What ELSE (other than KUNG FU) has everyone been watching?

[nectarsis]

 

 

late night twofer

 

[nectarsis]

 

 

first time watch

 

[nectarsis]

 

another first timer

 

[nectarsis]

 

 

rewatch

 

[nectarsis]

 

tonights movie

 

[DragonClaws]

 

The Professionals – (1966) - Classic Western action adventure based on the novel “A Mule for the Marquesa”, written by Frank O’Rourke and adapted for the movie screen by director Richard Brooks. It’s the Expendables (2010) meet’s the Magnificent Seven (1960), that would even heavily influence the 80’s A-Team T.V series. Four specialists with an excessive use of cigars, dynamite and flying bullets.

 

“Do you realize people are the only animals to make love face to face”

 

Plot- “Four soldiers of fortune are hired by a wealthy railroad baron (Ralph Bellamy), to rescue his kidnapped wife Maria (Claudia Cardinale), who’s been spirited across the Mexican border by a band of fearless revolutionaries led by Jesus Raza (Jack Palance). The four professionals, each regarded as an expert in his selected field – the marksman and tracker Jake Sharp (Woody Strode), the explosives master Bill Dolworth (Burt Lancaster), horse handler Hans Ehrengard (Robert Ryan) and one skilled in tactics and weaponry Hnery 'Rico' Fardan (Lee Marvin) – make their way across the hot treacherous landscape, but discover not all is what it seems. As a Mexican revolution led by Raza and his rebels, rages on”.

 

- “So, what else is on your mind besides hundred-proof women, 'n' ninety-proof whiskey, 'n' fourteen-carat gold?”

- “Amigo, you just wrote my epitaph!”

 

Before The Dirty Dozen (1967) and after The Magnificent Seven, there was this ensemble action movie filmed in death-valley and the valley of fire in the Nevada Desert surrounding Las Vegas. This was one of the first American movies, to present the Western genre in a more gritty and raw light. Along with some impressive stunt-work and vintage action set pieces. The Italian Westerns such as A Fistful of Dollars (1964) starring Clint Eastwood and directed by Sergio Leone, had re-styled Hollywood’s interpretation of the old West in the mid-60's. Making the then current Hollywood Westerns seem more dated at the time. Now the heroes were no longer presented in plain old black and white anymore.

 

- “Your hair was darker then”

- “My heart was lighter then”

 

An all-star cast was assembled for this production, with then aging actors of 1950/40’s Hollywood. The late Burt Lancaster (The Train, Ulzanas Raid) was fifty-two when he appeared in this movie. Despite his age, he performed many of his own stunts on-screen. At a young age he developed an interest in gymnastics and joined the circus as an acrobat. Until an injury stopped him from working, after his service as a soldier during World War 2 he got into acting. In his characters introductory scene, he showcases some of his old gymnastic skills. When he evades an angry husband, and runs up a street/set. That was used in one of the previous scenes featuring Woody Strodes tracker turned bounty hunter character.

 

“That’s a lot of woman there, beautiful, classy, gut’s, hard enough

to kill you, soft enough to change you”

 

The man with Mr. Universe arms, 6’4 Woody Strode (Spartacus, Sergeant Rutledge) is in great shape as always, playing the longbow carrying tracker Jake. He doesn’t move like look or look like most men his age. During one scene he trots up the side of steep rock face with without stopping to catch his breath. One of Hollywood all -time greats, who would go onto appear in further assemble Westerns the Revengers (1972) and The Deserter (1971). He followed his football coch into the U.S Air Corp, during Wolrd War 2. The former American pro-football player was also a highly skilled Decathlete. It’s also speculated he spent some time as a Pro-Wrestler in the 1940’s? I think it’s a replica composite custom long bow he’s using in this film, but don’t quote me on that one. The explosive dynamite rigged arrow he uses, might have been the inspiration behind. Rambo’s grenade tipped arrows, in Rambo: Fist Blood Part 2 (1985). It was Strodes bow, that was involved in some drunk of-set antic in Las Vegas.

 

- “How in the hell does anybody live here long enough, to get used to it?”

- “Men tempered by steel, tough breed, men who learn to endure”

- “Men like you?”

- “No, men like Raza”

 

Stories/rumors have circulated over the years, that during one drunken night in a Vega hotel room. Lee Marvin and Woody Strode decided to shoot arrows at the famous Vegas Vic neon sign, outside the hotel Marvin was staying in that week. The two were both friends, and met while shooting classic John Ford film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), starring John Wayne. Lee Marvin was a former Marine, who wounded during a mission on the Island of Saipan in Japan during World War 2. He was one of the few of his platoon to survive. As a sniper he was often sent onto island in the dark at night, before the rest of his regiment landed. He brought his Military training to the set of this movie. Taking it upon himself to maintain the props guns used on set. Lee Marvin was one of those actors with a great range from killer to clown. In some scenes he brandish's a U.S Issued model 1917 Lewis machine gun. His characters main gun of choice is a WinchesterModel 1897 shotgun.

 

“Jesus, what a name for the bloodiest cutthroat in Mexico”

 

Joining the cast is former Marine drill sergeant and civil rights campaigner turned actor Robert Ryan (On Dangerous Ground, Bad Day at Black Rock). Like all the performers here, he brings his own character and presence to the film. All four of the main heroes, share a slightly different view on life. When we first see Ryans character, he's beating a man for mistreating a horse. Yet another World War 2 veteran was among the cast. Which is no surprise when you consider the era this production was made in. Former miner Jack Palance (Shane, Tango & Cash) had to give up his boxing career, to become an Army Air Force bomber pilot. He suffered severe burns when he was wounded during the war. Despite co-starring with some talented actors, Jack Palance still exudes a strong presence on-screen. He’s great as the cold-blooded charismatic revolutionary with a heart Raza.

 

“Lust but no love, passion but no compassion, without love… without a cause, we are nothing”

 

Avoid this final paragraph, to avoid major plot spoilers. Richard Brooks delivers one of the best action-adventure movies of the 1960’s, laden with classic lines and performances. Then future Stunt Coordinator Billy Burton, got to see director Richard Brooks work on the set of The Professionals. Brooks was quoted as saying “To be a great writer, you must be a great reader”. Special mention goes to Italian actress Claudia Cardinale as the revolutionary forced into a marriage, she has no intentions of staying in. The film has a pretty unique story under all the macho action and quick dialogue. It’s Claudia character that the whole story centers around. Marie Gomez delivers a solid performance as Raza right hand gun happy rebel Chiquita. See her final scene with Burt Lancaster in the canyon for a touching example of her acting skills. The Professional’s is well worth your time, if you enjoy the Western genre and pre 1970 Hollywood productions.

 

- "That bullit must have knocked some of your brains out, what happened back there"

- "I found out what makes a woman worth $1000 dollars

 

Poster/image source- https://cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/7806-OUT-OF-THE-PAST-THE-PROFESSIONALS-1966.html

Edited May 26, 2022 by DragonClaws

[nectarsis]

 

movie time

[shukocarl1441996347]

Godzilla

Kong Skull Island

Godzilla King of the Monsters

Godzilla Vs Kong

Star Trek VI

Frankenstein the True Story

Atomic Blonde

[shukocarl1441996347]

Just now, shukocarl1441996347 said:

Godzilla

Kong Skull Island

Godzilla King of the Monsters

Godzilla Vs Kong

Star Trek VI

Frankenstein the True Story

Atomic Blonde

Oh and OHMSS 4K cinema  ;-)

[nectarsis]

 

todays double feature 

 

[DrNgor]

Die Nibelungen, Teil 1: Siegfried (1966) - Fairly straight-forward retelling of the epic Teutonic poem, which itself was inspired by the real event of the Romans teaming up with the Huns to slaughter the Burgundians. I'm sure this film was inspired by the popularity of Ray Harryhausen fantasies and Italian sword-and-sandal movies, although this movie came out a few years after both had more or less gone out of style.

Very much an A-to-B-to-C affair, in which the script is more intent on following the story than really engaging the viewer on an emotional level. Siegfried wants to marry Kriemhild, sister of King Gunther of Burgundy. Gunther wants to marry Brunnhilde, the Valkyrie queen of Iceland. Meanwhile, Brunnhilde's loins burn for Siegfried, who rescued her from a deep sleep placed on her by Wotan (or Odin).

Siegfried uses his own supernatural strength (and a few trinkets) to help Gunther best her in a series of trials of strength. Siegfried then helps Gunther remove Brunnhilde's magical virginity belt, which is discovered by Kriemhild. Obviously, nobody can know that the great King Gunther needed help in deflowering the queen, so Siegfried has to go. Gunther's uncle, Hagen, for his part, wants to get his grubby little mits on the treasure of the Nibelungen that belongs to Siegfried.

There is some beautiful Icelandic scenery, lots of colorful costumes and sets (the sort you wouldn't get in a medieval film made post-GoT or The Tudors), and even a full-scale dragon puppet. Maria Marlow plays Kriemhild, who's supposed to be the most beautiful woman in the world...but then she's paired with Karin Dor as Brunnhilde. Dor played a sexy SPECTRE agent in You Only Live Twice the following year, and makes Maria Marlow look like a Plain Jane.

[shukocarl1441996347]

Horror High (1973)

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

[WangYu]

@DrNgor

Is the dragon convincing?

Have you seen the Fritz Lang silent versions?

[DrNgor]

26 minutes ago, WangYu said:

Is the dragon convincing?

It's on the level of the dragons from The Magic Sword and Hercules Against the Hydra. So not very...

 

26 minutes ago, WangYu said:

Have you seen the Fritz Lang silent versions?

I have them in the collection. I'll get to them pretty soon.

[DrNgor]

Die Nibelungen, Teil 2: Kriemhild's Rache (1967) - Okay, this is the second part of this two-part series about the famous German epic poem. While the first one was very much a fantasy, this is a little more political intrigue, heavy in tragedy.

Following, her husband's murder, Kriemhild sews the seeds of dissent in Burgundy by distributing Siegfried's treasure to the masses while declaring Hagen to be a murderous traitor. He responds by killing the dwarf Alberich and throwing the treasure in the river. Kriemhild tries to flee to her husband's homeland--the Netherlands--and raise her newborn son to avenge his father. Hagen sends his men to stop her journey, which results in a confusion that ends in the baby's death.

At this point, Kriemhild is as desperate as she is depressed. She takes up the offer from a friend, Rüdiger, who's in the employ of Atilla the Hun (played by Herbert Lom). He says that Atilla has heard of her beauty and would like to marry her. She consents. Three years later, her child with Atila is going to be baptized. She invites her brothers and Hagen to Hungary to attend the baptism...but with murder on her mind.

When I read a prose adaptation of this story, I was pretty darn depressed by the final pages. The story ends with hundreds of people getting killed because 1) a woman refuses to let go of her desire for revenge and 2) Gunther and company refuse to deliver a murderer up to justice. And yes, Hagen is a rat-bastard in every sense of the word. This movie follows this path, although it doesn't quite push Kriemhild into "pure monster" territory like the book did.

The movie benefits from the same colorful production values as the first movie, but also from better camerawork, a more focused script, and more stylish visuals. There are some battle scenes, although they aren't choreographed particularly well. Oh well, that's just the kung fu movie fan in me talking.

[nectarsis]

 

time for a classic

[bigrogie]

The Lincoln Lawyer series on Netflix and Bosch: Legacy on Amazon. Watched each 10 episodes in 2 days!

[masterofoneinchpunch]

20 hours ago, DrNgor said:

It's on the level of the dragons from The Magic Sword and Hercules Against the Hydra. So not very...

 

I have them in the collection. I'll get to them pretty soon.

I like the Fritz Lang versions.  Ha, found some writing I had on the Fritz Lang version:

 

Siegfried for the most part is too strong and partially because of this makes him less interesting (his obvious literary counterpart is Achilles, both have one soft spot, both are slain because of this spot*, though Achilles makes a far more interesting hero because of his loves both male (especially Patroclus) and female and his emotionally fragility).  The character reminds me of Jettero Heller in L. Ron Hubbard's Mission Earth series as just too perfect.

I found myself severely annoyed with Kriemhild.  Her mistake causes the potential undoing of her brother and the death of her husband.  I found it such a stupid thing to do that my annoyance carries on to the next movie.  What was she expecting?  Nothing to happen after she embarrassed Brunhild?  It is one of those gaffes that you would expect some type of retaliation -- especially when your regal position hangs on the thread as thin as the one holding the Sword of Damocles.  Though since I am over-thinking this couldn't Brunhild just squash her herself?

While the plot and pacing could have been better, the visuals are outstanding in this.  The Dragon, while obviously fake, is sublime in its mechanical nature (the Kino release compares this to the one in The Thief of Bagdad (1924) in the extras).  The treasure of the Die Nibelungen and the dwarfs were quite exquisite in the mixture of special effects (in camera for much of this) and mythological connotations.

Those subtitles really were annoying.  Is that an "H" an "I" what the heck was that word.  I had some audio issues with mine, very peculiar.  Starting from scratch, the audio would become very low.  This wasn't an issue if I selected a scene.  Though I wasn't watching the movie for the audio.

* Not all legends with Achilles mention the "Achilles Heel." It is not mentioned in the Iliad for example.  But the book is easily worth reading and not just to get a better understanding of the Wolfgang Petersen directed Troy (2004).

 

[DrNgor]

9 hours ago, masterofoneinchpunch said:

I found myself severely annoyed with Kriemhild.  Her mistake causes the potential undoing of her brother and the death of her husband.  I found it such a stupid thing to do that my annoyance carries on to the next movie.  What was she expecting?  Nothing to happen after she embarrassed Brunhild?  It is one of those gaffes that you would expect some type of retaliation -- especially when your regal position hangs on the thread as thin as the one holding the Sword of Damocles. 

This is one of those movies where there are multiple points where the viewer can point out that the characters could have acted differently:

1) Siegfried could have just hidden the belt under Brunhild's bed and snuck out (or even tossed it in the moat);
2) Kriemhild could have stayed quiet;
3) Kriemhild could have had a rational conversation with Siegfried BEFORE talking to Brunhild;

...and the list goes on.

And there has to come a point where any oath of chivalry is rendered void by a member's rat-bastardry. Even God stops honoring covenants once you factor murder into the equation. Had Gunther and his brothers contemplated that, they would have beheaded Hagen themselves.

[AlbertV]

Sewer Gators: The film is premiering this Friday night on the YouTube channel of the director Paul Dale. This is clearly for fans of the cheesy B-movie creature feature. I interviewed the writer-director and we had a great chat where I mentioned some of the other fun cheesy (and meant not to be taken seriously) creature flicks as of late, like Ebola Rex, Rattlers 2, The Beast Beneath. 

Uncharted: I actually enjoyed this adaptation of the PlayStation game series with Tom Holland as young Nathan Drake. Cool cameo by OG Nathan voice actor Nolan North. Action scenes were a delight to watch. Of course, there are tropes with the "treasure hunting films" and there were plenty of them here. 

Sonic the Hedgehog 2: I enjoyed the sequel. Idris Elba was an interesting voice for Knuckles, but it worked well while Colleen O'Shaughnessy voiced Tailes perfectly. The gags work and of course, Jim Carrey delivers his trademark antics as Dr, "Eggman" Robotnik.

Senior Year: I enjoyed this Netflix film which I felt was the perfect fit for Rebel Wilson's trademark role of the "immature adult" as she plays a 37-year old woman who wakes up after a 20-year coma, the result of a prank by her high school rival, who is even worse as an adult. Fun riffs on social media and I laughed out loud with Joshua Colley's rendition of the "Oh my gawwd" viral sound. It's a typical riff on films like Big and 13 Going on 30 to name a few, but watchable. 

X: Ti West's latest is OMG amazing! It can be best described as Boogie Nights meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre. A crew renting out a guest house in a decrepit farm in 1979 Texas to shoot an adult movie find themselves terrorized and picked off by the old couple who own the farm. Some pretty graphic deaths and a few shocks in twists, this could be perhaps Mia Goth's best film as she plays both the protagonist and the old wife Pearl (the make-up looks impressive). Pays homage to Hooper's TCM and Eaten Alive in one particular scene. 

Red Sonja (Re-Visit): I decided to re-visit this 1984 film based on the character by Robert E. Howard. A pretty good film debut for Brigitte Nielsen as the titular heroine, despite some absurdities in the plot. Paul Smith's Falkon was such a b***h to Ernie Reyes Jr. Prince Tarn (Boy? BOY?! LOL) and Sandahl Bergman made the most as the villainois Queen Gedren. PG-13 despite two decapitations in the film! 

[saltysam]

Dark Glasses

Dario Argento's first film in 10 years is much better than his few previous movies but a world away from his classics. A serial killer causes a crash that leaves a call girl blind and a young boy orphaned. Some interesting ideas and quite restrained for an Argento film,worth a watch.

X

Very atmospheric Ti West effort set in the 70's,a group of young people hire out a remote Texas farmhouse to shoot a porno. TCM vibes are strong here.

[FightingFool]

7 minutes ago, saltysam said:

Dark Glasses

Dario Argento's first film in 10 years is much better than his few previous movies but a world away from his classics. A serial killer causes a crash that leaves a call girl blind and a young boy orphaned. Some interesting ideas and quite restrained for an Argento film,worth a watch.

X

Very atmospheric Ti West effort set in the 70's,a group of young people hire out a remote Texas farmhouse to shoot a porno. TCM vibes are strong here.

Both are on buy list. Nice that Dario still has touch. I stayed away long time from Trauma but when vinegar released it, was bit surprised it was actually great one.

[AlbertV]

1 hour ago, saltysam said:

X

Very atmospheric Ti West effort set in the 70's,a group of young people hire out a remote Texas farmhouse to shoot a porno. TCM vibes are strong here.

Watched it yesterday and I am brave for saying this...this is my favorite horror film of the year so far. I can't wait for the prequel Pearl, which West and Mia Goth shot in secret after X was completed. 

[Drunken Monk]

X (2022) - When I first finished this film, I thought "It took too long to get started." Now, having pondered the film a little more, it's perfectly paced and truly up there as one of the modern horror greats. I'll take this over Scream 2022 any day. The killer and their motivations are eerie, the death scenes are brutal and gory and the characters have a wonderful 1970's cheese to them. Loved this film. I'm eager to watch it again and I'm even more eager to see the Pearl trailer which I can't seem to find.

[AlbertV]

The In-Crowd (1988): Best way to describe this film is a gender-reversal of Hairspray but exchange racism for city wildlife vs. suburbanites. The film has some cool dance sequences, another great Joey Pants performance as the local dance show host who finds his show in danger of being cancelled while Donovan Leitch becomes the young man who tries to fit in with the in-crowd despite objections from his hometown crowd, especially one girl who tries to make him submit to her on all counts (eye roll). 

Grizzly II: Revenge (2020): Actually filmed in 1983, the film didn't get an official release until 37 years later due to the producer having some major issues from her partner leaving production after the 1st day and his attempt to get the film after production ended to the Hungarian government apparently seizing it due to non-payment (the film was made there), this is an instant cult classic oh and it gets better. George Clooney, Laura Dern, and Charlie Sheen get top billing and yet all 3 are killed within the film;s first five minutes!!! Seriously.