Hey, don't laugh. It clearly works.

It certainly did for him.

16 Blocks. 2006.

Burned out alcoholic cop Jack Mosely escorts a witness to the court for him to testify against corrupt cops but are hunted and framed by the ones he is testifying against.

Bruce Willis stars as another cop this time bordering on the brink of life as a copper and booze assisting Mos Def as the witness to a few bad cops. It's not action packed as I thought it would be but it is a tense packed cat and mouse game with a fast talking guy who plans to open a bakery and some bit of drama mixed in bit then the film goes back on track to shootouts with some good turns in it.

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I enjoyed this, probably more than I expected. As you say, it does cover familiar territory for a 'home invasion' film, though the ending shows that the storyline and homeowners were unlike any seen in any other from this subgenre.

As the full title is Matilda the Musical (or Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical), this is principally a film adaptation of the hit musical, rather than a remake of Danny DeVito's film of the same name.

I know they have the same source material, but this took the story from Dennis Kelly's book – he wrote the screenplay – and the songs, by Tim Minchin, are mostly the same as those in the Matilda the Musical stage version.

I've seen DeVito's film several times and it's one I thoroughly enjoy so, because I haven't seen the stage adaptation and think Tim Minchin is a funny and talented songwriter, I'm interested to see this musical version of Dahl's story.

Deathstalker II (1987)

Following watching Deathstalker II it became easy to understand why i'd totally forgotten it from watching it in the past via a Shout Factory dvd. I'd forgotten it because there's nothing much to remember.

It's basically the first Deathstalker film redone with less blood shed, less boobs, certainly less budget, basically less of everything, meaning it's instantly forgettable.

Whilst John Terlesky as Deathstalker and Monique Gabrielle in a dual role are quite fun and there's some witty repartee between the two there's not much excitement along the way, nor is there any sense of danger or tension. In fact one scene in a wresting ring between Deathstalker and Deanna Booher is f*cking interminably boring.

For me Toni Naples as the evil sorceress Sultana was the best thing about the film, upstaging Gabrielle comfortably.

Deathstalker II looks lovely on Blu-ray it has to be said.

The Flesh And Blood Show. 1972

Actors rehearsing for a stage show at a seaside theatre are being killed by a unknown assailant.

Pete Walker must have been a fan of the murder/mystery genre that he created this little gem that seems to pop up every so often. The cinematography is decent at the start when you see the theatre on the pier shrouded in a fog that you know it be a perfect setting. He acting decent even though there is little blood there is plenty of flesh to see and a good plot twist to the killer.

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The Greatest Showman (2017) ★★★½

A sanitised account of P.T. Barnum's rise to fame and becoming a famous and influential entertainer, though a thoroughly entertaining one with excellent songs.

The film looks great, occasionally reminding me of Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! due to the energetic camerawork and editing, the vibrant costumes and sets, and appropriate CGI.

Hugh Jackman is very good in the central role, ably supported by a good ensemble cast led by Michelle Williams and Zac Efron, but the real stars are Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, whose songs are more memorable than the film itself.

I must pick this up on Blu at some point. Same goes for La La land.

The Greatest Showman soundtrack album has been a phenomenon. 152 weeks after it was shunted into the compilation chart it's still at #5.

Last week it was #1.

It had to be removed from the album chart proper a couple of years ago as it kept going to #1 when there weren't any big new releases as people downloaded it's popular songs.

The Untouchables.1987.

Elliot Ness tries to bring gangster Al Capone to justice during the 1930s prohibition.

Such a amazing and awesome film by Brian De Palma with Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Andy Garcia and Charles Martin Smith as the small group of law enforcement trying to shake down Capone's operation played brilliantly by Robert De Niro.

The cinematography is brilliant, some good shootouts and can be tense in some parts especially at the train station, avoiding gun fire while trying to stop a pram rolling down the stairs. Two hours watching this film can fly by, just like Billy Drago found out he can't fly off a roof.

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Basic. 2003.

A D.E.A. agent is brought in to investigate the disappearance of a drill instructor and his cadets when only two are found alive in the jungle of Panama.

Anything with Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta headlining a film is bound to work and John McTiernan directing made this enjoyable. Two soldiers found alive and telling two different stories does make a good plot twist. This isn't exactly a edge of your seat film but certainly draws in your attention as to how it will work out and Connie Nielsen looking great in a uniform.

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Captain Clegg (1962)

A classic Hammer adventure yarn about smuggling with a great horror element as ghostly skeletal riders haunt Romney Marshes to scare off the curious as Captain Clegg (a brilliant Peter Cushing) and his band of looters go about their nefarious business.

I love this film, it has a beautiful blend of action, superstition, romance and of course good old skull duggery. Yvonne Romain adds beauty to proceedings, as Oliver Reed, a square jawed Naval captain Patrick Allen and yes, Michael Ripper, bring the swash and buckle whilst the ghost riders look terrific.

Although closer to Poldark and Jamaica Inn than it is to Dracula and The Curse of Frankenstein, Captain Clegg is still a brilliant slice of coastal Gothic melodrama.

I'm sure the Indicator Blu-ray print looked more vibrant than the Final Cut release from 2014.

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FULL METAL JACKET (1987)

Stanley Kubrick's Vietnam movie. The movie follows Matthew Modine's 'Joker' through the training and then posting to Vietnam where he ends up in the nightmare city of Hue.
Powerful movie with some intense scenes. The first half of the movie set in basic training with the abusive drill instructor are just incredible.
I had not seen this movie for a long while so good to revisit.

Island Of Death. 1973.

A perverted couple arrive at a Greek Island with murder on their mind.

This is one of those "Video Nasties" that lives up to it's reputation of being banned, a oversexually couple that are infact brother and sister who phone up their mother while having sex in a phonebox. A guy gets rejected for having a bit of "Morning Glory" and decides the local goat will be his mate (animal cruelty and killing seen), this couple seem to be spouting the lord and his glory for the residents being sinners, yet how many sins have they broken? One of these films you feel disgusted by yet still watch to the end to see how it pans out.

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How I love that film. A charming family tale as old as time ... :nod::laugh::behindsofa:

With Greatest Showman, the songs were catchy and memorable. The Songs in Matilda The Musical were not, in my opinion.

Predator

Classic 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger flick which sees him lead a team of Soldiers into the Jungle to rescue some Prisoners. However something else is in the Jungle as well. Still as good as ever, even though I am curious to see what the Jean Claude-Van Damme version would have been like.

Oh yeah, I picked up The Predator Blu-Ray Box Set (Containing Predator, Predator 2, Predators and The Predator) for much less than a stand alone copy of Predator Blu-Ray (Plus the Black Friday discount)

Starship Troopers

Gleefully violent Film in which Humans and Spacebugs are at war. This is a joy to watch with Clancy Brown being the best character. I think Paul Verhoven went back to Robocop style with the news type reports.

Ebola Syndrome

Classy, discreet. tolerant, decency are not words I'll be describing this one with. What it is a Film that delivers what was promised and I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

A man (with no redeeming qualities) murders his boss and lover and goes on the run to South Africa where after Raping a tribeswoman, I ends up with the Ebola Virus and takes it back to Hong Kong, where he passes it along to unsuspecting people.

This was my 1st Cat III Film and I do wonder if Untold Story will be coming (It was mentioned a lot in the booklet) and it was certainly something, I did enjoy it.

I wonder if the Script Writer for the original American Pie got inspiration for a certain scene from this Film.

Oh yeah, what was the Examiner for The BBFC smoking before viewing this. I thought that the Rape Scenes alone would have been an issue.

Oh Well

Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves

Kevin Costner is Robin Hood, Alan Rickman is incredible as The Sheriff Of Nottingham, don't think I need to say anymore about the Film really.

Wasn't impressed with the picture quality of The Arrow Blu-Ray, the scenes in the dark looked grainy to me also it was weird seeing The Arrow Intro on a major WB Film.

Beyond The Darkness. 1979.

A taxidermist exhumes his recently deceased girlfriend's body from her grave and brings her back to his villa, along with his creepy housekeeper he tries to find the perfect replacement for his lost love.

Another weird yet strangely entertaining film from the mind of Joe D'Amato with a someone borderline sleaze/necrophilia to it, the guy brings home three different women at one point and they all appear very nude and meet a somewhat grizzly death and being hacked up. His mature housekeeper knows about his sanity yet seems to have affection for him...whatever floats your boat. The villa ain't quite Gothic as it appears to be but it's another film you watch right to the end to see how it unfolds.

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My favourite romantic film. Bar none. :nod::pop2::loveeyes:

I streamed it on Disney+ where it is in 4K with HDR, and it looks outstanding.

La La land is, similarly, an AV treat that should be enjoyed in the highest format possible. It's a film long overdue another watch, so that might be something to remedy later this week.

She Said (2022) ★★★★½

Based on the book of the same name by New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, She Said follows Twohey and Kantor (Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, respectively) as they investigate the rumours and accounts of Harvey Weinstein's harassment, bullying, and sexual assault against women.

The film unfolds a little like Spotlight and Dark Waters, two compelling films about real-life journalist-led investigations into serious criminality and the powerful cover-ups that perpetuated them. With this, the investigation – that began with Twohey and Kantor reporting the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against Donald Trump in 2016 – is very difficult because so many women are either silenced by fear or the nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) they signed with Weinstein and Miramax, often for a financial settlement.

Maria Schrader handles the directing duties extremely well, allowing the two lead actors to flourish, inhabiting their roles with conviction, and I found myself becoming emotionally invested in their private and professional lives. Additionally, the film is exceptionally well paced by Schrader and editor Hansjörg Weißbrich, and Nicholas Britell's score is pitch perfect.

Because of the length and depth of the investigation, reflected in the 300+ page book, the adapted screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz is very well structured and, while treating the audience as intelligent adults, does not become confusing with the huge numbers of names involved. I don't think it's lazy or dismissive to describe this as All the President's Men for the #MeToo movement.

Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan are both utterly convincing in the main roles and it helps to have a supporting cast including Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, and Samantha Morton, with Ashley Judd and Gwyneth Paltrow appearing as themselves. (Although Paltrow doesn't appear, she reprises a phone conversation with Jodi Kantor.) Judd's bravery in reliving her experiences again is commendable.

Although the way the events concluded is fairly common knowledge, I was surprised by how much dramatic tension exists in the film – it's a compelling and occasionally gripping watch – and it should be a staple at next year's industry awards.

It's the first film I've seen at the cinema since February, 2020, when I went to watch Parasite!

Batman Begins. 2005.

Billionaire Bruce Wayne prepares to take on crime and corruption in Gotham City using a persona of a caped crusader known as "Batman".

Christopher Nolan's take on the DC Comic character and does go back how Wayne took on the persona and why he choose bats as they can be feared, the training he went through to be invisible like a ninja and the clothes, gadgets and the bat mobile. Christian Bale's take on the character is great, i'm still a fan of Micheal Keaton's film but Bale is a lot better than Val Kilmer and George Clooney's take on the character.

Katie Holmes shows she can be tough as the D.A. who likes to try and rattle a few cages, along with Gary Oldman as Sergeant Gordon who rises to Lieutenant and able to pull off being a decent policeman. I didn't think Michael Caine could pull it off as Alfred but he does and able to bring some laughs in. Cillian Murphy plays the Dr Crane/Scarecrow and shows he isn't to be intimidated along with Liam Neeson taking the role of Bruce's mentor and antagonist who has darker plans for Gotham. As the film goes on it does become darker and darker especially towards the end during the riots in "The Narrows" and effects are decently some when people are exposed to the toxin that's released, this took me a couple of watches to actually appreciate the story to it.

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Something In The Dirt (Benson/ Moorehead)

Two mismatched neighbours find common ground when something unusual begins to happen in their locale. The directors star in this one, so you can finally get a look at them :lol:.
I liked this one despite a lukewarm finale (or I hadn't been paying enough attention :laugh:), so will be revisiting shortly methinks. Told in a slightly non linear way, tis another good looking film, I will say. Hmmmm.

Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth. 2000.

Teens at a school are being stalked by a masked killer.

The Mrs wanted a comedy on so I put her through this, tbh she is a big scary movie fan but this she was laughing non stop and I prefer this over Scary Movie, the acting is was you expect it to be in a parody movie and this totally rips the piss out of itself and that's what makes it more comical.

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Harpoon (2009, Julius Kemp)

A charming tale of the sea. Holidaymakers frolic on a cruise made for whale watching, love can't be far behind can it?
I digress
A fairly bleak wee thing this. Gunnar Hansen obviously wanted to see snow :lol: but don't blink and that. The usual unlikeables parade about, some quesy humour but a sour tone remains. Fine if that's what you're looking for in fact. Grumpy Demon! :lol:

Why so grumpy? Not enough exhumation for you?

It made me grumpy because it's not gory or violent enough.

True, it's neither one thing nor another. Am sick of these "rounded" characters, give me the bubblehead, the jock and the stoner ffs :laugh:

Eastern Promises. 2007.

A midwife tries to find out what happened to a girl who died giving birth while looking for clues in a diary that she finds and leads her to think a Russian family is involved.

This was something different from David Cronenberg, A History Of Violence showed us that he can direct a action thriller type film, this is more crime thriller that basically doesn't slow down or drag on in any places. Naomi Watts plays the midwife who seeks answers for a orphan child and doesn't like what she finds. Viggo Motensen plays the driver of Vincent Cassel and seems to leave clues about. Cassel plays the son of old school russian mobster and can be ruthless but shows how sensitive he can be towards the end. Decently made and certainly enjoyable.

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Dirty Games

British Film about Contestants on a Game Show who must end up a Couple but have to complete tasks set by the Viewers. However things turn violent. It's got a no-name Cast (But there is a Jason Momoa lookalike) and the Cover and write-up describe it has much more than it delivers. Not even that violent.

Clockwise

1985 British Comedy which stars John Cleese as a Headmaster who is very strict about timekeeping and after he is given the role as a Head of a Headmasters Association, he ends up getting on the wrong Train and faces a race against time in order to not be late.

He ends up getting a lift from one of his Female Pupils and a whole lot of mishaps and miscommunications along the way including, his Wife thinking that he's having affair and Kidnapping.

This Film and it's Cover is one of my earliest Film memories (It was advertised on the Rental VHS of Santa Clause: The Movie) and this was the 1st time, I've actually seen this Film and I rather enjoyed it. I found it to be funny, even though, I didn't like that the Girl was actually having a affair with another Teacher storyline. I was also glad that there wasn't any of the Of It's time kind of scenes and/or dialogue. Penelope Wilton Co-Stars.

The Dark Knight. 2008.

Christopher Nolan's sequel to Batman Begins and this certainly lived up to the hype that was advertised 14 years ago and still going strong. Christian Bale seemed to adapt to the character of Bruce Wayne and we also see helearning to keep the Batman persona serperate from his regular billionaire side a struggle with good creative writing. Gary Oldman returns as Gordon and Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent who wants to clean up Gotham and using Batman as help and back up. Maggie Gyllenhaal steps into the role of Rachel that was previously played by Katie Holmes and shows the character to be stronger than before.

Caesar Romero and Jack Nicholson brought the character Joker to the screen with some wit and humour but Heath Ledger went further than these two. Ok he brought some humour but he is more menacing and plays the psychological mind games with a darker side without even blinking. Even the make up especially round the eyes gives him that creepy look that you don't want to make eye contact with him. Right from the start there is no delay in getting to the plot on how insane the Joker is and how he plays everyone against each other.

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The Last Of The Mohicans. 1992.

In the 18th century, a man adopted by a Mohican and his brother become protectors of two British sisters of a British colonel during the French and Indian war.

Aside drifting away from the source material novel this is still a great film to watch, Daniel Day Lewis plays the adopted son Hawkeye and crosses a boundary in romance with Brit Madeline Stowe as she and her sister head to Fort William Henry. Wes Studi plays the tribal native Magua who is a guide and turns on those he fell have done his people injustice. From what seems to be like a adventure film becomes a violent battle. Michael Mann done a decent job directing this and able to create great cinematography with the scenery and able to include a great background score.

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Lost Bullet
 

Lost Bullet 2
 

Hong Kong '97
 

The Dark Knight Rises. 2012.

Some films never really match up to their predecessor but this final instalment of Nolan's trilogy is amazing to watch and enjoy, clocking in at 2 hours and 45 mins doesn't really seem to be that as it is engrossing and forget the world around you.

Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine return along with Cillian Murphy in a small role, Anne Hathaway dons the black leather as Selina/Catwoman and does a better job than what Halle Berry did with the role, who is the best Catwoman out of the Batman franchise? You do forget at times that Tom Hardy is the man behind the mask of Bane, previously seen in Batman And Robin, here he is a bit more believable and a bit more unbalanced in life.

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Nicholas And Alexandra. 1971.

The life of the last monarch of Russia Tsar Nicholas II from the birth of his son and the family exile to Siberia.

Having read and done a history paper (for high school) on The Romanov's, this was a decently made adaptation of the family with a growing sense of paranoia within the family and the Tsar and the people he trusted. Michael Jayston and Jane Suzman play the Royals and the way they portray their characters you would think they were a real couple. Tom Baker makes his appearance as Rasputin and portrays the character very sinisterly as he was lead to believe. The cinematography is decently done and nice set pieces crafted and costume is what you would expect it to be from the time era. Some parts may not be accurate but certainly worth a watch.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYMMOjBUPMM

The first big screen outing for Spidey which is basically his origin story with a brilliant Willem Dafoe as the deranged Green Goblin. Who still has to be the best Spidey villain because of Dafoe performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s9Yln0YwCw

Still my favourite of all the Spiderman movies it's a none stop ride with some great action scenes and a tradic villain . The will they won't they between Peter and Mary Jane continues and Harrys Osbourne hatred of Spiderman grows as he blames him for the death of his farther . The whole train scene is still as gripping as the first time I watched it.


Now watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs3Fdce9Wo0

Decemberdike # 1
 

Scared Stiff (1987)

A pop singer (Mary Page Keller) begins getting vivid nightmares when she and her psychiatrist boyfriend (Andrew Stevens) along with her young son move into an old plantation house which was formerly owned by a fearsome slave owner.

An eighties ghost story which just about remains on the right side of interesting thanks to Stevens becoming creepier throughout as the film sort of meanders by means of some weird happenings in that vaguely fun way to a great big practical FX gloopy climax. The slow pace during the first hour is long forgotten when you see a character unzip their head to reveal their bloody gray brain for example.

A film that isn't as good as it could be perhaps but also better than it could have been. However the poster art below sums up the films final twenty minutes nicely.

The Arrow Blu-ray looks gorgeous in outdoor scenes and has a suitably grainy tv like sparkle to it when indoors.

THE DEEP HOUSE – Maury and Bustillo are at it again. This time they have a gimmick; TDH is an underwater haunted house movie. Two Youtubers hear about a mysterious ruin at the bottom of a lake and decide it’s the hot property that will bring the hits and the ‘likes’ rolling in, so it’s on with the diving gear and the underwater vid cams. M&B derive maximum impact from Jacques Ballard‘s deep-dive cinematography, which is commandingly atmospheric and sets the film’s eerie tone. The fact that most of TDH, which plays out in semi ‘real-time’, is basically just two people wandering from room to room, searching through the subaquatic grot that surrounds them, makes it seem quite entrancing at first. This spell doesn’t last - in time, the constant POV repetition starts to resemble some kind of underwater computer game, and the addition of a fairly by-the-numbers wrap-up leaves you with the impression that there’s more literal than cinematic depth to it. But overall, worth a watch for its atmospherics and slight novelty.

THE LODGE – From the makers of the original ‘Goodnight, Mommy’. A family, transformed by a tragedy that sets the film up with a truly unsettling tone, heads off to a remote, snowy region where their holiday home stands waiting to be filled with the joys of christmas. What follows is another take on warped parental dynamics, a theme familiar from ‘Goodnight Mommy’, and this time the twists and turns are different but the ride is similar. Again, there’s that chilly Euro arthouse feel and a baleful atmosphere, not to mention an overall trajectory that’ll keep you guessing. What’s going on might not be all that hard to decipher in the end and there were some aspects that didn’t quite click for me, but ‘The Lodge’ is a solid thriller, unnerving and compelling. Doesn’t seem to have had much of a release weirdly enough.

SUKKUBUS – We’re off over to the Alps for a dose of hitherto obscure Euro horror from the late eighties. It’s set in the 19th cent; three herdsmen venture up the icy slopes to look after their cows. They seem to be raving sexists, as evinced less by their taste in bawdy singalongs than by their desire to enact violence against a sex toy they’ve made from bits of stump and straw. They’re a bit pent up, you do worry about those cows really. Anyway, magic’s afoot, and what happens next is either supernatural vengeance or otherworldly manipulation depending on your take on this film’s slightly sullen ambiguity; whichever way that goes, naked Pamela Prati turns up to teach them all a few manners. ‘Sukkubus’ is an odd film that to me seems a bit contextless. It’s not original, but I can’t think of much else like it from the time and place (which says more about my ignorance than anything else). I guess today it slots into the retroactively convenient ‘folk horror’ construct that young urbane types seem to natter about on their electronic devices, but for me it simply works as a mood piece. Not much happens – three people go up a mountain and get done in by a succubus, that’s it – though on the other hand aesthetically it’s very nice, with lots of atmospheric shots of snowy mountainsides and a feeling of desolation giving way to something worse, and there’s a progressively more dreamlike edge once we’re at the stage of Prati‘s cavorting. Slight in some ways, but worth checking out if you’re into vaguely aloof, dreamy European horror films.

I have this on my watch list, seems interesting, but your review has made me wanting to push it high up to watch sooner