Another old classic for me this morning, The Towering Inferno ( 1974)
Usual disaster movie stuff and characters , with a big name cast
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
PPK 7.65mmSaratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,253MI6 Agent
@chrisno1: I remember one of the movie channels here in the US used to run Gymkata quite a bit. As naff as it is, I would always tune in for the action scenes and a chance to see Australian martial artist Richard Norton as the main bad guy. Norton really knows how to fight and it is always a treat to see him in action in any movie he is in. Defiantly going to revisit this one soon, after I watch some more movies starring Sir Sean Connery as a tribute to his life and career.
@PPK 7.65mm I wasn't referring to the film - of which I was unaware - but Mister Gymkata (above)
Funnily enough, now I've done some research, the movie sounds so terrible I'm looking forward to tracking it down for a quick once over - a possible case of so bad it's good.
Another old classic for me this morning, The Towering Inferno ( 1974)
Usual disaster movie stuff and characters , with a big name cast
Towering Inferno is the best of the “disaster” movies of the 70’s, it’s highly entertaining and with three of my favourite actors, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and Robert Vaughn in the cast it’s even better!
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
I have just watched The Italian Job. This is the first time I have seen this film and enjoyed it very much.
I have become a fan of Michael Caine films and have watched quite a few so far (including The Man Who Would Be King with Sean Connery, which is a great film).
There was one film before The Italian Job came on, Matt Helm?! I only saw the last ten minutes or so. I'm not sure if it was a comedy or not? It was certainly strange?
The Matt Helm films are very silly, It's simply Dean Martin playing at being
a slightly drunk American Secret agent, But I still enjoy them when I'm in
the mood.
The Italian Job is a classic and is far better than the American remake.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
I have just watched The Italian Job. This is the first time I have seen this film and enjoyed it very much.
I have become a fan of Michael Caine films and have watched quite a few so far (including The Man Who Would Be King with Sean Connery, which is a great film).
There was one film before The Italian Job came on, Matt Helm?! I only saw the last ten minutes or so. I'm not sure if it was a comedy or not? It was certainly strange?
Michael Caine is one hell of an actor, not least for his longevity. He's Connery's vintage, but still in the blockbusters.
I'd recommend The Ipcress File and Alfie next, they are his 60s cornerstone films.
That said, he did some real dross. Stuff like The Wrong Box and Gambit, though he looks good. In the 1970s he drew scorn for critics for just taking the money on stuff, but as The Italian Job and maybe even Get Carter didn't get the box office or plaudits they deserved, who can blame him?
Oh alright Gambit isn't that bad but it's a glossy heist vehicle to show off the new British star. Nothing wrong with that I suppose. The really dodgy one is the Bryan Forbes film with the John Barry score. Nice to look at, again, but it doesn't quite work. Can't remember its name and I hate nipping out of Comments pages to visit imdb..
I have just watched The Italian Job. This is the first time I have seen this film and enjoyed it very much.
I have become a fan of Michael Caine films and have watched quite a few so far (including The Man Who Would Be King with Sean Connery, which is a great film).
Joshua, perhaps next you could try The Fourth Protocol, starring Michael Caine and future Bond star, Pierce Bros.... no, wait...
Thank you for the suggestions. I have already watched The Ipcress File and Funeral in Berlin (which I did not care for, FiB I mean) I have also seen Gambit and enjoyed that too. I have ZULU on DVD and intend to watch that soon.
As for The Forth Protocol I have watched that. C&D as I said elsewhere, just because I think Pierce Brosnan is (for me) the worst Bond, it is nothing to do with him or his other acting. I enjoyed him in that role as the Russian agent.
Oh alright Gambit isn't that bad but it's a glossy heist vehicle to show off the new British star. Nothing wrong with that I suppose. The really dodgy one is the Bryan Forbes film with the John Barry score. Nice to look at, again, but it doesn't quite work. Can't remember its name and I hate nipping out of Comments pages to visit imdb..
I think you mean Deadfall. Caine also made The Magus in 1968 based on John Fowles novel. It should have been good. Cast, crew and source novel all well above par. But something went wrong. Caine reckons it is even worse than Jaws 4. It certainly has a bad reputation. I've never seen it.
I think it's well known that Caine himself said he did many films just for the big pay cheque. As he came
from a very poor background and didn't know when his success would end.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
As for The Forth Protocol I have watched that. C&D as I said elsewhere, just because I think Pierce Brosnan is (for me) the worst Bond, it is nothing to do with him or his other acting. I enjoyed him in that role as the Russian agent.
As for The Forth Protocol I have watched that. C&D as I said elsewhere, just because I think Pierce Brosnan is (for me) the worst Bond, it is nothing to do with him or his other acting. I enjoyed him in that role as the Russian agent.
I know, Joshua, I was just kidding. )
PLEASE DO NOT MENTION PIERCE BROSNAN TO ME AGAIN!!!!!!!!! ) ) ) ) )
I think it's well known that Caine himself said he did many films just for the big pay cheque. As he came
from a very poor background and didn't know when his success would end.
There was that famous quote about Jaws 4. "I've never seen Jaws 4 but I have seen the house it built and it's rather nice' )
I've watched 'A Muppets Christmas Carol' a hundred times but it was only this year I noticed Scrooge/Michael Caine walks past a shop called 'Mickelwhite's" . I thought that was a nice touch.
I can go all the way back to The Jerk I knew nothing about it but laughed all the way though
I was a Steve Martin fan after that. I have a soft spot for The Man with two Brains.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
This isn't a great film by any stretch of the imagination, but it passes pleasantly a couple of hours and took my mind off the world outside my window. Franco Zeffirelli directs a movie loosely based on his own wartime experiences in Italy. A band of English and American women refuse to leave Florence when war breaks out in 1939 and end up prisoners of the Fascists, but in a rather different manner than their captors expected. Lovely scenery among the Tuscan hill towns. Willing performances from a stellar cast. Judi Dench is a bit OTT, Cher rather good but underused, Joan Plowright excellent. Maggie Smith gives an interesting turn as Lady Hestor, an ex-ambassador's wife deluded into believing Mussolini was a benign dictator; this neatly plays against her Oscar winning role as Jean Brodie, who of course was a proto-fascist in all but name. Beautiful photography. The amusing script could have been a bit more involved; it's very condensed and the characters are sketched instead of moulded. Enjoyed it though.
I saw the original of DRS, it was a 50s film called Bedside Story with David Niven and Marlon Brando. Pretty rubbish, though it seems Steve Martin got the whole Ruprett character - mannerisms and all - off Brando, with one crucial difference. Martin is hilarious, and Brando - he just aint funny.
I'd seen the dodgy sequel to this but the original was never shown on telly until recently, I've no idea how the scheduling of films comes about. Anyway, this co-stars Bond star Rosaumund Pike putting in a decent performance, she's a proper grown up in this. Not really quite the totty by now (God I'm showing my age now myself) and she seemed younger in Gone Girl which came later, right? But this is more a grown-up movie, it's old school, no CGI.
The film was overshadowed by the whole 'Cruise ain't tall enough to be Reacher' along with Cruise bashing at the time but forgetting that it works and tbf the whole thing of him blending in and disappearing makes more sense than if he were 6ft 4. I found him convincing in the fight scenes albeit up against lacklustre hoodlums.
Some daft snags occur only later in the film, it had a damn good run until then. The plot is a good one, and it throws you early on with some unexpected stuff.
Cruise is the cliche role of the super detective like Sherlock who has command and knows his stuff, he is way ahead of everyone. This is always enjoyable to watch. It's almost Bond like but these days there has to be a downside, and Reacher is a loner like The Hitcher or The Fugitive, that's his thing and he doesn't get to settle. Really that's a bit like many an Army Vet who actually is traumatised and can't quite settle, always avoiding themselves, but Cruise sells it as a virtue of sorts.
It's implied his sex comes from prostitutes however which is a bit of a downer.
Agree with the Nap and Gymkata, I really enjoyed the first Jack Reacher without ever warming to the character. I too saw the second film first and thought it was terrible. Very violent and uninteresting, no character development at all. The debut has thoughtful plotting. The end was a trifle naff, with the old timer half blind vet giving Reacher a helping hand,but generally this one was a good crack. Cruise was rather good, I thought.
Here's another second film that fell foul of everyone.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
It's crap, isn't it.
It starts as it means to go on... spectacular opening in a Shanghai nightclub, but all the protagonists are unlikeable and behave badly. Indiana uses the singing star as bait against the gangsters, holding a knife to her. Said singing star only caring about the diamond. Gangsters horrible too but that's okay. No chemistry between Ford and Capshaw, perhaps because the latter was servicing the director. Nobody has any charm or charisma.
Comments
Usual disaster movie stuff and characters , with a big name cast
Funnily enough, now I've done some research, the movie sounds so terrible I'm looking forward to tracking it down for a quick once over - a possible case of so bad it's good.
To movie lovers. It's well worth
a look, one of those so bad it's
Good.
Towering Inferno is the best of the “disaster” movies of the 70’s, it’s highly entertaining and with three of my favourite actors, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and Robert Vaughn in the cast it’s even better!
I have become a fan of Michael Caine films and have watched quite a few so far (including The Man Who Would Be King with Sean Connery, which is a great film).
There was one film before The Italian Job came on, Matt Helm?! I only saw the last ten minutes or so. I'm not sure if it was a comedy or not? It was certainly strange?
a slightly drunk American Secret agent, But I still enjoy them when I'm in
the mood.
The Italian Job is a classic and is far better than the American remake.
Michael Caine is one hell of an actor, not least for his longevity. He's Connery's vintage, but still in the blockbusters.
I'd recommend The Ipcress File and Alfie next, they are his 60s cornerstone films.
That said, he did some real dross. Stuff like The Wrong Box and Gambit, though he looks good. In the 1970s he drew scorn for critics for just taking the money on stuff, but as The Italian Job and maybe even Get Carter didn't get the box office or plaudits they deserved, who can blame him?
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Joshua, perhaps next you could try The Fourth Protocol, starring Michael Caine and future Bond star, Pierce Bros.... no, wait...
As for The Forth Protocol I have watched that. C&D as I said elsewhere, just because I think Pierce Brosnan is (for me) the worst Bond, it is nothing to do with him or his other acting. I enjoyed him in that role as the Russian agent.
I think you mean Deadfall. Caine also made The Magus in 1968 based on John Fowles novel. It should have been good. Cast, crew and source novel all well above par. But something went wrong. Caine reckons it is even worse than Jaws 4. It certainly has a bad reputation. I've never seen it.
from a very poor background and didn't know when his success would end.
I know, Joshua, I was just kidding.
PLEASE DO NOT MENTION PIERCE BROSNAN TO ME AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
There was that famous quote about Jaws 4. "I've never seen Jaws 4 but I have seen the house it built and it's rather nice'
I've watched 'A Muppets Christmas Carol' a hundred times but it was only this year I noticed Scrooge/Michael Caine walks past a shop called 'Mickelwhite's" . I thought that was a nice touch.
I was a Steve Martin fan after that. I have a soft spot for The Man with two Brains.
This isn't a great film by any stretch of the imagination, but it passes pleasantly a couple of hours and took my mind off the world outside my window. Franco Zeffirelli directs a movie loosely based on his own wartime experiences in Italy. A band of English and American women refuse to leave Florence when war breaks out in 1939 and end up prisoners of the Fascists, but in a rather different manner than their captors expected. Lovely scenery among the Tuscan hill towns. Willing performances from a stellar cast. Judi Dench is a bit OTT, Cher rather good but underused, Joan Plowright excellent. Maggie Smith gives an interesting turn as Lady Hestor, an ex-ambassador's wife deluded into believing Mussolini was a benign dictator; this neatly plays against her Oscar winning role as Jean Brodie, who of course was a proto-fascist in all but name. Beautiful photography. The amusing script could have been a bit more involved; it's very condensed and the characters are sketched instead of moulded. Enjoyed it though.
Fascinating biopic drama of Stephen Hawking,dealing with Motor Neurone disease.
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I'd seen the dodgy sequel to this but the original was never shown on telly until recently, I've no idea how the scheduling of films comes about. Anyway, this co-stars Bond star Rosaumund Pike putting in a decent performance, she's a proper grown up in this. Not really quite the totty by now (God I'm showing my age now myself) and she seemed younger in Gone Girl which came later, right? But this is more a grown-up movie, it's old school, no CGI.
The film was overshadowed by the whole 'Cruise ain't tall enough to be Reacher' along with Cruise bashing at the time but forgetting that it works and tbf the whole thing of him blending in and disappearing makes more sense than if he were 6ft 4. I found him convincing in the fight scenes albeit up against lacklustre hoodlums.
Some daft snags occur only later in the film, it had a damn good run until then. The plot is a good one, and it throws you early on with some unexpected stuff.
Cruise is the cliche role of the super detective like Sherlock who has command and knows his stuff, he is way ahead of everyone. This is always enjoyable to watch. It's almost Bond like but these days there has to be a downside, and Reacher is a loner like The Hitcher or The Fugitive, that's his thing and he doesn't get to settle. Really that's a bit like many an Army Vet who actually is traumatised and can't quite settle, always avoiding themselves, but Cruise sells it as a virtue of sorts.
It's implied his sex comes from prostitutes however which is a bit of a downer.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
It's crap, isn't it.
It starts as it means to go on... spectacular opening in a Shanghai nightclub, but all the protagonists are unlikeable and behave badly. Indiana uses the singing star as bait against the gangsters, holding a knife to her. Said singing star only caring about the diamond. Gangsters horrible too but that's okay. No chemistry between Ford and Capshaw, perhaps because the latter was servicing the director. Nobody has any charm or charisma.
Roger Moore 1927-2017