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Maxwell Stein (2009)
Old fashioned Indie fun
A delightful indie film. It's low budget, but done with great love and care. It's a tribute to such story telling as Twilight Zone, and Boris Karloff's Thriller. I had never heard of this film, and just got to see it on Cinema Insomnia, lovingly presented with gentle humor and great respect. A 113 year old long-retired silent director, Maxwell Stein, wants to make his first talkie, but has to buy a camera. He and his devoted assistant find an antique camera in a junk shop, and it turns out to be more dangerous than they could imagine. As his Egyptian horror movie production progresses, the camera manifests its own plans for the actors, one by one. Slowly Mr. Stein comes to accept the camera's powers, and even profit from its unique properties. But the camera's denizens have something nasty in store for Mr. Stein. Appropriately filmed in classic black and white.
Tales from Parts Unknown (2020)
Old school B horror fun
I just watched this on Monster Kid Radio on Twitch. It's a lot of fun, an anthology of old school horror like Creep Show, or Tales from the Crypt. You meet some awful people, who tempt fate, and get their just deserts. It's not a big production, but is done with great love, and the stories are classic. Check this out for a Saturday night with your fellow B horror fans and pizza.
The Edict (2017)
Refreshing story! And Truely Frightening.
What a nice change from the Hollywood ending with the last minute save. Much of this movie remains a mystery, but it was a chilling story and that only adds too it. We never really know who these beings are, or where they came from, or where they are. I don't understand the low star reviews. This was a fresh story, great acting, and a real horror mystery.
Logan's Syndrome (2016)
The Power of the Human Spirit
I feel certain Logan himself would object to the title I gave this review. But throughout this documentary, everyone displays that essential aspect of being human. Some, like his mother, shine forth as the best of what we can manifest. And others, like his father, and the bullies Logan only hints at, show us what it looks like, what it does, when self-centeredness, and self pity rule. When I saw the gathering of the less than 10 sufferers world wide of this rare genetic syndrome gather, when the boy with 4 fingers played the piano so beautifully, when Logan's mother danced smiling with them all, I felt awe for the mystery of the power to choose life and choose to keep going in the face of and endless challenge.
Ramar of the Jungle (1952)
Gave my childhood a world view
I watched this faithfully, every episode, at ages 5, 6, and 7. Then I watched reruns. We had just gotten our first TV and this series was pure magic to me. I learned about other peoples, other ways of life, and Africa. Even though now when I joyfully revisit Ramar, and I see the inaccurate mixture of jungle and savanna animal habitats, it doesn't matter, because Ramar showed me the world and taught me so much at such a young age. I also learned fair play, honesty, service to humanity for other than material gain, and good versus evil. Charlie was a favorite too, with his British accent!
Astro (2018)
Slightly charming crappola
What were they thinking? I don't think they hired a film editor, and it seems they fired their writers before they finished the script. It literally ends in the middle of the story. You are waiting for the next scene, and the screen goes black, and then the credits start. It reminded me of the old theater days when the film would break, and we all had to go home. And just when it started to get a little bit interesting too. The entire first hour could have been done in 15 minutes and then we could have gotten to the alien planet. Wow...really amazing it was released like this. But, I do always enjoy seeing martial artists and weight lifters duke it out, and who can not love Gary Daniels? It could have been a decent B movie, but it didn't make it because they abandoned it. I gave it three stars - 1 for Gary Daniels, 1 for the intriguing alien, and 1 for the challenge of trying to figure out where it was filmed.
Operation Ganymed (1977)
Authentic, Pure Scifi
Scifi is about ideas, not special effects. We have all suffered through the big CGI science fiction extravaganzas, rolling our eyes because the characters and plots are so lame. This unknown gem is very bare of special effects, but rich on story and the concept is very frightening. It's low, low budget, and shows it, however, the drama is brilliant and richly textured. After a many year mission to Ganymed, the astronauts return home.to a terrifying situation, and that's when their real struggle for survival begins. It's a story that will haunt me for awhile. Very well done, and very refreshing.
Joker (2019)
In the presence of true genius
I left the theater stunned speechless. There really isn't an adequate way to describe Phoenix's genius portrayal of the Joker. I can say there were an abundance of moments when the hair on my arms literally stood up, moments when I could not breathe. See this movie for no other reason than to watch the mastery of his work. We will never meet or know a character like Joker, but Phoenix will bring you as close as you can be to true madness without losing your life. If he does not receive the Oscar for this role, it is only because of fear.
Doroga k zvezdam (1957)
Mysteriously ahead of its time
What is fascinating about this film is how excellent for that time period the special effects are. The rocket plume, the sticky dust on the moon Buzz Aldrin reported, the sunlight effects in an orbiting ship, and in particular, the scenes of weightlessness. It's an anomaly for that time, almost a bit mysterious. However, I don''t believe Kubrick copied any of this anymore that present artists build on the past, rather he worked with Arthur C. Clark. I checked out a few other cold war era Soviet Scifi, and found that, at least the ones I looked at, delivered a much more open minded approach to other planets having life. Also many of the cosmonauts and inhabitants of space stations are women, at a time when in America that has not yet occured. This film provides a rare look into the culture of scifi of the Soviet era. And, it's highly entertaining.
The Babadook (2014)
Absolutely NOT for kids! Disgusting
I so wanted to like it! Since is wasn't rated I made the bad mistake of thinking it would be okay for young teens. WRONG! First off, the mother is a confusing trainwreck who is in year 7 of widowhood but seriously unable to move on, Hence her child is warped. She hasn't got the sense or will to get her child help, nor do any other of the adults in his life, so you watch the madness grow. What the monster is, and where it came from and why, you never really know...some sort of madness coming from mom? But the deal breaker is this. I watched it with my 14 year old granddaughter and her 12 year old boy cousin. Imagine my horror when we see mom in bed writhing around with what at first seems to be a nightmare but then you realize she is masturbating!!! And her son walks in on her! By the time I got to the remote to turn it off, it was too late and I had 2 very embarrassed kids and one grandma feeling totally awkward. No one said a word, just red faces. There was no reason, absolutely no reason for that scene to be there. It had zero to do with the plot and served no purpose. I am seeing this a lot...movies made knowing kids will be in the audience and then snippets of outrageously inappropriate scenes with no warning. What is going on Hollywood? Do you have some creepy agenda with visually assaulting our kids? Do not show this movie to children.
Deep (2017)
Teaches Children Humanity is Evil
I could not finish this movie and turned it off before my granddaughter was further traumatized. Starts out with how evil humanity is, then you watch animals boiled alive by lava, then you see the dead on the Titanic trivialized as cartoon skeletons. Disgraceful
Missions (2017)
Rare example of SciFi that respects the genre
Most scifi movies (and books) now are just tired, rehashed plots that are transplanted into a science fiction setting. Most focus on conflict with bad guys who want to control the situation, and focus the violence and attempt to survive...stories that could be told just as easily in a contemporary drama, or a Western. To be authentic science fiction, the story can ONLY take place in a scifi setting, in this case Mars, and the setting is both critical to and must drive the plot. Missions is true to that requirement. I binge-watched season 1 yesterday on Shudder, and I let the intro play for each episode, because it is so stunningly beautiful. I gave it a 10 despite that I had a hard time believing a multi billion dollar project, that is a one shot or fail endeavor, would allow any but the most absolute stable people into the crew. (This is a flaw in too many movies in this genre) However, it was that instability that drove the story, and was explained as neuroses manifesting from the pressures of the long voyage. And, because the series was so well done, I forgave that.
The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!? (1964)
A 10 for honest but sheer hideousness
I first gave this move a 1, then realized that for what it is, a 10 is well earned. Surely this is the most horrible movie ever made. It had me cringing, yet it is at the same time mesmerizing, sort of like watching a snake eat a frog...though repelled, you can't look away. I have to think about the people who made this, and who starred in it, more or less carrying on the legacy of Ed Wood. It does have a kind of honesty for effort, and in the end, it is truly fun. If you just can't get through it, MST3K has done a brilliant treatment. I have to say the most cringe worthy scene is the woman singing the Oo Wah Wah song...oh my Lord!!!
The Beyond (2017)
Rare - Authentic Hard SciFi
Most scifi movies are just cowboys shooting it out with the bad guys in space - tired stories told over and over which could fit into any setting and time. This movie is a type of which sadly so few examples exist. This story could only have taken place in space, and a little bit into the future, with complex and advanced science. I ended up moved to tears by the beauty of the hope presented. If you are a lover of hard scifi, don't miss this one. Outstanding!
Ainsi soient-ils (2012)
Started out great, then deteriorated
I really REALLY wanted to love this series. I got hooked because of the strong characterization, and for that I would give it an 8, but the steady descent into one more tired trip through lust brings it down to 4. As a practicing Catholic, I know many seminarians personally, and I have observed the extreme sacrifice and dedication it takes to get through 10 years (at least here in the US) before ordination. I am endlessly fascinated with the challenges of a true spiritual journey, and the drama of the sublimation of the ego into loving service, and I was hoping and expecting this series to be a treatment of that journey. Instead the series deteriorated into a prurient slog through lust and rapid and eager violation of vows and principles. None of the seminarians I know would ever have the opportunity to rut together in their dorm rooms. One character even pursues cheating with his friend's wife, who happens to also have a small child. Few of these characters are admirable. It's not the sex that I found repellent, it was the easy and willful violation and abandonment of commitments, right out of the gate. There is an over abundance of film and TV depictions of people destroying their lives and the lives of others. How refreshing it would be to see something depicting the struggle to be a great.
Bright (2017)
A ceaseless stream of F bombs
They had to know kids will be flocking to see this film, regardless of the R rating, and as it is so easily accessible on TV. But the very first lines of dialog were peppered with F bombs and other foul language, even from the wife, and never slowed down. I and my teen granddaughter eagerly anticipated this movie for weeks. It was a major disappointment that the dialog was so crude. The foul language and utterly superfluous, gratuitous naked prostitutes and sex talk made absolutely no contribution to the story and I can only assume was all put there to avoid the dreaded PG-13 rating. I promise the R is easily earned with the violence. The vicious killing of the fairy at the start was also strange, and turned us both off, rendering us less enamored of Daryl's character. However, we did enjoy the story and the non human characters, especially the Orc Jakoby, played by the excellent Joel Edgerton. We both tried in vain to recognize him from Warrior, but he is thoroughly orc. Too bad it is such a cesspool of language. Else I would have given a much higher rating.
The Dressmaker (2015)
I Really Really Wanted to Love This Movie
I loved everything about this movie for the first half, then it imploded and punched me in the gut. I was so angry, felt so ripped off that I had to force myself to finish it, in the vain hope something would be salvaged. Like Stephen King movies, the quirky characters romance you until you fall in love with them, then make you watch while they are tortured. If you don't want a sudden shock, something akin to how if would feel if your precious new puppy's head just exploded...stay away. I am going to crawl off now and lick my wounds.
Stranger Things (2016)
Truly binge watch worthy
An extremely well written story of a group of young friends whose selfless altruism out thinks adults and lets their brilliance save the day. We spent our entire Saturday binge watching from beginning to end. The acting was masterful and the plot was unique. The only reason I didn't give it 10 stars was the regular, unwelcome diversions from the core story...why do writers think we like the tired device of the local adolescent sociopaths who harass the heroes? I could not grasp why the bullying scenes were necessary, because the core story had more than enough power to carry the series all the way through. Each relevant character evoked either our sympathy for their triumphs, or satisfaction when they earned justice. We cared about what happened to them - good writing.
Attack the Block (2011)
Cheering on the aliens and be sure to get English subtitles
The only reason I gave this movie a 2 was for the aliens. They were new, unique, made really cool sounds, and were fun to watch. But the humans were so wretched that within a few minutes I was cheering on the aliens to clean up the homo sapiens gene pool...eat them quick! Before they can reproduce! We are supposed to care about the fate of teenage thugs whose "English" is so unintelligible that I had to get English subtitles to follow the dialog? And after a few minutes I realized, following the dialog was irrelevant, and I wondered, if these kids are the future of our species, do we deserve to survive this invasion? I was utterly disappointed that the same people who gave us Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz foisted this bit of aggravating garbage on us who would see it eagerly due to these film makers' and actors' reputations.
Chance Pe Dance (2010)
Simple joyful fun
I went into this movie looking for a lift of spirits and I was not disappointed. I did not have prior expectations from the actors or the director as I am new to Bollywood movies. The movie is gorgeous in its bright colors, beautiful people, delightful music and dance, and provides a refreshing and enlightening look at Indian modern cinema culture. The story is simple - the basic human drama of the struggle to achieve one's dream, find love, and be recognized by parents and peers for your special gifts. I did not have English subtitles and the flow of the beautiful Indian language interspersed with a bit English was enough to tell me what was happening. Shahid Kapoor was powerful in his beauty and dramatic dancing and his screen presence was delightful at all moments. His co-star Genelia Dsouza was graceful and lovely to watch. This movie did have a bit of everything including the kitchen sink thrown in the plot, but it all works together nicely to produce classic finding-one's-destiny, true love, redemption through the love of children and being true to yourself kind of story. The people who trashed this film I think just didn't get what it is. It is not to be taken as a serious drama. Chance pe Dance is an ice cream cone on a hot day, and stick of cotton candy, a walk through a rose garden in full bloom...a simple delight for the senses, a moment of diversion from troubling times.
The Black Raven (1943)
A delightful period piece
I got to see this film last night on my local access channel, and I had such a good time with it. It reminded me so clearly of the classic early Warner Brothers cartoons about the fiends in the old houses on stormy nights and when you watch a movie like this, you can see the influences that inspired the great Chuck Jones. Though I agree with the other reviewer that this movie is a bit muddled, I cannot watch a movie like this from the perspective of its own time. It is so much a period piece. And that is the source of delight. The quality of the sound...the pops and crackles, the staged storm sound effects, the clothes, the lighting, the bumbling sheriff, the damsel in distress - all come together to present a little gem out of time. I recommend this film as a charming visit with our history of movie making.
The Call of Cthulhu (2005)
A faithful recreation of the story, as a silent movie
This movie is a little gem. The love, care and respect that went into its making, both for the story itself, and for the genre of silent film, makes "Call of the Cthulu" a triumph of honest artistic effort. The decision to make this a silent movie was a stroke of genius. The black and white silent format so well matches the dark and antique ambiance of H.P. Lovecraft stories. As far as I know, it is only available by order from the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society. We gathered a group of life long Lovecraft fans for the viewing, and we were all delighted by the film, and felt the movie did the story complete justice. There are some very nice extras on the DVD which explain the process of making the film, how a backyard was used to build sets, and what went into making a modern silent film hold true to the look and feel of the genre. Do yourself a favor, buy the movie, and watch it with friends. Priceless!
Kung Pow: Enter the Fist (2002)
Steve Oedekerk, Black Belt in the high art of foolishness
This is hands down, one of the most hilarious movies I have ever seen. We had a party the other night with 7 people to view Kung Pow, and to a one, we were hurting ourselves laughing. I don't have any deep or analytical things to say, only that this movie is simply a lot of fun. Steve O. has completely mastered the fine art of foolishness. The dubbing is genius, and be sure to see it on DVD because the extra features are just as priceless as the movie. The movie is also presented with alternative dialog where you can hear what the actors are actually saying. They get prizes for keeping straight faces. Steve O. will always show you a good time...check out his brilliant Thumb movies, like Thumb Wars and The Blair Thumb. Creative people like Steve help us get through these difficult times with laughter.
The Pledge (2001)
Dreadful!
My husband and I rented The Pledge last night, because of the great actors listed in it. It was without parallel the most depressing, demoralizing 2 hours we have spent in a very long time. If you want to watch a decent man methodically destroy himself and then go mad, with no hope of redemption or resolution...this is the movie for you. Yuck!