Recent viewings

[JaseSF]

Against a Crooked Sky (1975): Set during the pioneer days, Sam Isaac Sutter (Stewart Peterson) sets out on a daring journey in search of his sister Charlotte (Jewel Blanch) who's been kidnapped by a mysterious Indian tribe. Along the way, he meets up with an old broken down drunk trapper named Russian (Richard Boone) and his scruffy old dog named B'ar Killer (slang for Bear Killer). Russian reluctantly agrees to help Sam in his search due to the promise of gold, of which this unknown Indian tribe seems to have plenty. But in order to find his sister, Sam has to travel through rugged terrain and deal with the constant threat of hostile Indians.

This has going for high ideals about self-sacrifice and how much one is willing to do for love of family. Boone is pretty good as the gruff Russian and Peterson is convincing as a young, naive lad who's too quick to bite off more than he can chew but yet believes in doing what's right very strongly. It is a tad predictable in some places and I guessed the ending long before it was revealed but yet things took a somewhat different course than I expected. The mysterious mountain dwelling Indian tribe proves a tad disappointing too (as their civilization doesn't seem as advanced as it was suggested in the opening narration), there's not as much as action as one hopes for, and in a sense the real villain here never seems to get his just desserts and some might find it a bit preachy. All in all, I'd say this was a bit of a mixed bag but more good than bad.  ***1/2 out of ***** stars

The Red Fury (1984): Red Fury is a very moving story about a lost Indian boy named Frankie (Juan Gonzales) who is  temporarily adopted by a gruff and lonely old horse trainer named John Handley (Will Jordan). While reluctant around one another at first, Frankie and John get close due to their mutual love of horses and Frankie soon proves himself a natural with them so much so he sets out to tame the wild and yet to be broken Red Fury.

This truly surprised me by how good it really was. There's a lot of great themes examined here including the stupidity and backwardness of prejudice, finding love and acceptance and coming of age, learning right from wrong, loss, self-sacrifice, etc.. Katherine Cannon adds good support as a progressive thinking school teacher named Amelia Anderson. This story truly tugs at the emotional heart strings. Only real problem here is initially it's a little hard to take to Frankie as he's a bit annoying at first but as the film goes on, the character I feel does grow on you. Also the ending could move some to tears. I'm giving this **** out of ***** stars.

[tracy]

An excellent film with Gregory Peck as a lawyer whose testimony puts Robert Mitchum in prison for attacking a woman. After 8 years Mitchum is released and goes to the town where Peck lives with his wife and young daughter. He starts stalking the family,bent on revenging himself by taking the daughter. After being picked up by the police several times then released Mitchum proves that he is a sliperry character indeed so Peck decides to set him up for execution. This is the original and the best,IMO.

[alandhopewell]

     CAPE FEAR (1962)

THIS Network hit a home run with this one, perhaps even making up for planning to show CURSE OF THE SWAMP CREATURE (again!) for Father's Day.

     Bloody sod the remake, this one makes the donuts. Robert Mitchum easily makes the "dump-a-clip-into-him-and-reload" club with his portrayal of Max Cady, a primordial crocodile on two legs. Others, 4-X, Gregory Peck, also great, but Ol' Sleepy Eyes clamps his jaws on this flick and swims away with it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73lZPln-A2I

[Rev. Powell]

CASTLE IN THE SKY (1986): A girl who falls from the sky and an orphaned boy search for a legendary floating city while being chased by flying pirates and a secret airborne government agency. This child's-eye epic adventure has got action, chaste romance, a well-constructed plot, and typical touches of Hayao Miyazaki's animated magic; pretty much everything you could ask for in great children's entertainment. 4.5/5.

[alandhopewell]

               DEAD MEN WALK (1943, PRC)
     For a low-rent effort from the original Poverty Row studio, this is actually pretty good. Zucco plays twins, one evil, and ressurected as a vampire, doing the "I'll -wreck-your-life-then-kill-you" sthick, with real menace rather than just carpet munching.

     There's more creepy in 64 minutes of this than in many modern films twice the length.

[Venomx73]

I dont know if it counts... but I started to watch House of Fears (2007) just now...

Good idea for a movie but after hearing Zan talk for 15 mins I had to shut it off... his voice hurt my brain.

Anyone else see this film? What was your take on it?

[orezman]

50 First Dates (2004) - this was my first romcom movies, and for me is still the best, love watching it again :D

[tommex84]

* Escape from New York (1981) &
* Escape from L.A. (1996)

Still two of my favorites Kurt Russell's movies directed by one of the best writers and directors out there, John Howard Carpenter.

[Venomx73]

* Escape from New York (1981) &
* Escape from L.A. (1996)
Still two of my favorites Kurt Russell's movies directed by one of the best writers and directors out there, John Howard Carpenter.

Same here. That's why I'm upset he's not in Expendables 2.

[tommex84]

He's probably not in The Expendables 2 because he wasn't even in the first one. As I looked through IMDb the cast for both Expendables movies is almost if not the same.
I think they should've used him in both movies.

[Venomx73]

No sir. Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris... both in EX2 not in EX1...
I still can't wait to see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgEqVYcryWc

[tommex84]

No sir. Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris... both in EX2 not in EX1...
I still can't wait to see it.

Dam, really screwed the pooch there. You're right the cast is similar but not the same.
Still excellent movie, the first one. The second one remains to be seen, but with the edition of JCVD and CN sure looks promising. I sure hope those two brought some ass-whooping with them.

[Venomx73]

I'm sure JCVD and Norris will both bring ALOT of whoop with them.



For 51 JCVD still looks great.

[Venomx73]

Vamp (1986)

Not my first time though. I watched it many times in the past.



To me it's more of a comedy.

[claws]

I dont know if it counts... but I started to watch House of Fears (2007) just now...

Good idea for a movie but after hearing Zan talk for 15 mins I had to shut it off... his voice hurt my brain.

Anyone else see this film? What was your take on it?

Enjoyed it. Not a great film but pretty good for an indie on a tight budget.