Recent Viewings

[Scott]

My movie search has again taken me far and wide this week. These are the films I have viewed:

IMAX GRAND CANYON - This was the original IMAX film from the Grand Canyon with incredible ariel views as well as white water action on the Colorado River. Bought the DVD for $5.99 at Ross Deptartment store and remember seeing it about 12 years ago at an IMAX theater in either New York or Philadelphia. You'll like it on DVD also as it gives you  the human history of the canyon from the native americans, the Spainards, and a great account of John Wesley Powell and his expidition down this awe inspiring work of nature.

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THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD (1957) - FLIX showed this quality B-movie from the 50's. The whole story takes place in Southern California on the Salton Sea and it's about radiative mullusk that grow and suck the blood out of its human victims. The creature is well done and the dead bodies that are left behind are also kinda creepy in a fun way. I enjoyed this very much and can't believe I never saw this one growing up.



THE MOUSE ON THE MOON (1963) - Wow, where have I been to have not known about this film. It's a British comedy about t he space race between the U.S. and Russia during the 60's and also a fictional country that gets money from the U.S. goverment to start its own space program. This film is a riot and I'm not exagerating. You'll love this from beginning to end. Now it's one of my favorite comedies of all time. Don't miss this one. Picked it up for $2.99 on VHS at a local department store.



SEVEN DAYS IN MAY (1964) - Another great political drama and written by Rod Sterling. A U.S. military general attempts a military coup of the U.S. goverment. The film is riviting from beginning to end. Well done ! Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglass star in this outstanding film. Watch for this one because you won't be dissapointed. Picked this one up for $2.99 on VHS at local department store.



NUDE FOR SATAN (1974) - The Italians really know how to shoot a film. This film is strange and the cinematography is good. Redepmtion has a nice wide screen copy of this film with subtitles. Well done forgotten film.



BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE (2002) - Micheal Moore who has a talent for documentary making makes a film mostly about gun control. He reminds us of some interesting fact from forgotton news pieces that are worthy repeating. It rates up there with FARENHEIT 911 (2004) but it gets lost at the end unlike his newer film. (Even though his material is borrowed). In the end both his films miss the bigger picture.





Post Edited (09-23-04 20:47)

[blkrider]

I think NUDE FOR SATAN is probably the greatest film title of all time--the movie doesn't quite live up to the expectations but I don't know if any movie could match the images conjured up by that title!

[trekgeezer]

The Mouse on the Moon is a sequel to  The Mouse that Roared. It's about a  tiny country that declares war on the US so they can lose and collect  Foreign Aid from us, but the plan back fires.  It starred Peter Sellers.



Post Edited (09-24-04 07:37)

[Yaddo42]

The only one I've seen is "Seven Days In May", tense thrilling stuff. Frankenheimer during his prime years when he made great film after great film is hard to beat.

I wasn't even aware of "Mouse on the Moon" until I read that biography of Richard Lester. It gets about 4 pages, mostly about shooting all of Margaeret Ruthford's scenes during the first two days since the insurance company wouldn't cover her for the film because of her age, blood pressure, and the fact that she was appearing in a play at night. Lester and a producer put up the money themselves to cover any liability so they could use her in the film. Doubles and long shots were used for everything else involving her. I'm curious to see it (even though Sellers isn't in it), since I liked the first film.

"Nude for Satan" sounds interesting, if for all the wrong reasons. Not sure how I've managed to miss "Monster that Challenged the World" until now.

"Colombine" I plan to get to someday, I'm on the fence about Moore, and can't decide if I want to spend money on his work even if it's just for movie rentals. I'm not as far to the left as Moore by a longshot, but I oppose most forms of gun control. I've read about some of the shading of the truth or lies (depending on who you ask) in the film and want to gauge my own reaction. Even if I agree with someone on an issue (and on this issue I apprently don't), I can't support them if they're going to make things up and pass it off as the truth to make their case.

[BoyScoutKevin]

I have seen four of the six.

I saw the first one, when visiting Arizona. It was playing at an IMAX theater near the Grand Canyon.

Some information about the man playing Major Powell in the film. He was a non-actor. He was spotted by the producers, while he was making a telephone call at an airport in that area. And like Major Powell, he only had one arm.

And that scene where he is strapped in a chair in a boat going down the Colorado, he was drunk as a skunk in that scene. Because he couldn't swim, the only way the producers could get him into the chair and into the boat and going down the Colorado was to get him drunk beforehand.

The film is worth checking out, because it really is an excellent look at what life was like in that area, over the years.

Anyway, another film on the subject is "Ten Who Dared" w/ Brian Keith, John Beal, James Drury, R. G. Armstrong, Ben Johnson, and L. Q. Jones. And directed by William "One Shot" Beaudine. So called "One Shot," because he supposedly never used more then one take for each scene of a film.

The second one, which is reviewd at this website. Tim Holt, Audrey Dalton, Hans Conreid, and Salton Sea. What more could one ask for in a film.

The third one. Actually, I liked this one, which was a sequel, better then its forerunner.

The fourth one. Based on the novel by Fletcher Knebel. I actually found it one of the better political thrillers out there.

The fifth one. Yet to see it.

The sixth one. Likewise. Though, I have seen parts of it. Just not all the way through.

[The Burgomaster]

THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD (1957) - I recently bought this on a "Midnight Movies" double feature DVD.  The other movie on the disc is IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE.  Definitely a fun double feature.


THE MOUSE ON THE MOON (1963) - If you think this is funny, THE MOUSE THAT ROARED is 10 times better!


SEVEN DAYS IN MAY (1964) - Another John Frankenheimer classic.  I haven't seen it in at least 15 years, so I suppose it's time to add it to my list of movies to buy.



NUDE FOR SATAN (1974) - I have this DVD (along with most of the other movies that Redemption released).  If you want to see a Redemption DVD that is full of good, low-budget gore, get your hands on a copy of THE LIVING DEAD GIRL.



Post Edited (09-26-04 07:27)

[Scott]

Yes, I've heard of THE LIVING DEAD GIRL. Will add to the list Burgomaster. Thanks !