abernste Reviews

Out of This World (I) (1954)

Wonderful (MST3K, that is...)

[27 November 2004]

One of the worst 'training videos' ever to be made....but one of the funniest MST3K 'shorts.' An outrageous tale of a devil and angel tempting and taunting a traveling bread salesman. It is hard to imagine this film was ever actually used in training salesman, but its inherent hilarity makes great fodder for Mike, Crow, and Servo. Why Dupont Chemicals was involving in producing this video is curious.......makes you wonder what was being put in bread in the 1950s.....!

I don't believe you come away from the video feeling like a more motivated salesman, but feel like another profession is in order....

MST3K version highly recommended!

The Green Hornet (1966–1967)

Great Show.....

[28 October 2003]

Lest we not forget one of the highlights of the show was the masterful re-working of Rimsky-Korsikoff's "Flight of the Bumble Bee" by Al Hirt.....Campiness aside, it was a nice play-off of the Batman series and the Black Beauty could kick the Batmobile's butt!

Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse (1960–1962)

Funny......cute....campy.....great!

[2 October 2003]

Despite the similarities to Batman/Robin, Courageous Cat was a classic kids cartoon in the early 60s. No utility belt, but a "gun" for any situation, Courageous and Minute patrolled Empire City and were able to keep the town safe from the infamous Frog. Silly and at times ridiculous, but a pleasure to watch again and again.

The Towering Inferno (1974)

Star-studded flaming adventure

[9/10 · 1 November 2001]

A veritable who's who of big names on the screen.....Irwin Allen surpassed himself with this gem. One must remember the state of technology for the time (1974). The action is constant, something usually not the case in "disaster" movies. Newman and McQueen give decent performances. Fred Astaire is funny and gets to dance as well! Highly recommended flick!

Trapeze (1956)

A classic love-triangle tale set within the backdrop of the French Circus

[31 October 2001]

Curtis was young...Lancaster was in his prime.....The trapeze performances were stunning and despite the predictability of the story, Trapeze was a wonderful movie. Though a little "hokey" at times, and dated perhaps today, the warmth, sincerity, and circus-realism makes this a mild classic!