What did you watch today?

[Samuel_Scott]

Since my last post ages ago....

0129. The Substitute (1996)
0130. Hidden Agenda (1990)
0131. Bride of Re-Animator (1989)
0132. Philomena (2013)
0133. Trancers (1984)
0134. Seve: The Movie (2014)
0135. Your Friend the Rat (2007)
0136. Presto (2008)
0137. Burn-E (2008)
0138. Partly Cloudy (2009)
0139. The Jungle Book (2016)
0140. Dug's Special Mission (2009)
0141. George and AJ (2009)
0142. Day and Night (2010)
0143. Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation (2010)
0144. Air Mater (2011)
0145. Small Fry (2011)
0146. La Luna (2011)
0147. Time Travel Mater (2012)
0148. Lady and the Lamp (1979)
0149. Somewhere in the Arctic (1988)
0150. A Story (1987)
0151. Winter (1988)
0152. Palm Springs (1989)
0153. Next Door (1990)
0154. Plastic (2014)
0155. Spice World (1997)
0156. The Ninth Configuration (1980)
0157. Friend Request (2016)
0158. Tomorrow You're Gone (2012)
0159. Bastille Day (2016)
0160. In Time (2011)
0161. The Fireman (1916)
0162. Vice (2015)
0163. Play Dirty (1969)
0164. The Spy Next Door (2010)
0165. Gone (2012)
0166. Audition (1999)
0167. Training Day (2001)
0168. Mesrine: Killer Instinct (2008)
0169. Speed (1994)
0170. Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 (2008)
0171. Piranha (2010)
0172. Unstoppable (2010)
0173. Tread Softly (1952)

[Ain_Uussaar]

Cactus Jack (1979)
The Secret of My Succe$s (1987)
The Hard Way (1991)

[Davy_Lee]

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) (First viewing; f.o.c.) – 8/10
Four men led by a mercenary (Robert Shaw) hijack a downtown New York City subway car and demand a $1.000.000 ransom, threatening to kill the hostages one by one if their demand is not fulfilled within an hour. The New York City Transit Authority police headed by Lieutenant Zach Garber (Walter Matthau) is forced to apprehend the terrorists and neutralize the hostile situation.

I watched the 2009 remake but didn’t quite like it despite the strong cast and director. The original, on the other hand, took me by surprise. I’ve never seen any of Walter Matthau’s films. His face looks more like a comedian than a character actor. I’ve noticed some flaws in the movie but the good elements of this 1974 thriller outweigh them: the dialog, directing, editing, music, and the ending! Despite playing more like an action thriller, some scenes are laced with unintentionally comedic moments which, surprisingly, work.

Martin Balsam, Hector Elizondo co-star, Joseph Sargent directs.

The 42nd A.E. BD is slated for release in July and I’ve pre-ordered a copy


Report to the Commissioner (First viewing; f.o.c.) – 7.5/10
A by-the book, idealistic rookie detective Bo Lockley (Michael Moriarty) is assigned to a stakeout of a live-in girlfriend (Susan Blakely) of a drug dealer nicknamed Stick (Tony King). Not knowing that she is another rookie undercover cop, Lockley is led to believe that the runaway Chicklet – the cop’s street name – is the daughter of a politician, and takes the fool’s errand way too seriously. The situation gets complicated when he takes the matter into his own hands, leading to Chicklet’s death. Under pressure and depressed, Lockley must decide on a way out to restore his jeopardized life.

Report to the Commissioner surprisingly makes for compelling viewing with its unusual story-telling that jumps back and forth in time with a voiceover narrating the scenes, like what you see in Casino (1995). This is a gritty police drama with a basic plot that still rings true today. Recommended viewing for those who like 70’s police drama.

Yaphet Kotto, Hector Elizondo, Dana Elcar, William Devane co-star, Milton Katselas directs.

[Samuel_Scott]

0174. The Hard Way (1991)
0175. Harry Brown (2009)
0176. Blackhat (2015)
0177. Attack of the Werewolves (2011)
0178. Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)
0179. Home of the Brave (2006)

[Ain_Uussaar]

Transgressing (2000)

[Samuel_Scott]

0180. Allegiance (2012)

[Davy_Lee]

The Strange vice of Mrs. Wardh (First viewing; YouTube) – 7.5/10
The stunning Edwige Fenech plays Julie Wardh, the seemingly respectable wife of an American ambassador to Austria, who is being stalked by a mysterious man and admirer. At the same time, a razor-blade wielding sex maniac is terrorizing the city, and Julie believes her ex-lover Jean, with whom she fantasizes having S&M encounters, might be the suspect. Newly-wed and unhappily married, Julie puts her fidelity to the test when she carries on an affair with George, the cousin of her friend. Julie’s life turns into a nightmare when the maniac attempts to kill her and her affair gradually leads her to a fatal consequence.

I am not a fan of the giallo genre but this adult murder-mystery thriller is a fine example of it, which is worth adding to your collection. The last 20 minutes ties up all the mysteries and twists to a quite satisfying conclusion.

George Hilton, Ivan Rassimov co-star, Sergio Martino directs.


Don’t Torture a Duckling (First viewing; YouTube) –7/10
In a small Italian town, young boys are being murdered. Several suspects are arrested, most of whom are females, but the murder continues. With the help of one of the suspects named Patrizia (Barbara Bouchet) – the daughter of a rich businessman who is living in the town to avoid a drug scandal, an investigative reporter (Tomas Milian) attempts to solve the case. As the investigators are racing against time to find the killer, the townspeople begin to plunge into panic and execute mob justice to whomever they believe is the killer.

This is a not-so-suspenseful giallo with a social commentary, particularly that related to Catholic beliefs. The element that reduces the horror quality is its crude special effects – the use of dummy that fails miserably to create a shocking effect. Overall, despite the flaws, it’s worth watching.

Lucio Fulci directs.

[Ain_Uussaar]

Blowing Wild (1953)

[Ain_Uussaar]

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956)

[Ain_Uussaar]

The Lady in the Van (2015)

[Samuel_Scott]

0181. To Die For (1995)
0182. Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
0183. Dead Snow 2: Red vs Dead (2014)

[Ain_Uussaar]

Cops and Robbers (1973)

[Samuel_Scott]

0184. Kelly's Heroes (1970)
0185. Special ID (2013)

[Ain_Uussaar]

Fifty Shades of Black (2016)

[Samuel_Scott]

0186. xXx (2002)
0187. Village School (1940)
0188. Young Adult (2011)

[Samuel_Scott]

0189. The Machine Girl (2008)
0190. Mad Max (1979)
0191. The Floorwalker (1916)
0192. The Vagabond (1916)

[Ain_Uussaar]

The Last Time You Had Fun (2014)
Teacher of the Year (2014)

[Ain_Uussaar]

Concussion (2015)

[Ain_Uussaar]

Big Jake (1971)

[Ain_Uussaar]

Forsaken (2015)