Eagle Eye - IMAX Theater - ***
Man, this was fun. Action packed. Really, as if they opened up a film can and packed as much action in as possible.
It also was one of the most preposterous, silly films I have ever seen.
It was like Enemy of the State crossed with... uh... a silly film with more action than Enemy of the State.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Day 74, total films watched: 79
Nothing.
I feel like I should apologize for not watching a movie. Accept it sincerely. Thank you.
I feel like I should apologize for not watching a movie. Accept it sincerely. Thank you.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Day 73, total films watched: 79
Randy Rides Alone - DVD - ***
Awesome opening scene for this John Wayne b-western. After that it stayed above average. Great shootouts and lots of dynamite.
Awesome opening scene for this John Wayne b-western. After that it stayed above average. Great shootouts and lots of dynamite.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Day 71, total films watched: 78
Nothing.
I am still a bit ahead, so I plan to slow down a bit in this final stretch. I think I want to end right on day 100.
I am still a bit ahead, so I plan to slow down a bit in this final stretch. I think I want to end right on day 100.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Day 70, total films watched: 78
Rainbow Valley -DVD- ***
This 1935 B-Western is far more entertaining than most of the other early John Wayne flicks.
This one is pretty simple: A road is coming to Rainbow Valley, some baddies want to stop it, and only John Wayne can save the road.
Good times.
This 1935 B-Western is far more entertaining than most of the other early John Wayne flicks.
This one is pretty simple: A road is coming to Rainbow Valley, some baddies want to stop it, and only John Wayne can save the road.
Good times.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Day 69, total films watched: 77
The Foot Fist Way - DVD -**
This was a low budget film made a few years ago that just found it's way onto DVD. The film was pretty well made and had some good laughs, but it lacked someone to cheer for. Not since that documentary about Madonna have I seen a film where I disliked the main character so much.
This was a low budget film made a few years ago that just found it's way onto DVD. The film was pretty well made and had some good laughs, but it lacked someone to cheer for. Not since that documentary about Madonna have I seen a film where I disliked the main character so much.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Day 68, total films watched: 76
I Accuse My Parents -VHS- **
This silly little 1944 flick is a preachy lesson in parenting. The basic plot is as follows... boy meets girl, boy joins the mob, boy goes to jail, boy blames his drunken absent parents and (get this) THE JUDGE AGREES WITH HIM!
Truly bizarre.
But, it was lots of fun and my standards for entertainment are pretty low.
I watched this on an old Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode and it was one of the better MST3K episodes I have seen in a while.
I actually think this film would have been just as funny without them! Really, really bizarre.
This silly little 1944 flick is a preachy lesson in parenting. The basic plot is as follows... boy meets girl, boy joins the mob, boy goes to jail, boy blames his drunken absent parents and (get this) THE JUDGE AGREES WITH HIM!
Truly bizarre.
But, it was lots of fun and my standards for entertainment are pretty low.
I watched this on an old Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode and it was one of the better MST3K episodes I have seen in a while.
I actually think this film would have been just as funny without them! Really, really bizarre.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Day 67, total films watched: 75
The Three Stooges In Orbit -DVD- ****
A Boy Named Charlie Brown -DVD- **
Interesting double feature. These were both part of (non sequential) film series that I had cracked into in the past 67 days.
The Three Stooges were certainly much more fun in this film than the last Stooge film I had viewed (Snow White and the Three Stooges- Day 55) and also better than (Rockin' In The Rockies - Day 41.)
The film features the Stooges protecting Southern California from invaders from Mars.
A Boy Named Charlie Brown was the first Peanuts film produced and it wasn't nearly as good as the Bon Voyage Charlie Brown flick I saw on day 60.
This film didn't tell a compelling story and left me watching the screen waiting for the backgrounds to repeat.
A Boy Named Charlie Brown -DVD- **
Interesting double feature. These were both part of (non sequential) film series that I had cracked into in the past 67 days.
The Three Stooges were certainly much more fun in this film than the last Stooge film I had viewed (Snow White and the Three Stooges- Day 55) and also better than (Rockin' In The Rockies - Day 41.)
The film features the Stooges protecting Southern California from invaders from Mars.
A Boy Named Charlie Brown was the first Peanuts film produced and it wasn't nearly as good as the Bon Voyage Charlie Brown flick I saw on day 60.
This film didn't tell a compelling story and left me watching the screen waiting for the backgrounds to repeat.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Day 66, total films watched: 73
Nothing.
I spent much of the day either driving to a rodeo or driving on Rodeo. You try and guess which.
I spent much of the day either driving to a rodeo or driving on Rodeo. You try and guess which.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Day 65, total films watched: 73
The African Queen - Cable - ****
Every time I mention this project to people they always assume I mean "The AFI 100 years of movies."
I never really paid much attention to that list (since my favorite films involve kung fu or monkeys) but I recently looked over it and saw that I have watched over 50% of the flicks on it. This is one of the ones I had not seen.
Not sure why it took me so long, as this always appealed to me. I had heard that this film helped inspire The Jungle Cruise in Disneyland... and you can see that a little in the style of the boats and the scenes with the hippos and such.
Anyway, it's a nice little adventure.
Every time I mention this project to people they always assume I mean "The AFI 100 years of movies."
I never really paid much attention to that list (since my favorite films involve kung fu or monkeys) but I recently looked over it and saw that I have watched over 50% of the flicks on it. This is one of the ones I had not seen.
Not sure why it took me so long, as this always appealed to me. I had heard that this film helped inspire The Jungle Cruise in Disneyland... and you can see that a little in the style of the boats and the scenes with the hippos and such.
Anyway, it's a nice little adventure.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Day 64, total films watched: 72
Alias Jesse James -Cable TV- ****
An excellent Bob Hope comedy where Hope inadvertently sells an insurance policy to Jesse James, then follows the gunslinger around to keep him from getting hurt.
Even better than the witty banter are the cameos: James Garner AS Bret Maverick, Fess Parker AS Davy Crockett, Gary Cooper, Roy Rogers, Hugh O'Brien as Wyatt Earp, James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon and Ward Bond as Major Seth Adams.
Very cool film.
I also found one of the females in the film to be super hot. I looked her up to find out she had died of old age a few years ago.
An excellent Bob Hope comedy where Hope inadvertently sells an insurance policy to Jesse James, then follows the gunslinger around to keep him from getting hurt.
Even better than the witty banter are the cameos: James Garner AS Bret Maverick, Fess Parker AS Davy Crockett, Gary Cooper, Roy Rogers, Hugh O'Brien as Wyatt Earp, James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon and Ward Bond as Major Seth Adams.
Very cool film.
I also found one of the females in the film to be super hot. I looked her up to find out she had died of old age a few years ago.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Day 63, total films watched: 71
The Gunslinger - VHS - **
The Gunslinger is a mediocre Roger Corman western about a lady sheriff. The problem with the film is the lack of action and the laborious pacing.
However, I was watching this film on Mystery Science Theater 3000 so I was kinda watching wisecracking robots watch this film. That made it a lot more fun.
The original running time was only 71 minutes so that required little editing by the MST3K staff to fit the film, commercials and their wrap around segments into a 2 hour block.
Pretty standard western stuff here, Beverly Garland (who is often great) is a little flat in her performance here, and her motivation for taking on the towns saloon owner seems a bit hazy.
The Gunslinger is a mediocre Roger Corman western about a lady sheriff. The problem with the film is the lack of action and the laborious pacing.
However, I was watching this film on Mystery Science Theater 3000 so I was kinda watching wisecracking robots watch this film. That made it a lot more fun.
The original running time was only 71 minutes so that required little editing by the MST3K staff to fit the film, commercials and their wrap around segments into a 2 hour block.
Pretty standard western stuff here, Beverly Garland (who is often great) is a little flat in her performance here, and her motivation for taking on the towns saloon owner seems a bit hazy.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Day 62, total films watched: 70
The Sasquatch Gang -Cable TV- **
This was a limited release film from the makers of Napoleon Dynamite (not sure which of the "makers" were involved in this one.) It features Justin Long and some other people. Pretty funny stuff, nothing special... but very fun.
This was a limited release film from the makers of Napoleon Dynamite (not sure which of the "makers" were involved in this one.) It features Justin Long and some other people. Pretty funny stuff, nothing special... but very fun.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Day 61, total films watched: 69
The Horse That Played Centerfield - VHS- **
One of the last "mom & pop" video stores in my area just announced they were closing. Sad news, but I was able to pick up some VHS tapes for just a buck each. One of them was this rarity.
Produced a two animated specials (then edited together -pretty seamlessly- to a VHS movie) this tells the story of a horse that plays baseball. Not much more to it than that.
One of the last "mom & pop" video stores in my area just announced they were closing. Sad news, but I was able to pick up some VHS tapes for just a buck each. One of them was this rarity.
Produced a two animated specials (then edited together -pretty seamlessly- to a VHS movie) this tells the story of a horse that plays baseball. Not much more to it than that.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Day 60, total films watched: 68
Bon Voyage Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back) -Cable- ***
A solidly entertaining feature length flick from Charles Schultz and Co. This features the gang going to France where they encounter a series of capers. Snoopy & Woodstock steal the film.
Plus you get to look into the animation style of Charles Schultz who never met a model sheet he didn't... uh... I don't think he ever met a model sheet.
It's fun to watch characters defy gravity as they float over top of the background, watch hair, watches and fingers disappear and reappear at random.
A solidly entertaining feature length flick from Charles Schultz and Co. This features the gang going to France where they encounter a series of capers. Snoopy & Woodstock steal the film.
Plus you get to look into the animation style of Charles Schultz who never met a model sheet he didn't... uh... I don't think he ever met a model sheet.
It's fun to watch characters defy gravity as they float over top of the background, watch hair, watches and fingers disappear and reappear at random.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Day 59, total films watched: 67
Juggernaut -Cable TV- ***
This film was a tense thriller about a bomb on a big boat. Richard Harris stars and Anthony Hopkins and Omar Sharif are along for the ride.
Really, really good flick from 1974.
This film was a tense thriller about a bomb on a big boat. Richard Harris stars and Anthony Hopkins and Omar Sharif are along for the ride.
Really, really good flick from 1974.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Day 58, total films watched: 66
Bodyguard- Dollar DVD-***
This is a pretty awesome film where Sonny Chiba takes on the mob. As a footnote, this is where Tarantino ripped off the biblical speech that Sam Jackson says in Pulp Fiction. Of course, this film ripped it off from a little book called The Bible.
This is a pretty awesome film where Sonny Chiba takes on the mob. As a footnote, this is where Tarantino ripped off the biblical speech that Sam Jackson says in Pulp Fiction. Of course, this film ripped it off from a little book called The Bible.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Day 57, total films watched: 65
The Wizard of Gore -DVD- ***
This was a remake of a "horror classic" that I have never seen. This one starred Crispin Glover and it was really good. Took a while to get started, but when it did... whoa!
This was a remake of a "horror classic" that I have never seen. This one starred Crispin Glover and it was really good. Took a while to get started, but when it did... whoa!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Day 56, total films watched: 64
The Honeymooners - Cable TV- ***
This is the 2005 Cedric the Entertainer version of the classic show. Being a big fan of the original series (and a bigger fan of the later version filmed in color) I was hesitant to see this.
Very hesitant.
Perhaps my low expectations led to it being pretty dang good. Very funny and very good
This is the 2005 Cedric the Entertainer version of the classic show. Being a big fan of the original series (and a bigger fan of the later version filmed in color) I was hesitant to see this.
Very hesitant.
Perhaps my low expectations led to it being pretty dang good. Very funny and very good
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Day 55, total films watched: 63
Snow White & The Three Stooges -DVD- **
This is one of those films I always wanted to see. I had seen a few clips of it and had high hopes for the whole flick.
Sadly, it didn't live up to expectations.
The Stooges aren't in the film enough and the jokes are few and far between. Still, it's a pleasant film and it has some good battle scenes at the end. Yup, battle scenes.
This is one of those films I always wanted to see. I had seen a few clips of it and had high hopes for the whole flick.
Sadly, it didn't live up to expectations.
The Stooges aren't in the film enough and the jokes are few and far between. Still, it's a pleasant film and it has some good battle scenes at the end. Yup, battle scenes.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Day 54, total films watched: 62
The Great Los Angeles Earthquake -DVD- ***
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning -DVD- ****
I found this TV movie a massive L.A. earthquake in a bin at Wal-mart. It was originally aired over two nights, I assume, and it runs about 3 hours. It's pretty good considering the running time insists on making the pace a bit slow and the story a bit bloated.
They had great earthquake footage and some rather good performances (the best being from the guy who played Haim's dad in License to Drive.)
Little Mermaid is one of the more lovable entries in to the Disney cannon. It has several great characters and most of them return for this one. This one tells the (familiar) story of King Triton coping with his wife's death by being a really grumpy jerk and banning music from the undersea kingdom. Not sure where, but I know that I have seen this story told before.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning -DVD- ****
I found this TV movie a massive L.A. earthquake in a bin at Wal-mart. It was originally aired over two nights, I assume, and it runs about 3 hours. It's pretty good considering the running time insists on making the pace a bit slow and the story a bit bloated.
They had great earthquake footage and some rather good performances (the best being from the guy who played Haim's dad in License to Drive.)
Little Mermaid is one of the more lovable entries in to the Disney cannon. It has several great characters and most of them return for this one. This one tells the (familiar) story of King Triton coping with his wife's death by being a really grumpy jerk and banning music from the undersea kingdom. Not sure where, but I know that I have seen this story told before.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Day 53, total films watched: 60
Pardon Us -Cable- **
This 1931 comedy was the first feature effort from Laurel & Hardy. It doesn't really reach the levels that the duo reached in subsequent years, but its loads of fun.
The pair play boob-ish bootleggers that wind up in prison (hence the witty title) and drive their captors daffy.
This 1931 comedy was the first feature effort from Laurel & Hardy. It doesn't really reach the levels that the duo reached in subsequent years, but its loads of fun.
The pair play boob-ish bootleggers that wind up in prison (hence the witty title) and drive their captors daffy.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Day 52, total films watched: 59
Faith of My Fathers -DVD- ***
This was a made for tv film about John McCain's time in a POW camp. The film told a compelling story and through use of flashbacks kept it from being monotonus (I am sure being in a cell for 1,900 days is monotous... at best.)
The highlight of the film is Scott Glenn as McCain's father. Good stuff, but never rises too much above the TV film level.
This was a made for tv film about John McCain's time in a POW camp. The film told a compelling story and through use of flashbacks kept it from being monotonus (I am sure being in a cell for 1,900 days is monotous... at best.)
The highlight of the film is Scott Glenn as McCain's father. Good stuff, but never rises too much above the TV film level.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Day 51, total films watched: 58
Jocks -DVD- ***
Omega Man -DVD- ****
Ahh, I love the double feature. First was Jocks a silly little comedy from the 1980s about a team of misfits that compete in a tennis championship. Solidly entertaining.
Omega Man was absolutely awesome. I had low expectations since I had recently seen I Am Legend, but this was much more enjoyable. Better lead performance and the changes to the story were for the better. Rather than just being random killing machines, the villains had some character, some meaning, something to really fear.
I also loved the visual look of the film and the score. Great stuff.
Omega Man -DVD- ****
Ahh, I love the double feature. First was Jocks a silly little comedy from the 1980s about a team of misfits that compete in a tennis championship. Solidly entertaining.
Omega Man was absolutely awesome. I had low expectations since I had recently seen I Am Legend, but this was much more enjoyable. Better lead performance and the changes to the story were for the better. Rather than just being random killing machines, the villains had some character, some meaning, something to really fear.
I also loved the visual look of the film and the score. Great stuff.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Day 50, total films watched: 56
Nothing.
I went out for a night of fine dining. OK, I went to a diner. Still, I am 6 movies ahead of the game. Perhaps I will hit another double feature tomorrow.
I went out for a night of fine dining. OK, I went to a diner. Still, I am 6 movies ahead of the game. Perhaps I will hit another double feature tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Day 49, total films watched: 56
Tomboy -DVD- ***
Sergent Murphy -Cable TV- ****
To start off a bizarre double feature I watched Tomboy another film off the 'School Dazed' 8 film collection of comedies from the 1970s and 80s. Oddly enough, despite being on the 'School Dazed' set, Tomboy featured no school.
The film is a piece of cinematic junk food about a female mechanic who falls in love with a race car driver. Along the way we also get to see some bad car racing, some wild parties and the greatest doughnut commercial ever.
Sergent Murphy is one of the early films of future president Ronald Reagan. In this one Reagan plays a soldier who joined the army so he could hang out with his best friend Sergent Murphy.... who is an artillery horse.
Reagan and Murphy go through a series of comic misadventures an eventually Murphy becomes a big time show horse and Donald Crisp wears a ladies hat.
Boy, that's funnier if you guys know who Donald Crisp was. If only it was 1938.
Sergent Murphy -Cable TV- ****
To start off a bizarre double feature I watched Tomboy another film off the 'School Dazed' 8 film collection of comedies from the 1970s and 80s. Oddly enough, despite being on the 'School Dazed' set, Tomboy featured no school.
The film is a piece of cinematic junk food about a female mechanic who falls in love with a race car driver. Along the way we also get to see some bad car racing, some wild parties and the greatest doughnut commercial ever.
Sergent Murphy is one of the early films of future president Ronald Reagan. In this one Reagan plays a soldier who joined the army so he could hang out with his best friend Sergent Murphy.... who is an artillery horse.
Reagan and Murphy go through a series of comic misadventures an eventually Murphy becomes a big time show horse and Donald Crisp wears a ladies hat.
Boy, that's funnier if you guys know who Donald Crisp was. If only it was 1938.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Day 48, total films watched: 54
The Pom Pom Girls -DVD- **
I bought a set of 8 silly comedies from the 1970s and 1980s a few months ago and I watched 4. This is one of the ones I skipped.
It stars Robert Carradine and it's a silly film with almost no discernible plot.
Still, it was light and fun. But really... almost no pom poms.
I bought a set of 8 silly comedies from the 1970s and 1980s a few months ago and I watched 4. This is one of the ones I skipped.
It stars Robert Carradine and it's a silly film with almost no discernible plot.
Still, it was light and fun. But really... almost no pom poms.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Day 47, total films watched: 53
Block-heads -Cable TV- ***
This was a Laurel & Hardy flick from the 1930s. I love how films of this era were so concise. Not a second of the film is wasted and the story wraps up and flashes "The End" on screen so fast you might not know it's coming.
This was a Laurel & Hardy flick from the 1930s. I love how films of this era were so concise. Not a second of the film is wasted and the story wraps up and flashes "The End" on screen so fast you might not know it's coming.
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