Hi. Only 21 days until JUNESPLOITATION! 2026 begins.🥳🤠
Renny Harlin's S̶E̶N̶D̶ ̶H̶E̶L̶P̶ DEEP WATER ('26, THEATER) is one of the few movies l've been anticipating for months. The mix of "Die Hard 2" action (civilian airplane disaster) with "Deep Blue Sea" tropes (sharks feasting on survivors stuck on boats/wrecks in the middle of the ocean) yields a metric ton of fun... but it often feels severely compromised. Between (a) 48 producers, (b) a reliance on Chinese production money (the only market where Harlin's been reliably successful for the past few decades) making very shallow/cliché Chinese characters (mostly members of an E-tournament team) prominent in the narrative, (c) a Spain-based production relying almost completely on digital/CG effects (there are some cool sets/water tank scenes, but very few), and (d) some really shitty acting/writing, "Deep Water" constantly undermines itself.
Still worth seeing (it's a Junesploitation! stud if l've ever seen one), but please temper your expectations. I didn't, and was mostly disappointed.😕😓 Which is why l chased away my "Deep Water" blues with 4K UHD screenings of DEEP BLUE SEA (1999, ARROW) & DANGEROUS ANIMALS (2005, SHUDDER/IFC). The former still holds up, a double-whammy disaster movie (storm impact on an isolated, underwater lab worsened by medically-enhanced 'smart sharks') populated by archetypes and a smart/fun script that zigs when most viewers expect it to zag. It's the last Hollywood movie Harlin directed that had any worldwide cultural/box office zeitgeist, with its Sam Jackson speech/death scene an all-time, meme-worthy banger.😎 The latter relegates the ever-present shark danger to the background, concentrating on the game of wits between young kidnapped victims and an Aussie serial killer (Jai Coutney, never better) toying with them to his sick amusement. Watching "Dangerous Animals" and "Deep Blue Sea" actually enhanced my opinion of "Deep Water," go figure.😁🥰
After "Nobody 1 & 2," RZA makes it three weeks in a row with his Quentin Tarantino-backed ONE SPOON OF CHOCOLATE ('26, THEATER). Staying behind the camera as director/writer/producer/composer, RZA is clearly going for social message and slow burn drama on par with 1977's "Rolling Thunder," a QT favorite. An ex-con war veteran with anger management issues, Randy (Shameik Moore) is allowed to live with his cousin Ramsee (RY Cyler) in Ohio by the former's too-understanding parole officer (Blair Underwood). The cousins quickly run afoul of a gang of protected WP r@cists, who are also selling the internal organs of the black kids they target. Those expecting "They Will Kill You" levels of kinetic action/bloodbath will be disappointed. The injustices/abuse by the r@cist gang/cops (led by Harry Goodwins and Michael Harney) on our protagonists builds and builds toward an explosive finale that still keeps things semi-realistic (aka Randy's no Black Panther, gets hurt a lot). 'It's fine,' but keep your expectations in check because RZA is more interested in preaching a social message than entertaining genre fans.🤔 Michael Jackson's daughter Paris has a supporting role as Randy's friend/protector while on the run from cops/gang members.
And speaking of the devil, Antoine Fuqua's MICHAEL ('26, IMAX) picks the ball from "Bohemian Rhapsody" (John Ottman remains as editor/music producer) and runs it toward a crowd-pleasing box office redux. Many family/friends refuse to see this, and l understand why. Judged solely as a musical biopic this is terrific, predictable mainstream entertainment. Production values/acting are strong, with Coleman Domingo a beast of a villain as domineering patriarch Joe Jackson and Jaafar Jackson (Michael's nephew) crushing it as an MJ lookalike with dancing moves to match. Covering 1966-1988 with some odd timeline changes/omissions (no 'We Are The World') and ending just like "BR" did (the artist at his peak performing at Wembley Stadium), the stage is set for the follow-up to go the tragic biopic route. 'It's [also] fine.'🙄
"Deep Water" looks/feels big, but not Hollywood big. It cost a pretty penny, but the dodgy CG/blue screen work betrays its Spain/China production acumen. Watch it knowing this and you'll have fun with the oceanic bloodbath. ✌️😁
Last but not least, Damian McCarthy's HOKUM ('26, US/IRELAND, THEATER) manages to somehow be (a) a scary movie about (b) an alcoholic writer (c) trapped in an isolated hotel (that (d) shuts down for the winter) (e) haunted by a ghost trapped in (f) an off-limits room that (g) may or may not be figments of his traumatized imagination coming to life. Despite all these similarities to "The Shining," though, "Hokum" carves more of a whodunit identity thanks to Adam Scott's engaging performance as a giallo-like civilian compelled to go places he shouldn't to get to the bottom of this mystery. The Irish folklore, locations and supporting cast also give the film much-needed personality to compensate for Scott playing a grumpy sourpuss. Recommended.😃
I also dug Hokum. Fantastic atmosphere, much like Oddity, McCarthy's previous effort. I also found more immediately engaging than Oddity, yet not as weirdly intriguing. Overall, another solid spooky effort from this director, I recommend as well!
Thanks for vallidating my opinion, zilla. 😁 Forgot to mention the cinematography on "Hokum" is aces, restrained but creepy enough to earn its 'R' rating. 👻🤡
I've recently acquired the entirety of South Park that's available on blu-ray, so I've been binging it all week while working and doing overtime.
I did manage to go out for one movie, friday night. It was a showing of John Waters' Polyester, with Odorama cards, dubbed in French Québecois. The Québecois part is important, specifically the use of slang, or 'joual' (Slap Shot is a big cult success around here because of it), as it is fairly different than french from France (think english from UK and USA. As the guy who introduced the movie said, it allows us to appropriate the movie by modifying it with our language and our references. The voice actors are very well known from tv and movies, they have been in some of the best stuff Quebec ever produced (one did the voice of Marge in The Simpsons in the Quebec-French dub). Since the market is very small around here, they often do dubbing for movies and tv.
Anyway, it was a fun weird time, and free, and organized by a good friend of mine for some small art festival at the local cultural center. John Waters is not my guy (I do like Pecker and Cecil B Demented), and I'm realizing it's mostly his earlier stuff, but I'm always open to new discovery.
John Waters is very hit or miss for me, and "Polyester" was mostly 'meh' for me when l saw it a few years back. YMMV, but glad you have a new-to-you Waters a chance. 😋
Haven't seen "South Park" on TV in years, hated the lengthy breaks between seasons and having all of 10-12 new episodes as a reward. Don't miss it but happy to know it's still around after all these years. 🙃🙂
The lenghty breaks were annoying, but I kept with it and took them as they came out. It was like a surprise every couple of years. As in any tv series that goes on for a while, there were ups and downs, but it's often so off-the-wall, i had to keep watching.
I don't think i'll ever rewatch Polyester, but I can say I saw it once, albeit in a modified way.
While i try so hard to not let reviewers affect my movie watching, i'll admit i went in trepidatious as this Sam Rami return to niche film making got mixed reviews. Im giddy to report: I loved it. If you wipe away the polish this feels very much like a sploitation/grindhouse flick! A great popcorn flick of Cast Away meets War of the Roses. Highly suggest it. Also, Rachel McAdams is soooo f@#$ing good.
The Bandit (2016)
Presented as a documentary on an absolute childhood favorite movie Smokey and the Bandit i was super stoked to find out its much much more. The structure is fascinating as it will present a little nugget from the production of Smokey and then go on a huge detour delving into: Hal Needam (stuntman to director), Burt (films, struggles with being stereotyped, public persona), the stunt industry, and more. All of which i found absolutely fascinating. Regrettably its only like 80m long so you just get a super quick look at any one topic. Im definitely going to do a Needham day for one of Junesploitation Free Spaces.
Few rando QT thoughts: #1 I read Hal's autobiography years ago and to me its very clear than QT was "inspired by" and "borrowed" alot from Hal's early interaction with stuntman Chuck Robinson and later best friend relationship/roommate situation with Burt Reynolds for the characters of Cliff and Rick in Once Upon a time in Hollywood. Its the classic QT move of writing down a bunch of stuff he likes then blending it into a film. #2: Just a random connection but weirdly both Smokey and the Bandit and Kill Bill both featured a bad car accident stunt going wrong when a car lost control (in the case of KB, the result of QT making Uma do something she wasnt comfortable with).
Never even heard of "The Bandit" doc before. 😲Interesting, will seek it out even though l've read Hal's bio and are intimately aware of the Needham-Reynolds kinship. "Hooper" is my fave colaboration between Hal and Burt, with the first "Smokey and the Bandit" and "Cannonball Run" close behind. 🤓
Glad "Send Help" rocked your Raimi-loving world. It didn't do the same for me, which is why Harlin's "Deep Water" was such a godsend. 😁
Jan-Michael Vincent and James Best (as the young buck and past-his-prime stuntmen, respectively) have such great chemistry with Burt. "Hooper" is so underrated. 🥺😢
Ok JM...since you referenced another JM (Jan-Michael) i need to share a "childhood dream come true story" about Hooper: JMV is introduced in Hooper as you say, as the "young buck" and his first scene perfectly establishes this: he rides up on a 70s style small skateboard modified with a small gas engine to motorize it. I was obsessed with this gadget. For YEARS i dreamed of buying the pieces to build my own. Alas i lacked the mechanical know how to pull it off. Then about 8 years ago the e-skateboard industry increased alot and added reasonably priced boards. And while im way to old to be doing so, i got one and rode it constantly for several years. Childhood dream realized!!!!!!!!!
Jan-Michael's motorized skateboard from "Hooper," the future hoverboard from "BTTF2" of the 1970's. 🤟😄 But joke's on the 90's kids waiting for real hoverboards to be invented, because the motorized skateboard became reality while floating skateboards are... not here yet. 🤠🤓
THE RUNNING MAN (2025) Yes, this movie isn't the best. It’s too long, has too many side characters, and doesn’t quite follow its own rules. BUT... it's also overflowing with big ideas beyond fights and chases. We've got this, Project Hail Mary, Mickey 17, and Disclosure Day on the horizon. Is something interesting happening with science fiction movies right now?
MICKEY 17 (2025) The above got me wanting to rewatch this. I enjoyed it much more the second time around, as I predicted I would. I was able to get into the plot and character more and not feel bombarded by all the outrageousness of it all.
THE MASK (1994) I thought this movie was so annoying back in ’94, but I like it now. Is that growth?
THE BLUFF (2026) I was hoping for swashbuckling pirate action. While this one had plenty of fights and whatnot, it felt more like exploring how hard life was back then.
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS (2001) Just pure silliness, and in the best way.
BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES (1973) This concludes my revisit of the original Apes series. This finale is a lot smaller, but it still has a lot on its mind. I’m fascinated with how these were big blockbuster populist movies, but also huge bummers.
'We've got this ["Running Man '25"], Project Hail Mary, Mickey 17, and Disclosure Day on the horizon. Is something interesting happening with science fiction movies right now?'
Most sci-fi dresses with futuristic details what's happening in the present. The current politics of government-backed intimidation are forcing filmmakers and TV creators to be more subtle to avoid drawing the ire of the fearless leader. Some go for wide-eyed optimism with dark underneath ("Project Hail Mary"), others for broad silliness with satirical bite ("Mickey 17"), others for kitchen sink populism ("Running Man '26"), etc. Something tells me 2025-2028 will feature a hell of a run of science fiction goodness in our pop culture. 🤐🫡
Hi. Only 21 days until JUNESPLOITATION! 2026 begins.🥳🤠
ReplyDeleteRenny Harlin's S̶E̶N̶D̶ ̶H̶E̶L̶P̶ DEEP WATER ('26, THEATER) is one of the few movies l've been anticipating for months. The mix of "Die Hard 2" action (civilian airplane disaster) with "Deep Blue Sea" tropes (sharks feasting on survivors stuck on boats/wrecks in the middle of the ocean) yields a metric ton of fun... but it often feels severely compromised. Between (a) 48 producers, (b) a reliance on Chinese production money (the only market where Harlin's been reliably successful for the past few decades) making very shallow/cliché Chinese characters (mostly members of an E-tournament team) prominent in the narrative, (c) a Spain-based production relying almost completely on digital/CG effects (there are some cool sets/water tank scenes, but very few), and (d) some really shitty acting/writing, "Deep Water" constantly undermines itself.
Still worth seeing (it's a Junesploitation! stud if l've ever seen one), but please temper your expectations. I didn't, and was mostly disappointed.😕😓 Which is why l chased away my "Deep Water" blues with 4K UHD screenings of DEEP BLUE SEA (1999, ARROW) & DANGEROUS ANIMALS (2005, SHUDDER/IFC). The former still holds up, a double-whammy disaster movie (storm impact on an isolated, underwater lab worsened by medically-enhanced 'smart sharks') populated by archetypes and a smart/fun script that zigs when most viewers expect it to zag. It's the last Hollywood movie Harlin directed that had any worldwide cultural/box office zeitgeist, with its Sam Jackson speech/death scene an all-time, meme-worthy banger.😎 The latter relegates the ever-present shark danger to the background, concentrating on the game of wits between young kidnapped victims and an Aussie serial killer (Jai Coutney, never better) toying with them to his sick amusement. Watching "Dangerous Animals" and "Deep Blue Sea" actually enhanced my opinion of "Deep Water," go figure.😁🥰
After "Nobody 1 & 2," RZA makes it three weeks in a row with his Quentin Tarantino-backed ONE SPOON OF CHOCOLATE ('26, THEATER). Staying behind the camera as director/writer/producer/composer, RZA is clearly going for social message and slow burn drama on par with 1977's "Rolling Thunder," a QT favorite. An ex-con war veteran with anger management issues, Randy (Shameik Moore) is allowed to live with his cousin Ramsee (RY Cyler) in Ohio by the former's too-understanding parole officer (Blair Underwood). The cousins quickly run afoul of a gang of protected WP r@cists, who are also selling the internal organs of the black kids they target. Those expecting "They Will Kill You" levels of kinetic action/bloodbath will be disappointed. The injustices/abuse by the r@cist gang/cops (led by Harry Goodwins and Michael Harney) on our protagonists builds and builds toward an explosive finale that still keeps things semi-realistic (aka Randy's no Black Panther, gets hurt a lot). 'It's fine,' but keep your expectations in check because RZA is more interested in preaching a social message than entertaining genre fans.🤔 Michael Jackson's daughter Paris has a supporting role as Randy's friend/protector while on the run from cops/gang members.
And speaking of the devil, Antoine Fuqua's MICHAEL ('26, IMAX) picks the ball from "Bohemian Rhapsody" (John Ottman remains as editor/music producer) and runs it toward a crowd-pleasing box office redux. Many family/friends refuse to see this, and l understand why. Judged solely as a musical biopic this is terrific, predictable mainstream entertainment. Production values/acting are strong, with Coleman Domingo a beast of a villain as domineering patriarch Joe Jackson and Jaafar Jackson (Michael's nephew) crushing it as an MJ lookalike with dancing moves to match. Covering 1966-1988 with some odd timeline changes/omissions (no 'We Are The World') and ending just like "BR" did (the artist at his peak performing at Wembley Stadium), the stage is set for the follow-up to go the tragic biopic route. 'It's [also] fine.'🙄
One more below.
2025! "Dangerous Animals" came out last year, not 2005. 😱😓
DeleteI've seen a couple of the Harlin recent output. They've been mostly entertaining in a DTV or Redbox kinda way.
Delete"Deep Water" looks/feels big, but not Hollywood big. It cost a pretty penny, but the dodgy CG/blue screen work betrays its Spain/China production acumen. Watch it knowing this and you'll have fun with the oceanic bloodbath. ✌️😁
Delete[continued from above]
ReplyDeleteLast but not least, Damian McCarthy's HOKUM ('26, US/IRELAND, THEATER) manages to somehow be (a) a scary movie about (b) an alcoholic writer (c) trapped in an isolated hotel (that (d) shuts down for the winter) (e) haunted by a ghost trapped in (f) an off-limits room that (g) may or may not be figments of his traumatized imagination coming to life. Despite all these similarities to "The Shining," though, "Hokum" carves more of a whodunit identity thanks to Adam Scott's engaging performance as a giallo-like civilian compelled to go places he shouldn't to get to the bottom of this mystery. The Irish folklore, locations and supporting cast also give the film much-needed personality to compensate for Scott playing a grumpy sourpuss. Recommended.😃
I also dug Hokum. Fantastic atmosphere, much like Oddity, McCarthy's previous effort. I also found more immediately engaging than Oddity, yet not as weirdly intriguing. Overall, another solid spooky effort from this director, I recommend as well!
DeleteThanks for vallidating my opinion, zilla. 😁 Forgot to mention the cinematography on "Hokum" is aces, restrained but creepy enough to earn its 'R' rating. 👻🤡
DeleteI've recently acquired the entirety of South Park that's available on blu-ray, so I've been binging it all week while working and doing overtime.
ReplyDeleteI did manage to go out for one movie, friday night. It was a showing of John Waters' Polyester, with Odorama cards, dubbed in French Québecois. The Québecois part is important, specifically the use of slang, or 'joual' (Slap Shot is a big cult success around here because of it), as it is fairly different than french from France (think english from UK and USA. As the guy who introduced the movie said, it allows us to appropriate the movie by modifying it with our language and our references. The voice actors are very well known from tv and movies, they have been in some of the best stuff Quebec ever produced (one did the voice of Marge in The Simpsons in the Quebec-French dub). Since the market is very small around here, they often do dubbing for movies and tv.
Anyway, it was a fun weird time, and free, and organized by a good friend of mine for some small art festival at the local cultural center. John Waters is not my guy (I do like Pecker and Cecil B Demented), and I'm realizing it's mostly his earlier stuff, but I'm always open to new discovery.
John Waters is very hit or miss for me, and "Polyester" was mostly 'meh' for me when l saw it a few years back. YMMV, but glad you have a new-to-you Waters a chance. 😋
DeleteHaven't seen "South Park" on TV in years, hated the lengthy breaks between seasons and having all of 10-12 new episodes as a reward. Don't miss it but happy to know it's still around after all these years. 🙃🙂
The lenghty breaks were annoying, but I kept with it and took them as they came out. It was like a surprise every couple of years. As in any tv series that goes on for a while, there were ups and downs, but it's often so off-the-wall, i had to keep watching.
DeleteI don't think i'll ever rewatch Polyester, but I can say I saw it once, albeit in a modified way.
Howdy Team F This!
ReplyDeleteSend Help (2026 Hulu)
While i try so hard to not let reviewers affect my movie watching, i'll admit i went in trepidatious as this Sam Rami return to niche film making got mixed reviews. Im giddy to report: I loved it. If you wipe away the polish this feels very much like a sploitation/grindhouse flick! A great popcorn flick of Cast Away meets War of the Roses. Highly suggest it. Also, Rachel McAdams is soooo f@#$ing good.
The Bandit (2016)
Presented as a documentary on an absolute childhood favorite movie Smokey and the Bandit i was super stoked to find out its much much more. The structure is fascinating as it will present a little nugget from the production of Smokey and then go on a huge detour delving into: Hal Needam (stuntman to director), Burt (films, struggles with being stereotyped, public persona), the stunt industry, and more. All of which i found absolutely fascinating. Regrettably its only like 80m long so you just get a super quick look at any one topic. Im definitely going to do a Needham day for one of Junesploitation Free Spaces.
Few rando QT thoughts: #1 I read Hal's autobiography years ago and to me its very clear than QT was "inspired by" and "borrowed" alot from Hal's early interaction with stuntman Chuck Robinson and later best friend relationship/roommate situation with Burt Reynolds for the characters of Cliff and Rick in Once Upon a time in Hollywood. Its the classic QT move of writing down a bunch of stuff he likes then blending it into a film. #2: Just a random connection but weirdly both Smokey and the Bandit and Kill Bill both featured a bad car accident stunt going wrong when a car lost control (in the case of KB, the result of QT making Uma do something she wasnt comfortable with).
Never even heard of "The Bandit" doc before. 😲Interesting, will seek it out even though l've read Hal's bio and are intimately aware of the Needham-Reynolds kinship. "Hooper" is my fave colaboration between Hal and Burt, with the first "Smokey and the Bandit" and "Cannonball Run" close behind. 🤓
DeleteGlad "Send Help" rocked your Raimi-loving world. It didn't do the same for me, which is why Harlin's "Deep Water" was such a godsend. 😁
Hooper rocks! Its a movie very very much lost in time. Also i think its the best love letter to stuntpeople there is.
DeleteJan-Michael Vincent and James Best (as the young buck and past-his-prime stuntmen, respectively) have such great chemistry with Burt. "Hooper" is so underrated. 🥺😢
DeleteOk JM...since you referenced another JM (Jan-Michael) i need to share a "childhood dream come true story" about Hooper: JMV is introduced in Hooper as you say, as the "young buck" and his first scene perfectly establishes this: he rides up on a 70s style small skateboard modified with a small gas engine to motorize it. I was obsessed with this gadget. For YEARS i dreamed of buying the pieces to build my own. Alas i lacked the mechanical know how to pull it off. Then about 8 years ago the e-skateboard industry increased alot and added reasonably priced boards. And while im way to old to be doing so, i got one and rode it constantly for several years. Childhood dream realized!!!!!!!!!
DeleteJan-Michael's motorized skateboard from "Hooper," the future hoverboard from "BTTF2" of the 1970's. 🤟😄 But joke's on the 90's kids waiting for real hoverboards to be invented, because the motorized skateboard became reality while floating skateboards are... not here yet. 🤠🤓
DeleteTHE RUNNING MAN (2025)
ReplyDeleteYes, this movie isn't the best. It’s too long, has too many side characters, and doesn’t quite follow its own rules. BUT... it's also overflowing with big ideas beyond fights and chases. We've got this, Project Hail Mary, Mickey 17, and Disclosure Day on the horizon. Is something interesting happening with science fiction movies right now?
MICKEY 17 (2025)
The above got me wanting to rewatch this. I enjoyed it much more the second time around, as I predicted I would. I was able to get into the plot and character more and not feel bombarded by all the outrageousness of it all.
THE MASK (1994)
I thought this movie was so annoying back in ’94, but I like it now. Is that growth?
THE BLUFF (2026)
I was hoping for swashbuckling pirate action. While this one had plenty of fights and whatnot, it felt more like exploring how hard life was back then.
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS (2001)
Just pure silliness, and in the best way.
BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES (1973)
This concludes my revisit of the original Apes series. This finale is a lot smaller, but it still has a lot on its mind. I’m fascinated with how these were big blockbuster populist movies, but also huge bummers.
KILL BABY KILL (1966)
Mario Bava goodness!
'We've got this ["Running Man '25"], Project Hail Mary, Mickey 17, and Disclosure Day on the horizon. Is something interesting happening with science fiction movies right now?'
DeleteMost sci-fi dresses with futuristic details what's happening in the present. The current politics of government-backed intimidation are forcing filmmakers and TV creators to be more subtle to avoid drawing the ire of the fearless leader. Some go for wide-eyed optimism with dark underneath ("Project Hail Mary"), others for broad silliness with satirical bite ("Mickey 17"), others for kitchen sink populism ("Running Man '26"), etc. Something tells me 2025-2028 will feature a hell of a run of science fiction goodness in our pop culture. 🤐🫡