Rewatched SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY 3D (2026, AMC PRIME 3D) because I really wanted to rewatch it in 3D. It's good 3D, but not as immersive as 2014's "Amazing Spider-Man 2" 3D (still the best live-action 3D Spidey movie ever made). Since it's still breaking box office records and a lot of folks have seen it, may I suggest we make this first post a SPOILER-CENTRIC DISCUSSION OF "BND" so that the rest of the posts can still be spoiler-free for those that haven't seen it yet. I'll start with a few questions lingering after two viewings of "BND" (with an inevitable third as soon as I can land a 4DX seat🤩).
1.- There's a blonde chick who moves into Peter Parker's apartment building. We see her twice, the second time when Peter puts on her laundry clothes after he falls out of his building naked (don't ask). IS THIS BLONDE GIRL SUPPOSED TO BE GWEN STACY? Seeing her once wouldn't have raised flags, but twice? Me thinks this is setting up Gwen now with a generic pretty blonde, to be replaced later with a recognizable star. That way Peter can reconnect romantically with someone while MJ remains a non-romantic bestie with Peter until... the inevitable happens. Am I reading too much into the blonde girl in Peter's building?
2.- I remember at the end of "The Marvels" that Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) ends up in some sort of lab with Hank 'Beast' McCoy (Kelsey Grammer). Are there any other past/new X-Men present in this post-credit teaser? I ask because I want to make sure if Sadie Sink's Jean Grey is definitely the first original-to-MCU 'X-Men' character/lore that is being established for future MCU and X-Men movies.
3.- When Jean Grey teases Peter about first going after MJ (right after the web grenades detonate in the alley), one of the civilians taken over by Grey is an old bearded construction worker who's run over by a car. Is that old man dead? Because if he's killed by that car Peter showed zero signs of caring for that guy (ala Supes in "Man of Steel") while being so guilt-ridden by the NYPD cop injured when he slammed Scorpio against her patrol car. It also justifies to a degree Punisher's urge to shoot Jean with his BFG.🙂↕️🙂↔️
4.- The inside-Spidey's-memory bedroom where Aunt May and Peter/Jean Grey have their heart-to-heart, is this a real memory of a conversation Peter had with her aunt that he treasures as his 'safe place'? Or is it like a manufactured memory, an imaginary conversation Peter has with the memory of her aunt reflecting Peter's own words? It's the crux of the way Peter gets thru to Jean, but still not sure if it was a real memory or a manufactured-by-Peter's-guilt made-up conversation inside his own head.
I have more, but let's hear your spoiler-filled thoughts/questions about "BND" for those of us who've seen it and want to talk amongst Spidey-loving internet friends.😎🧐
PINOCCHIO: UNSTRUNG (UK/USA, '26, THEATER) After too many recent shitty cash-ins of expiring childhood IP copyrights (2023's "Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey," etc.), The Twisted Childhood Universe has yielded its first bona fide great horror flick. Made for £500,000 with mostly practical puppets/effects (as seen during the closing credits' behind-the-scenes montage), "Pinocchio: Unstrung" plays the tricky balance of being heartfelt (a child puppet that just wants to fit in with his new human bestie) and naughty (a boy puppet realizing naked girls in showers don't have a pen¡s!😵) surprisingly well considering it packs one hell of a gory wallop (gymnasium malfunction!) and isn't afraid to be silly (a "Jaws" tribute in a pool using Pinocchio's nose as a 'fin'). The child actors and voice-over performers (Jude Evan Lloyd as Pinocchio, Robert Englund as a demonic-looking Cricket, etc.) are fine, but Richard Brake (the kidnapper in "Barbarian's" early 80's timeline) steals the movie as Geppetto. You know the old man's kind demeanor and soothing voice will eventually yield a crazy mad scientist, but the ultimate reveal about Pinocchio's origin genuinely shocked me and raised the stakes. If you appreciate a thoughtful slasher unafraid to occasionally let its freak flag fly, then this one is highly recommended.
TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA ('26, THEATER) Writer/director Jane Schoenbrun ("I Saw The TV Glow") returns with an even crazier LGBTQ-friendly plunge into the influences of slasher movies on kids (mostly queer, but pretty much anybody) growing up with their influence in the VHS days from the 80's and 90's. Though it establishes an alternate reality in which "Camp Miasma" is a long-running-but-now-dormant series of popular slasher films, it also makes it clear "Sleepaway Camp," the "Friday the 13th" series and the "Halloween" movies (the Blumhouse reboots, not the old ones!😲😡) exist in the same universe. A young filmmaker (Hannah Einbinder, HBO's "Hacks") wants to reboot the "CM" series, and tries to talk the reclusive final girl from the first movie ("The X-Files'" Gillian Anderson, clearly doing the Norma Desmond routine from "Sunset Boulevard") to appear on the new project. I'd rather not spoil the rest, but it's more surreal and, yes, up-its-own-ass pretentious (too-obvious curtains as backgrounds to simulate a snow-covered lake, Mario Bava homages, etc.) than I was expecting.
There's enough violence/gore to satisfy the slasher crowd (a single-take massacre by 'Little Death' set to the Counting Crow's "A Long December" is a standout), but the filmmakers are more interested in exploring the female psyche of young/old women in horror movies (Anderson) and those at the receiving end of that taboo childhood experience (Einbinder, who isn't afraid to be vulnerable for the sake of the narrative). Other than "Spider-Man," this is the film I saw this week I can't stop thinking about. Recommended if you're in the mood for a creative, epic mind f***.🤓😇
MOANA 3D ('26, THEATER) 'It's fine,' but this really has no business being remade as a live-action feature when the original cartoon looks better and has better comedic timing. In "Moana '26's" defense, though, Dwayne Johnson looks like he's enjoying himself and Catherine Laga'aia is a revelation as a real-life representation of the Moana character. Like Halle Bailey in "The Little Mermaid" remake, the lead actress towers over the cash-in movie she's forced to star in. Rena Owen's Grandma Tala also steals every scene she's in.😥😭
RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD, PART II (1985) RAMBO III (1988, both DVD) While recovering in bed from sickness I needed film content that didn't challenge my intellect in the slightest. I was surprised in this double-bill viewing that I liked "III" better than "Part II" for the first time... ever? "II" stills kicks butt in the 3rd act, but the first two thirds now feel slow, boring and laborious.🙁 "III" spreads the fireworks more evenly in the 2nd/3rd acts, culminating in tank v. helicopter. Win!🤠
Several years ago I randomly found Rambo III on TV and thought that I might have a laugh from it. Gradually, though, I got sucked into the film. There is no doubt the story is ridiculous, but the action scenes are so well executed that I could not help being impressed. The location shooting also stood out for me, especially in a time when studio green screens have largely replaced filming in real places.
To be fair, "III" has a handful of green screen moments (especially during the underground cave firefights/explosions) that haven't aged well. They're few, though, and you can feel the dust and sweat of actors/crew on location. Even during his "Expendables" and latter "Rambo" sequels phase, Stallone knew the on-screen value of shooting on location in Thailand and Bulgaria. 😎🫡
I haven't seen Rambo 3 since the '90s, and my main take away was the reveal that Rambo was a Buddhist. Something which I like to mention often (like right now..I'm doing it now).
Last Saturday, Volume 4 of the Gap Grindhouse event at The Gap Theatre was held. Judging by the low turnout, it might be the last one, but I certainly had an enjoyable evening. That I had not seen any of the three films was a bonus.
HITCH HIKE TO HELL (1977) – A young man working for a dry cleaning company cannot stop himself from strangling the runaways that he picks up in the company van. The dialogue is clunky, the narrative is awkward, yet there is a strong central performance from the actor playing the killer. Russell Johnson from Gilligan’s Island fame plays a police detective.
GIRL ON A CHAIN GANG (1966) – Civil rights exploitation? Voting rights activists – a white man, a black man, and a white woman - travelling in the American South are harassed and arrested by the local sheriff and his deputies. Though not as lurid as the title suggests, this is a grim film reflecting the treatment many voting rights activists experienced from law enforcement officials in the early 1960s. Crazy Ralph from Friday the 13th shows up as a lawyer.
ABDUCTION (1975) – Counter-culture politics are on full display in a surprisingly solid debut from director Joseph Zito (Invasion U.S.A). Although Abduction is based on a novel, the story eerily parallels the Patty Hearst kidnapping. The heiress is alternately abused and treated well by her captors, and soon she starts to bond with them. It is telling for the period that the radicals are presented in a more sympathetic way than law enforcement, particularly the FBI, though both act in similar ways.
I was waiting for these reviews last Sunday. Why do you make us wait a week? You cruel, thoughtless man! 😉😅 Too bad few people in your neck of the woods cared about these high-minded (except the '77 one, that sounds super sleazy) exploitation titles. If they scheduled Chuck Norris or Charles Bronson Cannon flicks the masses would fill those empty theater seats. 🥶😎
Sometimes life gets in the way, or the brain does not want to put words together.
The operator of the The Gap Theatre (the founder of Exhumed Films) tries out different ideas. Sometimes they work well, sometimes they flop. Other Grindhouse nights have done well. There is no science to it. I think it comes down to people being aware of the shows, having the time to come, and the weather being decent enough for driving. Few of us who go there are locals.
54 (1998): I watched the Director's Cut (not availqble on 4k), which I didn't know existed, but is better than the Theatrical Cut according to reviews, released in 2015. From what I've found (I didn't watch the TC yet), I don't think it's that much better, it's just adding some story beat that were cut by Weinstein. Cinématographe (distributed by Vinegar Syndrome) just released super-duper-cool-extra-expensive set. The cast is stacked with up-and-coming cool actors (well, they were back then). Ryan Philippe is perfect as the young blond beautiful kid trying to fit in the cool crowd. It's weird to see Brecking Meyer as a buff sexy barman. Mike Myers is also excellent. The soundtrack is obviously awesome, if you like disco. I need to go through the rest of the set, which is packed with extras, including a booklet. Often, I wonder why a DC is not on 4k, while the TC is, but in this case it's pretty obvious. Some shots are very clearly from a low-res, possibly VHS, source.
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988): Another super-extra-awesome-expensive-fantabulous boxset that I couldn't resist getting from Vinegar Syndrome (I had a 5$ coupon). After watching this, I'm very tempted to buy the blaxploitation boxset from Shout (they should be called Pam-Grier-sploitation)(psych, I ordered both sets as I was writing this, thank god for overtime pay), I have some catching up to do.
The Name of the Rose (1986): It's Second Sight's turn to release a super-duper-jesus-christ-where-as-my-money-gone-shiny-awesome 4k boxset of one of the greatest whodunnit in cinema history. I previously had the french 4k release, but it had forced french subs and it was very annoying.
The Spine of Night (2021): Animated, crazy, weird and violent sword & sorcery movie that scratch that itch I've had for a while. All the human characters are drawn by rotoscopy, which can sometimes look weird, especially in the action sequences, but the backgrounds are gorgeous. There's a couple of cool names doing voices, but I have to admit it's not their best work. In general, I found the voice acting a bit lacking. The movie is really banking on the violence. It's no Fire & Ice, but it'll do. I got it on the latest Vinegar Syndrome sale, but it's a Shudder movie, so it should be available there.
Supergirl (2026): I liked it. It's far from great, but also not the worst. But seriously, James Gunn, leave that poor dog alone, what's wrong with you (I know, he didn't direct or write the thing, but it's his universe, so his fault).
P.S. Patrick, I watched a couple of your panels from Flashback Weekend, on Youtube. You were great. I wish I could go.
Links to the Flashback Weekend YT panels with Patrick, Kunider? Pretty, please? 😶🙂↕️
Confession. Last week, after a movie ended and before the next one started, l snuck into a theater and watched most of "Supergirl" (2nd viewing). 'It's fine,' but my God, James Gunn can't let go of "Guardians of the Galaxy" to save his life. Even if he didn't write/direct "Supergirl," he runs the DC Studio and has the power to re-write dialogue or change scenes. Too much weirdo outerspace sidequests, not enough Kara in her outfit kicking butt. Lobo was a push (outerspace hick "Aquaman"), but the end of the film hints that future DCU flicks with the Kryptonians might be more grounded and less galaxy-bound. 🫠
And all these deluxe 4K's are going to be the end of you, Kunider. 'WHAT'S ON YOUR WALLET?' Arrow, VS, Second Sight and Shout! outstanding bills... dozens of them. 🤨🫣
MY LITTLE PONY: EQUESTRIA GIRLS – RAINBOW ROCKS (2014) – Does this plot sound familiar? When a musical group uses its malignant powers to take hold of people’s minds, a rival group uses its own magical powers to battle the evil that is taking over. It all concludes in an elaborate battle of song to determine which side will triumph. I have encountered numerous references to Rainbow Rocks in discussions about K-Pop Demon Hunters, which intrigued me enough to actually watch Rainbow Rocks. There are indeed parallels between them, but the worlds they present are very different. The musical styles of the songs are quite different, too. To my own surprise, I was entertained by this. Looking on Letterboxd, this My Little Pony film seems to have a following.
THE BORN LOSERS (1967, dir. Tom Laughlin) – Overlong, clumsily put together, yet still having enough drive-in charm to keep me watching. Laughlin did almost everything for this bikersploitation vigilante story. He portrays Billy Jack, a part Native American Vietnam vet fighting a vicious biker gang that invades his town. Bad things happen to a several young women.The grimy exploitation vibes frequently clash with the earnest portrayals of trauma. This was a big hit for American International Pictures at the time and lead to three sequels.
SMART MONEY (1931) – Edward G. Robinson is affable gambler Nick the Barber, who goes from a barbershop in small-town America to the big time in his line of work. The one thing that he does not appreciate is being a sucker. Robinson’s acting is so effortless, and he knew how to bring on the charm. James Cagney has a supporting role as a childhood friend who comes along for Nick's wild ride. Blink and you will miss Boris Karloff in a bit part. Though the conclusion is abrupt, Smart Money remains slick entertainment almost a century later.
Last night I was back at The Gap Theatre for day one of Bava-thon, a weekend marathon of Mario Bava films. The prints of BLACK SABBATH (1963) and HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD (1961) looked beautiful. The colors really popped on the big screen. As for SHOCK (1977) - entitled Beyond The Door II on the print - it had the distinctly red appearance of a fading print. It is not a great looking film when pristine, so I did not mind. Despite the story of Shock still feeling too stretched out for a feature film, the crazy moments are genuinely effective because of Daria Nicolodi giving everything.
The Arrow Blu-ray of "Shock" is perfection: great pic/sound, plus a bevy of interesting extras. And you're right, Casual, Daria Nicolodi carries this film on her shoulders and makes it work. Shame it's Mario Bava's last hurrah, but the man went out on an Italian rocky mountain high. 🙃🙂
JACKIE BROWN (1997) The way Sam Jackson’s hair becomes more and more of a lion’s mane by the end of the movie? Heck, yeah.
THE DEVIL’S MOUTH (2026) Here’s a movie we’ve all seen before. It’s THE DESCENT, it’s THE RUINS, it’s THE SHALLOWS, it’s SHARK NIGHT, it’s TURISTAS. It’s all these things, which means it can’t be its own thing. Bummer.
GAMERA VS. ZIGRA (1971) Insert MST3K quote here.
CHAIN REACTION (1996) Andrew Davis goodness!
OCEAN’S 12 (2004) Folks online are saying to give this one a second chance, that it deserves to be rediscovered, etc. But… I don’t know.
And now for F These Books: SCYTHE by Neal Shusterman was unbelievably good, one of the best reads I’ve had in ages. Libba Bray’s THE DIVINERS was also good, but I wanted to spend more time with feisty main character Evie and less with the various supporting cast. And SEVEN BLADES IN BLACK by Sam Sykes is maybe trying too hard to be edgy and cool, but I’m halfway through and enjoying it.
I didn't realize Ocean's 12 had a bad rep. Have you seen it once before, it must be that they want to argue the ending, but i remember the body of the movie being quite fun.
My shopping addiction continues as I've purchased about another 15 4k movies since last weekend's open thread. This includes my most expensive purchase of The Hurt Locker steel book which I had to buy off eBay for $55 which is supposed to arrive today.
I just really prefer to own everything. And to be fair, I've gotten rid of a lot of movies and I've only been buying the ones that I know I will visit many times in the future.
Me too, Luke. 😉 Kunider, on the other hand, spends the equivalent of small country's GDP on 4K upgrades for the sake of keeping several boutique labels alive and in business. 🫠
I've had a pretty good week of movie watching. Still haven't been to see The Odyssey, but maybe I'll go tomorrow.
Badlands (1973). This movie was fantastic. Atmospheric and beautiful road trip. I liked how all the police seemed to be fans of Sheen's character at the end.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026). I'm kind of over Zombie movies, because they're all the same, so the uniqueness of this one really got me. I put this on late at night, expecting to fall asleep and finish the next day, but it completely locked me in.
Spectre (2015). Finally got around to this one. I really loved it and was wondering why it wasn't liked. But then got to the end and realised by it wasn't as well liked. I've seen all the Bonds now except for Connery and Lazenby.
Dead Calm (1996). This was mentioned on the show this week, and I remembered that I had it. Nice tight little thriller based almost entirely on sailing ships! Of course I loved it. When those sails were finally unfurled I fist bumped.
Disclosure Day (2026). I never made it to the theatre to see this. There were a lot of great action pieces I would have loved to have seen on the big screen. But overall, it was just alright. It kind of was feasting on a lot of nonsense conspiracy stuff that I think society could do less with nowadays and for that reason it just didn't sit well with me.
"Badlands" was synonimous with cool 70's road trip/crime story by a visually gifted director; now it's the name of the 2nd best contemporary "Predator" movie ever made, after "Prey." 😇 "Bone Temple" is messed-up and badass (that rocking scene! 🤘🤓), l like it more than the prequel. "Spectre" sucks, give my "Skyfall" and then we'll talk again. 🥲🥰
WASSSSUP??!!🤨🙄
ReplyDeleteRewatched SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY 3D (2026, AMC PRIME 3D) because I really wanted to rewatch it in 3D. It's good 3D, but not as immersive as 2014's "Amazing Spider-Man 2" 3D (still the best live-action 3D Spidey movie ever made). Since it's still breaking box office records and a lot of folks have seen it, may I suggest we make this first post a SPOILER-CENTRIC DISCUSSION OF "BND" so that the rest of the posts can still be spoiler-free for those that haven't seen it yet. I'll start with a few questions lingering after two viewings of "BND" (with an inevitable third as soon as I can land a 4DX seat🤩).
1.- There's a blonde chick who moves into Peter Parker's apartment building. We see her twice, the second time when Peter puts on her laundry clothes after he falls out of his building naked (don't ask). IS THIS BLONDE GIRL SUPPOSED TO BE GWEN STACY? Seeing her once wouldn't have raised flags, but twice? Me thinks this is setting up Gwen now with a generic pretty blonde, to be replaced later with a recognizable star. That way Peter can reconnect romantically with someone while MJ remains a non-romantic bestie with Peter until... the inevitable happens. Am I reading too much into the blonde girl in Peter's building?
2.- I remember at the end of "The Marvels" that Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) ends up in some sort of lab with Hank 'Beast' McCoy (Kelsey Grammer). Are there any other past/new X-Men present in this post-credit teaser? I ask because I want to make sure if Sadie Sink's Jean Grey is definitely the first original-to-MCU 'X-Men' character/lore that is being established for future MCU and X-Men movies.
3.- When Jean Grey teases Peter about first going after MJ (right after the web grenades detonate in the alley), one of the civilians taken over by Grey is an old bearded construction worker who's run over by a car. Is that old man dead? Because if he's killed by that car Peter showed zero signs of caring for that guy (ala Supes in "Man of Steel") while being so guilt-ridden by the NYPD cop injured when he slammed Scorpio against her patrol car. It also justifies to a degree Punisher's urge to shoot Jean with his BFG.🙂↕️🙂↔️
4.- The inside-Spidey's-memory bedroom where Aunt May and Peter/Jean Grey have their heart-to-heart, is this a real memory of a conversation Peter had with her aunt that he treasures as his 'safe place'? Or is it like a manufactured memory, an imaginary conversation Peter has with the memory of her aunt reflecting Peter's own words? It's the crux of the way Peter gets thru to Jean, but still not sure if it was a real memory or a manufactured-by-Peter's-guilt made-up conversation inside his own head.
I have more, but let's hear your spoiler-filled thoughts/questions about "BND" for those of us who've seen it and want to talk amongst Spidey-loving internet friends.😎🧐
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ReplyDeleteThe rest...
ReplyDeletePINOCCHIO: UNSTRUNG (UK/USA, '26, THEATER)
After too many recent shitty cash-ins of expiring childhood IP copyrights (2023's "Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey," etc.), The Twisted Childhood Universe has yielded its first bona fide great horror flick. Made for £500,000 with mostly practical puppets/effects (as seen during the closing credits' behind-the-scenes montage), "Pinocchio: Unstrung" plays the tricky balance of being heartfelt (a child puppet that just wants to fit in with his new human bestie) and naughty (a boy puppet realizing naked girls in showers don't have a pen¡s!😵) surprisingly well considering it packs one hell of a gory wallop (gymnasium malfunction!) and isn't afraid to be silly (a "Jaws" tribute in a pool using Pinocchio's nose as a 'fin'). The child actors and voice-over performers (Jude Evan Lloyd as Pinocchio, Robert Englund as a demonic-looking Cricket, etc.) are fine, but Richard Brake (the kidnapper in "Barbarian's" early 80's timeline) steals the movie as Geppetto. You know the old man's kind demeanor and soothing voice will eventually yield a crazy mad scientist, but the ultimate reveal about Pinocchio's origin genuinely shocked me and raised the stakes. If you appreciate a thoughtful slasher unafraid to occasionally let its freak flag fly, then this one is highly recommended.
TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA ('26, THEATER)
Writer/director Jane Schoenbrun ("I Saw The TV Glow") returns with an even crazier LGBTQ-friendly plunge into the influences of slasher movies on kids (mostly queer, but pretty much anybody) growing up with their influence in the VHS days from the 80's and 90's. Though it establishes an alternate reality in which "Camp Miasma" is a long-running-but-now-dormant series of popular slasher films, it also makes it clear "Sleepaway Camp," the "Friday the 13th" series and the "Halloween" movies (the Blumhouse reboots, not the old ones!😲😡) exist in the same universe. A young filmmaker (Hannah Einbinder, HBO's "Hacks") wants to reboot the "CM" series, and tries to talk the reclusive final girl from the first movie ("The X-Files'" Gillian Anderson, clearly doing the Norma Desmond routine from "Sunset Boulevard") to appear on the new project. I'd rather not spoil the rest, but it's more surreal and, yes, up-its-own-ass pretentious (too-obvious curtains as backgrounds to simulate a snow-covered lake, Mario Bava homages, etc.) than I was expecting.
There's enough violence/gore to satisfy the slasher crowd (a single-take massacre by 'Little Death' set to the Counting Crow's "A Long December" is a standout), but the filmmakers are more interested in exploring the female psyche of young/old women in horror movies (Anderson) and those at the receiving end of that taboo childhood experience (Einbinder, who isn't afraid to be vulnerable for the sake of the narrative). Other than "Spider-Man," this is the film I saw this week I can't stop thinking about. Recommended if you're in the mood for a creative, epic mind f***.🤓😇
MOANA 3D ('26, THEATER)
'It's fine,' but this really has no business being remade as a live-action feature when the original cartoon looks better and has better comedic timing. In "Moana '26's" defense, though, Dwayne Johnson looks like he's enjoying himself and Catherine Laga'aia is a revelation as a real-life representation of the Moana character. Like Halle Bailey in "The Little Mermaid" remake, the lead actress towers over the cash-in movie she's forced to star in. Rena Owen's Grandma Tala also steals every scene she's in.😥😭
RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD, PART II (1985)
RAMBO III (1988, both DVD)
While recovering in bed from sickness I needed film content that didn't challenge my intellect in the slightest. I was surprised in this double-bill viewing that I liked "III" better than "Part II" for the first time... ever? "II" stills kicks butt in the 3rd act, but the first two thirds now feel slow, boring and laborious.🙁 "III" spreads the fireworks more evenly in the 2nd/3rd acts, culminating in tank v. helicopter. Win!🤠
Several years ago I randomly found Rambo III on TV and thought that I might have a laugh from it. Gradually, though, I got sucked into the film. There is no doubt the story is ridiculous, but the action scenes are so well executed that I could not help being impressed. The location shooting also stood out for me, especially in a time when studio green screens have largely replaced filming in real places.
DeleteTo be fair, "III" has a handful of green screen moments (especially during the underground cave firefights/explosions) that haven't aged well. They're few, though, and you can feel the dust and sweat of actors/crew on location. Even during his "Expendables" and latter "Rambo" sequels phase, Stallone knew the on-screen value of shooting on location in Thailand and Bulgaria. 😎🫡
DeleteI haven't seen Rambo 3 since the '90s, and my main take away was the reveal that Rambo was a Buddhist. Something which I like to mention often (like right now..I'm doing it now).
DeleteRambo a Buddhist? Like... 'Yo, BUD! BUDDY!' 😅
DeleteLast Saturday, Volume 4 of the Gap Grindhouse event at The Gap Theatre was held. Judging by the low turnout, it might be the last one, but I certainly had an enjoyable evening. That I had not seen any of the three films was a bonus.
ReplyDeleteHITCH HIKE TO HELL (1977) – A young man working for a dry cleaning company cannot stop himself from strangling the runaways that he picks up in the company van. The dialogue is clunky, the narrative is awkward, yet there is a strong central performance from the actor playing the killer. Russell Johnson from Gilligan’s Island fame plays a police detective.
GIRL ON A CHAIN GANG (1966) – Civil rights exploitation? Voting rights activists – a white man, a black man, and a white woman - travelling in the American South are harassed and arrested by the local sheriff and his deputies. Though not as lurid as the title suggests, this is a grim film reflecting the treatment many voting rights activists experienced from law enforcement officials in the early 1960s. Crazy Ralph from Friday the 13th shows up as a lawyer.
ABDUCTION (1975) – Counter-culture politics are on full display in a surprisingly solid debut from director Joseph Zito (Invasion U.S.A). Although Abduction is based on a novel, the story eerily parallels the Patty Hearst kidnapping. The heiress is alternately abused and treated well by her captors, and soon she starts to bond with them. It is telling for the period that the radicals are presented in a more sympathetic way than law enforcement, particularly the FBI, though both act in similar ways.
I was waiting for these reviews last Sunday. Why do you make us wait a week? You cruel, thoughtless man! 😉😅 Too bad few people in your neck of the woods cared about these high-minded (except the '77 one, that sounds super sleazy) exploitation titles. If they scheduled Chuck Norris or Charles Bronson Cannon flicks the masses would fill those empty theater seats. 🥶😎
DeleteSometimes life gets in the way, or the brain does not want to put words together.
DeleteThe operator of the The Gap Theatre (the founder of Exhumed Films) tries out different ideas. Sometimes they work well, sometimes they flop. Other Grindhouse nights have done well. There is no science to it. I think it comes down to people being aware of the shows, having the time to come, and the weather being decent enough for driving. Few of us who go there are locals.
Just keep going to ALL of them, then posting reviews here afterwards. Year-round Junesploitation! for all. ✊️😊
Delete54 (1998): I watched the Director's Cut (not availqble on 4k), which I didn't know existed, but is better than the Theatrical Cut according to reviews, released in 2015. From what I've found (I didn't watch the TC yet), I don't think it's that much better, it's just adding some story beat that were cut by Weinstein. Cinématographe (distributed by Vinegar Syndrome) just released super-duper-cool-extra-expensive set. The cast is stacked with up-and-coming cool actors (well, they were back then). Ryan Philippe is perfect as the young blond beautiful kid trying to fit in the cool crowd. It's weird to see Brecking Meyer as a buff sexy barman. Mike Myers is also excellent. The soundtrack is obviously awesome, if you like disco. I need to go through the rest of the set, which is packed with extras, including a booklet. Often, I wonder why a DC is not on 4k, while the TC is, but in this case it's pretty obvious. Some shots are very clearly from a low-res, possibly VHS, source.
ReplyDeleteI'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988): Another super-extra-awesome-expensive-fantabulous boxset that I couldn't resist getting from Vinegar Syndrome (I had a 5$ coupon). After watching this, I'm very tempted to buy the blaxploitation boxset from Shout (they should be called Pam-Grier-sploitation)(psych, I ordered both sets as I was writing this, thank god for overtime pay), I have some catching up to do.
The Name of the Rose (1986): It's Second Sight's turn to release a super-duper-jesus-christ-where-as-my-money-gone-shiny-awesome 4k boxset of one of the greatest whodunnit in cinema history. I previously had the french 4k release, but it had forced french subs and it was very annoying.
The Spine of Night (2021): Animated, crazy, weird and violent sword & sorcery movie that scratch that itch I've had for a while. All the human characters are drawn by rotoscopy, which can sometimes look weird, especially in the action sequences, but the backgrounds are gorgeous. There's a couple of cool names doing voices, but I have to admit it's not their best work. In general, I found the voice acting a bit lacking. The movie is really banking on the violence. It's no Fire & Ice, but it'll do. I got it on the latest Vinegar Syndrome sale, but it's a Shudder movie, so it should be available there.
Supergirl (2026): I liked it. It's far from great, but also not the worst. But seriously, James Gunn, leave that poor dog alone, what's wrong with you (I know, he didn't direct or write the thing, but it's his universe, so his fault).
P.S. Patrick, I watched a couple of your panels from Flashback Weekend, on Youtube. You were great. I wish I could go.
Links to the Flashback Weekend YT panels with Patrick, Kunider? Pretty, please? 😶🙂↕️
DeleteConfession. Last week, after a movie ended and before the next one started, l snuck into a theater and watched most of "Supergirl" (2nd viewing). 'It's fine,' but my God, James Gunn can't let go of "Guardians of the Galaxy" to save his life. Even if he didn't write/direct "Supergirl," he runs the DC Studio and has the power to re-write dialogue or change scenes. Too much weirdo outerspace sidequests, not enough Kara in her outfit kicking butt. Lobo was a push (outerspace hick "Aquaman"), but the end of the film hints that future DCU flicks with the Kryptonians might be more grounded and less galaxy-bound. 🫠
And all these deluxe 4K's are going to be the end of you, Kunider. 'WHAT'S ON YOUR WALLET?' Arrow, VS, Second Sight and Shout! outstanding bills... dozens of them. 🤨🫣
That GotG comment was part on the first draft of my 'review' 😁
DeleteHere are the 2 panels he did for Scream
https://youtu.be/qg4OaWypLAw?si=phIxCTXosM8cYU5J
https://youtu.be/OE1Y-UT3J1k?si=nVjQJY16nIXg2hXU
Much obliged. ✌️😄
DeleteThanks for the links!
DeleteThank you @Kunider for watching them and saying nice things!! It really means a lot to me.
DeleteThere is a variety to what I watched this week.
ReplyDeleteMY LITTLE PONY: EQUESTRIA GIRLS – RAINBOW ROCKS (2014) – Does this plot sound familiar? When a musical group uses its malignant powers to take hold of people’s minds, a rival group uses its own magical powers to battle the evil that is taking over. It all concludes in an elaborate battle of song to determine which side will triumph. I have encountered numerous references to Rainbow Rocks in discussions about K-Pop Demon Hunters, which intrigued me enough to actually watch Rainbow Rocks. There are indeed parallels between them, but the worlds they present are very different. The musical styles of the songs are quite different, too. To my own surprise, I was entertained by this. Looking on Letterboxd, this My Little Pony film seems to have a following.
THE BORN LOSERS (1967, dir. Tom Laughlin) – Overlong, clumsily put together, yet still having enough drive-in charm to keep me watching. Laughlin did almost everything for this bikersploitation vigilante story. He portrays Billy Jack, a part Native American Vietnam vet fighting a vicious biker gang that invades his town. Bad things happen to a several young women.The grimy exploitation vibes frequently clash with the earnest portrayals of trauma. This was a big hit for American International Pictures at the time and lead to three sequels.
SMART MONEY (1931) – Edward G. Robinson is affable gambler Nick the Barber, who goes from a barbershop in small-town America to the big time in his line of work. The one thing that he does not appreciate is being a sucker. Robinson’s acting is so effortless, and he knew how to bring on the charm. James Cagney has a supporting role as a childhood friend who comes along for Nick's wild ride. Blink and you will miss Boris Karloff in a bit part. Though the conclusion is abrupt, Smart Money remains slick entertainment almost a century later.
Last night I was back at The Gap Theatre for day one of Bava-thon, a weekend marathon of Mario Bava films. The prints of BLACK SABBATH (1963) and HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD (1961) looked beautiful. The colors really popped on the big screen. As for SHOCK (1977) - entitled Beyond The Door II on the print - it had the distinctly red appearance of a fading print. It is not a great looking film when pristine, so I did not mind. Despite the story of Shock still feeling too stretched out for a feature film, the crazy moments are genuinely effective because of Daria Nicolodi giving everything.
The Arrow Blu-ray of "Shock" is perfection: great pic/sound, plus a bevy of interesting extras. And you're right, Casual, Daria Nicolodi carries this film on her shoulders and makes it work. Shame it's Mario Bava's last hurrah, but the man went out on an Italian rocky mountain high. 🙃🙂
DeleteJACKIE BROWN (1997)
ReplyDeleteThe way Sam Jackson’s hair becomes more and more of a lion’s mane by the end of the movie? Heck, yeah.
THE DEVIL’S MOUTH (2026)
Here’s a movie we’ve all seen before. It’s THE DESCENT, it’s THE RUINS, it’s THE SHALLOWS, it’s SHARK NIGHT, it’s TURISTAS. It’s all these things, which means it can’t be its own thing. Bummer.
GAMERA VS. ZIGRA (1971)
Insert MST3K quote here.
CHAIN REACTION (1996)
Andrew Davis goodness!
OCEAN’S 12 (2004)
Folks online are saying to give this one a second chance, that it deserves to be rediscovered, etc. But… I don’t know.
And now for F These Books: SCYTHE by Neal Shusterman was unbelievably good, one of the best reads I’ve had in ages. Libba Bray’s THE DIVINERS was also good, but I wanted to spend more time with feisty main character Evie and less with the various supporting cast. And SEVEN BLADES IN BLACK by Sam Sykes is maybe trying too hard to be edgy and cool, but I’m halfway through and enjoying it.
I didn't realize Ocean's 12 had a bad rep. Have you seen it once before, it must be that they want to argue the ending, but i remember the body of the movie being quite fun.
DeleteMy shopping addiction continues as I've purchased about another 15 4k movies since last weekend's open thread. This includes my most expensive purchase of The Hurt Locker steel book which I had to buy off eBay for $55 which is supposed to arrive today.
ReplyDeleteSomeone take my credit cards please!
You guys are crazy! I'm all 1 used DVD please. 1 $2.99 rental, thank you. Let's see what the library has to offer.
DeleteAlthough, I've bought a bunch of expensive reference books (field guides) in the past few months, so glass houses and all that haha.
I just really prefer to own everything. And to be fair, I've gotten rid of a lot of movies and I've only been buying the ones that I know I will visit many times in the future.
DeleteI feel you man
DeleteThank God for crazy-rich one-percenters like Kunider and Luke. 🤑Compared to them my budget-skirting physical media purchases make me look normal. 😁
DeleteI so wish that were true haha but I am at least doing my part to keep physical media alive!
DeleteMe too, Luke. 😉 Kunider, on the other hand, spends the equivalent of small country's GDP on 4K upgrades for the sake of keeping several boutique labels alive and in business. 🫠
DeleteI'm just doing my part 😎
Delete'Will you do your part?'
Delete[CLICK]
'Would you like to know more?' 😉😁
That's exactly what i had in mind when i wrote it 🤣
DeleteI've had a pretty good week of movie watching. Still haven't been to see The Odyssey, but maybe I'll go tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteBadlands (1973). This movie was fantastic. Atmospheric and beautiful road trip. I liked how all the police seemed to be fans of Sheen's character at the end.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026). I'm kind of over Zombie movies, because they're all the same, so the uniqueness of this one really got me. I put this on late at night, expecting to fall asleep and finish the next day, but it completely locked me in.
Spectre (2015). Finally got around to this one. I really loved it and was wondering why it wasn't liked. But then got to the end and realised by it wasn't as well liked. I've seen all the Bonds now except for Connery and Lazenby.
Dead Calm (1996). This was mentioned on the show this week, and I remembered that I had it. Nice tight little thriller based almost entirely on sailing ships! Of course I loved it. When those sails were finally unfurled I fist bumped.
Disclosure Day (2026). I never made it to the theatre to see this. There were a lot of great action pieces I would have loved to have seen on the big screen. But overall, it was just alright. It kind of was feasting on a lot of nonsense conspiracy stuff that I think society could do less with nowadays and for that reason it just didn't sit well with me.
Re: Dead Calm, it was great hearing Kidman using her Aussie accent. And Billy Zane was sooooo sweaty. I really loved this movie.
Delete"Dead Calm" was 1989, not '96. R.I.P. Sam Neill.🥺😓
Delete"Badlands" was synonimous with cool 70's road trip/crime story by a visually gifted director; now it's the name of the 2nd best contemporary "Predator" movie ever made, after "Prey." 😇 "Bone Temple" is messed-up and badass (that rocking scene! 🤘🤓), l like it more than the prequel. "Spectre" sucks, give my "Skyfall" and then we'll talk again. 🥲🥰
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