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Predator 2 is awesome. Fuck the haters.
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"Ah! By god's balls what licentiousness!"
Marquis de Sade, The 120 Days of Sodom. -
THE POM POM GIRLS - Average drive-in comedy that has some of the most unlikable teens I've seen in a while. These guys are serious assholes, especially Robert Carradine's character. I wanted a slasher to show up and take them all out. It's funny watching some of these teen comedies when you're 40 years old; I almost find myself sympathizing with the adult characters now.Why would anybody watch a scum show like Videodrome? Why did you watch it, Max?Comment
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Dazed and Confused-Put it on the other night for background noise. Great film,but not one I can watch more than once a year.
#ASKMDK-Few days back IWTV,a indie wrestling streaming service,let the fans ask Nick Gage questions. Nick is best known as the deathmatch wrestlers that robbed a bank and did 5 years in prison. Came out of prison and is a huge name now.Comment
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Suspiria
Rewatched it yesterday. I've been pretty harsh on it over the years as highly overrated but I dunno. This time it really clicked with me in a way it never has in the past. I made the room as pitch black as possible, cranked the volume up to 11 and put in Synapses excellent blu-ray and holy shit what an experience!
Headhunter
I don't know why I love this goofy movie as much as I do. But I do. It doesn't make sense and it's cheesy but it's soooo entertaining. I'm so grateful that Code Red put out a blu-ray even if the sound on the disc is shitty. Kay Lenz and Wayne Crawford (Love that guy! RIP.) have this really neat chemistry together and sure, the monster looks tackier than Rawhead Rex but they pull off some really cool atmospheric sequences when the African demon starts fucking with their heads. And the final showdown with the chainsaw is downright magical. I also love the weird bits of humor they put in here and there like a group of school kids cheering after someone gets violently shotgunned to death in graphic detail or the preacher who nopes the fuck out of a baptism he's performing when the demon shows up to kill one of his parishioners. Stuff like that always cracks me up. This is an awesome movie and Wayne Crawford was a criminally underrated actor. The sad sack police officer he does in this movie, who's wife becomes a "muff diver!!!!" is a work of thespian art.
La Bambola Di Satana
Finally my Twilight Time blu-ray arrived after almost a month in the postal system (the parcel looked like it'd been through WW1, WW2, Hiroshima and Nagasaki before Godzilla stomped on it but the contents were unharmed thankfully). Damn this was a fun little gothic giallo. It could and should've been sleazier and a little more blood and violence wouldn't have hurt but I liked it quite a lot. Erna Schurer looks absolutely smashing in every single frame and the colors pop at every turn. Very well shot film but Italians always nailed that part of movie making. Plot was the standard "let's fuck with the sole heir" type of thing. Very entertaining film. I even watched it twice in a row.Last edited by Nabonga; 06-29-2020, 04:40 AM.Comment
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I was flipping channels on a Sunday afternoon when I came across a Produced By Golan and Globus title card which stopped me in my tracks. The film turned out to be King Solomon's Mines (1985) starring Sharon Stone with 80s hair. Now I have to say I kind of recommend this for some Sunday afternoon viewing. Its terrible, of course, but it sure does pass the time.
It ditches Rider Haggard right off the bat in favour of a completely shameless rip off of Indiana Jones with Richard Chamberlain subbing in for Harrisson Ford. Thats not the kind of substitution you want to make and it really shows how valuable a star like Ford is. Chamberlain has the charisma of a dead badger. Stone is likewise terrible and is kitted out throughout in a safari suit that does nothing to accentuate her many charms. If you were to tell audiences back in the day that she would shortly be the greatest sex symbol since Marilyn Monroe I doubt many would take you seriously.
But it's still a bit of fun. Its probably the most action packed film I've ever seen. There's not a single dialogue scene I can remember, they just lurch clumsily from one action set piece to another. Its pretty wild stuff. It also has a lot of non PC African content that will probably see it banned when the revolution comes so maybe hunt while you can."Never let the fact that they are doing it wrong stop you from doing it right." Hyman Mandell.Comment
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That's the one she pissed off every crew member so thoroughly on that they all peed in the bath tub she had in her trailer. I mean, how big of a see you next tuesday you gotta be for something like that to happen? Some funny tidbits on imdb:
"Sharon Stone was hired by mistake. Producer Menahem Golan stated "I want that Stone woman" as he wanted Kathleen Turner who was coming off the hit film, Den vilda jakten pÃÂ¥ stenen (1984) to star in this film."
and
"According to Richard Chamberlain, Sharon Stone was extremely difficult to work with to the point that many of the cast and crew didn't want to talk to her. At one point during production, crew members urinated on the bathtub in her trailer, it was only when she stepped in her milk bath that she noticed the strong odor."
I've seen it on the telly many years ago. I barely remember it but would be down for a rewatch.Last edited by Nabonga; 06-28-2020, 05:59 PM.Comment
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A few fun first-time viewing experiences over the weekend:
Cop (1988)
This delivers pretty much everything you would hope for from a 1988 James Woods movie named 'Cop'. Well, maybe not so much doing in the action department, but all that sweet procedural stuff, sleazy sub-plots and Woods fronting like a bad-ass more than makes up for it. Great work from Charles Durning as his much-put-upon partner too (love that guy). Then, in the second half, Woods tangles wth the treacherous world of feminist poetry (didn't see that one coming), and the plot turns into something straight out of a high school slasher movie?! I won't spoil it, but the super-abrupt "fuck you"/fade-to-black ending is pretty unbeatable too.
I'm sure the James Ellroy novel this is based on must be super dark and serious, but here we just loads of riotous, macho cop movie fun, hitting up the cliches as if they were bullseyes at the shooting gallery, with a few weird, "eh, let's just go with it" diversions thrown in. Clearly an under-appreciated classic.
Nightbeast (1982)
For some reason, I've not bothered to watch any of Don Dohler's films before, but this was absolutely delightful. It's like a film made by a 12 year old boy who has read a how-to guide for making a movie (including the basic rudiments of professional lighting, editing and special effects), and meticulously carried out its instructions step by step, recruiting largely uncomprehending adults from his local area to help.
As I'm sure other commentators must have noted, the Nightbeast does a lot of its rampaging during the daytime, so, more of an All Hours beast really, but I still couldn't help shouting "look out - Nightbeast!" each time he popped up to bloodily slaughter somebody.
The local sheriff resembles Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips if he'd never gone near a controlled substance and instead dedicated his life to law enforcement, and his calm and collected responses to the escalating crisis are truly a thing of beauty ("call Bill Perkins, he's a crack shot"). The scene in which he fails to convince the venal, drunken mayor to cancel his pool party for the eminently sensible reason that there's a Nightbeast on the loose is really one for the ages (topical, too).
Factor in scenes of sex and nudity which seem to have been co-ordinated by someone who has no idea how these things function within human society (but just knows they need to be in films), the strangely sad exploits of "Drago", the town's lone obnoxious biker guy (I guess the budget didn't stretch to him having a gang), plus the best laser gun massacre ever, and this is regional American filmmaking at its strange, life-affirming best. Totally enchanting.Comment
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I found Nightbeast awfully boring myself but that description of its ineptness is pretty spot on, haha.
Phantoms
Proofwatching some old dvd's before I put them up for sale so popped this in yesterday morning. It's dumb but pretty atmospheric and entertaining. I wouldn't say he da bomb in it but Affleck does ok, though he looks to be about 12 years old here. Like the worlds youngest Harvard graduate/experienced fallen on hard times FBI agent knocked down to menial small town cop stuff. Liev Schreiber brings all the ham he can mustard (badum-tisch!) and Peter O'Toole slums for an easy paycheck. Decent fun on a rainy day.
Eaten Alive
My favourite cannibal movie still holds up marvellously well. Snappy pace and full of cool actors doing cool sleazy stuff. I still think Robert Kerman should've gotten a fairer shake in the business. Lenzi calls him mediocre in the extras but I don't agree. I really liked him in most non porno things he did. Ivan Rassimov makes for an awesome villain and super cute Janet Agren (Yay, Sweden!) is always nice to have in a film.Comment
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Oh, yeah. It's one of the best endings ever.Originally posted by BW Haggar View PostWhy would anybody watch a scum show like Videodrome? Why did you watch it, Max?Comment
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I saw it in the theatre haha. I don't remember anything about it.Originally posted by Dom D View PostComment
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I watched Roland Klick's SUPERMARKT for the first time today (on dvd as part of a Roland Klick box set. Subbed in English). I liked it a lot.
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Burlesque 2010 (i)
This film has probably had more effect on my life than any other and yet until tonight I'd never seen it. Me and this film go back.
For a start, for about 6 months I was listed on the IMDB as the director which led to me being listed as the director everywhere. I alternated between writing constantly to IMDB to get them to amend it- I felt they were ruining my reputation- and hanging out at bars on Friday nights telling people I was the director of the new Aguilera film. "Don't believe me?" pull out my phone "check it!"
Then it quite literally made and destroyed my girlfriend and I's business. She had been a professional burly girl for a couple years but when this came out her career exploded. Before she was dancing a couple times a week, then this came out and all of a sudden there was a craze for burlesque and she was performing up to 5 times a night at different venues around the city. I became her pack mule. Going from venue to venue, lugging her bags up and down stairs into the early hours of the morning. That lasted about 18 months. 18 months constantly picking glitter off myself. Came to a schreeching halt though. The film ignited the scene but then it also sucked all the oxygen out of the room. We went very suddenly from five shows a night to one a month. And that one was a hard sell. Boom! Career changes for both of us over night. Thanks Cher.
The constant refrain you heard from audiences through those 18 months was that they thought burlesque was like the film and they were, largely, disappointed. They were expecting big stages, lots of singing, 15 girls on stage doing choreographed routines. Of course in reality it's just tits and double entendres.
Anyway, it's finally come down to actually watching this and seeing what they wanted. Thoughts:
-Cher keeps complaining that her business is going bust. No fucking shit lady! She can seat maybe 80 patrons and she charges $20 for entry. Meanwhile she has up to 19 girls on stage at a time (we counted), a full band, a costume guy and sets that would cost thousands apiece. No fucking wonder your not making any money Cher. Each show has to be running at least a $10,000 loss.
- it's possible the guys who made this had seen Coyote Ugly. I'm not saying that they saw the box office figures for CU and thought 'why don't we make exactly the same film except with Christina in the lead?' But it's possible. Anything's possible...
-Stanley Tucci plays exactly the same role he played in The Devil Wears Prada. Exactly. Bizarre.
-Cher sings a long about how she used to be a big deal but now no one cares. We were uncomfortable.
- there's no tits. I dont think there's even a gstring. And no dirty jokes. No wonder the community was incensed.
-Kristen Bell is super hot in this. I'd only seen her in bad comedies wearing jeans and t-shirts. Who knew?
-it's a terrible fucking film. Unless, of course, you're a 14 year old girl who wants to dance in which case it's probably wonderful.Last edited by Dom D; 07-02-2020, 04:34 PM."Never let the fact that they are doing it wrong stop you from doing it right." Hyman Mandell.Comment
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The Nightsitter
I was looking for a particularly brainless morning movie and the trailer for this seemed to fit the bill. Basically it looked a lot like The Babysitter which is my favourite film of recent years. Well it is a lot like The Babysitter. It also steals liberally from Suspiria, Stranger Things, John Carpenter and others. Which I'm fine with. Where it's different to all those entertainments though is that it's absolutely fucking terrible. Which I'm not okay with. The lead chick is quite cute though."Never let the fact that they are doing it wrong stop you from doing it right." Hyman Mandell.Comment
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Sniper 1-7
Can't believe they made 8 (!) of these so far. The first one is still great. Tense and exciting.
The second one it's off to Bulgaria and some low budget shenanigans. Still it's decent dtv stuff.
In the third one they go to Vietnam for some weird Col. Kurtzy type stuff in old tunnels squaring off
against an old army buddy turned ruthless drug lord. I really like part three. It's weird but likeable. Plus
Byron Mann is in it and he's always fun to watch.
In part 4 Berenger dips out and they bring in some no name dude I've never heard of called Chad something
something to play Berengers son cuz they gotta keep the connection going. He's ok I guess but this one was
a slog. This time they're farting around in Africa helping some farmer out. Beatiful locations though and at least
it looks slick plus they bring Zane back for the first time.
In part 5 things pick up a little more and Berenger comes back into the fold to slum some more. He looks O-L-D and
bloated. Still it's nice to have him back in there. He's such a solid actor he elevates things automatically. At this point
these start to blend together but they're still solid b-movies. I didn't dislike it.
In part 6 they have to protect a gas pipe line from terrorists and again there's an enemy sniper to contend with. Berenger
dips out yet again and Zane comes back once more. I thought this was one of the better ones after part 3. Genuinely suspenseful
at times and slickly made with some cool supporting players. I've seen way worse dtv's in my time.
Part 7 takes place in Colombia where they are sent to take out a cartel leader. Zane and Berenger are both back but take more of a
back seat. I guess they're officially too old for this shit. This one was probably the most violent with some really brutal/wet kills and they
throw in some sleazy nudity as well. A series first. Joe Lando (Dr Quinn guy) of all people plays a part here, lol. At least he got a haircut.
I thought this was very solid and it whipped by in a decent pace. Bring on part 8!
Overall, I gotta say these are surprisingly decent. Like I said, they do blur together but maybe not watch them all in a row like I basically did. I had a lot of fun with these still. And new Sniper guy is aight.
Glass
I've never been a fan of schlama-dama-ding-dong but this was pretty decent I thought. Better than Unbreakable but not as
good as Split. McAvoy nails his stuff as the horde while Willis at least makes half an effort this time compared to his endless
VODmit output. Sam Jackson is catatonic for half the film but wakes up towards the end. I did not expect the ending to be honest
so kudos. This was good fun.
The Boys Next Door
Awesome but anxiety inducing 80's masterpiece about wayward teens that go on a rampage in LA, quickly graduating from beatings to
homocide ("pun" sorta intended). Charlie Sheen is great as the more reluctant psycho but the real surprise here is Maxwell Caulfield. He's
always come off as sort of a cheesy dude but holy hell was he scary in this as the loose cannon filled to the brim with blind rage. A fantastic
performance. It's great to see old LA locations and the soundtrack is pretty excellent as well. Loved this film.Last edited by Nabonga; 07-05-2020, 01:08 PM.Comment
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