AE35Unit
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Captain Philips
Yep, enjoyed that one!
Yep, enjoyed that one!
What was the last movie you saw?
- Thread starter Tabitha
- Start date
PERFECT FRIDAY 1970 - Stanley Baker is a bored bank employee who decides to rob it--needing the help of a (frequently broke) earl (David Warner) and his (frequently naked) wife (Ursula Andress). The editing in the first half gets extremely erratic but somehow I was able to follow it and it gets rather suspenseful when the actual heist happens (a low key scheme involving Warner posing as a bank inspector). If you have seen enough of these late 60s quirky caper films where these is two men and one woman--they always doublecross each other and the one who usually gets the loot is the woman. Can't say the outcome was a surprise here. What was interesting is that they shot some scenes on the street among non-actors--it's surprising that they even shot a shouting match dialogue scene among such a crowd where you can see them smiling and looking at the camera and the actors.
Victoria Silverwolf
Vegetarian Werewolf
North Carolina Slashers of the Early 1980's Double Feature:
Final Exam (1981)
Death Screams (1982)
So similar that one review will suffice for both.
Starts with a young couple making out late at night. They get killed. Then the film slows down for a long time for character development. Then we get a massive number of killings near the end, until the murderer is killed -- oh, wait, he's still alive! Oh, it's OK, he gets killed for real right away.
Well, let's consider the differences. Number One is on a college campus. There's a prank in extremely bad taste after the first killing (which, oddly, takes place at a different college than the rest of the movie) in which frat boys pretend to open fire with automatic weapons, supposedly killing several fellow frat boys pretending to be victims. That's even less appropriate now than it was in 1981.
Anyway, this one follows the Final Girl trope to the letter. The killer has no back story at all, and isn't secretly one of the other characters; it's just a guy who kills students. No name, no dialogue, no gimmick, no apparent motive.
Number Two takes place in a small town. Much of the time is spent at a carnival, then at a river, then at a cemetery, then at an old house, where we finally get more killings. (I have to be fair and admit that, unlike Number One, in which the second real killing doesn't arrive until after nearly an hour, about thirty minutes in somebody gets shot with an arrow, then stumbles over to a merry-go-round, then gets suffocated with a plastic bag.) The killer is one of the characters, but without apparent motive.
Both low budget local products, no big names among the actors, both with young folks without noticeable accents and a redneck sheriff with a strong Southern accent. Pretty much generic slashers.
Final Exam (1981)
Death Screams (1982)
So similar that one review will suffice for both.
Starts with a young couple making out late at night. They get killed. Then the film slows down for a long time for character development. Then we get a massive number of killings near the end, until the murderer is killed -- oh, wait, he's still alive! Oh, it's OK, he gets killed for real right away.
Well, let's consider the differences. Number One is on a college campus. There's a prank in extremely bad taste after the first killing (which, oddly, takes place at a different college than the rest of the movie) in which frat boys pretend to open fire with automatic weapons, supposedly killing several fellow frat boys pretending to be victims. That's even less appropriate now than it was in 1981.
Anyway, this one follows the Final Girl trope to the letter. The killer has no back story at all, and isn't secretly one of the other characters; it's just a guy who kills students. No name, no dialogue, no gimmick, no apparent motive.
Number Two takes place in a small town. Much of the time is spent at a carnival, then at a river, then at a cemetery, then at an old house, where we finally get more killings. (I have to be fair and admit that, unlike Number One, in which the second real killing doesn't arrive until after nearly an hour, about thirty minutes in somebody gets shot with an arrow, then stumbles over to a merry-go-round, then gets suffocated with a plastic bag.) The killer is one of the characters, but without apparent motive.
Both low budget local products, no big names among the actors, both with young folks without noticeable accents and a redneck sheriff with a strong Southern accent. Pretty much generic slashers.
AE35Unit
]==[]===O °
Sully another top Tom Hanks performance
Flight Denzel Washington as a drunk/addict pilot who carries a daring but bizarre manoeuvre to land a troubled plane.
Flight Denzel Washington as a drunk/addict pilot who carries a daring but bizarre manoeuvre to land a troubled plane.
Jeffbert
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2011
- Messages
- 2,165
The Wrong Man (1956) Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero (Henry Fonda) is mistakenly identified as the guy who robbed several local businesses. The film plods through the fingerprinting, and other procedures involved with jailing him, etc., and was very dreary.
Surprising that Hitchcock directed it, as it was very different than his other films. He not only directed it, but introduced it. I would almost call it a horror film, because of how the poor guy's family suffered after his arrest, especially his wife (Vera Miles).
It even detailed his and his wife's futile search for people who could provide alibis.
I do not know if the way the police dealt with him, when they 1st took him, was unusual, but to me, it seemed like they were actually trying to get him identified as the culprit. They waited for him to come home from work, and did not even allow him to enter his house. While they did not arrest him until later, they would not let him phone his wife. They took him to several of the shops that had been robbed and had him walk back and forth, so the shopkeepers could view him. Then they had him write / print the words of the note used in one of the robberies, to compare his writing with its. When they finally put him in a lineup, the people who identified him, had already seen him that day, because he had been there, hoping to get a loan for his wife's dental work; of course they had seen him previously!
So, after their 2nd attempt to find someone who could provide an alibi also ended in failure, his wife begins to break down. She ends up in a mental institution, after consultation with Dr. Bannay (Werner Klemperer; "Klink, you are an idiot!". I recall seeing him in another Shrink role in a color film, he was a villain).
Definitely NOT an enjoyable film!
I do not see why Muller considers this NOIR. To me, it just does not fit the genre. No femme fatale.
Surprising that Hitchcock directed it, as it was very different than his other films. He not only directed it, but introduced it. I would almost call it a horror film, because of how the poor guy's family suffered after his arrest, especially his wife (Vera Miles).
It even detailed his and his wife's futile search for people who could provide alibis.
I do not know if the way the police dealt with him, when they 1st took him, was unusual, but to me, it seemed like they were actually trying to get him identified as the culprit. They waited for him to come home from work, and did not even allow him to enter his house. While they did not arrest him until later, they would not let him phone his wife. They took him to several of the shops that had been robbed and had him walk back and forth, so the shopkeepers could view him. Then they had him write / print the words of the note used in one of the robberies, to compare his writing with its. When they finally put him in a lineup, the people who identified him, had already seen him that day, because he had been there, hoping to get a loan for his wife's dental work; of course they had seen him previously!
So, after their 2nd attempt to find someone who could provide an alibi also ended in failure, his wife begins to break down. She ends up in a mental institution, after consultation with Dr. Bannay (Werner Klemperer; "Klink, you are an idiot!". I recall seeing him in another Shrink role in a color film, he was a villain).
Definitely NOT an enjoyable film!
I do not see why Muller considers this NOIR. To me, it just does not fit the genre. No femme fatale.
Jeffbert
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2011
- Messages
- 2,165
TCM will have 6, count 'em, six giant creepy crawly creatures films on 09/18:
I LIKE BIG BUGS AND I CANNOT LIE. This article has an interesting background on all these films:
Starts with THEM! (8pm), Tarantula, The Black Scorpion, The Wasp Woman, Mothra, & finally, The Cosmic Monster / The Strange World of Planet X.
O.k., so Wasp Woman in not a giant. So sue me.
Too bad neither The Deadly Mantis nor Beginning of the End were included.
I LIKE BIG BUGS AND I CANNOT LIE. This article has an interesting background on all these films:
Starts with THEM! (8pm), Tarantula, The Black Scorpion, The Wasp Woman, Mothra, & finally, The Cosmic Monster / The Strange World of Planet X.
O.k., so Wasp Woman in not a giant. So sue me.
Too bad neither The Deadly Mantis nor Beginning of the End were included.
Last edited:
Victoria Silverwolf
Vegetarian Werewolf
Ghostkeeper (1981)
Slow-burning, moody, atmospheric Canadian horror film. Three people on snowmobiles wind up stranded at an abandoned lodge inhabited by an older woman, her rarely seen and silent son, and . . . well, that's the crux of the story. Is it really a wendigo? The film is nicely ambiguous on that point. The surrounding snow-covered countryside is gorgeous, and the acting and filming are quite good for what is clearly a modest budget. Worth a look for patient viewers.
Slow-burning, moody, atmospheric Canadian horror film. Three people on snowmobiles wind up stranded at an abandoned lodge inhabited by an older woman, her rarely seen and silent son, and . . . well, that's the crux of the story. Is it really a wendigo? The film is nicely ambiguous on that point. The surrounding snow-covered countryside is gorgeous, and the acting and filming are quite good for what is clearly a modest budget. Worth a look for patient viewers.
Victoria Silverwolf
Vegetarian Werewolf
. . . tick . . . tick . . . tick . . . (1970)
Takes place in a fictional county in the deep, deep, deep American South. First scene is a bunch of good ol' boys watching an egg fry on the sidewalk, giving you some idea of the sweaty nature of this movie. A Black man (Jim Brown) has just been elected sheriff in this KKK-infested part of the country. Things start off bad enough, as you'd expect, and really reach the boiling point when he has to arrest a White man who killed a little girl in a drunk driving accident. The oddly punctuated title implies the way things are set to explode like a time bomb. The former sheriff (George Kennedy) resents being voted out of office, but supports the law, and is even willing to accept a lesser role as a deputy. Veteran actor Fredric March steals the picture as the town's cantankerous, eccentric, and sharp-as-a-whip mayor. Well worth a look.
Takes place in a fictional county in the deep, deep, deep American South. First scene is a bunch of good ol' boys watching an egg fry on the sidewalk, giving you some idea of the sweaty nature of this movie. A Black man (Jim Brown) has just been elected sheriff in this KKK-infested part of the country. Things start off bad enough, as you'd expect, and really reach the boiling point when he has to arrest a White man who killed a little girl in a drunk driving accident. The oddly punctuated title implies the way things are set to explode like a time bomb. The former sheriff (George Kennedy) resents being voted out of office, but supports the law, and is even willing to accept a lesser role as a deputy. Veteran actor Fredric March steals the picture as the town's cantankerous, eccentric, and sharp-as-a-whip mayor. Well worth a look.
Victoria Silverwolf
Vegetarian Werewolf
The Curse (1987)
Somewhere between Stand By Me and Star Trek: The Next Generation Wil Wheaton starred in this loose, uncredited adaptation of "The Colour Out of Space" by H. P. Lovecraft. Farm boy Wheaton lives with his widowed mother, his little sister (his real life younger sibling,) his harsh disciplinarian of a stepfather, and his hulking bully of a stepbrother. Big glowing rock from space lands nearby. Weird stuff happens. Produce is full of slime and stuff; when Mom cuts a tomato, it squirts out a huge fountain of what I assume is blood. Animals mutate (exploding cows full of worms) and attack (little sister gets pecked by aggressive chickens.) Mom, Stepdad, and Stepbrother turn into insane, homicidal mutants. For some odd reason, the farmhouse rips apart at the end. (The rock from space can contaminate inanimate objects also?) Kind of goofy, but entertaining in its own way if you're willing to go along with it.
Somewhere between Stand By Me and Star Trek: The Next Generation Wil Wheaton starred in this loose, uncredited adaptation of "The Colour Out of Space" by H. P. Lovecraft. Farm boy Wheaton lives with his widowed mother, his little sister (his real life younger sibling,) his harsh disciplinarian of a stepfather, and his hulking bully of a stepbrother. Big glowing rock from space lands nearby. Weird stuff happens. Produce is full of slime and stuff; when Mom cuts a tomato, it squirts out a huge fountain of what I assume is blood. Animals mutate (exploding cows full of worms) and attack (little sister gets pecked by aggressive chickens.) Mom, Stepdad, and Stepbrother turn into insane, homicidal mutants. For some odd reason, the farmhouse rips apart at the end. (The rock from space can contaminate inanimate objects also?) Kind of goofy, but entertaining in its own way if you're willing to go along with it.
I saw The Exorcist - Director's Cut (2000) last weekend.
For a movie released in 1973, it still packs a disturbing psychological punch.
I then ordered William Peter Blatty's 1971 novel of the same name.
For a movie released in 1973, it still packs a disturbing psychological punch.
I then ordered William Peter Blatty's 1971 novel of the same name.
Judderman
The Iceman cometh
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The extender director’s cut has a more positive ending than the original. Kind of surprising that the original ending wasn’t very upbeat to me as I feel like it is a more common theme from the last 20 years to have the ghost or evil presence still shown or hinted at in the end.
Judderman
The Iceman cometh
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Boston Strangler (2023). Good murder investigation movie with a female reporter (Keira Knightley) providing a key role in the investigation.
The Prestige (2006). Early 20th century tale of friends turned rival magicians. I think I watched it years ago but couldn’t remember it well. Very good though I’m not sure deserves some of the really high ratings. The ending is somewhat hard to explain and I felt like a bad guy was being treated as a hero at the climax. Definitely a compelling movie and strong cast. Also includes David Bowie in a relatively somber role.
The Prestige (2006). Early 20th century tale of friends turned rival magicians. I think I watched it years ago but couldn’t remember it well. Very good though I’m not sure deserves some of the really high ratings. The ending is somewhat hard to explain and I felt like a bad guy was being treated as a hero at the climax. Definitely a compelling movie and strong cast. Also includes David Bowie in a relatively somber role.
AE35Unit
]==[]===O °
The Terminal (2004)
Wonderful film with Tom Hanks, having to live in an airport. One of my favourites. And it has a few Star Trek references. Zoe Saldana is in as a clerk and when asked what she likes to do she says Conventions. I like conventions.
Ah, you're a trekkie!
And 5 years later she was in Star Trek as Uhura!
Wonderful film with Tom Hanks, having to live in an airport. One of my favourites. And it has a few Star Trek references. Zoe Saldana is in as a clerk and when asked what she likes to do she says Conventions. I like conventions.
Ah, you're a trekkie!
And 5 years later she was in Star Trek as Uhura!
AE35Unit
]==[]===O °
World Trade Centre (2006)
Pretty intense telling of the events of 9/11 from the viewpoint of two police officers trapped in the rubble between the towers.
Quite good even though it has Nicholas Cage in it
Pretty intense telling of the events of 9/11 from the viewpoint of two police officers trapped in the rubble between the towers.
Quite good even though it has Nicholas Cage in it
A Man Called Otto (2022)
I read the book, A Man Called Ove, but some time ago, so can't remember it all that well. That was a translation of the original book, En Man Som Heter Ove, which was also a film first, and which our Swedish friends naturally say is much better. I'd like to see that version, but only the Tom Hanks version was available to me, so there you go...
Obviously, it's very different and yet very much the same as the book. I thought the adaptation to make it American was cleverly done - some things worked well - like having a Mexican family - some probably not - the Ford versus Chevrolet car 'thing'. If you have never read the book, then you wouldn't even know about that, and it is a good film and still a good story.
Hanks is very good at playing a grumpy old man with a big heart. Truman Hanks, his son, plays him as a younger man. It didn't seem too long at two hours.
I read the book, A Man Called Ove, but some time ago, so can't remember it all that well. That was a translation of the original book, En Man Som Heter Ove, which was also a film first, and which our Swedish friends naturally say is much better. I'd like to see that version, but only the Tom Hanks version was available to me, so there you go...
Obviously, it's very different and yet very much the same as the book. I thought the adaptation to make it American was cleverly done - some things worked well - like having a Mexican family - some probably not - the Ford versus Chevrolet car 'thing'. If you have never read the book, then you wouldn't even know about that, and it is a good film and still a good story.
Hanks is very good at playing a grumpy old man with a big heart. Truman Hanks, his son, plays him as a younger man. It didn't seem too long at two hours.
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A Knock At The Cabin
I like Shyamalan's movies. I don't think I've seen one yet that I didn't. They have a certain style and quality to them that I find appealing. He can create a great story, with an air of mystery and suspense about them. What he can't create however is a decent ending. This is another of his movies which is interesting and builds up the tension throughout, only to be let down in the last quarter - arguably the most important part of any movie/story.
I like Shyamalan's movies. I don't think I've seen one yet that I didn't. They have a certain style and quality to them that I find appealing. He can create a great story, with an air of mystery and suspense about them. What he can't create however is a decent ending. This is another of his movies which is interesting and builds up the tension throughout, only to be let down in the last quarter - arguably the most important part of any movie/story.
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Great movie, and yet another indicator that Tom Hanks is one of the greatest actors of all time. This movie's run time seemed to fly by when watching, which is arguably the most conclusive proof that a movie is a good one.
Victoria Silverwolf
Vegetarian Werewolf
Android (1982)
How to make an intriguing science fiction film on an extremely low budget. Klaus Kinski is a scientist working on a secret project to create the perfect humanoid robot. (We find out that androids are forbidden, because some of them went rogue and attacked people.) The only other inhabitant of his space station is Max 404, an android who comes across as a confused, naïve adolescent. He plays video games, listens to soul music of the 1970's, watches old movies, and researches sex. The trouble begins when three criminals arrive, pretending to be the crew of the spaceship they hijacked. Since one of them is an attractive woman, complications ensue.
The plot goes in unexpected directions, and the mood changes smoothly from lightly witty to tragic to hopeful. Recommended.
How to make an intriguing science fiction film on an extremely low budget. Klaus Kinski is a scientist working on a secret project to create the perfect humanoid robot. (We find out that androids are forbidden, because some of them went rogue and attacked people.) The only other inhabitant of his space station is Max 404, an android who comes across as a confused, naïve adolescent. He plays video games, listens to soul music of the 1970's, watches old movies, and researches sex. The trouble begins when three criminals arrive, pretending to be the crew of the spaceship they hijacked. Since one of them is an attractive woman, complications ensue.
The plot goes in unexpected directions, and the mood changes smoothly from lightly witty to tragic to hopeful. Recommended.
I remember seeing that at the cinema (so that's oh... too many years ago) but I do remember it.
Victoria Silverwolf
Vegetarian Werewolf
Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)
Glitzy soap opera in which the movie industry looks at itself. Movie star Kirk Douglas plays a movie star. He's been in a luxury mental health clinic for a couple of years, mainly due to the behavior of his wicked ex-wife (Cyd Charisse.) An old friend/enemy (Edward G. Robinson), a director working in Rome, offers him a small but showy part in his new film. It turns out that he's under time pressure, so instead he offers to have Douglas supervise the dubbing. There's the eternal triangle involving an Italian actress (Israeli beauty Daliah Lavi), Douglas, and a disturbed pretty boy actor (George Hamilton.) There's Robinson's wife, furious about her husband's philandering, leading to a catfight with an Italian actress who doesn't speak a word of English. There's Charisse showing up in Rome to cause trouble. Things get more complicated when Robinson suffers a heart attack, and Douglas has to take over as director. Overwrought melodrama, of course, but lush production and location filming make it a guilty pleasure.
Glitzy soap opera in which the movie industry looks at itself. Movie star Kirk Douglas plays a movie star. He's been in a luxury mental health clinic for a couple of years, mainly due to the behavior of his wicked ex-wife (Cyd Charisse.) An old friend/enemy (Edward G. Robinson), a director working in Rome, offers him a small but showy part in his new film. It turns out that he's under time pressure, so instead he offers to have Douglas supervise the dubbing. There's the eternal triangle involving an Italian actress (Israeli beauty Daliah Lavi), Douglas, and a disturbed pretty boy actor (George Hamilton.) There's Robinson's wife, furious about her husband's philandering, leading to a catfight with an Italian actress who doesn't speak a word of English. There's Charisse showing up in Rome to cause trouble. Things get more complicated when Robinson suffers a heart attack, and Douglas has to take over as director. Overwrought melodrama, of course, but lush production and location filming make it a guilty pleasure.
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