“Fifi Blows Her Top” (1958) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

Posted on by

Fifi Blows Her Top (1958)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe Besser, Philip Van Zandt. Christine McIntyre. Heinie Conklin, Al Thompson  and Joe Palma.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Larry’s former girlfriend, Fifi moves in the apartment across the hall.  Only now she’s married to a jealous husband.  So when Fifi’s dress gets ruined in the boys’ apartment, you know the husband is going to show up.  Let the hijinks begin.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fifi Blows Her Top is a reboot of the Stooges’ Love at First Bite and incorporates footage from it.

Fifi Blows Her Top (1958) earns 2 of 5 stars.

Outer Space Jitters (1957) starring The Three Stooges and Dan Blocker! / Z-View

Posted on by

Outer Space Jitters (1957)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Jack White

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Joe Besser, Emil Sitka, Philip Van Zandt. Dan Blocker. Diana Darrin and Joe Palma.

Tagline:  The planet of Sunev – Somewhere in outer space – “Sunev is Venus spelled backwards”

The Plot…

Moe, Larry and Joe travel to the planet Sunev.  The rulers there seem nice, but in reality they are planning to take over the planet Earth!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dan Blocker, who would become famous playing Hoss Cartwright on Bonanza appears as a monster.  Sadly, he’s billed as Don Blocker in the opening credits.

Outer Space Jitters features a weak script with a weaker ending.  The boys deserved better.

Outer Space Jitters (1957) earns 2 of 5 stars.

TRIPWIRE by Lee Child / Z-View

Posted on by

TRIPWIRE by Lee Child

First sentence…

Jack Reacher saw the guy step in through the door.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Jack Reacher lives off the grid, traveling from place to place with just the clothes on his back. Reacher, a few years retired from the military at age 39, is enjoying life in Key West.  For the last few months, he’s made his living digging pools during the day and bouncing at a local strip club at night.

Life is good.

Then one night a private eye named Costello shows up at the club looking for Jack Reacher.  Costello is sent on his way after being told there’s no “Jack Reacher” there.  A little later a couple of thugs show up at the club’s door.  They’re also looking for Jack Reacher.  Like Costello, they’re sent packing,

The next day a P.I. named Costello is found murdered.

Reacher decides to find out more about Costello and the two thugs looking for him.  The trail leads back to one of Reacher’s former commanders, recently deceased, and his daughter, now a fully grown woman.  While Reacher is meeting with her an attempt is made to kill them both.  Reacher has no idea who is behind this or why.  As he investigates, he learns the answer dates back three decades.  As Reacher sorts out the mystery, a rich, badly burned, one-armed sociopath continues to work behind the scenes, torturing and murdering all in his path, to reach his final goal.

+++++
The villain of TRIPWIRE is a worthy adversary for Reacher.  He breaks people mentally and then abuses them physically before slowly killing them.  He’s rich, powerful and has thugs to do his bidding when he doesn’t want to dirty his hand.  Yep, hand.  He has just one.  One the end of his other arm is a sharpened hook.  Which he loves to put to “good” use.

Bravo to Lee Child for creating a satisfying ending that resolves the mystery with enough action to satisfy the most hardcore fan.

Rating:

“LOVE LIES BLEEDING” written & directed by Rose Glass, starring Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian & Ed Harris – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

Posted on by

Nice poster.  Interesting trailer.  Gotta love Ed Harris’ haircut.

Deal me in.

From writer/director Rose Glass and starring Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, with Dave Franco, and Ed Harris.

LOVE LIES BLEEDING – In theaters March 8.

DIRECTOR: Rose Glass
CAST: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, with Dave Franco, and Ed Harris

“Die Hard 2” Trivia from Renny Harlin!

Posted on by

Rob Hunter at Film School Rejects posted 22 Things We Learned from Renny Harlin’s ‘Die Hard 2’ Commentary.  Sadly the post is no longer available, but here are three of my favorites from it and my thoughts on each…

Harlin was first hired by 20th Century Fox to make Alien 3, but when that fell apart he was instead offered The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. The studio liked the dailies from that film so much that they offered him Die Hard 2. The schedule was so tight that he was still finishing shots on Ford Fairlane while jumping into Die Hard 2, and he planned on doing post-production on both simultaneously. “I was thirty years old, I had lots of energy, I loved movies, I loved working with Joel Silver.”

It’s odd that Harlin was up for Alien 3, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane and Die Hard 2.  They are such different types of movies.  While I’m not a fan of Alien 3, I am of the other two. – Craig

Harlin chuckles at the changes in audience climate “these days” (circa 2001 when this track was recorded). “While I’m watching the movie I’m realizing there’s quite a lot of cursing in it, and also Bruce Willis is smoking.” He thinks that, in today’s world, there has to be a specific reason as to why the character is smoking. “And the same thing with cursing.”

If I was in the situation that John McClane found himself in, I’d do a lot of cursing too.  Heck, I might even take up smoking. – Craig

Harlin’s favorite scene in the film is where McClane is trapped in the cockpit, surrounded by bad guys shooting and lobbing grenades his way. He likes seeing protagonists placed in extremely difficult situations. “Obviously planes like this don’t really have ejection seats, but we decided they would.”

That is probably Die Hard 2’s signature scene.  If you’re not making a documentary, and you do the scene well. audiences will forgive things like this not found in real life. – Craig

“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (2023) starring Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge & Mads Mikkelsen / Z-View

Posted on by

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

Director:  James Mangold

Screenplay: Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, David Koepp, James Mangold based on characters created by George Lucas, Philip Kaufman

Stars: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renée  Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore, Mads Mikkelsen  and Olivier Richters.

Tagline: A legend will face his destiny.

The Plot…

The year is 1969.  Man has landed on the moon. The world is a very different place than the one Indiana Jones (Ford) knew as a young man.  Indy’s about to retire, but his golden years ain’t so golden.  His wife, Marion (Allen), has filed for separation.  She still grieves for their son who was killed in the Viet Nam war as does Indy.  Things change when Jones’ goddaughter, Helena (Waller-Bridge) shows up.

Helena wants information about the Archimedes’ Dial.  The Archimedes Dial is an ancient artifact that legend says can find “fissures” that allow time travel. Indy and Helena’s father stole the Dial from Nazis at the end of the war. Her father nearly went crazy trying to figure out how to use it.  He finally gave it to Indy to destroy.  Instead Indy had it placed in storage at the college where he taught.

Indy takes Helena to the room holding the artifact.  Just then Dr. Voller (Mikkelsen), a Nazi, arrives with gunmen who attack Helena and Indy.  Helena (with the Dial) and Indy escape, but are separated.  Voller and his gun thugs give chase.

Voller believes that with the Dial of Destiny he can go back in time and assassinate Hitler!  Voller will then lead Germany to victory and rule the world!  Indy, on the run and framed for two murders, must get to Helena before Voller can track her down.  Helena’s life and the future of the world count on it.

“Give ’em hell, Indiana Jones!”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Director James Mangold was the perfect choice since Steven Spielberg decided not to return for Indy’s final outing.

The de-agging of Harrison Ford is effective.  Some have nitpicked that the voice sounded older and some of his de-agged movements seem like those of an older man.  Either I didn’t notice or this things didn’t bug me.  I was having too much fun on Indy’s last ride.

Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones.  It was great to see Karen Allen and John Rhys-Davies back. Mads Mikkelsen was an excellent choice to play the Nazi Voller.  I am a huge Boyd Holbrook fan and loved that he’s in the cast. Toby Jones makes a fun partner for younger Indy.  I’d love to see more of their adventures in animated tales.   If ANY movie needs a huge bad guy, Olivier Richters proves here that he’s up for it. (How about getting him to go against Reacher?)

I’d put the first 25 minutes of Dial of Destiny against ANY segment in the Indiana Jones franchise.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a nice bookend to Raiders.  Kudos to all involved.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“The Bikeriders” starring Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy and Norman Reedus – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

Posted on by

Deal me in.

The Bikeriders, starring Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy and Norman Reedus, follows the rise of a midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals. Seen through the lives of its members, the club evolves over the course of a decade from a gathering place for local outsiders into a more sinister gang, threatening the original group’s unique way of life.

#TheBikeriders is only in theaters June 21.

“Black Angel” (1946) starring Dan Duryea, June Vincent, Peter Lorre & Broderick Crawford / Z-View

Posted on by

Black Angel (1946)

Director:  Roy William Neill

Screenplay: Roy Chanslor based on the novel THE BLACK ANGEL by Cornell Woolrich

Stars: Dan Duryea, June Vincent, Peter Lorre, Broderick Crawford, Wallace Ford, Robert B. Williams and George Ford.

Tagline: DURYEA! …that fascinating tough-guy of “Scarlet Street”!

The Plot…

Martin Blair (Duryea) wants to see his estranged wife, Mavis Marlowe.  It’s their anniversary and he’s sent Mavis a large ruby brooch in an effort to win her back.  Yet, she’s told the doorman to NOT allow Martin up.  Dejected and rejected, Martin goes to get drunk.  He then stumbles to his room, where a friend locks him in for the night.

Later, Kirk Bennet goes up to see Mavis.  He finds her on the floor.  She’s dead.  Kirk notices she’s wearing a huge ruby brooch.  When Kirk hears a noise in the apartment, he realizes he’s not alone.  As he carefully makes his way through the bedroom, he hears someone running out.  Kirk goes back to find the brooch missing and the front door open.  Kirk realizes he’s in a bad spot and runs to the stairwell.  He’s seen as he flees.

When the cops pick up Kirk, it becomes clear that he was having an affair with Mavis, despite being married.  Kirk’s wife, Catherine (Vincent) doesn’t believe her husband is a killer.  Kirk claims Mavis was blackmailing him. This just gives the cops more reason to think he killed Mavis.

Catherine is grasping at straws to find evidence to clear her husband when she meets Martin.  Catherine believes he could be the killer.  Martin says the police thought so too at first.  Except he couldn’t have killed Mavis since he was knock-down drunk and locked in his room when the murder occurred.  Martin takes pity on Catherine and offers to help her find the killer.

Kirk is on death row and the clock is ticking.  What chance does a housewife and functioning alcoholic have of finding the real murderer?  Tick tock tick toc…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Black Angel is loosely based on Cornell Woolrich’s novel of the same name.  Woolrich is said to dislike the film because of the changes made.  Since I haven’t read the book, I wasn’t hindered by expectations. I thought I knew how it would play out.  Boy, was I wrong.  I was surprised by twist ending.

This was the last film directed by Roy William Neill.  He died shortly after the release of Black Angel.  Neill is best known as the director of several Sherlock Holmes‘ films as well as the classic Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman.

Dan Duryea, on the other hand, had a career that was heating up.  He’s even the subject of Black Angel‘s tagline.  Broderick Crawford has a small but important role.  Four years later Crawford would win an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for All the King’s Men.

Black Angel (1946) earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Leave the World Behind” (2023) starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la and Kevin Bacon / Z-View

Posted on by

Leave the World Behind (2023)

Director:  Sam Esmail

Screenplay: Sam Esmail based on the novel LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND by Rumaan Alam

Stars: Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la and Kevin Bacon.

Tagline:  There’s No Going Back to Normal

The Plot…

Amanda (Roberts) and Clay Sanford (Hawke) rent a modern isolated house away from the city for a spur of the moment vacation with their two children.  As the weekend progresses strange things happen.  They lose internet access.  Several deer wander onto the property and just stand still.  At the beach an oil tanker loses control and runs ashore as beachgoers scramble for safety.  That evening the wifi is still out and television channels are off the air.

Later that night, Amanda and Clay are awakened by two well dressed strangers.  The man claims to be George H. Scott (Ali).  He says that the young woman with him is his daughter, Ruth (Myha’la).  George says that the house is his and a blackout in the city is the reason for their return home.  Ruth immediately distrusts them.  George cannot prove who he is. He claims to have lost his wallet.  His wife, Ruth’s mother is due back from a business trip later that day.  George is not asking Amanda and her family to leave. He just wants to stay with Ruth in his own home.  Despite reservations, the two families agree to share the house.

The next day, they learn that the United States is under some sort of attack.  Planes are crashing.  GPS and electronics no longer work.  The emergency alert system warns that the US is at war.  Their worst fears have become reality.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Leave the World Behind reminded me of a M. Night Shyamalan movie written by Rod Serling.  In other words, I loved it. It was well written, well directed and well acted.  Sam Esmail who adapted the screenplay and directed made interesting choices that helped build tension as strange things began happening.  Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la and Kevin Bacon are excellent.  I think this may be the first movie where I didn’t care for a Julia Roberts character.

I like movies that make me think, “What would I do”. Once Leave the World Behind kicks in, I did that a lot.  There were no easy answers since no one was sure what was going on.  I’ve seen a few bad reviews and they’re unanimously because the movie doesn’t wrap things up with a definitive answer.  That’s one of the things I enjoyed about it.  So, as always, but with this one a little more, your mileage could vary.

Leave the World Behind (2023) earns 5 of 5 stars.

SYFY’s 2023/2024 Twilight Zone New Year’s Eve Marathon Schedule is Up!

Posted on by

SYFY’s 2023/2024 Twilight Zone New Year’s Eve Marathon schedule is up!  The Twilight Zone Marathon has been one of our family traditions for decades.  Sometimes we binge watch. Other times we just check in on favorite episodes. Before you click over to check it out, let me suggest some favorite Twilight Zone episodes…

December 30, 2023
8:30am – Time Enough at Last
10:30am – What You Need
11:30am – Third from the Sun
12:00pm – I Shot an Arrow into the Air
2:30pm – The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street
11:00pm – The Howling Man

December 31, 2023
12:00am – Nick of Time
4:00am – The Invaders
8:30am – Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?
9:00am – The Obsolete Man
10:20am – The Grave
10:45am – It’s a Good Life
11:35am – The Midnight Sun
1:40pm – The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank

January 1, 2024
3:25am – The Shelter
8:00pm – To Serve Man
9:30pm – Nightmare at 20,000 Feet

January 2, 2024
3:25am – The Shelter

The Twilight Zone and quite a few other folks will be live-Tweeting during the marathon.   If you watch, please join in!