Movies #94-112

03/30/2008

111. Flesh Gordon (1974)
Off Roommate's DVD
This is a camp classic done on a shoestring budget, if you watch this and don't laugh, you are dead inside. Highly Recommended Viewing


112. Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders (1989)
Off Roommate's DVD
Took the promise of taking the campness to a new level with this sequel and this one disappoints on all fronts. Not anywhere near as fun as the first one.

03/29/2008

108. Death of a Cyclist (1955)
Off DVR, Shown on Ovation
This is a really well done character story that has some well crafted story arcs. Simple plot, good actors, all you need in a movie. Considered a classic


109. Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen)
I love the casting on this movie, instead of playing an authority figure, Kirk Douglas is playing the subversive figure and Walter Matthau is the sheriff hunting him down, playing completely against type. This one is extremely well written and the cinematography is bad-ass also. Highly Recommended Viewing, in widescreen only of course.


110. Lilith (1964)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen)
Warren Beatty was on his rise up in Hollywood with this film and I thought it was really well done. Beatty really shows his natural acting talent here and the screenplay is really well written. Vintage Beatty Watch.

03/28/2008

106. The Executioner (1974)
Off DVR, Shown on FLIX (widescreen, uncut)
This movie is great because it has a lot of action and fight scenes but it's also really funny and has quite a big of over the top violence. Really Fun Watch.


107. Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
Off DVR, Shown on IFC (widescreen, uncut)
This movie is really atmospheric and you could definitely compare the stylistic notes hit in this movie to Terrace Malick did with his movie from Badlands on. But this isn't just an imitation, I'm not really that big of a Malick but I did like this movie a lot. School girls getting lost on a picnic doesn't sound like that interesting of a movie plot, but all the pieces Peter Weir put together really make the film work.

03/27/2008

105. Pretty Poison (1968)
Off DVR, Shown on Fox Movie Channel (widescreen, uncut)
I was really surprised with this movie, it's extremely well written with the elevation of the plot lines and the character arcs are way above the type of movie that I was expecting starring Anthony Perkins. Highly Recommended Watch

03/26/2008

101. Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe (1995)
Off DVR, Shown on FLIX (widescreen, uncut, english language dub)
This movie was even sillier than expected with the english language dubbed on this one, but otherwise this is a pretty average "man in suit" affair.


102. Tarantula (1955)
Off DVR, Shown on Chiller
Spider exposed to radiation experiments turns into a giant, and of course as par for the course with the atomic monster movies, the only way to destroy it is to shoot it with more radiation. Average Monster Movie from the 50's, not outrageous enough to be the super-camp adventure I was expecting though.


103. The Satan Bug (1965)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen)
This is really well written, and actually stands the test of time since it's release in 1965. I love the apocalyptic movies about ending the world with a weapon, and this is right up that alley. Although unless you can watch it in widescreen I wouldn't bother, this one uses a lot Cinemascope frame in composition and it all would be wasted on Pan & Scan.


104. Heavy Metal (1981)
Other Means
Bad-ass hand-drawn animation styles that you don't see anymore are front stage on this compilation story feature. A must see for anyone who has an appreciation for animation and boobs.

03/25/2008

98. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
Other Means
Wow, so I had expectations that this would be funny but ultimately forgettable. But I was dead wrong, this was a least 6 funny levels above what I was expecting and this isn't just a parody movie, it really owns what it's doing. Highly Recommended Viewing


99. Brute Force (1947)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies
This movie is good, but I think it could have been better if the screenplay had been more focused, we are treated to numerous flashbacks of the occupants of one cell, when really we didn't need them in the long run, well maybe keep just Burt Lancaster's but all the others could have been cut and the movie would have been more concise and even better. Above Average Prison Watch.


100. The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang (2006)
Other Means
This uses the Napoleon Dynamite style to good use because I didn't like Napoleon but I do like this movie for the amount of charm that the cast bring out of the story. Other wise this is a pretty average movie.

03/24/2008

94. The Virgin Spring (1960)
Off DVR, Shown on IFC (Uncut)
Ingmar Bergman is an acquired film taste, and I've been a fan of his work that I've seen. This is another team up with Max Von Sydow and it's a classic revenge tale that takes places in the middle ages in Sweden so of course it's going to feel like a slow movie, accept it, most of Bergman's movies where never made with pacing in mind, but you have to look past that to see the great artistry at work. Overall a good Bergman movie, but if you aren't a fan already than this isn't going to make you change sides on that debate, like The Seventh Seal would.


95. Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
The scene where Jason fights the skeletons in the finale of the movie is extremely well done even by today's standards because it looks more real than a lot of computer effects that I see done in a lot of mainstream Hollywood today. But ultimately unless your into the classic story and stuff like that this might be a little bit of a chore to sit through because a lot of the acting is over-acting, but totally worth a complete watch.


96. Night of the Lepus (1972)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
If you always demanded more bunny carnage from you viewing than this is right up your alley. This is the movie that is playing on the television with Keanu goes to see the Oracle the first time and the kid bends the non-spoon (the one with the giant bunnies). The thing is, giant bunnies still look adorable and not scary, so this is good for a quite a few laughs.


97. Terror Train (1980)
Off DVR, Shown on Fox Movie Channel (widescreen, uncut)
Besides seeing a eerily creepy David Copperfield playing a magician in this movie, there isn't anything worth recommending in this movie. Not even a good 80's horror camp-fest that you would expect.

Movies #90-93

03/22/2008

92. Emma Mae (1976)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
This movie isn't that impressive unless you view it in the context of the times, there weren't black voices or faces like this on the screen at the time and you can tell this was done on a tight budget so they have to get props for pulling the movie together at all. The acting is pretty robotic and the story isn't that great, but it's a cool portal back to when the movie came out. This is also called Black Sister's Revenge, but the print I watched on Turner called it Emma Mae.


93. It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
Octopus eats nuclear waste, Octopus becomes giant, Giant Octopus attacks. That is really all I need out of a plot and it's delivered is spades here. This has really nice stop-motion work done by Ray Harryhausen when the octopus attacks Frisco. Good for a 50's monster movie watch.

03/17/2008

90. Irma la Douce (1963)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
This is one of the few Billy Wilder movies that I haven't seen and I was really disappointed with the plot and by extension the entire movie because of how predictable it was. Jack Lemmon falls into being Shirley Maclane's pimp but he falls in love with her, so he comes up with a plan so she doesn't have to ho anymore and that is by (gag) dressing up as a fictional person and borrowing money and working during the night so she doesn't have to work the streets anymore. This was the most predictable Wilder movie I've ever seen and I'm going to fault the original material it was adapted from. You can see all the possible complications coming from this scheme a mile away and not even Lemmon really made me enjoy this. Below Average Wilder Picture


91. Of Human Bondage (1964)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
I'm a Laurence Harvey fan (star of the old school Manchurian Candidate) so I'll give anything a watch that he was in, now in this movie he plays a straight up classic gentleman virgin who expects loyalty from a floozy waitress and for some reason after being shown up goes back to her, and he even passes good proper woman who actually like him for who he is and aren't gold diggers like the floozy but he still goes back to her. Maybe the novel better explains this limp wristedness but I just didn't get why Harvey didn't hand the floozy her walking papers and make one of those good women happy. I'm blaming the novel it was adapted from and not Harvey's acting. Oh, and that poster really sucks, it makes it look like some Doris Day movie, which it's definitely a sight better than.

Movies #82-89

03/16/2008

88. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)
Off DVR, Shown on Fox Movie Channel (widescreen, uncut)
The movie deals with some kind of super global warming being triggered and the entire world is melting worse than even Al Gore could imagine. So being Americans in the early sixties what is the best way to handle it? Send a nuclear missle into the air and blow up the atmosphere into space of course. The laughable plot and special effects aside there isn't really much to stick around for in this movie, you could put this one and have a dozen friends gathered around the TV catching up and not really miss anything special. Below Average Apocalyptic Watch


89. Pressure Point (1962)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
This is film that showcases why Sidney Poitier is though of so highly today in acting circles. Watching this today it seems like a film that was produced in Europe during these times, it sticks out as above average for the studio films of the time. Well worth the watch if you happen upon this movie some time.

03/15/2008

85. The Orphanage (2007)
Other Means
While this isn't as good as The Devil's Backbone it only slightly covers similar territory so the comparisons are minimal. I really dug the cinematography on this film, a must see if you've been a fan of Del Toro's recent output (he produced this). Above Average Watch


86. Rambo III (1988)
Other Means
Growing up I remember watching the Hot Shots series a multitude of times, and only now do I see where a lot of the ridiculous moments come from, this was really asking to parodied because by this point in the series we've pretty much lost all threads of the character that was established in the first Rambo film. Extremely brainless 80's action movie that's worth a laugh.


87. Rambo (2008)
Other Means
This Rambo is better than the second and third film combined. Even though there are endless scenes in the second and third films of Rambo mowing down troop after troop, this movie takes it to another level entirely and amps of the blood by the elevator full. Both the third and forth Rambo films set the action in the places of real life war zones (one of the few things that the third film could be commended for) and with this film the real life war zone is shown quite graphically in line with the rest of the film. This doesn't break the Rambo mold but it quite a bit better and more realistic than the campy laugh fests of the second and third installments of the series.

03/13/2008

84. The Mist (2007)
Other Means
I'm not going to say much about this movie because this is one that all spoilers should be avoided for if you never read the original short story. Highly Recommended Watch

03/12/2008

83. The X From Outer Space (1967)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
This movie has a monster that looks like a cross between Utra-Man and Godzilla. Classic "Man in Suit" camp material but nothing absolutely bonkers about this one. The hilariously inappropriate music segways living up the movie. Worth picking up if you see this on the $5 or less DVD rack.

03/10/2008

82. Marnie (1964)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
This was one of the few Hitchcock movies that I hadn't seen so i had mild anticipation because it's always been considered one of his lesser works. All the Hitchcock finger prints are here, the meticulous shot detail, telling the story without dialogue, and of course the cameo. This movie is very easy to get into and watch because of all the film narrative elements that Hitch had at his hands. I did like this movie and it's didn't seem to drag as much as the 2 hr plus run time would have me believe, but this story doesn't quite have the Hitchcock edge that existed in his films, but still this movie is still well done and a must see for those Hitchcock admirers who may have passed this one by in the past.

Movies #74-81

03/09/2008

81. The Laughing Policeman (1973)
Off DVR, Shown on Fox Movie Channel (widescreen, uncut)
Walter Matthau plays a hardened San Francisco cop on the chase of a killer who took down his partner, while the synposis is an retread and been done before this is the type of rough and tumble cop movie that they don't make any more. Much better than the average cops and robbers movie they release now. Above Average compared to the norm of today but average otherwise.

03/08/2008

80. Dan in Real Life (2007)
Other Means
I was ready to hate this movie because even though I'm a big Steve Carrell fan I really don't like Dane Cook and for some reason he was cast in this movie. But this movie's dramatic angle isn't heavy handed as I thought it would be and I really ended up enjoying this movie. Dane Cook doesn't kill this movie, but it might have been a bit better without him. I don't like sappy romantic movies but I liked this movie but it isn't sappy but it is a tad romantic. Steven Carrell fans won't be disappointed.

03/07/2008

79. Run Fatboy Run (2007)
Other Means
This movie is a romantic comedy and it follows the formula of that, you can see the mile coming from a mile away and nothing is really unpredictable. But Simon Pegg brings a charm to the main role that makes the whole thing watchable and Michael Ian Black wrote the screenplay so there are some talented people involved with this one. If you have to watch a romantic comedy this one doesn't punish you and make you think your stupid. Above Average Romantic Comedy

03/06/2008

78. Southland Tales (2006)
Other Means
I've been following this movie for a few years now so the anticipation for me was pretty high for the picture. The reactions to this film has been across the board, but I really ended up enjoying the world that Richard Kelly introduces to the audience with this one. Even 90 minutes in I was wasn't sure if I was going to like this movie and wondered where it was going, but the movie wraps up nicely and I was completely happy to have taken the time to sat down and watched this one. I'm just happy that a movie this subversive got made in Hollywood and got a good budget thrown at it to fully realize the world that was created. Not for everyone but above average.

03/05/2008

76. Shutter (2004)
Other Means
This movie's American remake is just being released so I thought I would take a look at the Thai original. And I have to say that there isn't any thing to separate this from the recent batch of a j-horror movies that have been released over the last eight years. This has aspects of a watered down Hollywood version of a Japanese horror movie so I guess it's fitting that Hollywood would remake this one. There are lots of cheap thrills in this one, several times something happens that is horrible and then we cut to the actor waking up from a dream terrified, LAME. If you've seen the American or Japanese version of The Ring and The Grudge series than this has nothing new for you.


77. Paranoid Park (2007)
Other Means
It seems like over the last five years or so Gus Van Sant's style has been slowly molded into a style of filmmaking the Larry Clark previously had the lock on. This being the new Van Sant movie and being nominated for Best Picture at the Independent Spirit Awards I had expectations for this being a return to form for Van Sant. But this is another feature more towards the Larry Clark school again. Some people liked Elephant, I didn't. I felt it lacked everything and this movie falls into the same category but with more substance. Larry Clark's actor's pull off non-acting better than Van Sant's non-actors pull off acting. At least the non-linear story-line is edited together well but otherwise I can't recommend this one.

03/04/2008

74. Semi-Pro (2008)
In Theaters
This is a welcome return to form for Will Ferrell comedies after the disappointing Blades of Glory. If you've liked Will Ferrell comedies in the past than there is plenty to like in this movie also. But if you a Ferrell detractor than this isn't going to change your perception of him. But still I was glad that they didn't release a PG-13 theatrical and then go for the R rated cut on the DVD, instead the theatrical version is R rated and they make use of it profusely. Overall funny though


75. Vantage Point (2008)
In Theaters
This film uses Rashomon type of narration but dumbs it down tremendously, instead of just jumping and then letting the audience figure out what happened there is a clock that counts to noon and then the segments starts, this bun-jee cord pull back happens at least four times as we see the initial sequence from different perspectives. There was a growing resentment and chuckles were building in the audience for each time they pulled back to the beginning again, audiences today are a little more sophisticated than this and it seemed to be a condescending way of editing things. There are lots of plot holes and the action takes awhile to get into it, not really executed that well. Also this movie highlights a beef I have with the company that make the trailers for the films, in the first trailer I saw for this movie they revealed a plot point that happens over 45 minutes into the movie, LAME. Below Average

Movies #68-73

03/02/2008

71. The Dresser (1983)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
The main character in this movie is basically the Mr. Smithers (The Simpsons) to a highly respected actor (highly personalized assistant that clearly has more at stake then his job, and his affection for the assisted also). But this movie really well written and has great acting but it definitely takes it's time reaching places and unless you have an interest seeing King Lear done on stage large parts of the film will be a let down. Above for the acting, but not really anything new gleamed from this otherwise.


72. Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Off DVR, Shown on Fox Movie Channel (widescreen, uncut)
I don't really understand the film choices that John Carpenter takes, but he does like to use Kurt Russell a lot, which is nice for consistency. Kurt channels a 80's trucker version of John Wayne for this movie, and little else makes sense beyond that. A Camp Classic, this is never a dull watch.


73. The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
Off DVR, Shown on Fox Movie Channel (widescreen, uncut)
David Bowie plays an alien in this movie which makes way to much sense as a casting choice. This movie was exactly the slice of weird that I've been looking for, even though this movie is over thirty years old the story is hardly dated, the only thing that sticks out is how poor quality television used to be in terms of picture quality, Bowie watches tons of it throughout the film trying to suck up the human culture. Above Average Watch, Highly Recommended

03/01/2008

70. On the Beach (1959)
Off DVR, Shown on Turner Classic Movies (widescreen, uncut)
So the rest of the world has been blown up by nuclear attacks and Australia is the last place left and it's days are numbered because of the nuclear fallout making it's way down there. This another post-apocalytic movie that I loved because of how bleak and honest it is, this on doesn't chicken out and go Hollywood. Above Average Watch

02/28/2008

69. Tales from Earthsea (2006)
Other Means
I was excited to watch this movie because I read the first book in this series and this was the first movie in a long time that I could claim that I read the book first. But through looking at the internet this is actually an adaptation of the third and forth novels for some reason. The Ghibli character design is still consistent here and that I really liked, but otherwise the movie is really average and never reaches the heights of other Studio Ghibli films of the past. Average Watch

02/26/2008

68. Cleopatra Jones (1973)
Off Roommates DVD
This movie has everything that I could really want from a movie a sassy black hero, a domineering mother villain, kung-fu, a car chase and a junk-yard finale to top all others! Above Average Camp Watch