Violation (2020)

Solid debut from Directors/Writers Madeleine Sims-Fewer & Dusty Mancinelli.

Great Cinematography & Soundtrack, with Madeleine Sims-Fewer pulling triple duty in the lead role, which she is great in.

While I appreciated the different beats on the well-worn Rape/Revenge sub-genre, the film is sluggish and its decision to narrate its story out of order hurts a lot of the film's initial punch.

Yes, I need to get this on blu-ray. It is always fun to watch and even has some profundity in it about 'mankind' - well done

Some ok scenes but mostly forgettable

I liked the Marksmen more.

I opened the blui-ray after watching for the first time in 6 years.

It still holds up and don't understand why some people hate it.

Life (2017) - Had never seen this, but years ago I had predicted a certain plot development based solely on the trailer. I was wrong though; it happened at around the 40 minute mark, not in the first 30 minutes. The destination wasn't bad, but the journey to get there isn't really worth it. (iTunes)

Drillbit Taylor - A rewatch. Not great, but still mildly amusing. (HBO Max)

Killerman - 'Hunger Games' Hemsworth and Homer from the OA are scumbags making a pickup (or something?) and then try to do a drug deal that goes bad. It's hard to take this too seriously once the amnesia plot kicks in. Then there is the whole pregnant girlfriend story line that completely plays out in about ten minutes. It has occasional moments, but the plot silliness (though it is a film almost totally lacking in humor) and ultimate predictability of the end story make this not really worth the time. (HBO Max)

Fear Street Part One: 1994 (2021)

While I didn't care for Kiana Madeira in the lead role, I thought this was a fun slasher film that sets up a trilogy of films this month.

Supporting cast was solid, as was the soundtrack, which definitely made sure to remind you that it was 1994.

Minari (2020)

Absolutely wonderful film worthy of all the praise it's gotten. Incredibly organic with a fantastic cast.

The Crooked Way (1949). A man with amnesia caused by shrapnel in his brain tries to figure out who was before the war. He discovers that he was an awful person, a gangster who had double-crossed everyone. When his old associates find he's back in town, they still hold grudges. It's a great premise but it turns into a generic gangster picture. Several nice location shots of 1940s Los Angeles, a low budget compensated for with dramatic lighting. (Tubi)

She-Wolf of London (1946). Youthful June Lockhart leads a cast of good actors wasted in a terrible picture. She thinks she's a werewolf. We figured out the ending about ten minutes from the start, and after that it was just a matter of waiting.(Svengoolie)

Split Second - 1992 sci-fi horror movie starring Rutger Hauer and Kim Cattrall. This is cheesy in a 'so bad it's good' kind of way. Hauer is an overly intense maverick cop trying to track down a serial killer who killed his partner. Cattrall plays the late partner's wife and Hauer's love interest. It's set in the 'future' of 2008 and global warming has caused London--where this takes place--to be partially flooded. Though it came out in 92, this has the look and feel of an early-to-mid 80s movie, with fairly low production values. Hauer powers through the movie like a freight train. Cattrall--who had made a name for herself by this time in movies like Big Trouble in Little China, Mannequin, and Star Trek VI--isn't given much to do here but look pretty and be a damsel in distress. (She has a very brief topless scene, for those interested). The supporting cast includes a lot of 'that guy' actors from the era.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) — Hadn't seen this one in many years, maybe last time was back in high school 20+ years ago. Delightful musical-comedy featuring the great Gene Wilder and deadpan, sarcastic humor that I immensely loved. Also the production design was excellent and musical numbers, including the catchy Oompa songs were wonderful. ****¼/*****

The Ice Road Netflix
Liam Neeson. Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh. 2021
After a remote diamond mine collapses in the far northern regions of Canada, an ice driver leads an impossible rescue mission over a frozen ocean to save the lives of trapped miners despite thawing waters and a threat they never see coming.

I went into this expecting a gritty Survival Thriller and was hugely turned off when it became a conventional Action Thriller with sinister corporate bad guys, hit men and such. I turned it off half-way through.

Netflix streaming

One of the better movies I have seen in awhile and highly recommend.

Epix

A good message at the end but mostly a bore.

That girl looked like Brie Larson.

The Bridge On The River Kwai Sony Pictures4K UHD
Alec Guiness, William Holden. Directed by David Lean. 1957
British POWs are forced to build a railway bridge by their Japanese captors. Meanwhile, a cynical American soldier joins with a British team on a mission to prevent the bridge from being built.

A "Classic" that still holds up and it looks great in 4K. Having not seen it in a while, I took notice of how well-structured the story was, -two parallel stories with Holden and Guiness only meeting at the finale. Holden plays the cynical anti-hero he perfected, while Guiness portrays a deeply layered character that's both intriguing and a bit frustrating. Excellent film.

Sleepaway Camp Shout Factory BD
Felissa Rose. Directed by Robert Hiltzik. 2983
Welcome to Camp Arawak, where teenage boys and girls learn to experience the joys of nature, as well as each other. But when these happy campers begin to die in a series of horrible 'accidents', they discover that someone - or something - has turned their summer of fun into a vacation to dismember.

I've known the big reveal at the end of the film, but I had never sat and actually watched the film. It's surprisingly entertaining, -and more fun than I expected, - with some decent make-up effects. The video is surprisingly sharp and colorful, and there's a nice retrospective documentary.

In the Heights - Watched this in the theater a few weeks ago and enjoyed it so did a rewatch on HBO Max. I don't love all of the songs, and it feels long in spots, but I still find it very enjoyable. (HBO Max)

Fast & Furious - This is probably the fulcrum movie between the street racing antics and the international whatever they are now. It's mildly enjoyable. It's not the best, but it's not the most ridiculous. (Peacock)

Ladyhawke - I've been meaning to rewatch this, and Dick Donner's death yesterday was the push I needed. It's always been a curious movie. Most of the cast is in one film. Broderick and the score seem to be in an entirely different film. (Blu-ray)

My 2013 self liked this but now I have second thoughts though the 2012 or 2013 Claire Danes was nice to look at.

I have to say, not only do I love that shocking reveal at the end, but I love that killer song that plays over it...I still YouTube that scene sometimes just to hear that song...It's like a lost '80s gem...

It was Ok and not horrible.

TCM - Noir Alley

Hulu

Evilspeak Shudder (Streaming)
Clint Howard. Directed by Eric Weston. 1981
A picked-on Military Academy student discovers an ancient demonic spell that allows him to take revenge on his enemies.

Not a well-constructed film by any measure, but a movie where Clint Howard floats in mid-air decapitating his tormenters with a huge sword has a certain amount of entertainment value.

Room 9 (2021) — Terrible all around. Direction, acting, writing, "plot", sound design. Everything. This is the type of crap that will eventually end up as a free movie on Amazon Prime. Awful. They might not be good actors, but Scout Taylor-Compton and Kane Hodder should be embarrassed; wonder if they were doing somebody a favor. 0/5

Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Chrystal Skull

Watched the 4K to make sure it worked and found that it wasn't the cinematic turd that I remembered. Still not on par with the first three, however.