Shameless Pile of Stuff

A Kim Jong-Il Production (Rakastettu Johtaja Ylpeänä Esittää)
by Paul Fischer
translated to Finnish by Aura Nurmi
Atena Kustannus, 2015.

This review is based on the Finnish hardback edition.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il was a serious film buff who went seriously off the deep end. To please his father Kim Il-sung he started making a cult of personality around him with ordering production of heroic tales about North Korean heroes struggling against evil foreign capitalist dogs. Foreign countries were depicted as hell and it was always shining in North Korea. Kim Il-sung was depicted as mythical religious figure. State had full control of the citizens and no one else than Kim Jong-Il was allowed to watch foreign movies. To get films he ordered ambassadors to get him pirated copies of just about every film produced. He had a collection of about 20000 movies and his favourite films were James Bond films, "The First Blood" and "Friday the 13th."

The movies were made for propaganda purposes and for making the people work harder for the communist system. As the film makers in North Korea were rigorously controlled and punished severely for breaking the rules, the quality of North Korean movies was poor and the plots were repetitive and dull. In the 1970s Kim Jong-Il was running a huge organized crime and terrorist operations to get funds for his excessive lifestyle. With techniques learned from James Bond-films many people were kidnapped and forced to work in North Korea. In 1978 two South Korean film makers director/producer Shin Sang-ok and his actor ex-wife Choi Eun-hee were kidnapped by commandos and sent to North Korea. After attempts to indoctrinate them they were forced to make movies that would raise the quality of North Korean cinema.

Shin Sang-ok rebelled against the kidnapping and he tried to escape twice. As the result he was thrown into prison and tortured for years. Finally he decided to play along and act like a reformed man who has realised how awesome the Kims were. In reality he and Choi were always trying to find a way to escape. Shin and Choi were given rather free hands to make movies. Although Shin's career had started strong he had angered the South Korean politicians mocking censorship and his career was over when the kidnapping occurred. Shin hid some critique against the North Korean system into his films but that went unnoticed because Kim Jong-Il liked the films. After making some critically acclaimed films, they were given lease to shoot films in East-European countries. Finally they made "so bad it is good" version of "Godzilla": "Pulgasari." Shin and Choi did not stay to see the film's success in North Korea as they had already escaped. Ironically the hardships took away some of Shin's egoistic characteristics and Shin and Choi found their love again. However Shin's career as director never fully recovered, the highlight being "3 Ninjas Knuckle Up."

In his book Paul Fischer gives a unique perspective of North Korea through Kim Jong-Il's movie fanaticism. Kim is depicted as charismatic but capricious party animal who executes people at whim. Favoured persons are elevated and then destroyed when they fail Kim. Kim is compared of crazed movie producer or director who was using all the citizens as extras in Kim Jong-Il-show. Everyone who does not fit into their roles is cut away. Keeping the borders closed and forcing the people believe absurd things Kim brainwashed the whole nation. The people are kept in dark while the party officials overindulge. However watching smuggled foreign movies is slowly eroding the people's faith in the North Korean system. Also the biographies of Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee are told in detail. The book is enjoyable reading, stylistically like combination of spy thriller and history. Fischer does a impressive job trying to separate the rumours from the facts.

Rating:

Very good

Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Keypix Productions, USA, 2012.

Might as well watch this one too, as it is still Yule time.

It is summer and the elves are resting. Santa Paw's wife Mrs. Paws gets pups: Hope, Jingle, Charity, and Noble. Eli the Elf (Danny Woodburn) and Eddy the Elf Dog start training the Santa Pups. The Pups are quite rascals and not yet up to their names.

Santa (Pat Finn) and Mrs. Claus

The Santa Pups

Christmas is nearing and Mrs. Claus (Cheryl Ladd) travels to Pineville to recruit new Christmas ambassador. The pups "loan" Eddy's Christmas crystal and hide in the sleigh. They plan to grant Christmas wishes.

Eddy

Note: The introduction of four Santa pups creates a big continuity error with the original "Santa Buddies." If "The Search for Santa Paws" was the (kind of) prequel to "Santa Buddies" then it would be logical that Santa Paws had only one pup named Puppy Paws. Now he has four. There goes the continuity out the window. Whoosh!

Young boy Carter Reynolds (Josh Feldman) has lost his Christmas spirit. His sister Sarah (Kaitlyn Maher who played Quinn in the prequel) likes Christmas but misses their mum who has died. Their father Thomas (George Newbern) is DJ on local Xmas radio station. Mrs. Claus hears Sarah singing and wants to make her ambassador. However Thomas hires Mrs. Claus as nanny. The pups fulfill wishes in Pineville but then Carter wishes that the Christmas spirit would go away. Oops.

Sarah and Carter

Christmas cold starts spreading and the people lose Christmas spirit and go rude. Even jovial Mayor Denny (Obba Babatundé) loses his temper. Santa pups get captured and locked in dog pound. The Great Christmas Icicle is melting fast! It is up to Mrs. Claus, Sarah and the doggies to save Christmas. (Also anyone who has seen the previous films knows that when the going gets tough also Eli and Eddy arrive in their van to help.

Mayor Denny

Bright Sisters

Compared to the prequel, the sugar overdose is not quite as bad. The songs look more like traditional musical numbers. Also addition of three Bright sisters Agnes (Ali Hillis), Dorothy (Audrey Wasilewski) and Blue (Jennifer Elise Cox) brings some merriment. Also it was nice that Mrs. Claus got a bigger role. Again it is a nice movie for kids and maybe a bit more easier for adults to watch than the previous "Santa Paws"- films.

Rating:

Average

Starring: Cheryl Ladd, Danny Woodburn, Kaitlyn Maher, Pat Finn, Paul Rae, Adanna Avon, Obba Babatundé, Diedrich Bader, Claire Bernier, Samantha Bleich, Joey Bothwell, Jay Brazeau, Bill Chott, Chris Coppola, Jennifer Elise Cox, Tom Everett Scott, Josh Feldman, Brian T. Finney, Josh Flitter, Chris Gautier, Aidan Gemme, Tatiana Gudegast, G. Hannelius, Ethan Heavey, Ali Hillis, Abby Anne Hughes, Bryce Clyde Jenkins, Richard Kind, George Newbern, Nic Novicki, Marlowe Peyton, Mikey Post, Ted Rooney, Bonnie Somerville, Michael Teigen, Audrey Wasilewski, Trevor Wright, Richard Duke, Rocky the Terrier

Director: Robert Vince

Foodfight!

C47 Productions, Lions Gate Family Entertainment, Natural Image, StoryArk Media, Threshold Digital Research Labs, Threshold Entertainment, USA, 2012.

Hey, this one is on IMDB's lowest rated movies list, this ought to be good!

At night Marketropolis Market turns into a city where brand icons or Ikes come to life. Mix of Indiana Jones and Rick from "Casablanca" Dex Dogtective (Charlie Sheen) fights some hamster and rat gangsters. He works for Supermarket Defense Association protecting the personified brands living in the city. and plans to marry Sunshine Goodness (Hilary Duff). Dex's best friend is Daredevil Dan (Wayne Brady). Sunshine Goodness disappears.

Dex Dogtective

Daredevil Dan

Sunshine Goodness

Mr. Clipboard (Christopher Lloyd) representative of Brand X- company wants to persuade the shops to sell their products. Ministry of Silly Walks were amateurs compared to this dude. Kaptain Krispy (George Johnsen) is angry because Mr. Clipboard stomped on his potato chips. Lady X (Eva Longoria) tries to seduce Rex.

Mr Clipboard

Lady X

Lieutenant X

Ikes start getting killed. All the dead brands are replaced with Brand X. Evil General X (Jerry Stiller) and Lady X assume dictatorship to protect the brands. They want to take over the world with their X-obyte robot mosquito army. Lady X goes into full Nazi-dominatrix mode and tries to eliminate undesirable brands. Bex and Dan must stop the invasion by going into the real world. They meet also chocolate vampire Vlad Chocool (Larry Miller). Rex raises resistance to fight the evil Brand X. The Ike-army throws food at the bad guys, every food item explodes into similar looking blobs.

Not very subtle allegory

Brand X Lunch Lady

Where is that crown attached?

The film had a $65 million budget. Probably most of the money went to pay voice actors salaries as the animation looks cheaper than Saturday morning TV-animations. The hard drives containing the original video material were reportedly stolen and the production had to be started again. As the release dates went over the film rights were finally acquired by an insurance company who wanted the film finished as quick and cheap as possible. Still the bad animation is just one of the many problems as the jokes are terrible and the script is appalling. There is a trailer online that shows some of the pre-theft material that looks marginally better:

Seriously many characters look like the unfinished storyboard animations that are given as DVD-extras. But not only the crudeness of the background characters but also the ugliness of some of the main characters sticks in the eye like a sore thumb. The colours look like someone puked after eating colourful jellybeans. I guess they tried to imitate the Looney Tunes and Tex Avery cartoons, but the poor quality of the animation makes it pure nightmare fuel. Check the character Cheasel T. Weasel (Lawrence Kasanoff) if you do not believe.

Cheasel T. Weasel

Mr. Clean and Mrs. Butterworth

Notice the copy&paste characters

There are couple of random fun ideas like ketchup-bottle tanks. The product placement is plentiful with many well known company mascots including Mr. Clean, Charlie Tuna and Mrs. Butterworth's syrup lady, but even they are lazily used. Impossible to say how much damage they made to the actual brands. The dialogue is full of sexual innuendo that will make adults' ears red: “I didn’t even get a chance to play lick the icing with Sweet Cakes.” Of course there are fart jokes and general grossness.

Even humans are ugly

Food warfare

What a mess

The lessons to be learned:

1. Generic products are bad and brands are good.

2. Ugly equals bad.

3. Chicks dig chocolate.

This is so horrible that it is awesome. Recommended viewing for bad movie connoisseurs but kids could get scarred for life.

Rating:

So bad it is good

Voice actors: Charlie Sheen, Hilary Duff, Eva Longoria, Wayne Brady, Christopher Lloyd, Chris Kattan, Larry Miller, Edward Asner, Jerry Stiller, Christine Baranski, Lawrence Kasanoff, Harvey Fierstein, Cloris Leachman, Haylie Duff, Shelley Morrison, Edie McClurg, George Johnsen, Jonny Rees, James Arnold Taylor, Robert Costanzo, Jeff Bennett, Stephen Stanton, Jeff Bergman, Karen Gallo Messore, Sean Catherine Derek, Enn Reitel, Daniel Franzese, Eliza Schneider, Jason Ortenberg, Zachary Liebrich-Johnsen, Andrew Ortenberg, Jennifer Keith, Joshua Wexler, Jason Harris, Greg Eagles, Melissa Disney, Bob Bergen, Susan Silo, Daniel Bernhardt, John Bloom
Director: Lawrence Kasanoff

The Phantom of the Opera

Universal Pictures, USA, 1925/29.

Based on the novel by Gaston Leroux.

This movie is part of Horror Classics 50 Movie Pack by Mill Creek Entertainment. The Mill Creek Version runs 107 minutes and it is the 1929 silent version without colour tinting.

The Paris Opera House built above old torture chambers and catacombs is sold to new owners. It is rumoured to be haunted by a phantom. The Phantom (Lon Chaney) occupies the opera box number five. The ballerinas get scared by a mysterious figure in the cellar. Joseph Buquet (Bernard Siegel) is the only one who has seen the phantom. The Phantom looks hideous and has no nose. The Phantom sends a letter where he wants singer Carlotta (Mary Fabian) to be replaced by Christine Daaé (Mary Philbin) or else. Carlotta's mother (Virginia Pearson who played Carlotta in 1925 version!) opposes but Carlotta fells suddenly "ill."

The ballerinas get scared

Raoul

Christine

Raoul (Norman Kerry) wants to marry Christine but she wants to have a career in opera. The Phantom tells Christine that her success is his creation. Obey your Master! Next evening Carlotta defies the warnings and sings. Phantom's curse makes chandelier to fall down crushing some unlucky watchers. Masked Phantom invites Christine to visit the secret passages under the Opera House. The Phantom introduces himself as Erik and says that he loves her. Christine faints.

The Phantom appears

Unmasking

Erik makes beautiful music and slowly Christine begins to like him. Despite warning Christine removes his mask and reveals his horribly disfigured face. Erik threatens to kill Christine if she sees Raoul again. However she secretly meets Raoul in masquerade and they plan to escape. Interestingly the masquerade scene is presented in colours. Also Erik participates the party dressed as Red Death (does anyone get some Edgar Allan Poe vibes?) and hears about the escape plan. Betrayed Erik goes into murderous mode using his oriental assassin skills. Luckily Secret policeman Ledoux (Arthur Edmund Carewe) knows some of the Phantom's secrets.

Red Death

Raoul and Christine

Ledoux

This is a great American silent movie horror classic. The ending is quite different than in the later adaptations, and compared to later films Erik looks the most horribly disfigured. In 1929 the film was re-edited and partly reshot to the version that is commonly seen. Also the 1929 version should be 96 minute (?) sound version of the film but oddly this Treeline/Mill Creek print is the silent version with re-edited footage. The 1929 version suffers from some overlong dance scenes and overall the direction is quite dragging. Lon Chaney's excellent performance and his effective makeup leaves the rest of the cast in his shadow. While I think that German horror films of the era such as "Nosferatu" and "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" were artistically superior and better paced than "The Phantom of the Opera", it is still an essential piece of film history. Also the film success and encouraged Universal Pictures to produce other legendary horror movies such as "Dracula", "Frankenstein" and The "Mummy."

Rating:

Good

Starring: Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry, Arthur Edmund Carewe, Gibson Gowland, John St. Polis, Snitz Edwards, Mary Fabian (1929 re-edited version only), Virginia Pearson (1929 re-edited version), Olive Ann Alcorn, Joseph Belmont, Alexander Bevani, Earl Gordon Bostwick, Edward Cecil, Ruth Clifford, Chester Conklin, Roy Coulson, Bruce Covington, Ward Crane, George Davis, Madame Fiorenza, Cesare Gravina, William Humphrey, Carla Laemmle, Edward Martindel (1929 re-edited version), Grace Marvin, John Miljan, Templar Saxe, Rolfe Sedan, Bernard Siegel, William Tracy, William Tyroler, Vola Vale, Ellinor Vanderveer, Anton Vaverka, George B. Williams, Ed Wolff, Edith Yorke

Directors: Rupert Julian, Lon Chaney, Ernst Laemmle, Edward Sedgwick

Indestructible Man

C.G.K. Productions, USA, 1956.

This movie is part of Horror Classics 50 Movie Pack by Mill Creek Entertainment.

Condemned criminal Charles "Butcher" Benton (Lon Chaney Jr.) is about to be executed. Benton ripped off the crime gang he worked with and his dirty attorney Paul Lowe (Ross Elliott) wants to know the location of the heist money. Butcher threatens to kill Lowe, Squeamy Ellis (Marvin Press) and Joe Marcelli (Ken Terrell).

Paul Lowe

Joe and Squeamy

Lt. Dick Chasen (Max Showalter a.k.a Casey Adams) is frustrated about not getting evidence against Lowe's gang. With Butcher's execution the case is closed but Dick decides to find the heist money and bust Lowe's gang. He goes to meet burlesque dancer Eva Martin (Marian Carr) who was Butcher's ex-girlfriend but she does not know much. Later Lowe comes to search for map Butcher sent to Eva.

Lt. Dick Chasen

Eva

Professor Bradshaw (Robert Shayne) needs a fresh corpse for his cancer research. Executed Butcher will do. Electricity (300000 volts) and chemicals revive him. Butcher can not speak but he gains strength and invulnerability. Meanwhile Lt. Dick goes to have a date with Eva. Eva tells his life story: she won a beauty contest but could get job only at burlesque club. Her friend dated Butcher but left him, so Butcher cried on Eva's shoulder. Then Butcher turned out to be a criminal, who would have thought?

It's alive!

Charles 'Butcher' Benton

Meanwhile Butcher goes after Lowe's gang leaving behind a trail of bodies. He kills some cops who try to arrest him and even bullets can not stop him. Eva calls Dick to warn that Butcher is going after Squeamy. However Squeamy has escaped but Joe is conveniently near so Butcher vents his anger by throwing the crippled man down the stairs. Another unlucky cop sees the murder so Butcher kills him too. Butcher then goes to kill Lowe but coincidentally (?) finds Squeamy. Also Squeamy makes close contact with concrete floor.

Down Joe goes.

Later the police interrogate the witness (Marjorie Stapp) of another wanton act of violence. Lowe tries to ask another burlesque dancer Francine (Peggy Maley) about Eva's whereabouts. Eva is in the police station where she gets new flat shoes. Lowe goes there to demand police protection. The police use the opportunity to make him confess. How to stop Butcher is the question.

Eva gets new shoes

Francine

Low budget combination of Film noir and scifi horror. Interestingly this is another film (together with "The Beast of Yucca Flats") that may have influenced Hulk, Lon Chaney Jr. even looks a bit like Hulk. The characters can't be blamed for too much street-credibility (especially Eva seems to be incredibly gullible) and some events look quite random (possibly some scenes were cut). This is not one of Chaney's best but still quite entertaining film. Mute Chaney chasing down his opponents is fun to watch as the guy is like a ruthless force of nature. Also Chasen narrates the story like in classic hard-boiled detective stories.

Rating:

Average

Starring: Lon Chaney Jr., Max Showalter, Marian Carr, Ross Elliott, Stuart Randall, Ken Terrell, Marjorie Stapp, Robert Shayne, Peggy Maley, Robert Foulk, Reita Green, Roy Engel, Madge Cleveland, Chet Brandenburg, Russell Custer, Joe Flynn, Dorothy Ford, Lyle Latell, Eddie Marr, Marvin Press, Fred Rapport

Director: Jack Pollexfen

(picture from mudorstars.blogspot.com)

corum81 from blog http://mudorstars.blogspot.com came up with a nice idea of watching 50 movies that must fulfill one of the listed criteria. Feel free to participate and comment if you can watch all the 50 movies!

(corum81 blogista http://mudorstars.blogspot.com ideoi mainion 50:n elokuvan katseluhaasteen määrättyjen ehtojen pohjalta. Elokuvien vaatimukset suomeksi löytyvät täältä. Kaikki halukkaat voivat osallistua ja postailla osoitteeseen http://mudorstars.blogspot.fi/2016/01/elokuvan-vuoden-katseluhaaste-2016.html jos saavat 50 elokuvaa katsottua)

Original challenge list from (in Finnish only): / Alkuperäinen haastelista suomeksi osoitteessa:

http://mudorstars.blogspot.fi/2016/01/elokuvan-vuoden-katseluhaaste-2016.html

1. Movie about food

2. Movie that is based on a book

3. Movie that you have never heard of

4. Travel story

5. Movie that has at least one non-human main character

6. Movie that has only one word in the name

7. Movie that has a party or festival

8. Movie that has a cover you can use as a mask or "movieface" (like this https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/bookfacefriday/)

9. Documentary

10. The first movie of a celebrated director

11. Movie that you haven't seen before starring one of your favourite actors/actresses

12. Movie whose name refers to a season

13. Movie that has won an Oscar

14. Movie based on a true story

15. Movie you have considered watching already for a long time

16. Movie whose main character is working in your dream job

17. Movie based on classic story (for example fairy tale, Shakespeare's play or literary classic)

18. Movie that is made over 100 years ago

19. Movie about someone who belongs to sexual minority

20. Movie you chose purely because of the cover picture or poster

21. Movie that is set in school

22. Biography movie

23. Black and white movie

24. Movie that is located in a place you have always wanted to visit

25. Movie that was published in your birth year

26. Movie trilogy

27. Movie aimed at teens or young adults

28. Movie that has a colour in its name

29. Movie with magic

30. Movie based on comic

31. Movie whose main character struggles with illness

32. Movie that is set in your hometown or county

33. Movie whose director is not from Europe or North America

34. Movie that has a number in the title

35. Movie whose director's name has the same initial letters as you

36. Movie based on a poem

37. Movie that is or has been banned somewhere in the world

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banned_films)

38. Movie that you think is boring based on its description

39. Movie you remember from your childhood

40. Movie that is set in the future

41. Movie that has an elderly man as the main character

42. Movie you feel a bit ashamed to watch

43. Movie that is over 3 hours long

44. Classic romantic movie

45. Horror movie with a poster that you think is cool

46. Movie about indigenous peoples or their culture

47. Comedy that stars someone you hate

48. Movie whose main character is of opposite sex than you

49. Thriller about solving a murder case

50. Movie that is recommended by staff of video rental store or streaming service

(3/50 completed)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Universal Pictures, USA, 1923.

This movie is part of Horror Classics 50 Movie Pack by Mill Creek Entertainment.

Based on the novel "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Victor Hugo.

Notre Dame Cathedral is a sanctuary for the persecuted. The hunchback of Notre Dame, Quasimodo (Lon Chaney) lives there working as the bell ringer. King Louis XI (Tully Marshall) oppresses the people. The Festival of Fools is celebrated in the cathedral square. King of beggars Clopin (Ernest Torrence) is not the friend of Arch-deacon Dom Claude (Nigel De Brulier). Also Arch-deacon's brother Jehan (Brandon Hurst) scorns his brother.

Quasimodo

Dom Claude

Jehan

Gypsy girl Esmeralda (Patsy Ruth Miller) is Clopin's foster daughter. Gudule (Gladys Brockwell) hates Esmeralda because the gypsies stole her baby (who would coincidentally be just the same age as Esmeralda, hmm?) In the festival Quasimodo is chosen as the King of the Fools. He sees Esmeralda dance and falls in love.

Esmeralda

Gudule

Gringoire

Sword-hero and ladies man Phoebus de Chateaupers (Norman Kerry) is made Captain of the Guard. Fleur de Lys (Winifred Bryson) is his fiancee. Also Phoebus falls in love with Esmeralda. Quasimodo is Jehan's slave so Jehan orders Quasimodo to kidnap Esmeralda but Phoebus and his guards save her. Jehan escapes and Quasimodo gets the blame. The beggars almost hang street poet Gringoire (Raymond Hatton) but Esmeralda stops them. Gringoire becomes Esmeralda's friend and messenger. Next day Quasimodo is whipped as punishment. Esmeralda pities him and brings him water.

Phoebus and Fleur de Lys

Esmeralda shows sympathy towards Quasimodo

Clopin

Jehan makes a deal with Clopin to get Esmeralda in exchange for the treasures of the church. First Clopin must get rid of Phoebus. Quasimodo must save Esmeralda and protect the Cathedral from the angry mob.

Most of the film adaptations change the ending so that at least Esmeralda survives. Depending on the adaptation she ends up with either Gringoire or Phoebus. What makes the 1923 version slightly different than the other adaptations of the story is that the villain is not Dom Claude but his brother Jehan and Dom Claude is a saintly and benevolent priest. Possibly the change was made to keep the Church happy. Lon Chaney Sr. is brilliant with makeup effects that look great even today. The group scenes look spectacular with hundreds of extras. The film suffers slightly from too many characters and side plots crammed into relatively short movie leaving little room for Quasimodo as Clopin's revolution plans, love story of Esmeralda and Phoebus and plottings of Jehan take most of the time. Still it is probably the most iconic adaptation of Hugo's book.

The Mill Creek version runs 101 minutes. The print is at times very scratchy but still watchable. The soundtrack is quite fun with nice score and even sound effects are present.

Let's make this part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge. (Challenge #17. Movie based on classic story for example fairy tale, Shakespeare's play or literary classic)

Rating:

Very good

Starring: Lon Chaney, Patsy Ruth Miller, Norman Kerry, Kate Lester, Winifred Bryson, Nigel De Brulier, Brandon Hurst, Ernest Torrence, Tully Marshall, Harry von Meter, Raymond Hatton, Nick De Ruiz, Eulalie Jensen, Roy Laidlaw, Ray Myers, William Parke Sr., Gladys Brockwell, John Cossar, Edwin Wallock
Director: Wallace Worsley

Nosferatu (Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens) a.k.a Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror a.k.a Nosferatu, a Symphony of Terror a.k.a Terror of Dracula

Jofa-Atelier Berlin-Johannisthal, Prana-Film GmbH, Germany, 1922.

This movie is part of Horror Classics 50 Movie Pack by Mill Creek Entertainment.

Based on novel "Dracula" by Bram Stoker.

Diary of historian Johann Cavallius tells about horrible vampire Nosferatu who brought the plague to Bremen in 1838. In that fateful year young estate agent Jonathon Harker or Hutter in the original German version (Gustav von Wangenheim) is leaving his wife Nina or Ellen (Greta Schröder) to go on a business trip. Creepy estate agent Renfield or Knock (Alexander Granach) sends Harker to Transylvania because Count Dracula or Orlok in the German version (Max Schreck) wants to buy a house in Bremen.

Nina/Ellen

Harker/Hutter

Renfield/Knock

In Transylvania people are shocked to hear that Harker is going to visit Dracula. In his hotel room Harker finds a book about vampires. Harker is not scared at all but happily continues his voyage. In the castle he noticed that the Count has weird affection to blood. The Count sees picture of Harker's wife and decides that he likes her throat. It is also abnormal that the Count sleeps in a coffin. Harker and Nina start feeling nervous. The Count packs up his coffins and travels to Bremen in a ship. Soon sailors start having bite marks on their necks.

Dracula/Orlok

Packing up

Van Helsing/Bulfer

Harker suffers a mental breakdown that delays him from returning home. Meanwhile in Bremen Professor Van Helsing (John Gottowt, Prof. Bulfer in German version) lectures about vampires of the animal kingdom. Renfield is under vampire's spell and has gone to mental asylum. Also sleepwalking Nina is eagerly waiting for the Count. The ship arrives to harbour bringing plague into the town. Harker tries to save Nina with help from the Professor.

The estate of Bram Stoker wanted the film destroyed because of copyright reasons, but luckily some copies of the film were saved. Being one of the earliest vampire film it was influential in creating the mythos that would be later present in vampire films. Murnau used innovative effects and shadow to build a creepy atmosphere. Stop-motion animation was used to demonstrate the supernatural speed of the vampire. One of the most memorable scenes is Nosferatu rising straight up from his coffin.

Max Schreck is the ugliest and unsexy Dracula ever seen: thin, bald and having rat-like fangs and terrible fingernails. The later films with Bela Lugosi created archetype of more gentleman type handsome Carpathian vampire. It can not be considered very scary by modern standards but the nightmarish atmosphere and darkly beautiful cinematography with decaying buildings make it one of the best vampire films. "Nosferatu" is also one of the most important silent horror films and should be watched by everyone.

The Mill Creek version is 80 minutes and the intertitles refer to the characters as their original names from Bram Stoker's book. The soundtrack consists of ominous organ music. (I have also better quality 2005/06 restored version of this film that runs 94 minutes and has orchestral score.)

Let's make this part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#23. Black and white movie)

Rating:

Excellent

Starring: Max Schreck, Gustav von Wangenheim, Greta Schröder, Georg H. Schnell, Ruth Landshoff, Gustav Botz, Alexander Granach, John Gottowt, Max Nemetz, Wolfgang Heinz, Albert Venohr, Eric van Viele, Karl Etlinger, Guido Herzfeld, Hans Lanser-Rudolf, Loni Nest, Fanny Schreck, Hardy von Francois, Heinrich Witte

Director: F.W. Murnau

A Haunted House
Automatik Entertainment, Baby Way Productions, Cutting Edge Group, Endgame Entertainment, IM Global, USA, 2013.

First I have to say that I have a strong dislike against Marlon Wayans. Not only he ruined "Dungeons & Dragons" he has also appeared in number of terrible spoof films. The films with him I liked were "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood", "Requiem for a Dream", "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" (small role) and "Ladykillers" and most of those despite him rather than because of him. So as this film is not only starring him but also it is written by him I already know that I will hate this film.

Malcolm Johnson (Marlon Wayans) gets a new video camera. His girlfriend Kisha (Essence Atkins) moves into his house. Soon we get a joke about Malcolm's dog getting run over. Always hilarious, not. Moving together with girlfriend creates some strain to their relationship. Love life suffers and Kisha shows her disgusting habits.

Malcolm

Kisha

Security guys Dan (David Koechner) and Bob (Dave Sheridan) install security cameras into the house. The cameras reveal some disturbing things about housekeeper Rosa (Marlene Forte). Soon items start to move so there is ghost in the house. Gay Psychic Chip (Nick Swardson) comes to investigate the house. He immediately becomes interested in Malcolm. Kisha appears to be possessed so exorcist Father Williams (Cedric the Entertainer) is needed.

Bob and Dan

Basically this is parody of "Paranormal Activity" with fart, toilet and sex jokes. It looks cheaply made and filmed in someone's house. If there is something positive it is that it actually has some kind of (bad) horror/comedy plot instead of trying to include as many scenes copied from other movies as possible in the style of Friedberg&Seltzer. It is a mystery how they managed to spend $2.5 million. (The film poster lies: Marlon Wayans does not use chainsaw in the movie). If you think Marlon Wayans simulating sex with stuffed animals is the culmination of comedy then this is the right movie for you.

Let's make this part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#47. Comedy that stars someone you hate. Marlon Wayans that is, and the movie did not change the opinion)

Rating:

Very bad

Starring: Marlon Wayans, Marlene Forte, Essence Atkins, David Koechner, Dave Sheridan, Nick Swardson, Alanna Ubach, Andrew Daly, Cedric the Entertainer, Affion Crockett, J.B. Smoove, Robin Thede, Jordenn Thompson, Damien Bray, Joel Kelley Dauten, Bobbie Lee Jr., Liana Mendoza, Jamie Noel Director: Michael Tiddes

Waitress

Fox Searchlight Pictures, Night & Day Pictures, USA, 2007.

Jenna Hunterson (Keri Russell) is unhappily married waitress who is pregnant. She wants to win pie baking contest and escape his terrible life. No-good husband Earl (Jeremy Sisto) would rather keep her between the fist and the stove. Pie diner boss Cal (Lew Temple) is rude but Jenna's best friends are her workmates cheery Becky (Cheryl Hines) and shy Dawn (Adrienne Shelly). Meeting nice gynecologist Dr. Jim Pomatter (Nathan Fillion) stirs Jenna's feelings but he is married. Still Jenna starts an affair with the Doctor.

Jenna

Dawn and Becky

Earl

To escape reality Jenna invents new pies with their names that relate to her life and problems. There are for example "I Don't Want Earl's Baby Pie", "I Can't Have No Affair Because It's Wrong & I Don't Want Earl to Kill Me Pie" but also "Falling in Love Chocolate Mousse Pie." Jenna develops a friendship with eccentric and grumpy owner of the pie diner Joe (Andy Griffith).

Dr. Jim Pomatter

Joe

Jenna fears that she can not love the baby. Earl finding out about the pregnancy does not make the situation any easier as jealous Earl makes Jenna promise that she will not love the baby more than him. Jenna feels stuck in her life but her friends try help her make the right choices.

Mmmmm, pie!

This is romantic drama comedy with quirky humour but more in indie-style than Hollywood-style. That means that the end is not regular romantic comedy "they lived happily ever after"- end but more like "emancipation of Jenna" as she must find her own way without hurting other people. Keri Russell carries the film well as sweet waitress and also the other small-town characters are interesting and meaningful. However the middle part of the story seems to grind to a halt for focusing too long on the on/off relationship of Jenna and Dr. Jim and the pie-baking theme gets downplayed. It is not perfect but charming indie film.

Sadly director Adrienne Shelly was murdered before the film premiered.

Let's make this part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#1. Movie about food)

Rating:

Good

Starring: Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Jeremy Sisto, Andy Griffith, Adrienne Shelly, Eddie Jemison, Lew Temple, Darby Stanchfield , Heidi Sulzman, Lauri Johnson, Sarah Hunley, Cindy Drummond, Nathan Dean, Caroline Fogarty, Christy Taylor, Jennifer Walsh, Hunter A. King, Mackenzie King, Donna Leslie, Nora Paradiso, Danny Allen, Andy Ostroy, Hailey Parker, Rylee Stefanelli, Bella Stromel, Kira Grace, Elaine Levine, Doreen Powell, Sophie Ostroy, Eleya Avery-Ault, Evan King, Jesse Schneider, Zoe Schneider, Henry Arthur Smith, Athena Stamos

Director: Adrienne Shelly

Gravity

Warner Bros., Esperanto Filmoj, Heyday Films, UK, USA, 2013.

Space shuttle crew is sent to upgrade Hubble-telescope. Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is repaiding a data module. Missile hits a Russian satellite and causes cloud of space debris. Debris destroys the telescope sending Stone spinning into the space. Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) manages to bring her back but rest of the crew are killed.

Space shuttle before the accident

Matt Kowalski

The space shuttle is also destroyed so getting to the International Space Station is the only way to survive. Mr. Murphy has a great influence as everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Kowalski sacrifices himself so Ryan arrives alone to the space station, but getting home is impossible as the landing shuttle is damaged. Stone is inexperienced astronaut so she would probably not land the space capsule safely even if it was working but the greater obstacle is that she has lost her will to live because her daughter died years ago. Can she overcome her losses and use her skills to survive?

Dr. Ryan Stone

Surviving to the space station

"Gravity" offers a wild roller-coaster ride beautiful pictures of Earth from space. Filmed with minimalist cast, wonderful Sandra Bullock carries the film with her emotional and physical role. During the film Stone grows from panicked rookie to Ripley-like survivor. George Clooney brings humour but acts also as tutor and spirit guide. Rest of the cast is heard only as voices in the radio. Voice of Ed Harris can be heard as Mission Control, being a nod to another space disaster film "Apollo 13." The story is quite straightforward and simple but well presented and also some deeper meanings can be found. Both religious icons (Christian, Hindu and Buddhist) and evolution references are sprinkled throughout the film. The ending can be thought as a rebirth scene.

The effects are extremely well done and give the viewer the sensation of drifting in zero gravity. In space no sounds can be heard so even the destruction of large constructions is silent. The events seen through Stone's eyes look claustrophobic and add to the suspense. The cinematography is great with long continuous takes and tracking shots. "Gravity" won seven Oscars including Best Achievement in Directing and Best Cinematography.

DVD extras include short movie "Aningaaq" directed by Jonas Cuarón where Inuit fisherman (Orto Ignatiussen) receives Stone's emergency call from the space station. Also documentary about dangers of space debris "Collision Point: The Race to Clean Up Space" is included.

Let's make this part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#13. Movie that has won an Oscar)

Rating:

Very good

Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris, Orto Ignatiussen, Phaldut Sharma, Amy Warren, Basher Savage, Adam Cozens

Director: Alfonso Cuarón

The Unknown Soldier's Patent Leather Shoes (Lachenite obuvki na neznayniya voin)

Boyana Film, Sredets Grupa, 1979, Bulgaria.

Middle-aged filmmaker Rangel Vulchanov goes to London to film the guards in front of the Buckingham Palace. He suddenly remembers his childhood in small Bulgarian village just before World War II and before the Communist era. There was a lake that dried and the villager collected a lot of fish that turned out to be inedible. Rangel's alter ego Mone (Borislav Tsankov) and his relatives (maybe a hundred of them) lived all in one house. For some reason Grandmother Slavah (Slavka Ankova) wanted to burn the house down but Grandfather Dobrin (Ivan Stoychev) always saved them.

Mone

Grandmother Slavah

Grandfather Dobrin

Rangel tells about his childhood combining kid Mone's (Borislav Tsankov) exaggeration and realism. For example one time dog ate his eye but of course the eye grows back. Next we see Black Uncle's (Nikolay Velichkov) wedding with his White Bride (Emiliya Myrynska). Mischievous Mone gets in trouble and Mother (Venka Minkova) hits him and he "dies."

Mone's relatives

Black Uncle and White Aunt

Mone also thinks about World War I when Grandfather went to war and Grandmother had about 23 babies. Grandmother gets enough of fighting and ends the war. Someone gets murdered in the wedding but no-one seems to be sad. Maybe it happened in some other wedding?

Grandmother ends the war

In war grandfather looted a pair of boots from a dead soldier. Finally a tragedy strikes the village and only Mone and grandfather survive. Mone travels alone to Sofia where he buys Patent Leather Shoes. New war is beginning and Mone wants to participate. When Mone returns grandfather has died so Mone has to arrange his burial.

Grandfather funeral

Rangel Vulchanov

This is experimental and poetic film with magical camera work. The village may seem picturesque but Mone feels little sympathy for her blunt relatives except for grandfather and White Aunt. There is hidden oppression in the traditions as White Aunt does not seem like happy bride being forced to marry unpleasant man. Director has said that he made this movie to sort out and understand his repressed childhood memories. Being his personal account this is quite surreal and difficult film, but also beautifully filmed and even funny at times.

Let's make this part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#3. Movie that you have never heard of)

Rating:

Good

Starring: Slavka Ankova, Emiliya Myrynska, Ivan Stoychev, Borislav Tsankov, Nikolay Velichkov, Rangel Vulchanov, Grigor Dimitrov, Trayanka Stoichkova, Venka Minkova, Nevena Parzheva, Teodora Georgieva, Lyubomir Ivanov

Director: Rangel Vulchanov

An American Tail
Universal Pictures, U-Drive Productions, Sullivan Studios, Amblin Entertainment, Don Bluth Productions, USA, 1986.

In 1885 Russia Jewish family Mousekewitz celebrates Hanukkah. Papa (Nehemiah Persoff) and Mama (Erica Yohn) tell kids Fievel (Phillip Glasser) and Tanya (Tanya Mousekewitz) and baby about wonderful land of America where are no cats and streets are made of cheese. Cossacks burn the village so the family decides to escape the pogroms and emigrate.

Cossack cat

Family Mousekewitz

The ship carrying them gets into a storm. Curious Fievel wants to see the sea and falls overboard. Saved by an empty bottle Fievel arrives in America where he meets a friendly pigeon Henri (Christopher Plummer). Fievel starts to search for his family and meets a greedy rat Warren T. Rat (John Finnegan) who sells him into a sweatshop. He and streetwise Tony Toponi (Pat Musick) have no time for that so they escape soon. They meet Bridget (Cathianne Blore) who tries to unite the mice against cats. Despite the rumours the American Dream is not easily obtained as there are cats in America and they are killing the mice.

Henri and Fievel

Warren T. Rat

Tony and Bridget

In the political meetings Fievel meets drunk politician Honest John (Neil Ross) and rich benefactor Gussie Mausheimer (Madeline Kahn). Fievel invents a plan to drive away the cats but gets captured. In captivity he meets friendly vegetarian cat Tiger (Dom DeLuise). Meanwhile the mice have built a Secret Weapon to fight the cats.

Tiger

This was movie I saw in movie theatre 1987 or 1988 dubbed in Finnish. One song "Never say Never" I remembered for a long time afterwards. Compared to Disney-movies I had seen the movie felt darker and occasionally sad. Also the themes of immigration and oppression were quite unusual for a kids' cartoon of that time. Now it is easier to distinguish the story's parallels with historical times when various ethnic groups immigrated to New York. This is like "Gangs of New York" for kids. Steven Spielberg included some experiences of his grandfather Fievel into the story. Film has beautifully made animation with some good songs by James Horner and Barry Mann. However it has some flaws that were caused by production difficulties and cuts. For example baby Mousekewitz strangely vanishes at some point. Some scenes were notably shortened because of the limited budget. Also the ending feels like tying up the story could have improved from better writing. Now the seams of the three distinctive endings are too clear: the mice drive the cats away, Fievel finds his family and Henri takes the family to see more America.

Hey, this trio of rude mice looks like Alvin and the Chipmunks

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#39. Movie you remember from your childhood)

Rating:

Very good

Voice actors: Erica Yohn, Nehemiah Persoff, Amy Green, Phillip Glasser, Christopher Plummer, John Finnegan, Will Ryan, Hal Smith, Pat Musick, Cathianne Blore, Neil Ross, Madeline Kahn, Dom DeLuise, Alitzah, Betsy Cathcart, Johnny Guarnieri, Warren Hays, T. Daniel Hofstedt, James Ingram, Dan Kuenster, Linda Ronstadt
Director: Don Bluth

The Man from Snowy River

Cambridge Productions, Michael Edgley International, Snowy River Investment Pty. Ltd., Australia, 1982.

Based on poem "The Man From Snowy River" by A.B. "Banjo" Paterson.

Pack of wild horses or brumbies disturb evening of Jim (Tom Burlinson) and his father Henry Craig (Terence Donovan). Catching the wild horses would give nice money, but the pack is lead by wild black stallion. During the hunt Henry gets hit by a falling log and dies. Also family horse Bess abandons her old life and joins the pack. Father's gold miner friend Spur (Kirk Douglas) sends Jim away because he would not survive alone. Jim must earn his right to live in the mountains.

Jim

Spur

Jim travels to town. Wealthy rancher and Spur's brother Harrison (Kirk Douglas) has bought a new horse and Banjo Paterson (David Bradshaw) delivers the colt. Jim manages to calm the panicked horse, so Paterson arranges him a job at Harrison's ranch. Other farmhands scorn him but Jim develops a friendship with Harrison's daughter Jessica (Sigrid Thornton). Strongwilled Jessica would like to be rancher instead of being sent to a posh school for ladies. Famed horseman Clancy (Jack Thompson) arrives to help with roundup of cattle. However rookie Jim is not allowed to participate.

Jessica and Harrison

Clancy

While Harrison is away, Jessica urges Jim to break the new horse. The pack of wild horses appears and Jim gets hurt. Harrison gets angry when he notices that Jim has been breaking his colt. When Jessica vanishes in the mountains only Jim can save her. When the colt disappears, Jim is accused. To prove his manliness he must find the missing horse. To do so he must also tame the leader of the brumbies, the mysterious black stallion.

"I must break you" thinks Jim

Brumbies

First impression about this Australian Western is that the landscapes look magnificent. It is beautifully filmed with horses galloping gracefully on the hills and the horse chase in the end is a classic scene. Award-winning musical score was composed by Bruce Rowland. The story combines old-school manly cowboy adventure with romance. The story is quite simple coming of age story but gets extra layers from storyline about old rivalry of Spur and Harrison and from Jessica's modern views of women. Also Clancy seems to represent the ideal of Australian horse riding stockman while Harrison is more modern businessman envisaging railroads and roads.

There is also a dragon version of the story, "Dawn of the Dragonslayer"!

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#36. Movie based on a poem)

Rating.

Very good

Starring: Tom Burlinson, Terence Donovan, Kirk Douglas, Tommy Dysart, Bruce Kerr, David Bradshaw, Sigrid Thornton, Jack Thompson, Tony Bonner, June Jago, Chris Haywood, Kristopher Steele, Gus Mercurio, Howard Eynon, Lorraine Bayly, John Nash, Jack Lovick, Charlie Lovick, John Lovick, Frank Hearn, Jack Purcell
Director: George Miller (not the "Mad Max" director)

A.P.E.X. a.k.a Apex
Green Communications Inc., Republic Pictures, USA, 1994.

In the year 2072 A.P.E.X. (= Advanced Prototype Exploration Unit) was created to explore time. Time paradoxes cause a time virus infection. To avoid epidemic from spreading sterilization units are sent to to destroy the point in time where paradox was detected.

Scientist Nicholas Sinclair (Richard Keats) has nightmares about his wife Natasha (Lisa Ann Russell) vanishing in time anomaly. In 2073 the scientists send A.P.E.X. unit 100 years back in time. In 1973 Hippie family wanders into the test area and creates a time paradox. To save the family Sinclair jumps into the time portal. Dr. Elgin (David Jean Thomas) and Johnson (Kristin Norton) vanish with the research facility because of the paradox.

Nicholas Sinclair

Natasha

Johnson

When Sinclair returns the world is overrun by A.P.E.X. killer robots. A.P.E.X. robots are slow but deadly but they have one weak spot: their CD-player! Duke Nukem look-alike Shepherd (Mitchell Cox) recruits him into his squad of resistance fighters. By the way their Jeffries Automotive Landmaster personnel carrier looks quite cool:

In the alternate future Sinclair finds out that the people he knew are totally different and also he does not know about himself either. Dr. Elgin is the leader of the resistance. Sinclair finds of that his wife is tough soldier who is infected with the time virus. Sinclair, Shepherd, Natasha, Rasheed (Adam Lawson) and Taylor (Marcus Aurelius) go to search for second laboratory equipped with time machine. They meet also hostile scavengers and a man living in the desert with his family (Brian Richard Peck).

Dr. Elgin

Shepherd

Rasheed and Taylor

"A.P.E.X." has Terminator-style time travelling and futuristic war against the machines made B-movie style. Phillip J. Roth is known for several low-budget so bad they are good scifi-movies, but for once this looks seriously made. For a low budget scifi it moderately entertaining, although the acting is cringeworthy bad at times. Also the midpoint of the movie feels quite lackluster as if they ran out of ideas.

A.P.E.X.

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#40. Movie that is set in the future)

Rating:

Average

Starring: Richard Keats, Mitchell Cox, Lisa Ann Russell, Marcus Aurelius, Adam Lawson, David Jean Thomas, Brian Richard Peck, Anna B. Choi, Kristin Norton, Jay Irwin , Robert Tossberg, Kathleen Randazzo, Kareem H. Captan , Merle Nicks, Natasha Roth, Suzi Mealing, J Bartell, Randy Kagan, Tony Gugliuzza, Jose Ontiveros, Richard Hench, Jeffre Phillips, Robert J. Marino, Gary Moran, Joe Zimmerman, Gordon Capps, Jack Barrett Phelan, Steven Michael, Todd James, Eric Gordon, Tom Fellon, Rich Kennedy, Ginger Marin, Marcia Swayze
Director: Phillip J. Roth

Piccolo, Saxo et compagnie (Finnish title: Seikkailevat soittimet) a.k.a. Piccolo, Saxo & Cie

Millimages, Haut et Court, Studio Dacodac, France 3 Cinéma, Canal+, TPS Cinéma, Centre National de la Cinématographie, Eurimages, France, 2006.

Musical instruments meet to play music. They are a discordant bunch but the Clefs G, F & C (all voiced by Marie-Eugénie Maréchal) keep them in order. The Clefs are stolen and cacophony results. The different instrument families blame each other, string instruments start capturing notes and percussion instruments run around knocking trees down.

The orchestra

The Clefs

Stampeding percussion instruments

Little note Do (Anaïs Croze) meets woodwind instrument Piccolo (Eugène Christo-Foroux) and brass instrument Saxo (Jean-Baptiste Maunie). They plan to go to Land of Silence to ask advice from grandpa Bassoon (Patrick Préjean). First they trespass the land of string instruments and free the captured notes. After avoiding a stampede of percussion instruments they meet Snare (Camille Donda).

Saxo and Piccolo

Snare

In the Land of Silence (underworld of old and broken instruments) evil Dr. Hammer (Michel Elias) is building a machine that would replace the classical instruments. Little Brush (Lewis Weill) helps the little instruments to find the missing Clefs. But can they escape before tools chop them to pieces?

Metronome (voiced by Daniel Berreta)

Hammer time!

Little Brush

TV-show level computer animation does not particularly shine, but the characters are colourful and use of musical instruments is a fun idea. The traditional adventure story teaches friendship and giving up prejudices. Kids will learn a bit about different musical instrument families although not as much as could be expected. Also the story takes the controversial position that instrumental music is good and electronic music is bad. The story is loosely based on musical tale of Jean Broussolle and André Popp.

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#5. Movie that has at least one non-human main character)

Rating:

Average

Voice actors: Jean-Baptiste Maunier, Eugène Christo-Foroux, Anaïs Croze, Camille Donda, Michel Elias, Patrick Préjean, Marie-Eugénie Maréchal, Lewis Weill, Daniel Berreta, Lucie Dolène, Caroline Coste, Patrick Delage, Claire Guyot, Lucie Boulanger, Vincent Liebert, Vincent Ropion, Yohann Sauveur, Laurent Morteau

Directors: Eric Gutierrez and Andre Clavel

Every Which Way But Loose

Warner Bros., The Malpaso Company, USA, 1978.

Philo Beddoe (Clint Eastwood) is a truck driver with hard fists. Philo has pet orangutan Clyde (Manis). In the house next door lives his best pal Orville Boggs (Geoffrey Lewis, he was Juliette Lewis' father) and tough as nails Ma (Ruth Gordon). Philo makes some extra bucks in backyard fistfights while Orville takes care of the business side of his fights.

Clyde and Philo

Orville

In local bar new talent night Philo meets pretty singer Lynn Halsey-Taylor (Sondra Locke). She needs money to start a bar and a band. Later Philo gets in argument with motor cycle gang The Black Widows. He beats them up and takes their bikes. Philo uses the money to fund Lynn's career. However Lynn leaves without warning, so Philo, Clyde and Orville decide to go after her. Orville picks up a girl named Echo (Beverly D'Angelo) with them. Echo becomes integral part of the team.

Lynn Halsey-Taylor

Just cruisin'

Echo and her cantaloupes

The Black Widows and cops Putnam (Gregory Walcott) and Herb (James McEachin) have a bone to pick with Clyde. Clyde must also have a match with fighting legend Tank Murdock (Walter Barnes). Also Lynn isn't what Philo thinks she is.

The Black Widows

Herb and Putnam

Kreegah bundolo!

Story goes on leisurely with Country & Western music, beer drinking and fistfights carrying the tradition of 1970s redneck comedies. Clint Eastwood is fun in one of his relatively rare comedic roles. In some scenes Clint makes fun of his Western movies. He is still tough guy but in parodical way and in some way more vulnerable than his other hero characters. Considering Clint's filmography this is one of his lightest movies and has a feeling of Burt Reynolds comedies. IMDB trivia knows to tell that Burt was first considered in the role of Philo. However the story has a lot of slack and feels plotless at times. Little shortening could have made the story more fluid. Manis the Orangutan should have won an Oscar.

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#25. Movie that was published in your birth year)

Rating:

Good

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis, Beverly D'Angelo, Walter Barnes, George Chandler, Roy Jenson, James McEachin, Bill McKinney, William O'Connell, John Quade, Dan Vadis, Gregory Walcott, Hank Worden, Ruth Gordon, Jerry Brutsche, Cary Michael Cheifer, Janet Cole Notey, Sam Gilman, Chuck Hicks, Timothy P. Irvin, Tim Irwin, Billy Jackson, Joyce Jameson, Richard Jamison, Jackson D. Kane, Jeremy Joe Kronsberg, Fritz Manes, Michael Mann, Lloyd Nelson, George Orrison, Thelma Pelish, William J. Quinn, Tom Runyon, Bruce Scott, Al Silvani, Hartley Silver, Al Stellone, Jan Stratton, Mike Wagner, Guy Way, George P. Wilbur, Gary Davis, Scott Dockstader, Orwin C. Harvey, Gene LeBell, Chuck Waters, Jerry Wills, Manis the Orangutan, Phil Everly, Bob Golden, Harry Guardino, Clay Hodges, Harry Middlebrooks, Frank Noel, Charlie Rich, Thomas Rosales Jr., Judson Scott, Mel Tillis, Roxanne Tunis

Director: James Fargo

Hannah Montana The Movie

It's a Laugh Productions, Millar Gough Ink, Walt Disney Pictures, USA, 2009.

Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) is a teen girl whose alter ego is famous pop star Hannah Montana. Because the bouncers do not know it she has to sneak into her own concert. Pop star's life takes its toll as Miley does not have enough time for her best friend Lilly (Emily Osment). Hannah's agent Vita (Vanessa Williams) keeps Hannah busy with various publicity events. Paparazzi Oswald (Peter Gunn) is always after Hannah trying to reveal her true identity. After Hannah gets into shoe fight with Tyra Banks her dad Robby Ray (Billy Ray Cyrus) sends Hannah to cool off in the countryside where her grandma Ruby (Margo Martindale) lives.

Country-Miley

Robby Ray

Grandma Ruby

In Tennessee Miley meets her childhood's friend Travis Brody (Lucas Till) and vacation romance follows. To fit in the family, Miley adopts over-the-top country girl attitude. Grandma organizes fundraiser events to collect money for opposing Mr. Bradley's (Barry Bostwick) plans to turn the idyllic town centre into a shopping mall. Miley tries to encourage his dad to go on a date with Lorelai (Melora Hardin). In the fundraiser event Taylor Swift pops in to sing a song. However Miley must also invite Hannah Montana to the fundraiser concert. That's where Miley needs Lilly's help. Nothing goes as expected so Miley must make a choice between her real life and celebrity life.

Travis Brody

Taylor Swift

Lilly and Hannah

In the 2016 Movie Watching Challenge I was supposed to find a movie that is boring based on its description. It was a difficult task because I'm quite easily amused. From the back cover description of "Hannah Montana The Movie":

"Get ready to be dazzled by Disney's big screen smash hit —Hannah Montana The Movie— filled with laughs, adventure, family fun and fabulous music! Come along for the ride and see Hannah like never before as she returns to her roots and faces the most important decision of her life! When Miley Stewart (aka pop-star Hannah Montana) gets too caught up in the superstar celebrity lifestyle, her dad decides it's time for a total change of scenery. But sweet nibblets! Miley must trade in all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for some al' blue jeans on the family farm in Tennessee and question if she can he both Miley Stewart and Hannah Montana. With a little help from her friends —and awesome guest stars Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts and Vanessa Williams— will she figure out whether to choose Hannah or Miley? Hannah Montana The Movie is a heartfelt major motion picture perfect for the entire family."

As Hannah Montana's target audience was 8-14 year old girls, I'm far outside of the target audience. I'm not also big fan of Miley Cyrus (although she has a good voice) so these should count as the reasons why I thought this would be boring. However after a plastic start the story went on as better than expected country comedy. Although the teen drama was predictable Disney stuff, there was enough slapstick comedy and country humour to make it tolerable. Also the small town setting was quite nice with some okay country music.

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#38. Movie that you think is boring based on its description)

Rating:

Average

Starring: Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Emily Osment, Jason Earles, Mitchel Musso, Moises Arias, Lucas Till, Vanessa Williams, Margo Martindale, Peter Gunn, Melora Hardin, Jared Carter, Barry Bostwick, Beau Billingslea, Katrina Smith, Emily Grace Reaves, Jane Carr, Taylor Swift, Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, JoeDon Rooney, Joshua Childs, Rachel Woods, Natalia Dyer, Jerry Foster, Adam Gregory, Shawn Carter Peterson, Jamal Sims, John Will Clay, D. Todd Hammond, Michael Cornacchia, Valorie Hubbard, Tommy Barnes, Gary Schleimer, Jaci Cordell, Jack Hoke, Lisa Darr, Paul Perri, Mario Carter, Amber Hubert, Ashley Sundberg, Travis Archer, Cole S. McKay, Ben Hatchell, Chris O'Reilly, James Alexander, Shane T. Anderson
Director: Peter Chelsom

The Dark Side of the Sun

Avala Film, Cinequanon Pictures International Inc., USA, Canada, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, 1988.

Rick Clayton (Brad Pitt) suffers from photosensitive skin. Exposure to sunlight may kill him so he must always wear leather mask and protective clothing. His family has moved to Yugoslavia in search for cure. While riding his motorcycle he finds an orphaned puppy and adopts it. Rick's father Walter (Guy Boyd) is also treating depressed mother (Milena Dravic).

Dark Masked Rider

Walter

Rick

Frances (Cheryl Pollak) is travelling with her theatre group. She sees the mysterious motorist. Rick goes to see the show. He meets Frances, but can not take off his mask. Tired with the ineffective treatments, Rick decides to remove the mask and live fully three days even if it kills him.

Frances

First he goes to beach to play with dolphins. Then he goes to town where no one recognises him. He meets Frances again, but she wants to meet the Dark Masked Rider. Frances and masked man have fun with beach racing and they get friends from other bikers. Unmasked Rick invites Frances to sing at his dad's birthday party. Frances falls in love with the masked man not realizing that he is Rick. However Rick's skin develops sores and blisters and tragedy follows.

Beach party!

The film was shot in Yugoslavia just before the war broke out. Much of the footage went missing but was finally found in 1996. As a movie it feels like usual TV-movie, not bad but not great either. The acting has low-budget feel making the tragic romance less effective than was intended. Brad Pitt in his first leading role looks a bit too pretty with perfect hair considering that he has been using a sweat-inducing leather mask for his whole life. It has some interesting footage of pre-war coastal Yugoslavia. There are some quirky side characters such as local man (Boro Begovic) who tries to stop smoking and having sex. Also Serbian cult actress Sonja Savic (1961-2008) has a small role as one of the bikers.

Boro Begovic

Sonja Savic as biker

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#31. Movie whose main character struggles with illness)

Rating:

Average

Starring: Guy Boyd, Brad Pitt, Cheryl Pollak, Constantin Nitchoff, Milena Dravic, Gorica Popovic, Sonja Savic, Nikola Jovanovic, Boro Begovic, Milan Sretenovic, Andjelo Arandjelovic, Sreten Mitrovic, Stole Arandjelovic, Ras Rastoder, Vladan Banovic, Milorad Novakovic, Pedja Rolovic, Vanja Vasic, Tatjana Vadnjal, Tanja Petric, Ana Savinov, Suzana Srdic, Slobodanka Djukanovic, Ljiljana Kupusovic, Isidora Mincic, Tatjana Srdic, Jelena Zigon, Jovana Nikolic, Petra Katanic, Odjila, Djordje David

Director: Bozidar 'Bota' Nikolic

Enchanted

Walt Disney Pictures, Josephson Entertainment, Andalasia Productions, Right Coast Productions, USA, 2007.

Evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) of Andalasia wants to prevent her step-son from getting married. Princess Giselle (Amy Adams) lives with her talking animal friends and dreams about prince. Conveniently Prince Edward (James Marsden) is nearby hunting trolls. Quick wedding is planned but Queen wants to stops it and pushes Giselle into magic well. She arrives in modern day New York where no one lives happily ever after.

Giselle in Andalasia

Giselle in New York

Divorce lawyer Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and her daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey) see weird princess trying to break into a casino. They take her home for a night. The apartment is messy so Giselle invites animals to clean it up. Robert's girlfriend Nancy (Idina Menzel) visits Robert and gets the wrong idea. Straight-laced Robert tries to send Giselle away.

Robert and Morgan

Giselle's animal friend

Nancy

Edward and chipmunk Pip (Jeff Bennett/Kevin Lima) come to search for Giselle. Clueless Edward tries to figure out modern technology and battles with a bus. Queen sends also Edward's untrustworthy squire Nathaniel (Timothy Spall) to stop the Princess with poisoned apples. Meanwhile Robert begins to like cheerful and innocent Giselle.

Edward

Nathaniel

Party!

Partly this is postmodern fairy tale and partly traditional romantic comedy with fantasy characters sent into real world. Traditional animation looks good ans Disney cliches are cleverly twisted and parodied. There are huge amount of references to other Disney movies. The ending is like a pastiche of Disney endings with some alterations. Amy Adams is fun and cute as Giselle, she was perfectly cast in the role. She can also sing well, performing couple of musical numbers with CGI animals. James Marsden's goofy prince steals the show in couple of scenes. Patrick Dempsey is the straight man of the show. "Enchanted" is a cheerful movie that leaves a good feeling.

Evil Queen

Dragon Queen

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#29. Movie with magic)

Rating:

Very good

Starring: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Rachel Covey, Susan Sarandon, Julie Andrews, Jeff Bennett, Kevin Lima, Emma Rose Lima, Teala Dunn, Fred Tatasciore, Courtney Williams, William Huntley, Samantha Ivers, Elizabeth Mathis, Edmund Lyndeck, Tonya Pinkins, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Tibor Feldman, Jodi Benson, Matt Servitto, Christopher Maggi, Muriel Kuhn, Marilyn Sue Perry, John Rothman, Marlon Saunders, Paul Klementowicz, Michaela Conlin, Cathleen Trigg, Paige O'Hara, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Canedy Knowles, Lillian Lifflander, Matte Osian, Judy Kuhn, Joseph Siravo, Margaret Travolta, Tony Machine, Jon McLaughlin, Helen Stenborg, Anita Keal, Kater Gordon

Director: Kevin Lima

Book Review: A Kim Jong-Il Production

Movie Review: Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups

Movie Review: Foodfight!

Movie Review: The Phantom of the Opera (1925/29)

Movie Review: Indestructible Man

The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge / Elokuvien katseluhaaste vuodelle 2016

Movie Review: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)

Movie Review: Nosferatu (1922)

Movie Review: A Haunted House (2013)

Movie Review: Waitress

Movie Review: Gravity

Movie Review: The Unknown Soldier's Patent Leather Shoes (Lachenite obuvki na neznayniya voin)

Movie Review: An American Tail

Movie Review: The Man from Snowy River

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