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Monthly Archives: March 2014
Super Troopers 3.5/5
This isn’t bust a gut funny and there were long stretches where I didn’t laugh at all, but the characters and their shenanigans are charming and fun, and it’s rather enjoyable, and the third act actually improves its score but … Continue reading
Hitchcock 2.5/5
Whilst we get great performances from Hopkins, Mirren and Johansen, the story is like a final stage heroin junkie – thin, unfocussed and more than a little frustrating at times. Whole sections seemed to be injected into the main narrative … Continue reading
Destry Rides Again 4.5/5
Ridiculously good comedy Western from 1939, with James Stewart as the thoughtful Destry, and Marlene Dietrich showing you why she was such an inspiration for Lilly Von Schtupp in Blazing Saddles. A really well-written, excellently cast and funny oldschool comedy.
Invaders From Mars – Odd One Out 056
A podcast about a nice little time capsule of 50s invasion paranoia, Invaders From Mars.
Shock Corridor 4/5
Crazy, fun exploitation flick about a reporter faking insanity to investigate a murder in an asylum, but then finding faking madness and being mad are kind of a bit too close to each other for comfort. It also actually says … Continue reading
Riddick 3.5/5
A stripped down Riddick, getting back to basics that works so well, as it did in Pitch Black and was sorely missing in The Chronicles of Riddick. The first half hour was pretty damn good and distinct, with very little … Continue reading
Pontypool – Odd One Out 055
The nicely original horror movie about an unusual form of zombification, Pontypool
Mark of the Vampire 3/5
This movie reinforces my view that Todd Browning was great at eerie and odd, but pretty terrible at conventional drama. He did it in Dracula, and he does that here. Only his ‘Freaks’ remains a pure masterpiece, because the conventional … Continue reading
5 Disney Movies 1989 to 1994 – 133
Mark and Sam cover 5 Disney movies, and a number of other movies and other stuff. Dark Souls 2 (PS3 video game) Dial M For Murder Bleach (anime TV series) Damnation Alley The Tingler Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason … Continue reading
Aladdin 4.5/5
This is easily the second most funny Disney movie after The Emperor’s New Groove, but it does feel a little dated with some of Robin Williams topical references – I think everyone will recognise Jack Nicholson for years to come, … Continue reading
Beauty and the Beast 1991 4/5
First Watch! This was a pretty terrific and absorbing Disney, with some great songs/animation combos, and a more resonant story than you often get with Disney. One downside is it did keep making me think of the far-superior La Belle … Continue reading
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 3.5/5
Whilst not as good as the first movie, this is still pretty entertaining. Some of the side characters who had more depth in the first, and consigned to bit-parts only. It’s helped by the great central performance by Zellwegger, who … Continue reading
The Tingler 3.5/5
A very fun horror movie, and I think in some shots, The Tingler looks pretty good (okay, in others, it looks terrible). I always liked the bath full of bright red blood right in the middle of a black and … Continue reading
Star Trek The Original Series Season 2 Episodes 11-20 – Odd One Out 054
Mark talks about Star Trek The Original Series, Season 2, Episodes 11-20
The Little Mermaid 3.5/5
A decent Disney entry, with some pretty good songs, a memorable villainess, and some good comedy sequences. I laughed out loud in the bit where Sebastian is confronted with the horror that is the kitchen of a French chef. However, … Continue reading
Damnation Alley 2/5
Wow, how can a movie that opens with world war 3, and then features giant scorpions, killer cockroaches, murderous, rapey irradiated hillbillies and a flood be this boring? And it has Jean Michael Vincent and George Peppard! The only cool … Continue reading
Dial M For Murder 4/5
Pretty damn good procedural murder/detective story from Hitchcock, where the cool, meticulous planner becomes unravelled by little deviations from the plan. The only thing that seems unbelievable is what man in his right mind is tired of being married to … Continue reading
Barbarella – Odd One Out 053
The fun, possible influential, silly Barbarella with the beautiful Jane Fonda.
The Rescuers Down Under 3.5/5
Rather charming Disney feature, unusually (at this time) a sequel. The animation seems to be a distinct step up from the late 60s/70s animation style (though many of the Disney’s from this period are classics, despite a basic animation style), … Continue reading
Pontypool 4/5
Ferocious and very original, this shows what someone with talent can do with a small cast, a single set, and an idea seen through to the end. I have to confess I did not follow what was going on in … Continue reading
Lion King 4/5
First watch! Rather finely paced story, with simple but smooth and pleasing animation, fine comedy characters, and a story that stays simple and effective. They really cast fine vocal talents too. I can see why this is considered a modern … Continue reading
Barbarella 3/5
This is archetypally 60s goofy fun. There’s a LOT of things wrong with it, such as the constant padding of the story and the absolutely terrible special effects, but you know what? It’s fun, it’s extremely creative in its look, … Continue reading
The Place Beyond the Pines 3.5/5
A rather overambitious movie that actually chops its 3 acts into 3 related, continuous but distinct stories, looking at fatherhood, and how absence and presence of a father (both literally, and absent by not paying attention) can affect the son, … Continue reading
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels + Snatch – 132
Sam and Mark talk about a few movies and games watched/played since last time, and about Guy Ritchie’s first two commercial movies, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and Snatch
Land of the Lost 2.5/5
Very mildly amusing, and feels like you’re rushing through a much bigger story. Or seeing the edited highlights of a 6 hour miniseries. I guess they wanted to hit the main story points of the original TV series, but that’s … Continue reading
Hunter Prey 3/5
Rather enjoyable, cheap but competently made that mixes elements of the Star Trek episode Arena, Battlefield Earth (and I mean the story, not the rank filmmaking), and Enemy Mine in a blender and comes up with a pretty satisfying product. … Continue reading
Down Periscope 3/5
Whilst this is a lightweight comedy/drama, I found it a very satisfying and fun watch, and even felt I learned something about crewing in a submarine. The cast was good, in particular the crew – even Rob Schneider was okay … Continue reading
Stoker – Odd One Out 052
The mesmeric, but troubling, Stoker.
Lesbian Vampire Killers 2.5/5
Passably entertaining and benefitting from some good cinematography and sound design, and some quite great-looking ladies, giving it an old Hammer vibe, it could definitely have been funnier, but James Corden and Paul McGann as a potty-mouthed vicar and a … Continue reading
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels 4.5/5
Amazing debut from Guy Ritchie, who combines colourful characters and some dazzling camerawork with funny, highly-stylized dialogue. Even non-actors shine reasonably well in this (Lennie McLean and Vinnie Jones), and it’s cool to see some guys who I still enjoy … Continue reading