What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

[HungFist]

The New Barbarians (Italy, 1982) - 3,5/5
It’s 2019 again (yes, Blade Runner) and the new age barbarians have taken over the world. Humanity is on the brink of extinction, and the last few remaining individuals all want to kill each other. And destroy each others heavily armed scifi automobiles. Yes, it’s a Mad Max 2 rip off. And it’s pretty damn good. From the Claudio Simonetti accompanied opening credits to the spaghetti western esque stand offs The New Barbarians is pure trash fun. There’s no lack of quality elements here; bodies are blown into pieces, heads go flying in the air, and a woman’s right breast is revealed to the camera. The action is always good and often even excellent with loads of car chases, gunplay and explosions. The stunt team may not be on par with that of Mad Max 2, but takes enough damage to have earned their salary. The lead role is played by Giancarlo Prete who isn’t completely free of charisma. But, once again, the supporting cast is stronger. Reqular post apocalypse madman George Eastman gives a solid villain perfomance, and Fred Williamson is running around shooting explosive arrows long before Rambo hit the screens. Part time miss Italy 1977 (disqualified after being found out being 15 years old) Anna Kanakis has been bribed to play the pic’s only notable female role... and to present us that fore-mentioned right breast.

[grim_tales]

Did you go to a Buddhist monastery during reflection?

Yeah

[Markgway]

and a woman’s right breast is revealed to the camera

Right? Hmm... I always prefer lefties.

[bradavon]

I somehow expect Mark you never prefer lefties.

[Markgway]

That's actually rather funny for you, Brad. 8)

[grim_tales]

Scanners (1981): 3.75/5

Disturbing and wierd in places but still a good film. The main theme really added to the atmosphere.
The guy who plays baddie Darryl Revok, Michael Ironside would later turn up in Total Recall (interestingly Cronenberg wrote an early version of the film before it became an Arnie film).

[bradavon]

Scanners is great and I'm not normally a gross out horror fan. Scanners 2 isn't too bad either, not a patch on Scanners though.

Did you get the DTS edition in the end?

[Shingster]

The guy who plays baddie Darryl Revok, Michael Ironside would later turn up in Total Recall

Jesus christ Grim, you must think the members of these boards know fuck all about cinema!

Just so you know in the future, Scanners + Michael Ironside. They're just a little well known!

[saltysam]

Scanners was good but let down by a poor lead performance from Stephen Lack imo.

[grim_tales]

I wasn't saying that for the benefit of "others" it was just so I can say I "know" it I often get things wrong after all
Brad, yeah I rented the DTS version.
I want to see The Fly, The Brood and Dead Ringers now

[bradavon]

The Fly is very good, unusually much better than the dire original.

Scanners was good but let down by a poor lead performance from Stephen Lack imo.

Considering it's budget origins, he was fine IMO.

[Killer Meteor]

Brad, what the f*ck has budget got to do with acting talent???

[Shingster]

Less/no time spent on rehearsals, more inexperienced actors, a less experienced director, a not-so-formed script. All can affect performances in low budget productions. Not that I'm saying scanners suffers from all that!

[saltysam]

you can get great performances in no-budget movies, Duane Jones in NOTLD was excellent and Carpenter's Assault On Precinct 13 had an unforgettable performance from Darwin Joston.Both pissed on Lack's non-acting in the higher budgeted Scanners. As for early Cronenberg,check out Rabid,superb film without a decent dvd.

[grim_tales]

I havent seen Rabid, thanks Sam

[bradavon]

Brad, what the f*ck has budget got to do with acting talent???

You misunderstand me. It's a low budget film which can (sometimes) mean low budget actors, as is the case with Scanners.

[Killer Meteor]

Sigh, you just don't get it...

[degeneration]

Rambo 3.5/5

Oh shit, I think I blinked during the film and missed the plot. For violence it is fecking excellent. Gory and realistic and lots of it. But it really needed to have a proper story.

Kopps 3/5

A Swedish comedy about a group of cops in a quiet, law abiding swedish town that has had no crime in 10 years. When their dept is going to be shut down the cops start faking crimes to make sure they stay open. Quite funny in places.

[HungFist]

Austin Powers in Goldmember (USA, 2002) – 1,5/5
This is a good example of what is wrong with recent parody movies. During the first 10 minutes there’s a half dozen cameos, and every vising star’s name is either typed on screen or spoken in the dialogue like ”Oh my god, it’s George Clooney!” (just an example, Clooney doesn’t actually appear) so that even the dumbest viewer would get it. Thankfully the film gets a bit better later with some hilarious Tokyo scenes and decent ending.

[Knetan]

hey,

glad you enjoyed Kopps. Over the top silly stuff, with a memorable character in Benny The Cop.
If you're interested in Josef Fares's other work, check out if available Zozo. It's a film about basically him moving from Lebanon to Sweden. Really quite technically accomplished.

His brother Fares Fares plays the lead in Kopps btw.

[bradavon]

Sigh, you just don't get it...

I get more than you'll ever give me for. I guess Shingster doesn't get it (whatever it is) either? He said basically the same thing as I.

Austin Powers in Goldmember (USA, 2002) – 1,5/5
This is a good example of what is wrong with recent parody movies.

Have you seen the two prequels? They're much better. Goldmember is pretty much unanimously considered the poorest of the three. I quite enjoyed it but it's no keeper.

so that even the dumbest viewer would get it.

I seem to recall that's the entire point of that scene, it's deliberately in your face. The Tokyo scenes are very good.

Fock Me and Fuck you .

[grim_tales]

Were those twins nice or what!

[HungFist]

Austin Powers in Goldmember (USA, 2002) – 1,5/5
This is a good example of what is wrong with recent parody movies.

Have you seen the two prequels? They're much better. Goldmember is pretty much unanimously considered the poorest of the three. I quite enjoyed it but it's no keeper.

I've seen them a long time ago.

so that even the dumbest viewer would get it.

I seem to recall that's the entire point of that scene, it's deliberately in your face.

Maybe so, but it's still completely wrong. Good parody is about delicate references that not everyone gets. It works best if the scene plays for some time before you get the joke. It's a rewarding feeling when you notice the connection yourself, without it being shouted at your face.

Were those twins nice or what!

Funny yes, but not much else.

[Shingster]

Sigh, you just don't get it...

I get more than you'll ever give me for. I guess Shingster doesn't get it (whatever it is) either? He said basically the same thing as I..

Lol don't drag me into this! I merely said that some aspects of low budget productions can be repressive to the normal acting process and sometimes use inexperienced actors! I never suggested anything as general as "low budget actors are lesser actors" like you are!

[Markgway]

One of the twins in Goldmember is now a judge on Dancing With the Stars (US version of Strictly Come Dancing) -- and she is hot.

The film is pretty rubbish though, first one is great fun.