tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post8132053764051713718..comments2024-03-18T15:46:07.295-05:00Comments on F This Movie!: Junesploitation 2019 Day 1: '80s Action!Patrick Bromleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00771837625286775607noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-33226914571155078602019-06-07T01:56:44.664-05:002019-06-07T01:56:44.664-05:00Better late than never I suppose.
SAVAGE DAWN (19...Better late than never I suppose.<br /><br /><b>SAVAGE DAWN (1985, 102 min.) on Con TV</b> for the first time.<br /><br />The ineptitude of low-budget director Simon Nuchtern ("Silent Madness") constantly shackles "Savage Dawn's" repeated attempts to emerge as the great low-budget action flick it could have been if a genre filmmaker with a vision (a Raimi type) had been in charge. Owing a lot to Italian post-apocalyptic "Mad Max" rip-offs (not to mention 70's exploitation classics like 1976's "Vigilante Force"), "Savage Dawn" wastes no time setting the small Texas town of Agua Dulce as a shithole ripe for picking by a gang of ruthless bikers. Only retired weapons expert Tick Rand (a top-billed George Kennedy), his grown kids and visiting best pal ex-soldier Stryker (Lance Henriksen showing off a blonde dye job) can stop them. But that can only happen if Tick's cute grown-up daughter Katie (Claudia Udy) stops making too-obvious "let's f***!" come-ons to Stryker, which our reluctant hero doesn't follow through (thank God!) but is clearly intrigued and turned on by (<b>EEEEEWWWW-SPLOITATION! :-O</b>). <br /><br />A lot of screen time is devoted to the Savage bikers and the townie-waitress-turned-batshit-crazy-turncoat Rachel (Karen Black) stealing a tank from the Army and wrecking havoc on Agua Dulce. Fine by me because that's more time spent with William Forsythe test-running the a-hole villain role he'd go on to perfect six-years later in the Junesploitation! 1991 one-two punch of "Out for Justice" and "Stone Cold." I love Lance Henriksen, but Stryker's reluctance to heed the hero's call to action pisses me off because it results in the needless death of a character. As an 80's action revenge thriller "Savage Dawn" is a mediocre-but-fun film. Good-enough for Junesploitation! I suppose, but I'd so want for Millennium Films and Lionsgate to remake this as part of their annual 'Violent Cartoon Porn for Grown-Ups' theatrical release pattern ("The Hitman's Bodyguard," "Hunter Killer," "____ Has Fallen," etc.). Worth seeing.J.M. Vargashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18293452334926334389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-13072743760811647812019-06-04T03:38:41.778-05:002019-06-04T03:38:41.778-05:00Thomas Jane played a great Frank Castle, but the m...Thomas Jane played a great Frank Castle, but the movie/actors surrounding him made for a weak "Punisher" movie. Still haven't seen "Warzone," but that will be remedied this month. :-P So Dolph's "Punisher" wins, but it's not by default. I fell in love with this one from the moment the director wanted to sell me that Frank Castle sits buck naked in swirl-colored sewer tunnels meditating about his dead family. So what if Dolph never wears the freaking skull t-shirt? Any movie in which national treasure Louis Gossett Jr. punches a thug's lights out to steal his pizza is aces in my Junesploitation! book. ;-)J.M. Vargashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18293452334926334389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-69441258450607925072019-06-03T17:48:31.719-05:002019-06-03T17:48:31.719-05:00Conan the Barbarian (1982)
"I used to be an ...Conan the Barbarian (1982)<br /><br />"I used to be an adventurer like you until I took a snake to the knee."Cole Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03641844595029240609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-14308012724646776802019-06-03T10:31:12.553-05:002019-06-03T10:31:12.553-05:00Red Dawn (1984)-
I had originally planned on watch...Red Dawn (1984)-<br />I had originally planned on watching Death Wish 3 for the first day of Junesploitation, but I had to watch whatever I was going to pick on a train, so I figured the PG-13 rated Red Dawn was a better choice (I still plan on throwing on Death Wish 3 for a Free Space double feature at some point). As for Red Dawn, it starts off like gangbusters, but man does it waste so much of that cast. Sheen really isn't given much to do, and Jennifer Grey and Lea Thompson are similarly wasted. I really liked Swayze though, and Ben Johnson, Powers Boothe and Harry Dean Stanton show up to steal every scene they're in. It's worth a watch, but I didn't end up super impressed with anything here. Dan D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12812050762371103357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-85254487985734147142019-06-02T15:24:36.397-05:002019-06-02T15:24:36.397-05:00I wonder how much a gallon of gas cost in '89?...I wonder how much a gallon of gas cost in '89? To run to the store in your monster truck to pick up some milk or commit as many acts of arson you want without having to budget?? Can you just imagine?Lacey R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04559003212736916454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-78038621054951434222019-06-02T15:21:39.021-05:002019-06-02T15:21:39.021-05:00I think it could possible be made today and it wou...I think it could possible be made today and it would star Gerard Butler.<br /><br />I watched this for the first time for day one too. Finally get to mark that off the list. Lacey R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04559003212736916454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-60329369450784244412019-06-02T15:00:05.427-05:002019-06-02T15:00:05.427-05:00If I knew this was on Prime, it would have been my...If I knew this was on Prime, it would have been my choice for day 1. I feel like a failure right now. Glad you liked it and I'll have to check it out soon. Lacey R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04559003212736916454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-91946892502744425852019-06-02T12:55:08.057-05:002019-06-02T12:55:08.057-05:00Ninja Busters - When it comes to exploitation movi...Ninja Busters - When it comes to exploitation movies, it pays to blindly trust Patrick. This movie is really fun and just what I needed yesterday. <br /><br />Avenging Force - Started just okay but really picked up steam by the end where there's some great action sequences. Kudos to the lead villain on his death gasp. Adam Riskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01165600746796326821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-15797724550881011612019-06-02T12:22:42.234-05:002019-06-02T12:22:42.234-05:00Long time lurker and fan of the podcast.
For day ...Long time lurker and fan of the podcast.<br /><br />For day one I went with Running Man(1987 dir Starsky) María Conchita Alonso is a composer for the hottest networkin the country. Alonso meets Arnold Schwarzenegger when he mistakes her apartment for his brothers apartment. Zany hijinks ensue when Arnold and Maria become contestants on the networks number one show. Its a wild and wacky ride through a run down neighborhood featuring some larger than life co-stars you'll never forget!<br /><br />Munkeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08864480765571129242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-71163941093348844042019-06-02T12:18:05.008-05:002019-06-02T12:18:05.008-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Munkeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08864480765571129242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-84501630838350348852019-06-02T10:26:52.580-05:002019-06-02T10:26:52.580-05:00Invasion USA (1985, dir. Joseph Zito) Chuck Norris...Invasion USA (1985, dir. Joseph Zito) Chuck Norris will always be the worst. God bless Joseph Zito and Richard Lynch for elevating this to Cannon canon.<br /><br />Jake Speed (1986, dir. Andrew Lane) Took a chance on this because I wanted something the kids could watch. It didn’t pay off. There’s a good premise and some decent bits, but as JB already said, it drags too much to work as it should.<br /><br />Ninja Busters (1984, dir. Paul Kyriazi) Only the first day of Junesploitation, but this is the bar to clear. Reminds me of Miami Connection in its “we know karate, let’s put on a show” vibe. I miss Kathy.<br /><br />Avenging Force (1986, dir. Sam Firstenberg) I remain an unabashed fan of Sam Firstenberg and Steve James, but I’m not all the way in on Dudikoff. The stuff that’s great in this movie is so great.Patrick Bromleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00771837625286775607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-15566555070197540862019-06-02T10:03:39.571-05:002019-06-02T10:03:39.571-05:00It’s weird that a movie can launch one of the bigg...It’s weird that a movie can launch one of the biggest franchises of all time yet still feel underrated, but that’s how I feel about First Blood. It gets so overshadowed by the cartoonishness of the sequels that people seem to forget how solid and surprisingly thoughtful a movie it is (and how low a body count it has, I think only one person dies if I remember correctly). Great movie.JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17867827164062216789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-56985224456204833932019-06-02T08:50:45.227-05:002019-06-02T08:50:45.227-05:00Southern Comfort (1981)
With the wave of 80s feti...Southern Comfort (1981)<br /><br />With the wave of 80s fetishization that's gone on the last few years, I'm surprised Walter Hill hasn't gotten his due appreciation (outside of F This Movie). One of the greats, and a great only-kinda-sorta action movie to boot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-4681455902599427262019-06-02T08:20:21.906-05:002019-06-02T08:20:21.906-05:00Comedy relief and the main villain? Mr Freeze in B...Comedy relief and the main villain? Mr Freeze in Batman & Robin.Daniel Eplerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866855763520017556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-78943979931529911422019-06-02T06:46:21.675-05:002019-06-02T06:46:21.675-05:00He most certainly does. Hot! Hotter! Hottest!He most certainly does. Hot! Hotter! Hottest!Rob DiCristinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13402698333999727219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-29574913910024907882019-06-02T00:56:39.726-05:002019-06-02T00:56:39.726-05:00Wheels on Meals (1984)
How am I surprised about ...Wheels on Meals (1984) <br />How am I surprised about how great Jackie Chan is every time I see another Jackie Chan movie? Plus, Sammo Hung. This was a lot of fun. Chan jump kicked a guy off of a dirtbike. Scott Skocyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16481902978617982142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-67437470801978136302019-06-02T00:45:02.097-05:002019-06-02T00:45:02.097-05:00Jake Speed (1986)
Poorly named, so-called comedy ...Jake Speed (1986)<br /><br />Poorly named, so-called comedy adventure has the most languid pace of any action film that I have ever seen. This also might be the only film in history where the main villain is also the comic relief?JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17076030814908114779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-43313523420243953612019-06-02T00:41:19.853-05:002019-06-02T00:41:19.853-05:00I know, right? How odd was that? And he learned th...I know, right? How odd was that? And he learned the hard way Adam Baldwin is no bodyguard. Michael Giammarinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18053181624489487644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-36273456556917983822019-06-02T00:26:24.790-05:002019-06-02T00:26:24.790-05:00With full blooded Italian mobster Ben Stiller!With full blooded Italian mobster Ben Stiller!Jeff k.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13393225249899407771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-71252354957496936792019-06-02T00:25:31.548-05:002019-06-02T00:25:31.548-05:00Lindsay, that’s exactly what I was thinking as I w...Lindsay, that’s exactly what I was thinking as I was watching it! Like if you designed the ultimate 80s action movie, Commando is what you would come up with and it’s awesome haha. Matthew B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02692856241983225636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-91183058336500097812019-06-02T00:21:17.188-05:002019-06-02T00:21:17.188-05:00I rewatched it awhile back and was shocked that i ...I rewatched it awhile back and was shocked that i remembered it as being coherent. It still rules though. Charles Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08135869584272794906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-66887562958435283012019-06-01T23:38:55.028-05:002019-06-01T23:38:55.028-05:00Cyborg (1989)
I have no idea what the movie was a...Cyborg (1989)<br /><br />I have no idea what the movie was about, but boy did those fight scenes kick all the ass. But seriously, what was the story?Jon Hillmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01336259908056545249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-55263282722435400912019-06-01T23:21:28.692-05:002019-06-01T23:21:28.692-05:00Miami Connection (1987)
Should've saved this ...Miami Connection (1987)<br /><br />Should've saved this one for music video day, in hindsight. Brian Sagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15266020828208581370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-58925944622932507812019-06-01T23:15:59.828-05:002019-06-01T23:15:59.828-05:00Battletruck (aka Warlords of the 21st Century) (Ha...Battletruck (aka Warlords of the 21st Century) (Harley Cokeliss, 1982)<br /><br />Too much bad talking and story, but when it's just roaming the New Zealand landscape with a big truck driving thru structures, or horses pulling a VW bus, or cool guys on motorcycles, it's kinda fun! Worthwhile finale.Alex O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01830182776513639121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217427319662074458.post-79193631306306632122019-06-01T23:12:18.360-05:002019-06-01T23:12:18.360-05:00This is actually one of my favorite 80s action fli...This is actually one of my favorite 80s action flicks; the Scheider and company being a big reason why. But the helicopter action is top notch (and some insane use of miniatures and remote control helicopters)Alex O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01830182776513639121noreply@blogger.com