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: 8,646MI6 Agent
Very good, borderline excellent. I prefer INFINITY WAR as it's a bit tighter and has some plot elements that I prefer (avoiding spoilers), but it's very close.
Avoid spoilers, go in clean. You'll be glad that you did.
Saw it on Sunday, and found it to be great fun and very satisfying...overstuffed, naturally, as it's tasked with ending a saga that's encompassed 22 films. Pulling it all together (even if it took three hours!) is an impressive feat, and the Russo Brothers are to be congratulated.
Totally agree that it should be seen sooner rather than later, if you care about spoilers. These secrets won't stay secret for long.
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
Early life of the author. Nicholas Hoult very good in the title role (Has been the subject of 007 rumours in the tabloids. Seems a bit young at the moment, maybe he'll look more Bondian in a few years). Lily Collins nice as his intended. Thomas Newman's music wasn't bad, certainly better than his Bond scores.
With Mrs James Bond Rachel Weisz and that man Hoult again. good stuff in the Dangerous Liaisons mold, not quite as good as that but good stuff any how. Went on a bit, and couldn't understand the political ramifications of whether it would be better to sue for peace with the French or not, probably a bit distracted by recently shown movies like The Young Mister Pitt and Lady Hamilton where the outcome appears to be in the balance (because those anti-Imperialistic films were propaganda vehicles against the Nazis.)
Emma Stone excellent, great British accent too, and Olivia Colman grew into her Oscar as the film went on. Strange having Mark Gatiss billed high up in the end credits though he was in it for 30 seconds.
The curse of Frankenstein:
1957 Hammer version of the story, I remember in a documentary
That Hammer were under legal pressure from Universal studios
If their creature looked anything like there classic 30s creation.
It was fun the usual bodice ripped of a yarn from Hammer. -{
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile: Starring Zac Effron
Well acted - especially from the lead who managed to display many of Bundy's mannerisms & 'charm' very well ... however the movie could have been so much more in my opinion. Having read a lot regarding Bundy over the years, it failed to show a lot of what he actually did (gore not even required in that regard) and how the horrifying story actually unfolded, plus it missed showing his truly evil side or his cunning. This may well be due to it being told from the perspective of his former partner & perhaps she never truly saw the true monster that he was.
I wouldn't put anyone off watching it, however it left me feeling like it was a missed opportunity to actually nail the story.
I don't get out much:
THE LOOKING GLASS WAR
Saw it on Talking Pictures TV. Interesting but dull like most Le Carre adaptations.
I haven't seen this particular adaptation, but from everything I've heard from Le Carre fans it is probably the most disappointing screen adaptation of a Le Carre novel.
World War Z ( Directors cut )
Got this on the Sky store for only £3.99 {[] It's around six or seven minutes longer than
the theatrical version. A few extended scenes, and a few more scares
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
I haven't seen this particular adaptation, but from everything I've heard from Le Carre fans it is probably the most disappointing screen adaptation of a Le Carre novel.
I read this book last year, I think it would be difficult to adapt to a film.
Its more like a parody of the spy genre, about a leftover spy department from World War II wallowing in nostalgia and seeing a chance to get back in the game one last time. The Circus cynically manipulates them behind the scenes to ensure they go away, but one sucker is sent behind enemy lines with tragic results.
A clever story, well structured with good character studies, but not really cinematic in its potential.
Caught DAF on the telly yesterday. I missed the Dutch scenes. Wint and Kidd are awesome. Like the actors who have played Bond that have thier own spin on the character, the actors who played Blofeld have thier own take on that character as well. Charles Gray plays him as a suave and charming person, but is quick to weasel his way out of trouble when it all hits the fan.
I get that he is the leader of the most evil organisation and i understand he needs to go incognito in public, but dressing him in drag? He looks like a panto dame.
Great theme song. My second favourite of the Shirley Bassey trilogy.
I think Jimmy Dean has great chemistry with Sean Connery. They work well together.
Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"
Death Wish. The new Bruce Willis one. Not sure the point of this remake, too far removed from the original and to be fair Bronson was far more convincing.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
Comments
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 ) evil scientist Vincent
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.
Saw it on Sunday, and found it to be great fun and very satisfying...overstuffed, naturally, as it's tasked with ending a saga that's encompassed 22 films. Pulling it all together (even if it took three hours!) is an impressive feat, and the Russo Brothers are to be congratulated.
Totally agree that it should be seen sooner rather than later, if you care about spoilers. These secrets won't stay secret for long.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I actually turned it off because I couldn't understand a word Bradley Cooper was mumbling 8-)
Early life of the author. Nicholas Hoult very good in the title role (Has been the subject of 007 rumours in the tabloids. Seems a bit young at the moment, maybe he'll look more Bondian in a few years). Lily Collins nice as his intended. Thomas Newman's music wasn't bad, certainly better than his Bond scores.
The Favourite
With Mrs James Bond Rachel Weisz and that man Hoult again. good stuff in the Dangerous Liaisons mold, not quite as good as that but good stuff any how. Went on a bit, and couldn't understand the political ramifications of whether it would be better to sue for peace with the French or not, probably a bit distracted by recently shown movies like The Young Mister Pitt and Lady Hamilton where the outcome appears to be in the balance (because those anti-Imperialistic films were propaganda vehicles against the Nazis.)
Emma Stone excellent, great British accent too, and Olivia Colman grew into her Oscar as the film went on. Strange having Mark Gatiss billed high up in the end credits though he was in it for 30 seconds.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
THE LOOKING GLASS WAR
Saw it on Talking Pictures TV. Interesting but dull like most Le Carre adaptations.
1957 Hammer version of the story, I remember in a documentary
That Hammer were under legal pressure from Universal studios
If their creature looked anything like there classic 30s creation.
It was fun the usual bodice ripped of a yarn from Hammer. -{
Well acted - especially from the lead who managed to display many of Bundy's mannerisms & 'charm' very well ... however the movie could have been so much more in my opinion. Having read a lot regarding Bundy over the years, it failed to show a lot of what he actually did (gore not even required in that regard) and how the horrifying story actually unfolded, plus it missed showing his truly evil side or his cunning. This may well be due to it being told from the perspective of his former partner & perhaps she never truly saw the true monster that he was.
I wouldn't put anyone off watching it, however it left me feeling like it was a missed opportunity to actually nail the story.
I haven't seen this particular adaptation, but from everything I've heard from Le Carre fans it is probably the most disappointing screen adaptation of a Le Carre novel.
Got this on the Sky store for only £3.99 {[] It's around six or seven minutes longer than
the theatrical version. A few extended scenes, and a few more scares
Oh, dear lord, what atrociousness...
Its more like a parody of the spy genre, about a leftover spy department from World War II wallowing in nostalgia and seeing a chance to get back in the game one last time. The Circus cynically manipulates them behind the scenes to ensure they go away, but one sucker is sent behind enemy lines with tragic results.
A clever story, well structured with good character studies, but not really cinematic in its potential.
I get that he is the leader of the most evil organisation and i understand he needs to go incognito in public, but dressing him in drag? He looks like a panto dame.
Great theme song. My second favourite of the Shirley Bassey trilogy.
I think Jimmy Dean has great chemistry with Sean Connery. They work well together.
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
shabby Vegas location, before it changed to the modern city,
(All together) Oh no he doesn't!