Movie Night: True Lies.

Review #606: True Lies.

Cast
Arnold Schwarzenegger (Harry Tasker), Jamie Lee Curtis (Helen Tasker), Tom Arnold (Albert Gibson), Bill Paxton (Simon), Tia Carrere (Juno Skinner), Art Malik (Salim Abu Aziz), Eliza Dushku (Dana Tasker), Grant Heslov (Faisal), and Charlton Heston (Spencer Trilby) Directed by James Cameron (#001 - Terminator 2: Judgement Day, #063 - The Terminator, #388 - Avatar, and #574 - Aliens)

Review
It figures we end the month on Schwarzenegger, and it's no coincidence that in two weeks this movie will celebrate its 20th anniversary. True Lies is a good action film, but also a decent comedy film, and part of the fun delivered is from Schwarzenegger, who as always is effective at delivering one-liners, and he is generally fun to watch. This is actually a remake of a French film, named La Totale!, but I haven't seen it, so it barely matters in context. Curtis is enjoyable, she doesn't have a bad scene in the whole movie, and it's fun watching her, along with Schwarzenegger. It's sort of strange watching Tom Arnold in this movie (whether you've watched Roseanne or not), and he does provide some hilarity, so he's alright, though it still doesn't make me want to watch The Stupids. Paxton is noteworthy, and amusing as a faux spy. The villain isn't really anything special, but Malik does at least try to make something out of it, and him trying to deliver a speech as the camera battery runs out is mildly hilarious. The action is fun, it's enjoyable and certainly satisfying. Cameron knows what he's doing with this film, trying to balance the action with some drama/comedy, and it works just right. Tomorrow, we begin July off with Canada.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Sandlot.

Review #605: The Sandlot.

Cast
Tom Guiry (Scott Smalls), Mike Vitar (Benny Rodriguez), Patrick Renna (Hamilton Porter), Chauncey Leopardi (Michael "Squints" Palledorous), Marty York (Alan McClennan), Brandon Quintin Adams (Kenny DeNunez), Grant Gelt (Bertram Weeks), Shane Obedzinski (Tommy Timmons), Victor DiMattia (Timmy Timmons), Denis Leary (Bill), James Earl Jones (Mr. Mertle), and Art LaFleur (Babe Ruth) Directed by David M. Evans.

Review
Yes, I know. I am aware of this movie's cult status, and I remember watching this movie a long time ago, though I never got to the end, so I get to connect to the past. And baseball films are usually enjoyable, so the movie has a good deal of promise. So how is the film? It's okay. Is it a classic? I guess so, but it all depends on what you define as classic. The Sandlot is slightly awkward (we all were like that once) and slightly fun, though the baseball action is more fun to watch than the interactions of the kids. Some of the cast are interesting, (Vitar, Leopardi, Jones, for all of his brief screen time), but others are just okay. Guiry isn't bad, I get the characterization of the new kid and how he develops, but eh, I still like Vitar better either way. He doesn't get much characterization, but he's fun to watch being the leader of a bunch of kids just playin' ball. The movie is more than just baseball, it's about these kids (and one big dog) and their summer in a time where there were only 20 teams in the majors (which means I can't make an Expos reference until 1969), and when baseball was at its era of dominance. The movie may not be a particularly great movie, but like Babe Ruth (played by a decent Art LaFleur) said, the legends never die.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Mighty Joe Young (1949).

Review #604: Mighty Joe Young.

Cast
Terry Moore (Jill Young), Ben Johnson (Gregg), Robert Armstrong (Max O'Hara), Frank McHugh (Windy), Douglas Fowley (Jones), and Denis Green (Crawford) Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack (#283 - King Kong)

Review
King Kong was a massive success (so good they rushed out a sequel named Son of Kong only 9 months later), and a few re-releases inspired RKO to make another movie about an gorilla, with Willis O'Brien supervising the stop motion effects, with Ray Harryhausen assisting him. The gorilla isn't as big or tall as Kong, but he is more sympathetic (I suppose) and he even gets a happy ending. King Kong had an aura of mystery for the first half mainly because of Skull Island and what it would be. Mighty Joe Young just flat out brings you to Africa without much tension, but I guess at this point trying the same thing twice wouldn't work. The actors in this film are alright, and for once there isn't a shrieking character, and Armstrong (who was Carl Denham in King Kong) is certainly persuasive in the role, he's a very lovable figure, and the most noticeable actor in this film. The effects are great, even if Joe isn't as intimidating as it may seem. The climax of the movie is well enough, it's not everyday you see a gorilla on a moving van. This is an alright movie that runs short but means well. The effects are probably better than the actors, but it at least is good looking, and in the end, I guess that's all that counts to having a good time.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Three Colors: Red.

Review #603: Three Colors: Red.

Cast
Irène Jacob (Valentine Dusseau), Jean-Louis Trintignant (Joseph Kern), Jean-Pierre Lorit (Auguste Bruner), and Frederique Feder (Karin) Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski (#601 - Three Colors: Blue and #602 - Three Colors: White)

Review
This is the last movie Kieslowski ever made, and the last color of this trilogy from France-Poland-Switzerland. Like the other two movies, Red is its own in terms of plot. It isn't as isolated as Blue or darkly comical as White, it is a more optimistic movie, a more passionate movie that utilizes its main two actors exquisitely. Jacob is interesting, but Trintignant is even more interesting to watch, his character grows as the film progresses, we first see him as just a bitter man who doesn't even care that his dog was run over, but eventually we learn more about this character, his former profession, and his secrets. And while that's happening, a subplot involving the other two actors and how their romance deteriorates so quickly. The movie has red hues, but it also has its own connections to the past two films, such as the bottle sequence. In Blue, Julie sees a lady is seen trying to put a bottle into a container. In White, a man is seen trying to put a bottle into a container as Karol watches, grinning. In Red, Valentine helps an old lady put the bottle into the container. This just shows the level of emotion that varies from film to film to film, as it goes from sadness to helping others, and the final scene connects the three up nicely. All three end in tears, and of the three Blue may be the most sad, but Red is the most poignant and the most fitting. All in all, the movies are well made, well acted, and are all important figments in a great trilogy.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Three Colors: White.

Review #602: Three Colors: White.

Cast
Zbigniew Zamachowski (Karol Karol), Julie Delpy (Dominique Vidal), Janusz Gajos (Mikołaj), and Jerzy Stuhr (Jurek) Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski (#601 - Three Colors: Blue)

Review
White (a film from France-Poland-Switzerland film) is more of a comedy/romance then Blue is, and while it may not be as good as Blue, it at least is enjoyable enough. The movie is connected to Blue due to one scene, which when watched in Blue didn't sound important, but in White, it's the first scene (first major scene, after the shot of the briefcases, which comes into play later) of the movie, and it serves as the springboard for the rest of the movie. The characters are quirky (Save for Dominique, who while being a theme for how saying and meaning love are two different things, is still a cruel person, though the ending validates her...sort of). Zamachowski (who I first thought looked like John Ritter) does a fine job, you can see how he changes from a mild mannered mook into a calmly ruthless fellow. His character goes through an arc, and it ends bittersweet for him. The movie itself is quirky. It has its moments of strange, but mostly fun humor. The movie takes a while to get interesting, but when it does, it is entertaining. Is it great? Probably not, but it at least is entertaining, it at least is good to watch, the movie has its moments of brilliance, and I guess that's enough.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Three Colors: Blue.

Review #601: Three Colors: Blue.

Cast
Juliette Binoche (Julie de Courcy Vignon), Benoît Régent (Olivier Benôit), Emmanuelle Riva (Madame Vignon), Florence Pernel (Sandrine), Guillaume de Tonquédec (Serge), Charlotte Very (Lucille), and Yann Trégouët (Antoine) Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski.

Review
Krzysztof Kieślowski was a Polish filmmaker that had directed numerous films for 20 years, closing out his career with a trilogy of films, the first being Blue, the second being White, and the last being Red (with this being a film from France-Poland-Switzerland film, with the first two languages being spoken in the movie). The movies are unrelated to one another in most ways, the movies could be watched in any order, but I'll start with Blue first anyway. It is fun to review world cinema films (preferably with no dubbing because it is fun to read subtitles), and Blue is a treat. This is a powerful movie that is beautiful to watch and listen to. It's a movie that reveals its layers over time, it becomes more then just about one character's attempt at cold solitude, it becomes something new, a wonderful movie that is emotionally charged, from sadness to isolation to passion. The movie has a good deal of blue tinges, such as blue beads, the water in the pool Julie swims in constantly, and so on. This is a movie that has so much effort put into it by the actors. Binoche is simply stunning in her performance, you can see the levels of development she goes through simply by her facial expressions, and she interacts with the cast nicely. This is a great movie that is incredible in its emotion and level of passion it inflicts. Blue and White share one scene, which is a crucial scene in the beginning of the next film, which I'll cover in the next review.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: City Lights.

Review #600: City Lights.

Cast
Charlie Chaplin (The Tramp), Virginia Cherrill (A Blind Girl), Florence Lee (Her Grandmother), Harry Myers (An Eccentric Millionaire), Al Ernest Garcia (His Butler), and Hank Mann (A Prizefighter) Directed by Charlie Chaplin (#353 -Monsieur Verdoux and #599 - The Kid)

Review
To close out this road to 600 Reviews, is a familiar face. Charlie Chaplin is probably one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, not only did he star in his own films, he was also the director, the writer, the producer and even the composer of the music for his own films. He starred in numerous films all throughout the early 20th century, eventually venturing into feature length films, and this is one of them. This was made just as sound films became popular, but Chaplin didn't care, he wanted to keep the silent charm of the iconic character, the Tramp. The movie has a neat premise that is simple yet easily compelling. Chaplin is a good director, but he is an even better actor. Watching him interact with everyone is pure joy, especially his first scene with Myers, which is exceedingly hilarious. Chaplin and Cherrill work well together, interacting perfectly together, and it adds a new layer to an already fun movie. The slapstick is fun to watch and extremely hilarious along with being memorable, especially the boxing match, for all of its silliness and charm. The whole movie is charming and warm, and the cast is just right. The final scene with Chaplin and Cherrill is absolutely perfect and is probably one of the best end scenes in motion history. This is a remarkable movie that is absolutely recommended for everyone, young and old, for happy or for the sad. Thank you for all of your support over the past 3 and a half years, and I hope for another 600 reviews.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Kid.

Review #599: The Kid.

Cast
Charlie Chaplin (The Tramp), Jackie Coogan (The Kid), Edna Purviance (The Mother), Carl Miller (The Father), Tom Wilson (The Policeman), and Henry Bergman (Night Shelter Keeper / Professor Guido) Directed by Charlie Chaplin (#353 - Monsieur Verdoux)

Review
This is one of the oldest films reviewed on this show (With only #435 - Mickey and #261 - The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari being older), and it's only fitting that it's one with Charlie Chaplin. He starred in, edited, wrote and directed this movie (later composing the music in a re-release fifty years later at 82!), which shows his talent reaches just beyond being a Tramp. Chaplin especially shows his worth in this film, which is not only a funny movie but also a very good drama. The movie has a fine balance, but an even better cast. Chaplin and Coogan mesh perfect together, they work as a team in both being clever window helpers but also as father and son (of sorts). Coogan (known to many for being the original Uncle Fester) was only six, and he still shines in this film, he certainly shows much emotion is those beady eyes. The movie has many moments of hilarity, such as when the Tramp "fights" a bully, or (my favorite) when the Tramp enters Dreamland. The drama in the movie makes an already good film into a great one, especially when the two are reunited after a rooftop chase. The Tramp is an endearing figure who is always entertaining, along with being a lovable character. This is a silent film I wholly recommend to everyone looking for a good laugh...or a tear.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Rescuers.

Review #598: The Rescuers.

Cast
Bob Newhart (Bernard), Eva Gabor (Miss Bianca), Geraldine Page (Madame Medusa), Michelle Stacy (Penny), Joe Flynn (Mr. Snoops), Jim Jordan (Orville), John McIntire (Rufus), Jeanette Nolan (Ellie Mae), Pat Buttram (Luke), James MacDonald (Evinrude), Candy Candido (Brutus and Nero), and Bernard Fox (Mr. Chairman) Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman & John Lounsbery (#250 - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh), and Art Stevens.

Review
I've done a few Disney films (#073 - The Lion King, #156 - Aladdin, #178 - Peter Pan, #230 - The Great Mouse Detective, #250, #373 - Cinderella, #387 - Lilo & Stitch, #390 - Pocahontas, #511 - The Three Caballeros, #579 - Frozen) on this show, and they usually are entertaining enough (except Pocahontas, but that's another story), and The Rescuers is no different. The animation is good (especially when they show the diamond), but the cast is better. Newhart and Gabor share a good rapport with each other, they are certainly a good duo (you can insert your Newhart joke here), and the rest of the cast is certainly entertaining, even Page and Flynn are a good pair of villains, I like how Medusa has not only a cool swamp-mobile, but two big alligators. Let's not forget she lives on a riverboat, which adds some more style points. The movie is short, but it is entertaining, and while it may have one too many songs, it at least is a cool adventure for everyone. So yeah, what's going to be the 600th Review, you might ask? The next review will give you a hint.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Rocky IV.

Review #597: Rocky IV.

Cast
Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Dolph Lundgren (Ivan Drago), Talia Shire (Adrian Balboa), Burt Young (Paulie Pennino), Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed), Brigitte Nielsen (Ludmilla Drago), Tony Burton (Tony "Duke" Evers), and Michael Pataki (Nicoli Koloff) Directed by Sylvester Stallone (#047 - The Expendables, #277 - Rocky II and #340 - Rocky III)

Review
When did the Rocky franchise went over the top? Rocky IV? I say that because Rocky III was the first movie where Rocky didn't fight Apollo Creed, instead he fought Mr. T. Oh, and Mickey dies because you know, reasons. But that argument goes out the window when the robot is introduced. Yes, a robot, which I guess would be fine except 29 years later, we're still waiting for robots. The foundation of silliness is cemented by James Brown and then planted fully into the ground with Ivan Drago, if that even makes sense. Going into this, I knew it would be silly, that it would probably the weirdest of the franchise. That, and it would have montages. Many, many montages. This is what parodies are made of, especially this movie. But is the movie any good? Probably. Look, it's a silly film with a lot of cheese and a lot of effort, and the performances are what they are, the good and bad. At this point, you know these characters and what they'll do and not do. You know Rocky will fight Drago despite people telling him not to, because reasons. The movie is like processed cheese: It's American, it can be used for almost anything, and it's easier to poke holes at it than Swiss cheese. Take this film for what it's worth: the silly, the silly and the bad.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Random Harvest.

Review #596: Random Harvest.

Cast
Ronald Colman (Charles Rainier), Greer Garson (Paula Ridgeway/Margaret Hanson), Philip Dorn (Dr. Jonathan Benet), Susan Peters (Kitty Chilcet), Henry Travers (Dr. Sims), Reginald Owen (Biffer), Bramwell Fletcher (Harrison), Rhys Williams (Sam), Una O'Connor (Shopkeeper), Aubrey Mather (Sheldon), and Margaret Wycherly (Mrs. Deventer) Directed by Mervyn LeRoy.

Review
Romantic films can be many things, they can be pleasant to watch and joyful, or they can be unbearable to watch. This film falls into the first category. Colman and Garson are an excellent duo, and they pair off well each other, they are just perfectly cast, and Colman does a great subdued performance. The supporting cast is fun to watch, even Una O'Connor (evidently she hams it up only in horror films), Reginald Owen is a charm to watch, it's just fun to watch the interactions between everyone. The plot is well crafted, a treat to appreciate. This is a neat little movie practically wrapped in gold paper. This movie is good enough to even be shown on TCM on Tuesday night, picked by none other than guest programmer Gene Wilder (squee!), and I can see why he picked it. It's a good flick to watch, even in summer, I suppose.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Never Say Never Again.

Review #595: Never Say Never Again.

Cast
Sean Connery (James Bond), Kim Basinger (Domino Petachi), Klaus Maria Brandauer (Maximillian Largo), Barbara Carrera (Fatima Blush), Bernie Casey (Felix Leiter), Max von Sydow (Ernst Stavro Blofeld), Edward Fox (M), Rowan Atkinson (Nigel Small-Fawcett), Gavan O'Herlihy (Jack Petachi), and Alec McCowen (Q) Directed by Irvin Kershner (#004 - RoboCop 2 and #114 - The Empire Strikes Back)

Review
Due to Kevin McClory's lawsuit over the rights of the novel Thunderball, he gained the filming rights of the novel, even after the movie was released, despite EON's attempts to stop it, and McClory would help produce a new version on the Thunderball story, with Lorenzo Semple, Jr (notable for developing the 1960's Batman TV show and Flash Gordon - #215) writing the screenplay. Connery was brought to play the role 12 years after he last played Bond in the spectacular disaster of a film Diamonds Are Forever (#280). The film was released 4 months after Octopussy (#360), the other Bond film from 1983. So which one is better? It's hard to discuss this movie. Of the six Bond films in the 1980's, this isn't the worst one, but it also isn't the best. Connery does good in his return to Bond, a little aged but a little more defined, and refined. The supporting cast isn't bad (though Atkinson is an exception), it's certainly better than Thunderball's cast, especially with Felix Leiter, who is more interesting to watch this time around. Basinger does well, she has at least some chemistry with Connery, and the dance scene is at least watchable. The villain is ever more interesting because he leaves an impression on you, though admittedly the scene where he plays against Bond in a video game is either an odd inclusion or just surprising, but then again the other Bond movie had Bond dress up as a clown, so pick your poison. The aquatic action isn't as annoying due to not there being as much of it, which is refreshing. The movie is actually pretty decent, not too bad, and it's a good way for Connery to have one last hurrah. There, I've reviewed all the Bond films, even the unofficial ones...for now.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Review #594: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Cast
Zero Mostel (Pseudolus), Phil Silvers (Marcus Lycus), Michael Crawford (Hero), Jack Gilford (Hysterium), Annette Andre (Philia), Buster Keaton (Erronius), Michael Hordern (Senex), Leon Greene (Miles Gloriosus), Patricia Jessel (Domina), and Inga Neilsen (Gymnasia) Directed by Richard Lester (#541 - A Hard Day's Night)

Review
The movie begins and ends on the same song, "Comedy Tonight", which sums up the movie. The cast is exceptional, especially Zero Mostel, who is just as wacky and fun as he was in The Producers. The movie may be a comedy, but it's also a musical, and while the comedy dominates most of the time, the songs aren't that bad, and Mostel is a decent enough singer for these songs. I realize that I haven't covered Buster Keaton on this show before, but at least I finally get to say something about him (ironically in his last film role), and what I would say is that he is certainly noteworthy despite not having too much screen time, he delivers a chuckle or two. The movie has a good deal of fun lines and zany motion that makes a wild but fun film.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Pirates of Blood River.

Review #593: The Pirates of Blood River.

Cast
Kerwin Mathews (Jonathon Standing), Glenn Corbett (Henry), Christopher Lee (Captain LaRoche), Peter Arne (Hench), Marla Landi (Bess Standing), Desmond Llewelyn (Tom Blackthorne), Oliver Reed (Brocaire), Andrew Keir (Jason Standing), and Michael Ripper (Mack) Directed by John Gilling.

Review
Christopher Lee (a regular occurring actor on this show) as the villain in a Hammer pirate movie? What could go wrong? As it turns out, a few things. The biggest problem is that the film is so dull. It feels so standard, like it's fulfilling a checklist of stuff without much excitement to it. The movie has one sword fight, and it's at the end of the movie, but by the time you get to the end you'll either be asleep or won't care. The actors are just okay, it's a shame that Lee is wasted in this movie, stuck in a ridiculous haircut that makes him look like Moe from the Three Stooges and an eye patch from your local dollar store. The pirates are the most interesting characters as our main character is just boring, and so is the rest of the non pirate cast. The action is sparse, but there sure is a good deal of dialogue. They do have a sword fight between two pirates...blindfolded, which sounds fun for about 2 minutes. This is just a mediocre/boring film that is just a disappointment. Stick to better pirate movies. Countdown to 600: 10, 9, 8, 7...

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Dementia 13.

Review #592: Dementia 13.

Cast
William Campbell (Richard Haloran), Luana Anders (Louise Haloran), Patrick Magee (Dr. Justin Caleb), Bart Patton (Billy Haloran), Mary Mitchell (Kane), Eithne Dunne (Lady Haloran), and Peter Read (John Haloran) Directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Review
This was the first mainstream film made by Francis Ford Coppola, and this was made only because Roger Corman had leftover money after making one of his numerous films (The Young Racers, which had some of the cast in this film), and Coppola made the story outline in about a day, with the production in Ireland. Corman did not like how the movie was after Coppola showed him the finished product, and so Corman demanded an additional death scene along with a prologue to be added, though the version I watched lacks the prologue. The movie has an eerie Gothic feel, with the castle being the backdrop. The plot is paper thin at times and sometimes odd, but in the end it all comes together to make a pretty well made movie. Coppola knows what he's doing and the cast does a fine job with the material. There aren't many murders, but at least the movie still enjoyable, even if the identity of the killer could be figured out by the halfway point. Take this for what it's worth, especially on this day, Friday the...13th. Yeah...Countdown to 600: 10, 9, 8...

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Wild Bunch.

Review #591: The Wild Bunch.

Cast
William Holden (Pike Bishop), Ernest Borgnine (Dutch Engstrom), Robert Ryan (Deke Thornton), Edmond O'Brien (Freddie Sykes), Warren Oates (Lyle Gorch), Jaime Sánchez (Angel), Ben Johnson (Tector Gorch), Emilio Fernández (General Mapache), Strother Martin (Coffer), L. Q. Jones (T.C.), Albert Dekker (Pat Harrigan), and Bo Hopkins (Clarence 'Crazy' Lee) Directed by Sam Peckinpah (#590 - Ride the High Country)

Review
Yeah, I should've known that I would review The Wild Bunch. I mentioned it previously in the last review, heck I even knew I was going to watch it before I finished my review of Ride the High Country. I was aware of the reputation this movie had, known for its violence, which was quite bloody, for a Western, the genre that normally treated the West like it was a happy place to be, full of villains easily taken down by the good guy. Peckinpah wanted to change all that. The movie begins and ends with violence, but the main point is to try and make it unsettling and according to Peckinpah, "twist it so that it's not fun anymore, just a wave of sickness in the gut." He succeeds with his goal, though it probably won't make people forget all the blood, which is very present all throughout. The action is well directed and the movie is well made, the flashbacks may not be set up always coherently, but they are at least decent to look at. The characters are outlaws, but we still can identify them as relics in an aging world where the West is slowing dying (in fact, one of the best quotes of the movie is about that: "We've got to start thinking beyond our guns. Those days are closing fast."), and the man hunting them down was once their friend. The whole gang of outlaws are still fun though, they may be outlaws, but they're still enjoyable to watch in their antics. The violence may be a bit unsettling (unless of course you can handle it), but it's very well shot and very well made, and Peckinpah certainly deserves credit for a movie that does all it wanted and a little bit more.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Ride the High Country.

Review #590: Ride the High Country.

Cast
Randolph Scott (Gil Westrum), Joel McCrea (Steve Judd), Mariette Hartley (Elsa Knudsen), Ron Starr (Heck Longtree), Edgar Buchanan (Judge Tolliver), R.G. Armstrong (Joshua Knudsen), Jenie Jackson (Kate), James Drury (Billy Hammond), L. Q. Jones (Sylvus Hammond), and John Anderson (Elder Hammond) Directed by Sam Peckinpah.

Review
Well, well, I'm finally doing a review of a Peckinpah film. I didn't know it would take this long to get to him, but hey, here we are. This was his second film (his first being The Deadly Companions), and he would direct only 14 films in the 22 years, from 1961 up until 1983, up until his death in 1984. Peckinpah is known for his eccentricities and range of violence of shown in his films, such as The Wild Bunch. But what about this film? This movie is more about the story of loyalty then about the action, and it works just fine. Scott and McCrea are brilliantly paired well against each other, and the way their friendship progresses throughout the movie is a useful part of what makes the movie work. It's not the rugged terrain, or the fairly decent action, it's the relationship between these two characters, and the others as well, about how the legends may fade, but their stories won't. The supporting cast is excellent, especially Hartley, who is certainly interesting to watch. This is on the whole a fairly decent movie that certainly shows the strengths of the good ol' Western. 10 to go to #600.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Wizard of Oz.

Review #589: Wizard of Oz.

Cast
Larry Semon (Scarecrow/Toymaker/Farmhand), Dorothy Dwan (Dorothy/Princess Dorothea), Bryant Washburn (Kynd), Oliver Hardy (Woodsman/Knight of the Garter/Farmhand), Josef Swickard (Prime Minister Kruel), Charles Murray (Wizard of Oz), Spencer Bell (Cowardly Lion/Rastus/Snowball), Frank Alexander (Uncle Henry/Prince of Whales), Otto Lederer (Ambassador Wikked), and Mary Carr (Aunt Em) Directed by Larry Semon.

Review
There was an earlier version of the Wizard of Oz? Yes, there was. Tons in fact. This isn't even the first one, there are other silent versions before this, all (loosely) adapted from the original novel by L. Frank Baum. This movie has the distinction of being written by (supposedly) L. Frank Baum, Jr and Larry Semon, who practically steals the show in this movie. And that's the problem considering this isn't the Scarecrow of Oz, it's the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy barely gets any screen time, especially in the last 40 minutes, when the movie is taken over fully by Semon, and occasionally Bell, who gets some moments, only for it to cut back to Semon, though I guess being the director means getting the opportunity to be in every scene. It wouldn't be as grating if the movie didn't pad itself by just not going anywhere, taking forever to begin the movie and taking forever to end the movie. It takes so long to get to Oz (again), and we're stuck watching slapstick over and over again. It's fun the first time, but it gets old really fast. The actors aren't bad, and if you look hard enough, you'll find Oliver Hardy, before he would gain fame as part of the duo Laurel and Hardy. The characters in this movie are bizarre in their actions, especially Hardy's character. The movie at least is colorful with the hues and the music is decent, but this is still a weird movie. You haven't lived life until you've seen a man flying through the air running away from lightening...and then he climbs into a house. Weird movies can be good, this is not. The setup for the movie by use of a toymaker narrator is either an odd way to setup the movie or just a lazy way. It could be both, given the nonsensical ending that leaves no proper conclusion. It's no wonder why this was a big failure (even bankrupting the studio), the movie is just not that good, and it suffers even more when compared to the more famous 1939 film, which knocks this right off the block. I'd recommend Return to Oz before I recommend this, at least the former is sensible. This is just a sad mess that can't comprehend itself.

Overall, I give it 4 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: All Is Lost.

Review #588: All Is Lost.

Cast
Robert Redford (Our Man) Directed by J. C. Chandor.

Review
All is Lost is unique in its setup, having only one character, one setting, and barely any dialogue, leaving Redford to carry an entire movie by himself. And he succeeds. Redford doesn't make the character just by dialogue, he makes the character his own by his actions, by how we watch him struggle with what's going on around him. Redford is still impressive to watch even today, especially when watching him try to call for help, which is both riveting and emotional. The movie may seemingly have a simple premise, but in that premise is layers of emotions that venture in. This is a remarkable movie, a movie that tries hard and succeeds in its main goal of excellence and telling a story.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Enter the Dragon.

Review #587: Enter the Dragon.

Cast
Bruce Lee (Lee), John Saxon (Roper), Jim Kelly (Williams), Ahna Capri (Tania), Shih Kien (Han), Robert Wall (O'Hara), Angela Mao (Su Lin), Betty Chung (Mei Ling), Geoffrey Weeks (Braithwaite), and Bolo Yeung (Bolo) Directed by Robert Clouse.

Review
This was the first Chinese martial arts film to have been produced by a major Hollywood studio, which was written by Bruce Lee, who was already famous across Asia due to such films as The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, and Way of the Dragon, and this made his legacy spread to the United States, although he would die before the movie would be released. So how is the movie? Really really good. The movie kinda feels like a comic book, with loads of action, a fortress with a villain who (spoiler!) has a claw hand with a row of mirrors, and let's not forget the tournament. In fact, one of the lines in the movie references this, and that's another strength, the effectiveness of the actors. Lee is awesome in both acting and kicking the snot out of henchmen, and Kelly and Saxon are great together when teamed up. The action is a sight to behold, staged by Bruce Lee himself, and it looks great to watch. The villain isn't exactly anything new, but his claw is awesome. The one part of the movie at least everyone knows is the hall of mirrors sequence, which is not only cool, but also really well directed by Robert Clouse. It's a chilling and effective scene, and the fight scene that accompanies it is also good. This is, to be perfectly honest, an awesome movie. Go watch it even if purely for the action, and you'll come out entirely satisfied.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Alien 3.

Review #586: Alien 3.

Cast
Sigourney Weaver (Ellen Ripley), Charles S. Dutton (Dillon), Charles Dance (Jonathan Clemens), Brian Glover (Harold Andrews), Ralph Brown (Aaron), Paul McGann (Golic), Danny Webb (Morse), Lance Henriksen (Bishop II), and Tom Woodruff, Jr. (The Alien) Directed by David Fincher.

Review
"No one hated it more than me; to this day, no one hates it more than me."
That quote came from the director himself, David Fincher, director of Alien 3, which is probably the unluckiest installment of the franchise. Where did all the trouble begin? Aliens was a massive success, and naturally the studio wanted a sequel, two in fact, but with Hicks the main focus instead of Ripley. The idea then fizzled out as an array of writers tried to deliver a satisfactory (to the studio) script, to the point where after all the scripts were rejected, the producers had to write the screenplay themselves, meshing parts of some of the other writers scripts (most notably the prison planet idea), and having to complete the script while filming started. Also there was interference by studio executives that meddled with the film, which made Fincher angry to the point where he has actually disowned the film.

So yeah, after all that trouble, how is the film itself? It's a sad mess of a movie, that's for sure. The first problem of the movie? How did the egg get onto the escape ship when there was no sign of any aliens on board? It's a plot hole that is quite literally made in the first minutes. Oh, and the characters you cared about in the last film? All dead. Yes, they are shamelessly killed off, without any sense of care, but on the plus side it sets the tone for an extremely depressing movie. The movie tries to set its own tone, trying to be its own. And it just doesn't help the movie much. The big problem is that all of the characters are disposable, Dutton is the only interesting new character, maybe because he lasts the longest, or because Paul McGann (insert your 8th Doctor reference here) isn't in it enough. It's not that we want the characters to die, we're just waiting for them to, which they do. It's not that I don't like the film because it's not like Aliens, I don't like it because it's just a slog of a movie to get through. Now granted it is hard to make a sequel to a franchise that has had two great movies already, but Alien 3 just doesn't cut it. It tries and fails at being something new. The deaths in the movie are not awful, but they certainly are predictable, and the four legged alien looks more silly then threatening, it's the movements that kill it. The shots with the motion camera as the alien chases the crew is ridiculous in its concept, only making you wonder how this franchise fell so far. Weaver isn't bad in this film, but not even she can save this train wreck. The movie at least knows when to end, and boy does it end spectacularly. There is an Assembly Cut for this movie that has more footage, but more doesn't necessarily mean better. Just stick to the first two, and watch this one if you want to be depressed.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Top Secret!

Review #585: Top Secret!

Cast
Val Kilmer (Nick Rivers), Lucy Gutteridge (Hillary Flammond), Christopher Villiers (Nigel), Jeremy Kemp (General Streck), Omar Sharif (Agent Cedric), Peter Cushing (Bookstore Proprietor), Michael Gough (Dr. Paul Flammond), and Warren Clarke (Colonel von Horst) Directed by Jim Abrahams (#028 - Hot Shots! and #375 - Hot Shots! Part Deux), David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker.

Review
This is the first film reviewed on this show directed by the famed ZAZ trio (though I've reviewed two films of one of the three already), who are more well known for directing Airplane! and The Naked Gun. So how does this film hold up? If you love sight gags and love a dose of charm with an exceptional cast that's not too long, you'll love this film. Val Kilmer meshes well with the cast and he also seems to be a decent singer as well, the rest of the cast is certainly memorable (especially Omar Sharif, whose last scene consists of him being stuck in a crushed car...and surviving), and it is nice to see Gough and Cushing, even if it is brief. The sight gags are fun and brief, and this is a movie that is entertaining enough to last 90 minutes, which is perfectly fine for a Friday night on Summer break.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.