Two fantastic films Frankie, and two great reviews. :)

I much prefer Southern Comfort to its more famous inbred half sibling Deliverance.

It's been ages since I last saw this – as some indicator of time, that was when it came out as I watched it for review purposes – and really liked it, so must dig out the DVD and give it another viewing. It is the season, anyway!

Following on from yesterday's rewatch of Ruggero Deodato's most famous man-muncher film, I fancied watching another of his films, so I watched Cut and Run. Despite the version I watched having certain scenes only in Italian and without subtitles (not much of an issue, until they spoke too quick for me to transalate), I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely pick up the R1 DVD if I can source a cheap copy.
Plus, I noticed another character called Tommy that had an 80's perm, as pointed out by Handyman Joe's missus earlier in this thread!

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV...0,214,314_.jpg

I'm back to working crazy hours again, so film watching is barely getting a look in :( Tried watching Black Mama White Mama last night, but fell asleep about 20 minutes in. Got to see the shower scene, but didn't make it to Sid Haig. I'll try again tonight . . .

December 6th

Siren (2010)

Merlin's Eoin Macken heads a film about three friends travelling around gorgeous sun kissed islands in a hired yacht. Things start to take a turn for the worse when they discover a man on the point of death bleeding from the ears.

Siren is a well directed, great looking film that is well acted throughout. It has a competantly written storyline which flys along, not allowing the viewer to get bored. For a low budget British film it is a nice change to have it set in such lovely sunny locations.

But the film lacks something, that certain spark to make it memorable, its difficult to say exactly what that spark is. It may be the siren herself who is certainly pretty, but to me is not irresistibly beautiful enough to portray this mythological creature. It could be the lack of hardcore thrills and spills or gory murders. I'm not certain, as films don't begin and end with blood and guts to me. It just lacks that certain something, so for me Siren was purely ok and difficult to recommend.

December 7th

Alone in the Dark (1982)

What a highly enjoyable film with a terrific cast - Donald Pleasence, Jack Palance and Martin Landau. A slasher film but slightly different to the norm as we know from the start who the slashers are, in this case three escaped mental patients (Palance, Landau and Erland Van Lidth) who manage to get away from Pleasence's institution during a blackout and terrorize the family of their new psychiatrist.

The film is both a lot of fun and incredibly sleazy in places, especially the scene where Palance, hidden under a womans bed repeatedly thrusting a blade through the mattress with its point emerging between her thighs. It all culminates when the mild mannered shrink fights back to save his family.

The film may mix and match its genres, slasher, revenge thriller, action movie, but it all adds up to a gripping viewing experience.

Attachment 93346

As everyone has already said this looks amazing a real triumph for Arrow who have made me happier than words can explain.

I really liked 'Alone in the Dark' when I saw it about five years ago, but the last time I watched it (around Feb / March this year) I found it a bit disappointing and boring in places. I can't account for the difference in 'pleasure yield' between viewings, although it's fairly typical for me to feel very differently about a film from showing to showing. I'll have to give it another shot to get things straight, or to at least find another perspective.

Interesting point Frankie.

I wonder if i'll feel the same during its next viewing?

You sure you didn't put on the Uwe Boll film by mistake . . . ?

:lol: I have to admit i have never been bored by a Boll film. Maybe other feelings but never boredom.

Baytown Outlaws & Grabbers
 

The Baytown Outlaws This was the closing night film at Fantasy Film Fest in Hamburg. Although I had a ticket I had to skip the showing in order to catch a train home :( So I have been looking forward to the home video (or Bluray in this case) for the past few months. Although the narrative is perhaps a little too linear and pretty predictable if you are in the right frame of mind (e.g. after a six pack of beers) then there is enough spectacle, action and humour to make it a worthwhile watch. I was in the right frame of mind and really enjoyed it.

Grabbers (German Bluray release) I commented on this film over in my diary when I saw it earlier in the year at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and many of you will have caught it at subsequent festivals. It loses nothing in the transition to the small screen and is still worth a watch.

I went back to Coppola's Dracula this afternoon, after what has been a long time, I watched it last when I was in college and for 6 weeks we studied this film for an essay on how Hammer has influenced modern film-making, so fast-forward 14-15 years and here we are. I'd forgotten how good this film looks, Oldman is outstanding plus the sets and costumes are great. Yes, Keanu is shit and his accent still sounds like he's playing Ted 'Theodore' Logan, but it's a minor quibble from an otherwise stellar cast!

Excellent way to wind down on a Saturday afternoon after Christmas shopping...

I also forgot how bloody it was, and how rampantly sexual it all was, especially since I recently watched the Universal version.

I've just been searching on ebay for the blu of this!

Argento Mother of tear.
Wasnt to keen and for a a Argento film it didnt even feel like you watching a film by him just felt like a film anyone would have made definatly one of his worst..

If you have the DVD then the blu isn't much of an upgrade tbh! I was kind of disappointed when I saw it. So if your determined to get it then get it cheap!

I have the special collectors edition 2 disc DVD, so I had only planned on upgrading if I could find it for under a fiver, the DVD looks great upscaled anyway

Weirdly, I felt the same way about 'Alone in the Dark' on watching it the second time around. I'm not sure why, it could be due to the big reveal at the end (which I won't spoil here), which really took me by surprise the first time I watched it and added a lot to the film for me. I still think it's a solid thriller and Donald Pleasance is as reliably kooky as ever but it's not one I can see myself returning to again in the near future.

Attachment 93403


Two brothers lives are turned upside down when their father gets a visit from an angel telling him he has a gift to spot demons when he touches them and is tasked by god to rid the earth of these demons. Younger brother Adam believes his fathers mission is real but older brother Fenton is not so convinced.

I was really surprised by this film it was just a random watch for me so expected nothing but i was taken in by it right from the start. Well worth a watch if you have not seen it.

What's up with the audio on Rasputin? Any audio sync issues like they had with
DPOD?

I like this film, rented it when it was first released and managed to pick up the DVD from CEX for a pound I think a few weeks back

DPOD?

Dracula: Prince of Darkness ;)

Thanks! Is this the bluray? As I have that movie (DVD) in the Hammer Collection boxset from a few years ago and I dont recall there being an audio problem! Either way it's nice to know as its one of those movies I might upgrade one day!

Yes Dracula Prince of Darkness had some audio sync issues,but it did get rectified.I also noticed with Studio Canal's DPOD and QATP featured documentaries with Oliver Reed as narrator,and the sound is also terrible.You really have to struggle to hear what Mr.Reed is saying.Hopefully RTMM isn't as bad as some people are making out.

Those Oli Reed docs are episodes of World of Hammer, which a poor quality anyway so there's nothing that can be done about them, Rasputin IMO isn't as bad as people have been making out

That's good to hear so. I look forward to viewing it over the
Christmas holidays. I just won't watch the Oliver Reed doc's again.

TBH, they're shite anyway so you aren't missing owt

I have had it for a few years just never got around to watch it glad i finally did.

I remember when Hammer dvd's first became available, World of Hammer episodes seemed like awesome special features.

Until we actually watched them.:rolleyes:

No synch issues, just really quiet and 'tinny'. It sounds like it was recorded in someones garden shed. The audio on the previous dvd release is much better.

Here's the audio comparison that I originally posted in the Rasputin thread. There is definitely too much top end on the audio recording, but I found that by turning up the bass on my surround sound system and slightly increasing the volume sorted it out

https://soundcloud.com/sleep-cant/rasputin

i'll have a muck about with my telly and see if something can't be done. Shame really first major issue I've had with the hammer releases.

I'll admit it is slightly annoying, but the stunning PQ made up for it so I saw no reason to complain.
Dracula is due out in March, I really can't wait for that one in HD

I've only seen the Rasputin BD once since it arrived and didn't notice any synchronisation problems. As I've been meaning to watch it again, I'll keep a lookout for any synchronisation problems on next viewing.

Also, I'm another the doesn't think much of the World of Hammer episodes, only watching them because they're on the disc – I certainly wouldn't seek them out or buy a DVD containing the World of Hammer series.

There is no sync issues, the audio is a little thin and tinny with very little low end

In that case, it's not something I noticed or anything which stood out as problematic. Maybe it's my amplifier.

Giallo, As a stand alone film it was ok ish but as a Dario Argento film it was rubbish,

Watched Brian Trenchard-Smith's Vietnam war movie The Siege of Firebase Gloria and i really liked it. This Australian/Philippine production also gives room to show a more objective side of the war where both sides actually suffered great losses for their cause.
And for entertainment it's filled with action, blood, guts and chopped heads! ;)

The on demand DVD from MGM Limited Edition Collection looks actually really good and have a strong and clear audio.

Attachment 93408

The Siege of Firebase Gloria (1989) - IMDb

Possible Spoilers!
 

The Mothman Prophecies (2001) Based around an event that took place in 1967, the Mothman Prophecies is about a recently widowed journalist who inxeplicably finds himself in the town of Point Pleasant where strange sightings of a creature have been taking place. The journalist with a police officer tries to piece together the clues and cryptic messages that some are left with and soon discover that they are about disasters that are yet to happen. The journalist learns of an ancient creature called the Mothman that seems to warn others of impending disaster but isnt to sure if he is being warned or is sliding into madness over the death of his wife. A pretty good mystery movie but be warned don't expect a great reveal or an answer to everything. There is a little snippet of info about what happened at the end of the movie, which without giving to much away, can be disproved with a little research on the internet!

Attachment 93412

Yet more creepy Asian greatness.