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#1
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by M.10rda - Today at 05:42:27 PMSON OF FURY (1942):
Most of this 19th century melodrama threatened to put me in a coma, w/ a boring screenplay and inert direction, yet it does wake up on occasion to deliver some worthwhile bits in isolation. The strikingly studly Tyrone Power projects little more charisma or acting ability than he did in the even more somnolent RAZOR'S EDGE in '46, and his lovely RAZOR'S EDGE co-star Gene Tierney is wasted in an empty love-interest role that she also happens to perform in yellowface.
(Her character is a Polynesian native lass, which of course prevents her from saying anything substantive or interesting to Power's British protagonist.) George Sanders is the bad guy, in powdered makeup and a pompadour, which makes him look alarmingly like Conan O'Brien doing ethno-drag on his HBO travel series.
Director James Cromwell neither demonstrates nor incites any interest in the proceedings for very long stretches, yet wakes up occasionally for bursts of surprisingly vigorous violence (at least for the early 40s), like a real-WTF sequence early on where Sanders sadistically whips Roddy McDowell (as the young Power) at great length, and then a knockdown/dragout fist-fight at the finale that is almost as absurdly protracted as the famous one from DARKER THAN AMBER. There's also a very effective, almost moving short scene where Power sneaks into a prison to visit his estranged grandfather. And, rather significantly, John Carradine plays a large role as a guy w/ at least 2.5 dimensions who isn't a monster or mad scientist or narrating Criminologist-type. This is almost certainly the most screen-time I've ever seen Carradine get in a nominally Serious (non-horror) movie. He looks hale & hearty, does a pro-job, and presumably was off-the-sauce for his many days on-set.
However, there's one major distinction that redeems SON OF FURY and shows that Cromwell might've been a strong director if he could maintain interest for the duration of a feature. Around 1/3 of the way through, my beloved Elsa Lanchester appears for a 10-minute setpiece as a workin' class dame who helps Power escape some assassins. For the record, Elsa in '42 was still about as hot as Elsa in '35, and of course her performance during those 10 minutes is a tour-de-force. But this all-too-brief scenario, and Elsa's expansive talent, really seems to have snapped Cromwell out of his malaise, because the entire sequence is impeccably handled and ends on a lovely grace note. On its own it would be a 4.5/5 short film, and if the entirety of SON OF FURY was as good as that 10 minutes, the film would've been a masterpiece! 3.5/5
Most of this 19th century melodrama threatened to put me in a coma, w/ a boring screenplay and inert direction, yet it does wake up on occasion to deliver some worthwhile bits in isolation. The strikingly studly Tyrone Power projects little more charisma or acting ability than he did in the even more somnolent RAZOR'S EDGE in '46, and his lovely RAZOR'S EDGE co-star Gene Tierney is wasted in an empty love-interest role that she also happens to perform in yellowface.
(Her character is a Polynesian native lass, which of course prevents her from saying anything substantive or interesting to Power's British protagonist.) George Sanders is the bad guy, in powdered makeup and a pompadour, which makes him look alarmingly like Conan O'Brien doing ethno-drag on his HBO travel series.Director James Cromwell neither demonstrates nor incites any interest in the proceedings for very long stretches, yet wakes up occasionally for bursts of surprisingly vigorous violence (at least for the early 40s), like a real-WTF sequence early on where Sanders sadistically whips Roddy McDowell (as the young Power) at great length, and then a knockdown/dragout fist-fight at the finale that is almost as absurdly protracted as the famous one from DARKER THAN AMBER. There's also a very effective, almost moving short scene where Power sneaks into a prison to visit his estranged grandfather. And, rather significantly, John Carradine plays a large role as a guy w/ at least 2.5 dimensions who isn't a monster or mad scientist or narrating Criminologist-type. This is almost certainly the most screen-time I've ever seen Carradine get in a nominally Serious (non-horror) movie. He looks hale & hearty, does a pro-job, and presumably was off-the-sauce for his many days on-set.
However, there's one major distinction that redeems SON OF FURY and shows that Cromwell might've been a strong director if he could maintain interest for the duration of a feature. Around 1/3 of the way through, my beloved Elsa Lanchester appears for a 10-minute setpiece as a workin' class dame who helps Power escape some assassins. For the record, Elsa in '42 was still about as hot as Elsa in '35, and of course her performance during those 10 minutes is a tour-de-force. But this all-too-brief scenario, and Elsa's expansive talent, really seems to have snapped Cromwell out of his malaise, because the entire sequence is impeccably handled and ends on a lovely grace note. On its own it would be a 4.5/5 short film, and if the entirety of SON OF FURY was as good as that 10 minutes, the film would've been a masterpiece! 3.5/5
#2
Bad Movies / Re: Generate Movie Poster with...
Last post by Rev. Powell - Today at 04:57:01 PMQuote from: claws on Today at 02:42:41 PM^ same red-eyed creature from your Robots poster?
Good catch. Yes, CoPilot often includes elements from previous poster generations. It makes for some amusingly surreal additions.
#3
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by M.10rda - Today at 04:53:00 PMI went to film school w/ the screenwriter of YOU'RE NEXT and THE GUEST. He's a smart guy and I wish he could've continued creating his shared universe instead of having to write crap like the BLAIR WITCH reboot for $. He also co-starred in one of the features I made in '99, which shares some general plot elements/beats w/ YOU'RE NEXT. I ain't mad about it, we were pretty good friends and spent lots of time talking about things we wished we'd see happen in horror movies.
SUPERFUZZ was such an early 80s HBO staple. I have no actual proof of this but I feel like it must've been a big enough hit in the U.S. to inspire "The Greatest American Hero" starring Terence Hill lookalike William Katt and Robert Culp well-cast as Ernest Borgnine.
SUPERFUZZ was such an early 80s HBO staple. I have no actual proof of this but I feel like it must've been a big enough hit in the U.S. to inspire "The Greatest American Hero" starring Terence Hill lookalike William Katt and Robert Culp well-cast as Ernest Borgnine.
#4
Good Movies / Re: Movies that you never "got...
Last post by M.10rda - Today at 04:16:30 PMI know. Al, like Tupac, remains staggeringly prolific for a dead guy, and his three-dimensional solid hologram continues to tour this summer.
#7
Bad Movies / Re: Films you don't talk about...
Last post by M.10rda - Today at 04:10:57 PMQuote from: zombie no.one on July 17, 2026, 03:10:25 PMQuote from: M.10rda on July 17, 2026, 01:59:51 PMDo people get upset about BURN AFTER READING hot takes? It's pretty Mid for the Coens, no...?
I personally think it's one of their best, but I'm aware most people don't. which is fine... can't see why anyone would get upset or offended by any opinions on it really? it's not exactly a controversial movie.
Yeah, I was surprised to see that one in discussion. Upon release it was critically unpopular, as it slipped in between NO COUNTRY and A SERIOUS MAN, two of their most acclaimed and best films. I don't think anyone particularly grinds an axe against it now, though.
#8
Entertainment / Re: What have you been listeni...
Last post by Allhallowsday - Today at 03:47:36 PMMARTY ROBBINS Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs
#9
Bad Movies / Re: Films you don't talk about...
Last post by lester1/2jr - Today at 03:46:54 PMI don't really like modern, like post Godfather gangster movies, but I know most people do. Lot of ostentatious "acting" and goofy tough guy talk.
#10
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by indianasmith - Today at 03:12:18 PMWEAPONS (2025) Re-watched this one last night, and still think it's one of the best horror films in the last decade. HIGHLY recommended! 5/5
GRAVEYARD SHARK (2024) - So I've been on a TubiTV bad movie kick lately, and this one DEFINITELY checks all the B-movie boxes, and checks them with enthusiasm! The "shark" is actually a human/mermaid hybrid with the skull of a hammerhead shark, and he is NOT CGI!!! That alone makes this one worth checking out. Throw in gallons of fake blood, the occasional gratuitous nudity, and dialogue that is so bad it must be heard to be believed, and you have one of the best bad movies I've seen in a while! 5/5
GRAVEYARD SHARK (2024) - So I've been on a TubiTV bad movie kick lately, and this one DEFINITELY checks all the B-movie boxes, and checks them with enthusiasm! The "shark" is actually a human/mermaid hybrid with the skull of a hammerhead shark, and he is NOT CGI!!! That alone makes this one worth checking out. Throw in gallons of fake blood, the occasional gratuitous nudity, and dialogue that is so bad it must be heard to be believed, and you have one of the best bad movies I've seen in a while! 5/5