Lone Wolf McQuade **
(First Viewing)

J.J. McQuade is a Texas Ranger who doesn't exactly follow the rules, is unruly, and prefers to work alone, which earns the nickname, Lone Wolf McQuade. When he discovers some criminals have automatic weapons, he discovers that they were stolen from the military. He tries to handle it on his own, as usual, but in the end, an old friend, and a prisoner, whom he was keeping under wraps, are killed. He is then relieved of duty. But then an FBI agent, who also wants to get these guys, offers to help McQuade, and along with a rookie, they track down the mastermind.

The more of David Carradine's work I see, the more I respect the man. He single-handedly carried this movie and just commands so much presence onscreen. The man has so much confidence and carishma onscreen, I find it hard to not emulate him. Chuck Norris was enjoyable as the lead but again, nobody does it for me like David Carradine does it. Only the second Dana Kimmell movie I've seen. Her first was Friday the 13th Part III which is probably my favorite of the franchise and in many aspects due to her. A great young actress who, unfortunately, stopped acting too soon

Never. If I dont have 2 hours free, I wont start watching.
Also, I will never see a movie from the middle of it. I cant do that, even if its a movie I'm dying to see. If I lost even one minute from the start, I'll simply turn it off and wait for next time to see it.

Maybe it sounds like I'm exaggerating, but I believe every minute counts in movies.

I've only read "To the Lighthouse". Not an easy read, considering the philosophical tone. I wouldnt recommend it to everyone.

Sophie's Choice

Adapted from the novel bearing the same name, Sophie's Choice is the story of a unique relationship between a holocaust survivor (Sophie), her lover Nathan and their new neighbour Stingo. From this outline the plot evolves into revealing secrets from Sophie's past as she tells her story to Stingo.

Not everyday do you witness such a friendly triangle of a couple and a newcomer. A truly unique sort of relationship that I can only dream our society would accept. These scenes, though serve as the outline for Sophie's story, are also the essence of the film. One cannot work without the other. The present is inextricably bound to the past in this film and is not to be taken as a mere introduction.

Many viewers before me have praised Meryl Streep's performance in this film, and I find no reason to disagree. She learned to speak english with a polish accent as well as fluent german, and acted the flashback scenes in Auschwitz with much authenticity. She literally begged Pakula for the role, and the effort she put into it is visible and rewarding.

With that said, I have to say that character-wise I was far more intrigued by Nathan. Like Stingo, I also felt that he's larger than life. You could not anticipate his reactions. He played two different characters embodied in one, that often times I wondered whether he's got the leading role in the film. Kevin Kline gave his once-in-a-lifetime performance, it was a beauty. (Shame really, that he later went down the hill and ended up making the horrible "Wild Wild West"....but I guess all actors fall down that hill every once in a while.)

Stingo however, while being the story teller, is basically no more than just that. There's not much to learn from his character. He make friends with Sophie and Nathan, thus leading us into their world. He also falls in love with Sophie, thus she ends up revealing her story to him (us). In order to serve the plot as this channel between them and us, he possess the character of the easy-going somewhat naive writer who learns a lesson about life on his temporary stop in a brooklyn apartment.

It is the story of Sophie, Nathan, and Stingo's relationship.
It is the story of Sophie and Nathan's relationship.
It is the story of Sophie.

You get 3 stories in 1. What more can you ask?

****/*****

Cant wait to read the book.

I'm the exact same way!

Great review Fame. When you do pen up a cinema opinion, you sir rock.

THE RUNNING MAN (1987) - ***

Produced during Arnold Schwarzenegger's incredible box-office hot streak, this enjoyable B-action movie with sci-fi curtain dressings has "Ahhnuld" compete in a super-popular TV game show where he fights for his Austrian Oak arse against colorful killers that somehow the WWF didn't think up of first in the 1980s. Even without Arnold, this movie still would have been solid cool.

In other words, its THE CONDEMNED, but without sucking it.

Road House (1989)
(First Viewing)

Dalton is the Cooler in bars; He backs up and directs the bouncers. He takes a job in a Road House that has gotten far too rough. His attempts to clean things up put him in conflict with Brad Wesley, the town bully and rich person.

A much better flick than I expected but I just don't see Patrick Swayze as the kung-fu/action star. It's hard for me to see him in that role. He did a fine job, as did Sam Elliott, but I just have a hard time believing Swayze as a martial artist in any sense of the word.

Grindhouse
(Second Viewing)

From cult movie directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez comes a unique film experience: a double-bill of thrillers that recall both filmmakers' favorite exploitation films. "Grindhouse" (a downtown movie theater in disrepair since its glory days as a movie palace known for "grinding out" non-stop double-bill programs of B-movies) is presented as one full-length feature comprised of two individual films helmed separately by each director. Tarantino's film, "Death Proof," is a rip-roaring slasher flick where the killer pursues his victims with a car rather than a knife, while Rodriguez's film "Planet Terror" shows us a view of the world in the midst of a zombie outbreak. The films are joined together by clever faux trailers that recall the '50s exploitation drive-in classics.

I had the night off from work and decided to treat myself again with my favorite film of 2007. Still great a second time around and again, time wasn't a factor. I'm still scratching my head over why it bombed at the box office but that's just me. If you didn't see it in theaters, see it on DVD!

Sanjuro 1/2
(First Viewing)

In Japan circa Eighteenth Century, nine young men decide to present an accusation of corruption in their clan to the local superintendent. However, the group is betrayed, but the ronin Sanjûrô Tsubaki (Toshirô Mifune) saves them from the superintendent's men. The uncle of the leader of the rebel clansmen, the Chamberlain Mutsuta (Yûnosuke Itô), is kidnapped, and his wife and daughter are detained and made prisoner of the superintendent, and he tries to force Mutsuta to write a fake confession letter declaring being corrupt. Sanjûrô helps the group to rescue the Chamberlain and his family.

In his sequel to Yojimbo I felt some of the characters mystique was lost. He appears wiser and more likeable in this film, but I was pleased with Yojimbo by itself.

She gets naked with Sam Jackson ??

You see her breasts

Niiiiiiiice (Borat)

Why does Black Snake Moan sound like a racist porn film?

Besides the obvious advantage of seeing the movie for that reason, it was rather good and I'll be buying it on DVD June 26th

DOWN IN THE VALLEY (2005) - ***1/2

This movie got shat on in its reviews, which is a darn pity, since this is the sort of small-film vehicle that Hoffman and Pacino would have used their star power to get funded back in the 1970s.

Except now its the 00s, and its Edward Norton exploring a rather uneasy role that can't win awards now. While awards are given to actors who portray dead famous people, non-controversial parts, or a crippled/homosexual/AIDS-riden/retarded character, Norton gives off the sort of performance that I miss.

What kind of performance? Body language. Sure DOWN IN THE VALLEY's unnecessary expositional dialogue alerts an audience to who this person is, but Norton's eyes and body talk is enough to tell us who he is: A loser who's operable fantasies have slowly become his life, and fall off a damn cliff when he meets up with a groovy emo-girl who herself has some fantasy/reality problems of her own.

Seven Samurai
(Fourth Viewing)

A village is constantly attacked by well armed bandits. One day after an attack they seek the wisdom of an elder who tells them they cannot afford weapons, but they can find men with weapons, samurai, who will fight for them, if they find samurai who are in down on their luck and wondering where their next meal will come from. They find a very experienced samurai with a good heart who agrees to recruit their party for them. He selects five genuine samurai and one who is suspect but the seven return to the village to protect it from the forty plus bandits.

My least favorite Toshirô Mifune role. Everytime I see this he seems to get on my nerves but it is becoming less frequent. I do however love how Kurosawa always centers everything in his frames. He is a genius with a camera and this is probably the most I've enjoyed this film.

The Departed
(Nth Viewing)

In South Boston, the state police force is waging war on Irish-American organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by gangland chief Frank Costello. While Billy quickly gains Costello's confidence, Colin Sullivan, a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the state police as an informer for the syndicate, is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by his double life, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations he has penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there's a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy-and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save himself. But is either willing to turn on the friends and comrades they've made during their long stints undercover?

Most deserving of Best Director and the Best Picture of 2006. A very LONG overdue Oscar to Marty, but deserving nonetheless. His previous 2 films The Aviator and Gangs of New York were push overs compared to The Departed and felt if either of those films won, it would have been more out of pity. However, last year the competition was weak and Marty has his best movie since Casino and in some people's eyes, as far back as Goodfellas. Leonardo DiCaprio continues to impress me and I've been a fan of his ever since Catch Me If You Can. Matt Damon is like Edward Norton, the men just don't make bad movies. Jack Nicholson is so awesome as Boss Costello, humerous yet still evil, it's great to have him back from his 3 year absence. I felt Mark Wahlberg deserved the Best Supporting Oscar over Alan Arkin. Like Costello, he's brutal in his verbal attacks yet the audience can't help but to purk up when they see him on screen. Finally, even though it was a smaller role, I felt Alec Baldwin was a nice addition who was also light hearted towards both Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon. Kudos to William Monahan on a FANTASTIC script (also well deserving of his Oscar for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay).

Epic Movie
(Second Viewing)

The twisted minds of two of the six writers of "Scary Movie" tackle the biggest mega-blockbusters of all time in "Epic Movie." The story centers on four not-so-young orphans: one raised by a curator at the Louvre (where an albino assassin lurks), another a refugee from Mexican "libre" wrestling, the third a recent victim of snakes on her plane, and the fourth a "normal" resident of a mutant "X"-community. The hapless quartet visits a chocolate factory, where they stumble into an enchanted wardrobe that transports them to the land of Gnarnia (with a "G"). There they meet a flamboyant pirate captain and earnest students of wizardry - and join forces with, among others, a wise-but-horny lion to defeat the evil White B*tch of Gnarnia.

Absolutely sickening that David Carradine was ever attached to this movie (no matter how small the role was). One of the few times where the second viewing was worse than the original. Probably better than Date Movie but that's just splitting hairs. Really, how is it that movies like this continue to get made yet Daredevil can't get a sequel and Grindhouse bombs at the box office?

Dude, Carradine has to feed his bastard children around the world somehow. Besides, where the hell where you for about 20 years before KILL BILL when that fucker was doing so many B-sci-fi/action turkeys to pay his utility bills.

I forgive guys like Madsen, Carradine brothers, Rutger Hauer, and other vets that admit doing total crap for the paycheck. BEsides, they gotta eat. Its not like super stars of Hollywood that choose deliberately to work on piece of shit blockbusters for way too much money.

As for DAREDEVIL, well it sucking didn't help its sequel chances. Plus, its profit-margins were shit. Oh, and Ben Affleck didn't do that shit anymore, and FOX thought he was financial poison. Plus, that ELEKTRA spin-off sort of failed too.

P.S. - I bet that you're gonna assault on Danny Trejo's ass when you watch DELTA FARCE, right?

Tokyo Olympiad
(First Viewing)

Ichikawa's cameras follow the 1964 Summer Olympics from opening to closing ceremonies. Sometimes he focuses on spectators, as athletes pass in a blur; sometimes he isolates a competitor; other times, it's a closeup of muscles as a hammer is thrown or a barbell lifted; or, we watch a race from start to finish. We see come-from-behind wins in the women's 800 and the men's 10,000 meters. We follow an athlete from Chad from arrival to meals, training, competition, and loss. Throughout, the film celebrates the nobility of athletes pushing themselves to the limit, regardless of victory.

A GREAT documentary about the 1964 Olympics that took place in Tokyo. A 3-hour journey to give you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what happened over those 15 days in October of 1964. It truly made the viewer feel as if they were actually there and surprisingly, the quality of the film is terrific (in part due to Criterion, I'm sure). The film begins with the opening ceremony, then shows at least bits and pieces of every event and usually the winners and ends with the closing ceremony. An interesting look for those who feel that sports play a huge role in our world (almost as much as politics).

I have no plans to see Delta Farce

The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
(Second Viewing)

After surviving a shipwreck in reefs not signalized in the maritime charts, the famous hunter Rober "Bob" Rainsford (Joel McCrea) is lodged by the Russian hunter Count Zaroff (Leslie Banks) in his castle in an isolated island. Bob meets Eve Trowbridge (Fay Wray) and her brother Martin Trowbridge (Robert Armstrong) also survivors of another wrecked vessel and hosted by Zaroff. Sooner, Bob and Eve find that they are part of a hunting game plotted by the insane Zarof where they are the chase, and they have to escape and survive until the next morning to Zaroff and his hounds.

Definitely a film that I'd put up there with the likes of King Kong or anything else. Leslie Banks was terrific as Count Zaroff. A little short with a runtime of only 63 minutes, but every minute is worth it. If you've never seen this film or have enjoyed the short story which it's based on, get your hands on a copy of this picture. You won't be disappointed!

"Anything else"?

You mean 'old' films...?

Yeah I should have specified. Yes, I'd put it up there with other classics

Have you seen Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent? It's one of my favourite Hitchcock films.

And Leslie Banks is in the 1934 version of The Man Who Knew Too Much.

Thanx man. I think you'd be pleased to know that next week I'll be watching ANGEL HEART and YEAR OF THE DRAGON for the first time.

I've yet to see THE DEPARTED but I must say I find it quite amusing that DiCaprio, Damon and Wahlberg are in the same film.

Amusing how? Is it here to amuse you? What makes it funny? Like a clown?

I haven't seen either

I just got "Butterfly" and "Crash" (1978) in the mail, anyone seen them yet?

Oh f*cking awesome man! Two very good Mickey Rourke vehicles in the 1980s, and worthy flicks for Michael "I killed a studio that Tom Cruise now Runs" Cimino and Alan "What the Hell happened to my career?!?" Parker.

But you did for EPIC MOVIE? I won't ever see it, but I won't hold it against you if you do want to see it. I mean, someone on these boards have to take the bullet for the rest of us.