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STRIPES (1981). Two down and out schlubs join the Army to improve their circumstances in this comedy that has some wildly funny moments, although most of the scenes with Bill Murray fall flat. His character is truly irritating and impedes the film's progress. More laughs from John Candy ("A Lean mean fighting Machine!"), Harold Ramis, John Larroquette ("I wish I was a Loofah!"), a young Judge Reinhold and Conrad Dunn in his debut as a paranoid potentially violent recruit ("Psycho").
Good support from lovely Sean Young, adorable PJ Soles (very nice when we met her at HORRORFIND; she mentioned that Murray was very moody) and especially Warren Oates as the Drill Sergeant. For me, he's the best part of the film, although he bears an astounding similarity to my Step Father. The glare he gives Murray after the latter apologizes for previously disrupting introductions was pure "Old Don"!! ***1/2 |
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DRUM (1976). Sequel to MANDINGO (which I have not seen) continues the saga of life on a Slave holding plantation before The Civil War, with the main topic it seems, is sex between slaves and owners with plenty of violence, nudity and sleaze dished out as well. very sure a film like this could not be made today.
Boxer Ken Norton is billed as the star for name power and tries hard-certainly looks good-but he's surrounded by more experienced actors and the cast alone is enough to make You drool...Yaphet Kotto (ALIEN), Isela Vega (BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA),John Colicos (THE CHANGELING), Paula Kelly (SOYLENT GREEN), Brenda Sykes (BLACULA), Fiona Lewis (DR PHIBES RISES AGAIN< TINTORERA), Cheryl "Rainbeaux" Smith (MASSACRE AT CENTRAL HIGH, THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN, CAGED HEAT), Pam Grier (COFFEE, JACKIE BROWN) and a seriously slumming Warren Oates (RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY, THE WILD BUNCH, STRIPES, BADLANDS among many others). Only in the 70's could such a film come out with a R rating, probably get a NC-17 one today. Truly something in here to offend everyone, so what are You waiting for? *** |
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The Shining will always be my favorite 80's psychological horror film. All I can is that it is dark and disturbing, it is indeed a masterpiece by Stanley Kubrick.
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THE BEASTMASTER (1982). It's incredibly silly, but I found this to be an enjoyable outing. A lot of humor (particularly an over the top Rip Torn and the seriousness of John Amos), action, Eye Candy (My wife was marveling at Marc Singers buffness while Tanya Roberts...) and great use of animals, particularly the two ferrets. ***
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Quote:
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My wife was marveling at his 36 pack abs!!
D.O.A.-A RITE OF PASSAGE (1981). NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS, HERE'S THE SEX PISTOLS was probably the first album I ever bought on speculation. Had just turned 16 a month before and life not so good;;;Bad grades, having to leave crappy job to bring grades up, parents both remarried after divorce less than two years before, really no friends and too shy for a girlfriend. The vitriol and energy of BOLLOCKS was just what I needed and I was hooked after "Holidays in the Sun". Still consider it an essential album. This film is a doc by HIGH TIMES magazine about the Sex Pistols short lived US tour in Jan 1978, where the Pistols were seen more as a novelty than as the threat they were in England. Chaotic disjointed time capsule with footage of decaying US/UK city areas, hostile punk fans in all their finery, interviews with British politicians who make no secret of their loathing for all things punk, footage and songs by other bands like Generation X (with a young Billy Idol), The Clash, Sham 69, X-Ray Spex , Iggy Pop and The Dead Boys. The majority of DOA focuses on the Pistols performances in small venues throughout the South with violent audiences, a seriously addicted Sid Vicious being a major liability and the band disintegrating before your eyes. Also disturbing is the interview with a seriously catatonic Sid with girlfriend Nancy Spungen. I like the performances in here, for those who never got into punk or are curious, this should be a decent intro. *** |
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IT CAME FROM HOLLYWOOD (1982). While this is a reasonably enjoyable look at Hollywood "Bad Movies", it focuses almost exclusively on low budget, mainly horror films hosted by Cheech and Chong, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd and John Candy. Lots of clips from various films, but the whole attitude is quite condescending, all but putting down a lot of films I like, just because there wasn't millions of dollars to make it (BRAIN FROM PLANET AROUS, ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN, HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL and many Ed Wood films). Reading the credits, saw the Medved Brothers listed as consultants; the authors of THE GOLDEN TURKEY AWARDS, which no doubt influenced the tone.
More ridiculous, there are clips from CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, WAR OF THE WORLDS and THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN listed in the guilty pleasures and those are GREAT films. **1/2 |
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