metilley Reviews

The Galloping Gourmet (1968– )

The Galloping Gourmet

[10/10 · 1 October 2007]

I used to watch Graham Kerr in the late 60's and early 70's as a teenager. (Note: "Kerr" is pronounced "care"). Graham has an infectious smile, uncanny wit, and whenever I was down, he would make me laugh. A funny thing happened - I learned how to cook too! My parents often wonder why I have a taste for rich, gourmet food, and I guess this is why. Neither of them are gourmets.

Graham changed his cooking show after his wife, Treena, the show's producer, developed arterial disease. While Graham is still "The Galloping Gourmet" in my heart, his show is now dedicated to healthy cooking. Yuck! But I don't fault him for making Treena, and countless others, healthy.

I know DVD's are available for his current work, but nobody thought to save his earlier shows. That's a shame, because that is where he shined. I loved those shows where he would combine bacon fat, pure cream, Kirsch, and "clarified" butter into some delicious concoction.

I miss you both, Graham and Treena, and hope you are enjoying your well-deserved retirement years! God Bless.

The Paper Brigade (1996 TV Movie)

Also known as "Gunther and the Paper Brigade"

[8/10 · 28 February 2006]

This is a great film about two brothers who have been uprooted from the big city (by their parents) to a suburban Salt Lake City community. The star, Gunther (played by Kyle Howard), needs date money. His father suggests he do something to earn the money instead of lying around the house and pool all day. Gunther decides a paper route is just the ticket.

After the first day he decides it's too much effort until he discovers a pretty girl is on his route. The movie deals with his first love and other antics like a battle worn vet he befriends and neighborhood bullies. There isn't much violence in this film, nor is there any nudity. The film sends a gentle message about peace, love, and understanding that would make John Lennon proud.

This is a fun, entertaining film that will make you laugh. It is witty, clever, and well made. It's more than ten years old, but I am ready to see it again, and include it in my personal video library.

Here's another movie that the movie industry has deemed not suitable (or worth their effort) to make available to the public.

Looker (1981)

High Technology to keep you on the edge of your seat

[8/10 · 16 February 2006]

I haven't seen this film since 1982 but I still remember it fondly. Considering it is now 20+ years old, it contained technology that is deployed by the military today (light flashes and how it affects the human brain). The laser technology to fit clothing is also just starting to be used. It's a great film, with pretty good acting.

Susan Dey (from "The Partridge Family" and "L.A. Law") and the late James Colburn (from "Our Man Flint" and "In Like Flint" fame) star in this film along with Albert Finney. The story is about a high-tech firm that measures models and then gives the plastic surgeon the right specs to make the model "perfect", a 'LOOKER'. The plastic surgeon, played by Albert Finney, finds out what is really going on and he is hunted to be exterminated. To say more would ruin the movie for you.

The cinematography is not very good but I would still like to have this movie in my DVD collection.

Highway to Hell (1991)

Go Directly to Hell!

[9/10 · 16 February 2006]

OK, so it's not Oscar winning material, but I don't think it was meant to be. "Highway to Hell" is a fun flick about a couple on their way to Las Vegas to get married. They are eloping and to steer clear of the "authorities", they take a back road that turns into an entrance to hell. Yeah, it's corny but it's very entertaining and very well done.

For the most part the acting is very good and the production including scenery and music are top notch. I loved the fact that "Hitler" is played by Gilbert Gottfried! Anne Meara, Ben Stiller, and the lovable Richard Farnsworth are also in the film as well as the late Kevin Peter Hall. As always, Chad Lowe does an A+ performance as "Charlie". I loved "Hell Cop" too. This is a fun movie! (I have not watched this film in over 10 years but I still enjoy remembering it.)

This is another film that should be available on DVD. The purchase information shows the VHS tape available in Canada, but it really isn't (out of print). The movie industry would make more money if these old films were made available. There are lots of films I would love to have in my personal collection. This is definitely one of them!

There Must Be a Pony (1986 TV Movie)

Not an Oscar winner, but still a nice film

[10/10 · 15 February 2006]

No one else has commented on this film so I will. "There Must Be A Pony" has an award winning cast about a recovering woman (Elizabeth Taylor) who has suffered from mental illness from years in the movie industry. She is trying to get back into the "business" but her reputation and her attitude prevents her from doing so.

After her son (Chad Lowe) comes for a visit at their rented home in Malibu, she meets up with Robert Wagner after being introduced at the horse track by another close friend, Mickey Rooney. Lowe is befriended by Wagner and a strong friendship develops. James Coco plays her confidante and best friend. It is a sweet movie with excellent acting, but it has a sad ending.

This film should DEFINITELY be available on DVD. I think it is a shame that it isn't (yet).

3 Blind Mice (2003)

A Big Disappointment

[3/10 · 27 March 2004]

I was wondering what had become of Edward Furlong after his debut in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" and "Brainscan". Even "Pecker" was better made than this film. "Three Blind Mice" looks like it was made by the same people that made "The Blair Witch Project". The camera work was crappy; the audio work was crappy; and there was no music sound track until the end, except for some weird "Outer Limits" type music during a murder scene.

I wish Edward Furlong had been in "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", because this film was very hard to watch. Even "Detroit: Rock City" was more entertaining than this one was! I give "Three Blind Mice" a very generous 3 out of 10 stars.

Without Warning (1980)

Hard to forget

[10/10 · 18 January 2004]

This movie was shown on HBO or SHOWTIME around 1980. It is a "B" level film about an alien (from outer space, where else?) that feeds on human beings. The alien throws these frisbee type things (organic) that attach themselves to humans with long tube-like fangs - sucking the life out of them. Sure, it's corny as hell and it was a low budget film - it shows! The sound effects and music are cut off from scene to scene. But the cast is impressive and, although I have not seen this film in almost 25 years, I would love to see it again. So why isn't it available on VHS or DVD? Who knows. There are a lot of movies out there that I cannot find on video. If you can locate this one, be sure to watch it. It will, literally, keep you on the edge of your seat!

The Legend of 1900 (1998)

a.k.a. "The Legend of 1900"

[10/10 · 19 August 2003]

This is an excellent film I first watched on the STARZ satellite network (via DIRECTV) a few years ago. At the time it was not available on VHS or DVD. Now it is.

It's a gentle film, but often sad, about a child left by a First Class passenger aboard an ocean liner in 1900. The child is found in the ballroom by an engine worker and aptly named "1900". He grows up with the delicious ability to play music by ear (without sheet music). (I have never seen anyone play the piano this well before! I wonder who is really playing if it is not him?) He also has his "sea legs" and is OK in rough seas when everyone else gets ill. He is befriended by the ship's trumpet player and they become best friends. The scene with jazz great, "Jelly Roll" Morton is especially notable.

I don't want to say more about this film because it will spoil it for you; - suffice to say it is one of the best films I have ever viewed. It was made in Italian but it is shown in English without subtitles. Now that it is available on DVD, I plan to purchase a copy for myself and several others for friends.

ENJOY!

(Update: Purchased the DVD from amazon.com and it is great!)

Alien Hunter (2003)

Alien intelligence found in Antarctica thaws

[8/10 · 19 July 2003]

An alien intelligence is thought to be located 30 meters beneath the frozen ice of Antarctica by NASA's satellite. A scientific team in the same area (doing genetic plant research several stories beneath the surface) is called upon to dig the frozen mass out of the ground for study by other scientists. A former SETI scientist (played by James Spader) from U.C. Berkeley is called upon to fly there and analyze the beacon emitting from the frozen mass, that is identified as a 'black box' of sorts associated with the UFO crash at Roswell, N.M, sixty years earlier.

The story gets interesting when the scientists decide they want to slice the frozen mass open, but just then Spader realizes the coded radio emission is saying "DO NOT OPEN!"

This sounds rather hokey, but I enjoyed the movie despite the constant commercial interruptions on the Sci-Fi Channel. The film is rated 'R' (I don't know why), but perhaps on DVD the movie would be better. I gave it 8 out of 10 stars.