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Post by someoldguy on Mar 26, 2020 13:19:28 GMT -5
A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) South Korean, English subtitles Despite the lurid posters, there is negligible gore in this movie. It is a psychological horror story. It is quite slow moving but with several sudden shifts along the way. Acting, dialog (what comes across in the subtitles), camera work, production values etc. are all very good. What might turn people off is the slow pace and the sudden rug pullings. In retrospect, the clues are there from the beginning. But the whole story can only be understood at the end. If the viewer lasts that long. Example of a clue: When the girl is brought back from the institution to her father's house in the country, she and her younger sister get out of the car. The younger sister acts as if she has not been there for a long time, running to see the flowers and such. Where has she been while the older sister was institutionalized? |
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Post by someoldguy on Mar 26, 2020 19:10:04 GMT -5
Demons (1985) From Lambereto Bava, son of famous (in horror circles) Mario Bava. Horror movie audience starts turning into murderous demons, infecting others, just like in the movie they are watching. This film is all about gore and action and there is plenty of both, escalating throughout. Cheap and cheesy in exactly the right way.  Lots of '80s metal, punkfunk and eurojunk music. Good ride for the intended audience. And you know who you are.  |
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Post by ArcLight on Mar 26, 2020 22:14:36 GMT -5
The Rocketeer (1991)
So I braved the apocalypse today to check out the two local Walgreens in search of the new Rocketeer figure (they're selling a slightly stripped-down version of the new Disney Diamond Select figure - fewer accessories for ten fewer dollars). In the process, I managed to hit one as they were unloading their truck so I snagged a pack of toilet paper, too. And while there, I finally heard back from the job and it looks like I will be getting paid for my whole two week 'vacation.' All in all, a successful outing.
So to celebrate, I put in my Rocketeer Blu-ray when I got home. I still love this movie as much as the day I went to the theater to see it in '91. Probably my favorite 'comic book' movie of all-time, helped by my love of the whole '30s serial/pulp vibe.
If I had to list any issues with the film, I guess I'm sad they didn't include Doc Savage as the rocket pack's inventor as in the comics, but Howard Hughes was a natural replacement and Terry O'Quinn did his always excellent work as the character. And it would've been nice if Jennifer Connelly had gotten to play Betty (as in famous pin-up model Bettie Page) but given it was a Disney film that wasn't going to be likely even if they weren't nervous about basing a character on a real person.
Add in Timothy Dalton as the scenery-chewing number three box office star in America, Neville Sinclair, Alan Arkin as the cantankerous engineer/mechanic Peevy, and Billy Campbell as the wide-eyed Rocketeer himself, Cliff Secord, along with a host of other great character actors and you've got a winner of a cast all around.
It might've only been Joe Johnston's second movie as a director but his first was Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and before that, he was a fixture at Lucasfilm working on the Star Wars films (he designed Yoda and Boba Fett among other duties) and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Top it off with a great score by James Horner and you've got a movie that never fails to put a smile on my face.
Man, after writing all that I feel like putting it in and watching it again....
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Post by silverbullet63 on Mar 26, 2020 22:30:07 GMT -5
Demons (1985) From Lambereto Bava, son of famous (in horror circles) Mario Bava. Horror movie audience starts turning into murderous demons, infecting others, just like in the movie they are watching. This film is all about gore and action and there is plenty of both, escalating throughout. Cheap and cheesy in exactly the right way. Lots of '80s metal, punkfunk and eurojunk music. Good ride for the intended audience. And you know who you are. One of the best Soundtracks for a horror film. The scene where Fast As A Shark is used is my favourite part of Demons. |
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Post by silverbullet63 on Mar 27, 2020 0:47:38 GMT -5
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)
Tooth and Nail (2007)
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Post by someoldguy on Mar 27, 2020 7:47:15 GMT -5
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996) Tooth and Nail (2007) Most of the complaints about The Other Boleyn Girl were about it not being historically accurate. Duh! It's a movie! I thought the interplay - and behind the back play - between Portman and Johansson was great. IMO The Mirror Has Two Faces is about Bacall. Amazing lady who had the acting mojo throughout her entire career. I have not seen Tooth and Nail and the reviews are all over the place. Any good? |
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Post by someoldguy on Mar 27, 2020 7:57:41 GMT -5
The Rocketeer (1991) So I braved the apocalypse today to check out the two local Walgreens in search of the new Rocketeer figure (they're selling a slightly stripped-down version of the new Disney Diamond Select figure - fewer accessories for ten fewer dollars). In the process, I managed to hit one as they were unloading their truck so I snagged a pack of toilet paper, too. And while there, I finally heard back from the job and it looks like I will be getting paid for my whole two week 'vacation.' All in all, a successful outing. So to celebrate, I put in my Rocketeer Blu-ray when I got home. I still love this movie as much as the day I went to the theater to see it in '91. Probably my favorite 'comic book' movie of all-time, helped by my love of the whole '30s serial/pulp vibe. If I had to list any issues with the film, I guess I'm sad they didn't include Doc Savage as the rocket pack's inventor as in the comics, but Howard Hughes was a natural replacement and Terry O'Quinn did his always excellent work as the character. And it would've been nice if Jennifer Connelly had gotten to play Betty (as in famous pin-up model Bettie Page) but given it was a Disney film that wasn't going to be likely even if they weren't nervous about basing a character on a real person. Add in Timothy Dalton as the scenery-chewing number three box office star in America, Neville Sinclair, Alan Arkin as the cantankerous engineer/mechanic Peevy, and Billy Campbell as the wide-eyed Rocketeer himself, Cliff Secord, along with a host of other great character actors and you've got a winner of a cast all around. It might've only been Joe Johnston's second movie as a director but his first was Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and before that, he was a fixture at Lucasfilm working on the Star Wars films (he designed Yoda and Boba Fett among other duties) and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Top it off with a great score by James Horner and you've got a movie that never fails to put a smile on my face. Man, after writing all that I feel like putting it in and watching it again.... I loved The Rocketeer. It was like the serials in the movie theaters before the main features when I was a kid but without the embarrassment those serials would engender if made today. And no waiting a week for the next installment. EDIT: I just discovered that the entire King of the Rocket Men serial is on YouTube. This was the first of the several 'jet pack' serials. |
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Post by silverbullet63 on Mar 27, 2020 13:38:48 GMT -5
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996) Tooth and Nail (2007) Most of the complaints about The Other Boleyn Girl were about it not being historically accurate. Duh! It's a movie! I thought the interplay - and behind the back play - between Portman and Johansson was great. IMO The Mirror Has Two Faces is about Bacall. Amazing lady who had the acting mojo throughout her entire career. I have not seen Tooth and Nail and the reviews are all over the place. Any good? Very low budget Apocalyptic horror, okay but forgettable. With a twist that Ray Charles could see coming. |
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Post by someoldguy on Mar 27, 2020 20:10:40 GMT -5
Frankenstein (2015) The basic story, creature is created and violence ensues, is transported to modern day Los Angeles and told from the creature’s viewpoint. Supposedly this movie is otherwise intended to be more faithful to the novel, although I do not see very much of that at all. However, there are a number of explicit references to the 1931 and 1935 Karloff films including even a Dr. Pretorius! But in actuality the story is mostly original. There are actually two creators, Victor and Elizabeth, last name unspecified. The creature is named Adam. There is quite a bit of violence but little gore by horror movie standards. The creature (Adam) begins with looking like a normal human being but undergoes physical changes from various causes. Xavier Samuel does a good job at portraying Adam as an innocent suffering the consequences of that very innocence, and one sympathizes with him. There is not a whole lot of acting going on elsewhere and sadly that even includes Carrie-Anne Moss as Elizabeth. Although she is probably the best of the lot. Production values are reasonable even though the budget is clearly limited. Worthwhile viewing for the original touches to the story and Samuel's performance. But do not expect a whole lot otherwise. The script writer apparently hates LAPD, portraying them as nasty sadists. To begin with they kill the dog that Adam has befriended. It gets worse. |
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Post by silverbullet63 on Mar 27, 2020 22:10:52 GMT -5
Demons (1985)
Demons 2 (1986)
Ash Wednesday (2002)
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Post by someoldguy on Mar 28, 2020 13:14:05 GMT -5
I checked out Demons 2. More of the same with less 80s music. No complaints from me on either count. I liked the movie in movie idea. I also liked the upbeat ending considering the other ways it could have ended. After all the movie already killed a little kid. The dog gets demonized. |
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Post by someoldguy on Mar 28, 2020 13:31:03 GMT -5
I have not seen Ash Wednesday but I worked in Hell's Kitchen for a number of years in the 1990s. Never saw any Irish Mob action, they were all mostly dead or in prison by then. But I do recall reading about some trials in the 1980s. One piece of testimony that stuck in my head was from a young girl who said that when she was 14 her uncle asked her to let her into the basement where there was a furnace. He had a black bag that was dripping blood. She asked what was in the bag he was carrying. "Paddy Dugan's head" was the answer. Now that would be an interesting movie.  Found a reference to it: www.upi.com/Archives/1987/10/29/Whats-in-it-Paddy-Dugans-head/1819562482000/ |
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Post by silverbullet63 on Mar 28, 2020 15:43:27 GMT -5
Knives Out (2019)
Fun whodunit, but a tad bit overrated.
Enjoyed Daniel Craig, as a Southern Fried version of Hercule
Poirot.
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Post by ArcLight on Mar 28, 2020 17:43:34 GMT -5
Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
Sequel to The Rock's 2017 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle which is a sequel/reboot to the 1995 Robin Williams movie.
I enjoyed the last one, and like most sequels (movies and, fittingly, video games) this was more of the same only *more*. In this case, they added in characters played by Danny DeVito and Danny Glover who end up getting sucked into the game as well.
Of course all the original folks from the last one return - Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and some others.
Nothing ground-breaking but a fun way to pass the time if you liked the last one.
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Post by someoldguy on Mar 28, 2020 19:25:35 GMT -5
Goodfellas (1990)
Had not seen it for quite a while and remembering Hell's Kitchen put me in a mob state of mind. Just as enjoyable as in the past. Good source of one liners too. Not as good as The Godfather that way but not bad either. The diner where they filmed some of the shots was near where I used to live. It burned a while back and never re-opened. It is used for truck parking now being right outside the entrance to an industrial park.
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Le Loup-Garou Qui Rit
Lots of '80s metal, punkfunk and eurojunk music.
