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

[saltysam]

Annabelle 1.5/5 boring,listless spin-off from the superior The Conjuring. Characters are wooden and it's a ghost story with no scares.

The Guest 2/5 entertaining enough actioner about a returning vet who visits the family of his deceased friend and quickly ingrates himself with them.unfortunately the climax is mind boggingly stupid,otherwise this may have got an extra star.

Death Wish 3 2.5/5 the world's unluckiest man Paul Kersey is back in the most over the top entry in the series.brings a whole new meaning to the term Neighbourhood watch it's very stupid but very entertaining with a mad 25 minute finale.

Death Wish 4:The Crackdown 2/5 Kersey goes after drug kingpins in this ok but unexceptional sequel which does have a decent plot twist to commend it.have to hand it to Bronson,he pulls some nice women from movie to movie here it's Kay Lenz who bizarrely goes missing for over an hour of the movie only to return for the climax.

[Markgway]

have to hand it to Bronson,he pulls some nice women from movie to movie here it's Kay Lenz who bizarrely goes missing for over an hour of the movie only to return for the climax.

Bronson is an unlucky sod though.

Part 1 - Wife beaten to death by mugger Jeff Goldblum; daughter sexually assaulted.
Part 2 - Daughter gang-raped, commits suicide; maid gang-raped, beaten to death; new girlfriend (Jill Ireland) leaves him (...alive at least).
Part 3 - Old war buddy murdered; new (much younger) girlfriend murdered in car crash.
Part 4 - Step-daughter dies via drug OD; new (much younger) girlfriend shot dead.
Part 5 - New (much younger) girlfriend disfigured, later thrown to her death.

Just as well he's never had any pets!

[Markgway]

Shogun Assassin (1980-Japan-USA) **½
A taster for the ultra-bloody Lone Wolf and Cub series combines footage from the first two entries via a new structure and very American dubbing. Worth a look, but no substitute for the originals.

Calling Philo Vance (1940-USA) **½
Last of the PV series (this time from Warner Bros.). Good, intricate mystery (a wartime update of The Kennel Murder Case - which I've yet to see) though not as charming as the last one.

[grim_tales]

Shogun Assassin (1980-Japan-USA) **½
A taster for the ultra-bloody Lone Wolf and Cub series combines footage from the first two entries via a new structure and very American dubbing. Worth a look, but no substitute for the originals.

This was on Film 4 the other night, missed some of it I've got the originals but had never seen SA so wanted to check it out as a curio.

[HungFist]

Shogun Assassin (1980-Japan-USA) **½
A taster for the ultra-bloody Lone Wolf and Cub series combines footage from the first two entries via a new structure and very American dubbing. Worth a look, but no substitute for the originals.

This was on Film 4 the other night, missed some of it I've got the originals but had never seen SA so wanted to check it out as a curio.

It's basically the intro from the 1st followed by a slightly shortened and re-arranged version of the second + dubbing and new music. I quite like it but like Mark say, it's no substitute for the superb originals which are even cooler and more serious. However, there's one thing Shogun Assassin does better than the originals: Daigoro keeps count of how many men his father has killed so that he knows how many souls to pray for. That was a brilliant addition!

About 10 years ago when I was introducing a newcomer to 70s chambara I actually showed him Shogun Assassin first and then the 4 remaining LW&C films.

[saltysam]

Death Wish 5: The Face Of Death 2/5 Kersey suffers more tragedy in his life and when that happens there's only one way to deal with it.Bronson is always watchable and Michael Parks makes for a despicably unlikeable villain but this final entry in the series is the weakest.

[Markgway]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990-USA-Hong Kong-UK) ***
Cowabunga, dudes! The original TMNT epic holds up surprisingly well. For what it is I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Comic adaptation has an edge lacking in the cartoonish sequels. The Turtles have distinct personalities and Elias Koteas is fun as hockey stick-wielding vigilante Casey Jones.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991-USA-Hong Kong-UK) **
Innocuous sequel, aimed strictly at kids. I liked this when I was 11 (saw it twice at the cinema) but it's a tougher pill to swallow for adults. Paige Turco (as April) is a babe, but the less conventionally pretty Judith Hoag is a better actress.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

...
It's basically the intro from the 1st followed by a slightly shortened and re-arranged version of the second + dubbing and new music. I quite like it but like Mark say, it's no substitute for the superb originals which are even cooler and more serious. However, there's one thing Shogun Assassin does better than the originals: Daigoro keeps count of how many men his father has killed so that he knows how many souls to pray for. That was a brilliant addition!...

The one thing that I like about Shogun Assassin is the voice over. The kid's narration works well and allows aspects for what you have mentioned. I am not as big of a fan of the series as you guys are, though the first two are my favorites of the series. Shogun Assassin is a film I have lent out quite often and has been asked about once in a while (several who I have lent that out to I have lent out the whole series.)

It's been quite a while since I have seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I first saw it in the theater and as a youth I liked it quite a lot. I rewatched it several years later on VHS, but have yet to see it on DVD/BD.

[Markgway]

It's been quite a while since I have seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I first saw it in the theater and as a youth I liked it quite a lot. I rewatched it several years later on VHS, but have yet to see it on DVD/BD.

Yeah, I saw in the cinema as a kid, and thought it would be fun to revisit them as an adult.

Up next, Part III...

I'll probably skip the animated one.

[grim_tales]

I enjoyed Part 1 as a kid (and partly as an adult as well), any idea why the actress playing April changed from Part 1 to Part 2?
I dont think I saw Part 3 but the 2014 remake looks shit, Megan Fox is hot though

[Markgway]

I enjoyed Part 1 as a kid (and partly as an adult as well), any idea why the actress playing April changed from Part 1 to Part 2?

Yes. Judith Hoag didn't like the script and pushed Golden Harvest for changes. Fed up with her agents stalling the producers cut her loose and hired a replacement. They should have listened to her.

I dont think I saw Part 3 but the 2014 remake looks shit, Megan Fox is hot though

If only she could act...

[Markgway]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1992-USA-Hong Kong) **
The one that killed the franchise. Actually it's not that bad, being less juvenile than Part II. The feudal Japanese setting is interesting, but the whole movie smacks of missed opportunity. Casey Jones returns (to do very little...) and Jim Henson's puppetry is sorely missed.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014-USA) *½
Chaotic, ultimately tiresome reboot is basically TMNT for the Transformers generation with all the relentless flash, bang, and wallop you'd expect from a Michael Bay production. A few funny lines and in-jokes can't make up for ugly character design and a distinct lack of charm (or warmth). You'll never convince me that CGI is preferable to actors in costumes.

[saltysam]

American Sniper 3/5 Story of legendary American Sniper Chris Kyle played by an impressive Bradley Cooper.well directed by Clint Eastwood,this has become a box office smash in America,who adore these patriotic movies.A Solid effort but not a film i could see myself revisiting much.

[Markgway]

Trespass (2011-USA-Bulgaria) **
Loud, aggressive hostage thriller offers unsympathetic characters and no respite. Credibility dwindles and the ending is a cop out.

[saltysam]

Argo 3/5 Well received Ben Affleck movie about a daring rescue of 6 americans during the Iranian hostage crisis of 79-80.pretty enjoyable and quite well made.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

The Perfect Weapon (1991-USA) **½
Kempo expert with a bad temper (Jeff Speakman) returns home to avenge his friend's murder by the Korean mob. A rare A-picture martial arts movie of the era, this marked a fairly good debut for tough guy Speakman - sadly for him it was all downhill from here. Plenty of action, not so much character development, most of which was hacked out of the theatrical version (prominently billed Mariska Hargitay is reduced to an extra). Reportedly the original 111m cut has shown up on US cable TV. Anyone here seen it?
...

I watched it last night. You were right it was the 85 minute cut (95m being mislabeled on the Olive release.) Decent print from Olive R1, but no subtitles or extras of any kind. While I have seen this film several times (though not in over a couple of decades), I do not think I have seen another film (not counting Lionheart) with him in it. Such a promising start for him. Too bad about what would happen after with his career in the movies. I'm definitely curious on if there is a longer version available. Deleted scenes would have been quite nice.

Too bad his online site (jeffspeakman.com) does not have that much information on him other than his martial art accomplishments. I noticed that Wikipedia stated he had throat cancer and beat it. I read somewhere else that his weight gain was via glandular (like Peter Lorre.) No idea if that was truthful or not. If he was healthier he might have been in one of The Expendables.

[Markgway]

I've seen Street Knight (Speakman's second feature); it's not as good.

I think the rest of his output was DTV.

[Markgway]

Housebound (2014-New Zealand) ***
Criminal Kylie (Morganna O'Reilly) is sentenced to eight months house arrest in her mother's haunted house. Tongue-in-cheek horror; clever, suspenseful, and well-acted.

[Markgway]

The Kennel Murder Case (1933-USA) ***
Generally regarded as the best of the Philo Vance mysteries; this one stars the inimitable William Powell.

The Mask of Dimitrios (1944-USA) **½
Offbeat Warner mystery reunites Lorre and Greenstreet, but I felt kept at arms length by this one.

[saltysam]

Amsterdamned 3/5 Cult Dutch thriller about a serial killer stalking the canals of Amsterdam steals plenty from Jaws but has a cool atmosphere,and an engaging lead and some good setpieces including a cracking speedboat chase.

Everly 2/5 Salma Hayek stars in this gratuitously violent actioner about a woman marked for death who has to fight off hordes of assassins while trapped in her apartment.nowhere near as good as it sounds,it gets an extra half star because i'm in awe at how hot Salma looks at 48 years of age (though her cleavage is the co-star here,she doesn't get them out sadly)

[Markgway]

Finders Keepers (1984-USA) **½
A conman posing as a soldier finds a coffin stuffed with stolen loot.
OK slapstick farce from Richard Lester has just enough chuckles to coast by on; Jim Carrey appears in an early role.

[Markgway]

Micki + Maude (1984-USA) **½
Studly Dudley Moore marries two women and gets them both pregnant.
Blake Edwards' farce/drama is better than it sounds.

eXistenZ (1999-Canada-UK) **½
A game designer gets trapped in her own virtual reality game... or something.
Another body horror mindfuck from David Cronenberg; a spiritual cousin to Videodrome. If you're a fan you may love it... others may think of it as curious nonsense.

[saltysam]

The Hunger Games:Catching Fire 2.5/5 overlong sequel improves on the first film.

Ouija 2/5 these modern day ghost movies are so generic one blends into another.attractive young cast in predictable tale.instantly forgettable.

Vigilante Force 2.5/5 70's exploitation actioner with a decent cast including Kris Kristofferson,Jan Michael Vincent and a young pre-Dallas Victoria Principal.look for the great Charles Cyphers in a small role.

White Line Fever 2.5/5 Another 70's actioner starring Jan Michael Vincent,he stars as a trucker who refuses to carry illegal cargo,mayhem ensues.worth a watch.

Flash & The Firecat 2/5 two thieves plan an audacious bank robbery and spend the rest of the movie trying to escape in their dune buggy Roger Davis stars with Richard Kiel in a featured role.little seen down the years but worth catching if you are in the right mood.

Thunder & Lightning 2/5 A Post Kung Fu David Carradine stars with Kate Jackson in this redneck chase actioner from 1977. some good car chase action but pretty forgettable overall.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Hollywood Party (1934: no directors credited):

This is a weird curio. It is a pre-code musical, comedy, sketch hybrid that literally was thrown together and had several uncredited directors. You can find a variety of star-studded movies in that era like MGM’s The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (I have not seen it though it looks like Hollywood Party was patterned after this) and Paramount’s much better International House (1931.)

While this is very uneven with undeveloped plot points (the romantic relationship with Eddie Quillan and June Clyde; almost everything else in the film) and while it has a very uneven first half it has a hilarious second half. The plot is basically meaningless, but it revolves around Jimmy Durante trying to obtain some real lions, while throwing a party (hence the title) to improve his image character Schnarzan (parodying Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan.) I am not the biggest Jimmy Durante fan especially when he is the lead and some of his scenes grated somewhat on me. So I tended to like when he was not on the screen more and with good reason. The Laurel and Hardy skit with “you cannot wear that outfit on the screen in a few months” (not joking, the Hays Code would not along her to wear that outfit as it is quite skimpy) Lupe Velez is done quite well. It is an old standard with them and has been done a variety of ways in several movies of theirs, but still very funny. You also get a surprise appearance from Mickey Mouse (actually working well with Durante; always interesting to see early mixture of live action and animation) and a two-strip Technicolor Disney short. Throw in Ted Healy and The Three Stooges (they would not be as famous until they lost Healy and starred in the Columbia shorts) and you have some very interesting moments.

If you look at the life of Lupe Velez you find it is tragic. Though of interesting note she was once married to Johnny Weissmuller. And of another interesting coincidence I had been watching the films of Max Linder who had also had a tragic end similar to Velez.

[Markgway]

Gone Girl (2014-USA) ***
Ben Affleck is suspected of murder when his wife Rosamund Pike disappears...
Ice-cold thriller from David Fincher boasts very good performances and is pretty engrossing for about two hours... but fizzles out with an unsatisfying conclusion.