenery, trying to build up some "nice" memories of two former war-buddies, with Robert and Wings, but then again, we at least got the hilarious part, where Wings asks his crazy Vietnam pal, what he wants to do, when he comes back home:
"I am gonna kill me wife!" is Z’Dar’s instant response, and Hauser cracks up, big time, so do I.
Right before that, Wings has said that he only wants one thing, and that is to go visit a steakhouse or something, but yeah, I guess right there and then, he understood how sick his buddy really were. But no surprise for the viewers.
Beside some half decent action scenes, we also got the classic erotic scene as well, some nice boobies on display and the sleazy saxophone is right on the mark.
All in all, maybe I am a bit too harsh, but yeah, the film opens up rather well, then just as with so many of these PM productions, looses steam and well, another Wings Hauser adventure is done with, but at least he does not just sit on his ass and yell at people, like he seemed to do, in other PM films, later on.
4,5/10
|
|
|
|
Post by Dramatic Look Gopher on Mar 30, 2021 16:53:56 GMT
Runaway Train (1985) Picked up the new Kino Lorber blu-ray release of Runaway Train. Loved it when I first saw it in the 80s and I love it now. This raw, gritty, violent action thriller still holds up very well today; hasn't really dated at all. Spectacular action sequences and stunt work involving the train make this a real rollercoaster ride. The acting is top-notch, especially by Jon Voight in his Oscar-nominated peformance. Voight plays this extremely hardened criminal who was likely dealt a bad hand in life, but is also quite intelligent and even philosophical at times. John P. Ryan is also superb as the not-so-nice warden out to get Voight by any means necessary, including dunking someone's head in a urine-filled toilet to get information. There are also some interesting dynamics and interactions among the dispatchers at the control base, with lots of good and sometimes humorous dialogue. However, the one irritant of these characters is Ruby the receptionist, who is basically an annoying bimbo caricature. Anyway, I do recommend Runaway Train for anyone who is a fan of fast-paced action thrillers. It is one wild ride! I kind of regret it, that I did not pick up this through my recent Blu-ray/DVD shopping day, as I did notice the Arrow Blu-ray version went for a very nice and tempting price, but I had already double (or triple) dipped another favorite of mine, with Phantasm (1979) and the Arrow special edition. I have plans to try and upgrade a big favorite, every now and then, and I feel Arrow is someone who never have let me down, and I guess I will just keep a look up, of that Blu-ray release, as Runaway is surely one that I believe deserve an upgrade from my old 2004 DVD copy. But then again, just last day, I saw the same moviestore I visited, also had some neat looking new and cheaply priced Blu-rays of Midnight Run (1988), The Blob (1988), Last Action Hero (1993) and many more, so I guess I will just have to cool off, for now. Anyway, I very much agree with your review of Runaway Train. I really enjoy how impressive this escape/survival adventure-thriller were put together, and how great it still stands firmly, compared to so many other similar themed films, but who rarely manages to keep up my interest, or somehow tend to pay more attention to special effects and less towards the human side of the story. Jon Voight was such a beast in this film, like an trapped animal, but one you surely would not underestimate, as that will most likely be the last thing you do in your life. John P. Ryan, damn, another fine character actor, always deliver the goods, and I just love the scene where early in, some inmate tries to badtalk his wife or mother, and is all loud and vulgar, "safe" behind the bars. But the moment Ryan decides to pay the foul mouthed prisoner a little attention, the latter just fades back silently, into the dark, like a little scared rat. And it just shows how cruel and ruthless Ryan and his ways of dealing with these "animals" most likely is, at his prison. The film also packs some great comedy, I love Eric Roberts and his eccentric and slightly naive character, specially when he wants some shoes, but I guess who can blame him. Wandering around in the ice cold freeze, for such a long time, I guess any shoes would do nicely. By the way, did the Kino Lerber copy, include any bonus features? The blu-ray has an audio commentary with Eric Roberts and two film historians, which I have yet to play. By the way I just want to mention that it's a damn shame Runaway Train was largely ignored when first released. It should have been a big hit.
|
|
and not much else to say.
