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Posted: |
Jul 28, 2022 - 5:13 PM
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By: |
henry
(Member)
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DOMINION is my third favorite of the series with JURASSIC PARK number one and THE LOST WORLD number two.
I'd agree on the first two. I also liked JURASSIC WORLD, I suppose, because it was a rehash/updating of JURASSIC PARK. The middle film, FALLEN KINGDOM, at least ended on somewhat of a cliffhanger, with the dinosaurs being released from their island into the rest of the world. But this last film squandered the opportunity to do anything remarkable with that development, instead falling back on the usual chase and escape formula. And the giant locust subplot seemed like just a deus ex machina to bring back the Dern and Neill characters.
Hi Bob! While I enjoy the sequels, except for JURASSIC PARK III, I think the series should have ended with THE LOST WORLD. Every film after THE LOST WORLD really didn't bring anything new to the series, plus it had a great ending panning across Isla Sorna showing all the different dinosaur species reiterating life finding a way.
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Posted: |
Jul 28, 2022 - 7:45 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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ELVIS (2022) – 9/10
Writer-producer-director Baz Luhrmann gives the MOULIN ROUGE treatment to the life of Elvis Presley and provides a dazzling portrait of the rock and roll star and of America from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. “The King’s” story is told through the eyes of (and narrated by) his manager, “Colonel” Tom Parker. Tom Hanks plays Parker, and whether his accent or anything else about his portrayal is historically accurate is beside the point. Hanks holds the screen in a vice grip whenever he is on it, and his performance is fascinating, more so because we know so little about this Svengali-like impresario that controlled Elvis’ life and career behind the scenes.
This is to take nothing away from the performance of Austin Butler as Presley, who up to now hasn’t had the chance to demonstrate that he was capable of carrying a production like this. His Presley is bold, brash, and charismatic, just as we think the real Elvis to be. And he holds the screen as easily as does Hanks. The film’s music is a combination of Butler’s own singing (early Elvis) and lip-syncing to the real Elvis (1968 and later).
Luhrmann gives the film that fable-like hyper-realistic look that you can only get in the controlled environment of a studio where every aspect of the design and lighting can be manipulated. That and modern CGI, of course. It was all done in Luhrmann’s native Australia for a tidy $85 million. The film has grossed $216 million to date, already surpassing MOULIN ROUGE. This is a long film (159 minutes), but it doesn’t drag. It’s packed with incident, just like Elvis’ life, and like his life, we are left wanting more.
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Circumstantial Evidence(1952) 5/10
With Rona Anderson, Patrick Holt and John Arnatt.
Rona is about to divorce her husband, on the grounds of desertion. She can then marry new beau Holt. Alas, Hubby comes back on the scene, and attempts to blackmail the happy couple. He gets murdered but who did it.
A brisk one hour effort, that doesn't take.much to solve, unless you're thick. However its done fairly well in a typically ' british' manner, I say what.
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Lone Wolf McQuade(1983) 6/10ish
With Chuck Norris, David Carradine, Barbara Carrera.
Ranger Chuck goes after gun runner Carradine, in a nut shell.
I hadn't seen this in donkeys, so I gave it a go. It was , perhaps, a slightly above average Norris job. Not too over the top, decent effects. Enough shootin' ,punchin' and stuff blowing up to keep the interest. Nice to see a couple of Peckinpah's regulars, as their older selves- LQ Jones and RG Armstrong. And DeMasi's music hit the spot
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Posted: |
Jul 31, 2022 - 2:53 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER (2022) – 7/10
It seems that a lot of people didn’t like the previous Thor film, 2017’s THOR: RAGNAROK. I’m not sure why; maybe because of the considerable comedy. That was its high point for me. In any case, if that was their problem, this new Thor movie should seem more balanced to them. Oh, it still tries for humor—wait till you see Russell Crowe as Zeus. But there’s more at stake personally for Thor in this one. Thor’s love, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), is ill, and in seeking a cure she inadvertently becomes a female Thor herself. This unfortunately happens just at the time that “Gorr the God Butcher” (Christian Bale) comes on the scene. Gorr feels he has been betrayed by the god he worshipped and now has attained the power to slay all manner of gods, so he's off on a rampage. Thor and Jane join forces with the semi-humanoid Kronan “Korg” (voiced by director Taika Waititi) to combat Gorr.
This is an OK adventure film that tries to balance the dramatic and comic elements, but only partially succeeds. Some of the comedy is forced, and the villain Gorr is missing from long stretches of the film. Plus, since Gorr’s only aim is to kill, there isn’t the sense of some bigger evil purpose afoot. The film seems unbalanced, and although it’s 12 minutes shorter than THOR: RAGNAROK, I sometimes grew impatient with it.
I don’t know what it is with the scores for these superhero films—perhaps it’s me, perhaps it’s all of the other noise and effects going on in the film—but none of these scores make any impression on me. Michael Giacchino’s score for this film is no exception. I can’t say anything bad about it, other than I don’t remember it.
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Barry Lyndon
1975
Again. Too glorious and engrossing for words. Michael Hordern narration is delicious throughout. Fantastic casting across the board, Ryan o'neal perfect. And every cameo lifts it, from Steven Berkoff to Patrick Magee to Leon Vitaly as the despicable Lord Bullingdon. Beautifully photographed, especially all the interior scenes with candlelight. And possibly classiest classical score ever.
9.2 out of 10.
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Never can tell with you mitch. Recommend a classic and you rip it to bits. Lol. I really cant see how you couldnt appreciate this film - some of its set pieces - like the pistol duel - are superbly constructed and patient, but so tense. "Lord Bullingdon... you may cock your pistol..."
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No, put it on the top. Lol
Tcm recently showing it.
Also the score is on youtube if you would like to listen to the rather superb rosenman adaptions that les talks about.
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Boot Hill(1969) 4/10
I love Italian westerns, even the shit ones. I dislike circuses. And there lies the dilemma. This one involves a lot of circus in the plot. It's not overly slapstick, just less 'western'. I stayed with it till the end, though. That must account for something. Probably the cast, which is top drawer. From Hill and Spencer, right the way down- Strode, Stander, Buono, Montifiori, Rossi et al. Also it wasn't in wide screen, so that spoilt it a bit. Music's not my favourite, either. Ads don't help the flow.
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Posted: |
Aug 1, 2022 - 7:52 AM
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By: |
MusicMad
(Member)
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Boot Hill(1969) 4/10
I love Italian westerns, even the shit ones. I dislike circuses. And there lies the dilemma. This one involves a lot of circus in the plot. It's not overly slapstick, just less 'western'. I stayed with it till the end, though. That must account for something. Probably the cast, which is top drawer. From Hill and Spencer, right the way down- Strode, Stander, Buono, Montifiori, Rossi et al. Also it wasn't in wide screen, so that spoilt it a bit. Music's not my favourite, either. Ads don't help the flow.
a.k.a La collina degli stivali ... I watched it about 4 mths ago. I was rather more critical (no surprise there!) but I do like Rustichelli's music even if its use in the film was too dominant. The close-ups, scene after scene, not allowing the viewer to assess what else was going on ... and what the story was ... were the major faults.
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I have it on dvd, where it comes across a bit better. The TV showing was rather crappy, to be fair(er). Don't mind the music on disc. Just not so much in the film. There was one decent theme ( several appearances) e.g when Woody is walking towards and past the camera, gun in hand, at sunset. Nice.
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BULLET FOR A BADMAN (1964) – 7/10
When former Texas Ranger and now escaped murderer “Sam Ward” (Darren McGavin) and his gang rob the local bank, the townspeople set upon the gang and wipe them out, except for Sam, who escapes with the money. Before he leaves the area, however, he has one more task. Sam visits his ex-wife “Susan” (Beverley Owen) with the aim of killing her new husband, “Logan Keliher” (Audie Murphy), with whom Sam once served in the Rangers. Finding Logan not at home (he was with the townspeople shooting down Sam’s gang), he takes off. Logan heads the posse out to track him down. But when they catch Sam and his current girlfriend “Lottie” (Ruta Lee), the posse members start eyeing all that money (egged on by Sam). And the Apaches are tracking the posse’s every move.
This was Audie Murphy’s first color western for Universal in the 1960s, after appearing in more than a dozen of them for Universal-International in the 1950s. It’s a good one, with Murphy trying to take his prisoner back while dealing with the less-than honorable townspeople who have joined up with the posse. There’s no love interest on the trail for Murphy this time, with wife Susan and son “Sammy” (actually Sam’s child, although the boy doesn’t know it) left back home. There’s a lot of conflicting character dynamics going on in this film, and no shortage of action either. Frank Skinner provides a good score. For Murphy fans of course, but this one has a stronger story than many of his westerns.
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GLADIATORS OF ROME (2012) – 6/10
No, not a peplum, but a peplum cartoon. In that regard, GLADIATORS OF ROME can be considered a stepchild of Disney’s 1997 HERCULES (without the songs). I would never have watched this, but I just saw the title and thought it was a legitimate peplum movie. So, I cued it up in the On Demand, popped some popcorn, started the film, and got this. And I was too lazy to restart my search for something else to watch.
This made-in-Italy production is set in the age of Imperial Rome. Young “Timo” (voice of John Schwab) is an orphan of Pompeii's terrible eruption, adopted by general “Chirone” (Glenn Wrage) and raised in the most famous Gladiators' Academy in Rome. But Timo is not exactly gladiator material. He just wants to hang out with his friends, “Ciccius” (Gianluca Machelli) and “Mauritius” (Walter Lewis), and avoid his stepfather's bizarre training sessions at all costs. However, when Timo meets the lovely “Lucilla” (Jo Wyatt), he decides to change his life and bring out the valor inside himself. Through spells, crazy raids in the woods and the terrible drills of his very personal lady trainer, “Diana” (Flaminia Fegarotti), Timo has to transform himself into the greatest gladiator of all time, and fight “Cassio” (Tim Beckman) in the arena for Lucilla’s hand.
Written and directed by Iginio Straffi, this film was in 3D when it played in Italy. After Viva Pictures' extremely limited 2014 North American engagement resulted in a gross of just $8,201, the PG-rated film went to DVD in 2015 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Paramount didn’t bother with a Blu-ray release, let alone a Blu-ray 3D one. And frankly, DVD is all the film deserves. The story is routine, the comedy is sporadic, the visuals only sometimes engaging. Bruno Zambrini’s OK score was released by GDM.
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I've never seen the film but looking at the music content (IMDb, STC) I've probably heard (and have recordings of) much of the score. The Irish jig pieces ... I'd have to check.