Emperor of the North...This is a must see for fans of action films. 9.5/10
Good pick there, Doc. Great stuff!
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Fabulously silly and jolly spoof of 1970s TV news anchors, made with some of the 40 Year Old Virgin team, such as Steve Carroll and Andrew McCarthy, with Will Farrell and Christina Applegate as the leads.
Excellent antidote to QoS and they have a fun video of the song Afternoon Delight, with the leads all romping around having a laugh. I never liked Ferrell in anything much, but here's he's perfect and C Appelegate is all prim and proper but turns out to be a good laugh too! I like Andrew McCarthy in this - he could have made a good Leiter - he's like one of those guys you know from school you could pal around with 20 years later like you've never grown up.
Watchable drama with Daniel Craig as a wasted and washed-up Hollywood star, who returns home to England after his childhood friend dies. The film begins with a threesome between two model-types and the Craigster as Scott Walker croons a Jacques Briel track. Please Mickey and Babs, can bond 23 begin in exactly the same manner? There's a remarkable line-up of English babes in this film, from Olivia Williams, Emilia Fox, Claire Forlani, Keeley Hawes and Jodhi May. It never quite reaches the aching register it aims for, but it's worth your time if only to wonder which of those five women is the hottest. And whether Mark Strong, who cameos as Craig's Hollywood agent, is the finest English character actor of his generation.
Since my vehicle's in repair - I've been afforded ample opportunity to catch recent releases. During lunch break there's a co-worker who treats everybody. (I'm stuck at work and what's a better way to spend time?)
Iron Man was fun, but nothing groundbreaking. Story plays out strictly by the numbers. The battle between an even larger man of iron was action blockbuster 101. The out-dated Arnold puts up a valiant defense against the new and improved T100.
But seeing Downey Jr. on the screen again was awesome. A welcome sight indeed. And, am I the only one who thinks Paltrow is smoooking?
And, am I the only one who thinks Paltrow is smoooking?
Not at all Alex; I always thought she was cute (except for that quasi-anorexic period in the mid 90s where she was simply too skinny) and she's quite the sexy little thing in Iron Man.
As for the film, I probably enjoyed it a fair bit more than you did as I thought it struck a very good balance of humor and seriousness and was a generally "fun" film to sit thru. But then again, Iron Man was my favorite comic book when I was a youngling so there may be a bit of bias.
We watched Get Smart with a pile of buffalo wings, and I probably enjoyed it more then I should have. For the most it's a forgettable experience, sprinkled throughout with a few humorous sketches. My favorite being a little dance floor competition between Maxwell and Agent 99.
Steve Carrell is a talented comic but has little worthy material to work with. Anne Hathaway's performance is probably the best of all. Her impatience at everybody's incompetence a treat.
Charlton Heston plays cynical astronaut Taylor, traveling thru space in the hopes of finding a species better than man, only to land on a planet where intelligent apes are the masters and humans are dumb, mindless brutes. Lots of striking imagery (not the least of which is Linda Harrison in a skimpy outfit) as well as some sly satire and social commentary. The ending of course is a shocker and one of the all time classic movie twists.
My brother and I picked up the BluRay version of the movie. After putting up with the muddy, grainy standard DVD for years we've finally seen this film as it was meant to be seen. The image is sharp, colorful and vibrant. Sound is also very good and the dialog easy to make out. Lots of extras as well, including a nifty CGI introduction by The Lawgiver (complete with John Huston soundalike voice) that really gets you into the spirit of the film.
Charlton Heston plays cynical astronaut Taylor, traveling thru space in the hopes of finding a species better than man, only to land on a planet where intelligent apes are the masters and humans are dumb, mindless brutes. Lots of striking imagery (not the least of which is Linda Harrison in a skimpy outfit) as well as some sly satire and social commentary. The ending of course is a shocker and one of the all time classic movie twists.
My brother and I picked up the BluRay version of the movie. After putting up with the muddy, grainy standard DVD for years we've finally seen this film as it was meant to be seen. The image is sharp, colorful and vibrant. Sound is also very good and the dialog easy to make out. Lots of extras as well, including a nifty CGI introduction by The Lawgiver (complete with John Huston soundalike voice) that really gets you into the spirit of the film.
Everything gels with this sci-fi classic. The imagery, score, atmosphere, etc.
Add elements of fantasy and horror and it quickly becomes my favorite movie ever.
I still haven't bought a dvd yet. There are so many on the market I'm feeling Sam Raimi's Army Of Darkness syndrome. One of these day I'll get the first two on disc.
Jackie Chan! and Jet Li! together at last!! in The Forbidden Kingdom! I'm a sucker for high-wire chop-socky action (and women who are Bond-girl hot), so I liked this one. . .even though this is one of the most derivative movies I've ever seen. A better and more accurate title would have been The Crouching Wizard, Hidden Karate Kid of Oz.
Vox clamantis in deserto
RogueAgentSpeeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
edited November 2008
Well late last night, the laughfest was on in my home; my son and I watched SUPERMAN III & SUPERMAN IV: The Quest For Peace.
We found these two films as part of the Reeve Superman quartet in the bargain bin ($8) and since my son had never seen the third nor fourth installment (I had them on VHS but threw them away long ago), I gladly indulged him in all its cringeworthy glory.
We couldn't stop laughing at Evil Superman for the brief time he was onscreen but the 3rd one, as I regretfully remember, is still bad. Respectfully, the late, great Richard Pryor's comedic genius does not extend to the likes of comic book movies. That was still a dumb move on Warner's behalf.
Evil Supes is awesome though. )
The 4th is still terribly cheesy with the terrible editing but oddly for me, it's still likeable. But the laughter ensued when we checked out the deleted scenes...I had no idea that there was another Nuclear Man in this.
We were in tears laughing at how bad this was with the stupid Mario Bros. music playing anytime he made an appearance. I swear we must've repeated that chapter 4-5 times it was so silly.
What was Warner Bros. thinking?! Why did Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman do this? ) ) ) ) )
OMG, in a sick and sad way, I have a feeling that I'll cherish this 4-movie set more than I know. Can you imagine watching this ,as kooky as this is, drunk? ) )
Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice isUNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
Drunk is about the only way I could ever watch Superman III or Superman IV; talk about misguided efforts.
However, looking at that picture of Christopher Reeve with the grey temples and serious expression, he reminds me a lot of the older Superman from Alex Ross' and Mark Waid's Kingdom Come. Of course, it can never happen now that he's gone but that could have been something special: a 50 something Christopher Reeve reprising the role one last time in the superhero movie to end all superhero movies.
RogueAgentSpeeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
Drunk is about the only way I could ever watch Superman III or Superman IV; talk about misguided efforts.
However, looking at that picture of Christopher Reeve with the grey temples and serious expression, he reminds me a lot of the older Superman from Alex Ross' and Mark Waid's Kingdom Come. Of course, it can never happen now that he's gone but that could have been something special: a 50 something Christopher Reeve reprising the role one last time in the superhero movie to end all superhero movies.
Y'know, I don't regret spending a few bucks on these four movies because they showed me how much I missed Reeve in the part.
I hope that Routh can lay the path for another legacy. He certainly deserves a second chance to distance himself from SR.
Reeve does remind me of the Kingdom Come Supes though.
Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice isUNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
NightshooterIn bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
You guys ever read Superman/Batman? Looks like future Supes who uses the boom tube to get to the present (which makes sense, the look I'm sure is modeled after Kingdom Come Supes, I just brought it up cause he looks more disheveled than Kingdom Come Supes)
We couldn't stop laughing at Evil Superman for the brief time he was onscreen but the 3rd one, as I regretfully remember, is still bad. Respectfully, the late, great Richard Pryor's comedic genius does not extend to the likes of comic book movies. That was still a dumb move on Warner's behalf.
Evil Supes is awesome though. )
I can't stand Superman III. It is by far one of the worst films I have ever seen. In fact, you just put your finger on the major reason for my dislike of this film; Evil Supes. I don't like seeing Superman, or Spider-Man, become evil. Not only is it unbecoming, but it's just embarassing.
The problem is that the filmmakers are not willing to allow the superheroes to become truly evil, for obvious reasons. So instead of allowing Supes to blow up a city or to establish himself as the world's dictator, he does a bit of mischief and gets drunk. Not that I would like him to become truly evil anyway, as I think that certain characters should not be darkened, but his drinking was so cringe-worthy that I just wanted to burn the film X-( (I can no longer watch it.)
The 4th is still terribly cheesy with the terrible editing but oddly for me, it's still likeable.
I like the fourth film as well. Yes, it has its problems, but IMO it is still quite enjoyable and more than made up for the horror that was the third film.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
Well at least Quantum of Solace isn't the worst title of the year. Okayish Western directed by Ed Harris. Jeremy Irons does his best Daniel Day-Lewis impression as the villian, which isn't particluarly impressive. Viggo Mortenson looks bored in the sidekick role. Renee Zellwegger wears her corset so tight her face looks like a baby chicken's. For fans of the genre only.
RogueAgentSpeeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
I can't stand Superman III. It is by far one of the worst films I have ever seen.
SM III is that kind of bad that brings me to laughter just like SPM 3 does for me now.
Evil Supes, Emo Peter = PUSH.
I like the fourth film as well. Yes, it has its problems, but IMO it is still quite enjoyable and more than made up for the horror that was the third film.
Please look at the deleted scenes if you haven't already. They are soooo bad that you will have no other choice but to cry or burst out in complete laughter. )
Great looking Hammer film with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. And yet... tasteful Hammer is missing the point somehow. And it's crazy to think that
Lee's character could withstand the shock of the masked dog when it's established his heart was almost too weak to withstand a tarantula earlier
. Dunno, with best will in the world I found it dragged a bit though the actors are all good.
Great looking Hammer film with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. And yet... tasteful Hammer is missing the point somehow. And it's crazy to think that
Lee's character could withstand the shock of the masked dog when it's established his heart was almost too weak to withstand a tarantula earlier
. Dunno, with best will in the world I found it dragged a bit though the actors are all good.
By coincidence, I watched it last-week.
The middle chapter, (with no Holmes to be found), does tend to drag somewhat. But I really enjoy Andre Morrell's Watson. Cushing is superb and Lee in a leading man role, (not required to bite his leading lady), is rare and a pleasure to watch. (I prefer him as the good guy at times)
Jolly old Miles Malleson is always a hoot in his Hammer cameos. Even Lee was smiling during their scene.
Considering hammer's meager budget, good god, those were some scrumptious looking moors. And the opening introduction to the legend is marvelous.
The MGM dvd extras include Lee narrating Conan-Doyle prose, and a interview where he discusses Cushing's tendencies during production. (also a sobering lovely sentiment about his final days)
For what it's worth, I corrected the title, you really love to pluralize things, don't you ...?
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
"United 93"
I've been afraid of this one for a couple of years, for obvious emotional reasons...but it popped up in my Netflix queue, and there it was, so I finally gave it a look.
Quite good, I must say. Maybe the only way that such a story can be told, really: in real time, and just the facts. Nothing else need be said. I think Paul Greengrass is at his best here.
Highly recommended for anyone who thinks that...[rethinks his words] well...anyone.
"Casino Royale"
The 21st film in the "James Bond" series. There is a sequel out soon.
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I've been afraid of this one for a couple of years, for obvious emotional reasons...but it popped up in my Netflix queue, and there it was, so I finally gave it a look.
Quite good, I must say. Maybe the only way that such a story can be told, really: in real time, and just the facts. Nothing else need be said. I think Paul Greengrass is at his best here.
Although I'm not such a fan of Greengrass, this is a very good film. I can't say that I enjoyed it, but I certainly don't regret seeing it.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
In this sequel to Planet of the Apes, astronaut Brett goes thru the same space/time distortion as Taylor and crash lands on the planet of the apes. As he searches for his fellow astronaut he unwittingly becomes embroiled in a confrontation between the apes and a race of human mutants who worship a doomsday bomb.
While saddled with a smaller budget and a more modest cast, Beneath The Planet Of The Apes is another great sci-fi adventure, delivering another helping of action, sly satire and a shocker of an ending. James Franciscus does as great job as Brett, James Gregory is the embodiment of evil as Ursus and Charlton Heston makes a relatively brief but still memorable appearance as Taylor, who comes up with a disturbingly novel solution to the ape/mutant conflict.
The BluRay edition features an improved picture and some nice extras including a new documentary and another CGI introduction by the Lawgiver.
Glory be to the bomb, and to the holy fallout...
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
"Quantum Of Solace"
The 22nd film in the ongoing "James Bond" film series; sequel to the phenomenally successful 2006 film Casino Royale.
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Now there's a book out called Agent Zig Zag by Ben Mcintyre, who wrote the For Your Eyes Only book about the Ian Fleming exhibition at the Imperial War Musuem. It's the true story of a dodgy conman turned war spy called Eddie Chapman, a lothario. I thought it would make a good vehicle for Jude Law and why didn't someone snap up the rights?
Turns out it was made into a film, with Christopher Plummer in 1965. It's one of those lush, rather scenic Second World War movies of the era, like The Great Escape, but not as good. A cast to die for, including our old friend Gert Frobe, and Yul Brynner, as Nazis. But it always seems less than compelling whenever I tune in due to Plummer's cold fish persona, plus he isn't exactly well cast as a conman. Maybe Albert Finney might have been better? Or Peter O'Toole.
Claudine Auger turns up in it too, I believe.
Edit: And Terence Young directs! There's a brilliant imdb comment on the film here:
Love letter to the Twin Towers, through the tale of Philippe Petit, a French acrobat who amazingly set up a high wire between the towers in 1974, just a few months after its opening, and spent some 45 minutes walking back and forth between the two while the police watched and crowds gawped.
Surprisingly moving, perhaps because it's filmed as though it's a heist, with sinister music suggesting a terrorist attack, but of course we know that Petit and his team are about to do something wonderful and uplifting, so it wrongfoots you. It's a neat narrative trick, such as one I saw in the final scene of Kubrick's Paths Of Glory recently.
Still not quite sure how Petit got the cable from one tower to the other, I know a bow and arrow was involved. Wonderful use of music at key moments. Odd how the documentary makers get the participants to break down in tears at the climax, very moving but how do they engineer that? Watching the film you're with them, but these people haven't seen the footage but are just chatting to a camera if you see what I mean.
Petit's a bit of a live wire, some ambivalence there.
Shame that, unlike the terrorists, he didn't get the weather.
One of the best movies i've ever seen. I loved it from start to finish and there is no weak moment in that film imo. For me i's beter than The Good The Bad And The Ugly which i adore.
-KGB With Love "Sergio Leone Fan"
It was definitely the pinnacle of his career. Too bad it bombed at the BO. GBU is great, but there are a few scenes I could have done without.
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
"V For Vendetta"
I'd never read the comic, or read any reviews of this one beforehand. All I'd seen were a few snaps of the exquisite Natalie Portman with her close-cropped head when this was in production.
I must say, I enjoyed this one quite a lot, and it seems eerily timely. I'll have to watch it again, of course, to solidify my impressions...but the performances were very good, and I found the whole thing very entertaining. "Street Fighting Man," by the Stones, playing over the end credits, was a nice touch.
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
For anyone who thinks QoS is a bad movie, here's one to put it in perspective--88 Minutes. Now this is bad. Ace forensic psychologist and part-time professor Al Pacino gets a message that he has 88 minutes to live. Does he call the police? Nope--he sets out with his teaching assistant (whom he suspects of being behind the calls!) to solve the mystery. This is a world where somehow or other the would-be killer knows exactly where and when Al will turn up, so our hero can find the exact number of minutes he has left to live scratched into his car's paint job or written on the projection screen in his classroom; and where every woman you see, from the dean of the college to Al's lesbian Girl Friday, is smokin' hot. Pacino himself is in fine eye-bulging, vein-popping, throat-tearing form, and Leelee Sobieski must have gotten plenty of fiber from all the scenery she chewed up. Redeeming value: plenty of unintended laughs.
Comments
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Good pick there, Doc. Great stuff!
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Fabulously silly and jolly spoof of 1970s TV news anchors, made with some of the 40 Year Old Virgin team, such as Steve Carroll and Andrew McCarthy, with Will Farrell and Christina Applegate as the leads.
Excellent antidote to QoS and they have a fun video of the song Afternoon Delight, with the leads all romping around having a laugh. I never liked Ferrell in anything much, but here's he's perfect and C Appelegate is all prim and proper but turns out to be a good laugh too! I like Andrew McCarthy in this - he could have made a good Leiter - he's like one of those guys you know from school you could pal around with 20 years later like you've never grown up.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Watchable drama with Daniel Craig as a wasted and washed-up Hollywood star, who returns home to England after his childhood friend dies. The film begins with a threesome between two model-types and the Craigster as Scott Walker croons a Jacques Briel track. Please Mickey and Babs, can bond 23 begin in exactly the same manner? There's a remarkable line-up of English babes in this film, from Olivia Williams, Emilia Fox, Claire Forlani, Keeley Hawes and Jodhi May. It never quite reaches the aching register it aims for, but it's worth your time if only to wonder which of those five women is the hottest. And whether Mark Strong, who cameos as Craig's Hollywood agent, is the finest English character actor of his generation.
Iron Man was fun, but nothing groundbreaking. Story plays out strictly by the numbers. The battle between an even larger man of iron was action blockbuster 101. The out-dated Arnold puts up a valiant defense against the new and improved T100.
But seeing Downey Jr. on the screen again was awesome. A welcome sight indeed. And, am I the only one who thinks Paltrow is smoooking?
Not at all Alex; I always thought she was cute (except for that quasi-anorexic period in the mid 90s where she was simply too skinny) and she's quite the sexy little thing in Iron Man.
As for the film, I probably enjoyed it a fair bit more than you did as I thought it struck a very good balance of humor and seriousness and was a generally "fun" film to sit thru. But then again, Iron Man was my favorite comic book when I was a youngling so there may be a bit of bias.
Steve Carrell is a talented comic but has little worthy material to work with. Anne Hathaway's performance is probably the best of all. Her impatience at everybody's incompetence a treat.
Charlton Heston plays cynical astronaut Taylor, traveling thru space in the hopes of finding a species better than man, only to land on a planet where intelligent apes are the masters and humans are dumb, mindless brutes. Lots of striking imagery (not the least of which is Linda Harrison in a skimpy outfit) as well as some sly satire and social commentary. The ending of course is a shocker and one of the all time classic movie twists.
My brother and I picked up the BluRay version of the movie. After putting up with the muddy, grainy standard DVD for years we've finally seen this film as it was meant to be seen. The image is sharp, colorful and vibrant. Sound is also very good and the dialog easy to make out. Lots of extras as well, including a nifty CGI introduction by The Lawgiver (complete with John Huston soundalike voice) that really gets you into the spirit of the film.
Add elements of fantasy and horror and it quickly becomes my favorite movie ever.
I still haven't bought a dvd yet. There are so many on the market I'm feeling Sam Raimi's Army Of Darkness syndrome. One of these day I'll get the first two on disc.
Nooo...Vaaa....:x
We found these two films as part of the Reeve Superman quartet in the bargain bin ($8) and since my son had never seen the third nor fourth installment (I had them on VHS but threw them away long ago), I gladly indulged him in all its cringeworthy glory.
We couldn't stop laughing at Evil Superman for the brief time he was onscreen but the 3rd one, as I regretfully remember, is still bad. Respectfully, the late, great Richard Pryor's comedic genius does not extend to the likes of comic book movies. That was still a dumb move on Warner's behalf.
Evil Supes is awesome though.
The 4th is still terribly cheesy with the terrible editing but oddly for me, it's still likeable. But the laughter ensued when we checked out the deleted scenes...I had no idea that there was another Nuclear Man in this.
We were in tears laughing at how bad this was with the stupid Mario Bros. music playing anytime he made an appearance. I swear we must've repeated that chapter 4-5 times it was so silly.
What was Warner Bros. thinking?! Why did Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman do this?
OMG, in a sick and sad way, I have a feeling that I'll cherish this 4-movie set more than I know. Can you imagine watching this ,as kooky as this is, drunk?
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
However, looking at that picture of Christopher Reeve with the grey temples and serious expression, he reminds me a lot of the older Superman from Alex Ross' and Mark Waid's Kingdom Come. Of course, it can never happen now that he's gone but that could have been something special: a 50 something Christopher Reeve reprising the role one last time in the superhero movie to end all superhero movies.
Y'know, I don't regret spending a few bucks on these four movies because they showed me how much I missed Reeve in the part.
I hope that Routh can lay the path for another legacy. He certainly deserves a second chance to distance himself from SR.
Reeve does remind me of the Kingdom Come Supes though.
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
The problem is that the filmmakers are not willing to allow the superheroes to become truly evil, for obvious reasons. So instead of allowing Supes to blow up a city or to establish himself as the world's dictator, he does a bit of mischief and gets drunk. Not that I would like him to become truly evil anyway, as I think that certain characters should not be darkened, but his drinking was so cringe-worthy that I just wanted to burn the film X-( (I can no longer watch it.)
I like the fourth film as well. Yes, it has its problems, but IMO it is still quite enjoyable and more than made up for the horror that was the third film.
Well at least Quantum of Solace isn't the worst title of the year. Okayish Western directed by Ed Harris. Jeremy Irons does his best Daniel Day-Lewis impression as the villian, which isn't particluarly impressive. Viggo Mortenson looks bored in the sidekick role. Renee Zellwegger wears her corset so tight her face looks like a baby chicken's. For fans of the genre only.
SM III is that kind of bad that brings me to laughter just like SPM 3 does for me now.
Evil Supes, Emo Peter = PUSH.
Please look at the deleted scenes if you haven't already. They are soooo bad that you will have no other choice but to cry or burst out in complete laughter.
I found them on Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tud-fHSFbz0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mor3k9UVQe4&feature=related
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
Great looking Hammer film with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. And yet... tasteful Hammer is missing the point somehow. And it's crazy to think that
Roger Moore 1927-2017
The middle chapter, (with no Holmes to be found), does tend to drag somewhat. But I really enjoy Andre Morrell's Watson. Cushing is superb and Lee in a leading man role, (not required to bite his leading lady), is rare and a pleasure to watch. (I prefer him as the good guy at times)
Jolly old Miles Malleson is always a hoot in his Hammer cameos. Even Lee was smiling during their scene.
Considering hammer's meager budget, good god, those were some scrumptious looking moors. And the opening introduction to the legend is marvelous.
The MGM dvd extras include Lee narrating Conan-Doyle prose, and a interview where he discusses Cushing's tendencies during production. (also a sobering lovely sentiment about his final days)
For what it's worth, I corrected the title, you really love to pluralize things, don't you ...?
I've been afraid of this one for a couple of years, for obvious emotional reasons...but it popped up in my Netflix queue, and there it was, so I finally gave it a look.
Quite good, I must say. Maybe the only way that such a story can be told, really: in real time, and just the facts. Nothing else need be said. I think Paul Greengrass is at his best here.
Highly recommended for anyone who thinks that...[rethinks his words] well...anyone.
"Casino Royale"
The 21st film in the "James Bond" series. There is a sequel out soon.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Indeed there is. I've seen it. It's quite good. . .
In this sequel to Planet of the Apes, astronaut Brett goes thru the same space/time distortion as Taylor and crash lands on the planet of the apes. As he searches for his fellow astronaut he unwittingly becomes embroiled in a confrontation between the apes and a race of human mutants who worship a doomsday bomb.
While saddled with a smaller budget and a more modest cast, Beneath The Planet Of The Apes is another great sci-fi adventure, delivering another helping of action, sly satire and a shocker of an ending. James Franciscus does as great job as Brett, James Gregory is the embodiment of evil as Ursus and Charlton Heston makes a relatively brief but still memorable appearance as Taylor, who comes up with a disturbingly novel solution to the ape/mutant conflict.
The BluRay edition features an improved picture and some nice extras including a new documentary and another CGI introduction by the Lawgiver.
Glory be to the bomb, and to the holy fallout...
The 22nd film in the ongoing "James Bond" film series; sequel to the phenomenally successful 2006 film Casino Royale.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Now there's a book out called Agent Zig Zag by Ben Mcintyre, who wrote the For Your Eyes Only book about the Ian Fleming exhibition at the Imperial War Musuem. It's the true story of a dodgy conman turned war spy called Eddie Chapman, a lothario. I thought it would make a good vehicle for Jude Law and why didn't someone snap up the rights?
Turns out it was made into a film, with Christopher Plummer in 1965. It's one of those lush, rather scenic Second World War movies of the era, like The Great Escape, but not as good. A cast to die for, including our old friend Gert Frobe, and Yul Brynner, as Nazis. But it always seems less than compelling whenever I tune in due to Plummer's cold fish persona, plus he isn't exactly well cast as a conman. Maybe Albert Finney might have been better? Or Peter O'Toole.
Claudine Auger turns up in it too, I believe.
Edit: And Terence Young directs! There's a brilliant imdb comment on the film here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061647/#comment
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Love letter to the Twin Towers, through the tale of Philippe Petit, a French acrobat who amazingly set up a high wire between the towers in 1974, just a few months after its opening, and spent some 45 minutes walking back and forth between the two while the police watched and crowds gawped.
Surprisingly moving, perhaps because it's filmed as though it's a heist, with sinister music suggesting a terrorist attack, but of course we know that Petit and his team are about to do something wonderful and uplifting, so it wrongfoots you. It's a neat narrative trick, such as one I saw in the final scene of Kubrick's Paths Of Glory recently.
Still not quite sure how Petit got the cable from one tower to the other, I know a bow and arrow was involved. Wonderful use of music at key moments. Odd how the documentary makers get the participants to break down in tears at the climax, very moving but how do they engineer that? Watching the film you're with them, but these people haven't seen the footage but are just chatting to a camera if you see what I mean.
Petit's a bit of a live wire, some ambivalence there.
Shame that, unlike the terrorists, he didn't get the weather.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
One of the best movies i've ever seen. I loved it from start to finish and there is no weak moment in that film imo. For me i's beter than The Good The Bad And The Ugly which i adore.
-KGB With Love "Sergio Leone Fan"
I'd never read the comic, or read any reviews of this one beforehand. All I'd seen were a few snaps of the exquisite Natalie Portman with her close-cropped head when this was in production.
I must say, I enjoyed this one quite a lot, and it seems eerily timely. I'll have to watch it again, of course, to solidify my impressions...but the performances were very good, and I found the whole thing very entertaining. "Street Fighting Man," by the Stones, playing over the end credits, was a nice touch.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM