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Gidget Grows Up (1969)
Gidget Goes to the United Nations
Upon finally returning to the United States, a young woman named "Francine 'Gidget' Lawrence" (Karen Valentine) is disappointed to find that her long-time sweetheart "Jeffrey 'Moondoggie' Griffith" (Paul Peterson) has since moved on and found another girlfriend. Of course, one of the factors in that decision was the fact that, while in Europe she continually wrote letters about meeting other men simply to make him jealous. Complicating matters even further, before she has a chance to make amends, Jeff--who is an officer in the United States Air Force--is sent to Greenland at the last minute. So, after watching an ambassador give a rousing speech, she decides to volunteer to work as a low-paid assistant at the United Nations in New York to start life anew. What she doesn't realize, however, is just how difficult that will be. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an okay romantic-comedy which could have been better with a bit more comedy and a little less romance. I say this because the romantic encounters between Gidget and "Alex MacLaughlin" (Edward Mulhare) was rather dull and boring. Likewise, the made-for-television format certainly didn't help in that regard either. In any case, while I don't consider this to be a good comedy necessarily, I suppose it passed the time well enough, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Kid (1990)
Suffered from Poor Casting and Weak Acting
This film begins with a stranger known only as "Kid" (C. Thomas Howell) getting off the bus in a small town and promptly heading for the local grocery store. While there he is harassed by two young men named "Pete" (Damon Martin) and "Harlan" (Michael Bowen) but walks out without creating a scene. Not long afterward, he hears a woman scream and runs to that particular area to see what's going on. When he gets there, he notices Pete restraining a young woman named "Kate" (Sarah Trigger) while Harlan is busy tying her dog to a railroad track in front of an oncoming train. Wasting no time, Kid quickly throws Harlan in front of the oncoming train and refuses to let him up until Pete releases Kate. Naturally, Pete immediately does as he is told which not allows Kate to untie the dog but also allows Harlan to escape death as well. Unfortunately, rather than teaching these two bullies a lesson, they quickly get the local town sheriff by the name of "Luke" (R. Lee Ermey) involved--and this results in severe consequences for all concerned. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this film had definite potential but suffered, in my opinion, from poor casting and rather weak acting. I say this because C. Thomas Howell seemed totally miscast for this particular role. He just wasn't menacing enough. Likewise, the attempted sexual chemistry between Kate and the Kid wasn't really anything to write home about either. That said, while I don't consider this to be a bad film necessarily, it just didn't have the right atmosphere for a movie of this type, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.
The Night Riders (1939)
Los Capaqueros to the Rescue!
The film essentially begins with the Three Mesquiteers traveling on a riverboat when they witness a card shark by the name of "Pierce Talbot" (George Douglas) being called out for cheating and getting into a fight over it. Things quickly escalate from that point when Pierce is thrown overboard after drawing a knife. Managing to reach the riverbank, Pierce eventually finds refuge in a house owned by fraudster by the name of "Hazelton" (Walter Wills) who has drawn up a phony deed to a tract of land encompassing over 13 million acres with the owner being a man that greatly resembles Pierce. As one might expect, it isn't long before Pierce assumes the name of this owner and, once the deed is accepted in court, he immediately lays claim to everything. Naturally, this causes a great deal of concern with the people who have already settled on this land and subsequently have to pay Pierce--now known as Luis de Serrano--an excessive price just to stay there. To that effect, a great number of these settlers are soon forced off of their ranches due to the exorbitant rent being charged--and that includes the Three Mesquiteers. That said, recognizing the inequity of the situation, the Three Mesquiteers don disguises and, under the alias of "Los Capaqueros" start robbing the rent collectors give the proceeds to those who need it the most. Needless to say, this angers Pierce to such an extent that he issues a bounty for their capture--dead or alive. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an entertaining addition to the Three Mesquiteers series due to the brisk action and the "Robin Hood" nature of the overall plot. Admittedly, there are a few issues that strain credibility--with the main one being the pure white horse owned by "Tucson Smith" (Ray Corrigan) being identical to the one ridden by a member of Los Capagueros. Yet nobody seemed capable of making that rather obvious connection. Only in Hollywood. In any case, although this clearly wasn't a great Western by any means, I thought it was one of the better films in the series, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
Amityville Scarecrow (2021)
The British Contribution to the Amityville Legend
This film begins with two estranged sisters named "Mary" (Kate Sandison) and "Tina" (Amanda Jade-Tyler) meeting to discuss the will their mother left behind after her death. More specifically, their concern revolves around a campground which Mary wants to sell while Tina wants to renovate and expand upon it instead. Of course, considering that Tina previously stole Mary's husband, the issue of the campground is actually secondary at this point. However, as might be expected, all of that is put aside when a scarecrow suddenly comes alive and begins everyone. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that I initially thought that this was going to be one of the few good films in this massive series due in large part to the nature in which the characters were developed. Likewise, having a scarecrow as the supernatural entity behind the killings certainly didn't hurt either. Where the film suffers, however, is the exact location of this supposed campground and its relationship to the actual house in Amityville. I say this because I don't recall any mention of a cornfield being situated in Amityville or, for that matter, any mention of the actual house there either. Instead, the audience is given an alternate story about a child molester who was killed by Mary & Tina's mother for the murder of their older sister. Or something like that. It's all kind of confusing. Throw in weak special effects and a complete lack of suspense and it all adds up to a rather weak horror film, which I have rated accordingly. Below average.
Cam (2018)
Hampered by a Rather Weak Ending
This film begins with a young woman by the name of "Alice" (Madeline Brewer) performing on-line and trying to boost her ratings as a camgirl. To that effect, she quickly discovers that, in order to be more competitive, she has to do more outlandish stunts, while at the same time, keep her current clientele as loyal to her as possible. The problem is that she has a couple of loyal members who want to establish a personal relationship with her and she fears that one of them is not mentally stable. But things get really complicated when a similar looking person steals her identity and starts performing so well that even her most loyal customers cannot tell the difference. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an interesting movie probably could have been better if it wasn't for the rather disappointing ending. It just wasn't realistic. In spite of that, I still found the film to be somewhat entertaining, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Hitchhike to Hell (1941)
A Film About Female Hitchhikers Who Drink Whiskey
This film essentially begins with an older gentleman named "Pop Bartlett" (Charles Maurice) who owns a small bar along with several cabins adjacent to it. Working alongside him is his teenage son "Bob Bartlett" (Don Hirst) who has become somewhat bored and wants to get out on his own and experience what the world has to offer. The scene then shifts to a pimp by the name of "Slavick" (Julian Harris) who has managed to convince several young women that they could get rich by working as prostitutes for him along the side of the highway. And it's during this time that Slavick sets his sight on Pop's bar which would serve as an ideal place for his illicit business. That said, when Pop initially refuses to sell his entire business to him, Slavick decides to use other methods which are much more persuasive--and this is where one of his female employees named "Billie" (Diane Winthrop) enters the picture. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that, although this film may have been marketed as being somewhat edgy or provocative, it was actually quite the opposite with Charles Maurice essentially lecturing the viewing audience about the pitfalls of young ladies drinking and subsequently falling into a life of prostitution. Or something like that. Be that as it may, I found this to be an extremely dull film overall, and I have rated it accordingly. Below average.
Tokyo Mafia: Battle for Shinjuku (1996)
Lacked the Depth of the First Two Films in the Series
This film essentially begins with a man by the name of "Gingya Yabuki" (Riki Takeuchi) being double-crossed by his friend "Sho Saimon" (Masayuki Imai) during a gunfight and having to escape to Taiwan to recover from his wounds. Being a former member of the Yakuza, Gingya understands that it wasn't personal on Saimon's part, but even so, it's not something that he can just forget about. That being said, upon recovering, he has a plan in mind which will seriously impact the financial resources of the Yakuza organization which Saimon is affiliated with. The only problem, however, is that he first has to assemble a team to help him out and, because he has no money, this may not be so easy. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this particular movie seemed to be more of a prequel to the first movie than an actual sequel in this series. As such, some of the predominant characters were quite different. Additionally, it didn't seem like very much time was time was spent on the production of this film because the plot wasn't nearly as in-depth as the previous two films. Lots of action, but no real depth. In any case, although I certainly don't consider this to be a bad film necessarily, I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed with it, it and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.
Mean Girls 2 (2011)
A Bland Made-for-Television Remake
This film begins with a race car mechanic by the name of "Rod Mitchell" (Linden Ashby) moving to Ohio with his teenage daughter "Johanna 'Jo' Mitchell" (Meaghan Martin). Naturally, after moving into her new home, the first thing she does is enroll in her new high school with the hope of attending Carnegie Mellon University upon graduation. But to do that she needs to make good grades in her new school while hoping to somehow fit in with the other students. Unfortunately, as is often the case with new students, she quickly learns that this school has a dominant clique led by a girl named "Mandi Weatherly" (Maiara Walsh) and she rules with an iron fist. In short, if she doesn't like you then she makes your time there a living hell--and she particularly dislikes another student named "Abby Hanover" (Jennifer Stone) through no fault of her own. For her part, Jo empathizes with Abby, but it isn't until Abby's wealthy father "Sidney Hanover" (Donn Lamkin) offers her money to be her friend that things begin to spiral completely out-of-control. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that, rather than being a sequel to the original 2004 film, this movie is actually a made-for-television remake of that movie. As such, it doesn't really offer anything new. Additionally, it also suffers from the rather stale made-for-television format as well. That being said, other than the acting of Tim Meadows (as "Principal Duvall"), I didn't really find that much of interest here, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.
You Were Never Really Here (2017)
Overrated
This film essentially begins with a mentally disturbed veteran known simply as "Joe" (Joaquin Phoenix) agreeing to help find the missing daughter of a United States senator. After a brief meeting with "Senator Albert Votto" (Alex Manette), Joe gathers as much information as he can and immediately sets out to find her. Not long after that--and with a trail of dead bodies in his wake--Joe rescues "Nina Votto" (Ekaterina Samsonov) and takes her to a place where he believes she will be safe. To his surprise, however, rather than being met by the senator, some armed law enforcement officers come to the hotel instead and take Nina away by force. Recognizing that the officer left behind fully intends to murder him, Joe manages to turn the tables and kill him instead. And from that point on, Joe becomes determined to find Nina--regardless of how many people he will have to torture and kill in the process. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this could have been an excellent film if the director (Lynne Ramsey) had chosen to be less focused on critical acclaim and more in tune with the general audience instead. At least, that is how it seemed to me. Be that as it may, while I don't necessarily consider this to be a bad film by any means, I honestly can't say that I was overly impressed with it either, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Red River Range (1938)
The Three Mesquiteers on the Trail of Some Elusive Cattle Rustlers
This film begins with cattle ranchers reporting that a significant number of their cattle have been stolen with no clues being left behind as to who might have taken them or how they were taken. Everything is a mystery. To that effect, not knowing where else to turn, the ranchers petition the governor for assistance and, rather than sending one investigator, he sends the Three Mesquiteers to check it out. To their surprise, once they arrive, they meet a friend named "Tex Reilly" (Kirby Grant) who has been hired by a private company to also investigate the situation. What none of them realize, however, is that the cattle rustlers have not only adopted an innovative system to avoid detection, but they also have a high-ranking member from the local town on their side who provides them with enough inside information to stay one step ahead. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an okay addition to the Three Mesquiteers series with John Wayne once again performing in the role of "Stony Brooke." Additionally, both Ray Corrigan (as "Tucson Smith") and Max Terhune ("Lullaby Joslin") also reprise their roles as well. Yet in spite of the solid performances of both John Wayne and Ray Corrigan, the film suffered--once again--from the exceedingly corny comic relief provided by Max Terhune. Maybe it's just me, but I don't find his ventriloquist act to be very entertaining. Be that as it may, although I don't consider this particular film to be one of the better additions to the series, I suppose it passed the time well enough, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Amityville Cult (2021)
Amityville...Texas?
This film begins with a young man by the name of "Stanley DeFeo" (Chance Gibbs) receiving a phone call telling him that his grandmother "Marie Cameron" (Micha Marie Stevens) has recently passed away and has bequeathed her house to him. Considering that he never even knew his grandmother, this news catches him completely by surprise. Even so, after conferring with his girlfriend "Crystal" (Lara Clapp Williams), he packs up his car and drives it to the small town of Amityville to check it out. Once inside the house, he comes across a diary his grandmother has written and, after reading it, he begins to have some concerns about the house he just inherited. However, it isn't until he goes back into town that he realizes that something very strange is going on--and he seems to be the center of attention. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that I liked the overall plot of the movie which, if done properly, could have had considerable potential. Unfortunately, this was not the case here as most of the actors tended to be a bit more demonstrative than their scenes required. In more simple terms, a number of them over-acted with Eric Oberto (as "Asmodeus") and Tom Young ("Jeremy") probably being the worst. To be fair, though, the director (Trey Murphy) shares some of the blame--especially since he also wrote the script. Likewise, although the film never really mentions it, the scenery sure looked a bit more like Texas or New Mexico than New York. But what do I know? In any case, I don't consider this to be a good movie by any means, and I have rated it accordingly.
Strip Club Massacre (2017)
A Cheap Sexploitation Film
This film begins with a young woman by the name of "Megan" (Alicia Watson) being fired from her job due to budget cutbacks. If that wasn't bad enough, when she gets back to her apartment, she finds her boyfriend having an affair with her roommate. So, with no job and nowhere to stay, she eventually moves in with a good friend by the name of "Amanda" (Courtney Riggs) and her wealthy boyfriend "Bobby" (Stefan Rollins) until she can get back on her feet again. Naturally, being unemployed and completely broke, she tells them that she intends to look for a job the next morning--at which time Bobby mentions that the strip club he manages needs a waitress. Although Amanda doesn't like the idea of her friend working there, Megan takes the job under the condition that she is allowed to work fully clothed. Bobby agrees and takes her to meet the owner of the strip club "John" (Mark Law) who hires her immediately. What she doesn't realize, however, is just how vicious the dancers there can be when they don't like someone--and Megan quickly becomes one of their primary targets. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was one of those cheap sexploitation films which most viewers would probably do well to avoid. For starters, the video was shaky at times and the audio was often inconsistent between scenes. Likewise, the music and the script were equally bad. But none of these issues compared to the awful special effects thrown in on occasion--with one scene in particular being quite sophomoric. In short, this was not a good film by any measure and, had it not been for the presence of the two gorgeous women mentioned earlier, I would have rated it even lower than I have.
Flood! (1976)
The Economic Impact of Arrogance
This film essentially begins with a helicopter pilot by the name of "Steve Brannigan" (Robert Culp dropping off a passenger in a small town known for its freshwater fishing in a lake created by a dam several years earlier. On his return flight, however, Steve notices that a little boy named "Andy Cutler" (Eric Olsen) is lying on the ground and seems to be hurt. That being said, he quickly lands his helicopter to check out the situation and, while doing so, notices that the dam has sprung a leak. Having been reassured that Andy is okay, Steve then tells a friend named "Paul Burke" (Martin Milner) about the leak in the dam. Upon hearing this, Paul becomes very concerned and goes to talk to the mayor of the town "John Cutler" (Richard Basehart) who downplays everything and suggests that relieving pressure on the dam by opening the flood gates would result in a loss of tourist dollars during the busiest time of the year. What he doesn't realize is that his stubborn attitude is going to do a lot more damage to the town than he could ever imagine. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an okay Erwin Allen disaster film which benefited from a solid cast and some decent suspense along the way. Admittedly, the made-for-television format didn't help this movie all that much but, even so, I suppose it passed the time well enough, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Tokyo Mafia 2 (1996)
Slightly Better Than Its Predecessor
This film takes up where its predecessor left off with the loosely knit organization known as the Tokyo Mafia led by "Ginya Yabuki" (Riki Takeuchi) at war with the powerful Yakuza organization over a small district of Tokyo known as Kabuki Cho. To that effect, realizing that they are no match against the overwhelming number of Yakuza members in that area, Ginya forms an uneasy alliance with two rival Chinese gangs to help him out. The problem, however, is that the Yakuza boss named "Morikawa" (Shohei Yamamoto) is a master of exploiting rivalries and knows that Ginya will have a difficult time keeping things together. Compounding that problem is the fact that there is a traitor in Ginya's organization who wants everything for himself--and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this movie was actually a little better than the first film in that the plot was less difficult to understand. To be sure, the plot was still rather intricate with shifting alliances, betrayals and surprising twists all along the way. But this film made it somewhat easier to figure out which character represented which organization. Likewise, helping in that regard was the fact that the special effects and the English dubbing were slightly improved as well. But that's just my opinion and other viewers might disagree. In any case, all things considered, I thought this film was slightly better than the original, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
Once Upon a Texas Train (1988)
Cowboys Who Refuse to Ride Off into the Sunset
This film begins with an outlaw gang led by a cowboy named "John Henry Lee" (Willie Nelson) in the process of robbing a train when some Texas Rangers appear and arrest them on the spot. The scene then shifts to 20 years later with John Henry Lee finally being released from prison on good behavior. That very night he teams up with his brother "Charlie Lee" (Dub Taylor) and they rob a bank. Needless to say, this infuriates a former Texas Ranger named "Captain Owen Hayes" (Richard Widmark) who vouched for him at his parole hearing. So, intent on arresting him once again, Captain Hayes assembles his old colleagues and off they ride in the direction John Henry Lee is likely to go. For his part, John Henry Lee has already anticipated that this would happen, and he has also assembled his old crew as well. What neither of them count on, however, is another group of much younger bandits led by a man known simply as "Cotton" (Shaun Cassidy) who isn't impressed with either of the other two groups and intends on taking all of the stolen money for himself. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this film borrowed heavily from the Western comedy "The Over-the- Hill Gang" which was released back in 1969. More specifically, all of the names of the characters from the Texas Rangers--and many of the same age-related issues affecting them--had been copied from that previous movie. Because of that, I'm not sure whether to call this film a sequel or a remake. In any case, I thought that this was still an enjoyable Western comedy due in large part to the casting of numerous actors who were no longer in their prime but had made a definite impact on the motion picture industry. I especially liked the performance of Jack Elam (as "Jason Fitch") who I thought was absolutely hilarious. Also of note is the fact that Jack Elam was also featured in the 1969 movie (but as another character) as well. Be that as it may, one particular problem was that, with so many good actors cast in this film, it was difficult for any of them to really stand out--other than Jack Elam, in my opinion. In any case, while this film was certainly not the best Western comedy every produced, I still enjoyed it for the most part, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
Casino Royale (2006)
Thoroughly Enjoyable
This film essentially begins with a wealthy money launderer by the named "Le Chiffre" (Mads Mikkelsen) receiving $100 million from a man named "Steven Obanno" (Isaach De Bankole) who is a leader of a militant organization in Uganda. With that money, Le Chiffre buys stock in an airplane manufacturer and then shorts that stock just prior to a terrorist attack that he has personally organized on that same business. What he doesn't count on, however, is a British secret agent named "James Bond" (Daniel Craig) intervening and thwarting his plan at the last minute. To that effect, having promised Obanno a quick return on his investment, Le Chiffre organizes a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro in a desperate attempt make good on his debt. Recognizing his desperation, MI6 sends James Bond to that same casino in Montenegro where he meets a British treasury agent named "Vesper Lynd" (Eva Green) who has authorization to lend him the necessary money to defeat Le Chiffre. The only problem is that Le Chiffre has inside information about James Bond and fully intends to use it to achieve his nefarious plans. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that I was highly impressed with this particular addition to the James Bond series due to the more authentic plot which differed in contrast from the rather lazy and overused CGI from its immediate predecessor. Admittedly, there were some rather long chase scenes that incorporated some highly improbably stunts--but that just goes with the territory. More important than that was the introduction of Daniel Craig who, although he clearly doesn't have the same suave appeal of someone like Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan, makes up for it with a grittier tone than any of his predecessors. At least, that is how it seems to me. In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and I have rated it accordingly.
Santa Fe Stampede (1938)
The Three Mesquiteers Fighting City Hall
This film essentially begins with the Three Mesquiteers heading over to see an old friend named "Dave Carson" (William Farnum) who lives out in the country with his three children. Upon their arrival, Dave tells them that he has just struck gold, but hasn't registered his claim yet. Unfortunately, while he is telling them of his strike, two cowboys sent to spy on him have overheard what he has said and, upon being detected, grab the nearest horses and hurriedly ride off. Naturally, the Three Mesquiteers and Dave immediately give chase but, although they manage to catch one of the horse thieves, the other one escapes and reports this news to his boss "Mayor Gil Byron" (LeRoy Mason). To that effect, once Dave and the Three Mesquiteers ride into town with their prisoner, the mayor has already convinced "Judge Henry J. Hixon" (Ferris Taylor) to free the suspect and, to further add insult to injury, the crooked judge fines the Three Mesquiteers $100 apiece for daring to protest. Infuriated with this ruling, the Three Mesquiteers convince a number of local townspeople to sign a petition to the territorial governor asking for an investigation on those who control the city hall. Unfortunately, when Mayor Byron hears about this, he sends his men to stop the petition from being delivered--and he doesn't care who he has to kill in the process. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this turned out to be one of the better films in the Three Mesquiteers series as it contained a bit more drama and suspense than some of the others. I especially liked the performance of LeRoy Mason who added a certain amount of menace to the overall plot. Be that as it may, although this film is somewhat dated, I still enjoyed it for the most part, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
Amityville Vampire (2021)
The Vampire of Red Moon Lake
This film begins in the aftermath of the famous murders that took place in Amityville, New York with a cleaning crew trying to sanitize the house to make it livable again. While doing this, one of the workers accidentally ingests some blood from one of the walls and immediately turns into a ravenous vampire. After killing her colleagues, the scene then shifts to an office worker by the name of "Gloria" (Veronica Farren) staying behind to catch up on a little work. While there she meets a woman named "Lillith" (Jin N Tonic) who happens to be the reclusive owner of the company who the workers only see on rare occasions. While talking with one another, Lillith invites Gloria to her cabin the next day for a Thanksgiving dinner. Not having anything else to do, Gloria accepts Lillith's invitation. What she doesn't realize, however, is that the place she is going to has a history of strange and violent events which seem to be increasing in frequency. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this movie incorporated several short stories which--except for the opening scene--were all tied together at the end. So, it was an anthology of sorts, with the previously mentioned opening scene possibly existing for the sole purpose of capitalizing on the Amityville mystique. At least, that is how it seemed to me. And while I appreciated the attempted connection to the series, it still felt more like a bait-and-switch than any actual linkage. But it's possible that I might have missed something during the course of the film. As far as the acting was concerned, I thought that both Miranda Melhado (as "Fran") and Vernoica Farren put in solid performances overall--especially considering the rather mediocre plot they had to work with. Be that as it may, while I certainly don't consider this to be a good horror film by any means, it wasn't quite as bad as some of the other films in the Amityville series, and I have rated it accordingly. Below average.
Pool Party Massacre (2017)
Neither Horrific nor Humorous
After her parents leave for a vacation in Europe, a young woman by the name of "Blaire Winthorpe" (Kristin Noel McKusick) invites several of her friends over for a pool party. Although initially off-limits to men, one of her friends named "Tiffany" (Alexis Adams) has her boyfriend "Troy" (Mark Justice) come over and with him is his brother "Clay" (Nick Byer) which immediately creates some consternation with Blair and a couple of her female companions. Not that it really mattered as there had already been a couple of murders nearby and, as each of these people gradually go inside the house, they are killed as well. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was a low-budget horror-comedy which was neither horrific nor humorous. Throw in the rather disgusting scenes involving Clay, which those who never graduated past the 8th grade may find amusing, and that's reason enough to rank this film accordingly.
Gaslight (1944)
As Good as the 1940 British Version
Saddened by the murder of her aunt who raised her as a child, a young woman by the name of "Paula Alquist" (Ingrid Bergman) goes to Italy to study music and subsequently falls in love with a man named "Gregory Anton" (Charles Boyer). A whirlwind romance ensues and the two are married shortly afterward. Naturally, having inherited her aunt's home in London, they return there to start their new life together. Unfortunately, the trauma of discovering her aunt's body while living in that house, begins to have a detrimental effect on Paula as her short-term memory begins to falter. Not only that, but she also develops a habit of secretly taking objects within the house and hiding them out-of-sight for no apparent reason. Complicating this situation is the fact that she doesn't remember taking them, or for that matter, where she put them afterward. And if that wasn't bad enough, she has also begun to imagine that the gaslight in her bedroom dims at certain times when she is alone--with nobody around to explain why. To that effect, her husband eventually becomes angry with her, and seriously considers having her committed to an insane asylum. Meanwhile, a detective at Scotland Yard by the name of "Brian Cameron" (Joseph Cotton) begins to suspect that there is something strange going on in that house, and he becomes increasingly determined to get to the bottom of things. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this turned out to be a surprisingly good remake of the British film produced 4 years earlier with both Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer performing in an outstanding manner. Admittedly, although I preferred the murky atmosphere of the original version, I thought that the acting in this particular movie somewhat compensated for it, and I have rated it accordingly. Above average.
Tokyo Mafia (1995)
Ambition and Greed in Tokyo
This film essentially begins with a Tokyo gangster by the name of "Ginya Yabuki" (Riki Takeuchi) getting into a heated argument with his immediate supervisor named "Iwagami" (Ren Osugi) which ends with him being excommunicated from his Yakuza clan. No longer being welcomed in Tokyo, Ginya goes to Hong Kong to recuperate but eventually returns with his own criminal organization he calls the Tokyo Mafia. But rather than taking on the various gangs directly, he decides to circumvent them at first by cornering a specific illegal market and gradually increasing his influence instead. Naturally, his sudden financial success--along with the enmity of Iwagami--creates tension with all of the other gangs who want in on the action. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was a rather standard Japanese crime film which was limited to a certain degree by the rather basic English dubbing. Likewise, the special effects could have used some improvement with one specific scene involving a decapitation being especially cheap looking. On the other hand, I liked the way the director (Seiichi Shirai) showcased the ruthlessness of several high-ranking members of organized crime, with one specific scene depicting a man owing money to a crime lord being sent to Hong Kong for a meeting--only to have his organs unexpectedly removed to pay his debt. Now that's ruthless. Be that as it may, while there are certainly better films of this nature out there, I suppose this one passed the time well enough, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again (1970)
An Adequate Sequel
After getting a message stating that an old colleague by the name of "The Baltimore Kid" (Fred Astaire) was about to be executed in Waco, Texas for bank robbery, a former Texas Ranger named "Nash Crawford" (Walter Brennan) decides to ride out there to see what he can do. Joining him are some of his fellow Texas Ranger comrades "Jason Fitch" (Edgar Buchanan) and "Gentleman George" (Chill Wills) who also hope to testify as character witnesses. To their surprise, once they get to Waco, they are told by an old acquaintance named "Amos Polk" (Andy Devine) that The Baltimore Kid had just been lynched a couple of days earlier and his grave is on the outside of town. Needless to say, they are quite saddened by this news and, to help ease their sorrow, they decide to head over to the local saloon to commiserate with one another. While there, they each happen to see an extremely intoxicated man who looks exactly like their long-lost comrade. And it's then that they realize that the bank robber who was lynched was an imposter and that their friend is alive and well. The only problem, however, is that the gang who robbed the bank think that Amos Polk knows where the money is and that, to get their hands on it, they to kill the former Texas Rangers in the process. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an adequate sequel to the previous film with both Walter Brennan and Chill Wills putting in solid performances overall. Admittedly, although some of the scenes were rather light-hearted, the comedy itself wasn't very sharp or unique. Even so, it managed to pass the time well enough, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Requiem per un agente segreto (1966)
A Cloak-and-Dagger Eurospy Film
After another one of their secret agents is killed in Morocco, the American government contracts the services of a highly skilled mercenary by the name of "Jimmy Merrill" (Stewart Granger) to find out the identity of the people behind it. To that end, upon arriving at the airport in Tangier, Merrill meets with an inexperienced Norwegian agent named "Erik" (Giulio Bosetti) who has been assigned to help him gather some leads with the deceased agent's mistress named "Betty Lou" (Manolita Barraso) being of particular interest. Not only that, but during the course of their investigation, the deceased agent's wife "Evelyn" (Daniela Bianchi) also becomes involved. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was a fairly interesting cloak-and-dagger Eurospy film which benefited from a solid performance by Stewart Granger. Additionally, having several attractive actresses like Giorgia Moll (as Erik's assistant named "Edith") along with both Manolita Barraso and Daniela Bianchi definitely helped the scenery as well. On that note, however, I must say that I was somewhat disappointed with the lack of screen time given to Daniela Bianchi who, I believe, should have had a much more prominent role. But that's just my opinion. Be that as it may, although this film pales in comparison to the James Bond films made during this time, I suppose it was adequate for the time spent, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Overland Stage Raiders (1938)
The Three Mesquiteers vs Some Airline Skyjackers
After several buses carrying a large payroll are ambushed by some bandits on horseback, a man by the name "Ned Hoyt" (Anthony Marsh) convinces the company that depends on the bus line, to utilize his new airplane instead. Needless to say, this doesn't sit well with the owner of the bus company who has been secretly working with the bandits all this time. So, when he learns that Ned will be transporting almost $100,000 on his next flight, he sends some men to skyjack that flight and steal the money it is transporting. What he doesn't count on, however, is that Ned is a good friend of the Three Mesquiteers who have invested a large amount of their own money on Ned's new airline, and they are determined to make sure it's a success. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an okay Western which seemed to lean more heavily upon John Wayne (as "Stony Brooke") than the other two Mesquiteers. Not that this was a bad thing, necessarily, as he put in a reasonably solid performance overall. Be that as it may, even though the film is rather short (55 minutes) and rather dated, it still managed to pass the time well enough, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Amityville Hex (2021)
One of the Worst Amityville Movies Ever Made
This film essentially begins with several vloggers seeking to discredit a supposed curse known as the Amityville Hex which has recently become an on-line viral sensation. To do that, each of them get in front of a camera and, after reading the script which allegedly triggers the curse, promise to share their experiences with their viewers for the next couple of weeks. Although most of them are initially quite skeptical of the hex, their later videos show a much different perspective as each of them begin to experience horrific nightmares and hallucinations which begin to affect their mental and emotional well-being. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this film easily ranks as one of the worst Amityville movies ever made, due in large part to the repetitious plot and the exceedingly bad acting. It was just plain awful. So bad in fact, that I wouldn't be surprised if some viewers thought about reading the Amityville hex just to alleviate their own personal anguish brought on from watching this movie. Be that as it may, I don't recommend this movie, and I have rated it accordingly.