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Panzer Chocolate (2013)
Chocolate will rule the world!
Where to start... It felt like the writers saw Blair Witch, slasher flicks, Nazi exploitation movies, Willi Wonka, The Odessa File, The Boys from Brazil, Frankenstein, and The House without Frontiers (which co starred Geraldine Chaplin) and thought, "Hey lets mash all these films together and see what we get!"
What they got was a big mess!
This movie has three different stories and each story is forgotten.
The accents were bad, expect for Chaplin's. At least her accent was passable.
The villain was a walking cartoon.
The hero's of the story were uninteresting annoying little jerks.
The dialogue was awful.
The only interesting character was the house maid played by Geraldine Chaplin in a small thankless role. I do hope the producers paid her a lot of money for this awful movie.
Seriously, if you want to see a mashed up movie of ideas from other movies, then this is for you!
Week end (1967)
A never ending Weekend.
I have seen two Godard's films, Breathless and Alphaville. I enjoyed both films and when I heard about the premise of the Weekend, I was excited to see it.
I saw it and I was disappointed.
The film is: Obnoxious, Arrogant, Dull, Painful, Gross and Annoying
I have seen better political movies such as The Great Dictator (1940), A Face in The Crowd(1957), Ana and The Wolves (1972) and Wag the Dog(1997). The reason why these movies worked well because it had a well written story with complex characters. The message of the films made me think. Unlike the Weekend which had a in your face attitude with characters babbling inane political philosophy.
The characters were one dimensional idiots.
The film tried to be comical but it failed.
However, the traffic jam scene was great.
My Cousin Rachel (1983)
Saint or sinner?
This BBC version of My Cousin Rachel is part of numerous versions of the Daphne du Maurier novel. Though I have read the 1948 version starring Richard Burton and Olivia de Haviland is the best.
This version is not perfect, but it is good. However, the first episode drags. The first half of the second episode is rather droll. Once, Cousin Rachel (Geraldine Chaplin) appears the storyline gets moving. The third episode is the best. The fourth episode is okay, though, there is an illness induce delusion that was too long.
Christopher Guard who played Philip Ashley, talked in a loud voice for most of the time. His acting style was tiresome and annoying.
I do commend Chaplin's performance. She played Rachel as I remember her in the book. Rachel was an enigma. Was she really an innocent woman who is misunderstood and mistreated by men or a cold and calculating shrew?
Overall, there are dull moments, some scenes with Philip lasted longer than it should and a great performance by Chaplin.
I found this version on the Internet Archives.
¿Tú qué harías por amor? (2000)
A Kitchen Sink Drama
Spanish title: Tu Que Harias Por Amor.
Just Run! Reminded me of the British kitchen sink dramas of the sixties, such as Saturday Night Sunday Morning and The Loneliness of The Long Distance Runner. These movies explore young men who are disillusion with society who live in cramped housing and drink their sorrows away.
In Just Run! The movie focus on a young man who is involved in criminal gang. It starts with a drug deal gone bad that leaves a friend died. Plus, he has a younger brother who idolizes him.
The film depicts life in late 20th century Madrid as a place of drug addicts and hopelessness.
The movie director, Carlos Suara Medrano is the son of Carlos Suara.
His father made a similar movie in 1981 called Deprisa, Deprisa. There was about three friends who go on a crime spree in a desperate attempt for better lives.
However, Just Run!, feels like an extension of that movie. It shows nothing changed in the twenty years between both movies.
The movie is at it's best when it is focused on the younger brother and his friend.
Suara Medrano even had his dads' ex-girlfriend Geraldine Chaplin play the brother's mom.
Duel of Hearts (1991)
Romance in Regency England
The movie is fluffy and silly where no one is in real danger. Whenever, the main character, Lady Caroline(Allison Doody), is in danger she gets saved by one of the characters.
However. I have seen this type of story before in Jane Eyre and Rebecca.
The Lord Brecon(Benedict Taylor) lives in a house of secrets which turns out he has an insane sister hidden in the a secret room just like Jane Eyre. (As I watching this, I thought it was a Jane Eyre rip off).
The mean chambermaid, Mrs. Miller remined me of Mrs. Danvers from Rebecca.
It's has a strong cast and with a stand performance by Michael York, as the wicked cousin, Gervaise. The best scene is when the cousin schemes with Mrs. Miller (Geraldine Chaplin)
If you are looking for a pleasant movie with a happy ending than this movie is for you.
La casa sin fronteras (1972)
A Secret Society
The House Without Frontiers (La casa in fronteras) is about a secret society that wants to a better society, so they recruit young people whom they believe have moral character to fix what is wrong in the world. However, those who don't live up to their ideals are punished.
A young man, Daniel, arrives in the city and gets recruited by the organization to find a young woman named Lucia
The movie takes it time in setting up why the organization wants to find Luis. It is the last thirty minutes of the film, Daniel finds her.
The secret society is a thinly veiled version of Opus Dei.
At the time of the film release, Franco ruled Spain. This film comes across as a criticism of the Catholic Church's support of the the Franco government.
The movie has a dream like quality to it. The pacing is slow and a little uneven. The acting is excellent.
Innocent Bystanders (1972)
Its Craig, John Craig
Lets call this movie for what it is a James Bond Rip off.
To start, it has terrible editing. If feels like some scenes where missing or cut short such as the British agent Loomis (Donald Pleasence) and the American agent Blake (Dana Andrews) having lunch.
Continuity errors. I have seen great movies with such errors but when it happens in a reckless way it's laughable Example the scene where the British agents car flips over and lands on the hood. I thought their were dead, nope, they survived the crash without a scratch and the car was up right!
The over the top way people reacted when shot multiple times.
There was a few super easy barely an inconvenience moments.
The movie writers had obsession with people's nether regions being damaged or hurt . The torture scene in the barn was painful when I realized what the agent was doing to the "innocent bystander"
"Innocent bystander" in the film is Miriam Loman (Geraldine Chaplin) who turns out to be a spy. The reveal isn't dramatic. Craig calls her out on it. I really wished that Miriam double crossed Craig. It would have made her more interesting rather than being a damsel in distress.
The beginning starts out good then drags for thirty five minutes with a lot explanation of the storyline.
In the middle of the story all sorts of people are looking for a escaped scientist because he can grow flowers in the desert! It would have been more interesting if the scientist had access to a doomsday device or had a blue print to create one.
At the end, the scientist is captured which leads to a drawn out back and forth going on between the interested parties.
The main character, John Craig (Stanley Baker) gets money for bring the scientist in and then takes off to Beirut.
If you are looking for a good cold war spy thriller, this is not it.
At this moment, Hollywood studios are remaking any IP they can get their hands on. Well, I recommend remaking this film. There is potential to the movie. Maybe a director like John Woo or Quentin Tarantino could spice it up.
Roseland (1977)
Saturday Night Fever For Old People
Roseland was an actual dance/music hall in New York City that closed down in 2014. Three vintage stories takes place in the dance hall. The main theme is old age is sad and lonely.
The screen writer, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, was fifty when the movie came out and after seeing the movie, makes me wonder if she dreaded growing old.
The first story is "The Waltz" about an old woman played by Teresa Wright who has a difficult time in letting go of the memory of her late husband. She meets a fellow dancer, Stan (Lou Jacobi).
It reminded me of old Twilight Zone episode where old folks try to reclaim their youth or go back into past.
The second story, "The Hustle" is the longest and best one. It's about a gigolo named Russell (Christopher Walken) and the women in his life. Walken chews up the scenery.
One the best moments in this story is when Geraldine Chaplin mimes that she is going home to get some sleep.
The third story, "The Peabody" about an elderly woman who participates in a dance contest. There is a hint that the dancing the Peabody is deadly for old people (two people die after dancing). The story came across as something I have seen in a thriller/horror anthology movie.
The overall movie has an old timey feel to it with a mixture of 1970's. That same year Saturday Night Fever came out which was a huge success.
The acting was good in both films however SNF had better music, it dealt with modern themes, appealed to the younger crowd and the dancing was better.
The reason I gave it a seven is because the acting was good and "The Hustle" I wish the Hustle was the whole film.
My Divorce Party (2024)
Party on!
My Divorce Party is about a groups of friends gathering in the desert to support a friend who is divorcing her husband.
This movie was written by a woman for women which is nice to see. However, some of the characters, practically, Wendy, Samantha and Amara were stereotypical characters. You have seen these characters in other movies.
However, it felt like I was watching a SNL sketch.
My one big criticism is the dialogue. It was spoken at a rapid pace, disjointed and there was a few moments it was garbled.
The acting was a mixture of good and not so good.
This is a you go girl movie.
Overall, its a funny, good/bad movie with no social redeem value what so ever.
Z.P.G. (1972)
70's sci-fi
Z. P. G is a forgotten gem of 70's sci if.
The acting is good and the story line is relevant.
We are living in a world where the environment is changing, and no one cares. In Z. P. G, the leaders decide to correct the wrongs of the past by passing draconian authoritarian laws. One of the laws ban childbirth for thirty years.
I read a reviewer claims the movie is a pro-life movie. It is not. It is really a pro-choice movie. Choices in the movie are taken away from women and men.
The movie is a warning of things to come if we don't take care of ourselves and the planet.
The downside of the film is the lighting. There were a few scenes that were dark. Near the end of the film, I could barely see what was going on.
Americano (2011)
A Vanity Movie
This is probably the worse vanity movie I have seen. I have seen vanity movies like Purple Rain, Hudson Hawk and Striptease which are way better than this drivel.
The breakdown:
Good:
Geraldine Chaplin, she was great as Linda. Linda was the only character who was likeable, interesting and kind.
Bad:
The acting: The director of the film who played the main character, Martin, was terrible.
I didn't give a hoot about Martin and the fake Lola. Both were
unlikable. Martin mostly sulked, he didn't care about how his actions hurt other people and at end left a mess. Also, it's not a good sign when a minor character makes better impression than the main characters.
Martin leaving Linda in the hospital and stealing her car.
Dumb things: The kids steal the car to crash it but didn't look in the trunk for valuables. Also, what goof ball would leave his or her passport and money in the trunk of a car and leave the car top down and unlocked on the streets of Tijuana.
Filler scenes: Martin's car ride to Tijuana and his walk to the strip club were too long which makes me think the director needed something to fill up the time.
No one spoke Spanish in Mexico.
Ugly:
There were hints concerning people's relationship with Martin's mother that never got explored. There are things about his mother that was never fully explained.
I was left with a few questions:
What caused Martin to forget about his time in America? Did he experience some type of trauma?
What did his mom do to him? What did she do for a living?
Martin accidently burning down the strip club.
The dumb and unintentionally funny ending: The fake Lola with her kid (who was Martin's guide) break into the locker where he kept very important papers. (By the way, didn't Martin think of going back to the locker and retrieving it) Now fake Lola has practically the deed to Martin's mother house! So, guess what's gonna happen next! She going to take the kid enter the country illegally and commit identity theft to get the house! Poor Linda has to deal with the mess Martin made.
The flashbacks of young Martin and his mother. The mother was memory of the past. The actress who played the mother didn't breathe much life into this memory.
Los ojos vendados (1978)
Carlos Saura's Personal Film
Los ojos vendados (Blind folded eyes) is a melancholy story about relationships, especially Carlos Saura's relationship with Geraldine Chaplin against a back drop of a play about a woman name Inez sufferings at the hands of an authoritarian government.
Side note: Saura was part of a tribunal that heard the testimony of people who were tortured by the Franco government.
Luis (Jose Luis Gomez) an acting teacher and theater director of the play, has his lover Emilia (Chaplin) play the main character which mirrors how Saura placed Chaplin in the main character roles of his movies.
The scenes between Luis and Emilia felt very personal as if they were mirroring the conversations between Saura and Chaplin. Those scenes are very poignant because a year after the film was released, their relationship ended.
What does the title mean? I do believe it has a two meanings. One, we walk through life blindfolded, ignoring the world around us. Two, We are blindfolded in our relationships and refuse to take it off until its too late.
As of when this review is written, the movie can be found on the Criterion Channel (there is a subscription)
I highly recommend the film.
Le voyage en douce (1980)
Not so sweet
A story about two women who take a journey through the countryside recalling sexual experiences and fantasies.
The movie comes across as an exploitive and not in a good way. I have seen these types of movies where it explores themes of sex, relationships and social issues. Sometimes, it makes a point and sometimes it does not. This film does not make a point.
The women characters in this film across as something to please the male viewer with the sex talk and nudity.
The movie is not about female friendships nor it is about women empowerment. So please don't compare this movie to Thelma and Louise.
The only good thing about this movie is the acting: Dominque Sanda and Geraldine Chaplin did well with the material. They carried this movie.
The bad: The first bathroom scene. It was creepy and pointless (judging by Chaplin's reaction, I get the impression she was not expecting it)
The Ugly: The fantasy about the grandmother.
Warning for anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault or knows someone who has There is an audio of rape played as the two main characters walked through the French countryside. I knew someone who was raped and It was unsettling listening to it.
This movie is sexual fantasy for men.
La madriguera (1969)
You should never let your lover help write a screenplay
Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the movie. Its a good movie but it quickly goes off the rails.
Geraldine Chaplin (who co wrote the script along with Carlos Saura and Rafael Azcone) plays a woman name Teresa who is in a passionless marriage.
Per Occarson plays Pedro, the husband who is runs a auto manufacturing plant and not very interested in wife.
She receives furniture that once belong to her late parents. After she received the furniture she starts to act strange.
One weekend alone, they participate in role playing games and things get looney fast. I found the role playing games outlandish. I laughed at some of the scenes thinking if alcohol was involved in the writing process. Also, I suspect some of the role playing ideas came from Chaplin. If that is the case, she must be quiet the character.
I do wonder if Saura referenced his first marriage. There were some elements from Chaplin's past in the film, such as she attend an all girls Catholic boarding school and had a stern father.
What message Saura wanted to convey gets lost by the outrageous role playing scenes. (I have read that one of the messages of the movie was about Chaplin having a difficult time in breaking away from her father's shadow)
What saved the film was the acting by Chaplin and Occarson. They did great and they worked very well together.
Also, this was the one and only time Chaplin co wrote a screenplay with Saura.
If you want to watch a bizarre film where a person gets aroused by having crawdads crawling all over them. Then this movie is for you!
Maya (2023)
It's May or Maya?
The movie is about a girl who meets guy on social media who turns her life into a nightmare.
The Good:
The message of the movie.
Rumer Willis's acting.
I give credit to the director for realistic and sensitive portrait of someone experiencing human trafficking and the aftermath.
One thing that always bothered me is how the media never talks about the dark reality of a person experiencing human trafficking.
The Bad:
The acting: It's bad except for Rumer Willis. She did good with what little screen time she had.
No chemistry between Maya and her friends.
The trailer for the movie. When I first saw the trailer I got the impression it was going to be a silly movie.
A lot of continuity errors. The worst one, at the beginning of the film she with her friends and it is daylight out. She says she has to get home and leaves. When she arrives home it's dark. So how long did it take her to get back home.
I know continuity errors does not make a movie bad. However, these errors were so bad, makes me think the director did not pay attention to the details or just didn't care.
Dumb character: Ray. I wish to nominated him for a razzie as The Dumbest Movie Pimp. After Maya returned home, he came back for her. Okay fine. One would think he would quickly get her out of town. However, he takes her to a house party that was only a few blocks away. Plus her mom was following him. Didn't he notice someone was trailing them. Furthermore, didn't he think her mom would call the cops!
The last ten minutes of the film turned into an action flick.
The ugly:
Stereotypes: The movie gives the impression kids from bad homes and or non Christian homes are at risk to be human trafficked. Nope. That is wrong. Kids from good homes and Christian homes can fall prey to the catfish, scammers and people with ill intent on social media.
Majority of the men in the film are creeps.
When Maya meets Ray's new girl and hears the girls repeat Ray's lies. In Maya's head, she hears voices of other characters who tried to talk sense in her. It is very off putting and silly.
Though this film reminded of other media I have seen, such as Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order and an episode of Facts of Life when one of the main characters came close of being trafficked.
However, there is another side of human trafficking: slave labor. (sadly, slavery never went away) I have seen two movies about it, however these films are old and forgotten. (Only one film I remember the name of is Black Girl, 1966) I wish someone makes a movie about that to raise awareness of people working against their will
Also, social media is harmful to adult too. I wish someone would make a movie about that too.
The Hawaiians (1970)
The movie that tried to be epic but failed.
The Hawaiians based on a book written by James A. Michener (after watching the movie I am curious to read the book), tell story of the Whip Hoxworth (Charlton Heston) planting pineapples and plotting to overthrow the the Hawaiin monarch. Plus, he is married to a Pacific Islander (Geraldine Chaplin) It's also, follows Chinese labors Char Nyuk Tsin (Tina Chen) and Kee Mun Kee. They have a lot of children. Char prospers and Kee dies.
Here is a breakdown:
The Good:
The Cinematography
Majority of the Chinese, Japanese , Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders characters were played by Chinese, Japanese, Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders....however (see ugly)
Interesting storyline however...(see bad)
The Bad:
Moments that should not have been funny but it was.
Whiplash time jumps. Movies like Gone with the Wind and the Godfather Part 1 take place over a many years. The movement of time flows smoothly and it makes sense. In this movie it does not.
Especially, regarding the birth of Char's children. Its happens at such a rapid pace but yet it seemed like not much time passed.
Execution of the storyline.
The acting.
Charlton Heston played Charlton Heston.
Tina Chen who was nominated for a Golden Globe, had moments where she shined with the lousy material she was given and then other moments I swore she was trying not to laugh at the ridiculous of it all.
Geraldine Chaplin, a talented actress was given a one dimension character and did nothing with it. Than again her character didn't do much. Her character disappears and is never heard from again.
The simplistic and historical inaccurate take on the annexation of Hawaii and the overthrow of the Queen.
When the buildings were being set on fire to kill the rats, only one rat ran out of the burning buildings. (I think it was the same rat )
Stereotypical language and speech by the Chinese and Japanese immigrants.
Stereotypical characters.
The Ugly:
Naomi Stevens , a white woman from New Jersey played Queen Liliuokalani in brown face.
Plus, Geraldine Chaplin (Irish-English decent) played a Pacific Islander however she was not in brown face. Unless the character was half Pacific Islander? At any rate, I find it interesting one actress was dressed up in brown face and another was not.
I nominate this film to be remade with a better director and a storyline that doesn't skim over the experience of the immigrants in Hawaii. Plus focus on the trails and tribulations of Queen Lilly.
Hidden Exposure (2023)
Left with Only Rain
When I first heard the premise of the film, I thought it was another psycho ex girlfriend movie. I was wrong. It is about toxic relationships. How the toxicity can be harmful to all involved.
However this was not a perfect movie but yet it is one of those
movies that draws the viewer in.
The plot: Sabina (Liana Liberato) is in a relationship with Ramsay (Jordan Rodrigues) who is a struggling "business man" and sponging off his girlfriend.
So he meets a wealthy business man whose rebuffs Ramsay's virus protection idea. However he meets the wealthy guys daughter, Alvy(Rumer Willis)
So he see's Alvy on the side and eventually dumps Sabina (after putting her down) and hooks up with Alvy. He get's Alvy pregnant.
In a little plot twist, he briefly cheats on Alvy with Sabina and ends up getting Sabina pregnant.
So.... Sabina goes to the town Alvy lives and owns a business. She befriends Alvy.
My breakdown:
The Good:
The acting. All involved were good.
A character focus movie.
The handling of the storyline. This type of story has been told countless times but I thought the actors and the director did a good job with it.
The Ending: It's an open ending. Alvy found the photos and knows Sabina is dead. The Inn Keeper delivery's Sabina's letter to Alvy's house . What did Sabina wrote? Will Alvy read it? What will Alvy do?
I don't mind open endings. Sometimes, its better to leave it up the viewer to decide what the out come is.
This reminds me of an early 1960's French art house film.
The Bad:
The dialogue: There were moments the dialogue was a little off.
The moment of convenience: the dog running up the fire pit as Alvy discovers the photos of Sabina and Ramsay in his jacket pocket. The dog digs a hole uncovering Sabina's body.
The Jacket: When visiting Alvy and Ramsey's home, Sabina takes his jacket. Ramsay never noticed it missing. When she brings it back near the end, he doesn't make a fuss that she took his jacket.
The Ugly:
The Inn Keeper: I think he was supposed to be comedy relief however he came across as creepy.
The name change. The original title was Left with Only Rain. I think the name was change to draw more viewers (click bait)
The movie is listed as a thriller/horror. It is not. This just a regular melodrama.
Overall: If you are tired of big budget blockbusters and CGI induced madness, this movie is for you.
The Cosmic Hoax: An Expose (2021)
E.T. and ALF left the building
It's an interesting movie that did touch on some interesting points however....
The Good:
The alien kidnappings were done by the CIA. I would not put it pass the CIA. The Organization has done some shady things in the past.
The military has very advance air crafts
The overall media can be manipulative and critical thinking skill are important.
I have noticed in past few years, there has been a lot of stories about UFO,s our air space. What are the powers that be are trying to distract us from?
Pointing out the Military Industrial Complex is very powerful.
That there is a Shadow Government made up of Corporations and Political Actions Committees
(I live in Michigan and there is a county called Ottawa where a small PAC called Ottawa Impacted were able to get their puppets elected to the county board. This should be frightening to any one on how so few can control things)
The Bad:
Cherry picking from speech's by Ronald Reagan and Dan Inouye.
No proof contact was made with Aliens.
It is impossible for the government to attempt a fake alien invasion.
Hinting 9/11 was a false flag (it was not)
The Ugly:
I cannot take anything a former Nazi scientist says seriously.
Too much of this documentary remained me of the Kurt Vonnegut novel, "The Sirens of Titan" where people were kidnapped or went on there own to Mars to be trained to attacked Earth.
And there was an old Outer Limits episode where a scientist allows himself to be turned into an alien The plan was to create a mini fake alien invasion. The scientist hoped the fear of an alien invasion would unite the world and bring about peace.
I wonder if the people in this doc read that book or saw the OL episode.
Claim to Fame (2022)
Good Concept Poor Execution
I could not keep my eyes open while watching this bore fest. It's a good idea but it is poorly execution. Why didn't the producers make it into a thirty minute game show where every day people try to guess who the person is related to and with better hosts. That would have been way more fun.
The first reviewer wrote that appears to be staged which I totally agree. The producers are not even trying to hide the fact.
I will probably just tune in at the end of the show to see what are the true identities of the contestants.
The Twilight Zone: The Masks (1964)
The Darkest and Disturbing Twilight Zone Episode
I have been a fan of The Twilight Zone since I was kid. I would watch re runs of the series in the 80's on WGN. I saw this episode when I was twelve and the ending scared the living daylights out of me. (This episode and Halloween III caused my phobia of costume masks)
Years later, I caught the episode again during Sci Fi TZ marathon. After watching the episode as an adult I realized how dark and disturbing this episode is.
The main character Jason played by Robert Keith who did his best in trying to bring some sympathy to an otherwise miserable verbally abusive old fart, gathers his family together for Mardi Gras party. He has them wear bizarre mask which reflects there true personality.
His family is the not most stellar of characters. They are miserable, bored and selfish. And at the end they are forever wearing the mask.
It's a good storyline, good acting (I give actors credit for breathing life into rather dull characters) and good directing. All that saved this episode.
The problems with the episode are: Poor casting: Who thought it was a good idea to have a thirty something old man to play a teenager?
Bad dubbing of voices when the actors had the mask on.
Generational dysfunction: Jason was not a kind man to his daughter and she became an attention seeking hypochondriac. It turn, she passed down her misery to her kids.
The ending: I realized Jason's family is now forever imprisoned in the mansion and who is going take care of them? Jason's servants and his doctor. So...not only did he ruined his families lives but the three people who cared for him.
Did his family deserve their fate? Not really. He could have given his millions away to a charity. However if that happened there would not been a story.
The character Jason: He was not the good guy. Usually, in TZ episodes there is one good person or reasonable person. None here. He was verbally abusive and vindictive
As the end of episode I realized he was no better than his family.
The moral to this story is: Revenge is not worth it. Everybody gets hurts. There are no winners.
Disclosure (1994)
A movie with an identity crises.
The movie Disclosure based on the book of the same name by Michael Chrichton is about a male office drone being sexually harassed by his female boss. The premise sounds good however the film quickly falls apart and goes in different directions making me wonder what this film was suppose to be?
Is this movie a:
1. A legal drama shedding light on the fact sexual harassment is really about power and the gender of the person in power doesn't matter because power corrupts people. (It failed at making the point. The legal scenes were dull as dishwater)
2. Hostile corporate takeover thriller (The film should have stuck with that storyline)
3. A parable about corporate cultures dark side. (It failed there too.)
4. An erotic thriller. (There is nothing erotic about this film and believe me I have seen my share of erotic thrillers)
I grew up watching movies before the invention of CGI and some of the special effects back then aged well and some did not. In the case of Disclose the VR scene did not age well. It comes across as very silly.
The acting of Michael Douglas, Demi Moore and Donald Sutherland could not save this film.
Overall, don't waste your time on this film.
Mortal Thoughts (1991)
The not usual suspects
Mortal Thoughts is a crime drama with an unreliable narrator. The film opens at a police station where Cynthia (Demi Moore) tells the police about her friend, Joyce (Glenne Headly) murdering her abusive husband (Bruce Willis).
The film unfolds in a series of flashbacks.
Here is a breakdown:
The Good:
Glenne Headly and Demi Moore's acting.
The premise and the storyline however....(see bad)
The story moved along at a nice pace.
The Bad:
The storyline was good but I wish Joyce told her side of the story (something like along the line of Rashomon)
Acting was a little over the top.
The Ugly.
Bruce Willi's mustache. In once scene it appeared to be falling off.
Overall, it's a good movie. If you enjoy crime drama's with unreliable narrators this film is for you.
Salem's Lot (1979)
The Vampires Are Here and Does Any One Care?
Years ago, I read the book Salem's Lot. It was a good book. Recently I came across the mini series on TubiTV. It's was an okay movie. It had it moments then there were moments the film dragged. Plus it suffered from Pointless Character Syndrome.
I do suggest watching the three hour version.
Here is a breakdown:
Good:
The vampire kid floating outside his brothers window.
Barlow breaking into a family's home to confront the Priest however see bad...
James Mason as Straker. He played the character as it should be, suave and charming. He seemed to enjoy the role.
Good premise.
Bad:
David Soul's performance as Ben Mears. David wooden performance did not bring life to Ben. Ben was not interesting. He was kind of a thoughtless jerk. After killing the head vampire, he didn't run to his girlfriend's house and tell her mother to get out of town. Instead of he left her there to be turned into a vampire.
The characters in general were not very interesting expect for Straker. I wish the film was from his point of view.
Also, some characters were one dimensional.
The film left me with questions:
What caused the Sheriff to get spooked that made him pack up his family and leave town. Did he have an interaction with a vampire? Did he learn something in his investigation about Straker and Barlow?
What did the lab find on Straker's suits?
Did the old school teacher die from the heart attack?
Why was the vampires chasing Ben and the kid? In the book the vampires didn't bother with them after they left town.
Some characters were spotlighted then dropped such as the Elisha Cooks character though it is later implied he was turned into a vampire.
Barlow confronting the Priest...we don't see what happened during and after the confrontation. In the book, Barlow taints the Priest causing the Priest to leave town in disgrace.
Plus the sheriff had Cook's character to spy on Ben. However that storyline was dropped.
The clumsy running around the house to get to the head vampire coffin. Granted they were in a rush and panicky however all that could have been avoided if Ben showed up earlier in the day to do away with Barlow.
The Ugly
Pointless Character Syndrome: the toxic married couple. I do believe in the book they were the early victims of the vampire plague. However, their story had no baring on the storyline. Before the vampire plague hit the town, they left and no one cared.
Finally, Barlow. I remember in the book he was in human form and had a personality. Not in this movie, he was a silly version of Nosferatu. In the book, he was the boss. In the movie, he came across as Straker's pet mutant rat.
The Quiet Earth (1985)
The last quiet man on earth
It is a slow burn thoughtful film. It is old fashion sci fi film with no action that emphasis how people react to an extraordinary event.
In the modern age, movie goers are use to big budge action yarns that span across multi universes. If you like those type of films than this is not for you.
The breakdown:
The Good:
The fairly well executed premise.
The characterization.
Awesome ending.
The Bad:
A few minutes of the film drag however it picked up when the main character met another survivor.
The Ugly:
It appeared the film copied a little from "The World the Flesh and the Devil" (1959) and "Where Have All The People Gone?" (1974).
The Fabulous Allan Carr (2017)
Fabulous
While searching through Tubi Tv I came across this documentary about the man behind Grease and the 1989 Oscars. The film traces Allan's incredible rise then his fall from grace due to the eleven minute opening 1989 Oscar number.
I do recommend the documentary for Grease fans and anyone who is interested in the wheeling and dealings of Hollywood.