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Wheels of Power: History of Official Cars (2017)
Unique cars and the unique leaders that chose them.
We only had time for four cars. I am not sure who or how the particular four cars were chosen.
We get glimpses of the technology and glimpses of the lives of leaders and how they overlap.
You can tell right off that the presentation is contrived to intrigue you more with leader stories and not very technical beyond the fundamentals. We get to see how a turbocharger works without calling it a turbocharger. The newer cars completely leave out the computer controls. It is on the level of a "How it is Made" program. On the leader level we get to see how Hitler and the Pope get to stand tall; we see how Trump gets tucked safely inside. There is a quickie of Kennedy but does not describe the convertible.
Made in 2018 we get only to see the cars of the recent U. S. leaders. But no leaders. (well it is really about cars)
Wheel of Time (2003)
Great filmography - no substance
German filmmaker Werner Herzog, as usual, is exceptional at film and captures the everyday life of Buddhists on their pilgrimage to Bhod Gaya. We concentrate on the 12-day Kalachakra initiation. For those familiar with Buddha you recognize Bhod Gaya as the location where the Buddha attained enlightenment.
There is great background music much of it sounds a little more Hindu. However, we do hear some well-known chants. Occasionally there is a conversation with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Also, we get a glimpse of a few people mugging for the camera.
All in all, this film is worth watching but does not give any real insight or surprises.
What's Up, Doc? (1972)
What are you doing with Howard's rocks?
Dr. Howard Bannister (Ryan O'Neal) is on his way to a convention to try to win a grant; he carries a plaid overnight bag containing experimental rocks. A mysterious stranger at an airport picks up an identical plaid bag containing top secrets. A rich lady carries (you guessed it) a plaid overnight bag full of her jewels. To add to the mix is a walking accident Judy Maxwell (Barbra Streisand) carrying her plaid bag.
Soon all are inevitably going to converge. Toss in mistaken identities and a bubble bath. You have one of the most memorable comedies.
Lots of fun comedy with most of the clichés, Back and forth in a hallway, Obligatory chase scene, they show their puns, and even a quasi-food fight, all over a hand full of bags. At one point Judy hangs around outside Howard's window; one wonders how her towel stays on.
If this ever gets sorted out, we are in for a surprise.
If you find the concept of mixed bags funny then you need to also watch Sylvester Stallone in Oscar (1991).
What Is the Electric Car? (2010)
How long do the batteries last? There is still mechanical maintenance.
Yep, aside from the cheesy "I am doing a report" presentation so many practical questions seem to be missed. Have you ever seen a corroded terminal? What is the battery life? There are still mechanical parts that wear. How much power is used to heat the car in the dead of winter? Just going from Fort Worth to Dallas is a 100-mile round trip. Does uphill make a difference? Take some time and think about all the logistics and ramifications not mentioned in this slick-focused presentation.
Some cars may be over looked.
A better presentation was much earlier:
Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)
Revenge of the Electric Car (2011)
Perhaps hybrids are better placed for efficiency?
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966)
James Coburn, just being himself
A by-the-book captain is ordered to capture a strategic village in Italy. The Italian soldiers are willing to surrender if they can have a festival first. The lieutenant (Coburn) convinces the Captain (Shawn) "Wake Me When It's Over" (1960) this is the only way.
Because of aerial reconnaissance, they must look like they are fighting. To sort this out an intelligence officer, Potter (Morgan) is sent in and gets lost in the catacombs singing "Pea's portage hot". Meanwhile, the festival gets complicated with the Mayor's daughter. Who wins?
There are plenty of sub plots and amusing scenes spared throughout the whole movie.
Nova: What Darwin Never Knew (2009)
Forget about Darwin; what do we not know?
Part of Nova - series 36 episode 17 - Episode aired Dec 29, 2009
Yes, we know a lot that Darwin never knew as we grew a bit older.
However, depending on when you left school there may have been a few changes and additions to the way evolution and the mechanics of DNA have changed.
This is more than a cutesy overview of DNA as if it was new, this presentation takes the time to go into depth on how the various genes are triggered and what controls the trigger. We go beyond opposable thumbs and even target brain development.
It starts with a complete montage of what we are about to watch.
The program is based on the books:
"Endless Forms Most Beautiful" and The Making of the Fittest" by Sean B. Carroll
Still, we do get a quickie overview of Darwin's travels; we get just enough to lead you into today's technology and understanding of what Darwin never knew.
The only negative is that they spend far too much time showing animals eating animals to make the point the hard way.
The presentation is from 2009 so things may have changed; at least we will be caught up to 2009.
What a Way to Go! (1964)
"Our life is frittered away by detail... Simplify, simplify." Henry David Thoreau.
Louisa May (with a string of last names) is on the psychiatrist's couch explaining her life(s). We see this as a series of flashbacks resembling a series of movies.
Louisa May Foster (Shirley MacLaine) comes from a family of modest means, her mother (Margaret Dumont), with dollar signs in her eyes, figures it is beset for Loisa May to marry Lenni Crawley (Dean Martin) whose father owns the town.
Louisa could care less about money, especially Linni's insufferable attitude, and wants love. So, she marries for love and each time after what looks like an ideal life, an unforeseen circumstance enriches $$$$ her husband and causes their demise. Try as she may she cannot change the pattern.
Can the psychiatrist (Bob Cummings) help?
Is she destined to be a rich widow?
And what became of Lenni?
Westworld (1973)
Yul never be the same
Theme parks get more sophisticated. Now instead of faking it with actors, the people at Delos have come up with the ultimate getaway; they have created several theme parks of which one is called "Westworld" and use robots instead. They can take real bullets and be repaired. As a side interest, they also have other realistic body parts.
To this theme park comes Peter Martin (Richard Benjamin) for a little R&R. At first, he is a little shy then he gets into things. Everyone is having a great time.
Unknown to the guests Delos is experiencing an anomaly with its system. It seems that despite all the fail-safes a guest gets shot. Then everything snowballs out of control. The most out of control is a robot gunslinger that looks an awful lot like Yul Brynner.
You feel that you are there. So what can you do?
Westfront 1918: Vier von der Infanterie (1930)
Very similar to All Quiet on the Western Front
People are familiar with Erich Maria Remarque's story. In this Georg Wilhelm Pabst directed film it is Karl (Gustav Diessl) is up against the French in WWI. He gets a respite in the form of leave to see a different home than he remembered. On return to the front, he will soon face French tanks.
This is not so much an anti-war movie as it shows trials and tribulations one may suffer through as part of a war.
I was introduced to this film in my first German class. Other movies around the same time.
S.O.S. Eisberg (1933) Gustav Diessl plays Professor Dr. Karl Lorenz
Die Liebe der Jeanne Ney (1927) also directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst,
Die Büchse der Pandora (1929) Gustav Diesel plays Jack the Ripper.
There are many more great films of the time. This film will grow on you with repeated viewings.
The Ray Bradbury Theater: The Playground (1985)
Introduction by Ray Bradbury 1920-2012
The Ray Bradbury Theater Season 1 Episode 2 "The Playground"
Episode aired Jun 4, 1985
All grown-up Charles Underhill (William Shatner) must loosen his parental grip on his son. Yep, it is time to go to the "Playground". Unfortunately, Charles had a bad time thee as a child and does not want his son to experience the same.
He has to find a unique situation to exercise the playground demons. What and see how or if he does this.
We all know this series is cheap and has bad or no CGI. However, "The Playground" is very dark and could stan a flashlight or two.
Take time to see the real Shatner in Shatner in Space (2021).
Julie & Julia (2009)
Half of the movie was great
A woman with no direction in a dead-end job in life, takes to cooking and blogging as an escape. This disrupts what little family life she has. As a standard formula movie this has been done better.
Another story overlapping is that of Julia; she also is searching for meaning in life and finds she has a unique culinary skill and panache for the violent processing of food. This is quite fun viewing.
I immensely enjoyed the interspersed sections that display Julia Child (Meryl Streep) and her husband Paul Child (Stanley Tucci) as you could see their enthusiasm and depth of acting. This could have been a great docudrama. The one-dimensional tripe if the interspersed Julie Powell (Amy Adams) could have been left out and nothing would have been missed.
I have only seen the Blu-ray and cannot compare it to other forms of media. For the people interested in the media the special features contend the standard as a commentary with Writer/Director Nora Ephron. One advantage is you can fast forward with sound through the Julie parts.
See an early Stanly Tucci as Muerte in Undercover Blues (1993).
Father Brown (2013)
It is quite fun trying to outguess Father Brown
Mark Williams plays father Brown in this series based on G. K. Chesterton's books. I cannot tell you how close this comes to the books themselves as I have not read them yet.
Each episode is a complete story in itself where we meet the characters, build up the mystery, try to second-guess father Brown, and wrap up in the end. The ending of his stories is not that neatly wrapped as he usually leaves it to the culprit to do the right thing.
John Light plays Hercule Flambeau (Father Brown's friend); he is advertised throughout the DVD but does not show up for several episodes.
I have to admit that several times on my first viewing I had to stop and think about where I have seen the actor(s) before.
As with many series, there are guest actors. Some of the guest actors show once and others are peppered throughout the series.
The quality of each story varies widely so there will be some favorites and some duds depending on what you want to see. The production itself looks quite inexpensive and locations and production sets. The quality of the recording leaves something to be desired; I am not sure if it is the original recording or the media. In any case, you will be so wrapped up in the story that you will care about the production quality.
As with any series the character mix changes over time. Some of your favorites may disappear. Yet again you may find new favorites.
Chronicle (2012)
Great Blu-ray - the credits were exceptional
Many people watch superpower hero movies. Quite a few have read the comic books behind most of them. And of course, speculate as to what it would be like if you had the powers.
Put on a towel and jump off the roof. It is much more thrilling than this movie. I suppose it is a popular gimmick nowadays, but "Blair Witch" movies do not thrill me. If you enjoy this type of presentation, then definitely watch the movie "Apollo 18" it is just as hokey.
Three teens (Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, and Michael B. Jordan) fall in a hole. It is too bad they did not stay there. Of course, if they had we would not have much of a movie I guess, such that it is. Then came the proverbial powers. It is not so bad watching them struggle with their newfound abilities, but having to watch it on a phony homemade movie genre is more than one can take. You can guess the outcome before it starts; so, you better enjoy these people throwing objects around and throwing more objects around and throwing more objects around until they run at objects that are around.
Tomb Raider (2018)
Keeps making the dumbest decisions.
The movie is a series of dumb decisions by the protagonist Lara Croft (Alicia Vikander.)
The story and the people barely fit the Toom Raider formula. However, there is lots of action, many subplots, and a cliffhanger ending.
The basic story is Lara's father, Richard Croft (Dominic West) is missing and presumed dead. Lara has a different take on the situation and goes hunting for her father that was hunting for an evil Chinese queen.
Will she find him?
Will the evil Queen get her revenge?
Will an evil cabal find Lara?
Will this ever end?
Alicia Vikander said that it only took three weeks after filming ended to lose all the muscle mass she'd gained for the role. We all know what happens when you suddenly sop exercising. All that flappy skin.
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
A formula, fair formula but formula
This is an entertaining film that looks like it was made as filler while the actors looked for something to do. Robin Williams who did a good job of playing Osric in "Hamlet" (1996), does an average job in this movie. You could almost substitute Eddie Murphy and got the same results. It is good to see Sally, Field "Absence of Malice" (1981), as she is not in too many movies nowadays. I believe that Pierce Brosnan is in his element and adds much to the movie's success.
The highlight of the movie is Robin in drag tosses fruit at Pierce. The trailers for this movie like to show Robin's fake frontal accouterments going up in flames.
The Tempest (2010)
A cinematic adaptation of the classic play by William Shakespeare
Prospera, once the Duke of Milan and sorceress now reigns over a faraway island, living there with her daughter, Miranda. After 12 years of being abandoned, she has an opportunity for revenge. However, the ships may bring more than she planned on.
It is impossible to have lived in the cinematic world and not come across any other productions by Julie Taymor. With each of her productions, she does not copy but uniquely enhances the originals. In this case, we have quite a few deviations. However, as long as you are aware of the original play you can appreciate the deviations. Prospero is replaced by Prospera (Helen Mirren) one of the greatest actresses of our time. Julie's approach is different but does not go off the deep end and re-create a whole new story; as the story is just enhanced by dynamic technology and cinematic capabilities not available in earlier productions. And naturally, a mother-daughter story will have some different outlook than a father-daughter story.
The only drawback is the curt runtime forcing some reduction in dialog and addition of references.
Added plusses of course first include Helen Mirren. Also, the location (various untreaded locations in Hawaii) is perfect. The underwater or through water scenes gave an ethereal feel.
The Ray Bradbury Theater: Marionettes, Inc. (1985)
Introduction by Ray Bradbury 1920-2012
The Ray Bradbury Theater Season 1 Episode 1 "Marionettes, Inc."
A computer salesman Braling (James Coco) is being over indulged by his wife (Jayne Eastwood.) She looks after is every need. She is clingy and constantly talking. For some unknown reason he is annoyed by this.
He constantly gets ads from "Marionettes, Inc." As they have a unique solution to Barling's annoying problem. So, a friend suggests that Braling visit "Marionettes, Inc.". So, he does.
Inter Mr. Fantoccini (Leslie Nielsen as a more sober character). Mr. Fantoccini has a unique solution that just happens to cost everything in Barling's account down to the last penny.
The solution is working better than expected so Barling confides in his friend, Crane (Kenneth Welsh.) Who also plans to make the purchase to find that his account is already at zero?
While back at the ranch... Oops Balding homestead a permanent solution to the Barling problem may be dispatched.
It is not like you could not guess this one. But id is fun to watch the execution.
The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985)
A series of short programs written by Ray Bradbury
Each of the 65 episodes divided into 6 seasons, pose the problem and solution in under 30 minutes.
As you hear the introduction you will recognize many of the novels the teleplays are based on.
We get many famous actors of the time period that the presentation from 1985 to 1992 are present in these productions. We even start off with Leslie Nielsen playing a straight man as in Forbidden Planet (1956) as opposed to the joke in Airplane! (1980).
Do not get distracted by the ancient technology as devices and transportation of the time. They have something called computers in some of the series.
You will need to watch them all to find your favorite. I can only imaging having to wait for each one for almost a decade.
Different episodes may be of different values to you but the series in general is top notch.
West Side Story (1961)
There's a place for us
"There's a place for us, a time and place for us. Hold my hand, and we're halfway there."
Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
And there is a movie for us. "West Side Story" is a classic on too many levels to describe here. Everything from the music to the choreography to the actors to...
One big plus is even if the storyline is a classic, they did not try to duplicate Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" with modern clothing. The movie still maintains the feel and action of the play.
This movie tells the story of two people Tony and Maria (Richard Beyer and Natalie Wood) from adverse backgrounds that fall in love. They must cope with their new feelings. And to complicate things they have trouble with their families and society. Will they overcome these things or will fate and circumstance thwart their efforts and tragedy arise?
I could write a book on what makes this movie great, but you should watch and judge for yourself.
There are several editions of this film. For Blu-ray viewers, be aware that this film was made decades before the 1080 concept.
Brave New World (1980)
Excellent rendition
A quote from THE TEMPEST ACT 5, SCENE 1, 181-184 by Shakespeare
Miranda:
O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world
That has such people in't!
By "brave" she doesn't really mean "courageous," but rather "handsome" and "noble."
This presentation by writers Aldous Huxley, Robert E. Thompson, and Doran William Cannon is very close to the book by Aldous Huxley. They leave in all the jingles and Ayn Rand type speeches. They take their time without cutting corners.
Speaking about cutting corners I only saw the 3-hour presentation after being paired down by an hour from the four-hour presentation. Still, it is well played and the complete story is included.
I saw the 1998 version that was only 1hour and 27 minutes. That version has many popular actor names. This version has actors I recognize but did not remember their names. The advantage in this is that the actor does not outshine the character that he/she plays.
It did not distract so much as it was sort of funny when they used a mock up 747 interiors to pose as a luxury hotel room. I what one of those hotdog machines.
Again, they stuc pretty much to the story but I had fun knowing where the Shakespeare quotes came from as they were being spouted by John Savage (Kristoffer Tabori) and various quotes by Mustapha Mond (Ron O'Neal.)
Werewolves Within (2021)
A campy version of "And Then There Were None"
As with all movies based on video/board games, they are not the game but the characters are recognizable. This movie is way too campy to relate to the game. There are lots of one-liners, a tad too much potty mouth, and politically incorrect innuendo.
If they did not try to make it too funny it would have been a good movie as they did a good job of playing who-dun-it and everyone looks and could be the wolf if there is one. All the characters are a tad unreal but that is to match the game (too bad they had to match.)
The highlight is that the movie has Lily Adams the AT&T girl in it, and Milana Vayntrub plays Cecily Moore the postal girl in this movie; she looks good in uniform.
The basic story is that in the small town of Beaverfield, the residents are divided over letting a pipeline go through their area. To this town came a few new people including the Person in charge of selling the pipeline and a new ranger.
Through a series of weather mishaps, the town is isolated. Now, something is amiss. It seems that people are being dispatched and the little dog too. As things heat up it looks as though they do not have to worry as much about mysterious forces as they are more susceptible to dispatch each other.
Of course, it is always the last person you suspect. Hopefully.
Werewolf: The Beast Among Us (2012)
Even a man who is pure in heart...
"Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright."
If you are into were creatures and the undead then this movie is right up your alley.
It appears that there is a creature much more than your standard werewolf causing havoc or a sort of plague. To this town comes unique bounty hunters. They are so intriguing that a local boy wants to join them and get some of the action.
This movie has a Syfy channel feel.
Will they find the beast before the whole town becomes beast chow?
If not is there a greater danger?
Lycanthropus (1961)
A misnomer should have been "Werewolf in a girl's reformatory"
(AKA): Bei Vollmond Mord (Austria) / The Ghoul in School / Ghoul in a Girl's Dormitory (USA) / I Married a Werewolf / Monster Among the Girls (USA). The original title was "Lycanthropus."
This is supposed to be a disease brought on by a full moon but for those in the know, Lycanthrope is just another name for "werewolf."
Expecting a hairy James Belushi in Technicolor, I was surprised to find that this is a dubbed biting Italian film dredged up from the golden age of Italian horror films to be a pretender to today's cult classics.
The film is B&W and takes place in an Italian castle that is being used as a girls' reformatory. The girls picked for this film were chosen for their tasty looks and include Barbara Lass who was Roman Polanski's first wife (1959-62). There are many other well and not so well known actors. Joseph Mercer known as the Peter Lorre of Italian horror films plays the part of "Tommy the porter". Carl Schell is the brother of Maximilian Schell.
The title song "The Ghoul in School" was written by Marilyn Stewart, Frank Owens, and sung by Adam Keefe. However, most of the music is by Armando Trovajoli; Armando composed over 200 films and videos, many of them were Italian horror films.
The story opens up with Dr. Julian Olcott (Carl Schell) and is greeted at the gate by the limping sneaky looking Tommy the Porter (Joseph Mercer) and the porter's German Sheppard that does not appear too friendly. A young girl swoons at the sight of the Doctor. From here we are introduced to a bevy of babes (each with some sinister past) and a staff of extremely strange people in their way. Girls are being lured to the woods by cash. But shortly after the arrival of Dr. Olcott, one girl is dispatched. This, of course, is attributed to stray wolves. So did the girl go astray or the wolf or the supplier of cash or any of the other mysterious characters? It is up to her girlfriend Priscilla (Barbara Lass) that thinks her friend was murdered, and with the sometimes help of Director Swift (Curt Lowens) that wants to protect the school's reputation, to find if there is a perpetrator before someone else is dispatched.
Oops, too late.
We're No Angels (1955)
Morals abound
All three of these angels hold their own. (Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, and Peter Ustinov) they are "escaped convicts" from Devil's Island; each has an agenda of his own. But they get warped in the affairs of the family of a local general store owner. To add to the mix, it is the Christmas season. The story may not be unique but the way they play it out is both cute and funny.
Some annuals (Christmas season) wear out in time. This is one of those. However, it does not distract from the first few times of viewing.
We are very busy watching the major characters so it is easy to overlook the fact that this movie has many other good actors such as Leo G. Carroll, Basil Rathbone, Joan Bennett, Peter Ustinov, among others.
Who plays Adolph? We must never forget the protagonist.
Welcome to the Jungle (2013)
Van Damme is in a wheelbarrow doing bird calls
This movie is nothing more than it appears to be. A pansy knockoff of "Lord of the Flies." We know the formula and they do it to a tee. The only redeeming social value is Jean-Claude Van Damme; Jean-Claude Van Damme really adds character to the movie.
Dysfunctional office workers are sent for a two-day team-building course on a remote jungle island. There they become stranded. Their real personalities emerge. Can they survive as a team or is it the Lord of the flies all over again?
We get to pick our favorite characters while kibitzing a bit as we watch them having to deal with nature.
Be prepaid for a bit of potty mouth and slapstick.