FILM OF THE MONTH Sorcerer ☆☆☆☆
Enter the Dragon ☆☆☆☆
Gerald's Game ☆☆☆☆
Ghostbusters ☆☆☆☆
I Don't Feel at Home in this World Any More ☆☆☆☆
Mad Max 2 ☆☆☆☆
Magnificent Butcher ☆☆☆☆
1922 ☆☆☆☆
Return of the Jedi ☆☆☆☆
Scorecard
JANUARY
FILM OF THE MONTH Sorcerer ☆☆☆☆
Enter the Dragon ☆☆☆☆
Gerald's Game ☆☆☆☆
Ghostbusters ☆☆☆☆
I Don't Feel at Home in this World Any More ☆☆☆☆
Mad Max 2 ☆☆☆☆
Magnificent Butcher ☆☆☆☆
1922 ☆☆☆☆
Return of the Jedi ☆☆☆☆
FILM OF THE MONTH Sorcerer ☆☆☆☆
Enter the Dragon ☆☆☆☆
Gerald's Game ☆☆☆☆
Ghostbusters ☆☆☆☆
I Don't Feel at Home in this World Any More ☆☆☆☆
Mad Max 2 ☆☆☆☆
Magnificent Butcher ☆☆☆☆
1922 ☆☆☆☆
Return of the Jedi ☆☆☆☆
Horror Bites - Sister Act
SISTERS (1973)
There are lot of Brian De Palma films that borrow liberally from the works of Alfred Hitchcock, whether it's the absurd sleaze of Body Double which smashes Vertigo and Rear Window together, or the slower and more melancholy Obsession which again looks for inspiration from Vertigo. Even the entertaining (but admittedly problematic) ideas in Dressed to Kill are just Psycho with a new outfit. So it's no surprise that here a lot of the same elements are used once again, and there's even another score by Bernard Herrmann. But of course none of these are really just the sum of their parts and need closer inspection. So let's break out the binoculars to take a look at this tale of split screens, identical twins, and bloody murder.
There are lot of Brian De Palma films that borrow liberally from the works of Alfred Hitchcock, whether it's the absurd sleaze of Body Double which smashes Vertigo and Rear Window together, or the slower and more melancholy Obsession which again looks for inspiration from Vertigo. Even the entertaining (but admittedly problematic) ideas in Dressed to Kill are just Psycho with a new outfit. So it's no surprise that here a lot of the same elements are used once again, and there's even another score by Bernard Herrmann. But of course none of these are really just the sum of their parts and need closer inspection. So let's break out the binoculars to take a look at this tale of split screens, identical twins, and bloody murder.
Super 70s Sunday - Silicon Revolution
THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN (1971)
If there was ever a film to make me feel badly in need of a shower, this is it. Full of sterilisation procedures, mystery disease fatalities and the constant threat of nuclear fail-safes, it's an engrossing piece of work that stands alongside other Michael Crichton techno-fear thrillers such as Jurassic Park and Westworld. A story of government space probes bringing home microscopic alien life is an itchy, sweaty ordeal, it's full of memorable moments and also includes a few interesting set pieces despite the clinical laboratory setting. It's also a good character piece, with plenty of clashing egos and moral quandaries. But do these ingredients work together within the constrains of the plot as it rushes into the final countdown?
If there was ever a film to make me feel badly in need of a shower, this is it. Full of sterilisation procedures, mystery disease fatalities and the constant threat of nuclear fail-safes, it's an engrossing piece of work that stands alongside other Michael Crichton techno-fear thrillers such as Jurassic Park and Westworld. A story of government space probes bringing home microscopic alien life is an itchy, sweaty ordeal, it's full of memorable moments and also includes a few interesting set pieces despite the clinical laboratory setting. It's also a good character piece, with plenty of clashing egos and moral quandaries. But do these ingredients work together within the constrains of the plot as it rushes into the final countdown?
Review Roundup - Beep Beep Richie
IT (2017)
Random anecdote - while looking into those last few releases to write about at the end of the year I saw the Power Rangers reboot. Expecting a bland origin story with a few schlocky action sequences I was instead treated to a big mess of random teen angst bits that sort of work, and a lot of truly bad CGI nonsense that culminated in a battle to save Krispy Kreme from being squashed by a monster. How many times do they say Krispy Kreme? They say it a lot. It wasn't quite the utter waste I found under the glossy surface of Valerian, but it was still pretty much garbage and made me quit a planned third 2017 Catch Up in disgust. So after a quick break here we are ... with another unnecessary adaptation of a recognised property. Is it an entertaining effort for once or is it just another embarrassing, cringe inducing dumpster fire? Let's take a peek inside the storm drain to find out.
Random anecdote - while looking into those last few releases to write about at the end of the year I saw the Power Rangers reboot. Expecting a bland origin story with a few schlocky action sequences I was instead treated to a big mess of random teen angst bits that sort of work, and a lot of truly bad CGI nonsense that culminated in a battle to save Krispy Kreme from being squashed by a monster. How many times do they say Krispy Kreme? They say it a lot. It wasn't quite the utter waste I found under the glossy surface of Valerian, but it was still pretty much garbage and made me quit a planned third 2017 Catch Up in disgust. So after a quick break here we are ... with another unnecessary adaptation of a recognised property. Is it an entertaining effort for once or is it just another embarrassing, cringe inducing dumpster fire? Let's take a peek inside the storm drain to find out.
Super 70s Sunday - Space Oddities
STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE (1979)
So I guess it has to be said, this is the original cast Star Trek film that even I watch the least... Is it an unfairly maligned classic -- or just a classic example of a tedious patience tester? As a fan of the exploits of Jim Kirk and friends both on the small screen and in their cinema outings, this certainly sits as the one which gets over looked when I revisit the series. Embarrassingly I have probably sat through part five, The Final Frontier more often. Yes, the one where they meet God and didn't have the money to afford ILM. Despite it's far bigger shortcomings it's still a guilty pleasure with a few good moments. But while The Wrath of Khan and The Undiscovered Country stand as examples of fine dramatic movies that also hold up as fun space adventures, where does this first step on their post-television journey fit alongside the rest?
So I guess it has to be said, this is the original cast Star Trek film that even I watch the least... Is it an unfairly maligned classic -- or just a classic example of a tedious patience tester? As a fan of the exploits of Jim Kirk and friends both on the small screen and in their cinema outings, this certainly sits as the one which gets over looked when I revisit the series. Embarrassingly I have probably sat through part five, The Final Frontier more often. Yes, the one where they meet God and didn't have the money to afford ILM. Despite it's far bigger shortcomings it's still a guilty pleasure with a few good moments. But while The Wrath of Khan and The Undiscovered Country stand as examples of fine dramatic movies that also hold up as fun space adventures, where does this first step on their post-television journey fit alongside the rest?
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