HARD TARGET (1993, AMAZON PRIME) TWISTERS (2024, AMC DOLBY CINEMA) LONGLEGS ('24, THEATER) SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT ('24, THEATER)
Like the Kino 4K release, the 'R' cut of "Hard Target" streaming on Prime is the version that was deemed too violent and 'NC-17' rated back in '93. Other than more stuntmen pulling amazing summersaults, though, it's not radically different from the 'R' version we've had since the VHS era. The first act with Yancy Butler recruiting Jean Claude Van Damme to help her find a missing-in-New-Orleans homeless father is a boring slog. But after Arnold Vosloo shoots a guy's head with a shotgun on the streets it's an almost-uninterrupted, non-stop action race to reach the 90 min. mark. It might be John Woo's American directorial debut, but the action set-pieces have a confidence and energy (not to mention silly humor like the classic #PunchtheSnake moment! :-P) that is further enhanced by a solid cast of veteran actors (Lance Henriksen, Kasi Lemmons, Wilford Brimley, etc.) backing-up Van Damme's violent acrobatics with badassery of their own. It's dated fun, but "HT's" influence on action cinema can still be felt today.
Went to the Thursday 8:30 AMC Times Square Dolby Cinema preview screening of "Twisters" on a lark (I was planning to see "Oddity" but had last-second doubts), and wound up with an unannounced in-person introduction by Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones (in town to appear on "Colbert" and "Seth Meyers," respectively). Wasn't a fan of OG "Twister" for years until very recently, when a group viewing with family was the most fun I've ever had with it. This sequel-in-name-only doesn't have the benefit of cutting-edge special effects the '96 movie had, but having ILM deliver top-tier visual work along with some truly seat-shaking theater sound delivered the cinematic experience you just cannot replicate at home. Instead of good vs. bad scientist/tornado chasers teams we now have mixed emotions and inner-conflicts between the groups stemming from an opening scene trauma, though leaning heavy on YouTube culture tropes early on made me want to throw-up. Glen Powell (busiest actor working in Hollywood right now) starts annoying, but by the end his Tyler and Daisy Edgar-Jones' Kate have developed irresistible chemistry that makes you care about not just them but everyone they try to help (including civilians on the path of the storms). Yes, at times "Twisters" feel like the AI-made, generic-and-predictable-as-eff version of "Twister." It's the human factor in the filmmaking assembly (Josh Kosinski's screenwriting, Glen Powell's charm, Anthony Ramos' story arc, etc.) that ultimately lift this into irresistible summer blockbuster spectacle. I'm rewatching "Twisters" next week in 4DX. Yep, that good. :-D
It's a shame Osgood Perkins' better earlier work ("The Blackcoat's Daughter," "Gretel & Hansel") will get overshadowed by "Longlegs" giving the writer/director his first crack at box office success. Whenever the attention is focused on sentient rookie FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) trying to solve the decades-old mystery of a serial killer who makes families eliminate themselves without him being physically present ("Silence of the Lambs" meets "The X-Files") "Longlegs" is enthralling. Unfortunately Nic Cage (one of the producers) plays the titular character like a weirdo freak that would have called attention and been caught long before Harker and her boss (Blair Underwood) got on his trail. Until the credits appeared I had no idea Alicia Witt played Lee's mother. :-O "Longlegs" is creepy enough to be worth seeing, but be ready for Cage overacting to sabotage the experience.
Angel Studio's latest attempt to recapture "Sound of Freedom's" box office gold ("Sound of Hope"... really?) gets by on the solid dramatic foundation of a Texas family (Nika King and Demetrius Grosse) adopting undesirable kids that nobody else wants. It's well-acted and not too sanctimonious, but it wears religion on its sleeve and can't help but be preachy. 'It's fine' but unmemorable.
I read Glen Powell will be in a remake of Backdraft. I'm sick of remakes and legacy-sequels, but if you have to do it, might as well be him. Throw in Syndney Sweeney and I'll be happy 😜
Blue Crush (2002): I thought i was starting Into The Blue, which would've been very fine to watch, but a very different movie, outside of all the water and sun and swimsuits. Blue Crush is a simple hangout movie. Beautiful beach, surfing, a bit of girl-meet-boy drama because we need a story. Sometimes that's all you need, and right now that's what I need. And Michelle Rodriguez makes any movie at least 25% better. Then I watched the sequel, different beaches, different characters, bad writing, worse acting, but somewhat the same vibe.
Into The Blue (2005): director John Stockwell definitely has a type, he also directed Blue Crush. Another cool movie with a lot of blue water and blue sky and hard bodies in swimsuits flopping around. As you'd expect from a movie shot in the Caribbeans, there's a lot of beautiful looking shots. This time we have drug smugglers and treasure hunt, which i don't care about because it's mostly cliché and dumb. I could do without Scott Caan, never cared for the guy, always doing the dumbass character doing stupid stuff. The sequel is more of the same with different characters played by lower-level actors, and a bit dumber.
Thelma (2024): This shouldn't be this funny. Think The Beekeeper, but with a 95 years old woman and way less blood. June Squibb is a national treasure. Also, Clark Gregg has a serious tan.
Ok so this is weird...Aliens is obviously, undeniably, one of the greatest sci-fi/action/horror/etc movies of all time. duh. Ive seen it countless times. However, for whatever reason, apparently ive always watched the theatrical release. Holy sh@t the special edition is awesome. It adds SUBSTANTIAL scenes that build and expand the existing story. I absolutely loved this viewing.
MAXXXINE (2024) On the podcast, you guys seemed a little cold on this movie, but I for one thought it was great. Super-stylish and slick, and a nifty whodunit.
FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956) Can you get Krell metal at Home Depot?
GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE (2024) How can a movie with this much action be this boring?
AXEL F (2024) I'm torn on this one. You can tell Eddie is giving 100 percent, but I agree that the flat made-for-TV look does no favors.
THE FIRST OMEN (2024) Uh... let's just say this one wasn't for me.
HARD TARGET (1993) John Woo goodness!
LONGLEGS (2024) Whew, this was a lot to take in. It's like five movies squished into one. Cage is good, but Maika Monroe and Alicia Witt are the real scene stealers. Maika continually looks like she's about to explode, so it's suspenseful whenever they cut to her for a reaction shot.
Since the conclusion of Junesploitation, I've stepped back from movies considerably: just 6 flicks in the past 3 weeks. I have retreated into reading a voluminous 660-page tome in the Midnight Movie Monographs series, Stephen R. Bissette's deep DEEP dive into THE BROOD. It's excellent reading, and although Bissette dips down some seemingly tangential rabbit holes, his writing is engaging and there's usually interesting facts and opinions in said holes, which he is always able to connect to the movie. I really enjoyed his comparison of THE BROOD with Zulawski's POSSESSION, one of my favorite films, and his dissection of all things Cronenberg is excellent. Highly recommended if you're a Cronenberg obsessive, and generally recommended if you love analysis of horror films or are looking for some not-so-light summer reading.
On that note: do any of my fellow F THIS MOVIE fans read movie books? I'm always looking for new reading material and would love to hear what words y'all are putting your attention to when you're not reading the blog!
Oh, and just for the curious, here's the films I've watched thus far in July: EMPIRE OF THE DARK (1990): A leftover from Junesploitation. If you're looking for a fantasy/action/zombie/ninja film with a heavy dose of porn 'staches, look no further. STARCRASH (1978): Caroline Munro dressed as an interstellar Vampirella (there's a song title for you), baby David Hasselhoff, Joe Spinell hamming it like Christmas dinner is going out of style, some fun/cheap special effects, and an apparently heavily sedated Christopher Plummer. How had I never seen this before? THE HOWLING II: YOUR SISTER IS A WEREWOLF (1985): This was a leftover from Junesploiation '23 that I'd never gotten around to. Sybil Danning's breast steal the show. Kind of like taking candy from a baby. ISLAND OF THE LIVING DEAD (2007): Bruno Mattei. 'Nuff said. ROME: THE OTHER SIDE OF VIOLENCE (1976): Poliziottechi was new to me before Junesploitation '23. I watched a couple of great ones last year and have been revisiting the genre since. This one was fun in all the right ways: lots of shoot-outs, chases, and chiseled chins. RABID (1977): All the reading about Cronenberg started an itch I needed to scratch. I appreciate Marylin Chambers' performance in this, and the irony that she possesses the phallus this time around.
Happy to continue reading of your adventures here, F THIS MOVIE friends! I'll keep checking in and checking on your cinematic travels!
As movie books go, i love the 'oral history' type. Some recent read...
- Surely You Can't Be Serious - The True Story of Airplane - A Masterpiece in Disarray - David Lynch's Dune - The Blues Brothers - The Making of an American Film Classic
As a fan of the tv show Stargate SG1, i got Chevon Locked
Then there's the book sequel to Heat, which is Heat 2.
The list very much resembles an extension of Junesploitation, Zillagord. When June ended, I felt it necessary to take a completely different cinematic direction.
I have tried watching late period Bruno Mattei. The cheapness of the productions was a bit too much for me. Howling II is an odd movie, something not good enough or bad enough to really enjoy. Sybil Danning is the the one bright spot in it.
Casual: I watch Junesploitation fare year round! Yesterday, I finished the book on The Brood, so I watched the film and found my reading really enriched my viewing experience. Then I watched (thanks to Mashke's rec) Aliens The Special Edition. Really dug it. I hadn't watched it in years, and that, plus the new scenes, made for a fresh and exciting experience.
Kunider: Thanks! The Airplane and Dune books sound great! I recommend Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story to you, it sounds like a book in the style you like!
Noted: today is the 80th anniversary of the 1944 July Plot and its enactment of Operation Valkyrie, a heroic attempt to assassinate Hitler and dismantle his government.
I understand if anyone can't bring themselves to watch the 2008 film Valkyrie on account of its director, but it's one of my favorite movies even so.
I agree, this is an excellent war movie. It's interesting as it's about a failure instead of a victory. As a viewer I'm so hyped about how well it's going and then it just falls apart.
Circumstances came together this week to make this a very productive week of movie-watching. I got to a lot more than I expected to.
UMRAO JAAN (1981, dir. Mustaffa Ali) – This was certainly not an ideal watch. My DVD plays only till around the half-way point of the film, so I had to resort to an inferior version on Youtube with no subtitles. Umrao Jaan was still an excellent film, particularly because of the entrancing performance from Rekha, the lead actress. She portrays the title character, a woman kidnapped by her uncle and sold to a brothel in northern India during the first half of the 19th century. Part of her work involves singing and dancing for clients, skills that bring her much renown. There are many trials and tribulations that she endures. Set during the Mughal period of Indian history, the story invokes the Muslim culture of the time. Poetry is an especially important element of the narrative. Because Umrao Jaan requires a certain amount of knowledge of Indian history and culture to comprehend it, this is not the best introduction to Indian cinema for a newbie.
BLUES IN THE NIGHT (1941, dir. Anatole Litvak) – I saw the DVD for this at a Big Lots store several years ago. I was never intrigued enough to buy the disc, but I always intended to see the film if it showed up on Turner Classic Movies. It did recently. The film begins as a musical drama with a group of jazz musicians coming together and traveling the United States by whichever means possible to make their dreams happen. A chance encounter while hopping train cars leads to a gig outside New York City that has fateful consequences. The rough edge of the story is established very early, and the film moves towards noir territory by the conclusion. Blues in the Night is definitely not the typical film of the period, and there is a surprise in the form of a young Elia Kazan in a supporting role.
HOUSE OF WOMEN (1962) – A prison melodrama about women dealing with motherhood behind bars. You know this a B-movie when the noticeably older stock footage shows up. The central character is Erika, a pregnant young woman who got mixed up in an armed robbery. Much of the drama revolves around her attempts to not lose custody of her child. When a new warden imposes strict rules on the prison, trouble comes. Certain tropes of the prison film are present, but the time period restricts the sleaze factor a lot. I was entertained.
BLOOD, GUTS, AND SUNSHINE (2021, dir. Sean Donohue) – It is surprising how many horror films have been made in Florida or have a Florida connection. The big names are certainly discussed: H. G. Lewis, Bill Grefe, and Bob Clark. The horror S.O.V. and independent scenes are also thoroughly covered. The documentary’s producers are actually part of those scenes. The general style of the documentary is ramblingly episodic but informative, featuring plenty of interviews with people who participated in making the films. Though it is not the most engaging film documentary, it would probably be a good watch for those interested in the world of low-budget horror.
I also delved into the Indian action franchise Dhoom, which is now on Prime. The movies center around Mumbai supercop Jai Dixit with the help of his very comedic crime-fighting partner, Ali. In DHOOM (2004), a gang with souped up motorcycles is robbing banks in Mumbai. Dixit forcefully recruits a motorcycle street racer and criminal named Ali to help catch the gang. The influence of films like The Fast And The Furious all is over Dhoom. The music is certainly of that early 2000s vintage. There are no saris in this; frankly, the clothing for the actresses is very skimpy. Though I cannot say that Dhoom is my cinematic cup of tea, it is an easy film to absorb and only goes on a little over two hours.
Despite my feelings about the first film, I still moved on to DHOOM 2 (2006) . This time Jai Dixit and Ali are on the trail of a master thief, known as Mr. A, who has taken priceless treasures in many countries. India, of course, is next on Mr. A’s heist journey around the world. Dixit and Ali also go to Brazil to continue the case. Like the original film, Dhoom 2 is a very slick production and extremely rooted in 2000s styles. The musical segments resemble the music videos of the time. The ridiculousness of the story fully won me over, though, and I had a good laugh at the stylistic excesses of the film. Moreover, the film consciously makes the viewer aware that it is a sequel, which adds to the humor. Aishwarya Rai is the female lead. For anyone looking for over-the-top 2000s era action, Dhoom 2 will probably not disappoint.
ABSENCE OF MALICE (1981) I've watched it couple of times this week not because I really like it or think it's good, but it's an easy movie to have on in the background. Something that stands out to me is it's a very unflattering role for the female lead, Sally Field. She's a new reporter who makes huge mistakes with an investigation about Paul Newman's involvement in a murder. And her character is awkward romantically. I think that is kind of...unusual.
I took out my Blade Runner DVD set to watch the theatrical cut for the first time in many years. My introduction to the film was a television broadcast of that same cut back in the summer of 2000. (A lot changes in a quarter of a century.) The aesthetic of Blade Runner is still mesmerizing. Being used to the later versions of the film, the ending of the theatrical cut is jolting now. Harrison Ford's voice-over only works during Roy Batty's death scene.
Turning on the television last night, I found Turner Classic Movies airing THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT'S WOMAN (1981). That is one of those films I have meant to see over the years. I cannot remember the last film with Meryl Streep that I saw, but the way she inhabits a role impressed me. Jeremy Irons and Streep play actors in a British period film about an affair while being lovers during the production. Those parallel stories are intertwined to show the connections and differences between them. It is an all around classy film and beautiful to look at.
A completely off my radar early 90s actioner staring Pierce Brosnan and the always perfectly-smarmy-baddie Ron Silver. Discovered it via some great twitter banter of fellow movie lovers. It is a HOOT! Pierce plays an interesting character in that he's in a self destructive place, crushed by the loss of a child, and a bipolar asshole to his ex-wife. Theres not much to like about him nor is there much of a growth arc BUT he's cocky and defuses bombs. The best part is the bad guys, whatever their master plan is (i dont exactly know), have figured out a way to make explosive water that, when drunk, turns people into timebombs. #Only-in-the-80s-and-90s. Phenomenal choice for future "90s Action" days during Junesploitation.
THE TRAIN (1964) Just watched this - it's SO GOOD. Burt Lancaster leads a group of train engineers who get caught up in a French resistance transportation operation as WW2 comes to an end on French territory. It's a simple plot. It would be easy to say too much and give it away. There's so much fun technical stuff about trains! By far the best action movie about trains I've ever seen. Even though he's known for his physique, I realize I'd never really seen Burt Lancaster as an action star before. He's great. Highly highly recommend!
Rocky IV Theatrical and Director's Cut (1985): First of all, thank you Warner for putting both versions in 4K on the disc, and not just the Theatrical Cut, like most companies do. I actually didn't know a DC existed before I bought the boxset. That being said, Rocky IV will always be great, so great in fact that it's the first one I watched from the boxset, instead of going in order. The DC is 2-3 minutes longer, heavily re-edited and is a different in tone. They nixed the f-ing robot too (the guy who made the thing said it's because of royalty fees, which I call bullshit, it just sucked). It starts with a longer flashback from Rocky III. Skip the Creed Rocky practice fight. There's also the musical montage in the middle (it's in the TC) that's all flashbacks from the previous movies, turned to a very bad looking B&W. The Drago/Creed fight is still heartbreaking and the training montage in Russia is still awesome. There's one added scene that's worth it, it's when Rocky goes before the boxing committee and tries to convince them to fight Drago himself. I'm not saying the DC isn't worth the watch, but the TC will always be the best. Apparently, the DC was well received, which I kinda get, and I understand the TC was very much a product of its time, but I don't think they fixed anything with the DC, just created different problems.
I do not know if anyone saw the news, but Hong Kong actress Chang Pei Pei passed away this week. In films like Come Drink With Me (1966) and Lady Hermit (1971), she was a big part of the early wave of Shaw Brothers martial arts films. She is definitely best known for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
I watched Dances With Wolves which is a movie I love (theatrical, which is perfectly paced). Then watched The Postman which I had never seen. What a silly but heartfelt and sincere movie. I kind of loved it. And now I'm watching Dances With Wolves again.
HARD TARGET (1993, AMAZON PRIME)
ReplyDeleteTWISTERS (2024, AMC DOLBY CINEMA)
LONGLEGS ('24, THEATER)
SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT ('24, THEATER)
Like the Kino 4K release, the 'R' cut of "Hard Target" streaming on Prime is the version that was deemed too violent and 'NC-17' rated back in '93. Other than more stuntmen pulling amazing summersaults, though, it's not radically different from the 'R' version we've had since the VHS era. The first act with Yancy Butler recruiting Jean Claude Van Damme to help her find a missing-in-New-Orleans homeless father is a boring slog. But after Arnold Vosloo shoots a guy's head with a shotgun on the streets it's an almost-uninterrupted, non-stop action race to reach the 90 min. mark. It might be John Woo's American directorial debut, but the action set-pieces have a confidence and energy (not to mention silly humor like the classic #PunchtheSnake moment! :-P) that is further enhanced by a solid cast of veteran actors (Lance Henriksen, Kasi Lemmons, Wilford Brimley, etc.) backing-up Van Damme's violent acrobatics with badassery of their own. It's dated fun, but "HT's" influence on action cinema can still be felt today.
Went to the Thursday 8:30 AMC Times Square Dolby Cinema preview screening of "Twisters" on a lark (I was planning to see "Oddity" but had last-second doubts), and wound up with an unannounced in-person introduction by Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones (in town to appear on "Colbert" and "Seth Meyers," respectively). Wasn't a fan of OG "Twister" for years until very recently, when a group viewing with family was the most fun I've ever had with it. This sequel-in-name-only doesn't have the benefit of cutting-edge special effects the '96 movie had, but having ILM deliver top-tier visual work along with some truly seat-shaking theater sound delivered the cinematic experience you just cannot replicate at home. Instead of good vs. bad scientist/tornado chasers teams we now have mixed emotions and inner-conflicts between the groups stemming from an opening scene trauma, though leaning heavy on YouTube culture tropes early on made me want to throw-up. Glen Powell (busiest actor working in Hollywood right now) starts annoying, but by the end his Tyler and Daisy Edgar-Jones' Kate have developed irresistible chemistry that makes you care about not just them but everyone they try to help (including civilians on the path of the storms). Yes, at times "Twisters" feel like the AI-made, generic-and-predictable-as-eff version of "Twister." It's the human factor in the filmmaking assembly (Josh Kosinski's screenwriting, Glen Powell's charm, Anthony Ramos' story arc, etc.) that ultimately lift this into irresistible summer blockbuster spectacle. I'm rewatching "Twisters" next week in 4DX. Yep, that good. :-D
It's a shame Osgood Perkins' better earlier work ("The Blackcoat's Daughter," "Gretel & Hansel") will get overshadowed by "Longlegs" giving the writer/director his first crack at box office success. Whenever the attention is focused on sentient rookie FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) trying to solve the decades-old mystery of a serial killer who makes families eliminate themselves without him being physically present ("Silence of the Lambs" meets "The X-Files") "Longlegs" is enthralling. Unfortunately Nic Cage (one of the producers) plays the titular character like a weirdo freak that would have called attention and been caught long before Harker and her boss (Blair Underwood) got on his trail. Until the credits appeared I had no idea Alicia Witt played Lee's mother. :-O "Longlegs" is creepy enough to be worth seeing, but be ready for Cage overacting to sabotage the experience.
Angel Studio's latest attempt to recapture "Sound of Freedom's" box office gold ("Sound of Hope"... really?) gets by on the solid dramatic foundation of a Texas family (Nika King and Demetrius Grosse) adopting undesirable kids that nobody else wants. It's well-acted and not too sanctimonious, but it wears religion on its sleeve and can't help but be preachy. 'It's fine' but unmemorable.
I read Glen Powell will be in a remake of Backdraft. I'm sick of remakes and legacy-sequels, but if you have to do it, might as well be him. Throw in Syndney Sweeney and I'll be happy 😜
DeleteBlue Crush (2002): I thought i was starting Into The Blue, which would've been very fine to watch, but a very different movie, outside of all the water and sun and swimsuits. Blue Crush is a simple hangout movie. Beautiful beach, surfing, a bit of girl-meet-boy drama because we need a story. Sometimes that's all you need, and right now that's what I need. And Michelle Rodriguez makes any movie at least 25% better. Then I watched the sequel, different beaches, different characters, bad writing, worse acting, but somewhat the same vibe.
ReplyDeleteInto The Blue (2005): director John Stockwell definitely has a type, he also directed Blue Crush. Another cool movie with a lot of blue water and blue sky and hard bodies in swimsuits flopping around. As you'd expect from a movie shot in the Caribbeans, there's a lot of beautiful looking shots. This time we have drug smugglers and treasure hunt, which i don't care about because it's mostly cliché and dumb. I could do without Scott Caan, never cared for the guy, always doing the dumbass character doing stupid stuff. The sequel is more of the same with different characters played by lower-level actors, and a bit dumber.
Thelma (2024): This shouldn't be this funny. Think The Beekeeper, but with a 95 years old woman and way less blood. June Squibb is a national treasure. Also, Clark Gregg has a serious tan.
DeleteAliens (1986 Bluray - 1991 Special Edition)
ReplyDeleteOk so this is weird...Aliens is obviously, undeniably, one of the greatest sci-fi/action/horror/etc movies of all time. duh. Ive seen it countless times. However, for whatever reason, apparently ive always watched the theatrical release. Holy sh@t the special edition is awesome. It adds SUBSTANTIAL scenes that build and expand the existing story. I absolutely loved this viewing.
Thanks for the tip! Was gonna watch this again soon, I'll make sure to screen this version!
DeleteI think my only watches of Aliens since first watching the film on cable in the 1980s have been the expanded cut.
DeleteMAXXXINE (2024)
ReplyDeleteOn the podcast, you guys seemed a little cold on this movie, but I for one thought it was great. Super-stylish and slick, and a nifty whodunit.
FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956)
Can you get Krell metal at Home Depot?
GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE (2024)
How can a movie with this much action be this boring?
AXEL F (2024)
I'm torn on this one. You can tell Eddie is giving 100 percent, but I agree that the flat made-for-TV look does no favors.
THE FIRST OMEN (2024)
Uh... let's just say this one wasn't for me.
HARD TARGET (1993)
John Woo goodness!
LONGLEGS (2024)
Whew, this was a lot to take in. It's like five movies squished into one. Cage is good, but Maika Monroe and Alicia Witt are the real scene stealers. Maika continually looks like she's about to explode, so it's suspenseful whenever they cut to her for a reaction shot.
I seem to be the only one on the planet who like Godzilla x Kong. I thought it was fun.
Deletewoot! glad you dug Maxxxine..gonna try to catch it this week.
DeleteSince the conclusion of Junesploitation, I've stepped back from movies considerably: just 6 flicks in the past 3 weeks. I have retreated into reading a voluminous 660-page tome in the Midnight Movie Monographs series, Stephen R. Bissette's deep DEEP dive into THE BROOD. It's excellent reading, and although Bissette dips down some seemingly tangential rabbit holes, his writing is engaging and there's usually interesting facts and opinions in said holes, which he is always able to connect to the movie. I really enjoyed his comparison of THE BROOD with Zulawski's POSSESSION, one of my favorite films, and his dissection of all things Cronenberg is excellent. Highly recommended if you're a Cronenberg obsessive, and generally recommended if you love analysis of horror films or are looking for some not-so-light summer reading.
ReplyDeleteOn that note: do any of my fellow F THIS MOVIE fans read movie books? I'm always looking for new reading material and would love to hear what words y'all are putting your attention to when you're not reading the blog!
Oh, and just for the curious, here's the films I've watched thus far in July:
EMPIRE OF THE DARK (1990): A leftover from Junesploitation. If you're looking for a fantasy/action/zombie/ninja film with a heavy dose of porn 'staches, look no further.
STARCRASH (1978): Caroline Munro dressed as an interstellar Vampirella (there's a song title for you), baby David Hasselhoff, Joe Spinell hamming it like Christmas dinner is going out of style, some fun/cheap special effects, and an apparently heavily sedated Christopher Plummer. How had I never seen this before?
THE HOWLING II: YOUR SISTER IS A WEREWOLF (1985): This was a leftover from Junesploiation '23 that I'd never gotten around to. Sybil Danning's breast steal the show. Kind of like taking candy from a baby.
ISLAND OF THE LIVING DEAD (2007): Bruno Mattei. 'Nuff said.
ROME: THE OTHER SIDE OF VIOLENCE (1976): Poliziottechi was new to me before Junesploitation '23. I watched a couple of great ones last year and have been revisiting the genre since. This one was fun in all the right ways: lots of shoot-outs, chases, and chiseled chins.
RABID (1977): All the reading about Cronenberg started an itch I needed to scratch. I appreciate Marylin Chambers' performance in this, and the irony that she possesses the phallus this time around.
Happy to continue reading of your adventures here, F THIS MOVIE friends! I'll keep checking in and checking on your cinematic travels!
As movie books go, i love the 'oral history' type. Some recent read...
Delete- Surely You Can't Be Serious - The True Story of Airplane
- A Masterpiece in Disarray - David Lynch's Dune
- The Blues Brothers - The Making of an American Film Classic
As a fan of the tv show Stargate SG1, i got Chevon Locked
Then there's the book sequel to Heat, which is Heat 2.
The list very much resembles an extension of Junesploitation, Zillagord. When June ended, I felt it necessary to take a completely different cinematic direction.
DeleteI have tried watching late period Bruno Mattei. The cheapness of the productions was a bit too much for me. Howling II is an odd movie, something not good enough or bad enough to really enjoy. Sybil Danning is the the one bright spot in it.
Casual: I watch Junesploitation fare year round! Yesterday, I finished the book on The Brood, so I watched the film and found my reading really enriched my viewing experience. Then I watched (thanks to Mashke's rec) Aliens The Special Edition. Really dug it. I hadn't watched it in years, and that, plus the new scenes, made for a fresh and exciting experience.
DeleteAt some point this year I will get back to watching exploitation movies. I do love them, but I just need a break now.
DeleteKunider: Thanks! The Airplane and Dune books sound great! I recommend Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story to you, it sounds like a book in the style you like!
DeleteNoted: today is the 80th anniversary of the 1944 July Plot and its enactment of Operation Valkyrie, a heroic attempt to assassinate Hitler and dismantle his government.
ReplyDeleteI understand if anyone can't bring themselves to watch the 2008 film Valkyrie on account of its director, but it's one of my favorite movies even so.
Never saw it actually, not because of the director, it just never happened
DeleteI'll fix it now
Excellent movie, i should've this before today
DeleteI agree, this is an excellent war movie. It's interesting as it's about a failure instead of a victory. As a viewer I'm so hyped about how well it's going and then it just falls apart.
DeleteCircumstances came together this week to make this a very productive week of movie-watching. I got to a lot more than I expected to.
ReplyDeleteUMRAO JAAN (1981, dir. Mustaffa Ali) – This was certainly not an ideal watch. My DVD plays only till around the half-way point of the film, so I had to resort to an inferior version on Youtube with no subtitles. Umrao Jaan was still an excellent film, particularly because of the entrancing performance from Rekha, the lead actress. She portrays the title character, a woman kidnapped by her uncle and sold to a brothel in northern India during the first half of the 19th century. Part of her work involves singing and dancing for clients, skills that bring her much renown. There are many trials and tribulations that she endures. Set during the Mughal period of Indian history, the story invokes the Muslim culture of the time. Poetry is an especially important element of the narrative. Because Umrao Jaan requires a certain amount of knowledge of Indian history and culture to comprehend it, this is not the best introduction to Indian cinema for a newbie.
BLUES IN THE NIGHT (1941, dir. Anatole Litvak) – I saw the DVD for this at a Big Lots store several years ago. I was never intrigued enough to buy the disc, but I always intended to see the film if it showed up on Turner Classic Movies. It did recently. The film begins as a musical drama with a group of jazz musicians coming together and traveling the United States by whichever means possible to make their dreams happen. A chance encounter while hopping train cars leads to a gig outside New York City that has fateful consequences. The rough edge of the story is established very early, and the film moves towards noir territory by the conclusion. Blues in the Night is definitely not the typical film of the period, and there is a surprise in the form of a young Elia Kazan in a supporting role.
HOUSE OF WOMEN (1962) – A prison melodrama about women dealing with motherhood behind bars. You know this a B-movie when the noticeably older stock footage shows up. The central character is Erika, a pregnant young woman who got mixed up in an armed robbery. Much of the drama revolves around her attempts to not lose custody of her child. When a new warden imposes strict rules on the prison, trouble comes. Certain tropes of the prison film are present, but the time period restricts the sleaze factor a lot. I was entertained.
BLOOD, GUTS, AND SUNSHINE (2021, dir. Sean Donohue) – It is surprising how many horror films have been made in Florida or have a Florida connection. The big names are certainly discussed: H. G. Lewis, Bill Grefe, and Bob Clark. The horror S.O.V. and independent scenes are also thoroughly covered. The documentary’s producers are actually part of those scenes. The general style of the documentary is ramblingly episodic but informative, featuring plenty of interviews with people who participated in making the films. Though it is not the most engaging film documentary, it would probably be a good watch for those interested in the world of low-budget horror.
I also delved into the Indian action franchise Dhoom, which is now on Prime. The movies center around Mumbai supercop Jai Dixit with the help of his very comedic crime-fighting partner, Ali. In DHOOM (2004), a gang with souped up motorcycles is robbing banks in Mumbai. Dixit forcefully recruits a motorcycle street racer and criminal named Ali to help catch the gang. The influence of films like The Fast And The Furious all is over Dhoom. The music is certainly of that early 2000s vintage. There are no saris in this; frankly, the clothing for the actresses is very skimpy. Though I cannot say that Dhoom is my cinematic cup of tea, it is an easy film to absorb and only goes on a little over two hours.
Despite my feelings about the first film, I still moved on to DHOOM 2 (2006) . This time Jai Dixit and Ali are on the trail of a master thief, known as Mr. A, who has taken priceless treasures in many countries. India, of course, is next on Mr. A’s heist journey around the world. Dixit and Ali also go to Brazil to continue the case. Like the original film, Dhoom 2 is a very slick production and extremely rooted in 2000s styles. The musical segments resemble the music videos of the time. The ridiculousness of the story fully won me over, though, and I had a good laugh at the stylistic excesses of the film. Moreover, the film consciously makes the viewer aware that it is a sequel, which adds to the humor. Aishwarya Rai is the female lead. For anyone looking for over-the-top 2000s era action, Dhoom 2 will probably not disappoint.
DeleteGotta check out Blood, Guts, and Sunshine! Thanks!
DeleteABSENCE OF MALICE (1981)
ReplyDeleteI've watched it couple of times this week not because I really like it or think it's good, but it's an easy movie to have on in the background.
Something that stands out to me is it's a very unflattering role for the female lead, Sally Field. She's a new reporter who makes huge mistakes with an investigation about Paul Newman's involvement in a murder. And her character is awkward romantically. I think that is kind of...unusual.
There was an unexpected double feature overnight.
ReplyDeleteI took out my Blade Runner DVD set to watch the theatrical cut for the first time in many years. My introduction to the film was a television broadcast of that same cut back in the summer of 2000. (A lot changes in a quarter of a century.) The aesthetic of Blade Runner is still mesmerizing. Being used to the later versions of the film, the ending of the theatrical cut is jolting now. Harrison Ford's voice-over only works during Roy Batty's death scene.
Turning on the television last night, I found Turner Classic Movies airing THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT'S WOMAN (1981). That is one of those films I have meant to see over the years. I cannot remember the last film with Meryl Streep that I saw, but the way she inhabits a role impressed me. Jeremy Irons and Streep play actors in a British period film about an affair while being lovers during the production. Those parallel stories are intertwined to show the connections and differences between them. It is an all around classy film and beautiful to look at.
Live Wire (dvd 1992)
ReplyDeleteA completely off my radar early 90s actioner staring Pierce Brosnan and the always perfectly-smarmy-baddie Ron Silver. Discovered it via some great twitter banter of fellow movie lovers. It is a HOOT! Pierce plays an interesting character in that he's in a self destructive place, crushed by the loss of a child, and a bipolar asshole to his ex-wife. Theres not much to like about him nor is there much of a growth arc BUT he's cocky and defuses bombs. The best part is the bad guys, whatever their master plan is (i dont exactly know), have figured out a way to make explosive water that, when drunk, turns people into timebombs. #Only-in-the-80s-and-90s. Phenomenal choice for future "90s Action" days during Junesploitation.
Live Wire is awesome! We Hate Movies podcast has a particularly good episode on it.
Deletewoot! thanks!
DeleteTHE TRAIN (1964)
ReplyDeleteJust watched this - it's SO GOOD. Burt Lancaster leads a group of train engineers who get caught up in a French resistance transportation operation as WW2 comes to an end on French territory. It's a simple plot. It would be easy to say too much and give it away. There's so much fun technical stuff about trains! By far the best action movie about trains I've ever seen. Even though he's known for his physique, I realize I'd never really seen Burt Lancaster as an action star before. He's great. Highly highly recommend!
My kind of movie. I'll try to watch it soon.
DeleteYes, and report back some weekend. It's on YT for free. Can't get over those train sequences.
DeleteWell, another great movie with Burt Lancaster. He has yet to let me down. I'm gonna need the 4k disc for this one.
DeleteHappy to hear you liked it!
DeleteI haven't seen it. Screen Drafts podcast did an episode on train movies, and it was top 3. Definitely high on my "must watch" list.
DeleteI've loved Burt Lancaster in everything too. He was phenomenal in Run Silent, Run Deep (1958). Seven Days To May (1964) was fantastic.
DeleteThanks, Paul. Those can be my next watches.
DeleteOOOO great to hear. ive got this on dvd and been waiting to watch. i think i need to do so ASAP!
DeleteDo it!
DeleteRocky IV Theatrical and Director's Cut (1985): First of all, thank you Warner for putting both versions in 4K on the disc, and not just the Theatrical Cut, like most companies do. I actually didn't know a DC existed before I bought the boxset. That being said, Rocky IV will always be great, so great in fact that it's the first one I watched from the boxset, instead of going in order. The DC is 2-3 minutes longer, heavily re-edited and is a different in tone. They nixed the f-ing robot too (the guy who made the thing said it's because of royalty fees, which I call bullshit, it just sucked). It starts with a longer flashback from Rocky III. Skip the Creed Rocky practice fight. There's also the musical montage in the middle (it's in the TC) that's all flashbacks from the previous movies, turned to a very bad looking B&W. The Drago/Creed fight is still heartbreaking and the training montage in Russia is still awesome. There's one added scene that's worth it, it's when Rocky goes before the boxing committee and tries to convince them to fight Drago himself. I'm not saying the DC isn't worth the watch, but the TC will always be the best. Apparently, the DC was well received, which I kinda get, and I understand the TC was very much a product of its time, but I don't think they fixed anything with the DC, just created different problems.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most watched films of my youth. The soundtrack is implanted in my memory.
DeleteYeah, the montages would be nothing without those songs
DeleteI do not know if anyone saw the news, but Hong Kong actress Chang Pei Pei passed away this week. In films like Come Drink With Me (1966) and Lady Hermit (1971), she was a big part of the early wave of Shaw Brothers martial arts films. She is definitely best known for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
ReplyDeleteBetween her, Shannen Doherty, Bob Newhart and Richard Simmons, it has not been a great week for sick celebs
DeleteI watched Dances With Wolves which is a movie I love (theatrical, which is perfectly paced). Then watched The Postman which I had never seen. What a silly but heartfelt and sincere movie. I kind of loved it. And now I'm watching Dances With Wolves again.
ReplyDelete