1949. Second in the Jungle Jim series. The evil white man will stop at nothing to obtain the location of hidden city in the jungle, rich with diamonds and gold. Whether it's an old spooky house, The Three Stooges, or jungle B movies, I love guys in gorilla suits. This one delivers. An entire band of killer gorillas join in on the climatic free-for-all battle between native and invading pillagers. You haven't lived until you see a guy in a gorilla suit wrestle a life sized stuffed lion. Now I can die happy.

Wanted Shout! Factory 4K
James MacAvoy. Directed by Timor Bekmambetov. 2008
A young office worker learns that he is the son of a assassin and that he shares his father's superhuman killing abilities.

"Wanted" was adapted from a graphic novel by Mark Millar, a Scottish writer I find very "readable" and occasionally frustrating. "Wanted" is yet another one of Millar's cynical deconstructions of Comic Book Superheroes, of which there are many. All due respect, but I have a copy of "The Watchmen" on my shelf, -actually, I have a couple, -and I don't need fifteen more with just the names changed. The movie has several writers not named Millar, and they get rid of the original's world of Super-Villains and exchange it for a "John Wick" world of plainclothes super-skilled assassins.

Timor Bekmambetov was a Russian director who made a name for himself with his entertaining (though very Russian) Vampire Films "Night Watch" and "Day Watch". "Wanted" was his first English-Language production. Bekmambetov could be accurately described as a Style Over Substance kind of filmmaker, and "Wanted" is filled with wild stunts and almost breathlessly choreographed action scenes that are wonders to behold. The camera rarely sits still for a moment.

Fortunately, Bekmambetov has a sound script and a good cast to provide the substance. A young James MacAvoy plays Wesley, an office drone lamenting his soul-crushing routine. Angelina Jolie is Fox (drawn as Halle Berry in the Comic) is statuesque killer who introduces Wesley to The Fraternity, a secret society of assassins. Morgan Freeman is Mr. Sloan, the head of The Fraternity, who informs Wesley of his legacy as the son of the world's greatest assassin, killed by a traitor within their ranks. The actors (including a chubby Chris Pratt) bring a lot of grit and credibility that probably wasn't on paper. With its flashy story-telling and its themes of Dissatisfaction and Finding Yourself, the film plays as something of a spin on "Trainspotting" with Carnage as the drug of choice. "Wanted" remains Timor Bekmambetov's best film.

Obsession Focus Features
Michael Johnston. Directed by Curry Barker. 2025
After breaking the mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush's heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.

Curry Barker is another "content creator" breaking into filmmaking (see "Iron Lung"). "Obsession" has a terrific "hook". It's never happened to me, of course, but I'm sure most Men know the feeling of having a crush on a woman who leaves you in "The Friend Zone". It’s not fun and the film managed to get under my skin before the Horror really began.

"Obsession" centers on "Baron Bailey", a music store employee with a crush on Nikki, a co-worker. We see Nikki strictly through Baron’s eyes, which leaves her a bit idealized and yet something of a mystery. Baron is decent guy, but he's sad and vulnerable and when his feelings overwhelm him, he makes a supernatural wish that destroys his life as well as Nikki's. It's a nasty slow burn of a film with discomforting scenes that will make you squirm and shocking acts of violence and self-harm. Michael Johnston is absolutely terrific as Baron, but it's Inde Navarette as Nikki who makes a lasting impression in a difficult role as both monster and victim. "Obsession" is an excellent shocker that doesn't take the easy way out.

My biggest problem with "Obsession" wasn't the film, but the venue. What appeared on the grid to be the choice seating area started in the back third of the room. The room also had inadequate projection, -this is an old problem, -where "the bulb" (or whatever you want to call it these days), -was too dim. The film features a lot of darkness, and what should have been black was more of a soft gray.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow Shout! 4K
Jude Law. Directed by Kerry Conran. 2004
Set in the 1930s, New York City reporter Polly Perkins starts to investigate why so many famous scientists are being reported missing. Soon, she gets clues, as strange flying machines and giant robots threaten the city. Luckily, her old flame, aviator Captain Joseph Sullivan aka Sky Captain, is there to battle the bad guys with the Flying Legion, in his Warhawk P-40.

I remember when I first saw the trailer for "Sky Captain" and it knocked me on my ass. Here was a HUGE Action/Adventure Film with a look that blended Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" with Max Fleischer's legendary "Superman" cartoons. "Sky Captain" was developed from a short film by Kerry Conran and it was one of those films that was shot entirely on '"virtual stages" and the only real props were the costumes on the actors' backs. All of the lavish landscapes and futuristic aircraft were produced on computers. The film was released in September of 2004 while reviews more-or-less positive, the film flopped hard. Conran never made another film.

I haven't watched "Sky Captain" in a long time, and this Shout! Studios package is a top-notch presentation. The picture quality is excellent and the DTS Surround really lived up to its name. When I saw the film in its opening weekend all those years ago, the film wore me down after an hour. However, watching "Sky Captain" all these years later I was able to embrace the film a bit more, though I still can't buy into the relationship between Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow, who comes across as a bit strident. Intentionally or not, Angelina Jolie thoroughly upstages Paltrow with her two or three minutes on the screen.

2025

New on Hulu

"Ava is trapped. Like a bull in a bucking chute, seconds before exploding onto the rodeo stage. She is hunted. Pursued by those who killed her brother, pursued by her own demons. Ava needs to make a choice. To either save herself and fight another day or to push and become the woman she wishes she could be."

I expected more but mostly just scenes of Maika Monroe staring and looked pissed off at the other characters.

Troy Kotsur from Coda plays her dad and Helen Hunt appears in one scene near the end.

Ah, yes, the rodeo "stage" as everyone calls it.