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Godzilla (2014)
Classic Godzilla - I loved it!
As Godzilla movies go this is as good as any.
It plays out in the usual Godzilla movie manner, a bit of a story involving people with some kind plot about the misuse of science then crash bang wallop some monsters stamp around and Godzilla sorts it out.
I see some reviewers criticising lack of character development but I'm not sure I'd want to see Godzilla become contemplative or start pacing up and down New York or Tokyo bemoaning the injustices of the world.
Others say elements of it were unrealistic .... that's always been my favourite aspect of fantasy films ..... lack of realism.
It's a Godzilla movie. Sometimes he dies at the end of the movie, sometimes he wanders off into the sunset..... not sure where to but then we don't know where he wandered in from!
If you want a film to engage you in deep thought then give it a miss. If you want to see a film where monsters stamp all over a city for no particular reason then this fits the bill.
Last Man Standing (1996)
Remake of Jojmbo
Decent take on the original. "Modern" shoot replacing samurai with American 1920's gangsters On par with the remake "A Fist Full of Dollars"
..... maybe not.... just a different decade .... with different guns
same outcome
Invasion, U.S.A. (1952)
Absolute mince!
I'm quite partial to a bad movie and pride myself in being able to enjoy a movie for when it was made but this was just dreadful. A ton of stock WWII footage pasted into a cheap bar room scene for some narrative ..... "they're wearing US uniforms" .... no sh!t Sherlock that's cos its footage of US troops in action or training!
Was that John Agar as a trooper on the Telephone?
I only ticked the spoiler alert box in case you wanted to be surprised at how bad this movie is .... makes Plan 9 from outer space look like an Oscar winner.
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
What's not to predict?
Given that the Japanese original "original" was made in 1954. That the first Hollywood remake was made in 1960 and the remake was then re-made in 2016 I hope you can excuse me for not being surprised at the general plot line.
This is a decent modern re-tell on the western version of the original Akira Kurosawa film.
It's Hollywood!
If you are unable to go to a movie without challenging what is realistic then stop wasting your money and sit at home watching the shopping channel 'cos even the news guys get confused sometimes.
It's a movie. Even if based on real life events, it's based on the version that will sell seats. Cops don't do what Hollywood shows Docs don't do what Hollywood shows Firemen don't do what Hollywood shows .... cos that would be a black smoke filled screen!
Accept this movie for what it is. A ripping yarn! ...... not so sure about the 12 rating though
I Liked it
If you can live with "alternative facts" in the real world. Then an "alternative interpretation" should be a small step
Eegah (1962)
A B Movie classic ..... but maybe not an Oscar winner
A ripping yarn of a B movie classic.
Anyone who tries to apply current movie standards to this kind of chaos really needs to find a new hobby.
This is a movie based on the concept "Richard Kiel is a big guy, how can we make a movie out of this"
Strangely it's only in the last few minutes that you really get a sense of the size of this guy.
Ultimately this movie is a King Kong story line with King Kong swapped out for a caveman dude.
I have a feeling that this movie is not historically accurate.
Watch it and enjoy it for what it is a piece of entertainment
The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
Great movie. Corman's pinnacle?
Superb B movie mayhem.
Either by design or through a fortunate coming together of genius this movie hits all the marks. Well paced with good balance of black humour. This movie could probably stand the test of time in it's own right but the sprinkling of artists who delivered well here and went on to greater heights just adds to its fun.
I'm torn between the concept of "if an infinite number of monkeys directed an infinite number of films" and Corman's personal approach "make 'em fast 'n make 'em cheap" ... he had to strike gold eventually. As a Corman fan, for me everything just comes together in a perfect storm for this one, actors, writers and director and maybe he blew an extra $50 on this one.
It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958)
Creature from the Black Lagoon meets outer space!
Classic 50's Sci-Fi.
Space ship lands on planet and picks up killer Alien which wrecks havoc on the space ship killing off the crew..... now where have I seen that recently? "Alien" the movie could easily sit comfortably as a remake of this movie.... right down to how the alien is ultimately killed!
By far and away my favourite scene in this movie is when the crew are tasked with searching for a missing crew member and 4 or 5 people can be seen walking back and forth across a small room looking under desks or behind monitors .... if you can make the leap think Father Ted and Dougal playing hide and seek in the caravan!
That scene is only slightly ahead of the "break out the hand grenades" scene as everyone knows you should never venture into space without them .... or "fire the Bazooka" all INSIDE the space ship.... they don't make them like they used to.
A brilliant Sci Fi matinée at any time of the day
Journey to the Seventh Planet (1962)
"That brain thing sends out the radiation"...
Nothing shows up Sci Fi movies like the passage of time. Sure this movie has loads of clichés ... right down to the curly antennae on the space helmets but this movie could easily have been the pilot for Star Trek.
As I understand it this movie came out the year before Star Trek and judging from the colours in the movie it felt the need to compete with T.V versions of Lost in Space and Batman which competed on opposite TV networks boasting how many colours they showed!
Not for the Sci Fi purists this is a good old ripping yarn set in space. I love these old classics, how the characters accept totally bizarre situations as the "norm" and can make great leaps in figuring out "the science" of what's going on.
Believe it or not the gloves worn with the space suits... red glove with yellow wrist band were known as "Radiac" gloves and were carried on U.K Fire appliances in the 70's and 80's for dealing with radiation incidents.
Good steady paced nonsense and with some stop frame animation that is obviously inspired by the late great Ray Harryhausen superb.