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damianphelps
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Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)
A Nostalgic Rewatch That Was A Bit Of A Fail
This is basically B grade B grade movie making. Its cheesy, sillier than it needs to be and has aged very poorly.
Both the leads have enough charm and charisma but not much else to offer. Lee's character, a little reflective of the times I guess is a smartarse who just doesn't know when to shut up. Similar to Tango & Cash only worse.
The fighting is flashy but always undercut by stupid oneliners so any cool or exciting moments are diminished.
Look its not a bad movie but I guess knowing that both these actors were capable of much better leads to some of my disappointment in this rewatch. It also shows how far forward the quality of movie fighting has come.
Time has made this movie average at best :)
Exodus (1960)
These Days The Exodus Would Occur In The Cinema
Exodus is unlikely to be a movie that goers would invest the time to watch these days. Its naive, politically loaded, long and, in spite of its length, lacking in detail.
Its a passionate film but feels very much like a propaganda piece. At some point, I think quite early on in proceeding, it forgot it was a movie and is there to fundamentally provide entertainment.
Its a bit interesting but the lack of depth, tension or intrigue rob the film of any great heights.
The acting, sets, locations etc are all quite satisfying but the story just doesn't deleivery enough. It may be reflective of the times but I think if made 10 to 15 years later Exodus could have been a more impactful event :)
The New Centurions (1972)
Its A Strong Film With Plenty To Say
Every now and then I take a bot of a deep dive in to films of the 70's. It usually pays dividends as there are some absolute classics. And, as a bonus some of the crappy films of the era are pretty entertaining to.
The New Centurions was one of those movies you come across in IMDB, you may also like sections. So I checked it out.
It was significantly better than I had expected. As you watch it you think you have it figured out and know where the movie is going to go. Then it will take a subtle turn and suddenly become more nuanced.
Don't underestimate this movie there is far more to enjoy here than you may expect :)
Trespass (2011)
Only For Cage Really
As a cast it seems like an unusual pairing of Kidman and Cage, even though I think Cage is the better actor, he has become a bit of a B grade star.
Still fundamentally it works, if not perfectly.
The plot is one of those reveal the truth kind of movies but I don't think enough time was spent developing the characters to really care about any of them.
There are some classic Cage scenes as you would expect, whereas Kidman seems like she is struggling to stay awake.
The movie moves along well enough so you don't get bored but it won't rock your socks of either.
Its just above average but not much more :)
Straight Time (1978)
70's Has So Many Great Movies And This Is Another One
Straight Time surprised me as I had miss judged the 'Max' character. As a result the movie took me for an enjoyable ride.
I have seen some comments regarding Straight Time not being particularly well known, perhaps compared to some classic Pacino films around this time. I can only surmise that its because Straight Time doesn't have any of those over the top scenes the people love to latch on to. Its a little more even and comes across as a bit more realistic in its presentation of a con's life back on the streets.
Hoffman is top notch, delivery a really engaging performance as the truth of the character unveils itself.
Great film :)
Orca (1977)
It Has Problems But Is Entertaining
Orca lacks the polish of the original Jaws, particularly in the use of its soundtrack, however its easily as good as any of the Jaws sequels.
Richard Harris does a great job in his role although his character does seem a little bit of a flip flopper. Moving back and forth like a yoyo between tough guy fisherman to weeping emotional wreck.
Perhaps the biggest weakness of the film is the excessive use of Orca footage. Whilst its good to look at for a while its significantly overused leading to a loss of momentum in the actual story telling. The film does also borrow a fair bit from Moby Dick but less manic.
Still, I had fun watching it :)
The Vikings (1958)
Simple And Good
This is a great old adventure movie and every person manning the oars is a superstar of cinema.
The stars are far better than the movie but since you can't seperate the two, its a win win.
The Vikings is sweeping sword play, romance bordering on rape and an abundance of swashbuckling, Viking style.
Its dripping with charm and charisma and fun.
Modern audiences/kids would probably be asleep before the end of the opening credits.
For everyone else The Vikings is a nice bit of fluffy fun that will amuse movie goers and send them down the rabbithole of Spartacus, The 10 Commandments and other similar films :)
The Bikeriders (2023)
More Power...Give Me More Power
I was pretty keen to check The Bikeriders out, so I was getting frustrated with the release delays.
Was it worth the wait? Yes but I still had feelings of disappointment and some frustraions. A biker film needs to be hardcore to have credability and authenticity. Beyond the Law (Fixing the Shadow) was better and so was Hell Ride. The Bikeriders falls short of the grit the film needed. Perhaps that was the cost of going after the demographic that was following Austin Buttler into the movie.
The two leads are engaging enough but there needed to be some better story telling and more exploration of the secondary story arcs. Still it was good :)
Invasion U.S.A. (1985)
A Rewatching Of An Old Action Classic
Almost thirty years between viewings I was super keen to see how Invasion held up.
Watching a new 4k release, Invasion looks pretty good but no amount of additional HDness was going to stop this looking like an 80's movie. If Chuck's jeans had been any tighter it would have been included in Me Too!
The action is pure action. By that I mean its not, nor does it feel like, a martial arts movie. So it looks and feels like a slightly grainy episode of the A-Team.
Chuck Norris is a little more wooden in his performance here, not helped by a low amount of dialogue. Also not helped by the rest of the cast being related to Pinnochio.
Still, almost three decades later...t was still a fun movie :)
The Last Hunt (1956)
Beware!
That is not hyperbole. The Last Hunt is a very good film but the scenes involving buffalo culling are firstly real and secondly quite confronting when you consider what happended to their population. It was sanctioned culling but still a hard watch.
Beyond that, The Last Hunt is a captivating 'western' with the two leads carrying a fantastic tension on screen for the duration of the movie. You know the cork is going to pop out of the bottle at some point, you just don't know when.
The film also comes across as considered and compassionate when dealing with the buffalo and the Native Americans.
Its entertaining from start to finish, just be mindful if you are on the sensitive side :)
Silent Running (1972)
Silent Running Is...
What people were doing when they left the cinema to allow those who remained to stay asleep!
Silent Running is a very good looking film, especially for the era that it was shot in. It captures the environment and that old school spacey feel that we all want to see in an aged space movie.
So it looks good but unfortunately Silent Running has nothing else going for it, with perhaps the small exception of the performance of Bruce Dern. Mr Dern's performance is, very Bruce Dern, and one where you can witness him having a crack at emotional investment.
Otherwise its a real snooze fest which was a great shame :)
He Never Died (2015)
Quirky Entertainment Winner
This is a surprise packet of a movie. I am a Rollins fan so I figuered it would appeal to me but it was a far stronger effort than I had expected.
Rollins is his typical offbeat self but somehow even more so than usual but it stays inside the sphere or reasonable (sort of).
It takes a little while for the movie to find its feet, meandering a little before jumping right in to the entertainment.
The real surprise here is how funny the movie is. Some stone-faced golden moments with Rollins at his brilliant best. As a side note for some reason I started thinking of Rollins whacking his penis with a toilet seat, but that's another story!! :)
Twisters (2024)
I Really Wanted To Like It...But
I didn't. LIke a victim in the movie I just kept hanging on hoping for better times, like many of those poor unfortunates, it didn't pan out.
Somehow the effects are less impressive than the original (I have no idea how that is even possible).
The characters have had the charm sucked out of them. They are wooden and one dimensional and Glen Powell needs to do much more than just attempt to smile his way througha movie.
No tension or drama is developed, no plot twist, nothing to hang your cpwboy hat on.
It lacks in almost every aspect of what it takes to be a good 'blockbuster', basically a waste of your time :)
Trafficked (2017)
Shoot Me Now
Sucked in once again. I watched the movie due to Ashley Judd being in the it. Well hold on, if you can, for the entire, maybe, 10 minutes that she is actually in the movie. Major marketing duplicity.
Once you get past that, the movie is filled with left over actors from the 80's and a girl supposed to be 18, was in her mid 20's but looks 35. The cast is just horrible and the delivered acting presents what you would expect.
It has a real horror story to tell but instead the fear comes when you realise how many more minutes you have to sit through.
A highly important topic as this deserves and needs a much better film to illustrate it :)
Fasandræberne (2014)
Brilliant And Bleak
Department Q strikes again!
What a fantastic series. I have watched all 4 movies (with the same cast) and have loved them all.
No. 2 continues the great character driven drama packed with little and large moments that really wet the appetite.
The Absent One has the same dark grit and malice as Keepers immersing the viewer into this underworld of sex and violence.
The acting is sublime. Lending itslef to the drama and the development of the personal relationships between the partners.
Not all viewers will find the appeal but I hope you give this fantastic series a look and reap all the benefits :)
The Operative (2019)
I DARE YOU
I want my punch!
Too often we are presented movies that are a 'solid' drama or a political blah blah blah but where are the cinematic moments. 'We can't handle the truth' has lived way too long in its magic moment, 'show me the money'. Give me something to get a laugh or flinch or OMG over.
Why are we being inflicted with this ongoing meandering blandness. I dare you to put a heart rate monitor on and watch any movie by Tom Hanks made in the last 10 years and see if you notice a blip.
I want movies to get back in my face and ram themselves down my throat.
The Operative, if made 20, 30 or 40 years ago would have done just that. Now its a resting heart rate movie. :)
Aus dem Nichts (2017)
One Frustrated Movie Fan
YET AGAIN A GOOD MOVIE DIMINISHED BY A POOR LAST ACT.
I am seeing a lot of movies lately that are actually pretty good films that just seem to run out of steam. Causing them to stare greatness in the eye and turn away in fear.
Its so frustrating. I remember when I watched the original IT. 3 hours of brilliant storytelling until the end when the monster was defeated by a rock! I was like WTF and I guess that feeling has stayed with me for my lifetime as I have a strong sensitivity to movies that have a good story to tell, build nicely and then disolve into nothingness.
Into the Fade does exactly that :)
Steve-O's Bucket List (2023)
You May Vomit In The Bucket!
Awkwardly I gave this movie the same rating as Steve O Gnarly. The problem is its actually a better movie, but its not worth a 7.
Steve O is a good story teller and can be interesting to listen to. He did a good podcast with DCEO that was a good watch.
Bucket list is a little bit of a mixed bag, some of the stunts are entertaining and funny, a couple of them are a bit ew.
Clearly a man with no shame and absolutely an attention whore (as he readily admits).
What will be interesting for me is where he goes next. He has grown as an indivdual and a performer but I will be fascinated to see where the development takes him :)
PS for some reason I found the fainting hilarious.
Steve-O: Gnarly (2020)
It Was Actually Pretty Good
Gnarly is an unusual retrospective of someones career.
Steve O and I'm guessing his mostly unemployeed friends/hangers on, deliver a funny (not always) and interesting (not always) back story on some of the explosive (pun intended) events that comprise Steve's career.
Its a tight show so, it calls it quits before it becomes tiresome and repetitive. Which was really smart. It may also have factored in the short attention span of the people who would be choosing to watch this.
Steve is pretty entertaining and can tell a good story. The film suffers when he tries to drag his friends back into the limelight to give them a shoutout :)
Wrath of the Titans (2012)
Turn It Up
Wrath of the Titans is not as good a film as its predecessor. The story is a little too shallow and some of the acting is as stiff as the statues we see.
Where the film does do better than the 2010 movie is the audio and visual effects are a step ahead. Its bombastic to say the least.
As a night in, a back to back viewing of the 2 movies is a pretty fun way to spend an evening as long as your neighbours can handle the noise pumping out of your house!!
Ralph Fiennes is the star of both movies. His character and its portrayal. Whenever he is on screen he owns it, especially when next to Neeson who is fantastically wooden or statuesque.
Good fun :)
Clash of the Titans (1981)
A Great Version Of The Film Especially For Young Kids
Ok, IF you are under 30, I would recommend watching the 2010 version instead of this one. The 2010 has the shock and awe audio and visuals that you have grown up with.
This version will seem like a pop up book for most of you.
Having said that, the original version is a charming film that I suspect holds a bit of a special place in a lot of people's hearts, mine included.
Its very magical, literally and metaphorically. It carries a level of charm that struggles to exist in contemporary film making. At the time of its making it was an homage to films of the 50's and 60's where films such as Hercules were the spectaculars of their day.
Its a sweet film and one to watch :)
Clash of the Titans (2010)
A Reasonable Remake Unlike Most
Generally I'm not a fan of remakes, its lazy creativity, offering simply money for the studio from something that made them money before.
Best example I can think of right now Point Break. A shameful grab for cash.
However, sometimes a remake can modernise things adding a polish that helps take a movie to the next level and I feel that is what has happened here.
As a kid I loved CotT, I was too young to care about how dodgy the effects were (or later on how camp the movie actually is). It was a good tale. When I watch it now the effects of the movie diminish the joy.
The remake, yes it does lose a little charm, fixes all the effects issues. Now the movie looks and sounds fantastic. So in this instance I think both versions have value and add something worthwhile to the historical movie library.
The Next Three Days (2010)
Film Makers Need To Work On Their Endings
Three quarters of The Next Three Days is a very enjoyable drama. Disappointingly that last quarter crashes and burns like a Nitro Circus event.
The result is a diminishing of what could have been a great movie.
The characters are developed really well and the acting supports this. In fact Crowe's performance in The Next Threes Days is one of his better ones as he becomes more deperate or focused on his goal as the movie progresses.
So the Good, it draws you in, which actually sets up the viewer for the Bad, the last act.
Give it a go, its better than average and you may enjoy its closing out more than I did :)
Crossing Over (2009)
My Immigration Solution
My solution. Have America and all the South American nations merge to become one nation. They all share the resources and the problems.
Problem solved.
Now to the movie :)
Crossing Over is a great film, detailing a number of views and perspectives about the big issue. As a result it skims across the surface a little, so no deep dives here, but that does stop the movie getting too bogged down in finite details.
It is very well acted, the pacing is good and the stories that comprise the film are all interestly put together.
Its probably not a movie that will be enjoyed by those VERY connected to the immigration 'fight' but for others it will be a good time :)
Blown Away (1994)
Engaging Fare
A reviewer wrote 'how did Speed get better reviews than this'?
Well in my opinion Speed is simply a more entertaining movie and that's inherently what movies are about. And, aside from featuring bombs they don't have anything really in common.
Blown Away is a solid drama full of well built tension that engages the viewer. It is a slow burn but that does allow nicely for character development which is very important to the success of this story.
Bridges is very good in his role, TML is a little more cliched with his delivery but still contributes nicely.
Its a mature film targeting a considered audience and does it well :)