EVIL UNDER THE SUN (1982). Great location shots (Majorca Spain), interiors and an incredible cast get buried under what is essentially a remake of the far superior DEATH ON THE NILE (1978), right down to very similar lines and situations.Campy, but not in a good way. **

That maggot worm thing is down right crazy. I now think it's way worse than the scene in Evil Dead. Both the original and remake. Because I'm reading on wiki even though there is a source notation, that the worm scene was supposed to be even more blatant.

Galaxy of Terror has a good premise about your fears being manifest on this planet or near that pyramid. I read that Alien was influenced by Heavy Metal or the French version as well. I bet a directors like Ridley Scott or George Lucas just wanted to make better versions of those stories. I think George Lucas said something like he wanted to make a better B movie. Some times it works and some times it doesn't.

The Changeling, 1980. 9/10

Director: Peter Medak

The Mechanic, 1972. 8/10

Director: Michael Winner


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FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL (1974). >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The last in the series, this Hammer film isn't bad, but quite erratic. Peter Cushing is excellent as always-love the athleticism he shows when trying calm the Monster in one scene- but Shane Briant comes off as more smug than anything else and he really drags the film down, as far as I'm concerned. Madeline Smith affecting, but not much to do for most of the film.
A lot more gore here as well and a sub plot where Frankenstein wants to expand the experiment by having the Monster rape Angel truly borders on tastelessness-due to films getting more violent during that time, perhaps Hammer had to up the ante.
I do feel Dave Prowse is great as the monster...truly repellant yet extremely sympathetic....how You will feel for him when he is weeping. Great makeup on him, even if the body is right out of Ron Jeremy. ***

Bad Taste - Granted, I know it's supposed to be campy kitsch and what not, but I admit I spent most of the first hour thinking da fuq am I watching? The last half hour or so, however, was so gloriously over the top and ludicrous that it won me over.

Yes! That one is very weird, but also very original and interesting! If you like those old school done right(not as much as in cheesy) artsy and gory horror films from the 1970s like "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," "The Hills Have Eyes," and the like, you should definitely find that one worth a look as well. Another great one of that kind is "Motel Hell." ::EEK!::

One thing that struck me was how nonchalant these "soldiers" (or whatever they were) sounded. When you are used to Schwarzenegger and "get to the chopper!" and such, they really sound like "oh yeah, we'll kill the bad guys. No biggie, that's just how we roll".

SLEUTH (1972). A long time favorite since seeing it in the theaters in the 70's, my wife and I literally watched the VHS until it broke. Michael Caine is seeing Laurence Olivier's wife and the two men meet to be broker an agreement that will benefit them both-Larry rid of the wife and Michael with some extra cash-that quickly turns into something altogether different. Very involved with some hammy acting (especially from Olivier), but fantastic dialogue and enough twists and turns to keep You staying to the end.
Frustrated that there was no DVD release (finally got a good copy from Amazon two years ago), decided to check out the remake with Michael (in the Olivier role), Jude Law and directed by Kenneth Branagh. Horrified and disgusted at how awful the 2004 version is in comparison and pissed that the garbage was so available while the diamond wasn't. ****1/2

What scene in Evil Dead are you taking about, in both the original and remake? I've seen them both and trying to figure out what scene in those to compares to the alien worm raping the woman. ::confused::

Speaking of "premise about your fears being manifest on this planet or near that pyramid", that sounds like Event Horizon and Sphere.

Actually, if you're kinda into films that appears to have influenced Alien, or those type of films in general, check out Planet of the Vampires (1965), directed by Mario Bava. You'll want to pay close attention to the dialogue.

The English dub version, which I suspect is what's most available, has voices you've heard in the Speed Racer cartoons.

THE LONLIEST RUNNER (1976)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>

This Made for Television film, written/directed/produced by Michael Landon , while it has the look of a TV movie and a little too pat of a wrap-up, features a terrific , sympathetic performance by Lance Kerwin (later in TV's JAMES AT 15 and SALEM'S LOT) as a young teenager who still wets the bed. His humiliation is compounded by his Mother (a TOTAL bitch and that's being kind) hanging his soiled sheets out his bedroom window and He having to haul ass to yank them out of sight of the neighbors and friends. Check it out on YOUTUBE. ***1/2

FRIDAY, THE 13th PART 5: A NEW BEGINNING (1985). The Black Sheep of the franchise and with good reason. Just horrendous in every way , although the optimist in Me wants to think it's kind of neat having two actors from RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD in here and Debisue Voorhees (Tina) is scrumptious::love::, but really would be hard pressed to find any reason to watch this. Reading the history of the films, it's almost humorous how embarrassed Paramount seemed to be of the F13 successes, but still made them, with lower budgets and fluctuating qualities. Go to YOUTUBE and watch this being shown on THE KILL COUNT; You get to see the "Good parts" and save Yourself some time. *

This one is a fun watch too:

For youtube inserts, just include the url part after the = character, that being "PeXdSXeorN0".

That was pretty good-Thanks for that.


COFFEY (1973). >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >

Awesome Pam Grier film that deservedly made her a star. Her sister's victimization from Drug dealers makes this Nurse into a One Woman Wrecking Crew, using her considerable wits, ultra luscious figure::love:: and ulterior motives to wiping out various scum. Loaded with outrageous scenes-particularly the opening::cool::, this is well worth a watch even though it was hard for Me to accept Alan Arbus-the kindly DR Sidney Feeman from MASH- as a Crimelord. Also has Sid Haig (up to no good as usual) and the ultimate cat fight ....who would know how handy hair could be? ****

I really like this entry in the series, I know it starts getting really damn silly at this point but I like the development of Tommy's character!

Taxi Driver, 1976. 10/10

Director: Martin Scorsese

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Masterpiece.

Nekromantik (1987), directed by Jörg Buttgereit.

Fiend, 1980. 7/10

Director: Don Dohler


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The Hand, 1981. 7,5/10

Director: Oliver Stone


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BLOOD BEACH (1981). The trailer for this is pretty scary-have read various internet sites of how it scared younguns away from the beach itself. The movie itself isn't all that, but if You take it in the spirit of an updated 50's movie, it's a fun little watch with John Saxon being his usual dependable self. **1/2

i watched this not long ago myself .. fun movie.
also fun seeing oliver stone's cameo.

Klute (1971)
7/10

Klute (Donald Sutherland), a private detective, is hired by a company exec to find a missing company man. This leads Klute to Bree Daniels (Jane Fonda), a freelance call girl, who is seeing a shrink due to inner emptiness. As Klute closes in on answers, people start dying and finds things are not as they appear.

The film is technically a noir (or neo-noir) thriller, but there really isn't a lot of suspense. Although it explores the odd and darker mindsets of the prostitute and the john, the film is more about the relationship between Fonda and Sutherland. Bree's insightfully written insecurities are evocatively performed by Fonda during three visits to her psychiatrist.

THE WICKER MAN (1972)>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> .


Know I've written about this before, but it's been awhile since I've seen it. Edward Woodward plays a Christian (this is important to the plot) Policeman who goes to an island to investigate the disappearance of a child. He is appalled at the (polite) lack of help from the locals and even more so by all the sexual activity going on, even if He almost succumbs to the advances of gorgeous Britt Eklund. He continues the investigation, even meeting with the island leader (Christopher Lee is great here) before realizing that a sacrifice is going to occur and He should try to stop it.

This is rightfully well regarded and Edward is very good here, even though his Sgt Howie is a pompous humorless bullying asshole, threatening people with imprisonment, mocking other people's faith, searching homes without a warrant, breaking and entering and even battery! But, He really doesn't deserve the genuinely frightening end He comes to and I was left wondering if his prophecy would come true.
Try to find the extended version-I had it on VHS, but only find the 88 minute version on DVD. ****

Critters - A great load of cornball fun. Those moments when over the top stuff is done well.

Time for a quick poll: who's meaner: Critters or Gremlins?


Cold Eyes Of Fear - An okay thriller from the early seventies. Is it me or do more seventies flicks give off this same particuliar vibe as far as color and sets are concerned, giving them a certain charm?

it's Alive

this classic Larry Cohen film ...well...
I remember when it ws one of those classic horrors everyone talked about.
1974 - that raw look I normally like, but I would it really hard to watch this time.
There's always something to be said about being the first of it's kind .. but years later it's not enough to be entertaining anymore. Godawful movie ...just silly and boring. Cohen would eventually make one of my favourite horror flicks: Q, but It's Alive isn't even remotely likeable on any level for me.

Gargoyles

This is an old made for TV horror - made in a time where a lot of TV horrors were pretty cool .. but this one is awful. rubber monsters running around the desert .. god I don't even know where to begin with this one..the premise, the writing, the 'action' ... it's like a study in ineptness. Again - silly and boring.

so I was 2 for 2 yesterday ... proving to myself that despite the 70's being my favourite time period for all genres of film ... there were still plenty of turds to navigate around.

a lot of people still love this crap because they saw it at an impressionable age (as did I) but I grew up and am able to distinguish between nostalgic childhood impressions - and quality filmmaking.

Alone at work. Bored. Watched The Fog.

2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)
7/10

Amid high military tensions between the US and the Soviet Union, Dr. Heywood Floyd (Roy Scheider), former head of the National Council for Astronautics becomes part of a joint US/Soviet spaceflight to Jupiter to investigate a monolith and determine what happened aboard derelict spacecraft Discovery, the ship's sentient computer HAL 9000 and missing astronaut buddy, Dave.

The film is based on Arthur C. Clarke's sequel novel, '2010: Odyssey Two'. 'Year We Make Contact' is interesting, nicely shot and orchestrated, and mildly entertaining, but not particularly bold. Scheider is engaging, but this sci-fi flies with very little character development. It's certainly not as esoteric and symbolic as Stanley Kubrick's film version of Clarke's first novel. Still, the film wraps up the two films pleasantly without any unintended ambiguity.

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP (1982).>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This comedy is full of unconventional types and some good laughs occurring from all the odd situations. Robin Williams gives a sensitive performance, Glenn Close comes out swinging in her debut and John Lithgow is fantastic as the Transsexual Football player; for Me, he is the main reason to check out TWATG. And love how an Alice Cooper Group song was added to the soundtrack instead of "School's Out" (the stomping "Long Way to Go" when Robin is driving the Babysitter home).
As said good things, but also some pointless scenes added that only add time, such as the plane crash into the house, the speeding driver shown several times and just found the ending to be too abrupt. Was Pooh harboring a childhood grudge or still pissed at Garp crashing the funeral?
Also, Glenn seems almost proud of how Garp was conceived, never minding that she raped the soldier and while she seems disapproving of porn or young lust, she is almost eager to "purchase" the prostitute for Garp. And , while I can understand Garp's hurt over his wife's adultery, it's implied very strongly that He indulged in the Decadence Dance with the Babysitter before said adultery began-Payback is a bitch. ***

It's a weird but entertaining film with some heart. Part of the entertainment is the weirdness, certainly edgy. It's been a thousand years since I've seen it, but I remember those incongruities you mention. Imperfect people don't always make for a worthwhile story. I think the thing I took from this film is -- and this is a line from the film -- 'life is an adventure'.

When's the last time you saw 2010: Year We Make Contact? what'd you think of it?

The Sentinel, 1977. 8/10

Director: Michael Winner

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Nice. ::love::

Saw 2010 probably in the mid 90's. Thought it was OK, but nearly as good as 2001.

DEATH WEEKEND (1976) AKA HOUSE BY THE LAKE. Brenda Vacarro is driving with a new boyfriend (who turns out to be a total douche) to his country home with a group of local rowdies start to harass them. She is able to turn the tables on them, not setting well and said rowdies find the house and the nightmare begins.
Pretty nasty Home invasion/Rape/Revenge film has elements of STRAW DOGS and LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, with some I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE foreshadowing. The invaders (led by Don Stroud who's pretty good) are about as vile as You could imagine and once Brenda begins delivering payback, it gets quite suspenseful. Not great and certainly not flattering (pretty much all the characters here are either brutish or stupid), but worth a look.
Interestingly, found out on IMDB that after all this onscreen turmoil, Brenda and Don dated for a few years::shocked::! **1/2

The Marathon Man 8-9/10

A damn good thriller that definitely stand the test of time.

Yeah, but is it safe?

::big grin::

Is it safe?
What the hell are you talking about?
Is it safe?
Let me go.
Is it safe?
Yea, it’s safe.
Is it safe?
Are you even listening to me?
Is it safe?

Family Guy should make a parody of that scene.

The Hills Have Eyes 2
 

I just looked back at this one from the original series that Wes Craven directed, and it is even more amazing than I remembered it, in my opinion. It begins with the surviving boy seeing a shrink about his racing team traveling through the deserts to get across the country to compete in the races on the other side for the first time he will have been out that way since most of his family was killed by the cannibalistic family out that way. The shrink reminds him of how he saw that cannibal family get killed, and how they are no longer out there, plus if they stick with the main roads, they should be all right. It also turns out the girl who was originally with that cannibal family before she killed off the father with a rattlesnake is now with his racing team, and the big dog, Beast, also returns to take the trip across country. On the way across country, somebody discovers a short cut on the map to get to those races a lot quicker, which turns out to be on the same back roads from the first movie, then their bus breaks down out near the same area where the incidents in the first movie occurred. There turns out to be some overall clever and slick traps set by Pluto and his brother, who turn out to be still alive, along with a lot of well done blood and gore make up and props. The stunt work and staged combat is also well done overall. There is also plenty of humorous and catchy dialogue keeping the film entertaining, along with holding interest all the way through. Pluto also gets even better developed in this sequel than he was in the original film. Those who enjoyed the first film, along with the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and the like should enjoy this sequel as well. ::devil::

I'm surprised they haven't. I mixed that scene with Ben teaching Luke the lightsaber on the Falcon for my radio show. I thought I was pretty funny. ::big grin::

Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives

With the immortal line: Does he think I'm a farthead?::big grin::

Nice.::cool::