Recent Viewings, Part 2

[Alex]

"Solo: A Star Wars Story" (2018)
Young Alden Ehrenreich steps into the role made famous by Harrison Ford in this "secret origin" story of the iconic character. The flick goes back to Han's youth as a small time thief and hustler and follows him as he joins a criminal crew for a dangerous interplanetary adventure. Along the way we see him meet Chewbacca and Lando for the first time and take possession of the famed Millennium Falcon.
...this was my second viewing of "Solo" and I thought it was tons of fun. Unfortunately its mediocre box office returns killed Disney/Lucasfilm's plans for an series of stand-alone "Star Wars Story" adventures, which is a bummer, cuz I would've liked to see more of these.

I enjoyed this one as well. I didn't think he especially nailed the character of Han, but it was a fun space heist movie.

[Rev. Powell]

FREAKS (2018): 7-year old Chloe's dad keeps her locked in the house, warning her that if she goes outside people will consider her a freak and try to kill her; meanwhile, she's tempted by the ice cream truck that parks outside her house every day. Entertaining demonstration of how you can create a superhero-type movie with minimal effects on a low budget. Not crazy about taking the title of a much better film, though. 3/5.

[FatFreddysCat]

"Demonia" (1990)
A lady archaeologist pokes around the ruins of a remote Sicilian monastery and re-awakens the p*ssed off spirits of some Satanic nuns (?) who were murdered by villagers there in the Middle Ages. Needless to say, this does not end well for anyone.

This late-career entry from Italian gore maven Lucio "Zombie" Fulci takes a while to kick into gear - the first half is a slog, but it more than makes up for that with the gloriously bats**t crazy second half, which is packed with wall to wall weirdness, sleaze (Satanic nun orgy!) and gore (Eye gouging, tongue impalement, crucifixions, and on and on...)

I'm a Lucio fan boy so I'll watch just about any damn thing with his name on it. Your mileage may vary depending on your tolerance for awkwardly paced, woodenly acted, poorly dubbed Italian splatter flicks.

[RCMerchant]

^ I'm a BIG Fulci fan. I need to see that!.

[lester1/2jr]

The Sphinx (1933) - decent murder mystery with a likeable cast. A deaf mute is accused of murder repeatedly but always has an alibi. A group of police and reporters aren't buying it, especially when one of them's cute girlfriend becomes infatuated with him. 4/5




There is no actual Egyptian Sphinx it's a nickname for the guy

[indianasmith]

THE FRANKENSTEIN THEORY (2012) I vaguely remembered renting this from Hastings back in the day, before that paragon of book, video and music stores went out of business.  So when it popped up on my recommended Prime titles I decided to give it a shot, and I am glad I did!  THE FRANKENSTEIN THEORY has just the right blend of tension, conflict, and terror that make for a successful found footage film.  The "monster" is shown in just the right amount of vague detail - enough to be scary, but not enough to dispel the mystery that surrounds him.  A nice creepy film for late night viewing!  4/5

[Dr. Whom]

The Maidens of Fetish Street (1966)

Also known as The Girls on F Street. Basically Russ Meyer Sin City style. Set improbably in a 1928 that is indistinguishable from 1966, a sexually frustrated guy seeks satisfaction. This is essentially a series of set pieces with hookers, strippers and even a bit of SM, while a pompous narrator goes on about how depraved this all is. The latter part is either a clever way of getting the movie past the censors, or the most egregious bit of hypocrisy in the history of film. It is beautifully shot, however, in atmospheric black and white. Also lots of boobs.

[RCMerchant]

"Demonia" (1990)
A lady archaeologist pokes around the ruins of a remote Sicilian monastery and re-awakens the p*ssed off spirits of some Satanic nuns (?) who were murdered by villagers there in the Middle Ages. Needless to say, this does not end well for anyone.

This late-career entry from Italian gore maven Lucio "Zombie" Fulci takes a while to kick into gear - the first half is a slog, but it more than makes up for that with the gloriously bats**t crazy second half, which is packed with wall to wall weirdness, sleaze (Satanic nun orgy!) and gore (Eye gouging, tongue impalement, crucifixions, and on and on...)

I'm a Lucio fan boy so I'll watch just about any damn thing with his name on it. Your mileage may vary depending on your tolerance for awkwardly paced, woodenly acted, poorly dubbed Italian splatter flicks.

I started to watch this- but turned it off.
Not because I wasn't enjoying it! I'm saving it for like midnight.

[Gabriel Knight]

"Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story" (2020)
An enlightening (yet also depressing) documentary about the hit '90s Nicktoon and its obsessive weirdo creator, John Kricfalusi (aka "John K"), whose out-of-control, tyrannical work habits made for a hellish environment behind the scenes and eventually got him fired from Nickelodeon.
"R & S" still has a cult following today, but unfortunately the show's reputation has been even further tarnished by revelations about John K's abusive relationship with an underage intern in the early 2000s. I guess that's why we don't see "Ren & Stimpy" reruns on TV anymore. (sigh)

Interesting, I wasn't aware of this documentary. I love Ren & Stimpty but I have to admit, after the second season it went downhill reaaaally bad. As in, it's nearly unwatchable after that, to me at least.

[pennywise37]

i disagree but than though i do have all of them on dvd of the original show and some of them i think are cut... i still enjoy it after season 1 but to each their own i i suppose.

anyways, the last thing i watched was Captain American Civil Wars (2016) 10/10  great film though it's not in my favorites of the films i do think it's a damn good film. i've been watching them in order i do have them all on 4K well all of them but 4 of them. and they are The Incredible Hulk (2008) Age of Ultron (2015)
Homecoming (2017) and Infinity War (2018)  the rest i have on 4K

[indianasmith]

TO YOUR LAST DEATH (2020) - The four adult children of an arms tycoon are summoned to his high-rise office complex and pitted in a deadly game to the death - first against his minions, and then against each other.  But there is something more at work here - a deadly game in which they are only pawns.  this animated horror film is brilliantly written and features one plot twist after another.  TOTALLY worth the viewing!!  5/5

[Trevor]

Saw My Neighbors Doing The Wild Thing 

[indianasmith]

PANMAN (2014)  A guy with a pan on his head kills culinary students.  He's possessed by the spirit of a dead chef. Lame freebie on Amazon Prime. 2/5

[pennywise37]

so did you grab some popcorn and a can or bottle of beer?

[indianasmith]

LAWLESS (2012) - A ruthless Federal agent comes to rural Virginia to help the local sheriff shut down the county's most notorious gang of bootleggers - but the new "Special Deputy's" tactics are so brutal they backfire, and a full-on moonshine war is the result!  Well made and well cast, this Prohibition-era gangster flick was an enjoyable watch, with Jessica Chastain serving as an admirable love interest/eye candy.   Well done film!! 4/5