The Vampire Lovers (1970)
Ingrid Pitt is a lesbian vampire. That really is all you need to know. It is on youtube and well worth your time. It has lots of boobs so it is NSFW or if you have people around you tend to blush.
Last night I watched a film called Callan. It was a secret service thiller. I really enjoyed this film and recommend it to every one. It was opposite to James Bond in every way. Callan was a assasin for the British secret service who really had enough of killing but was sent on a mission to kill a gun runner. I thought the actor who played Callan was very good.
I watched Mads Mikkelsen in a Netflix original, Polar. I have to say, I got this confused with another MM film, Arctic, which has gotten some good reviews. As for Polar. . .Mads is only the good thing in this nasty concoction. Everyone is a hitman or hitwoman, and pretty much everyone dies in a horrible way--and Mads is on the receiving end of a torture scene that makes what he dishes out in Casino Royale look like a child's game of tickling. My opinion of humanity was considerably lowered by this dreck. . .and a film that can do that to a viewer is not good.
I watched this expecting a completely different film. I thought it was going to be some sort of Liam Neeson-esque type retired hitman movie but I was very wrong !!! The synopsis is very misleading.
It's based on a comic book or something and my jaw dropped when Matt Lucas appeared. I watched it until the end though for some reason and totally agree on the torture scene ... made Le Chiffre look like a beginner ) )
Last night I watched 'The Highwaymen' on Netflix starring Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson. It about the Texas Rangers that were brought in to help catch Bonnie and Clyde.
Very good movie IMO and focuses on the law men and not Bonnie and Clyde themselves. It's a great perspective because of the romanticised notion the couple usually create. Instead it focuses on the brutality and callousness of their crimes.
Armando Iannucci (who I know mostly from Veep) reapplies his talents as a satirist of backroom politics to explain a key moment in realworld Russian history … at a time when Russia is big and bad all over again and something called "fakenews" is a large reason why.
The backroom drama that followed Stalin's death and resulted in Kruschev's rise and Beria's fall is presented as zany farce, with some legendary comic actors making these historic figures look very silly indeed.
For those historians out there, how accurate is any of this?
Steve Buscemi of all possible actors to choose from is Kruschev. I haven't seen Buscemi in anything for ages. For once he is not the one that gets put through the woodchipper in the final scene.
Michael Palin is underutilized as Molotov. I don't think I've ever seen him in a proper acting role before?
Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) is the pathetic would be puppet Malenkov. Shame he got me-too'd, he is a very funny actor.
But best of all is Simon Russell Beale as Beria. I've never heard of him before, but wikipedia says he is mostly a stage actor. Damn does he chew up the scenery, and me not knowing my history I cheered in the last scene as the slightly less bad guys won.
Also in the cast is Olga Kurylenko, who is inadvertently responsible for the sequence of events. She's one of ours!
The main inaccuracies are that events that happen in a week happened in a week or two in the movie took weeks or even months in real life. Obviously what happened was far less funny and more horrible in real life. Kruschev later said he found working under Stalin more stressful and scary than WWII.
Loved this in the cinema when I was a boy, found myself pretty bored with it this morning. For Bond interest, Raquel Welch gets into a girl fight with Martine Beswick who'd had some practice in FRWL while future M Robert Brown is a caveman chief.
Written by, directed by and starring Emilio Estevez, this story takes place almost entirely over one winter night at the Cincinnati Public Library, when the homeless who convene in the library during the day refuse to leave at closing time because the weather is freezing and the city's homeless shelters are full. Estevez has assembled an impressive cast that includes Jeffrey Wright, Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, Taylor Schilling, Michael K. Williams and Jena Malone. There are several implausible moments and lots of contrived characters, but the story is very earnest and features a lot of humor. As I noted to my wife afterward, the film wears its politics on it's sleeve but doesn't beat you over the head with them (unlike, say, Vice). Nothing too special here, but you could do a lot worse.
The Meg!
Jaws with a bigger Shark, less acting ability, no decent script, cgi galore, but Statham is in it and he's just so reliably Statham! Score is crap, story makes no sense, effects are DAD style iffy. Some nice watches being obviously put I prominent positions so on the whole this was two hours of brain out entertainment.
I took a break from my very busy life to see Shazam! (harumph--HE is the original Captain Marvel!). It's a mostly light-hearted and always fun movie that's built around a premise most superhero movies these days have forgotten: that every kid dreams of having super powers. I've been a fan of this character since my dad introduced me to him in the early 1970s, so I was happy to see a lot of nods to classical elements from the comic book; and it was nice to see DC lighten up a bit. Holy Moley, I guess I liked it!
I took a break from my very busy life to see Shazam! (harumph--HE is the original Captain Marvel!). It's a mostly light-hearted and always fun movie that's built around a premise most superhero movies these days have forgotten: that every kid dreams of having super powers. I've been a fan of this character since my dad introduced me to him in the early 1970s, so I was happy to see a lot of nods to classical elements from the comic book; and it was nice to see DC lighten up a bit. Holy Moley, I guess I liked it!
I'm glad to hear the Shazam film is actually good.
I was very worried when I saw DC was actually releasing this at the same time as Marvel's Captain Marvel film (which should really be called Ms Marvel, that was the original name of that character). And even in the comics, DC hasn't really figured out what to do with the character since they got the rights.
They went to so much trouble to get the rights, then have just squandered them.
Shazam was the first superhero comic I got into reading, back in the early 70s when DC was doing 100 page issues full of classic reprints
the 100 page SuperSpectaculars are still the best reprint collections DC ever did of the classic 1940s/50s Captain Marvel/Marvel Family stories. If DC cant figure out how to do new comics about the characters, they should at least use their ownership of the property to bring the classic material back into print
Could I take my 90 year old Dad to see this film, Hardyboy?
I would have taken him to see Spectre but not QoS.
Is it generally fast and noisy?
That was the complaint my 88-years-old-next-month dad had about Aquaman--no plot, all action. Shazam! actually takes some time building a story and characters, and it really does work on the character level. In fact, the kid who plays Freddie Freeman (the future Captain Marvel, Jr.--but he's not called this in the film, of course) is more interesting than the kid who plays Billy, in part because he gets more screen time, but also because he's the one who really wants to BE a superhero and who can't help but resent Billy for getting the gig. Like I said, this movie really gets the kids' worship of superheroes correct.
This is based on the incredible story of a black police officer (played by John David Washington) who inflitrated the Ku Klux Klan back in the 1970's. Most of the infiltration happened by telephone, but when personal attendence was necessary he sent a Jewish police officer (Adam Driver). The story is mind-boggling, provocative and often funny. the actual policeman who did it in real life finds the movie too comical. I't esy to see why, but the subject matter is so serious and flamable the moments of comedy are very welcome. I think the movie is both really entertsining and engaging, wel wort watching. Unfortunately hte subject metter is still topical and honestly I think the diorector is too heavy-handed in showing paralells and developments in today's America. The audience memebers aren't stupid, Spike Lee could have been more subtle.
Theatre of Blood (1973) Vincent Price horror film, but with all the
deaths based on Shakespearean plays. With a guest spot for
Blofeld's settee ( DAF) .... or one very like it
Horror Hospital (1973) Comedy horror with Robin Askwith & Michael Gough.
Blue Thunder, (1983) Roy Scheider, as a police helecopter pilot who uncovers
a conspiracy around a super survelliance chopper.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Great gangster film, about two Irish Americans who climb up through the ranks in the mob in Prohibition Era Chicago. The grapefruit scene is quite tame by today's standards. Must've been quite shocking in 1931.
Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"
Scream and scream again ( 1970 )
Horror film with the usual crew of Lee, Cushing and Price. Although
Peter Cushing is actually only in one scene ) evil scientist Vincent
Price is making a race of super people from parts cut off murder
Victims.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
the Osterman Weekend
adapted from Robert Ludlum's 2nd novel
directed by Sam Peckinpah (his final film)
starring Rutger Hauer, John Hurt, Burt Lancaster, and an underutilised Dennis Hopper.
This has the trappings of a spy film, but is more like a grindhouse shocker focussing on all the slo-mo stylised violence you would expect from Peckinpah, each nasty moment repeated from various angles while discordant synth music underlines the horror.
Hauer is a teevee interviewer who has invited three old schoolchums to his remote country house for the weekend. Hurt is some sort of government agent who informs Hauer his three friends are Soviet moles, and persuades him the best plan is to turn the three friends agains each other as the weekend unfolds (with Hauer's wife child and dog present for the predictable outcome). Hurt wires the house with microphones and cameras and hides in one of the outbuildings, watching it all, especially what goes on in the bedrooms, and routinely intervening to provoke the tension. Also the woods are full of snipers.
So the basic plot is really the same formula as And Then There Were None or the Hateful Eight. Not sure if there's a name for this subgenre, also seen in lot of horror films, but the spy-trappings are just a setup. Although at the end there's a bit of paranoia inducing exposition about the powers of the CIA.
All rather unpleasant, and even worse how can you put Dennis Hopper in a film like this and have him be the meekest of all the characters?
On the positive side, Peckinpah does follow Checkhov's principle of storytelling: when a crossbow is prominently positioned on the wall of the poolhouse in the first act, it will be used in the final act.
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
Comments
Ingrid Pitt is a lesbian vampire. That really is all you need to know. It is on youtube and well worth your time. It has lots of boobs so it is NSFW or if you have people around you tend to blush.
It's a Hammer film, and there's a thread in this forum dedicated to those if you're interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrvAmAKEpeg
I watched this expecting a completely different film. I thought it was going to be some sort of Liam Neeson-esque type retired hitman movie but I was very wrong !!! The synopsis is very misleading.
It's based on a comic book or something and my jaw dropped when Matt Lucas appeared. I watched it until the end though for some reason and totally agree on the torture scene ... made Le Chiffre look like a beginner
Last night I watched 'The Highwaymen' on Netflix starring Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson. It about the Texas Rangers that were brought in to help catch Bonnie and Clyde.
Very good movie IMO and focuses on the law men and not Bonnie and Clyde themselves. It's a great perspective because of the romanticised notion the couple usually create. Instead it focuses on the brutality and callousness of their crimes.
Armando Iannucci (who I know mostly from Veep) reapplies his talents as a satirist of backroom politics to explain a key moment in realworld Russian history … at a time when Russia is big and bad all over again and something called "fakenews" is a large reason why.
The backroom drama that followed Stalin's death and resulted in Kruschev's rise and Beria's fall is presented as zany farce, with some legendary comic actors making these historic figures look very silly indeed.
For those historians out there, how accurate is any of this?
Steve Buscemi of all possible actors to choose from is Kruschev. I haven't seen Buscemi in anything for ages. For once he is not the one that gets put through the woodchipper in the final scene.
Michael Palin is underutilized as Molotov. I don't think I've ever seen him in a proper acting role before?
Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) is the pathetic would be puppet Malenkov. Shame he got me-too'd, he is a very funny actor.
But best of all is Simon Russell Beale as Beria. I've never heard of him before, but wikipedia says he is mostly a stage actor. Damn does he chew up the scenery, and me not knowing my history I cheered in the last scene as the slightly less bad guys won.
Also in the cast is Olga Kurylenko, who is inadvertently responsible for the sequence of events. She's one of ours!
You know, this one:
Loved this in the cinema when I was a boy, found myself pretty bored with it this morning. For Bond interest, Raquel Welch gets into a girl fight with Martine Beswick who'd had some practice in FRWL while future M Robert Brown is a caveman chief.
Written by, directed by and starring Emilio Estevez, this story takes place almost entirely over one winter night at the Cincinnati Public Library, when the homeless who convene in the library during the day refuse to leave at closing time because the weather is freezing and the city's homeless shelters are full. Estevez has assembled an impressive cast that includes Jeffrey Wright, Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, Taylor Schilling, Michael K. Williams and Jena Malone. There are several implausible moments and lots of contrived characters, but the story is very earnest and features a lot of humor. As I noted to my wife afterward, the film wears its politics on it's sleeve but doesn't beat you over the head with them (unlike, say, Vice). Nothing too special here, but you could do a lot worse.
Jaws with a bigger Shark, less acting ability, no decent script, cgi galore, but Statham is in it and he's just so reliably Statham! Score is crap, story makes no sense, effects are DAD style iffy. Some nice watches being obviously put I prominent positions so on the whole this was two hours of brain out entertainment.
I would have taken him to see Spectre but not QoS.
Is it generally fast and noisy?
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I was very worried when I saw DC was actually releasing this at the same time as Marvel's Captain Marvel film (which should really be called Ms Marvel, that was the original name of that character). And even in the comics, DC hasn't really figured out what to do with the character since they got the rights.
They went to so much trouble to get the rights, then have just squandered them.
Shazam was the first superhero comic I got into reading, back in the early 70s when DC was doing 100 page issues full of classic reprints
the 100 page SuperSpectaculars are still the best reprint collections DC ever did of the classic 1940s/50s Captain Marvel/Marvel Family stories. If DC cant figure out how to do new comics about the characters, they should at least use their ownership of the property to bring the classic material back into print
That was the complaint my 88-years-old-next-month dad had about Aquaman--no plot, all action. Shazam! actually takes some time building a story and characters, and it really does work on the character level. In fact, the kid who plays Freddie Freeman (the future Captain Marvel, Jr.--but he's not called this in the film, of course) is more interesting than the kid who plays Billy, in part because he gets more screen time, but also because he's the one who really wants to BE a superhero and who can't help but resent Billy for getting the gig. Like I said, this movie really gets the kids' worship of superheroes correct.
This is based on the incredible story of a black police officer (played by John David Washington) who inflitrated the Ku Klux Klan back in the 1970's. Most of the infiltration happened by telephone, but when personal attendence was necessary he sent a Jewish police officer (Adam Driver). The story is mind-boggling, provocative and often funny. the actual policeman who did it in real life finds the movie too comical. I't esy to see why, but the subject matter is so serious and flamable the moments of comedy are very welcome. I think the movie is both really entertsining and engaging, wel wort watching. Unfortunately hte subject metter is still topical and honestly I think the diorector is too heavy-handed in showing paralells and developments in today's America. The audience memebers aren't stupid, Spike Lee could have been more subtle.
The sequel was rubbish. I laughed at
The first film was better. Very funny. I loved the creepy guy who kidnaps Ted. Good comedy villain. Loved the references to Octopussy as well.
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
deaths based on Shakespearean plays. With a guest spot for
Blofeld's settee ( DAF) .... or one very like it
Horror Hospital (1973) Comedy horror with Robin Askwith & Michael Gough.
Blue Thunder, (1983) Roy Scheider, as a police helecopter pilot who uncovers
a conspiracy around a super survelliance chopper.
Great gangster film, about two Irish Americans who climb up through the ranks in the mob in Prohibition Era Chicago. The grapefruit scene is quite tame by today's standards. Must've been quite shocking in 1931.
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
Horror film with the usual crew of Lee, Cushing and Price. Although
Peter Cushing is actually only in one scene
Price is making a race of super people from parts cut off murder
Victims.
Not as good as the first film, but still worth a watch. It just
Seems to miss the mark second time around.
adapted from Robert Ludlum's 2nd novel
directed by Sam Peckinpah (his final film)
starring Rutger Hauer, John Hurt, Burt Lancaster, and an underutilised Dennis Hopper.
This has the trappings of a spy film, but is more like a grindhouse shocker focussing on all the slo-mo stylised violence you would expect from Peckinpah, each nasty moment repeated from various angles while discordant synth music underlines the horror.
Hauer is a teevee interviewer who has invited three old schoolchums to his remote country house for the weekend. Hurt is some sort of government agent who informs Hauer his three friends are Soviet moles, and persuades him the best plan is to turn the three friends agains each other as the weekend unfolds (with Hauer's wife child and dog present for the predictable outcome). Hurt wires the house with microphones and cameras and hides in one of the outbuildings, watching it all, especially what goes on in the bedrooms, and routinely intervening to provoke the tension. Also the woods are full of snipers.
So the basic plot is really the same formula as And Then There Were None or the Hateful Eight. Not sure if there's a name for this subgenre, also seen in lot of horror films, but the spy-trappings are just a setup. Although at the end there's a bit of paranoia inducing exposition about the powers of the CIA.
All rather unpleasant, and even worse how can you put Dennis Hopper in a film like this and have him be the meekest of all the characters?
On the positive side, Peckinpah does follow Checkhov's principle of storytelling: when a crossbow is prominently positioned on the wall of the poolhouse in the first act, it will be used in the final act.
Still better than Katy Perry.