Movie Night 2011 #3

Big +1 for impromptu movie nights at Ron's home! We both had an open Saturday for a change so I headed over with a bag of films to choose from and we watched, chatted and caught up on things.

First film was another one that had some Twitter chatter, Down Terrace (2009), so I figured it be a good one since neither of us had seen it. This Ben Wheatley scripted and directed flick holds up in every way to the good word of mouth around it. It's a dark comedy crime family film with plenty of subtlety and dry wit. Excellent movie. 8 / 10

Next was a flick I'd recently picked up at HorrorHound Weekend and have been wanting to see for quite some time, Fade to Black (1980). Now I know why it's occasionally referenced among film geeks; it's horror thriller send up to classic film. Very fun film. 7 / 10

Lastly I thought we'd go farther off the deep end with Raw Force (1982) a.k.a. Kung Fu Cannibals that is mash-up of so many genres it could be hard to explain. Sex adventure comedy, boat trip, martial arts, horror, action. And with Cameron Mitchell, notch. A wild, inexplicable ride. 7.5 / 10

• April New: 28
• April Re-watch: 7
• April '11 Total: 35
• April '10 Total: 68
• 2011 Total: 264
  

Friday for Film Watching

Friday before movie night and I'm watching Charlie Sheen do coke and steal Porsche cars with an undercover cop D.B. Sweeney in No Man's Land (1987). Don't think Charlie was acting. Plus Bill Duke! 6.5/10

Oh, and Hot Dog... The Movie (1984) is also on MGMHD. Been ages since I've seen this. Shannon Tweed is smoking. Oh, David Naughton! 6/10

Back to my blindspot list for Woody Allen's Manhattan (1979), another one I didn't care so much about back in the day. Now it's a delight. Mariel Hemingway shouldn't have been nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Diane Keaton is excellent. 8/10

Another blindspot is Roberto Benigni's Life is Beautiful (1997), which did a good job of sucking me in. Had no interest in viewing this but now I'm very happy I have. Charming and heartbreaking. 8/10

Parasite (1982), the really bad post-apocalyptic flick with Demi Moore's first feature film role. Fun practical effects and very watchable despite being an awful film. Yeah, Charles Band. 5.5/10

• February New: 44
• February Re-watch: 1
• February '11 Total: 45
• February '10 Total: 61
• 2011 TOTAL: 136
  

Ripping NYC

A Lucio Fulci flick I had not seen but glad it's on Netflix Watch Instantly, The New York Ripper (1982). Gotta love a serial killer that quacks. Definitely one to see, esp. for the 42nd Street setting. 7.4/10

• February New: 24
• February Re-watch: 0
• February '11 Total: 24
• February '10 Total: 61
• 2011 TOTAL: 115
  

Sunlight Cycles

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938) is the perfect feel-good, winding down film coming off a busy day. Shirley Temple plays farmgirl Rebecca poised to break out into the big leagues of stardom… only if her aunt can be persuaded to let her off the farm. Plenty of great musical numbers. 6.5/10

Ordered the original TRON (1982) from my library back when there was a lot of online chatter about the film not being available to view (via retail outlets) prior to the release of TRON Legacy. Took a little while but it finally arrived and proves that the film can be still be seen if you're not a dummy. Yes, people, use your library system. Anyways, it's enjoyable for what it is and cool to see the world-building again. 7/10

• January New: 60
• January Re-watch: 10
• January '11 Total: 70
• January '10 Total: 51
• 2010 TOTAL: 70
  

Ape Terror

The Ghost of Yotsuya (1959) was featured on @TCMUnderground as part of a Nobuo Nakagawa double feature with Jigoku. As a big fan of his Okatsu films was glad to have caught this. Tôkaidô Yotsuya kaidan follows the tale of a ronin that murders the father of a woman he wants to marry. They eventually marry but he becomes unhappy of his boring life and decides to commit the most heinous of acts. The result is a horrifying display of ghost terror that is remarkable given the year this was made. Really great watch. 7/10

Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982), the TV series, received some mild excitement when the DVD set was announced. I had never seen it but it sounded like something I'd really love, a 30s-era pulp adventure serial. Gave the initial pilot movie a go, which was later broken into the first 2 television episodes, and it's generally entertaining although not nearly as great or campy as I wanted it to be. Stephen Collins is very likable as Cutter and Caitlin O'Heaney is decent for the sexual tension but the other characters didn't work for me. Story of seeking the gold monkey on an island of vicious human-like apes is also just okay. Lots of stock footage too. I watched the subsequent episodes when Roddy McDowall was added to the cast but don't expect to continue. I'd say only the original 90 minute film is worth watching. 6.5/10

Cape Fear (1962) is unsettling and the very reason why I've held off watching for so long. Mitchum is menacing as Max Cady as he stalks a lawyer's family as retribution for being put in the can for 8 years by the lawyer, portrayed fiercely by Gregory Peck. Edge of your seat material. Savalas shines in a bit role. Fulfills my blindspot goal but also may give me a nightmare. Really admire Mitchum for taking on roles such as this. 8/10

• January New: 46
• January Re-watch: 4
• January '11 Total: 50
• January '10 Total: 51
• 2010 TOTAL: 50
  

Street Rock

Zone Troopers (1985) is a harmless sci-fi comedy that gives Art LaFleur, Tim Thomerson, and Tim Van Patten a chance to ham it up onscreen. They're soldiers in WWII that discover a Nazi camp with a captured alien. Yes, more Nazi alien conspiracies. Perfectly okay late night pap. The creature design is cute. On NWI. 6/10

The Hot Rock (1972) directed by Peter Yates is not unlike many other heist films but what makes this film special is the cast and the setting. It opens with Robert Redford getting released from prison and pulled back into the game by George Segal. These two guys can easily carry any film of their time but here they're surrounded with a marvelous cast to fill in the gaps. What I love is that the city of New York becomes an additional and necessary character. The overhead helicopter shots are terrific including the still-under-construction World Trade Center. 7/10

The House Where Evil Dwells (1982) is a Japanese ghost story that despite its many flaws is very watchable simply for its location and cast. Let it be known that I can watch Doug McClure in anything. Basically an American family moves into an centuries-old traditional Japanese home where a violent murder and suicide took place. Naturally the ghosts still inhabit the home and eventually possess its new hosts. What I question is the location of the house being in Kyoto yet it appears that Edward Albert goes to Tokyo for some late night partying. Wha? And I still find Susan George annoying. On NWI. 6/10

L.A. Streetfighters (1985) a.k.a. Los Angeles Streetfighter is one of the most amazing things I've seen. It defies all explanation. I believe @mattsinger of IFC was the first to bring it my attention. 30 year old high school students battle thugs and gangs in the streets of Los Angeles as all their voices are dubbed in post. Somehow they're able to get steady gigs as security for parties around the city between the gang fighting get hired by a drug dealer. Then, inexplicably, decide to rob him. This brings Bill Wallace and Ken Nagayama into the picture as the heavies to enact revenge. Also love that Phillip "Best of the Best" Rhee is in this. I feel like we need to watch this at "Bad Movie Night" because I don't think I've seen anything quite like this. 6/10 (for pure entertainment & WTF value)

• January New: 43
• January Re-watch: 4
• January '11 Total: 47
• January '10 Total: 51
• 2010 TOTAL: 47
  

Machine Bee Undead

Android (1982) has Klaus Kinski playing god on a space station, creating life in the form of, yes, androids. His world gets mussed when some wanted criminals take refuge, and our lead android (uncredited Don Keith Opper) begins to explore his humanity. Enjoyed the viewing. Its soft rock soundtrack had me wondering about humanity too. I may have picked up the one-sheet of this a while back. On Netflix Instant. 6/10

The Green Hornet (2011) is the film that should have never been. And it shows. No need to dissect its long tumultuous history here because it's not very interesting. Nor is this film. With the notable exception of Jay Chou, this Hornet fires blanks. Maybe the first Rogen character I dislike. And it has potential but where is Gondry in this? The year is young but this will likely be one of the bigger disappointments of 2011. 6/10

Received Les Revenants (2004) a.k.a. They Came Back from Netflix under the guise of a fresh take on zombies. Instead we're treated with people who die but come back to life as vacant shells of their former selves. Not really anything zombie-ish about it. But it is interesting albeit more on the slow-paced side of things. Kinda thought the pacing was leading up to something grand but not really. 6/10

The Tomb (1986) tumbles but never falls. Directed by Fred Olen Ray, our characters find themselves in a… tomb. Okay, not quite. Basically a tomb is robbed of its artifacts and an evil vampire queen (the sexy Michelle Bauer) comes to America to enact revenge. Watched via Instant streaming but have on VHS somewhere. Not terrible. 5.7/10

• January New: 36
• January Re-watch: 3
• January '11 Total: 39
• January '10 Total: 51
• 2010 TOTAL: 39
  

Absolutely Fabulous

Discovered today that Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains (1982) is on Instant Watch so I made time to watch because it's been one been wanting to catch up with for a long while. Had it on DVR from TCM but it was cut in half. Boo. Anyhoo, damn awesome flick. Little Diane Lane resembles Julia Stiles. Can't believe she was only 15 when they made that film. A must-see. 7.8/10

Feeling like something very vintage I dropped in my The Cat and the Canary (1927) DVD that I recently received. Such a rich silent film with tons of great atmosphere. Definitely better and more spooky than the Metzger remake. 7.4/10

Finally from NWI and triggered by one of Rupert's brilliant Netflix Instant Gems blog posts, I endured R.O.T.O.R. (1988). Believe that I saw parts of this back in the day but not enough to remember that WTF ending. Seriously? Not bad enough to be that enjoyable. If only the movie was half as good as that movie poster! :-( 3/10

• December New: 16
• December Re-watch: 2
• December Total: 18
• 2010 TOTAL: 735
  

Cruel Bloody Violence

Tonight I dove into my ECLIPSE SERIES 17: NIKKATSU NOIR Collection to watch Cruel Gun Story (1964). This is a caper film about an ex-con that gets offered a job upon exiting prison. He recruits some unsavory fellows and gets caught in a double-cross. Reminds me a lot of The Killing from the racetrack and overall heist plot. Not the same film of course but similarities with the lead and plot. 7/10

Anticipating the upcoming release of the latest Harry Potter flick I dropped in my blu-ray of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009). Think I enjoyed it more this time around. 7.5/10

Also watched Bruno Mattei's other women's prison flick, Violence in a Women's Prison (1982), which is nearly identical plot-wise to his Women's Prison Massacre. Features Laura Gemser as Emanuelle again along with most of the same cast shot in the same prison. Don't' like this version as much but still sleazy enough but the ending doesn't have the same impact. 700th film of the year! 5.8/10

• November New: 38
• November Re-watch: 4
• November Total: 42
• 2010 TOTAL: 700
  

Name Optional

Thanks to MGMHD I was able to revisit one of my favorite early 80s action flicks in The Final Option (1982) a.k.a. Who Dares Wins. Not a great or even good film but man did we ever love the hell outta this SAS / terrorist flick back in the day. This was when reading Soldier of Fortune magazine was a monthly ritual. Anyways, here we have an top SAS (Special Air Service - the elite anti-terrorist military of Britain) infiltrate a terrorist organization to prevent a major world catastrophe. The ending still kicks ass to no end even with the silly goggle camera. 6.7/10

The Horror Movie Night selection tonight was The Unnamable (1988), another one I haven't seen before and based on a H.P. Lovecraft story. Not a bad little flick about some college kids that go snooping around and open the vault of the demon beast. Very watchable and decent practical effects. 6/10

• November New: 20
• November Re-watch: 1
• November Total: 21
• 2010 TOTAL: 679
  

The Magical Maddening

Strange is the only way to describe today's viewing. Beginning with Al Adamson's Carnival Magic (1982). Features a creepy car-driving, talking chimp put in harm's way by an evil doctor. It's up to Markov (Don Stewart) to rally the carnies and save Alex the chimp. Bizarre and fascinating. Thank you, TCM Underground, for bringing this one to us. 6.4/10

Next up Guy Maddin's spooky mind trip Brand Upon the Brain (2006), on Criterion no less. Another captivating watch with great atmosphere and narration. Weird fantasy about a Guy returning to his childhood home and dealing with a very dysfunctional family that extracts brain juice from orphans to remain young. I *think* that's what's going on. Disc set is great as it includes the live narrations from Isabella Rossellini and Crispin Glover. I listened to a little of those w/the film. 6.9/10

From my library network I finally received the VHS of D.A.R.Y.L. (1985), another 80s film I hadn't seen. Like the premise but it could use an update. Overall decent viewing. 6.4/10

• November New: 18
• November Re-watch: 0
• November Total: 18
• 2010 TOTAL: 676
  

Devil Rides a Gun

Wasn't sure whether or not I'd trek out to catch M. Night Shyamalan's.. er, John Erick Dowdle's Devil (2010) in the theater but the early buzz was decent enough. And yep, it's a good film. Shyamalan is credited w/writing it and it's out of his new production house but fortunately the Dowdle handled the directing duties. It's a tight Twilight Zone-esque little feature that works just as it should. Wish it had been called Devilator (it takes place entirely within the confines of a elevator) but hey that's why I'm not in the biz. 7/10


A cool flick I caught on TCM was Gun Crazy a.k.a. Deadly Is the Female (1950). This is Bonnie & Clyde before Bonnie & Clyde. Interesting how this film is partly anti-gun propaganda and yet full on crime spree. Really solid & compelling & frightening. 7.5/10

Then from NWI I spun Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (1982) featuring Fred Ward as a motocross dude that gets warped 100 years into the past. Always cool to see Ed Lauter but overall not a great flick. Has its charms but not much. 6.4/10

• September New: 34
• September Re-watch: 0
• September Total: 34
• 2010 TOTAL: 541
  

Terror in the Aisles 6

Big movie day that started with a early matinee of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010). Really adore the hell outta this film. It's not perfect but hot fuzz is Edgar Wright a master craftsman. Yeah, I'm burnt out on Michael Cera being... er, Michael Cera. But it's all the other characters in this film that rock it. And Mary Elizabeth Winstead has that certain something. Look forward to repeat viewings.


Evening was all Terror in the Aisles & 35mm prints at Portage Theater. Things kicked off with Creepshow (1982). So great to see that projected. Have fond memories of watching w/my little brother when we lived in Rockford and certain segments scaring the shit out of him. oh yeah, the kid w/the comic has the best toys evar seen in a film! Godzilla *and* Rodan Shogun Warriors? Talk about rare vintage toys! Want 'em both!

John Harrison was guest of honor and did Q&A before introducing his Clive Barker's Book of Blood (2009). Not a great film but made more entertaining seeing it w/this crowd. Mostly slow but decent pay-off.

Last up was Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990). Really great to see this again as I had forgotten a lot it. Solid anthology and love, love, love Debbie Harry. Film is loaded with awesome actors! Another fine event by Dark Chicago / Chicago Horror!

• August New: 23
• August Re-watch: 3
• August Total: 26
• 2010 TOTAL: 467
  

Killing Me Sophie

Some catch viewing with Sophie's Choice (1982). Meryl Streep is damn fab as is Kevin Kline. Solid up and down and sideways. And now I know what Sophie's choice was. ;-)

DVD from Netflix in No Man's Land: The Rise of Reeker (2008) and I kinda wish I hadn't spent the time to watch this. Good cast but the alternate reality stuff I found a bit tedious.

Picked up this Sonny Chiba Blu-ray from Amazon featuring Killing Machine (1975) and hot damn is this a great film! Noribumi Suzuki's Shôrinji kenpô possesses all the elements I treasure in a good film; excellent lead, good story, great sequences. That's obvious but this film hits all of these perfectly. Love it!

• August New: 11
• August Re-watch: 0
• August Total: 11
• 2010 TOTAL: 452
  

Madman Marz

Thankful to IFC for running grindhouse month in June so I could record items such as Joe Giannone's Madman (1982). This is pretty good little slasher with a fun score and a hilarious jacuzzi scene. Nothing terribly original here as the main story borrows all the familiar tropes but it's still quite enjoyable for a Friday the 13th clone.

• July New: 19
• July Re-watch: 6
• July Total: 25
• 2010 TOTAL: 412
  

April Movie Night - NWI

April Re-Watch Film: The Thin Man (1934). Bought the Collection and was craving to watch again. William Powell & Myrna Loy = best onscreen couple evah.


Headed out to home of Yellowclaw for our scheduled movie night and fired up the twitter talk of the town: Don Dohler's Nightbeast (1982) on Netflix Watch Instantly (all the films we watched were via NWI!). Goddamn this is one helluva great horrible film, magnified by watching it in a group. I could go on & on about this one but go download the bonus episode that Gentlemen's Guide to Midnight Cinema (Samurai) recorded w/Mile (ShowShow) & Rupert (Tallyteer). This is one film that deserves that kind of special treatment.

Next via NWI, Taxidermia (2006), which I couldn't even begin to adequately explain as I'm not even certain what I watched. It was definitely "something" as I commented after our viewing. Worth adding to your queue if you like the foreign weird.

Been saving Bronson (2009 - US) for a movie night and it's been difficult to not watch sooner esp. after it hit NWI. But it made for an excellent watch and perfect for our night. What else needs to be said about Tom Hardy, who is just masterful here. Fucking great film. Watch it already if you haven't seen it. Hell, watch it again.

• April New: 17
• April Re-watch: 10
• April Total: 27
• 2010 TOTAL: 214
  

Warriors of the Wasteland

Enzo Castellari's The New Barbarians (1982) is an Italian post-apocalyptic sci-fi film and not surprisingly features Fred Williamson in another great supporting role. Absolutely hilarious film. Probably my third favorite genre from the 70s & early 80s.

I See The Light Tonight

Tron (1982) was the featured film on HDNET so had to watch in HD. Look forward to the eventual Blu-Ray, which I'm sure will coincide w/the release of Tron Legacy this year.

Tallyteers for January

January Movie Tally = 51 films seen. Think only a 2 or 3 were rewatches. the rest were all new!

Not bad considering I wasn't trying to watch many films. I think that beats January '09. But this tells me that I need to back off and watch less... or watch more TV series (I'm trying) and read some books (started).

Watches today included Alice at the Palace (Broadway Theatre Archive) (1982) featuring Meryl Streep as a wacky singing Alice (in Wonderland). Also nailed episodes 6 - 8 of LOST Season 5 (still catching up).

Erasing The Virgin

Just finishing watching Peter Fonda in the well-paced thriller Race With the Devil (1975).

Ok, add The Last American Virgin (1982) to tonight's viewing.