actionstar-89625 Reviews

The Young Racers (1963)

Total Yawner

[3/10 · 28 June 2021]

Maybe it was because that day I had gotten my first COVID-19 shot. Maybe it was because I was tired. But, I found this movie quite boring. What you never get with a Roger Corman movie is boredom, but unfortunately that is exactly what I was swallowed into about 5-10 minutes into the film.

Stephen Children (Mark Damon) wants to write a book about hot shot race driver Joe Machin (William Campbell) to expose him for the horrible person that he is. Yet he is drawn to him and begins to befriend him.

I found the film super talky, but the racing scenes were interesting. In the end though this oldie might be one worth missing. Does also star Patrick Magee and Francis Ford Coppola did 2nd unit directing and sound.

Best of the Best II (1993)

Enjoyed it More Than the Original

[6/10 · 27 June 2021]

Sequel that I enjoyed more than original due in my opinion a better and beefy script from Max Strom and John Allen Nelson that spins this series in a different direction than adds more tension and excitement to the series. Robert Radler returns to direct and I must say it even seems more competently made by the director.

Mega wealthy moneybags named Weldon (played by Wayne Newton) runs an underground fighting club that at times its fighters fight to the death. Travis Brickley (Chris Penn) ends up fighting the big cheese Brackus (Ralf Moeller). He ends up dying in the fight and his two buddies Alex Grady (Eric Roberts) and Tommy Lee (Phillip Rhee) end up looking for him after Alex's son Walter (Edan Gross) witnesses his murder. The two end up getting trained by Tommy's drunk brother James (Sonny Landham) to be able to beat Brackus.

The story involving Roberts and his son I found was way better than the original and is much needed to the story. It plays out like a ROCKY movie at times and is way more violent than the original due to multiple limbs getting broken, but if you enjoy some martial arts give this one a watch. It might end up being worth a watch. Also starring Meg Foster.

Best of the Best (1989)

Close, But Not Close Enough

[5/10 · 21 May 2021]

I am probably gonna receive a bit of flack from some people on my opinion, because this film is loved by some people, but I do not think this one made the cut for me. There are elements to it that are good, but in the end I found the things that bring it down to me outweigh the good things with this film.

The U. S. is looking to put together a karate team to battle Korea in a tournament. Its about the team that is put together, them coming together as one and then battling the Koreans to see who win will the tournament.

To me at times the film gets shaky, then makes a rebound gets good and then becomes shaky again. I think the film needed to be slowed down a little. Maybe even as much as 15 minutes added to strengthen some of the characters. In saying that the characters here are better than a lot of martial arts movies with their depth, but honestly I wanted more. Eric Roberts plays Alex Grady and there is a nice little father son connection with his son. But, I feel that the connection with his mother played by Louise Fletcher was kind of wasted. A great actress and they should have given her character a little more to work with. In addition Alex's wife has died, but I think it would have been great to maybe dive a little deeper into that as well.

Another problem I had was some of the characters weren't really believable in their roles. In saying that though the acting was top notch and really much better than most martial arts movies I have seen. Yet, I do not believe that Chris Penn is one of the top 5 karate guys in the States. Just couldn't buy it. He does a good job in his role though. James Earl Jones as well I am not sure I can believe he would have all of the knowledge needed to make this group champions. I would believe the coach should be a karate master, which I do not believe Jones was. Like Penn though he does a very good job in his role.

Anyways the best part of course in the tournament itself and maybe if the rest of the film played somewhere near that level I may have rated this higher. Both Roberts and Phillip Rhee (who plays Tommy Lee and co-wrote the story) get into crazy fights in that tournament. Also starring Sally Kirkland and John P. Ryan.

Pink Cadillac (1989)

Pink Cadillac

[6/10 · 19 May 2021]

While not one of Eastwood's better films it still has some elements to it that I would say it is worth a watch. Clint Eastwood plays Tommy Nowack a hard-edged skip tracer. He is given the task of finding a loving mother Lou Ann McGuinn (Bernadette Peters, who does a really good job in her role) who after being caught with counterfeit money and being bailed out has gone on the run. She left her husband Roy (Timothy Carhart) with their baby and his pink Cadillac. Unknown to her at the time the trunk is just jammed with money. So in turn her husband is after her as well to keep her quiet and get the money back for his neo-nazi buddies. Maybe a good flick to throw on if you want to see an Eastwood movie or perhaps on a rainy afternoon. I thought it was okay. Enough action and comedy to keep things interesting. Also starring Bill Moseley, William Hickey and Geoffrey Lewis.

Last Woman on Earth (1960)

Little Dry, Little Talky, is Robert Towne's 1st Script Though

[5/10 · 22 February 2021]

While in sunny Puerto Rico a couple including money-grubbing Harold Gern (Antony Carbone) and his lush wife Evelyn (Betsy Jones Moreland) go on a scuba diving trip with his lawyer Martin Joyce (Robert Towne under the name Edward Wain). When they resurface they discover the world is a different place as people have died due to the oxygen being taken out of the air. It comes down to these three survivors and the fact that both Martin and Evelyn want to spend the rest of their time with each other.

This is Robert Towne's first screenplay and was directed by Roger Corman. An interesting idea, but it is shrunken to fit the budget. As well at times it can be a little talky and perhaps for some viewers a little on the dull side as there isn't a whole lot really happening on screen. Worth a watch though to see Robert Towne in an acting role, although he is the weakest actor of the main three or if you are a Roger Corman junkie.

I Mobster (1959)

Good on All Accounts Telling of Mobster Life

[7/10 · 19 February 2021]

This is the second Roger Corman gangster flick I have seen, the other being MACHINE GUN KELLY and I got what I expected. A well made, involving, well acted gangster picture. Here we get the life and times of Joe Sante (Steve Cochran in a real good performance) starting with being a youngster, his promotion from Black Frankie Udino (Robert Strauss), meeting and falling in love with Teresa Porter (Lita Milan) and his promise to himself that he would not go back to the slammer.

Personally, I can see similarities to the big boys on the block THE GODFATHER and GOODFELLAS. Just don't expect it to be that great. Supposedly this was Corman biggest film to date with a budget of $500,000, which for Corman was astronomical and distributed by 20th Century Fox.

Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)

Great Gangster/Charles Bronson Flick

[8/10 · 15 February 2021]

Roger Corman's first gangster movie and I must say I was quite entertained. Charles Bronson plays George "Machine-Gun" Kelly who is a bank robber along with his sexy lady Flo Becker (really good performance by Susan Cabot). He hasn't hit the big time yet, but after a $40,000 grab his group is ready for their next robbery. Of course Kelly is nutty with a hair trigger temper and also has a gigantic fear of death. After the next job goes foul he decides to get into kidnapping and grabs a little girl Sherryl Vito (Dawn Menzer) for big money from her rich father. Kelly steps on every foot in the process. In the end you get a nice conclusion and Bronson does a great job in his role.

Great script by R. Wright Campbell with some nice dialogue and some great toe-tapping music from Gerald Fried that adds to the richness of the film. Also has a great opening with no dialogue. If you enjoy old black and white gangsters flicks this is a great one to watch.

Rock All Night (1957)

Very Good Music and Quick Pace

[6/10 · 15 February 2021]

If you are like me and are interesting in seeing musical acts you can not see anymore like The Platters or The Blockbusters then this movie may be for you. If it doesn't in any way interest you than you might want to steer clear of this one. For this Roger Corman 50s flick is padded with musical numbers. Just think the duration of the movie is 62 minutes and I believe there are 7 songs in it! But it works as it is entertaining to see the acts perform and the pretty thin story isn't bad.

Dick Miller plays a cool cat they call Shorty. The film takes place in Cloud Nine which is a bar and is taken over by two punks (Russell Johnson and Jonathan Haze). Would have been interesting to extend the picture as in get more into the lives of the people in the bar and keep the hostage situation lasting much longer than it does. Seems like it only lasted 10 minutes and I knew the movie was ending soon. Sadly there wasn't much tension on the end. Good to see Miller in a starring role though and he is quite good in it. Screenplay by Charles B. Griffith, Story by Charles P. Harmon.

Romancing the Stone (1984)

"This is Joan Wilder, who writes the books I read to you on Saturdays!"

[8/10 · 14 February 2021]

Great Robert Zemeckis flick filled with fun, adventure, comedy and romance. Kathleen Turner plays novelist Joan Wilder. She's just given herself a wonderful cry after finishing her latest creation. She receives a letter from her murdered brother-in-law with a map and then gets a phone call from her sister Elaine (Mary Ellen Trainor) who is in Colombia has been kidnapped and needs her to bring the map that she received. Turner is very much a fish-out-of-water once she enters Colombia. Danny DeVito and Zack Norman who play the cousin kidnappers who are the kidnappers who are wanting the map. Along the way she meets up with a bird smuggler Jack T. Colton (Michael Douglas) who agrees to take her to a phone in order that she can pay him $375 in travellers cheques.

The three leads (Turner, Douglas and DeVito) are all great in this race to get to a little green stone at the end of the map's trail. The race also includes helpful drug smugglers, hungry crocodiles and perhaps the biggest mudslide in film history. Douglas also produced and this was a big earner at the box office and garnered a sequel in JEWEL OF THE NILE that didn't work as well as the original. It was because of this film and how well it did at the box office Zemeckis was able to make BACK TO THE FUTURE after studio execs didn't have the highest impression of his work. His first two films I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND and USED CARS did not perform well at the box office. Super glad he was able to get a bread winner at the box office so that he could create some of the classics he did afterwards.

Escape from New York (1981)

"Call me Snake."

[7/10 · 18 January 2021]

First thing to remember is this was made in 1981, so the times and technology are going to be a little off by an excellent concept and setup shows that by 1988 crime has risen 400%. Manhattan Island has been selected to keep the worst criminals. Once they are put there they can not escape. If they attempt to get off the island by water or bridge they will be shot and killed. In 1997 the president (Donald Pleasance) is flying in Air Force One and the plane has been skyjacked. He escapes the plane using an escape pod, but lands right on Manhattan Island. The main baddie on the Island The Duke (Isaac Hayes) has grabbed the president to look for a way out. Meanwhile a prisoner Lt. Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell in a standout great role) is given a deal by police commissioner Bob Hauk (Lee Van Cleef, also in a great role) to get into Manhattan Island, get the president within 24 hours, because he has vital information needed at a summit he was going to and he will be pardoned for his crime of robbing the Federal Reserve. Thing is microscopic explosives that will detonate at that point and he will die if he does not return.

The music in this film done by Carpenter with assistance from Alan Howarth is actually very minimal which in fact works as a plus towards the film. The theme to the film though to me is the best Carpenter ever did. Yes even beating the iconic HALLOWEEN theme, which is also amazing. The theme is so 1981 with its synths and keyboards all with a beautiful driving beat (which I would say Carpenter is known for).

Excellent cast that also includes Ernest Borgnine, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau and Tom Atkins to name a few. Time really clicks by quick in this futuristic action/sci-fi romp. As I mentioned earlier Russell kicks butt as Snake Plissken, who is a one man anti-hero before they were in every movie out there. I think Van Cleef is perfectly cast as the shadowy good guy who needs to get the best end of the deal with Plissken. Really to me a pretty good Carpenter flick that hit a homerun at the box office. Written by Carpenter and Nick Castle (who played Michael Myers in the original HALLOWEEN). Produced by Larry Franco and Debra Hill. Followed by a sequel in 1996 that to me was a major downgrade and a sad follow-up.

Frantic (1988)

Great Underrated Ford Flick

[8/10 · 18 January 2021]

To me one of Harrison Ford's better portrayals. Film unfolds beautifully in a very Hitchcockian way and directed by Roman Polanski, who also co-wrote the script with Gerard Brach and an uncredited Robert Towne and Jeff Gross. Not exactly your typical Ford flick as it is not loaded with action or crazy stunts.

Ford plays Dr. Richard Walker who along with his wife Sondra (Betty Buckley) have arrived in Paris for a convention that Dr. Walker will attend. While he is showering getting ready for the day his wife disappears. He tries to find some clue as to where she has gone and stumbles upon the fact that the suitcase his wife has is not her own. Also starring Emmanuelle Seigner who becomes extremely important to the plot of the film.

The music by Ennio Morricone is great as well as to be expected to me. He happens to be my favourite composer and his music really adds to the mystery and other senses of the film.

The city of Paris also plays and important part to the film. It feels alive and very much a part of the story. In addition I thought the first two acts unfold wonderfully, but I just had some problems with the 3rd act. Not that it was bad or ruined the film in any sense, its just that it tends to wrap up extremely quickly and as a viewer I did not exactly feel totally satisfied after the credits roll. In saying that if you are a Harrison Ford fan it is a must-see. Even if you like any of Polanski's other work or a fan of Hitchcock or mysteries you should enjoy this film. Did not do so well at the box office when originally released which is a shame, because people mention STAR WARS or INDIANA JONES when they talk about Ford. This is really a great film that should be talked about more.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Weakest of the Series

[6/10 · 17 January 2021]

Harrison Ford is back for his fourth go as archaeologist Indiana Jones. While that does sound cool and may get you excited for another adventurous romp it is by far the weakest in the series and to me doesn't really belong among the first three. Steven Spielberg is back to direct as well with story by George Lucas and Jeff Nathanson, screenplay by David Koepp.

Quite a good opening reintroduces Indy, but sadly seems to run a little too long and not ending up where you want it to. We are also introduced to the Russian villain Irina Spalko played by Cate Blanchett. While I do believe Blanchett is a very good actor the character she is playing seems stereotypical, almost farcical old-school James Bond style. It just doesn't work for me very well. Set in 1957 Indy is on the hunt to find a mythical Crystal Skull with his son Mutt (Shia LeBeouf) along for the ride. LeBeouf does well in his role, but sorry to say it does sort of recreate the father/son meshing from INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE which well worked about a hundred times better. Not that the father/son story doesn't work here, because it does. It's just that while Indy is now the father figure I've been there before.

It is great to have Kate Allen back as Marion Ravenwood. There are also some comedic elements that do work quite well in the film. To me though the style and how it was filmed is at times very different from the previous three. Why that is likely comes down to the CGI used for the film, which I must say really only hinders the film. There are a couple scenes including a sword fight on top of moving vehicles and Mutt swinging through the trees like George of the Jungle that almost sink this film and are loaded with CGI-goodness if that is what you are after.

To me worth a look, but kind of sad that to me the amazing Indiana Jones series has been downgraded to a 1950s style B-Movie. Also starring John Hurt.

American Gigolo (1980)

American Gigolo

[7/10 · 9 December 2020]

I admit I have not seen too many Richard Gere films, but this is the one that may have made him a star. A great opening set to the epic Blondie tune "Call Me". In fact that is the theme for the entire film done very well by Giorgio Moroder.

Written and directed by Paul Schrader the film is about Richard Gere who plays Julian Kaye who is just as the title states a prostitute. Some may find the beginning slow. I don't in any way, but it mixes plot with showing Kaye's lifestyle. It is about his relationship with Michelle Stratton (Lauren Hutton), who like all of his clients is an older woman and the wife of a California Senator (Brian Davies). At the same time an older client Judy Rhieman (Patti Carr) is found murdered and after investigating the case Detective Sunday (Hector Elizondo) believes Kaye is the culprit.

Schrader did a very good job directing the film and I really enjoy the lighting in the film and its use of light and shadows. I really enjoyed the film and to any Richard Gere fans out there this is a must-see. Also starring Bill Duke as the pimp Leon.

Hanover Street (1979)

Nice Mix of Romance and Action

[6/10 · 8 December 2020]

London 1943. A chance and interesting encounter happens between bomber pilot Lt. David Halloran (Harrison Ford) and nurse Margaret Sellinger (Lesley-Anne Down). Romance starts blossoming only for Halloran to find out she is already married. Her husband is within British intelligence Paul Sellinger (Christopher Plummer) and both men end up on the same mission during WWII in Germany.

Extremely well-made by writer/director Peter Hyams and mixed with some awesome music from John Barry. To me the movie really hits it stride when Plummer is brought into the story. He is a wonderful actor, but he also adds a much needed push and spark to the story that was starting to feel a little stale. Also great to see Ford after he was in the mega-hit STAR WARS trying out his acting chops in other avenues like a serious romance, although when the 3rd act hits there is action as well. One problem I had though is at the end Margaret's character has not been through what the other two characters have in terms of their love for her. It's alright though as the ending does not ring hollow by any means. If you enjoy world war romance or want to see Ford in an early different role certainly worth checking out. Also starring Richard Masur.

Bloodfist VI: Ground Zero (1994 Video)

Bloodfist VI: Ground Zero

[5/10 · 16 November 2020]

In the sixth entry in the series Don "The Dragon" Wilson plays Sgt. Nick Corrigan who is an Air Force delivery man and also has almost no backstory. I mean some characters are perfect in having little to no backstory, but I needed more than what I got for a c haracter that ends up doing his own take of John McClane. So yes it really is just a cheap DIE HARD wanna-be, but when the action does come it is good and actually brings up the movie a bit. But, it doesn't save it.

Terrorists lead by Fawkes (Jonathan Fuller, whose accent slips into sounding like Bela Lugosi at times) have infiltrated a military nuclear base. They weren't counting on Wilson showing up who has a delivery for the Major Tillman (Steve Garvey) they are holding hostage for info and keys to take control of the missiles. One thing I know is there are a lot of bad shots in this film as about 1% of the bullets end up hitting whomever they are aiming at.

Bloodfist V: Human Target (1994 Video)

Bloodfist V: Human Target

[6/10 · 14 November 2020]

I have gone through and watched the first five BLOODFIST films and I must say this one might be my favourite of the bunch so far. If you have gotten this far in the series yourself you'll have guessed it; this movie has zippo to do with the others in the series. Other than it stars Don "The Dragon" Wilson.

Here you are thrown right into the action as you see Wilson with long hair being chased down by a group of thugs. He is shot while he tries to escape. He wakes up in the hospital with no memory of who he is. So the audience like Wilson learns about his past as we do. After he is told his name is Jim Stanton he pieces his life back together with a woman posing as his wife Candy (Denice Duff). Also starring Steve James in one of his last films before he passed away of cancer. Roger Corman executive produced and Wilson was associate producer.

Bloodfist IV: Die Trying (1992 Video)

Might Be Worth a Watch

[6/10 · 12 November 2020]

We are now in the fourth part of the BLOODFIST series and personally I would suggest just thinking of this as just a Don 'The Dragon' Wilson movie. This one teeters right into silliness, but somehow it still works and I actually found this one engaging and in the end even good. Yes, it borrows some ideas from greater films and in certain scenes I was getting vibes from those films like DIE HARD, FRANTIC and even TOTAL RECALL. Very 90s action flick as there are endless slow-mo action scenes.

Wilson plays Danny Holt who is a repo man. What is interesting is I can actually believe that in a 90s action movie sort of way with his ability to use martial arts. Problem is he has repossessed the wrong car of an arms dealer named Weiss (Kale Browne). Trouble starts a brewin' pretty quickly as corpses are left in his wake as he wants some nuclear triggers that are disguised as chocolates. Soon Danny's daughter Molly (Heather Lauren Olson) is kidnapped and he must try and save her life while keeping a step ahead of the local cops, the FBI and the CIA. Also starring Amanda Wyss and James Tolkan.

A Force of One (1979)

"Whoever did this...they're as good as dead."

[7/10 · 14 August 2020]

Narcotics cops are ending up dead and after a bit of policing the cops think it is someone who knows martial arts very well. So the cops ask Matt Logan (Chuck Norris) who trains kids karate and also competes in fights to train the cops on some martial arts skills. It all is going well enough until the baddies hurt someone Chuck loves, then it's time to pay.

I think this was Norris' 3rd film where he was the star of the film. Here he shares it with Jennifer O'Neill who plays one of the cops and the two share a nice friendship. Personally, I thought it was a pretty good Norris flick. Seems to have enough martial arts, enough story and enough redemption in the end. Based on a story by Pat Johnson (who plays one of the referees) and Ernest Tidyman (who then wrote the screenplay). I also thought it was well directed by Paul Aaron. Also starring Clu Gulager, Charles Cyphers and G.W. Bailey in a small role.

So if you enjoy Chuck Norris movies and have yet to see this one I would suggest checking it out.

Good Guys Wear Black (1978)

Good Early Norris Flick

[6/10 · 13 August 2020]

In what Chuck Norris himself called his breakthrough role, here he plays former Vietnam vet John T. Booker. While in Vietnam he believes he and his squad were set up. Now five years later he teaches and loves to race beautiful Porsche cars. After what I find was a little bit of a slow-moving start it picks up a bit of steam and finds its groove. Norris meets up with a beautiful reporter named Margaret (Anne Archer) and soon finds that members of his squad in Vietnam are dead and he himself has a contract out for his murder. Personally, I found that Archer does add a spark to the film and it finds its rhythm soon after that. A nice early Norris flick, but they do get better.

Exterminator 2 (1984)

Major Step Down From Original

[4/10 · 10 August 2020]

I watched this on the same night I watched the original, which in the end did not help this film. John Eastland (Robert Ginty) is back and now is using his flamethrower as his weapon of choice and seems to catch every dance number in Caroline (Deborah Geffner) his main squeeze's routine. I would compare this one to DEATH WISH on steroids. It is very 80s, but sadly no where near as enjoyable as the first one. Mario Van Peebles plays the main baddie named simply X and boy does he ever ham it up. Also starring Arye Gross as Turbo one of the gang members.

The Exterminator (1980)

Shouldn't Have Enjoyed It, But I Do

[6/10 · 5 August 2020]

This film rips a page right out of the DEATH WISH screenplay here in showing personal justice, revenge and vigilantism all with an exploitative brush. Thing is I like it more than any of the DEATH WISH sequels.

Robert Ginty plays John Eastland who while in Vietnam is saved by his best buddy Michael Jefferson (Steve James). Jump ahead to 1980 and James is attacked by a gang of punks and left for dead. Enter John Eastland who armed with a flamethrower finds out where the gang is and exacts justice. I love how the scene after he threatens the gang member with a flamethrower they are playing "Disco Inferno' at the gangs hideout. From then on he is The Exterminator and Detective James Dalton (Christopher George) is investigating the crime to find the killer. Must say I really enjoy the types of films Christopher George was doing at the tail end of his career. I originally remember him doing John Wayne movies, but I now really think of him in these gory "off the beaten path" films. Not to mention he does add quite a bit to the picture.

With the character of John Eastland he does not garner 100% sympathy from me the viewer due to some of his choices (like going to hook up with a prostitute), but his character is really there to exact mayhem on those who are much less than worthy of praise in our society shall we say? I also do enjoy the fact that they cast Robert Ginty in the role. Not someone who looks or acts like well Charles Bronson or Clint Eastwood. Ginty looks like an everyday man and I think writer/director James Glickenhaus was going for that.

The opening scene alone works quite well in grabbing you right from the start. It like other parts of the film is gory and I would say if you are a fan of gory horror films, as I am it may help in enjoying this film. Also starring Samantha Eggar.

Certainly not for all tastes, but if you have seen any of the DEATH WISH films and enjoyed any of them I would say give this one a shot. Followed by a not-so good sequel.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

"DON'T call me Junior!"

[9/10 · 8 April 2020]

I remember going to see Indy's third film back in 1989 at the theatre with my father. Funny enough a good buddy and next door neighbour Scott was there with his own father right behind us. We both loved this movie in what we thought at the time was the final installment in the amazing Indiana Jones series.

Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford playing one of his greatest roles) this time is hired by Walter Donovan (Julian Glover) to find the Cup of Christ or the Holy Grail only to find out his father (Sean Connery) is missing and was originally hired for this mission.

Both Denholm Elliott and John Rhys-Davies return as Brody and Sallah after being absent in the previous film. They do both some nice flavour and known allies to fight with Indy. To me Connery is perfectly cast as Indy's father. Ford and Connery together are great and really make this film move so well.

Once again directed by Steven Spielberg who does a great job in creating a wonderful further adventure for Indiana Jones. Written by Jeffrey Boam and based on a story by George Lucas and Menno Meyjes. John Williams once again brings a terrific score.

Now I must say of all the films that George Lucas made that came with incredible wait, wonder and perhaps receiving feedback from previous entries this is to me the only one that he did hit a homerun on. I found STAR WARS parts I through III to yes get better as they went along, but extremely disappointing. INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL was while good and hit the mark for being worth a watch it was totally disappointing when put up against the previous three films. This entry is I would say the funniest or the silliest of the Indy films, but both Spielberg and Lucas wanted to make that kind of film after feedback from the ultra-dark INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (which I loved, but also understand you can not and should not stay in dark territory for a franchise like Indy).

The late-great River Phoenix also plays the young Indiana Jones at the beginning of the film. I thought he was great in the role as he really is acting like Harrison Ford would. He is after a crucifix that was owned by Coronado. It is quite funny to me because the villain played by Paul Maxwell eerily looks like Guy Caballero from SCTV.

So, if you are reading this and have never seen this film please start at RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and go through them in order. If you have and in the very least enjoyed RAIDERS you should certainly enjoy this adventure.

Joker (I) (2019)

"When you bring me out, can you introduce me as Joker?"

[9/10 · 2 April 2020]

For a film with such incredible hype I was split. One, because while sometimes films with such hype or even build-up can be great they can lead the viewer to think they are much more ordinary than the reviews had told them. Second, I did want to see this film because I did think Joaquin Phoenix was a good actor.

My wife saw this in the theatre with a friend of ours and loved it, so she watched it for the second time, after perhaps a month with me this time. Early on in the film I could feel that this was going to be in the least a very good film and enjoyed how it had a completely different feel from other comic book-movies that are being made. Also like a total 360 degree flip to the classic SUPERMAN films of the 80s or original BATMAN series. Sometimes putting a new flavour on something known or loved can be a bad idea. Not here though.

Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck who is totally depressed. He has a number of mental illnesses, but one is that his dealing with stress is to laugh with hilarity. It is about him, his mental illnesses and his rise to become Joker. He is the most unstable version of the Joker I have seen.

While I thought there were some holes in the film and at times plausibility is sort of thrown out the window even though it is extremely grounded for a comic book-movie. But, that is okay because of Phoenix's performance. I think he is exceptional in the role and he did win an Oscar for it. Through his performance and the script we are looking at the mental illnesses as well as the wonderful performance. Not in the case of say Jack Nicholson (who I think does not get enough credit anymore for his performance, but that is what happens after Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix's performances) who shows a wonderful performance of someone who has mental illnesses, but not really looking at the mental illnesses.

The other thing I loved about this film was the casting of Robert DeNiro. For a lover of films and one who loves classic films as much as current films (okay...probably more) the addition of DeNiro when dealing with the subject matter of mental illness and him being late night show host Murray Franklin stirs up in my mind Martin Scorsese's THE KING OF COMEDY and TAXI DRIVER. Which is kind of like playing with a loaded gun in my opinion, but here co-writer/directer Todd Phillips does a great job in the handling of that character and DeNiro's performance.

Joaquin Phoenix's performance is and should be mentioned in the same breath as fantastic actors before him like DeNiro, Nicholson, Anthony Perkins and Anthony Hopkins who played characters with severe mental illnesses.

I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in that subject matter before I would recommend it to anyone who loves comics or the BATMAN comics (who really only plays a minor role in this one). This one isn't for kiddies though due to the subject matter, violence and language.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

"There are two dead people in here!" "There's gonna be two dead people in here! Hurry!"

[10/10 · 31 March 2020]

I admit my rating on this one is a little skewed as I feel like I am 10 years old every time I watch it. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK was the best Indy movie, but this one is my favourite. When I first watched it at the age of 9 with my two friends Mike and Ben I really didn't like it. I mean I felt like I should really enjoy it, because of all the great action and crazy things going on in the movie, but I didn't. I think it was because I didn't know how to react to a movie like this. I had never seen a movie like this before. I also believe we were too young to watch it as there are a few scenes that contain some real gross out or violent material. Not too mention this is extremely dark for something that was aimed at kids. But, this one really got me into films and I was running around pretending to be Indiana Jones getting in high stakes adventures.

Right from the beginning of the film we are shown a quite nice transition from the Paramount logo to a metal gong that is hit to welcome you to the movie. Here we are introduced to Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) an American singer who is making it in Shanghai, 1935. Indy (Harrison Ford) is there to visit Lao Che (Roy Chiao) who quickly is wanting the ashes of Nurhaci which Indy has brought along with him. Oh, he also wants Indy dead, too. So once Indy escapes the clutches of Lao Che and then using a raft to jump out of a crashing airplane with no fuel Indy along with Willie Scott and his sidekick Short Round (Ke Huy Quan) visit an Indian village which has two major problems. The sacred stone that they keep in the centre of the village has been stolen by the thugee cult from the Pankot Palace. They have also kidnapped all of the children from the community. So Indy is off to Pankot Palace to in the very least investigate the claims made by these townsfolk. It is here that Indy encounters maybe the worst cuisine ever put out to guests in history. Some people took offence to this in saying that people of Indian heritage do not eat these things. Personally I look at it as a reference to James Bond's OCTOPUSSY where the villain had his own interesting tastes in food. Like this film is trying to do to RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK it outdoes that Bond classic film and to some going over the line. I think it is quite funny, but first few times I saw it may have induced some screaming. He also enters a room full of squirming bugs and must try and escape a sealed off room with spikes lowering from the ceiling and ground below. We are also then introduced to the villain Mola Ram (Amrish Puri) of the story which Indy must battle. It is a very, very intense meeting of this character. When I was 9 I thought that he was a truly evil villain. Within his introduction he rips the heart out of a defenceless man being sacrificed. To this day I can not believe this did not get a R rating when released.

To me this is the hidden jewel of all the scores John Williams has done over the years. He was nominated for an Oscar, so maybe I am overstating that a little, but if you away the amazing Indy theme the music is very intense, scary, but also brilliant. He really adds a lot to the film with his music.

Directed by Steven Spielberg (like all Indy movies) and it seems like come Oscar time they never think of him when he makes an Indy movie after RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. I think he really did a great job here in creating a film that actually doesn't allow you to breathe for very long, which I think great action films excel at. Written by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz based on a story by George Lucas.

Personally I love Short Round and I think he is my favourite Indy character beyond well Indy of course. He can stand his ground, smart-mouth off and if not for him Indy would have been in real trouble in this one. Sadly, he is not in any of the sequels and in fact is never even mentioned, but he rocks in this one. Sadly as well there is no Denholm Elliott as Brody or John Rhys-Davies as Sallah which were both great characters in the original.

One problem many people have with this film is the character of Willie Scott and I understand she does get annoying. As well she is no where near as well written or created as Marion from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. By one point in the movie I think all she really is doing is screaming, but in all honesty there is a lot to scream about including a rail system the three are trying to escape on in a mine cart. Pretty cool scene and I always enjoy watching it. I do have a problem with the Willie Scott character as we did need a stronger character like the original or just thinking outside the box here why not add John Rhys-Davies as well and have Indy, Sallah and Short Round in the Temple of Doom. Another problem is some of the dialogue is much more clunky than the original and does not flow like it did so perfectly for it.

Anyways, I think I have gone on long enough and if you have read through this review I do not think it is a perfect film, but I have to thank Mr. Spielberg and Mr. Lucas for at least making the first 3 Indy movies and making me dream of being Indy when I was a kid. I would suggest though if wanting to watch this with your kids should have been at least rated PG-13 when it first came out. Of course there was no PG-13 rating when it came out.

Southern Comfort (1981)

Strong Flick That Never Really Lets Up

[8/10 · 25 March 2020]

Texas born and bred Hardin (Powers Boothe) has just joined the Loiusiana National Guardsmen lead by Sgt. Poole (Peter Coyote). It is set in 1973 and they are on weekend maneuvers. They are trudging through the swamp and have gotten lost. Cpl. Reece (Fred Ward) has come up with the idea of taking some canoes that have left by some locals so they can get to where they need to. Guess what? That was a bad idea. In a film that does take a bit from DELIVERANCE, but in the end is it's very own film with symbols and messages about the Vietnam War. In the end the group must survive the attack being put towards them by the local cajuns and find a way out of the swamps.

I think it was very well directed by Walter Hill (who also co-wrote the script with David Giler and Michael Kane) who never really lets us breathe for very long during the run time which just adds to the tension and thriller qualities of the film. Also has great music done by Ry Cooder that meshes and matches in perfectly with the setting in the Loiuisina swamp. I must also add that the last segment of the film really is terrific when the two main characters Keith Carradine and Boothe have found their way to a small village where everyone is partying. It builds up wonderfully to a conclusion.