Yes, it was just 10+ years ago that Marvel was licensing out their comic book properties rather than making the movies themselves. Sony was making some very successful Spider-Man films. Fox got the rights to make X-Men and Fantastic Four movies. New Line Cinema really were the ones to get the ball rolling with Blade. And Lions Gate Films were able to nab a couple Marvel characters in The Punisher and Man-Thing. Now while Punisher is a pretty big deal for LGF, one has to wonder how or why they went after Man-Thing. It's almost as if Marvel threw in the rights to Man-Thing to sweeten the deal a bit. Was there anyone really excited to see a Man-Thing movie? I'd wager that most people have never even heard of Man-Thing. You mean Swamp Thing don't you? No, apparently Marvel unveiled Man-Thing in May of 1971. Two months before Swamp Thing. And if you do a little more research on these two strangely similar comic book characters, you'll find that their humble origins have a lot in common, in and out of the comic books. Seems that there may or may not have been some DC writers rooming with some Marvel writers at the time and with everyone running in the same social circles and what not, comic book fans sort of ended up with the same character in both Marvel and DC. As the years went by, the characters would do more to separate themselves from their rival comic counterpart and Swamp Thing would become the more popularized of the two. Though, that may have a lot to do with the fact that the Swamp Thing movie directed by Wes Craven came out in 1982, while we waited another 23 years for Man-Thing to get a movie. I confess that as a kid, I knew who Swamp Thing was while not learning about Man-Thing for another 12 years or so. And even thing, thinking that Man-Thing must have been the clone and not the other way around.
Ok, so what about the movie???? Man-Thing is one of those high end, low budget films. It's not a major production, but it's not so small a production either. Filmed mainly in Australia with Australian actors/actresses, Man-Thing actually does a pretty good job of keeping you interested. And it's pretty atmospheric too. One of the main things that I look for in a movie is the atmosphere or mood of the film. Man-Thing really does a great job of putting you in the swamp and leaving you there at times. Just a sound stage you say? That may be the case for a good part of the film, but it works. The lighting of the swamp is eerie and a bit unsettling. I loved the mixture of greens, browns and yellows that we get. How someone didn't even encounter a gator, much less get eaten by one remains a mystery though.
I'm sure that a lot of people disagree with me. I've seen the low ratings and bad reviews this movie got. I don't care. I like this film. Yes, it got its debut on the Syfy Channel and not in theaters. Yes, there is some bad acting. No, it's not one of the greatest movies that I've ever seen. Plot you ask? Newly appointed Sherriff of Bywater, Mississippi encounters missing people, oil tycoons, native American terrorists, hot blonde school teachers, redneck locals and one massive man like thing.
GRADE: B
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Thursday, September 10, 2015
They Live (1988)
Two things that I really enjoyed growing up: 1. John Carpenter movies & 2. Pro Wrestling. The 80's were a great time for both. So when you put one of the best directors of the decade with one of the best known wrestlers of the decade, good things are bound to happen right?
First, a little about my love of pro wrestling. My dad encouraged watching pro wrestling in a way. He was always turning the channel to wrestling on a boring Saturday evening, and Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen were always lurking about. Dad was only a mild fan though. He mainly only wanted to hear the outrageous trash talk that always went on. He would often mimic Ric Flair just to have a little fun with me. So we'd watch wrestling together from time to time. I'd root for the good guys, dad would root for the bad guys and fun was had by all. It also didn't hurt that the WWF had a Saturday morning cartoon either. This exposed me to guys like Hulk Hogan, Junkyard Dog, The Iron Sheik, and of course, Rowdy Roddy Piper. Needless to say, I got bit by the wrestling bug and remain a fan even to this day. Though pro wrestling isn't what it used to be.
My love of John Carpenter movies developed mainly through his work with Kurt Russell but that's a discussion for another time.
Roddy Piper is a lot of fun to watch in this one. And Keith David is a great companion for him. I wish this formidable pair would have gotten on the same page sooner though. Imagine how much more bad ass this movie could have been with Piper and David wreaking havoc from the start. Instead they wasted a lot of their energy kicking each other's ass, when they should have been hunting down some illegal aliens. And I don't mean Mexicans or Columbians either. I'm talking extra terrestrial, from another planet aliens that are up to illegal doings. Or are they? Piper learns later in the movie how bad these aliens are but he really doesn't know at first. Instead, he finds out about them and starts opening fire. No hesitation here. If you're not human, you're dead. Doesn't sound very tolerant of the Rowdy one does it? Later in the movie, it's mentioned that humans are like livestock. To me, that implies that they're food at least in some small capacity. They also get blamed for societies woes, so I guess Piper did have some right to fire at will. I mean, it wasn't like President Obama was around at the time to blame for all the shut down factories and police brutality. No, these aliens are clearly out to corrupt mankind, steal our natural resources and possibly eat a few of us. As a fan of the television show V, I can't help but notice some of the similarities here either. Alien invaders sucking our planet dry, dining on humans, lying to our faces. With the main difference being that in V, the visitor's were out in the open while in They Live, the aliens are hiding through some form of hypnotic means. And they've been here pretty much since the 50's.
Piper's character exposes them at the end of the film. At least in the Los Angeles area. And it sort of just ends there. Someone tell Mr. Carpenter to pick out another wrestler and write up a sequel. I can't be the only one that's wondering if the resistance grew from there can I? We can't erase some 30 plus years of alien occupation just by cutting a local L.A. television signal can we? I mean, this movie was left more open than Independence Day was.
GRADE: B
First, a little about my love of pro wrestling. My dad encouraged watching pro wrestling in a way. He was always turning the channel to wrestling on a boring Saturday evening, and Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen were always lurking about. Dad was only a mild fan though. He mainly only wanted to hear the outrageous trash talk that always went on. He would often mimic Ric Flair just to have a little fun with me. So we'd watch wrestling together from time to time. I'd root for the good guys, dad would root for the bad guys and fun was had by all. It also didn't hurt that the WWF had a Saturday morning cartoon either. This exposed me to guys like Hulk Hogan, Junkyard Dog, The Iron Sheik, and of course, Rowdy Roddy Piper. Needless to say, I got bit by the wrestling bug and remain a fan even to this day. Though pro wrestling isn't what it used to be.
My love of John Carpenter movies developed mainly through his work with Kurt Russell but that's a discussion for another time.
Roddy Piper is a lot of fun to watch in this one. And Keith David is a great companion for him. I wish this formidable pair would have gotten on the same page sooner though. Imagine how much more bad ass this movie could have been with Piper and David wreaking havoc from the start. Instead they wasted a lot of their energy kicking each other's ass, when they should have been hunting down some illegal aliens. And I don't mean Mexicans or Columbians either. I'm talking extra terrestrial, from another planet aliens that are up to illegal doings. Or are they? Piper learns later in the movie how bad these aliens are but he really doesn't know at first. Instead, he finds out about them and starts opening fire. No hesitation here. If you're not human, you're dead. Doesn't sound very tolerant of the Rowdy one does it? Later in the movie, it's mentioned that humans are like livestock. To me, that implies that they're food at least in some small capacity. They also get blamed for societies woes, so I guess Piper did have some right to fire at will. I mean, it wasn't like President Obama was around at the time to blame for all the shut down factories and police brutality. No, these aliens are clearly out to corrupt mankind, steal our natural resources and possibly eat a few of us. As a fan of the television show V, I can't help but notice some of the similarities here either. Alien invaders sucking our planet dry, dining on humans, lying to our faces. With the main difference being that in V, the visitor's were out in the open while in They Live, the aliens are hiding through some form of hypnotic means. And they've been here pretty much since the 50's.
Piper's character exposes them at the end of the film. At least in the Los Angeles area. And it sort of just ends there. Someone tell Mr. Carpenter to pick out another wrestler and write up a sequel. I can't be the only one that's wondering if the resistance grew from there can I? We can't erase some 30 plus years of alien occupation just by cutting a local L.A. television signal can we? I mean, this movie was left more open than Independence Day was.
GRADE: B
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Psycho (1960)
Admittedly, I'm not very fluent when it comes to Alfred Hitchcock films. Sure, I've seen Psycho plenty of times before, but who hasn't? My only other exposure to Hitchcock was watching some of the television series and one viewing of The Birds when I was younger. So yes, I have some catching up to do.
SPOILER WARNING: When I started this blog, it was my intention to have a way to gather my thoughts about these classic movies that I love. A way to delve into them more deeply. And if some passerby happens upon these writings, know that any discussion on these films is very welcome. However, because this was conceived mainly as a way to express my opinions of them and because most of these films are decades old, I'm not looking to avoid any spoilers. If you haven't seen Psycho, I'd turn back now.
Even now, when I watch this film, I can't help but compare it to how I felt the first time I saw it. You never get over the first time you see some films. I imagine that a lot of people, whether they have seen Psycho or not are aware that it was Norman doing the killing the whole time, right? Well, I wasn't aware the first time I saw Psycho some 20 years ago and I appreciated the suspense and plot twist very much. Of course, now that I watch it, knowing what I know, it's obvious that it was Norman the whole time, isn't it? Well, yes and no. There are certainly clues in the film. Hints in Norman's dialogue. But even if you catch on early to what is really transpiring at the Bates Motel, Hitchcock does a great job of creating doubts. It's never clear. And that's part of what makes this movie so good.
When you start watching Psycho, it's a different film. By the end, you feel almost like you've sat through two different productions. Janet Leigh's character, Marion is front and center for the first half of it. You've went on this little journey with her that explores her moral dilemma. Hitchcock has made it suspenseful with the use of the traffic cop, a curious car salesman and a nice touch of rain.. And in the end Marion comes to her senses and decides to turn around and attempt to fix her mistake. The talk she has with the nice man that owns the local motel has done her some good, it seems. It's all good from here right?
No. In fact, this is where the movie gets really interesting. We've been on this journey with Marion, but this Norman Bates guy is what really grabs you. Norman is nice, well mannered, and very orderly. Nothing out of the ordinary at first. But spend some time with him and you'll see. Anthony Perkins grabs the audience with his eccentric performance and doesn't let go. And you know who's even creepier than Norman? His mother. A boys best friend is his mother after all.
If you're reading this, then you've probably already seen the film and I haven't said anything that you weren't already aware of. If you haven't seen Psycho, then I've most likely just ruined the end for you. Hey, you were warned. We all go a little mad sometimes.
GRADE: A
SPOILER WARNING: When I started this blog, it was my intention to have a way to gather my thoughts about these classic movies that I love. A way to delve into them more deeply. And if some passerby happens upon these writings, know that any discussion on these films is very welcome. However, because this was conceived mainly as a way to express my opinions of them and because most of these films are decades old, I'm not looking to avoid any spoilers. If you haven't seen Psycho, I'd turn back now.
Even now, when I watch this film, I can't help but compare it to how I felt the first time I saw it. You never get over the first time you see some films. I imagine that a lot of people, whether they have seen Psycho or not are aware that it was Norman doing the killing the whole time, right? Well, I wasn't aware the first time I saw Psycho some 20 years ago and I appreciated the suspense and plot twist very much. Of course, now that I watch it, knowing what I know, it's obvious that it was Norman the whole time, isn't it? Well, yes and no. There are certainly clues in the film. Hints in Norman's dialogue. But even if you catch on early to what is really transpiring at the Bates Motel, Hitchcock does a great job of creating doubts. It's never clear. And that's part of what makes this movie so good.
When you start watching Psycho, it's a different film. By the end, you feel almost like you've sat through two different productions. Janet Leigh's character, Marion is front and center for the first half of it. You've went on this little journey with her that explores her moral dilemma. Hitchcock has made it suspenseful with the use of the traffic cop, a curious car salesman and a nice touch of rain.. And in the end Marion comes to her senses and decides to turn around and attempt to fix her mistake. The talk she has with the nice man that owns the local motel has done her some good, it seems. It's all good from here right?
No. In fact, this is where the movie gets really interesting. We've been on this journey with Marion, but this Norman Bates guy is what really grabs you. Norman is nice, well mannered, and very orderly. Nothing out of the ordinary at first. But spend some time with him and you'll see. Anthony Perkins grabs the audience with his eccentric performance and doesn't let go. And you know who's even creepier than Norman? His mother. A boys best friend is his mother after all.
If you're reading this, then you've probably already seen the film and I haven't said anything that you weren't already aware of. If you haven't seen Psycho, then I've most likely just ruined the end for you. Hey, you were warned. We all go a little mad sometimes.
GRADE: A
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