What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[iank]

Fair Game. Incredibly stupid but just about watchable (in a lazy afternoon sort of way) 90s action flick. Cindy Crawford is the lead actress, which tells you everything you need to know right there.

[Deadite]

Bound. I'd forgotten how hot Jennifer Tilly is. Great movie and been a long time since i've seen it.

Hitman Agent 47. It's been a long time since i've turned a movie off half-way through, but this just didn't hold my attention at all. Was a crimbo present, so i think it's going to get 'recycled'.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

The Steam Experiment (2009)

Val Kilmer plays a nut job who walks into a newspaper office late one night spouting about the end of the world through global warming in 2012 and that he has 6 people trapped in a steam room to show the effects of warming on the human psyche. The paper quickly inform the police and it's left to detective Armand Assante to save the 6 victims.

Definitely a better film than it could have been, coming across a little like the first Saw film and another horror i can't put a name to that was just a temperature as it's title. Set in mainly two rooms - the steam room and a police interrogation cell, this is actually a real oddity. Whilst nowhere near the same level as Saw what this film does have is Kilmer who comes across like some bastard son of his Jim Morrison, (drug fueled of course) and Heath Ledger's Joker, as he rolls his eyes and mumbles weird shit, whilst Assante does his best to play it straight thus making Kilmer just seem even more ****ed up.

Meanwhile the story shifts back and forth with events in the steam room, well, in between shots of fun fair merry-go-rounds with Bolero for musical accompaniment. The six people trapped include Eric Roberts whose always worth a watch, and are ideally picked through a dating site as compatible with each other. Compatible for kicking shit out of each other more like...and that's just the three girls. Some of their actions are ridiculous admittedly but it makes compulsive viewing of the pop corn variety.

I rather enjoyed this horror thriller. Although nothing out of this world it's quite effective in an oddball sort of way, with Kilmer just plain nuts, meaning the 90 mins flies by.

[J Harker]

The Longest Day, Ken Anakin, Andrew Marton and Bernhard Wicki, 1962

Producer Darryl F. Zannucks massive retelling of the events of June 6th, 1944 otherwise known as D-Day the day allied British and US forces stormed the beaches of Normandy. The plot is history itself and not being up on my WW2 history i won't even try breaking it down too much. Weary soldiers both British and American are holed up in embarkation points across the South Coast, some already on the boats and have been for a number of days. Fierce weather is holding up Eisenhowers order to go. Across the channel the Germans are expecting an attack on Calais and because Adolf is asleep with orders not to disturb the German forces are struggling to reach decisions. That this film manages to look at these monumental events from not just British, US and German perspectives but also take in to account the French resistance and even the everyman stuck in the middle is a testament to the efforts of the 3 directors hired to handle the three primary nationalities of the film. American led parts are handled by Andrew Marton, English by Ken Anakin and the German by Bernhard Wicki. Seems a shame really that the film seems better known for its producer and huge cast of stars than the three directors. I didn't count and theres probably a few i don't recognise but the cast includes John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Richard Burton, Henry Fonda, Sean Connery, Mel Ferrer, Curd Jurgens, Roddy McDowall, Kenneth More, Leslie Phillips...and on.
Its a shame, i thought that most of the more interesting characters the various privates who i would like to have seen more of and known better don't get that much screen time, thats not to say that even the biggest names like Wayne or Mitchum get a lot either, even running at three hours (nothing for a film of this scale) there are simply too many characters to really spend any time or get any attachment to anyone. Which is possibly the films flaw, at least for me. Yes its grand, as epic as could be. The battle sequences are thrilling and the beach landing itself while maybe not as brutal or as visceral as Spielbergs Saving Private Ryan is also brilliantly realised and in its own way just as impressive than anything Steve put on the screen 40 years later. Despite my comments on the screentime of the smaller roles there are still some standout scenes for these characters that stuck in my mind. The paratrooper who's chute gets caught up in a building so he's left dangling over the town square like some helpless marionette, briefly removed from the chaos and turned into a spectator on the madness below. The French girl desperately struggling to stop a German soldier warning the oncoming train of the explosives on the track. Thats a film this length and scale should have flaws is no surprise but the good definitely outwieghs the bad, the widescreen b&w cinematography looks gorgeous and all in all an enjoyable Sunday afternoon.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by J Harker

The Longest Day, Ken Anakin, Andrew Marton and Bernhard Wicki, 1962

Producer Darryl F. Zannucks massive retelling of the events of June 6th, 1944 otherwise known as D-Day the day allied British and US forces stormed the beaches of Normandy. The plot is history itself and not being up on my WW2 history i won't even try breaking it down too much. Weary soldiers both British and American are holed up in embarkation points across the South Coast, some already on the boats and have been for a number of days. Fierce weather is holding up Eisenhowers order to go. Across the channel the Germans are expecting an attack on Calais and because Adolf is asleep with orders not to disturb the German forces are struggling to reach decisions. That this film manages to look at these monumental events from not just British, US and German perspectives but also take in to account the French resistance and even the everyman stuck in the middle is a testament to the efforts of the 3 directors hired to handle the three primary nationalities of the film. American led parts are handled by Andrew Marton, English by Ken Anakin and the German by Bernhard Wicki. Seems a shame really that the film seems better known for its producer and huge cast of stars than the three directors. I didn't count and theres probably a few i don't recognise but the cast includes John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Richard Burton, Henry Fonda, Sean Connery, Mel Ferrer, Curd Jurgens, Roddy McDowall, Kenneth More, Leslie Phillips...and on.
Its a shame, i thought that most of the more interesting characters the various privates who i would like to have seen more of and known better don't get that much screen time, thats not to say that even the biggest names like Wayne or Mitchum get a lot either, even running at three hours (nothing for a film of this scale) there are simply too many characters to really spend any time or get any attachment to anyone. Which is possibly the films flaw, at least for me. Yes its grand, as epic as could be. The battle sequences are thrilling and the beach landing itself while maybe not as brutal or as visceral as Spielbergs Saving Private Ryan is also brilliantly realised and in its own way just as impressive than anything Steve put on the screen 40 years later. Despite my comments on the screentime of the smaller roles there are still some standout scenes for these characters that stuck in my mind. The paratrooper who's chute gets caught up in a building so he's left dangling over the town square like some helpless marionette, briefly removed from the chaos and turned into a spectator on the madness below. The French girl desperately struggling to stop a German soldier warning the oncoming train of the explosives on the track. Thats a film this length and scale should have flaws is no surprise but the good definitely outwieghs the bad, the widescreen b&w cinematography looks gorgeous and all in all an enjoyable Sunday afternoon.

Excellent review, J.

The soldier who's parachute got stuck in the bell tower and lost his hearing due to the noise was at a small town called Sainte-Mère-Église. They still have a soldier dummy hanging from the bell tower. The town is home to a brilliant airborne museum which is well worth a visit.

[J Harker]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Excellent review, J.

The soldier who's parachute got stuck in the bell tower and lost his hearing due to the noise was at a small town called Sainte-Mère-Église. They still have a soldier dummy hanging from the bell tower. The town is home to a brilliant airborne museum which is well worth a visit.

Is the dummy there because of the film or did that really happen Dem?

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Excellent review, J.

The soldier who's parachute got stuck in the bell tower and lost his hearing due to the noise was at a small town called Sainte-Mère-Église. They still have a soldier dummy hanging from the bell tower. The town is home to a brilliant airborne museum which is well worth a visit.

I went there a couple of times as a child holidaying in Normandy and that story always stuck with me.

Perhaps the scene which I remember most from The Longest Day is when the soldiers communicate with 'clickers' and one loss GI thinks he has found another GI when someone answers from the other side of the hedge. I won't say any more in case someone hasn't seen the film and doesn't want this scene spoiled.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by J Harker

Is the dummy there because of the film or did that really happen Dem?

It happened in real life. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Mère-Église

Originally Posted by Nosferatu@Cult Labs

I went there a couple of times as a child holidaying in Normandy and that story always stuck with me.

Perhaps the scene which I remember most from The Longest Day is when the soldiers communicate with 'clickers' and one loss GI thinks he has found another GI when someone answers from the other side of the hedge. I won't say any more in case someone hasn't seen the film and doesn't want this scene spoiled.

Yes, that is a great sequence. Very memorable. The clickers sound just like ....

I think i'll watch The Longest Day again soon. These posts are getting me in the mood for it. Besides the 6th of June isn't a long way off.

[Demoncrat]

I watched Neighbors (1981, John G Avildsen).
"Neigh-boooooooooooours!!" If only.......The one with Belushi as the straight man. Directed by the guy who helmed Rocky, that modern comedy classic. Filmed in that early 80's "flat" style (see next review), that also doesn't lend itself to laughs, as everything looks like Bleak Moments (Mike Leigh). Ahem. Appallingly drawn characters abound.

Mommie Dearest (1981, Frank Perry).
A horror film in all but name, this rollicking tale of adoption, abuse and redemption has it all. Certainly in this format anyhow. Shot as obviously the highlights of the titular tome ( a riot to read btw), yet again in that flat way that makes it look like a rather gruelling TVM. Great to see Xander Berkerley with hair as well!! Ahem.

The Last Action Hero (1993, John McTiernan)
The Austrian Oak acting. Or rather ACCCCCTTTTIIINNNGG!!! Ahem. Surprisingly violent for a "family" film. Not surprisingly, it's really shit. Is this the same team that made Predator?? Sadly yes.

The Yellow Sea (2010, Hong-jin Na)
Korean thriller. Gripping and baffling (subtitling fault?) at points, this is more like it. A taxi driver is sent on an "errand". Exciting, I know but stick with this one. Recommended, again even though it's ancient by todays standards.

[Demoncrat]

Originally Posted by keirarts

Nightmare weekend


eerrmmm..... It seemed straightforward to start with, two blokes sneaking in some place then a f****** puppet showed up and the whole thing goes haywire. As best as I can summarise this film is that its about some secret experiment using computers to control behaviour. Its entirely watchable for the sheer amount of soft porn, almost as if the people involved kept forgetting what they were making and substituted f****** for plot and character development. If I hadn't seen Night train to terror I'd say this was the most bat-shit insane piece of exploitation that I'd seen from Vinegar Syndrome. You might hate me but I insist you watch it once.

Sold then!!