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

[shukocarl1441996347]

On 6/28/2022 at 6:23 PM, nectarsis said:

 

todays movie #2

 

I have an ex-wife from hell!

[shukocarl1441996347]

Today

Cave of the Living Dead 1964 & She 1965

[saltysam]

Death Wish 2

Memory

Haunting Of Julia

[shukocarl1441996347]

Doctor Who: The Ambassadors of Death (7 eps)

[nectarsis]

 

movie time

 

[shukocarl1441996347]

Slaughter of the Vampires 1962

[DragonClaws]

 

Killing Them Softly - (2012) - The story is simple “Three dumb crooks and hustlers Frankie (Scoot McNary) Russell (Ben Mendelsohn), Johnny (Vincent Curatola). Think they’re smart, when they decide to rob a Mob protected card game. Causing the lucrative local criminal economy to collapse. Sinister stylish Mob Enforcer Jackie (Brad Pitt) is hired to track them down and restore order”. Directed and scripted by New Zealand born director Andrew Dominik based on the novel “Cogans Trade” by George V. Higgins. Dominik delivers a visually creative, unflinching and tightly directed hour and thirty-minute crime film. That stands out among the extensive genre of gangster inspired screen stories.

 

“This country’s fucked, there’s a plague coming”

 

It’s the distinctive visual look, and the way the film scenes are edited together. That gives it a singular stand out look and feel. The story could take place in any city from around the world. In the book it was set in Boston, but the movie was filmed in and around New Orleans. On mostly grey overcast days and rainy cold nights. The urban areas in which its shot having little to no colour at all. Expertly captured by Australian born cinematographer Grieg Fraser- Dune (2021). All the actors play criminals who are appear bored & jaded by their jobs. Motivated only by the money that their services require. Which just adds to the whole depressing somber mood. The story is set during the real-life financial crash, that was happening around 2012. This and the added political happenings of the year, are heavily interweaved with the story and its characters outlooks.

 

“In todays economy a quick fifteen for two days work, would sound pretty good to Mickey”

 

The film narrows it’s focus down to the interaction between several of the main characters. There are few background or excess roles here. Actress Linara Washington is the only woman among the cast, as a nameless sex worker. Scoot McNary & Ben Mendelsohn as two of the three dumb and desperate criminals. Deliver two of the best performance of the whole runtime. Robbing a Mob owned gambling den, is about as smart as trying to steal a Gorillas lunch. Actor Vincent Curatola as Johnny, is equally good as the cowardly Johnny. The scheming mastermind behind the theft of the hot mafia owned money.

 

“It was awful, it was like riding in a shithouse”

 

The late James Gandolfini is on great form as the big over the hill hitman Mickey, just imagine an older version of his Virgil character in True Romance (1993). When his character arrives at the airport, depressing financial news is playing over the airport terminal speakers. Which connects with his character now working at a reduced price. Even hired killers get affected by the financial market. Some of the pictures best scenes, feature Jackie (Brad Pitt) listen to Mickey talk about his domestic problems. The script is really sharp and it makes all the different personalities stand out.

 

“I like to kill them softly”

 

For example, Brad Pitt’s character uses certain phrases and words multiple times. He also brings a strong presence, that detaches his characters from the others on-screen with him. The same can be said of the late Ray Liotta as Markie Trattman, in a slightly different role to his other gangster performances. Special mention goes to Richard Jenkins as a corrupt councilor and Jackie’s New Orleans connection. Look out for author, screen writer and actor Sam Shepherd (The Rolling Thunder Log Book) in a cameo role.

 

“You mind if I drink that beer?, while I wait for lurch here, to get over here from the airport.”

 

According to actor Garrett Dillahunt, the film was much longer with his role being edited out.

- “Although the first cut of the film was two and a half hours long, and I know they had to trim that down to an hour and a half, so I might have been cut out.”

- “In actuality, the final cut of the film according to the Cannes Film Festival where it will premiere, is 1 hour and 40 minutes, so there may be hope for Dillahunt yet”

Source- https://www.indiewire.com/.../garret-dillahunt-says.../

 

"Put the dollar back, for fuck's sake"

 

There is some good use of then new and existing songs from the past. When you first see Mickey characters, the Johnny Cash song ‘The Man Comes Around’. Fittingly plays over the scene, with the Biblical quote by Johnny Cash about death riding a white horse. A similar scene appears in Clint Eastwoods Pale Rider (1985) when the same line is quoted, as his character makes first appears on a white horse. If you hadn’t already guessed, this is by no means a up beat feel good movie. However, its one that’s well worth seeking out if you enjoy crime thrillers.

 

“You mind if I drink that beer?, while I wait for lurch here, to get over here from the airport”

 

 

Edited July 6, 2022 by DragonClaws

[AlbertV]

Footskating 101 (2007) - A wild and goofy indie South African film about a small town miner's son who seeks an opportunity to save his grandmother, save the mine, and save his own butt by competing in a skateboarding competition. However, he doesn't have a board so he invents a new sport: footskating, where you make various types of jumps without the use of a board. This has gained quite a following in South Africa and the reason to see this goofball film comes in 3 words: Rob...Van...Vuuren. This was one of his first films before going on to be one of the country's top comedians and actors (including his now acclaimed role as "Driller Killer" Russ Thorn in the 2021 reboot of "Slumber Party Massacre".)

The film was co-directed by co-star Brendan Jack and Thomas "187" Ferreira and co-stars Comedy Central South Africa's "Roast Battle" host John Vlismas as one of the tournament emcees. 

Edited July 5, 2022 by AlbertV

[nectarsis]

 

movie time

 

[DragonClaws]

 

Machete - (2010) - Full throttle, all-star, all action extravaganza directed and co-written by Robert Rodriguez, with Alvaro Rodriguez. A hundred-minute homage to the low budget action cinema of the past. With so many movie references you could write a whole book, Escape from New York (1981) was the inspiration behind some scenes. Take note of the scene where Machete (Danny Trejo) is, shown a table full of automatic weapons. This over the top brutal and bloody tongue in cheap homage to exploitation cinema, might not be to everyone tastes.

 

“Where Federal agents not martyrs, this is suicide, she’s just another kidnap victim, what makes her so special?”

 

That said, this is one movie that you cannot describe as being dull or unimaginative. Recall picking this movie up on DVD and watching it for the first time with friends. We all laughed and cheered through the entire movie. The original idea/concept came from a fake movie trailer Robert Rodriguez created for the 2007 movie short Thanksgiving, directed by Eli Roth. The trailer was for a then fictional movie called ‘Machete.’ There are online sources that say the director had written a complete script, after he made the 1995 action hit Desperado? Danny Trejo had also played a toned-down variation of the character in four of the Spy Kids movies, as Machete Cortez.

 

- “What’s that long hard, thing?”

- “My Machete”

 

Plot synopsis- “Danny Trejo stars as a hard as nails Mexican Federale a.k.a Machete, who is seeking revenge against a vicious drug lord Torrez (Steven Seagal), a ruthless vigilante Von (Don Johnson), and a power-mad politician Senator Mclaughlin (Robert DeNiro). He is, helped in his violent quest by immigration officer Sartana (Jessica Alba), revolutionary Luz (Michelle Rodriguez) and by his brother Priest (Cheech Marin).” When they say Trejo characters tough, they mean it. Tough like a T-800 Terminator, crazier than John Wick, deadlier than Jason Bourne and has more lives than a horde of cats combined.

 

“Son of a bitch Machete, you don’t follow order’s”

 

Danny Trejo was in his late sixties when he landed hist first starring role here. Yet he was still physically strong enough to appear in an action movie. Lifting, up of his co-star Jessica Alba in one scene and walking with her over his shoulder. He brings the larger-than-life character to the screen, in a way no one else could have. Here the actor gets to show of his comedic skills and timing. He performs a great all-knowing dead pan look. When he is listening to the two corrupt police officers who catch him. The promotion hungry pair unwisely think there already a, few moves ahead of Machete. Trejo tells you exactly how his character is going to react, without evening have to say any words.

 

“Exploding houses, bodies falling from the sky, Jesus Christ Machete you’re a walking shit magnet”

 

There is such an impressive line up of co-stars here, where do you start? Jessica Alba plays the determined and tough police officer Sartana, who does not entirely agree with the Law she is supposed to be enforcing. Also backing up the story hero, is Mexico’s answer to Robin Hood meets Zorro, via Snake Plissken, Luz. Strongly brought to life by the talented Michelle Rodriguez, who was no stranger to action cinema when she appeared here. Her quick-thinking character is not someone with whom you would mess. She carries a gun in one scene that is more like a cannon. Even Robocop would struggle to pick this one up. It's rumoured that actress Rose McGowan filmed scenes, that would later be left on the cutting room floor?.

 

“I hate declining profits that much, an open border allows supply to flow in too easily, drives our prices down, a secure border limits supply, drives the prices up, higher prices, higher profit”

 

It is the trio of Robert De Niro, Jeff Fahey & Don Johnson who deliver some of the movie’s best performances. Jeff Fahey nearly steals the film as Booth, a corrupt senator’s sideman. The script is soaked in dark humor and these three actors get some of the best dialogue. Robert De-Niro bring his slippery psychotic political character to life with a mad comedic glee. Steven Seagal (minus orange sunglasses) has a minor cameo playing a drug lord with bad eyesight. When he sees a freeze frame image of his archrival Machete, he fails to even recognize him. This might just be the actor’s best performance in the past twenty plus years. Special mention goes to Don Johnson who looks like amped up version of the man with no eyes from Cool Hand Luke (1967). Only he is not so short on words.

 

“Machete? that’s only good if you want to make a brutal point, but its low-tech, completely unsuited to our purposes”

 

The sets and Mexican scenery get painted red as Machete rampages across the screen. Not one for the faint hearted, the hospital escape sequence where our hero evades and fights a gang of hitmen, with the use of a nurse’s belt and surgical blades. In a gory homage to the weapons seen in Asian cinema during the 1970’s. This scene would not look out of place in an early seventy’s Sonny Chiba or Chang Cheh movie. Look out for multi-talented Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead, Dusk Til Dawn) in a cameo role as hitman Osiris Amanpour. His character introduction, come via hilarious fake/parody T.V advert. Its really him doing the crazy finger/toes push-ups, in the video footage. If you enjoy the film work of Robert Rodriguez, then this movie is worth giving a chance.

 

"Machete don't Text"

 

 

Edited July 7, 2022 by DragonClaws

[shukocarl1441996347]

Jaws of the Dragon -1974? (James Nam Korean Gangster flick-plenty of John Barry/Isaac Hayes/Lao Schifrin cues!

Killer Caliber .32 (1967)

Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission (1988)

Edited July 8, 2022 by shukocarl1441996347

[AlbertV]

Fair Game (Mario Andreacchio, 1986): This cult classic Ozploitation film would be an influence on Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof and is a female revenge film about an animal sanctuary director who after being taunted and assaulted (not raped, but tied to a vehicle with pieces of her clothes ripped) seeks revenge on the trio of psycho hunters who are hunting the animals in the sanctuary. Slow paced in some parts, but her plan of revenge comes in various sets before the final 10 minutes unleashes the fury from Cassandra Delaney. It got re-released in North American theaters yesterday and coming to Digital Tuesday.

[DragonClaws]

 

Machete Kills - (2013) - Mexico’s merciless machete swinging secret agent is back for another wild adventure. Robert Rodriguez takes the Director’s chair once again, and re-teams again with his sister Rebecca Rodriguez for editing duties. The director was also the cinematographer and worked on the suitable soundtrack with Carl Thiel. The screenplay was written by Kyle Ward, and based on a story that Rodriguez & his brother Marcel Rodriguez wrote in couple of months. Character actor Danny Trejo also returns in the starring role as the title character. With Michelle Rodriguez back as the highly spirited Luz, in a smaller supporting role. Actress Jessica Alba only returns for a cameo role this time round. Keep your eyes peeled for more movie references, including Mad Max: The Road Warrior (1981) & Braveheart (1995).

 

- “You are the one who taught me law and justice are not always the same thing”

 

Plot – “Machete Cortez is recruited by the President of the United States (Charlie Sheen), for a mission which would be impossible for any mortal man – he must fight his way across Mexico to take down a madman revolutionary and eccentric billionaire arms dealer Luther Voz (Mel Gibson). Who has hatched a plot to spread war across the planet by launching a weapon into space”.

 

Actor Charlie Sheen was actually-credited here under his real name Carlos Estevez, for the first time. Speaking of first times, also look out for Lady Gaga with a Machete Cortez shoulder tattoo in her first on-screen acting role. Whose on-screen character visually relates a little to her real-life media image. Her then new song Aura, was used in some of the film’s trailers and on the soundtrack. Charlie Sheen also takes a few tongue-in cheek digs at his then public image. Which just suits the B-Movie/Exploitation picture nods that runs through this production. They embrace and flip some of those older movie tropes and ideas on their heads. The director has referred to the Machete filmmaking style as being “Mexploitation”.

 

- “One might consider you an over achiever when it comes to killing people”

 

This movie crams a lot of mayhem into its screentime, with a varied array of actors all sharing the same cast list. Special mention goes to Antonio Banderas, Sofia Vergara, William Sadler, Alexa Penavega, Walton Goggin’s, and Cuba Gooding Jr. Machete Kill’s doesn’t surpass part one, but I feel it’s not close behind the first movie. Littered with tough over the edge villainous characters, who mostly only have one thing on their minds. Bringing in the hefty bounty on Machete Cortez’s life, by any means possible. Mel Gibson gives his first villainous role with added humor, as space seeking psychic arms technology designer Luther Voz. He’s like a villain from a 1970’s sci-fi themed movies, such as Moonraker (1979) or Logans Run (1976) might have some if the inspiration here. Along with a clear nod to Star Trek and a certain well known sci-fi franchise, now owned by Disney. When Machete uses a land speeder, it’s like the scene in Diamonds Are Forever (1971). When James Bond (Sean Connery) steals a space vehicle from a top-secret movie set in the Californian desert.

 

- “People still sing songs about you”

- “Only son of a bitch who gets their praises sung around here is me”

 

The one character who doesn’t appear so clear cut is Mendez played by Demian Becher (Godzilla VS Kong). His patriotic character might be the most complex of them all. He loves houses disguised in Aztec architecture and implanting bombs inside his own heart. Becher’s manic yet reserved personality switching performance, nearly steals the whole movie. His on-screen bodyguard is played by the 6’ 2’’ high kicking Martial Artist, stuntman, fight choreographer, actor Marko Zaror (John Wick: Chapter 4, Undisputed 4: Redemption)). A student of Taekwondo Do and MMA. There even a nod to Bruce Lee’s Fist of Fury is referenced, when Zaror quotes the script when he asks to fight Danny Trejo’s character. His character's fights also give a few nods, to the fight choreography style that was popular in 1990's Hong Kong action cinema.

 

- “I may not exist but this gun does”

- “See Machete, you’re the only one who doesn’t want to kill me”

While it was nice to see some new characters brought into this series. It would have been nice to see more of Michelle Rodriguez’s character and Tom Savini as the reformed hitman Osiris Amanapur. There’s only so much screen time that can be divided up for certain characters. With this picture there’s a lot of different people dipping in and out of the story. The bloody black humor-tinged action set pieces dial things way past eleven, there’s reason for extensive team of stunt performers taking the risks behind the scenes. With director Robert Rodriguez pushing for bigger scope and scale for this sequel story & settings. A favourite action scene of mine, see's Trejo’s character fight a guy on a speed boat while a pilotless Helicopter approaches. Most of the previous films production crew returned. Which might be why the look and sound of the original, strongly carries across into this more fragmented but still entertaining follow up. Again, there’s a teaser trailer tagged onto the end. Will Danny Trejo return for a space set third adventure? and who will play the man in the Iron Mask?

- “VozTech is the biggest weapons supplier to our military, you want to bring him all the way back to the fucking manufacturer?”

 

 

Edited July 12, 2022 by DragonClaws

[AlbertV]

The Bloody Man (2022): Daniel Benedict's ultimate homage to 80s could serve as a film companion piece to Stranger Things. Set in the 80;s, a kid's favorite comic book character, a horror creature known as the titular Bloody Man, comes to life and wreaks havoc in his life by possessing his new stepmother, played by A Nightmare on Elm Street 4's Tuesday Knight. Knight's NOES4 co-star Lisa Wilcox plays the kid's acutal mother who dies in the first act of the film (which triggers the release of the Bloody Man). Some great 80's references, including an animated homage to a classic Filmation series. The kids cast are great in the film as well, including David Daniel as Sam, the main protagonist. 

 

[Yihetuan]

Revenge - Dir. Coralie Fargeat [2017] France

Violent and gory French rape and revenge exploitation film that doesn't really cover any new ground in the genre but is fairly entertaining if you like gratuitous violence couched in a faux feminist story line.

 

[shukocarl1441996347]

Z.P.G. (1972)

Doctor Who & The Daleks/Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1965/66 in 4K)

The Conversation (1974)

[AlbertV]

Neon Lights (2022): Dana Abraham wrote and stars in this film about a stressed-out tech company CEO who decides to reunite with his estranged brothers off the grid. However, as things get very tense, Abraham starts spiraling downward and his adopted father, played by a very chilling Kim Coates, isn't helping. Very emotional and powerful, especially when people start to disappear. The final moments are pretty shocking. 

American Carnage (2022): The Hallivis Brothers' part-social commentary and part-horror comedy about a group of American-born children of immigrants who after being arrested thanks to a new law from the Texas governor, have the chance for freedom by volunteering at a senior home only to discover the sinister happenings behind it. Shocking twists come in the second half of the film and the cast, including new horror queen Jenna Ortega (Scream '22, X, Wednesday), are excellent in the film, especially Allen Maldonado's comic relief as Big Mac. 

 

[nectarsis]

 

movie time

[DragonClaws]

On 7/13/2022 at 10:06 PM, nectarsis said:

movie time

 

Just recently purchased this movie and re-watched it last week.

[Coliseum1972]

Sanders final movie Psychomania is on yt now , havent seen in over 25 yrs......same writers as Horror Express

[morpheus]

Once Upon A Time in The West (1968)

 

[WangYu]

That’s weird regarding that cover art of “once upon a time in the west”

There were 3 men in her life, one wanted to take her, one wanted to love her and one wanted to kill her.

So Frank wanted to kill to kill her, Cheyenne wanted to take her and Harmonica wanted to love her? I am confused it never crossed my mind that was their intention.

[shukocarl1441996347]

15 minutes ago, WangYu said:

That’s weird regarding that cover art of “once upon a time in the west”

There were 3 men in her life, one wanted to take her, one wanted to love her and one wanted to kill her.

So Frank wanted to kill to kill her, Cheyenne wanted to take her and Harmonica wanted to love her? I am confused it never crossed my mind that was their intention.

Does Harmonica ever show any feelings of 'love' to Jill at all? If he did, he would have stayed. Cheyenne pointed out that he wasn't the 'right man either'.

[saltysam]

The Black Phone

This was much hyped,found it very disappointing.

[nectarsis]

 

the journey continues