THE WRATH OF GEORGE MILLER DOUBLE BILL! FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA (2024, IMAX)/MAD MAX: FURY ROAD 3D (2015, 3D BLU-RAY)
As someone who liked but didn't love any "Mad Max" movie (even "Fury Road"), "Furiosa" kind-of blew my mind when I saw it at an almost-empty IMAX screen (sad sign of the times for movie theaters when "Garfield" sells more tickets than this). No need to tell this crowd of exploitation-loving maniacs that George Miller has once again knocked it out of the park in the action/visual storytelling/pacing details. Personally felt that Alyla Browne as Young Furiosa runs circles around Anya-Taylor Joy's grown-up version, but that might just be me admiring the opening 40 mins. as some of the best, most exciting world-building Miller has done in this universe. You can FEEL the production of "Furiosa" relying more on invisible CG tech to complement/enhance the handmade aspects of the production, especially in the 'undercranking' feel of the movement that starts distracting but I got used to eventually. Bottom line is that both "Furiosa" and "Fury Road" (which I just rewatched on 3D Blu-ray instead of 4K UHD because, well, 3D rules! :-P) are top-tier action spectacles that beg for more entries.
But you're here for Revenge! Day, and the I-didn't-see-them-until-today trailers for "Furiosa" made it clear the titular character was going to give Chris Hemsworth's Dementus his comeuppance. As much as a he's an entertaining and charismatic mofo you kind-of hope to see again in this universe, Hemsworth plays such a scoundrel you really want to see Dementus go down super hard. And boy, "Furiosa" might just have THE BEST REVENGE ANY PROTAGONIST HAS EVER INFLICTED ON AN ANTAGONIST IN MOVIE HISTORY, EVER! It's not just messed up and a worthy payoff to two movies' worth of build-up for the best character in the franchise, but the finale of "Furiosa" retroactively makes "Fury Road" an even better prequel/follow-up experience. Take "Furiosa's" Preatorian Jack, a K-Mart version of Mad Max that helps our lead become to warrior we eventually meet in "Fury Road." Rewatching the latter after seeing the interaction between young Furiosa and P. Jack in the former informs how Charlize Theron's Furiosa reacts to/treats Tom Hardy's Max. It's amazing how complementary both movies click with one another despite nearly a decade between their productions.
What I'm saying is that George Miller didn't just improvise or spit-out a prequel for the sake of adding another entry to his "Mad Max" saga. He made a satisfying revenge movie that makes its prequel/predecessor even better. If George Lucas had put a tenth of the effort Miller did in "Furiosa" to make Episodes 1-3 complement/enhance the OG "Star Wars" prequel that trilogy would have been legendary. 5 TIME-LAPSED WIGS HANGING FROM A BRANCH (out of 5) for "Furiosa" and 4.45 GUITARRISTS SPITTING FIRE FROM A MOVING MONSTER TRUCK (out of 5) for "Fury Road." If there's any justice in this world Hollywood will let Miller do one at least one more "Mad Max" flick before they inevitably remake 'em all and drive the franchise into the ground. Good luck with that. :'(
A young boy sees four mobsters kill his father. Twenty years later, he has two things on his mind: riding his motorcycle and avenging his father's death. He tracks down and kills three of the murderers, but the last one is more elusive and now he has a dogged veteran cop with former ties to the mob on his tail. I know it sounds like I just spoiled half the movie, but the first three kills happen literally in the first eight minutes, the rest of the movie meanders around the hunt for the fourth mobster.
The film takes its time to get going and when it does, the final action setpiece is pretty anticlimactic, even with a few good car and motorcycle stunts. In many places, the editing feels somehow rushed, a lot of the scenes seem to end a second earlier than expected, which left me pretty disoriented. Shot in Spain and Portugal, the movie makes some good use of the gorgeous landscapes.
Christopher Mitchum doesn't make much of an impression as the titular killer, but Karl Malden as the veteran cop is great and Olivia Hussey as the mobster's daughter is charming (not to mention gorgeous). This was my third Karl Malden movie in a relatively short time, and I definitely need to watch more. Feel like he could become one of my guys.
The highlight of the movie was a familiar musical sting Quentin Tarantino used in Kill Bill Vol. 2.
BODY OF MY ENEMY (1976) First-time watch. Kino Lorber Blu. 8/10. I put this on last night, not thinking of today's theme DESPITE the obvious connotations of the title. It's a cool, slow-moving memory-lane jaunt about Jean-Paul Belmondo getting released from prison & trying to figure out how he got there. And some comeuppance. This is barely an exploitation film, although Francis Lai's groovy music, the extra-special decor & a deluxe strip club were enough for me. Is it 8/10? Who cares. There's a "dance number" to an unusual cover of Pink Floyd's "Money" that might earn that 8th star.
COLD SWEAT (1970): Bond alum Terence Young directs Charles Bronson in a French production. It's mostly dull and talky, but it does feature two excellent supporting performances from Chuck's biceps.
Charles Bronson did not become a star until his mid-forties with Once Upon A Time In The West. The prime of his career was when he was in his fifties. The guy really kept in shape. I will find a way to fit one of his movies in this month.
This is a rough, violent, sad, graphic, tough, hard,depressing, ugly, mean revenge flick. Its also probably one of the most pure distillations of the sploitation genre: 1) pick the most innocent/pure/sweet person 2) subject them to unimaginable levels of personal, mental, physical torment, 3) they get their revenge. The levels of torment/torture make this incredibly hard to watch.
The Junesploitation journey takes me to France today. Jean-Paul Belmondo is Josselin Beaumont, a French agent on a mission to assassinate the leader of an African country when he is exposed by his own government for political gain. Breaking out of the prison he was placed in, Joss returns to France to get back at his former colleagues and finish the mission that he was sent on. Everything about The Professional is professional. It is a top-notch cast, the script is tight, and the director keeps the plot moving along at a quick pace. The Ennio Morricone score includes the famous Chi Mai, which was played at Belmondo’s funeral. Maybe the classiest thing I will see all month.
BLUE RUIN (2013) First-time rewatch since the big screen. Anchor Bay Blu. 9/10 up from 8/10. My uncle's girlfriend once gave me a copy of MURDER PARTY for Christmas, knowing my own adventures in movie-making. She was excited to share it because she was school (not sure which levels) friends with Saulnier & some his gang, & thrilled to find a copy of it in a store (those were the days!). I don't think BLUE RUIN had come out yet, but MURDER PARTY was easy fun. I think it took until GREEN ROOM before I managed to connect those glaring neon dots that led back to his first flick. In any event, BLUE RUIN still plays great & still runs a mere 90 minutes.
When Dag witnesses her brother murdered by a biker, she sets out on the road with a couple of friends to find and kill the man responsible. Bury Me An Angel is by far the quirkiest biker film that I have seen. One of the factors for that is that the lead character is a woman and, as you can see above, a woman was the director. Dag is a tough person, willing to take on any man she encounters, but her vulnerability also comes out. There is also a strong comedic element to the encounters she has on the road. One of the early releases of Roger Corman’s New World Pictures.
PREMATURE BURIAL (1962) produced & directed by Roger Corman. Francis Ford Coppola - assistant director
Ray Milland in full Ray Milland mode in a decent adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s short story about a man deathly afraid of being buried alive and who is also unfortunately prone to bouts of waking sleep paralysis.
POINT BLANK (1967) This is a lot of ‘60s cool right here. Lee Marvin plays a crook who is shot for dead (at point blank range, of course), only to survive and hunt down the ones who betrayed him. It’s impressive how little exposition there is, as director John Boorman trusts the viewer to follow the complex crime plot only through visuals and minimal dialogue. I like that Lee Marvin is the type of tough guy who can kick a**, but who can also take a beating as well. Reminds me a little bit of Harrison Ford in that way.
PUSHED TO THE LIMIT (1992) A female wrestler takes the action both on and off the ring for vengeance against the gangster who killed her brother. Real-life pro wrestler Mimi Lesseos produced and wrote the film for herself to star in. This one’s rough around the edges with too much filler that could have been cut. But Lesseos has some cool moves and that wooden yet genuine style of acting we want from our B-level action heroes. There’s an alternate universe where she had Steven Seagal’s career.
Bonus Universal Monster-sploitation: FRANKENSTEIN (1931) What can I say that hasn’t already been said? One of the all-time greats! On this rewatch I focused my attention on Dr. Frankenstein’s friend Victor. It seems that maybe there would be a love triangle between him, Elizabeth, and Dr. F., but it never happened. Victor disappears once the final chase starts, so he has no resolution. I guess he fulfilled his arc just by bringing Elizabeth back into the doc’s life. Also, I like Fritz’s little “Hello!” he does when he’s on the roof before the storm.
I'd somehow never seen this until now. While I'll eventually forget the insane details of this ludicrous plot, I will never forget being blown away by the superstar wattage that is on display in this movie. Peak Kidman, Baldwin, and Pullman were a joy to watch. Had a lot of fun with this one.
So, this was apparently shot in 1984, and it sat around unedited, and without sound, until a new director cut it and hired a new cast to record dialogue. I love the IMDB trivia that most of the onscreen talent is uncredited because nobody knows who they are. This is a perfect addition to Junesploitation. By the way, breaking the fourth wall at the end immediately before a title card promising a sequel that never got made is a BOLD CHOICE.
this movie is a hoot! its also an incredible example of how boutique labels (in this case Vinegar Syndrome) are doing some incredible incredible work finding, fixing, and releasing obscure genre goodness.
SILENT NIGHT (2023) First-time watch. Lionsgate Blu. 7/10. I've heard a lot of frowns about this one, so I hoped not to carry that baggage with me. And the movie was plenty entertaining. Should I have been thinking about how good Woo's best films are? Should I have been straining to throw shade on the whole silent treatment? Should I have pretended not to be lucky that a 76-year-old legend delivered a decent flick with a long finale in a country that hasn't always done his talents right? Either way, the only thing that bummed me out was the digital photography & some of those painful digital FX. Can digital photography managed to not stutter during pans or sweeping movements? Does 4K handle that better? I've only watched a couple new movies in 4K at home, so maybe that's the solve. Of course, few new movies make me want to pay 4K prices when the BD is on sale for $7.50. I get it with digital & digital FX, as far as budgetary concerns, but that doesn't mean I have to pretend it doesn't still lag far behind film.
Also, is it some kind of larger "Revenge Day"? I got an email from Tubi about revenge movies!
It was I who craved revenge against the makers of this film until the last 5 minutes! Up to this juncture, the completely OVER THE TOP performances (in CAPS to accentuate THE SCREAMING involved with an inordinate number of line readings) had me in hysterics (the funny kind, not the kind the characters were in). Plus, there was a lot or running/walking/padding. And the inclusion of just random little scenes that had no bearing on anything (let's stop at Burger King for a couple of sodas). However, sticking around for the ending was well worth it, and that's all you're gonna get outta me. You're gonna hafta endure (or Google) to find out...
This not only fit into my Revenge slot, but it also gave me a Linda Blair flick, which is a personal requirement for Junesploitation.
The Beekeeper(2024 Dir David Ayers) Someone on Twitter commented this movie was "Better than I expected" That is the perfect encapsulation of my opinion. The action was solid and not overly shot or edited the plot was solid although we've seen it before. Somes scenes could have used some trimming and some of the actors could have used a little more energy (looking at you FBI partner on Valium) but overall, it's be a perfect Sunday afternoon movie. It seems made for TBS weekends. One note. Did anyone else think "Damn, Helen Hunt looks great" only to find out that's Jemma Redgrave playing Hutcherson's mother?
PAYBACK (1999) First-time watch. Tubi. 7/10. Great cast, sort of an odd tone & plenty of fun. I watched the longer version but am doubly curious about the director's cut; it's always intriguing when the director likes it shorter.
THE HORSEMAN (2008) First-time rewatch since someone passed me a bootleg DVD maybe 14 years ago. Screen Media Blu. 9/10 up from 7/10. This still packs a punch & seems underseen. Existing somewhere in a triangle mapped by HARDCORE, DEAD MAN'S SHOES & THRILLER: A CRUEL PICTURE, this Aussie odyssey hinges on lead Peter Marshall's performance, oscillating between crushed despair & nuclear dad-rage. Whaddaya know... It's on Tubi, too!
OILY MANIAC (1976) Inspired by a 1950s series of Malaysian movies*, this film is about Sheng Yun (Danny Lee, The Killer, Thunder of Gigantic Serpent/King of Snakes, Infra-Man), a man who has risen past the handicap that polio dealt him to become a lawyer. He tries to helps a man, Lin Yang Ba (Ku Feng), who has killed a criminal to protect his daughter Yue (Chen Ping) and his coconut oil business. Before he is hung, Lin Yang gives Sheng Yu a black magic spell that transforms him into an oily maniac.
The real problem is that Yue is really in love with Chen Fu Sin (Wa Lun) and wants nothing to do with him. That means he goes on a rampage, wiping out all manner of criminals, like a plastic surgeon, a woman who accuses men of rape and a blackmailer. Look, if someone asks you to look at the magic spell on their back, lie in a hole in your yard and cover yourself with oil, I guess you do it.
Some people think all the Shaw Brothers did was martial arts movies. Oh man. I hope you know that they made movies like The Boxer’s Omen, Human Lanterns and Corpse Mania. Somehow, director Meng-Hua Ho (The Cave of the Silken Web, Black Magic) and writer Lam Chua made a movie that feels like The Heap, Man-Thing and Swamp Thing with a bit of Toxic Avenger except, you know, in 1976.
You would also think that because this is a superhero movie that it would be for children. Well, no. Not with the near-constant nudity and threat of sexual violence in every scene. It’s so strange how the goofy costume of the creature is juxtaposed against the sheer depravity on display in this movie, including scenes where a woman reveals her burned breast and the Oily Maniac attacks an abortionist mid-baby killing.
*According to IMDB, this is based on the Malaysian legend of the orang minyak (oily man), a creature that comes to life out of crude oil and is fueled by the hope for revenge by those who have been done wrong. There are also three Malaysian films — Curse of the Oily Man, Orang Minyak and Serangan Orang Minyak — as well as two modern movies, Orang minyak and Pontianak vs. Orang Minyak, which has the oily man battle a vengeful ghost woman.
Man, Pride and Vengeance (1967) dir. by Luigi Bazzoni
We've got a couple of championship contenders for femme fatale and flawed protagonist... This was my first exposure to the Carmen story, and it was pretty extreme. Also: great landscapes, and slick photography/editing regardless. I'm just bummed this stream wasn't in Italian.
For certain titles, I will always prefer owning a disc just to have the option of choosing the language I want to hear. On streaming services, the English dub is frequently the only option with Italian genre films. The same with 1970s Hong Kong martial arts films.
Death Wish II (1982). This was really violent and sleazy. It was a nice surprise to see Jimmy Page did the score, and he added a lot of weirdness to some intense scenes. The beginning is super rough to watch, but I enjoyed the hell out of it after that.
Death Wish II is the entry in the series that I have re-visited the most. There is something weirdly satisfying to Kersey's quest for revenge in this one. The griminess of the film is abandoned in the sequels that followed.
There are two versions of Death Wish II. Both are rough, but the longer assault sequences in the extended cut add details that make the scenes even more disturbing.
This movie certainly features a unique method of revenge even if I think they might have gotten some of the science regarding rabies a bit off. This is perfect dumb fun for Junesploitation.
Unfaithfully Yours (1948)
A light-hearted 1940s Rex Harrison comedy about an orchestra conductor who... fantasizes about killing his wife because he thinks she might have been cheating. But hey, it all works out in the end. It's not as dark about the Satanic cult getting infected with rabies, but it also wasn't the complete 180 from I Drink Your Blood that I was expecting.
I had a chance to ask Lynn Lowry (a nice lady, btw) some questions about I Drink Your Blood. She said that she never expected that, or any of the early films, to have any kind of longevity. It goes to show that actors can seldom predict what they will be remembered for.
Point Blank (1967) I remember reading that this was originally a made for TV movie, but when the networks saw the finished film, they balked. Endlessly fascinating, violent, nihilistic film points us to the Seventies with its pessimism and downbeat ending. Lee Marvin is too cool for school, outsmarting the criminal syndicate that took his money and left him for dead. Great supporting roles for John Vernon, Angie Dickinson, Keenan Wynn, and Carol O’Connor. Hey, is that SID HAIG?!
That also happened to another Lee Marvin film, a remake of The Killers, directed by Don Siegel. The television networks thought it was too violent for broadcast in 1964.
THE WRATH OF GEORGE MILLER DOUBLE BILL! FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA (2024, IMAX)/MAD MAX: FURY ROAD 3D (2015, 3D BLU-RAY)
ReplyDeleteAs someone who liked but didn't love any "Mad Max" movie (even "Fury Road"), "Furiosa" kind-of blew my mind when I saw it at an almost-empty IMAX screen (sad sign of the times for movie theaters when "Garfield" sells more tickets than this). No need to tell this crowd of exploitation-loving maniacs that George Miller has once again knocked it out of the park in the action/visual storytelling/pacing details. Personally felt that Alyla Browne as Young Furiosa runs circles around Anya-Taylor Joy's grown-up version, but that might just be me admiring the opening 40 mins. as some of the best, most exciting world-building Miller has done in this universe. You can FEEL the production of "Furiosa" relying more on invisible CG tech to complement/enhance the handmade aspects of the production, especially in the 'undercranking' feel of the movement that starts distracting but I got used to eventually. Bottom line is that both "Furiosa" and "Fury Road" (which I just rewatched on 3D Blu-ray instead of 4K UHD because, well, 3D rules! :-P) are top-tier action spectacles that beg for more entries.
But you're here for Revenge! Day, and the I-didn't-see-them-until-today trailers for "Furiosa" made it clear the titular character was going to give Chris Hemsworth's Dementus his comeuppance. As much as a he's an entertaining and charismatic mofo you kind-of hope to see again in this universe, Hemsworth plays such a scoundrel you really want to see Dementus go down super hard. And boy, "Furiosa" might just have THE BEST REVENGE ANY PROTAGONIST HAS EVER INFLICTED ON AN ANTAGONIST IN MOVIE HISTORY, EVER! It's not just messed up and a worthy payoff to two movies' worth of build-up for the best character in the franchise, but the finale of "Furiosa" retroactively makes "Fury Road" an even better prequel/follow-up experience. Take "Furiosa's" Preatorian Jack, a K-Mart version of Mad Max that helps our lead become to warrior we eventually meet in "Fury Road." Rewatching the latter after seeing the interaction between young Furiosa and P. Jack in the former informs how Charlize Theron's Furiosa reacts to/treats Tom Hardy's Max. It's amazing how complementary both movies click with one another despite nearly a decade between their productions.
What I'm saying is that George Miller didn't just improvise or spit-out a prequel for the sake of adding another entry to his "Mad Max" saga. He made a satisfying revenge movie that makes its prequel/predecessor even better. If George Lucas had put a tenth of the effort Miller did in "Furiosa" to make Episodes 1-3 complement/enhance the OG "Star Wars" prequel that trilogy would have been legendary. 5 TIME-LAPSED WIGS HANGING FROM A BRANCH (out of 5) for "Furiosa" and 4.45 GUITARRISTS SPITTING FIRE FROM A MOVING MONSTER TRUCK (out of 5) for "Fury Road." If there's any justice in this world Hollywood will let Miller do one at least one more "Mad Max" flick before they inevitably remake 'em all and drive the franchise into the ground. Good luck with that. :'(
Summertime Killer (1972, dir. Antonio Isasi)
ReplyDeleteA young boy sees four mobsters kill his father. Twenty years later, he has two things on his mind: riding his motorcycle and avenging his father's death. He tracks down and kills three of the murderers, but the last one is more elusive and now he has a dogged veteran cop with former ties to the mob on his tail. I know it sounds like I just spoiled half the movie, but the first three kills happen literally in the first eight minutes, the rest of the movie meanders around the hunt for the fourth mobster.
The film takes its time to get going and when it does, the final action setpiece is pretty anticlimactic, even with a few good car and motorcycle stunts. In many places, the editing feels somehow rushed, a lot of the scenes seem to end a second earlier than expected, which left me pretty disoriented. Shot in Spain and Portugal, the movie makes some good use of the gorgeous landscapes.
Christopher Mitchum doesn't make much of an impression as the titular killer, but Karl Malden as the veteran cop is great and Olivia Hussey as the mobster's daughter is charming (not to mention gorgeous). This was my third Karl Malden movie in a relatively short time, and I definitely need to watch more. Feel like he could become one of my guys.
The highlight of the movie was a familiar musical sting Quentin Tarantino used in Kill Bill Vol. 2.
BODY OF MY ENEMY (1976)
ReplyDeleteFirst-time watch. Kino Lorber Blu. 8/10.
I put this on last night, not thinking of today's theme DESPITE the obvious connotations of the title. It's a cool, slow-moving memory-lane jaunt about Jean-Paul Belmondo getting released from prison & trying to figure out how he got there. And some comeuppance. This is barely an exploitation film, although Francis Lai's groovy music, the extra-special decor & a deluxe strip club were enough for me. Is it 8/10? Who cares. There's a "dance number" to an unusual cover of Pink Floyd's "Money" that might earn that 8th star.
COLD SWEAT (1970): Bond alum Terence Young directs Charles Bronson in a French production. It's mostly dull and talky, but it does feature two excellent supporting performances from Chuck's biceps.
ReplyDeleteWatched this recently & I was thinking, "Chuck was super CUT when he was young."
DeleteBUT THE BROTHER IS ALMOST 50 IN THIS MOVIE.
Charles Bronson did not become a star until his mid-forties with Once Upon A Time In The West. The prime of his career was when he was in his fifties. The guy really kept in shape. I will find a way to fit one of his movies in this month.
DeleteThriller: A Cruel Picture (1973)
ReplyDeleteThis is a rough, violent, sad, graphic, tough, hard,depressing, ugly, mean revenge flick. Its also probably one of the most pure distillations of the sploitation genre: 1) pick the most innocent/pure/sweet person 2) subject them to unimaginable levels of personal, mental, physical torment, 3) they get their revenge. The levels of torment/torture make this incredibly hard to watch.
THE PROFESSIONAL (1981, dir. Georges Lautner)
ReplyDeleteThe Junesploitation journey takes me to France today. Jean-Paul Belmondo is Josselin Beaumont, a French agent on a mission to assassinate the leader of an African country when he is exposed by his own government for political gain. Breaking out of the prison he was placed in, Joss returns to France to get back at his former colleagues and finish the mission that he was sent on. Everything about The Professional is professional. It is a top-notch cast, the script is tight, and the director keeps the plot moving along at a quick pace. The Ennio Morricone score includes the famous Chi Mai, which was played at Belmondo’s funeral. Maybe the classiest thing I will see all month.
This has been a Junesploitation candidate for the few years that I have owned the blu-ray. It it feels good to finally get to it.
DeleteThe image is very appropriate for the day. Anyone who watches the film (Act of Vengeance) will think about the song "Jingle Bells" in a different way.
Point Blank (1967)
ReplyDeleteFinally tackling this stone-cold classic.
BLUE RUIN (2013)
ReplyDeleteFirst-time rewatch since the big screen.
Anchor Bay Blu. 9/10 up from 8/10.
My uncle's girlfriend once gave me a copy of MURDER PARTY for Christmas, knowing my own adventures in movie-making. She was excited to share it because she was school (not sure which levels) friends with Saulnier & some his gang, & thrilled to find a copy of it in a store (those were the days!). I don't think BLUE RUIN had come out yet, but MURDER PARTY was easy fun. I think it took until GREEN ROOM before I managed to connect those glaring neon dots that led back to his first flick.
In any event, BLUE RUIN still plays great & still runs a mere 90 minutes.
"I got the gun. You get the truth."
DeleteMONSTER a.k.a. MON-SEU-TEO (2014, Dir. Hwang In-ho)
ReplyDeleteEither incredibly sweet movie with a helluva mean streak, or a mean sonofabitch movie with a lovely sweet streak.
Top notch pottery content.
BURY ME AN ANGEL (1971, dir. Barbara Peeters)
ReplyDeleteWhen Dag witnesses her brother murdered by a biker, she sets out on the road with a couple of friends to find and kill the man responsible. Bury Me An Angel is by far the quirkiest biker film that I have seen. One of the factors for that is that the lead character is a woman and, as you can see above, a woman was the director. Dag is a tough person, willing to take on any man she encounters, but her vulnerability also comes out. There is also a strong comedic element to the encounters she has on the road. One of the early releases of Roger Corman’s New World Pictures.
PREMATURE BURIAL (1962) produced & directed by Roger Corman.
ReplyDeleteFrancis Ford Coppola - assistant director
Ray Milland in full Ray Milland mode in a decent adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s short story about a man deathly afraid of being buried alive and who is also unfortunately prone to bouts of waking sleep paralysis.
POINT BLANK (1967)
ReplyDeleteThis is a lot of ‘60s cool right here. Lee Marvin plays a crook who is shot for dead (at point blank range, of course), only to survive and hunt down the ones who betrayed him. It’s impressive how little exposition there is, as director John Boorman trusts the viewer to follow the complex crime plot only through visuals and minimal dialogue. I like that Lee Marvin is the type of tough guy who can kick a**, but who can also take a beating as well. Reminds me a little bit of Harrison Ford in that way.
PUSHED TO THE LIMIT (1992)
A female wrestler takes the action both on and off the ring for vengeance against the gangster who killed her brother. Real-life pro wrestler Mimi Lesseos produced and wrote the film for herself to star in. This one’s rough around the edges with too much filler that could have been cut. But Lesseos has some cool moves and that wooden yet genuine style of acting we want from our B-level action heroes. There’s an alternate universe where she had Steven Seagal’s career.
Bonus Universal Monster-sploitation: FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
What can I say that hasn’t already been said? One of the all-time greats! On this rewatch I focused my attention on Dr. Frankenstein’s friend Victor. It seems that maybe there would be a love triangle between him, Elizabeth, and Dr. F., but it never happened. Victor disappears once the final chase starts, so he has no resolution. I guess he fulfilled his arc just by bringing Elizabeth back into the doc’s life. Also, I like Fritz’s little “Hello!” he does when he’s on the roof before the storm.
Malice (1993, dir. Harold Becker)
ReplyDeleteI'd somehow never seen this until now. While I'll eventually forget the insane details of this ludicrous plot, I will never forget being blown away by the superstar wattage that is on display in this movie. Peak Kidman, Baldwin, and Pullman were a joy to watch. Had a lot of fun with this one.
New York Ninja (2021)
ReplyDeleteSo, this was apparently shot in 1984, and it sat around unedited, and without sound, until a new director cut it and hired a new cast to record dialogue. I love the IMDB trivia that most of the onscreen talent is uncredited because nobody knows who they are. This is a perfect addition to Junesploitation. By the way, breaking the fourth wall at the end immediately before a title card promising a sequel that never got made is a BOLD CHOICE.
this movie is a hoot! its also an incredible example of how boutique labels (in this case Vinegar Syndrome) are doing some incredible incredible work finding, fixing, and releasing obscure genre goodness.
DeleteSILENT NIGHT (2023)
ReplyDeleteFirst-time watch. Lionsgate Blu. 7/10.
I've heard a lot of frowns about this one, so I hoped not to carry that baggage with me. And the movie was plenty entertaining. Should I have been thinking about how good Woo's best films are? Should I have been straining to throw shade on the whole silent treatment? Should I have pretended not to be lucky that a 76-year-old legend delivered a decent flick with a long finale in a country that hasn't always done his talents right?
Either way, the only thing that bummed me out was the digital photography & some of those painful digital FX. Can digital photography managed to not stutter during pans or sweeping movements? Does 4K handle that better? I've only watched a couple new movies in 4K at home, so maybe that's the solve. Of course, few new movies make me want to pay 4K prices when the BD is on sale for $7.50. I get it with digital & digital FX, as far as budgetary concerns, but that doesn't mean I have to pretend it doesn't still lag far behind film.
Also, is it some kind of larger "Revenge Day"? I got an email from Tubi about revenge movies!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGrotesque (1988)
ReplyDeleteIt was I who craved revenge against the makers of this film until the last 5 minutes! Up to this juncture, the completely OVER THE TOP performances (in CAPS to accentuate THE SCREAMING involved with an inordinate number of line readings) had me in hysterics (the funny kind, not the kind the characters were in). Plus, there was a lot or running/walking/padding. And the inclusion of just random little scenes that had no bearing on anything (let's stop at Burger King for a couple of sodas). However, sticking around for the ending was well worth it, and that's all you're gonna get outta me. You're gonna hafta endure (or Google) to find out...
This not only fit into my Revenge slot, but it also gave me a Linda Blair flick, which is a personal requirement for Junesploitation.
One of my Junesploitation requirements is including something connected to Roger Corman. That is not a problem this year.
DeleteThe Beekeeper(2024 Dir David Ayers)
ReplyDeleteSomeone on Twitter commented this movie was "Better than I expected" That is the perfect encapsulation of my opinion. The action was solid and not overly shot or edited the plot was solid although we've seen it before. Somes scenes could have used some trimming and some of the actors could have used a little more energy (looking at you FBI partner on Valium) but overall, it's be a perfect Sunday afternoon movie. It seems made for TBS weekends.
One note. Did anyone else think "Damn, Helen Hunt looks great" only to find out that's Jemma Redgrave playing Hutcherson's mother?
PAYBACK (1999)
ReplyDeleteFirst-time watch. Tubi. 7/10.
Great cast, sort of an odd tone & plenty of fun.
I watched the longer version but am doubly curious about the director's cut; it's always intriguing when the director likes it shorter.
Nice pick! I dig this one but can't quite explain why.
DeleteTHE HORSEMAN (2008)
ReplyDeleteFirst-time rewatch since someone passed me a bootleg DVD maybe 14 years ago. Screen Media Blu. 9/10 up from 7/10.
This still packs a punch & seems underseen. Existing somewhere in a triangle mapped by HARDCORE, DEAD MAN'S SHOES & THRILLER: A CRUEL PICTURE, this Aussie odyssey hinges on lead Peter Marshall's performance, oscillating between crushed despair & nuclear dad-rage.
Whaddaya know... It's on Tubi, too!
Dude, EVERYTHING is on Tubi (and Pluto) for Junesploitation!, year-round. Both Tubi and Pluto combined is what Amazon Prime was like in years past. 🤨🙄
DeleteTwo out of the three movies I've watched so far were on Tubi!
DeleteOILY MANIAC (1976)
ReplyDeleteInspired by a 1950s series of Malaysian movies*, this film is about Sheng Yun (Danny Lee, The Killer, Thunder of Gigantic Serpent/King of Snakes, Infra-Man), a man who has risen past the handicap that polio dealt him to become a lawyer. He tries to helps a man, Lin Yang Ba (Ku Feng), who has killed a criminal to protect his daughter Yue (Chen Ping) and his coconut oil business. Before he is hung, Lin Yang gives Sheng Yu a black magic spell that transforms him into an oily maniac.
The real problem is that Yue is really in love with Chen Fu Sin (Wa Lun) and wants nothing to do with him. That means he goes on a rampage, wiping out all manner of criminals, like a plastic surgeon, a woman who accuses men of rape and a blackmailer. Look, if someone asks you to look at the magic spell on their back, lie in a hole in your yard and cover yourself with oil, I guess you do it.
Some people think all the Shaw Brothers did was martial arts movies. Oh man. I hope you know that they made movies like The Boxer’s Omen, Human Lanterns and Corpse Mania. Somehow, director Meng-Hua Ho (The Cave of the Silken Web, Black Magic) and writer Lam Chua made a movie that feels like The Heap, Man-Thing and Swamp Thing with a bit of Toxic Avenger except, you know, in 1976.
You would also think that because this is a superhero movie that it would be for children. Well, no. Not with the near-constant nudity and threat of sexual violence in every scene. It’s so strange how the goofy costume of the creature is juxtaposed against the sheer depravity on display in this movie, including scenes where a woman reveals her burned breast and the Oily Maniac attacks an abortionist mid-baby killing.
*According to IMDB, this is based on the Malaysian legend of the orang minyak (oily man), a creature that comes to life out of crude oil and is fueled by the hope for revenge by those who have been done wrong. There are also three Malaysian films — Curse of the Oily Man, Orang Minyak and Serangan Orang Minyak — as well as two modern movies, Orang minyak and Pontianak vs. Orang Minyak, which has the oily man battle a vengeful ghost woman.
Man, Pride and Vengeance (1967) dir. by Luigi Bazzoni
ReplyDeleteWe've got a couple of championship contenders for femme fatale and flawed protagonist... This was my first exposure to the Carmen story, and it was pretty extreme. Also: great landscapes, and slick photography/editing regardless. I'm just bummed this stream wasn't in Italian.
For certain titles, I will always prefer owning a disc just to have the option of choosing the language I want to hear. On streaming services, the English dub is frequently the only option with Italian genre films. The same with 1970s Hong Kong martial arts films.
DeleteDeath Wish II (1982). This was really violent and sleazy. It was a nice surprise to see Jimmy Page did the score, and he added a lot of weirdness to some intense scenes. The beginning is super rough to watch, but I enjoyed the hell out of it after that.
ReplyDelete"Do you believe in Jesus?"
DeleteDeath Wish II is the entry in the series that I have re-visited the most. There is something weirdly satisfying to Kersey's quest for revenge in this one. The griminess of the film is abandoned in the sequels that followed.
There are two versions of Death Wish II. Both are rough, but the longer assault sequences in the extended cut add details that make the scenes even more disturbing.
I Drink Your Blood (1971)
ReplyDeleteThis movie certainly features a unique method of revenge even if I think they might have gotten some of the science regarding rabies a bit off. This is perfect dumb fun for Junesploitation.
Unfaithfully Yours (1948)
A light-hearted 1940s Rex Harrison comedy about an orchestra conductor who... fantasizes about killing his wife because he thinks she might have been cheating. But hey, it all works out in the end. It's not as dark about the Satanic cult getting infected with rabies, but it also wasn't the complete 180 from I Drink Your Blood that I was expecting.
I had a chance to ask Lynn Lowry (a nice lady, btw) some questions about I Drink Your Blood. She said that she never expected that, or any of the early films, to have any kind of longevity. It goes to show that actors can seldom predict what they will be remembered for.
DeletePoint Blank (1967) I remember reading that this was originally a made for TV movie, but when the networks saw the finished film, they balked. Endlessly fascinating, violent, nihilistic film points us to the Seventies with its pessimism and downbeat ending. Lee Marvin is too cool for school, outsmarting the criminal syndicate that took his money and left him for dead. Great supporting roles for John Vernon, Angie Dickinson, Keenan Wynn, and Carol O’Connor. Hey, is that SID HAIG?!
ReplyDeleteThat also happened to another Lee Marvin film, a remake of The Killers, directed by Don Siegel. The television networks thought it was too violent for broadcast in 1964.
DeleteSugar Hill (1974)
ReplyDeleteA bit dull, but overall a fun enough revenge flick.