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Reviews
The Deserter (1970)
Worth an occasional re assessment
Bekim Fehmiu, never seen this actor before or since. He has a subtle strong force of major quality that works quite wel here.
He is surrounded by excellent performances from Albert Salmi, Woody Strode,Ian Bannen, Chuck Conners , Brandon De Wilde,Richard Crenna, The always fun Patrick Wayne , the great slim Pickens and John Houston Who is pushing a William Shatner type vibe in his buffoonery like Shatner it often comes off as genius... It's a film about revenge. It pulls very few punches but in the end, it's a film about redemption. Bert Kennedy should be applauded for putting together this incredible cast that really works under his direction.
Is it a classic, maybe not maybe so. Depends on your definition it certainly warrants occasional repeated viewing ,so you decide.
Take a Hard Ride (1975)
Fun western with Great cast
Jim Brown, Fred, Williamson, Catherine Spaak, Lee Van Cleef, Barry, Sullivan, a very effective, Jim, Kelly, and more make this fun fun film. Brown and Williamson belong in a saddle and have made some decent western through the years Jim Brown with Rio, Conchos, and 100 rifles and Fred Williamson with Moore exploitative Westerns that still were quite good. Brown and Williamson are effective actors check out Jim Brown and tick tick tick if you don't think I'm right. Williamson gets on charm, but does it work. Very Sullivan is a great character actor that you put all these folks together and give them on an adventure to Chase for me. It was just a really really good time. I only gave it because I really don't like the use of an old, racial epithet from anyone. By the way, the score is fantastic as well. Wish they had made a sequel.
Road House (2024)
Lots of fun
Roadhouse 2024 is a lot of fun. The lead has exactly the right tone as does the head bad guy. But when Connor McGregor shows up and starts playing off the rest of the cast the fun really starts and the film cooks... I'd also like to give a shout out to the great local music bands, and seemingly original music they're playing throughout the film. Those guys are great and the album / soundtrack would be worth a download.
Conner McGregor belongs in a bond film. He is the perfect villain.
I could see a sequel to roadhouse and I'd be the first in line to watch it.
Not sure how they would put that together because they really need most of this cast to return. They're that good together
Grab the goobers raisinettes and some popcorn
Not for young kids though.
La Brea (2021)
Fun nostalgic
This TV show reminds me of the lost continent a classic film from the 60s or even the people that time forgot or the land that time forgot from the 70s
It wouldn't surprise me if they could go back in time La Brea Wood star, Patrick Wayne, and Doug McClure and Catherine Munro or Barbara Luna.
It was just a fun ride with dinosaurs and melodrama mixed with time, travel and essentially modern caveman and women.... I'm glad that they actually had an end to it, put a bow on the whole thing. The acting was good like the lost continent which I first saw when I was eight years old. I remember that show into the future if that isn't a good measure of a good film, I don't know what it is.
Snowbeast (1977)
Fun
Although this needs a high definition print. It's a good fun monster movie. The cast includes the gorgeous Yvette Mimieux, Bo Fenson, Robert, Logan of the wilderness family movies in the great Clint Walker. That's fine well-made and adventurous but you're in the mood for a monster movie you could a lot worse.
As criticisms as said before, it needs a better print, and Robert Logan seems to overact a bit yells. Most of his lines are usually like him as an actor and Clint Walker is really underrated. Cheyenne is a classic of the western genre and of course he had a great performance in the dirty dozen as well.
Fun night at the movies check it out.
Double Trouble (1992)
Fun
I had never seen a Paul brothers movie. Those guys were funny and talented in a Three Stooges sort of way. This Flick, which follows the same premise is Beverly Hills cop is funny and fun and has a ton of interesting actors, including James Doohan Billy Mumy, Troy Donahue, David, Carradine and Lewis Arquette... the real stand out. Here is Roddy McDowall, but he stands out in anything he does. I chuckled throughout it enjoy the action pieces and car chases. I'm gonna have to go find these guys in a couple of other films.
It was really nice seeing James Doohan and Billy Mumy get to play outside the box and do something a little different. If you're in the mood for easy entertainment, and some popcorn, I recommend it.
Grease 2 (1982)
Good musical
I tried to watch this when I was young man, and a big fan of the original Grease.
Back then . I just couldn't take it.
It didn't have Travolta ,didn't have Olivia Newton-John and I was out pretty quick,
but now having watched it 40+ years later, it's a good solid musical.
The dancing is great. The cinematography is great. The acting is good all the way around .
Adrian Zmed, Eve Arden,Didi Conn, Lorna Luft and Michelle Pfeiffer are terrific. Maxwell Caulfield gets a bad rap as he is decent in the Fabian knock off role.
Michelle Pfeiffer is one of the most beautiful women that's ever been on the screen and she can sing and dance as well....so overall I like this film, I wish the music was better and that's really what held it back. Cool Rider, charades ,back to school again and the last song they sang together are decent but maybe not great. The rest of the songs are C minus .....but overall Grease 2 is solid , fun entertainment .....it I just needed to get it away from the original by a few decades so that it stands on its own.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022)
They lost me then won me back
I really liked the first season of Star Trek, strange new worlds until they had an episode about child sacrifice, and actually let the kid die. I felt like that was not what Star Trek was about at all. In fact, it was the antithesis of Star Trek. Just my opinion, but I hold it strongly, but After an almost one year break, I heard they were doing a silly musical and I just couldn't resist tuning it in. And they have me back at least for now even though the musical episode is not my favorite, it is clever.
Star Trek is about the hope and peace and heroism. You got enough of the other s**t in life, so how about it you guys stay positive we need you that way. Leave the hopeless episodes to the rest of television that's been made today.
The Flash (2023)
Good memorable comic book flicker
The actors playing The Flash and the mother are wonderful here as is the entire cast.
The plot is fun, funny, touching and even has a mystery element.,,. Michael, Keaton, and Ben Affleck stood out as well. I really love the plot element that brought back Reeves, Reeve West and George Clooney. That was really fun to watch people complaining about the special effects but I thought they worked... I mean the film has a comic element to it and I thought that CGI I matched the tone of the film. Are usually think superhero movies, especially marvel, and I know this is DC are way too long. This one is really long, but I didn't feel like I was watching cartoons kill each other for 40 minutes although I probably did lol. Overall highly recommended because of a good caste, interesting plot in the nostalgia of having former superheroes involved again. Nice job.
Evening Shade (1990)
One of the best sitcoms ever!!
With an all star cast including Burt Reynolds, Elizabeth, Ashley, Charles Durning, Ossie Davis Ann Wedgeworth, and Marilou Henner the show never failed to entertain.
For me, it ranks up there with the Andy Griffith show,I love Lucy Seinfeld , Friends and Mary Tyler Moore. In spirit It most resembles the Andy Griffith Show and the second Bob Newhart series in that it's great ensemble cast makes you love and care for each and every character and it's laugh out loud funny.
. It just makes you feel good from start to finish and even the theme song, written, and sung by Bobby Goldsboro keeps the vibe intact.
The Story of an ex Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback, stuck in a losing high school as a head coach is always warm, friendly and heartfelt.
When I mentioned the cast, I failed to note the great Michael Jeter and Gabriel Dell. They are also outstanding. Evening Shade is now streaming on Amazon or at least most of the episodes are ......check it out and let's get this show seen by more people. It absolutely deserves it.
Jesus Revolution (2023)
Very good movie making/ feel good/ heartfelt
I was surprised by how good this movie was. It's a story of faith, but it's a story of flawed people trying to do something they believe in and other flawed people trying to decide whether they believe in the cause or not ...
it's a love story not only of two young people getting together or not , but it's a love story about Kelsey Grammer's character, Chuck Smith, and his long-suffering wife. And Lonnie Frisbee and his long-suffering wife.
I couldn't wait to get home and read the backstory of these real people and like all of us they were more flawed than the movie let's on and yet it in its own way the movie doesn't white wash their flaws or their disagreements , but in fact, it embraces them.
Kelsey Grammer was perfect as were all of the other actors.
10 out of 10 .
I flat loved it.
Will definitely watch it again.
Faraway (2023)
A romcom worthy of adults
My wife and I really enjoyed this film. It's a traditional romcom in many ways but the way it's put together makes it special.
All of the actors especially the two leads are terrific. The scenery which I presume is Croatia is an absolute travelogue. Wow.
Bottom line the picture drew you in to what they were trying to accomplish. You actually cared about the characters unlike most of the films on Hallmark. We found ourselves, laughing out loud by the film's end and caring about them at the same time.
Charming little picture.
By the way, the use of 99 balloons as reoccurring theme music really worked.
Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979)
Good popcorn adventure film
I gave it a nine to offset some of the ones.
And because the cast was great. Caine, Field,Malden,Jones,Harmon,Angela Cartwright,Telly Savalas.
Just grab the popcorn and watch an adventure.
Peter Boyles character was a bore but Slim Pickens and Shirley Knight offset Boyle who was done in by bad writing. It was simply fun for me and works as a stand-alone.
I must admit when I saw it in the theatre all those years ago it just didn't work. The original had been a blockbuster and a new genre to my generation.
But watching it forty four years later. It stands on its on as a really good popcorn feature.
Enjoy.
A Love Song (2022)
Loved it.
I thought this film was well conceived, beautiful to look at, and the acting was superb.
I laughed considerably at the young Cowboys that came to visit Dale Dickey's character over and over again, and Miss Dickey's face and her acting reveal great depth. She is a marvelous talent. As is Wes Studi.
I could see this turned into a TV series of some type, And would definitely pay to see more of the characters.
I like I liked the story, the pace and the music is terrific. Frankly my only complaint about the music is I couldn't find it on iTunes to buy the album.
I would've like the ending to be a little less bitter sweet but it's helpful and I can live with that. All in all terrific.
Vengeance (2022)
Very good
As someone who lived in rural Texas, but spent most of his life in a big eastern city, and is now back in a rural area.... I think this film has the hit the nail on the head. It's a comedy with a big brain and is written by a writer who is trying to understand apart of the country he doesn't get. And finally it says violence, and Citizen owned firearms has a Place in the country. Not a normal point of view from liberal Hollywood.
Thought provoking cinema with a fine cast. Funny and deep.