Happy Thanksgiving in advance to our U.S. readers. 🍗🙂🦃
Watched SISU (2022, 4K UHD) early Thursday evening, then went to my local AMC theater to watch the just-released sequel, SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE (2025), on the big screen. "Sisu" holds up well for a simplistic World War ll Finland action/revenge exploitation hybrid. Jorma Tommila gives Liam Neeson and Harrison Ford a serious run as the most badass senior citizen working in movies today. Tommila's expressions and soulful eyes make it clear he'd rather not be doing any of the desperate feats of borderline-supernatural strength he pulls off to survive escaping Nazis torching his homeland as they chase after his just-discovered gold. But when push comes to shove(l), it's just plain fun watching Aatami slaughter Nazi scum while helping fellow countrywomen do likewise. That poor old horse! 🥺😭
"Sisu: Road to Revenge" feels like it's trying to be "The Road Warrior" to its predecessor's "Mad Max": bigger (physics-defying) set-pieces, better (but more CG-reliant) action spectacle, badder (and bloodier) mayhem. Sadly the final product feels closer to "The Mummy Returns" in execution. Set on 1946 Russia-occupied Finland with Red Army soldiers replacing Nazis (which ties into the prequel's myth build-up of Aatami as a legendary WWII headhunter of Stalin troops), our hero's quest to transport/rebuild his home within the redrawn borders of his homeland runs into one explosive, bloody action set-piece after another. Stephen Lang (looking old and fragile, unlilke Jorma Tommila's jacked-and-rejuvenated old man bod) is wasted as a big bad whose actions don't come close to matching his one-liner tough talk. Influences from other action classics ("Die Hard," "Raiders...," etc.) abound, culminating in a train-set finale that feels like the beginning of "Dial of Destiny" with sprinkles of "Crystal Skull" (!) for some reason. It's still an outrageous and entertaining exploitation bloodbath, but the heart/soul of its predecessor have been replaced with a sense of self-aware confidence. Shame. 🙄😔
Was so bummed by "Sisu 2" not living up to expectations that l had to get my mojo back with back-to-back viewings of the just-released DEATH WISH 3 (1985, KINO LORBER 4K UHD) and old reliable INVASION U.S.A. ('85, VINEGAR SYNDROME 4K UHD). Talk about the Twin Towers of Cannon's 80's exploitation heyday. 😁 Nothing's more therapeutic than watching the Chucks (Bronson and Norris, respectively) mowing down waves of street punks and/or terrorists on "American" streets. If l thought about the mindset of the stars/filmmakers then (particularly Ed Lauter's NYPD boss unleashing Kersey on the streets) with the current reality they'd be double bummers. But with the brain turned off these two are just plain fun, over-the-top, silly dated action fun. "Invasion U.S.A." holds up better in the pacing of its action set-pieces (that mall shoot-out/chase!) compared with the slower-than-expected first two acts of "DW3." When those final 20 minutes hit, though, Bronson's massacre of British extras and hiss-worthy villains (including Bill from "Bill & Ted" and Gavan O'Herlihy) is what Junesploitation! dreams are made of. 🤩😎
More reviews later today when l'm not on a NYC subway typing this on my way to work surrounded by stinky homeless dudes. 🥴🥵 It wasn't all death and mayhem, l did watch cool non-exploitation stuff.
Death Wish 3 is a favorite, but I have watched Death Wish 2 almost as much. It is one of the meanest films I know, but that is why I like it so much. I have a soft spot for these sleazy films (Angel, Vice Squad) set in L.A.
Unintentional Triple Feature: Documentaries (Michael, Alfred E, Eddie)
American Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective (2025 prime)
Enjoyable but a bit slapdash look at Madsens life and career. Compiles interviews past/present and a lot of footage with Madsen himself. He really does have an 'old hollywood' vibe that few do anymore. "I bet youre a big Lee Marvin fan, arent you?". Enjoyed it but wish it spent more time on his movies.
When We Went MAD! (2025 prime)
As a comedy obsessive kid growing up in the 70s and 80s its hard to put in words the impact that MAD Magazine had on me. It was a key building block of lifetime love of humor. That being said, i almost didnt watch this as i dont care for 'talking heads' documentaries where people just wax nostalgic for something they werent part of. And there is a bunch of that. BUT there's also an incredibly comprehensive deep dive to the history of the magazine and participation from SO many of its creators. In the end i loved it. What, Me Worry? (PS: to this day i still purchase MAD movie parody compilations. brilliance abound).
Being Eddie (2025 Netflix)
A breezy lighthearted look back at Eddie Murphys carreer, as told by the man himself. He is well spoken and good natured and funny as you'd hope he would be. The doc is a nice reminder of just how huge his impact was for stand up comedy, film comedy, and SNL mega stars. I quite enjoyed it and look forward to where he goes next.
Several years ago site fan Mikko wrote a review of a then-unheard-of-in-the-US, Finnish film named SISU. I was so impressed with his review that i saw it opening day when it was eventually released here and it blew me away. As an action fan there is a bevy of good, bad (, and ugly) action cinema out there. That being said, its rare to find something that takes the genre to a new/creative place where you just have a blast watching and rewatching (my highest praise) an action film. (A great example is Stahelski/Reeves for the Wick series). Well im pleased to say that Helander/Tommila do just that with this series. I had a blast (pun intended) with this sequel! Part silent film, part looney tunes, part revenge, part bananas, part living comic book, etc. A 90m bit of non stop carnage told in fun short chapters. Planes, Trains, Automobiles, you name it, its there and explosive. And, as with the original SISU, the movie continuously puts the hero in inescapable scenarios and he finds crazy inventive ways out. Love it....the 4k blu cant be released fast enough for me.
What did Aatami did with all the money he made from his gold by the end of "Sisu"? 🤑You'd think he'd hire a squadron of experts to help him pull off his objective in the sequel. 😎
Happy you liked "RTR" a lot more than l did. 🙂 Maybe it was a mistake to watch the new one back-to-back with the original, because this magnified what l felt "Sisu" did right that "Road To Revenge" either ignored or went in a completely different direction. 🥸
I read your review and totalllly get your comments. Your Road Warrior connection is spot on. As is your comments about Raiders and the train setpiece. I think i was just in the right place to enjoy all the silly mahem theatrically. I am gonna revisit SISU this week as a result. Cheers dude!
Few people at my "Sisu 2" screening (the new "Wicked" was sold out in multiple theaters! 🤨🙄), but we all laughed long and hard when Aatami hides under that train bunk and sticks his hand in you-know-what. 🤣🤣🤣
It's been a slow week movie wise. Mostly watching Stargate and building Legos. My blu-ray pile keeps growing, I'll try to watch some over the weekend 😁
Following Mashke recommendation, I listened to the interview Cameron Crowe did on the Impolitic podcast, then I watched Almost Famous for the millionth time. I was really tempted to get Jerry Mcguire, but it's gonna have to wait. The book The Uncool is really tempting, but I have to cut down my entertainment expenses.
The Running Man (2025): Fun movie that's missing the "oomph" that Edgar Wright's movies usually have. It somehow felt small. I hate comparing it to the old movie, because the intent is not the same, but I can't help it. Like the crowd scenes in the studio with the host, I kept going back to the 1987 version, which was bigger, more alive. I don't think it's Wright's fault, but a widespread problem with modern blockbusters. I still had a great time, but I also just wanted to rewatch Arnold's version the whole time, which I did the next day. I'm just sad that it's heading to be a box office failure and won't reflect well on Edgar Wright, who deserve way more recognition than he has on a box office level.
Between "Running Man" underperforming and "Sisu: Road to Revenge" not matching its predecessor (MY opinion) it's been a rough couple of weeks for action movie fans. At least "Predator: Badlands" kept November action fire alive at cinemas. 😎🤠
I recently listened to the Pure Cinema Podcast episode on Stanley Kubrick. They start at the beginning of his career, and when they got to Killer's Kiss and The Killing, I immediately wanted to watch them. Luckily, I already have the Criterion Blu-ray with both of them in it. The Killing is particularly good. Not that there's any indication that the guy who made this would become one of the most celebrated and important filmmaker of all time, but everything done is done perfectly. I particularly like the ending, the look of defeat on Sterling Hayden's face is priceless.
They also mentioned The Asphalt Jungle, which also features Sterling Hayden. John Huston was a drunken a**hole, but he knew how to direct a movie. And I totally forgot Marilyn Monroe had a small role. 10 years later she would make The Misfits with Huston where he apparently was more of an a**hole than ever. She truly shines as a dramatic actress in that criminally underseen movie.
WICKED FOR GOOD (2025) I'm torn. The big drama is supposed to be Glinda and the Witch's fraught relationship. But this is so plotty, bending over backwards to tie into Oz lore (such as it is) that the emotional highs don't hit as hard. Lots of pretty dresses, though.
COMIC BOOK: THE MOVIE (2004) Remember when Mark Hamill and a bunch of cartoon voice actors stealth-filmed an almost entirely improv comedy feature at ComiCon? That's this movie! The joke wears itself thin after a while, but it works as a time capsule for all things 2004.
JODOROWSKY’S DUNE (2013) Just a head-scratching experience, yet also an entertaining one – you never know what Jodo will say next.
When Jodo's Dune came out, everybody was saying it would've been so good, and better dans Lynch's. Jodo was so giddy about lynch's version being bad, I hated him for it (I love Lynch's Dune). I called bullsh*t on the doc, telling everyone who would listen to me it would've the most 70s and dated movie ever made and would have not pass the test of time. That being said, the doc was entertaining enough and I wish they'd release the production book.
I remember Comic Book The Movie, for a few years I watched it almost every year, but it's been a while since the last time.
Despite being a Stanley Kubrick obsessive in the past and having plenty of chances to watch it, The Killing is one that I have not yet seen. Deliberately so. I have something special that I can look forward to when I choose to watch it. It was almost a watch for heists day this June.
Jodorowsky is quite the talker. It is nearly a decade since I watched that doc. It is hard to say how his version of Dune would have turned out, but I have no doubt it would have been unique.
Casual, l'm the same way about "Lolita," "Barry Lyndon" and a couple ok Kubrick's early works. I own them on disc, but always push the watch dates away because l don't want to face a future date where there are no more new-to-me Stanley Kubrick films to look forward to. 😰😱😓
KEEPER (2025, THEATER). Osgood Perkins' latest is a lot more subdued than his last couple of creepfests but eventually arrives at an equally batshit crescendo of horror fun. An unrecognizable Tatiana Maslany is the younger woman with an older boyfriend (Rossif Sutherland, Donald's son/Keifer's half-brother) stuck in an odd-looking luxurious cabin in the woods. The least you know in the better. It's okay but Perkins Jr., like his father after he did "Psycho," is typecasting his directorial vehicles to the point of predictability. Worth seeing for the inventive effects and creepy-as-eff atmosphere.
STUBBY, AKA FIMPEN (1974, NYC'S FILM FORUM). Film Forum did a retrospective on new-to-me Swedish director Bo Widerberg. A six year old soccer phenom (Jonah Bergman) joins a division A team and the national team, where he becomes an esential offensive player. The fate of Sweeden qualifying for the World Cup rests on the shoulders of men too tired from reading the same children's book to Jonah, who's at risk of flunking prep school from overextending himself. It's sweet and harmless, but doesn't make me want to seek out more Widerberg films.
AIRPLANE! (1980, 4K UHD)/AIRPLANE II: THE SEQUEL (1982, KINO LORBER 4K UHD). "Airplane II" recently made its 4K debut. Watched back-to-back with the Zucker bros./Jim Abraham's classic "Airplane!" it's easy to see the former's shortcomings. Way too many badly-timed, badly-delivered retreads of jokes/characters from the OG that are either on the joke (Lloyd Bridges mugging, oil change patient in the background, etc.) or wasted (Sonny Bono's ED bomber, Stephen Stucker interruptions, etc.). Director Ken Finkleman ("Grease 2" writer) gets lucky with a few gags (Nixon masks, 'Danger Vacuum') but not even a super hammy Bill Shatner can keep this sequel from flying anywhere near as high as its 'Otto' predecessor. 😥
SUCKER PUNCH (2021, HBO MAX). Never realized Oscar Isaac was playing Blue until a recent rewatch with online friends. He's on fire and steals the spotlight from a large female ensemble (same way Adam Driver came out of HBO's "Girls" with a bigger career) who is mostly wooden and unlikable. This being Zack Snyder's first original creation after "300" and " Watchmen" also means its many pointless dream action sequences feel now like a preview for his then-future DC superhero movies. 🤢🤮 Upped to D from D- because of Isaac killing it. 😉
TRAP HOUSE ('25, THEATER). Scott Ridley is one of 28 (!) producers in this odd action thriller in which the besties-to-one-another teenage offsprings of a group of undercover DEA agents in El Paso (led by Dave Bautista and Bobby Cannavale) decide to steal drug money from an unknown new-in-town Mexican drug lord (Kate del Castillo). While at first altruistic, the Scooby gang gets hooked on the adrenaline rush and keep pushing their luck as their DEA parents join the narcos in trying to track 'em down. It's not bad and can be entertaining at times, but the two story halves don't gel smoothly and aren't satisfactory at the conclusion. Worth seeing on free streaming, not a rental.
BELEN ('25, THEATER). Pro-ab×××ion female-empowerment drama about a woman wrongly imprisoned in an Argentinian province based on judicial/societal/religious bias. It's fine and l learned a lot, but you've seen it all a million times before.
And last and certainly least, Yorgos Lanthimos' BUGONIA ('25, THEATER). Getting pretty tired of Yorgos being odd and weird for weirdness' sake (that music! 😱), but clearly his troupe of regulars (Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons) and studio backers smell Oscar and specialty box office potential. Plemons and Aidan Delbis play cousins who kidnap a high-profile businesswoman (Stone, who lets her shaved head be her character's only standout feature) because they're convinced she's an alien queen. Yawn. At 75-80 min. it would have been tolerable. At nearly two hours it outstays its welcome, but its shot-on-film 1:66:1 AR cinematography is worth seeking out in 4K. Gorgeous moving pictures of bees, trees, Plemons' basement and Stone's 'creamy' calfs. 🥵🥶
Last night I was at the Gap Theater for a night of post-apocalyptic madness. I missed the first film - Fist of the North Star- but settled in for three more. All were shown on 35mm. Maybe it is time for post-apocalypse to return to the Junesploitation schedule.
A BOY AND HIS DOG (1975) - I had seen this years ago at the Mahoning Drive-In. Watching it now, it's quirkiness seems even stranger. Don Johnson is wandering the desert wastelands with a telepathic dog. The rough tone of the film is set by him mainly looking for women to assault along the way.
WARRIOR OF THE LOST WORLD (1983) - Wooden-faced Robert Ginty is the title character using his high-tech motorcycle and a motley crew of misfits to fight against a totalitarian government. This rips off a lot more than The Road Warrior. The wardrobe was taken from whatever was left lying around from other productions. Perfect for a bonkers Junesploitation viewing.
HARDWARE (1990, dir. Richard Stanley) - I remember seeing this on VHS in the early '90s. Though Hardware does not have the best script, the aesthetic of the film is very engaging. Stanley's music video background is very evident in the way the soundtrack is incorporated into the rhythm of the film. It is a fun watch.
The night concluded with the Midnight Movie screening of a recent production. 2025's F*** MY SON! is more an assemblage of scenes of bad taste and outrageousness than a movie. A woman - with her daughter in tow - is kidnapped to do what the title suggests. The son's mother (played by a man) is crazy, and the son is a monstrosity who gets grosser as the film progresses. It is not pleasant stuff. There are also random musical sequences emphasizing the film's title. Watching F*** My Son! with a crowd is probably the way to absorb it. That way you have other people's reactions to keep you amused when the film gets tiresome. They can also verify that what you watched actually exists.
There were a few other films during the week. I am not
BRING HER BACK (2025) – By far the most demented film (outside of F*** My Son!) I have seen in a long time, but in a good way. There were several scenes that genuinely shocked me (a certain eating scene), and the general behavior of the foster mother is disturbing. The background of the children going into her home makes the film even sadder than it normally would be.
FUNERAL PARADE OF ROSES (1969, dir. Yoshio Matsumoto) – 1960s avant-garde style meets queer drama is this surprisingly frank (for the time) story of trans women in Japan. “Eddie” is a hostess in a gay bar involved in a love triangle with the bar’s owner. The manager – referred to as madame – is the other corner of the triangle. The melodrama gets interspersed with political protests, artistic interludes, comedy, gore, and some meta content. There also is a documentary aspect to the film. Funeral Parade of Roses is not the best option for entertainment, but it is an engaging artifact of the transgressive cinema of the era.
AFTER BLUE DIRTY PARADISE (2021, dir. Bertrand Mandico) – My introduction to Mandico’s work was a short film, Apocalypse After. The most striking aspects of that were the colorful lighting, imaginative sets, and the h-o-m-o-e-r-o-t-i-c vibes. The narrative was secondary to the aesthetic. He took a similar approach with this sci-fi western set on a planet inhabited by women. Despite being once again impressed by the aesthetic, relying on it to carry a viewer through a two-hour feature can make the viewing experience drag. Definitely better to start with Mandico’s short films before jumping into this.
Happy Thanksgiving in advance to our U.S. readers. 🍗🙂🦃
ReplyDeleteWatched SISU (2022, 4K UHD) early Thursday evening, then went to my local AMC theater to watch the just-released sequel, SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE (2025), on the big screen. "Sisu" holds up well for a simplistic World War ll Finland action/revenge exploitation hybrid. Jorma Tommila gives Liam Neeson and Harrison Ford a serious run as the most badass senior citizen working in movies today. Tommila's expressions and soulful eyes make it clear he'd rather not be doing any of the desperate feats of borderline-supernatural strength he pulls off to survive escaping Nazis torching his homeland as they chase after his just-discovered gold. But when push comes to shove(l), it's just plain fun watching Aatami slaughter Nazi scum while helping fellow countrywomen do likewise. That poor old horse! 🥺😭
"Sisu: Road to Revenge" feels like it's trying to be "The Road Warrior" to its predecessor's "Mad Max": bigger (physics-defying) set-pieces, better (but more CG-reliant) action spectacle, badder (and bloodier) mayhem. Sadly the final product feels closer to "The Mummy Returns" in execution. Set on 1946 Russia-occupied Finland with Red Army soldiers replacing Nazis (which ties into the prequel's myth build-up of Aatami as a legendary WWII headhunter of Stalin troops), our hero's quest to transport/rebuild his home within the redrawn borders of his homeland runs into one explosive, bloody action set-piece after another. Stephen Lang (looking old and fragile, unlilke Jorma Tommila's jacked-and-rejuvenated old man bod) is wasted as a big bad whose actions don't come close to matching his one-liner tough talk. Influences from other action classics ("Die Hard," "Raiders...," etc.) abound, culminating in a train-set finale that feels like the beginning of "Dial of Destiny" with sprinkles of "Crystal Skull" (!) for some reason. It's still an outrageous and entertaining exploitation bloodbath, but the heart/soul of its predecessor have been replaced with a sense of self-aware confidence. Shame. 🙄😔
Was so bummed by "Sisu 2" not living up to expectations that l had to get my mojo back with back-to-back viewings of the just-released DEATH WISH 3 (1985, KINO LORBER 4K UHD) and old reliable INVASION U.S.A. ('85, VINEGAR SYNDROME 4K UHD). Talk about the Twin Towers of Cannon's 80's exploitation heyday. 😁 Nothing's more therapeutic than watching the Chucks (Bronson and Norris, respectively) mowing down waves of street punks and/or terrorists on "American" streets. If l thought about the mindset of the stars/filmmakers then (particularly Ed Lauter's NYPD boss unleashing Kersey on the streets) with the current reality they'd be double bummers. But with the brain turned off these two are just plain fun, over-the-top, silly dated action fun. "Invasion U.S.A." holds up better in the pacing of its action set-pieces (that mall shoot-out/chase!) compared with the slower-than-expected first two acts of "DW3." When those final 20 minutes hit, though, Bronson's massacre of British extras and hiss-worthy villains (including Bill from "Bill & Ted" and Gavan O'Herlihy) is what Junesploitation! dreams are made of. 🤩😎
More reviews later today when l'm not on a NYC subway typing this on my way to work surrounded by stinky homeless dudes. 🥴🥵 It wasn't all death and mayhem, l did watch cool non-exploitation stuff.
Going to see Sisu 2 this week, if my friend can nail his work schedule down 😁
DeleteDeath Wish 3 is a favorite, but I have watched Death Wish 2 almost as much. It is one of the meanest films I know, but that is why I like it so much. I have a soft spot for these sleazy films (Angel, Vice Squad) set in L.A.
DeleteUnintentional Triple Feature: Documentaries (Michael, Alfred E, Eddie)
ReplyDeleteAmerican Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective (2025 prime)
Enjoyable but a bit slapdash look at Madsens life and career. Compiles interviews past/present and a lot of footage with Madsen himself. He really does have an 'old hollywood' vibe that few do anymore. "I bet youre a big Lee Marvin fan, arent you?". Enjoyed it but wish it spent more time on his movies.
When We Went MAD! (2025 prime)
As a comedy obsessive kid growing up in the 70s and 80s its hard to put in words the impact that MAD Magazine had on me. It was a key building block of lifetime love of humor. That being said, i almost didnt watch this as i dont care for 'talking heads' documentaries where people just wax nostalgic for something they werent part of. And there is a bunch of that. BUT there's also an incredibly comprehensive deep dive to the history of the magazine and participation from SO many of its creators. In the end i loved it. What, Me Worry? (PS: to this day i still purchase MAD movie parody compilations. brilliance abound).
Being Eddie (2025 Netflix)
A breezy lighthearted look back at Eddie Murphys carreer, as told by the man himself. He is well spoken and good natured and funny as you'd hope he would be. The doc is a nice reminder of just how huge his impact was for stand up comedy, film comedy, and SNL mega stars. I quite enjoyed it and look forward to where he goes next.
SISU: Road to Revenge (2025 Theatrical)
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago site fan Mikko wrote a review of a then-unheard-of-in-the-US, Finnish film named SISU. I was so impressed with his review that i saw it opening day when it was eventually released here and it blew me away. As an action fan there is a bevy of good, bad (, and ugly) action cinema out there. That being said, its rare to find something that takes the genre to a new/creative place where you just have a blast watching and rewatching (my highest praise) an action film. (A great example is Stahelski/Reeves for the Wick series). Well im pleased to say that Helander/Tommila do just that with this series. I had a blast (pun intended) with this sequel! Part silent film, part looney tunes, part revenge, part bananas, part living comic book, etc. A 90m bit of non stop carnage told in fun short chapters. Planes, Trains, Automobiles, you name it, its there and explosive. And, as with the original SISU, the movie continuously puts the hero in inescapable scenarios and he finds crazy inventive ways out. Love it....the 4k blu cant be released fast enough for me.
What did Aatami did with all the money he made from his gold by the end of "Sisu"? 🤑You'd think he'd hire a squadron of experts to help him pull off his objective in the sequel. 😎
DeleteHappy you liked "RTR" a lot more than l did. 🙂 Maybe it was a mistake to watch the new one back-to-back with the original, because this magnified what l felt "Sisu" did right that "Road To Revenge" either ignored or went in a completely different direction. 🥸
Ha! great point about the gold.
DeleteI read your review and totalllly get your comments. Your Road Warrior connection is spot on. As is your comments about Raiders and the train setpiece. I think i was just in the right place to enjoy all the silly mahem theatrically. I am gonna revisit SISU this week as a result. Cheers dude!
Few people at my "Sisu 2" screening (the new "Wicked" was sold out in multiple theaters! 🤨🙄), but we all laughed long and hard when Aatami hides under that train bunk and sticks his hand in you-know-what. 🤣🤣🤣
DeleteIt's been a slow week movie wise. Mostly watching Stargate and building Legos. My blu-ray pile keeps growing, I'll try to watch some over the weekend 😁
ReplyDeleteFollowing Mashke recommendation, I listened to the interview Cameron Crowe did on the Impolitic podcast, then I watched Almost Famous for the millionth time. I was really tempted to get Jerry Mcguire, but it's gonna have to wait. The book The Uncool is really tempting, but I have to cut down my entertainment expenses.
The Running Man (2025): Fun movie that's missing the "oomph" that Edgar Wright's movies usually have. It somehow felt small. I hate comparing it to the old movie, because the intent is not the same, but I can't help it. Like the crowd scenes in the studio with the host, I kept going back to the 1987 version, which was bigger, more alive. I don't think it's Wright's fault, but a widespread problem with modern blockbusters. I still had a great time, but I also just wanted to rewatch Arnold's version the whole time, which I did the next day. I'm just sad that it's heading to be a box office failure and won't reflect well on Edgar Wright, who deserve way more recognition than he has on a box office level.
Between "Running Man" underperforming and "Sisu: Road to Revenge" not matching its predecessor (MY opinion) it's been a rough couple of weeks for action movie fans. At least "Predator: Badlands" kept November action fire alive at cinemas. 😎🤠
DeleteHaven't seen Predator yet, but according to reviews, I expect good things
DeleteI recently listened to the Pure Cinema Podcast episode on Stanley Kubrick. They start at the beginning of his career, and when they got to Killer's Kiss and The Killing, I immediately wanted to watch them. Luckily, I already have the Criterion Blu-ray with both of them in it. The Killing is particularly good. Not that there's any indication that the guy who made this would become one of the most celebrated and important filmmaker of all time, but everything done is done perfectly. I particularly like the ending, the look of defeat on Sterling Hayden's face is priceless.
ReplyDeleteThey also mentioned The Asphalt Jungle, which also features Sterling Hayden. John Huston was a drunken a**hole, but he knew how to direct a movie. And I totally forgot Marilyn Monroe had a small role. 10 years later she would make The Misfits with Huston where he apparently was more of an a**hole than ever. She truly shines as a dramatic actress in that criminally underseen movie.
WICKED FOR GOOD (2025)
ReplyDeleteI'm torn. The big drama is supposed to be Glinda and the Witch's fraught relationship. But this is so plotty, bending over backwards to tie into Oz lore (such as it is) that the emotional highs don't hit as hard. Lots of pretty dresses, though.
COMIC BOOK: THE MOVIE (2004)
Remember when Mark Hamill and a bunch of cartoon voice actors stealth-filmed an almost entirely improv comedy feature at ComiCon? That's this movie! The joke wears itself thin after a while, but it works as a time capsule for all things 2004.
JODOROWSKY’S DUNE (2013)
Just a head-scratching experience, yet also an entertaining one – you never know what Jodo will say next.
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DeleteWhen Jodo's Dune came out, everybody was saying it would've been so good, and better dans Lynch's. Jodo was so giddy about lynch's version being bad, I hated him for it (I love Lynch's Dune). I called bullsh*t on the doc, telling everyone who would listen to me it would've the most 70s and dated movie ever made and would have not pass the test of time. That being said, the doc was entertaining enough and I wish they'd release the production book.
DeleteI remember Comic Book The Movie, for a few years I watched it almost every year, but it's been a while since the last time.
Despite being a Stanley Kubrick obsessive in the past and having plenty of chances to watch it, The Killing is one that I have not yet seen. Deliberately so. I have something special that I can look forward to when I choose to watch it. It was almost a watch for heists day this June.
DeleteJodorowsky is quite the talker. It is nearly a decade since I watched that doc. It is hard to say how his version of Dune would have turned out, but I have no doubt it would have been unique.
Casual, l'm the same way about "Lolita," "Barry Lyndon" and a couple ok Kubrick's early works. I own them on disc, but always push the watch dates away because l don't want to face a future date where there are no more new-to-me Stanley Kubrick films to look forward to. 😰😱😓
DeleteI also get that, not watching a movie because I Iike the idea of having it 'for later' 😁
DeleteAs promised... 🤠
ReplyDeleteKEEPER (2025, THEATER). Osgood Perkins' latest is a lot more subdued than his last couple of creepfests but eventually arrives at an equally batshit crescendo of horror fun. An unrecognizable Tatiana Maslany is the younger woman with an older boyfriend (Rossif Sutherland, Donald's son/Keifer's half-brother) stuck in an odd-looking luxurious cabin in the woods. The least you know in the better. It's okay but Perkins Jr., like his father after he did "Psycho," is typecasting his directorial vehicles to the point of predictability. Worth seeing for the inventive effects and creepy-as-eff atmosphere.
STUBBY, AKA FIMPEN (1974, NYC'S FILM FORUM). Film Forum did a retrospective on new-to-me Swedish director Bo Widerberg. A six year old soccer phenom (Jonah Bergman) joins a division A team and the national team, where he becomes an esential offensive player. The fate of Sweeden qualifying for the World Cup rests on the shoulders of men too tired from reading the same children's book to Jonah, who's at risk of flunking prep school from overextending himself. It's sweet and harmless, but doesn't make me want to seek out more Widerberg films.
AIRPLANE! (1980, 4K UHD)/AIRPLANE II: THE SEQUEL (1982, KINO LORBER 4K UHD). "Airplane II" recently made its 4K debut. Watched back-to-back with the Zucker bros./Jim Abraham's classic "Airplane!" it's easy to see the former's shortcomings. Way too many badly-timed, badly-delivered retreads of jokes/characters from the OG that are either on the joke (Lloyd Bridges mugging, oil change patient in the background, etc.) or wasted (Sonny Bono's ED bomber, Stephen Stucker interruptions, etc.). Director Ken Finkleman ("Grease 2" writer) gets lucky with a few gags (Nixon masks, 'Danger Vacuum') but not even a super hammy Bill Shatner can keep this sequel from flying anywhere near as high as its 'Otto' predecessor. 😥
SUCKER PUNCH (2021, HBO MAX). Never realized Oscar Isaac was playing Blue until a recent rewatch with online friends. He's on fire and steals the spotlight from a large female ensemble (same way Adam Driver came out of HBO's "Girls" with a bigger career) who is mostly wooden and unlikable. This being Zack Snyder's first original creation after "300" and " Watchmen" also means its many pointless dream action sequences feel now like a preview for his then-future DC superhero movies. 🤢🤮 Upped to D from D- because of Isaac killing it. 😉
TRAP HOUSE ('25, THEATER). Scott Ridley is one of 28 (!) producers in this odd action thriller in which the besties-to-one-another teenage offsprings of a group of undercover DEA agents in El Paso (led by Dave Bautista and Bobby Cannavale) decide to steal drug money from an unknown new-in-town Mexican drug lord (Kate del Castillo). While at first altruistic, the Scooby gang gets hooked on the adrenaline rush and keep pushing their luck as their DEA parents join the narcos in trying to track 'em down. It's not bad and can be entertaining at times, but the two story halves don't gel smoothly and aren't satisfactory at the conclusion. Worth seeing on free streaming, not a rental.
BELEN ('25, THEATER). Pro-ab×××ion female-empowerment drama about a woman wrongly imprisoned in an Argentinian province based on judicial/societal/religious bias. It's fine and l learned a lot, but you've seen it all a million times before.
Oops, ran out of space above. One more.
DeleteAnd last and certainly least, Yorgos Lanthimos' BUGONIA ('25, THEATER). Getting pretty tired of Yorgos being odd and weird for weirdness' sake (that music! 😱), but clearly his troupe of regulars (Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons) and studio backers smell Oscar and specialty box office potential. Plemons and Aidan Delbis play cousins who kidnap a high-profile businesswoman (Stone, who lets her shaved head be her character's only standout feature) because they're convinced she's an alien queen. Yawn. At 75-80 min. it would have been tolerable. At nearly two hours it outstays its welcome, but its shot-on-film 1:66:1 AR cinematography is worth seeking out in 4K. Gorgeous moving pictures of bees, trees, Plemons' basement and Stone's 'creamy' calfs. 🥵🥶
RIDLEY SCOTT! 🫢Ridley Scott was executive producer of "Trap House." God, it's too early. 😮💨
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ReplyDeleteLast night I was at the Gap Theater for a night of post-apocalyptic madness. I missed the first film - Fist of the North Star- but settled in for three more. All were shown on 35mm. Maybe it is time for post-apocalypse to return to the Junesploitation schedule.
ReplyDeleteA BOY AND HIS DOG (1975) - I had seen this years ago at the Mahoning Drive-In. Watching it now, it's quirkiness seems even stranger. Don Johnson is wandering the desert wastelands with a telepathic dog. The rough tone of the film is set by him mainly looking for women to assault along the way.
WARRIOR OF THE LOST WORLD (1983) - Wooden-faced Robert Ginty is the title character using his high-tech motorcycle and a motley crew of misfits to fight against a totalitarian government. This rips off a lot more than The Road Warrior. The wardrobe was taken from whatever was left lying around from other productions. Perfect for a bonkers Junesploitation viewing.
HARDWARE (1990, dir. Richard Stanley) - I remember seeing this on VHS in the early '90s. Though Hardware does not have the best script, the aesthetic of the film is very engaging. Stanley's music video background is very evident in the way the soundtrack is incorporated into the rhythm of the film. It is a fun watch.
The night concluded with the Midnight Movie screening of a recent production. 2025's F*** MY SON! is more an assemblage of scenes of bad taste and outrageousness than a movie. A woman - with her daughter in tow - is kidnapped to do what the title suggests. The son's mother (played by a man) is crazy, and the son is a monstrosity who gets grosser as the film progresses. It is not pleasant stuff. There are also random musical sequences emphasizing the film's title. Watching F*** My Son! with a crowd is probably the way to absorb it. That way you have other people's reactions to keep you amused when the film gets tiresome. They can also verify that what you watched actually exists.
There were a few other films during the week. I am not
ReplyDeleteBRING HER BACK (2025) – By far the most demented film (outside of F*** My Son!) I have seen in a long time, but in a good way. There were several scenes that genuinely shocked me (a certain eating scene), and the general behavior of the foster mother is disturbing. The background of the children going into her home makes the film even sadder than it normally would be.
FUNERAL PARADE OF ROSES (1969, dir. Yoshio Matsumoto) – 1960s avant-garde style meets queer drama is this surprisingly frank (for the time) story of trans women in Japan. “Eddie” is a hostess in a gay bar involved in a love triangle with the bar’s owner. The manager – referred to as madame – is the other corner of the triangle. The melodrama gets interspersed with political protests, artistic interludes, comedy, gore, and some meta content. There also is a documentary aspect to the film. Funeral Parade of Roses is not the best option for entertainment, but it is an engaging artifact of the transgressive cinema of the era.
AFTER BLUE DIRTY PARADISE (2021, dir. Bertrand Mandico) – My introduction to Mandico’s work was a short film, Apocalypse After. The most striking aspects of that were the colorful lighting, imaginative sets, and the h-o-m-o-e-r-o-t-i-c vibes. The narrative was secondary to the aesthetic. He took a similar approach with this sci-fi western set on a planet inhabited by women. Despite being once again impressed by the aesthetic, relying on it to carry a viewer through a two-hour feature can make the viewing experience drag. Definitely better to start with Mandico’s short films before jumping into this.
"I am not used to watching so many films from the current decade."
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