Movie Monday - Four Variations on Transplants

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In an attempt to tie all four films together for a cool title, the best I could come up with is "transplants". Humor me.

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Awake (2007)

[Hayden Christensen; Jessica Alba; Terrence Howard; Lena Olin]

A rich, young man needs a heart transplant. When a heart is found, he goes into surgery. But where the anesthesia should have rendered him unconscious, he is alert, aware. Awake. And what he hears will change his life forever.

I had a different idea of what this film was going to be. I think I liked it better than I thought I was going to, but I also had some... issues with it, as well. It is hard to explain without giving too much of the film's plot away.

Olin and Alba give good performances, Christensen is too young for the role, however. Would have played better with a more mature leading man.

If you like thriller/mystery type movies, then you might like this one.



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The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

[Gene Tierney; Rex Harrison; George Sanders; Edna Best; Natalie Wood; Anna Lee]

A widow with a young daughter transplants their life from her in-laws' home to the enchanting, seaside Gull Cottage. Soon enough, she is haunted by the ghost of the previous owner, Captain Gregg. Her life, and his after-life, will never be the same.

I have mentioned this movie before (here), but I watched it again recently, this time with my daughter. She enjoyed it, and I am glad, cause I love it.

The movie is just wonderful, a romantic, atmospheric charmer. Both Tierney and Harrison are superb in their roles, showing strength when needed, and subtle tenderness. They remain true to their characters.

Always recommended.



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MST3K: The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1993)
The Brain That Wouldn't Die (Original Film - 1962)

[Jason Evers; Virginia Leith; Leslie Daniels; Doris Powell]

Another MST3K classic, this is Mike's first episode as the new human on the satellite.

The movie itself is a bizarre sci-fi flick about a doctor who wants to perfect organ and limb transplants. After he is in a car wreck with his fiance, things go downhill. For him, for her and for us.

With the MST3K humor, the experience is hilarious. A great way to spend some time. And possibly the ONLY want to watch this movie without being completely bored.

Recommended for fans of cheesy, B-movies and fans of MST3K!



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The Killing Floor (2007)

[Marc Blucas; Joel Leffert; Shiri Appleby; Jeffrey Carlson; Reiko Aylesworth]

A rich, young literary agent buys a huge a huge, loft-style apartment and transplants his life there. Soon, he feels he is being watched, stalked. He is threatened by a man claiming to be the rightful owner of the place. Soon, his life is spinning out of control. What is going on and who is pulling the strings?

This was a thriller/mystery type flick. Interesting as the premise is, it got a bit confusing. Maybe it was just me, but I felt lost. Sort of like it took one turn too many, maybe. I don't know.

Recommended, if you like puzzling movies, I guess. But you may be left scratching your head, as well.



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Movie Monday - Spiders, Confusion, Vampires & More!

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The Giant Spider Invasion (1975)

The film stars some B-level 60s/70s actors like Barbara Hale (Della Street from Perry Mason), Alan Hale, Jr. (he plays the sheriff and his first line even uses the "Hi, little buddy!" catch phrase he had on "Gilligan's Island"), Steve Brodie, Robert Easton and Leslie Parrish.

A meteor crashes and giant spiders are the result. A Wisconsin town has to deal with the horrific monsters.

Well, I guess this could have been worse than it was. A bigger budget might have helped. Some of the movie was just blah, lots and lots of talk. And some of the lines were cringe-worthy. I see now that Mystery Science Theater 3000 has riffed this movie on one episode. Might be better to see it that way.

"You're so dumb you wouldn't know rabbit turds from Rice Krispies!" - Wow, what a line. I so want to hear what the MST3K crew said about that!

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Unknown (2006)

James Caviezel, Greg Kinnear, Joe Pantoliano, Barry Pepper, Jeremy Sisto, Peter Stomare, Bridget Moynahan

Five bloody, beaten and confused men wake up in a deserted warehouse with no memory of who they are or why they are together. They then have to try and figure out what is going on, who they are and who put them in this situation. Is it one of them?

Interesting flick, that I had never heard of before. And with the line up of actors in it, that seems odd. Definitely keeps you guessing, right up until the end.

Recommended, if you like violent, mystery, action flicks.

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The Forsaken (2001)

Kerr Smith, Brendan Fehr, Izabella Miko, Johnathon Schaech, Phina Oruche, Simon Rex

A young man is hired to drive a car cross country. After picking up a strange hitchhiker and encountering some even stranger people on the road, he soon finds out that vampires aren't just the stuff of legends.

Not as bad as I thought it was going to be, this is sort of an action/vampire flick. Some of the scenes are way too dark for me to even grasp what is going on, but overall it's not a bad story.

The end has a sort of set-up that reminded me of the TV show "Supernatural".

Recommended if you like this sort of movie.

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Miss Marple, Series IV: Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (2009)

[Julia McKenzie, Sean Biggerstaff, David Buchanan, Rik Mayall]

Another great little Miss Marple movie, this time she is helping her friend's son when he becomes involved with a murder after finding a body on a cliff. The dying man's last words, "Why didn't they ask Evans?", trigger them, along with another friend, to investigate the circumstances themselves.

An interesting mystery, this story is actually a reworked Agatha Christie tale. The original didn't have Miss Marple as a character. But, rewriting aside, this was a fun story and I honestly didn't solve it myself, at all. Good stuff.

Recommended indeed.

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And an MST3K Quiz for you, with my score.




What did you get?

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RiffTrax Live - Plan 9 From Outer Space

My wife, our kids and I saw this tonight:



RiffTrax is a spin-off of sorts from the old Mystery Science Theater 3000 show. Made up of most of the same guys, including Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett, the group riffs on old and new movies alike, selling the "riff trax" for you to sync up with your own DVD or download of the film.

This show tonight, a riff on Ed Wood's Plan 9 From Out Space, was done live from a theater in Nashville, where the trio sat on stage and riffed on the movie as it played. Occasionally, they were shown on the left hand side of the screen, reading their jokes and having a good time.

Before the movie, we were treated to a riff on an old short about Airline Stewardesses, a couple of songs from a guy named Jonathan Coulton, and then a Plan 9-related song from the riffers and Coulton together. Fun stuff!

The movie was cheesy, as usual, but the riffs and heckles from the trio made it highly watchable and there were A LOT of laughs! I think I laughed more at this show tonight than many of the so-called comedies I have seen in theaters recently.

I loved it, as did my family and, from what I heard, the entire theater. I really hope they do this again sometime. I would definitely be there!

RiffTrax Official Site

Fathom Events - The company that puts together these theater events

Jonathan Coulton's Official Site

UPDATE:

Invasion of the B Movies did a post on the show, as well!

Last Ten Movies Meme

Calvin and Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein (among others) have been spreading this meme around today:

What are the last ten movies you have watched?

Here are mine from the latest:

1. Blood Freak

2. Paul Blart: Mall Cop

3. Star Trek

4. Devour

5. Tropic Thunder

6. The Incredible Hulk

7. Clawed: The Legend of Sasquatch

8. Valentine

9. MST3K: Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues

10. X-Men Origins: Wolverine

There you go.

You can read my quick reviews of the flicks here, here and here.

So, what about you?

Movie Monday - now with more freaks, mutants and bog monsters!

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Carny (2009)

[Lou Diamond Phillips, Alan C. Peterson, Simone-Elise Girard]

Okay, first off, I went in hoping for the best with this movie. Horror? Good. Carnival/sideshow 'freaks'? Good. This movie? Not so good.

This film centers around a carnival that comes to a small town, bringing with it the freakiest freak of them all. When it breaks free, freakin' chaos ensues.

The plot is pretty much that, and it is weak. The characters are either bland or stereotypes and the carnival atmosphere and denizens are, other than their 'look', unrealistic. Just blah, blah, blah.

I must be masochistic. I see these movies on SciFi and always dive in, eager to find a new guilty pleasure. Sometimes, I come across something great like "Splinter". Most times, I find something like "Carny". And yet, when they kept airing ads for an upcoming flick, "Bottom Feeder", I was intrigued. You would think the name was ironic, and it may be, but it doesn't deter me. Off to check the channel guide...

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Blowup (1966)

[David Hemmings, Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles]

A photographer in 60s England takes some spur of the moment shots of a couple in a park. But the woman soon wants the negatives back, desperately. What he sees when he blows up the photos surprises him.

This is definitely a movie from it's time. Slowly paced, it is very laid back, a groovy mystery of sorts. Not something I really enjoyed, but I guess it is good if you take it as a metaphor for perception and that what we think we see or know may not be what is. I guess. Maybe.

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X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

[Hugh Jackman. Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Lynn Collins]

Saw this film with two of my kids (ages 13 and 11) and a friend and his son (age 15). We all enjoyed it for what it is, a comic book action flick.

Hugh Jackman is great as Wolverine, as usual. This movie starts from when he was a boy and ends in his pre-X-Men days. The story is pretty much his struggle to live with his "inner animal". Not bad, like I said, for what it is.

The 15- and 13-year-olds really loved it, but my 11-year-old wasn't as thrilled. Then again, Wolverine isn't a favorite of his.

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MST3K: Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues (1999);
original film (1985)

[Charles B. Pierce, Chuck Pierce, Cindy Butler, Serene Hedin]

Wow, this movie is bad. Really, really bad. I mean, was anyone really eagerly anticipating a follow-up to the first "Boggy Creek" movie? And if they were, they were sadly disappointed in this. But I guess they were disappointed in the FIRST "Boggy Creek 2" flick, since they call this one "part 2", too. My head hurts.

Charles B. Pierce pulls an Ed Wood here, writing, directing and producing. And he could have used a lot of help. The plot is thin and boring and I can't imagine watching this MST3K-free.

And that, in turn, makes it a wonderful flick for the folks at MST3K. Very funny commentary, as they suffered along with us. Some of the skits in-between are weak, Pearl being less funny for me that Dr. Forrester was. But good enough.

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Movies I Have Seen

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Dogboys (1998)

[Bryan Brown, Dean Cain, Tia Carrere]

Prison movie, where certain prisoners are used to not only train and care for tracking dogs, but be the prey the dogs hunt. Cain plays the newest prisoner suddenly involved in this dangerous world.

Sounds great, doesn't it? It's not, however. The "bad" prison guards/trainers are inept. It is amazing that they would have been able to keep a scheme like this going on so long. Carrere, as the D.A. suddenly onto the goings-on, is blah.

I just didn't care for it. This was a made-for-cable movie, I believe, and it shows. Seems like NO ONE brought their A-game to this movie, except maybe the dogs.

I would not watch it again.

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10,000 B.C. (2008)

[Steve Strait, Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis]

I had this movie on DVR for about 3 weeks. I was unsure of what to expect from it and kept putting off watching it.

I have to say, I liked it. Yes, I know there are a plethora of historical inaccuracies, but I wasn't watching it for a history lesson. Think of it as a fantasy tale, and you will enjoy it more. The film itself was fun, exciting and beautifully shot.

I waited until I was done watching to check out the rank it had on IMDb, and I have to say I was shocked that it is at only 4.9 out of 10. Seems to me it should rank higher.

I liked it and I would watch it again.

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Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008)

[Drew Barrymore, Piper Perabo, Andy Garcia]

Watched this Disney film with my family, and we got a few laughs out of it. It's a simple story of a lost dog trying to get home. My kids said it was "okay". Enough said.

I have to mention: This movie has the second dog-flashback scene I have ever seen, when the German Shepherd dog recalls a crucial moment from his past. This is probably the ONE time where a scene like this can work, whereas the other scene like this, in the original "The Hills Have Eyes 2", a dog has a flashback to part 1. It is horrible and makes no sense, much like the rest of that movie.

While this film isn't an award-winner, it is okay for kids.

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Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)

[Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett]

Saw this with the family on Easter day and we all liked it. The 3D adds to the fun of it all, but the story itself is enough to keep you interested.

Susan is a normal woman who soon becomes a "monster". Upon meeting other monsters, she is soon tasked with helping to stop an alien invasion.

Fun and funny movie that has some good chuckles. We all would see it again.

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Funny Games (2007)

[Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Michael Pitt, Brady Corbet]

Never heard of this movie until this past week. It is a shot-by-shot remake of a 1997 Austrian film, with the same director helming both versions.

Basically, a well-off family, arriving at their summer home, is taken hostage by two oddly polite young men. Too say anything else about the plot would be giving too much away. Suffice to say, if you don't like horror films or super-intense thrillers, then avoid this movie.

I was initially unnerved and unsettled by this movie, it was truly a scary film. But I call shenanigans: I have issues with something towards the end, and I can't really say more about it. If you have seen it, you know what I am talking about. This scene completely changed the feel of the movie for me, and not in a good way. It was just too much.

Wouldn't bother to watch it again.

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MST3K "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1991; original film 1964)

[John Call, Leonard Hicks, Bill McCutcheon, Pia Zadora]

What can I say? Another great episode of MST3K! The original film is bad, really bad. I don't think I could stand to watch it on it's own. Really cheesy.

But the crew from MST3K does an awesome job riffing on the whole production.

Definitely recommended!

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Movies This Week

P2 (2007)

[Wes Bentley, Rachel Nichols]

This is an intense thriller, set in a parking garage on Christmas Eve. The beginning was a little slow, but effective at setting the stage for the rest of the movie.

The premise is good and I was kept excited and involved, always a good sign. And the acting from the two leads was very good. The end, when the credits are rolling, the Elvis Christmas carol is playing and the pictures appear like vacation memories, was a nice bit of black humor.

I would watch it again, sometime... maybe at Christmas?

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MST3K "Manos: The Hands of Fate" (1993, original film 1966)

This is a classic episode of the great Mystery Science Theater 3000. "Manos: The Hands of Fate" is such a horribly bad movie that both TV's Frank and Dr. Forrester appear and apologize to Joel and the bots for sending it. So many classic quotes from the guys here.

"DO something!" from Joel, when the action is action-less.

My daughter and I cracked up hysterically when one of the bots, in the little girl's voice, quietly says "Didn't I have a poodle?" Hilarious. I wish this show was still on, there are endless films for them to riff on.

Will DEFINITELY watch this again, but only the MST3K'd version.

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Midnight Meat Train (2008)

[Bradley Cooper, Leslie Bibb, Vinnie Jones]

I watched this film on the recommendation of Jason from The Mad Ravings of an Entertainment Junkie and I liked it.

A photographer stumbles upon sinister goings-on in the late night train station. He slowly becomes obsessed with following the butcher who rides the train. Needless to say, all Hell breaks loose.

I have never read the Clive Barker story this is based upon, but you can feel his bizarre mind at work here. The movie is wonderfully shot, the kills sometimes spectacular. I also loved how it didn't 'cop-out' in the end. Movies like this don't need to end "happy". They shouldn't.

Not for everyone, for sure, but great for horror/slasher fans. I would watch it again.

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Berserk! (1967)

[Joan Crawford, Ty Hardin, Diana Dors, Michael Gough]

I viewed this hoping for the best. Let's list the positives: Joan Crawford (awesome actress), sideshow performers and circus acts (sweet), not too many clowns mucking about (whew!), mystery and murder (woohoo!). Recipe for an great flick.

Sadly, this film isn't that great flick. There are some fun parts in this, mainly when the movie showcases actual circus acts. But these moments are more about filler than forwarding any actual plot. And there is one point where Crawford is speaking and then suddenly we see a flash of lightning and the scene changes completely into a different one. I don't know why ... and it makes no sense.

Is it dreck? I don't think so. It has all the points I mentioned above and if you are a fan of any of them, you might enjoy this. There are certainly worse movies out there. But now that I have seen it, I wouldn't bother to rewatch it.

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Man in the Attic (1953)

[Jack Palance, Constance Smith, Frances Bavier]

This is a great little tale set around the mystery of Jack the Ripper. A pathologist checks in to a boarding house and soon has everyone wondering... is he Jack the Ripper?

The acting here is great and the plot is simple but effective. You are wondering about the truth along with the characters. Palance is creepy and unsettling. Just a great little film.

I would watch it again sometime.

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The Lodger (1944)

[Merle Oberon, George Sanders, Cedric Hardwicke, Laird Cregar]

I also happened to catch this film, which was an earlier version of the same story as "Man in the Attic". This one is, obviously, a bit older, but it is just as moody.

One difference is that Kitty here (Lily in the other film) is a little more suspicious of Slade. And it ends less ambiguously than the later film.

I think this film is great, the acting is wonderful. Cregar isn't as creepy as Palance, but he does play a strange man very well. He only filmed one more movie after this, before his death in late '44.

I would watch this one again, too.

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Have you seen any of these? What do you think?

Cutting Class... or, I Want My 90 Mintues Back!

Ok, so I DVR'd a movie the other day called "Cutting Class". It is a horror pic from 1989 I had never gotten around to watching, and I should have kept it that way. It's main "claim to fame" is being one of Brad Pitt's first big movie breaks. And really, that is ALL it has going for it. His acting is okay, but... the rest... meh.

On IMDb, it says the movie is a comedy/horror/thriller. This movie doesn't succeed or deliver on any of those levels. Not funny, not scary, not captivating. Just boring. Martin Mull and Roddy McDowall are both in this in minor parts, McDowall's role just being odd and Mull's being dumb.

There are good "bad movies" and bad "bad movies" and this is DEFINITELY a bad one. Not fun, in any regard, unless the MST3K guys ever need fodder for a reunion show or for their newer RiffTrax site.

NOT recommended, unless you are masochistic.