robfollower

A Cult Classic ! Unique film with its crazy insanity and animal house lowbrow humor ! Good attention to detail . 1941 is far from Spielberg's best, even if we're only taking his popcorn-friendly projects into account, but it's still far from boring and definitely a memorable film in its own right. Worth watching for Belushi fans 1941 is a good-hearted, cheerfully disorganized mess. 8/10

1941 is a 1979 American war comedy film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. The film stars an ensemble cast including Dan Aykroyd, Ned Beatty, John Belushi, John Candy, Christopher Lee, Tim Matheson, Toshiro Mifune, Robert Stack, Nancy Allen, and Mickey Rourke in his film debut. The story involves a panic in the Los Angeles area after the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

John Wayne, Charlton Heston, and Jimmy Stewart were originally offered the role of Major General Stilwell, with Wayne still considered for a cameo in the film.

The Oscar-winning special effects on 1941. The film is widely recognized for its Academy Award-nominated special-effects laden progressive action and camera sequences.

The musical score for 1941 was composed and conducted by John Williams.

1941 was not as financially or critically successful as many of Spielberg's other films, but was still a moderate box office success. It received belated popularity after an expanded version aired on ABC in the 1980s, with subsequent television broadcasts and home video reissues, raising it to cult status.

The patron in the café is Elisha Cook Jr., best known for his roles in The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, Shane..... Elisha Vanslyck Cook Jr. Was an American character actor famed for his work in films noir. According to Bill Georgaris of They Shoot Pictures, Don't They, Cook appeared in a total of 21 films noir, more than any other actor or actress.

Susan Backlinie plays the nude woman swimming in the ocean at the beginning of Steven Spielberg's 1979 film 1941. The scene is a homage to the opening of Jaws, in which Backlinie played Chrissie Watkins, the first victim of the shark. In 1941, Backlinie's character is attacked by a Japanese submarine as the Jaws theme plays.

I'm a giant fan of fallout video RPG game ,

I've logged hundreds hours into Fallout 3 game and just absolutely dig the world Bethesda has created. Today we crave more and more of a good show, so much so that our culture defines this obsession as "binging", a term often used to describe a multi-day drug bender that now reflects the quality of a good show.

Well, this isn't just good, it's binge worthy and then some.

It's what myself and every other Fallout player have dreamed of; a completely original story set in the Fallout universe, and we get to start with the Bloody Mess perk.

This is a dark, violent and emotional series with enough humor and romance to even it all out, making sure that every element of good storytelling is there, and that it all takes place in both the Wasteland and the Vault. This is a hard-R rated series with gore, cursing, sex, nudity, the whole lot. But not in a way that feels exploitative for its own sake just... In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from radiation, mutants and bandits.

Ella Purnell in Fallout (2024)

All the people living in these underground communities are forced to come up and live. Ella Purcell stars as Lucy, one of the people who's never been above ground before and wasn't prepared for the lawless society it has become. One of the most underrated actress I seen in some time she has great comedic timing , charm ....and grit !!

Looking forward to what's to come and so far it's good. I highly recommend it, Fallout fan or not!!!

They nailed the vibe spot on and the story and characters are well cast. 8/10.

Sometimes you just need to turn your brain off and just go and enjoy some ridiculousness.

The film got pretty bad reviews from critics because of the wacky cheesy human storyline. I was sort of feeling similar but it grew on me because the science fiction elements of this film are really kind of profound. Most of it takes place in the center of the Earth that is actually hollow and is teaming with monsters and there's all kinds of creative creatures and also native humans that live in this realm; Hollow Earth

Basically centers around four characters the travel where they find King Kong living in this underworld and they summoned Godzilla to come down to the subterranean level to fight an evil creature I want to take over the world ! I mean I've been following king con for many years starting with the first film of 1933 when was the first king Kong released.

I've always liked Japanese kaiju films. Anyway there's lots of kind of eye rolling cheesy human comedic dialogue which is a little bit out of place but the film really brought it's A game with science fiction and intense monster Mayham and actually the characters and comic relief kind of grew on me ! Bottom line 'Godzilla x Kong the New Empire' is a great science fiction creature feature ! The Hollow Earth design is beautiful and the monster fights are impactful. 7.5/10.

Vice Squad, tapping the affordable Edward G. Robinson and Paulette Goddard for marquee appeal.

Unjustly graylisted by the pamphlet Red Channels. The Report of Communist Influence in Radio and Television( Issued by the right-wing journal Counterattack on June 22, 1950, the pamphlet-style book names 151 actors, writers, musicians, broadcast journalists, and others until they cleared their names, the customary requirement being that they testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and name names, which the vast majority refused to do. )

Robinson no longer commanded a top salary. Ironically, the movie was a property he had purchased six years earlier, before the HUAC debacle crippled his career. Ms. Goddard had been out of circulation for a while, and traded a reasonable paycheck for what looks like a few day's work. The team came up with a serviceable script about a police captain trying to get a handle on a gang of murderous bank robbers.

All credit to Edward G. Robinson, who makes all these shenanigans look like noble social work!

This isn't a big show for Paulette Goddard, but she does give Mona Ross an appropriately flirtatious quality - and looks cute in furs entering and leaving the captain's office, as if it was a second home.

A reasonably exciting crime tale put together with modest resources, Vice Squad achieves an interesting vibe somewhere between Dragnet and L. A. Confidential. The action is restricted to a couple of sequences, but it's certainly good enough; the bank robbery actually takes place in the Beverly Hills, and locals will easily recognize the streets. 7/10.

I especially liked the film's setting and location filming. Relatively few movies were filmed in Orange County, where I spent my summers as a youth at Newport Beach hanging out on Balboa Island Fun Zone and Pier .

THE BREAKING POINT is a (very) loose remake of TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT (1944), with both films inspired by a story by Ernest Hemingway. THE BREAKING POINT's screenplay was by Ranald MacDougall. John Garfield was the type of leading man who came out of that kind of working man play -- more rugged than romantic, more blue collar than white collar, more at home in a leather jacket than a tuxedo. That leading man type would peak post-war with the likes of Dean, Brando, Steiger, Newman, McQueen, and others. But their predecessor was John Garfield.

Garfield plays Harry Morgan, who lives on Balboa Island with his wife (Phyllis Thaxter) and young daughters. Once a captain of a PT boat in World War II, (John Garfield) is now trying to earn a living commanding a sport-fishing vessel in Newport, California. The Breaking Point is a character study draped loosely in traditional crime-film garb.

John Garfield plays Harry Morgan, the owner of a charter boat who is having trouble making enough money to support his wife and daughters. When he accepts a charter to take a man named Hannagan and his mistress to Mexico to do some fishing, his client skips out without paying, leaving Morgan with Hannagan's girlfriend Lenora (Patricia Neal), and a docking fee he can't pay. In order to make enough money to get home, Morgan reluctantly agrees to smuggle Chinese people into the United States, but the Coast Guard finds out about it and impounds his boat. The situation becomes increasingly desperate for Morgan as a gang of crooks blackmails him and kills his first mate, forcing him into a fateful confrontation.

Garfield turns in a fine performance as Harry Morgan, married this time around . Phyllis Thaxter is excellent as his world-weary wife and Patrica Neal's whore in all but name complements her perfectly and gets the lion's share of the one-liners. Wallace Ford is suitably oily as the architect of all Morgan's troubles and Juan Hernandez lends sterling support as Morgan's crew-cum-friend.

The final image of the movie is one of the sadder and more haunting shots in cinematic history. Terrific movie. One of Garfield's last efforts.

VIOLENCE (1947) is an offbeat crime film about a Los Angeles veterans organization, United Defenders, which is a front for racketeers and murderers.

Entertaining Noir ... films coming out of Hollywood that would later be dubbed film noir by French critics (and 1947 was a prime year for film noir).

Violence is a B-movie programmer . The film is a curious melding of postwar angst, mob drama, and amnesia.

It's almost a little too much plot for a 72-minute film. It's interesting enough and I enjoyed it, yet one senses the movie could have been better if the film was a bit more coherent .

A vague chronicle of a group run by ex-cons attempting to fleece veterans who at the time the film was made were having a difficult time readjusting to postwar US society. Violence, a movie that attempts to cash in on the fears and the tumult of a country trying to get back to work, and hoping to recover from too many years of war and depression.

Nancy Coleman stars as photojournalist Ann Dwire using the alias of Ann Mason, working undercover as a secretary to the organization's boss True Dawson (Emory Parnell) who reminds me a little of tough guy thespian Broderick Crawford.

Adorable Nancy Coleman (1912-2000) stars as an undercover reporter looking into a veteran's organization that promotes violence. She was active in the 40s and then switched to TV.

Coleman (HER SISTER'S SECRET) is an interesting actress and makes the film worth watching she is very wholesome and charming. VIOLENCE (1947) It's a delightfully noirish and a very obscure 1940's film . Dispite not being a top tier noir I recommend this one ! It is of great interest as an expression of murky political turmoil in the early US Cold War years. 7/10.

Tonight I watched PUSHOVER, a very entertaining film noir with brand-new star Kim Novak. Novak being 'introduced' in this film as Columbia's answer to Marilyn Monroe. Novak plays a femme fatale who entices a cop (Fred MacMurray) to go bad.

Novak plays Lona, a bank robber's girlfriend. She's initially contacted by Detective Paul Sheridan (MacMurray) while the police are looking for the robber, but Sheridan soon finds himself falling for Lona, hard. (Shortly after they meet he asks "Your place or mine?" and she purrs "Surprise me.")

Lona suggests that when her boyfriend turns up, maybe she and Paul could take off with his bag of money themselves instead of turning it over to the police. Paul tries to put the idea out of his mind but can't resist Lona...in other words, he's a PUSHOVER.

Pushover is an entertaining noir film . It is not particularly well known at all which is a real shame as it is very well done .

Comparisons with the superior Double Indemnity are fair enough, but really there is enough here, and considerable differences too, for the film to rightfully be judged on its own merits.

MacMurray ... proves once again I could do serious acting . Novak makes a stunning debut as the ultimately luckless moll and the rest of the cast backs them up with a splendid ensemble effort. 7.5/10.

A masterpiece of bad taste ! An exaggerated celebration of the roller derby lifestyle. I liked the lowbrow sport of roller derby when I was a youth growing up in the 70's ! I was a very accomplished roller skater in my own right in 1974 -1979 . I had a special blue Roller Rink Jacket from the rink that was embroidered Skate City .

I was also an alpine ski-racer and bigtime skateboarder . My point is that I took my Kryptonics from Boulder Co. Was founded in 1965 and originally manufactured polyurethane products for the mining and computer industry. In the mid-1970s, the company introduced the Kryptonics Star Trac line of wheels that drastically changed the functionality of skateboards. I put my Kryptonics wheels on my roller skates and would jam out of the Skate City in door rink at a local hard core cement skate board park ! My wheels that outperformed the competition. I was an extremely ballsy preteen 😝 These Roller Derby Jam Straps/Skate straps would help with control of fast torque and speed.

Unholy Rollers..... Raunchy , violent , hard, fast, and vulgar ! This is trash cinema at its finest !

"A locker room look at the toughest broads in the world!"

The film's low budget limitations lend added authenticity to its depiction of this seedy American pastime !! Loved it 7.5/10 Karen wants more action out of life and quits her job at the cannery to become a skater in the roller derby. She encounters friction from the other skaters - especially Mickey, the current number one star of the team. Karen proves herself a feisty competitor but refuses to be a team player. As she skates her way to roller stardom, she incurs the wrath of jealous team members and the owner of the team.

FUN FACT! Martin Scorsese was a supervising editor on this film, the year before "Mean Streets" was released.

Roller derby became popular in the 1940s and 1965, and by the 1970s, the International Roller Derby League (IRDL) was at its peak. The IRDL featured regional teams like the Midwest Pioneers and Northeast Braves, and in 1971, over 19,000 people attended a championship game. However, the league ceased operations in 1973, and roller derby eventually became scripted entertainment with predetermined outcomes.

Just Orderd DVD !!!

In Dednis Villeneuve's follow-up to the 2021 hit, Timothee Chalamet's Paul Atreides has a whole host of hurdles to clear. His family has been decimated during the conflict on Arrakis. If that wasn't enough, Paul's been having terrifying visions of a future that he's trying not let come to pass.

Dune: Part Two delivers stunning visuals and action, continuing Paul Atreides' journey on Arrakis. It's a lengthy film with a rather complex plot, so be prepared to invest some time. If you enjoyed the first movie's sci-fi world, this sequel offers a return to that epic adventure.

Sadly, the two main characters do drag the film down there is no chemistry between Timothée Chalamet · Paul Atreides and Zendaya · Chani . Certain casting decisions were questionable. But the visuals, along with dune's rich story make it worthwhile. All in all I was a bit disappointed but its worth the spectacle.

It was a visual feast of a movie and I enjoyed it ; but it just felt like it was lacking a soul with the leads . It just felt like it was a little forced. I just didn't get the tingles I was hoping for like I got when watching the David Lynch Dune. I feel like if 1984 Dune was not so ingrained in my love of space opera lore cinema I would really have enjoyed this film to its full potential . Dune : Part 2 is an epic piece of film making and I will be watching it again . I think I will actually enjoy it more the second time as my expectations are now in check.

I must say I really missed the The weirding modules . A sonic weapon that allows the user to speak words into it, which then shoots out sonic waves and destroys things. The modules are important in the story because they enable Paul to overpower the emperor's forces, the Sardaukar. For example, without the modules, Paul could not defeat the most powerful army in the universe.

What this brilliant addition did by Lynch was to really build a relationship with the outerworld Altaties and the Fremin . They worked together using the Wierding way to train for combat and it helped build the acceptance of Paul Muad'dib.

Zendaya .....she was fine in the first half but in the second half, her expression is just a bit... surprising.

She has that distinctive sullen expression

Her frowning acting in Dune 2. You can sense the passion in Sean Youngs face . We do not get this with Zendaya.

"Tell me of your homeworld, Usul." Young nails this Iconic line .

It is lost when delivered by Zendaya.

Zendaya's Fremen cast mates acted circles around her. They had great accents . Zendaya is having a hard time staying in character. I felt like I was watching a girl from Compton, CA put in an epic Sci/Fi . She good actress in Spiderman , but doesn't fit the role here . Always broke the immersion for me whenever she's in the scene. This is how I feel some one who has not seen every other TV and film adaptation of Frank Herbert's DUNE my be ok with her acting . I was not.

The role was originally occupied by Sean Young, who has also appeared in films such as Blade Runner, I definitely appreciate Sean Young as Chani .

The costumes of new characters Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) were among the stand-outs. West says that she was inspired by "the circles of hell in Dante Inferno" Princess Irulan, adds West, is "kind of the voice of reason, so you want her to have a certain intellectual simplicity about her." That translated into Brutalist and Japanese influences melded with the Bene Gesserits' "modieval" - which is West's combination of medieval fashion with a modern twist - and nun-inspired touches, culminating in a spectacular chainmail gown and headpiece for the warrior princess that took two weeks to make.

She's got to be one of the most elegant and sexiest women around. One two knockout beauty (Florence Pugh)

Worth the price of admission was Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson is one of the most compelling performers in Dune as Lady Jessica !!!

Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee. 6.9/10.

I think this new series has some great melodramatic and entertaining period piece potential . And the "Icing on the Cake" is the very interesting actress Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown, The King's Speech), will be playing the role ! Based on the true story of Noele Gordon, one of British TV's most famous faces in the 60s and 70s. I will be tuning in for sure on this one !!

It would be nice to see Helena Bonham Carter nominated for a BAFTA TV . Masterpiece have won numerous Emmy awards. OK fellas I am calling it right now Helen Bonham-Carter is certainly going to get a nomination for best actress !!! Yes she is that good in her portrayal of Noele Gordon (Nolly) (played here by Helena Bonham-Carter !

I am on the third episode and I am hooked . The writing is first class . The ensemble of cast members are traffic, the period 1980's wardrobe and set design is spot on and the lead character Carter as Nolly is the icing on the cake. She's amazing.

The series starts some two decades before Crossroads hit the nation's screens, when, in 1938, a young Gordon became the first woman in the world to appear on color television. Cut to 37 years later, and Gordon - better known as Nolly - is one of the most famous women in the UK thanks to her long-standing role as motel owner Meg Mortimer on the Birmingham-based soap.

The series follows Nolly's dramatic and unceremonious sacking from Crossroads, a national scandal at the time and one that remains a mystery to this day. 9/10.

Lanthimos is part of a postmodern film movement known as the Greek Weird Wave. Yorgos Lanthimos is known for his unique and unconventional filmmaking style, characterized by dark humor, deadpan delivery, and a penchant for absurdity. He is not for everybody that's fore sure. His most approachable film is The Favourite , I think you boys would really like this one . Emma Stone does her own thing and shines brightest with art house cinema . Poor Things celebrates sexuality. It is also one of the most divisive films of the past year thanks to its ample nudity and profanity. Emma is fantastic she really embraces her weird and is willing to declare her shelf to the world in this gem of an arts house film as character Bella Baxter . I am such a fan of Emma Stone she gets it...... always her own unbridled creative self. I totally get how some folks may view Poor Things as more of a softcore . I think it is brilliant thanks to Stone and Lanthimos direction . The film is definitely worth checking out to decide for your self I am glad it is accessible to the masses through the HULU app or it may have been pasted up by many.

Is Out of Africa Based on a true story?

Isak Dinesen's book was a memoir: that is, she related the story in part and gave it certain flourishes that were only approximately true. The Hollywood film "Out of Africa" was loosely based upon her rendition and four other books by or about Isak Dinesen, whose real name was Karen Blixen.

Pollack hit the Oscar jackpot with this sweeping romantic epic, a sort of "Gone with the Wind" set in Africa. This epic drama charts the journey of an affluent, worldly-but-somewhat-naive young woman, Karen "Isak" Dinesen (Meryl Streep), from her marriage to the aristocratic Baron Blixen (Klaus Maria Brandauer), a friend and sometime-lover who commits to her mainly for money, to her evolution as an strong plantation owner, avid storyteller, and survivor, set against 1900s colonial Kenya. Her marital arrangement leaves her feeling abandoned and unappreciated; she'd hoped to at least develop a deep friendship -- even love -- with her often-absent and unfaithful husband, but it doesn't appear to be. But she finds solace in Denys Finch-Hatton (Robert Redford), an adventurer who teaches her much about independence, love, and Africa, and, in the end, remembering.

If you didn't know any better, you'd swear it was some young Danish actress cast for the sake of authenticity in the American film. But it's not. It's just a girl from New Jersey, Meryl Streep. Meryl has set the standard for acting in accent. She's given us Danish in "Out of Africa, Meryl makes it look easy. Meryl Streep developed her accent by listening to. Actual recordings of Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen) reading her works.

Awards & Nominations for Meryl Streep David DiDonatello Award - Best Foreign Actress Kansas City Film Critics Award - Best Actress Academy Award - Best Actress in a Leading Role Golden Globe Award - Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama Los Angeles Film Critics Award - Best Actress British Academy Award - Best Actress

This is, for me, Sydney Pollack's masterpiece. "Tootsie" finds Pollack in full command of his talent, perfectly blending comedy, romance, satire and pathos is a close 2nd Out of Africa , a period piece is right down my alley. How good is this film? So good that I can even accept Robert Redford in the Finch-Hatton role, a role for which many would think he would be ill-suited--the all-American leading man playing an English adventurer & hunter, and playing it with no English accent because . . . Well . . . He's Robert Redford and I suppose he doesn't need accent! 😉

Cinematographer David Watkin's work is praised for capturing the film's beauty. The widescreen shots of the African landscape, especially during the flying scene, are said to perfectly capture its dangerous beauty. Watkin wins the Oscar for Cinematography for Out of Africa

John Barry's score is also praised for its ability to express the magnificence, grandeur, and wonder of the African vistas. The score won Best Score at the 1985 Academy Awards and includes Mozart's Clarinet Concerto and haunting African music

Out of Africa won Best Picture at the 58th Academy Awards in 1986. The film also won Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay

Out of Africa is Meryl Streep at her iconic best, armed with a flawless accent and a deep understanding of her character. Streep owns every inch of this film. As good as Redford is ...it's Karen Blixen's story and Redford's Finch Hatton merely plays a meaningful part in it. Much admiration for Sidney Pollack's brilliance and for putting together a team of people both in front and behind the camera that have created such a entralling film. All the Actors were superb with Meryl setting the pace for the 2 hours and 41 minutes long piece of outstanding cinema.

This is a magnificent, intelligent, moving film . 10/10.

The Battle of the Alamo lasted 13 days - from February 23rd to March 6th, 1836 - and is still considered a symbol of the fight for freedom in the USA today. It was mobilized by Texans who wanted to fight for their independence. At that time the country was still Mexican territory. But more and more white settlers populated this area north of the Rio Grande. As part of the Texas War of Independence, the battle took place between a 7,000-man Mexican force under President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and the heavily outnumbered opponents with around 200 soldiers who were entrenched in Fort Alamo, a small mission station.

"Alamo" was John Wayne's only directing work . And he prepared this film for years. In an interview he admitted "I wish with all my heart that the Battle of the Alamo remains a symbol and proves that the love of freedom is not dead." Or as Davy Crockett, John Wayne's character in the film, once said, "Without freedom, man is as dead as a beaver-skin hat." First-time director Wayne wanted to tell a tale of larger-than-life heroes, taking a stand for what was right, and being willing to die for that cause. It was a firm belief in these truths that pushed Wayne into investing over ten years of his life, and much of his personal fortune, in telling this story, and 'The Alamo' was, and is, a triumph.

Wayne used thousands of Mexicans as extras in the film, which gives the viewer a far greater sense of the magnitude of the siege. The 155 minute long film is never boring.

John Wayne is also allowed to fall in love with Linda Cristal and shows with historical accuracy the chronological sequence of this unequal battle, which is a suicide mission from the start. So that General Houston can raise an army of more than 1,000 men for the fight for freedom in Texas, Colonel Travis is supposed to defend the Alamo mission in San Antonio together with Colonel Jim Bowie (Richard Widmark). Both men are fundamentally different. Travis, a perfectionist and counterpart - Bowie sometimes gets drunk and doesn't care about military precision. Soon the well-known Congressman Davy Crockett joins them with his 23 brave men. They do come from Tennessee - but the argument that Mexico could take over other states after Texas is valid. The brave men become death-defying and ultimately madmen. This is all wrapped up in wonderful pictures.

The battles, particularly the final one, as row after row of Mexican foot-soldiers overrun the pockets of defenders, are unforgettable! Each character is allowed to die heroically, and is given a lingering moment to make a final gesture (Travis breaks his sword over his knee as Mexicans surge past, Bowie fires his unique gun, a brace of pistols, and swings his famous knife, Crockett, bayoneted to a door, still manages to pull free, and torch the magazine). The film's climax, alone, would make the film a 'must' for any action fan. I say this is essential viewing for all John Wayne fans , I am so glad I took the chance to discover this epic film. As usual (I still do not get this) I had to turn to foreign countries to find this gem on Blu-ray at least it is region free ! 8/10.

Finally all 4 of the 1970s era Airport disaster films are available on Blu-ray for the first time ever! The original film, Airport, had been previously available on Blu-ray as a single release, but the three sequels make their Blu-ray debut in this set.

Airport released in 1970 kick started the 1970s disaster movie craze bringing together many of the elements that made the genre so popular (all star casts, tense set pieces, great special effects and lots of drama). This film is done very seriously and depicts a series of mishaps at a busy airport including inclement weather, a plane that slides off a runaway and becomes stuck in the snow, protestors from a nearby community who want a runway shut down as the air traffic goes right over their homes, a stowaway, marital drama and a bomber on board one of the planes. Lots of great performances from the likes of Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bissett, George Kennedy, Van Heflin, Maureen Stapleton and Helen Hayes is marvelous as the elderly stowaway. This film was nominated for a number of Academy Awards including Best Picture in 1970 and was a promising start to the disaster genre, which eventually became high camp by the close of the 1970s.

Airport 1975, released in 1974, came out in the heyday of the disaster film (The Poseidon Adventure had already come out and also in 1974 the likes of The Towering Inferno and Earthquake proved the staying power of the genre). Airport 1975 again features an all star cast, but the plot this time is a little more straightforward, rather than dealing with the running of an airline at the airport terminal, this film tells the story of a midair collision and the crew and passengers must work to keep the plane in the air after the pilots are injured or killed. Charlton Heston leads the rescue operations on the ground along with George Kennedy while Karen Black attempts to fly the plane. A number of notable stars are passengers aboard the flight (Helen Reddy as a singing nun, Gloria Swanson as herself, Myrna Loy and Sid Caesar share seats together and Linda Blair is a terminally ill child on her way to receive an organ transplant). Despite the film heading into some campy territory with the singing nun character, the film was surprisingly entertaining and kept me watching the screen the whole time.

Airport '77, released in 1977, tells the story of a high end 747 loaded with important guests who have been invited by Jimmy Stewart to attend the opening of his new museum of art. However the plane is hijacked mid air by a group of thieves hiding in plain sight as crew members who attempt to gas the passengers and steal priceless works of art on board the plane and make their getaway all while the passengers sleep it off. However this goes awry when the plane clips an oil rig and crashes into the ocean where it proceeds to sink to the bottom. After the plane disappears Jimmy Stewart uses his pull to get help in finding the plane which includes George Kennedy back again this time in a very small role. Jack Lemmon is the pilot, Brenda Vaccaro the head stewardess and the passengers include Lee Grant, Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotten, M. Emmett Walsh and Christopher Lee.

The Concorde: Airport '79 is definitely the worst of the bunch. Coming out in 1979 at the end of the disaster craze it was full of high camp and like many other disaster flicks of the time (The Swarm, Beyond the Poseidon Adventure and When Time Ran Out) it bombed spectacularly at the box office, successfully ending the franchise. This one features Susan Blakely as a reporter who receives intel that her lover (Robert Wagner), the head of a major corporation, is selling arms to terrorists and she plans to report on this upon arriving in Paris after a flight aboard The Concorde airplane. Robert Wagner uses various means to try and ensure she doesn't survive the trip including shooting experimental missiles at the plane and hiring rogue French jets to try and shoot them down. The film features French star Alain Delon and the returning George Kennedy as the pilots of the Concorde and a host of B-actors are on board as the passengers including (Jimmie Walker as saxophone player, Charo who attempts to smuggle on her pet dog, Eddie Albert as the owner of the Concorde, Avery Schreiber as the coach of a Russian Olympic team and Martha Raye who is hysterically out of place as a woman who suffers from incontinence. Martha Raye features in a scene so unbelievable it has to bee seen, she is seen tumbling around the airplane lavatory as the Concorde veers, darts, dives and spins to avoid the aforementioned missiles. This one is probably more for completists like myself who like to watch all movies in a series or for fans of bad movies.

As for the picture quality of the films Airport and Airport '77 look and sound amazing on my Home Theater set up. Airport 1975 is very good as well. The Concorde: Airport '79 is the worst in terms of picture quality as it is quite grainy in a lot of scenes, however all 4 films look better than their DVD counterparts.

All in all, this is a great set to add to your collection if you are a fan of the films, the 1970s or disaster films in general. OR maybe you grew up with these and want a great nostalgia ride back to the 1970s. Also a great price for 4 films, all around 2 hours each or longer in Airport's case.

This is the original U. K. film version of same name. Most people are familiar with the 1944 American Version starring Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer & the screen debut of Angela Lansbury.

Of the two films, the Hollywood production is certainly far more famous, thanks in large part to its star-studded cast. But the British version does a great deal right and is often hailed as the more frightening and potent of the two films. Both are powerful dramas which spotlight an insidious kind of abuse that doesn't leave any marks or evidence.

I have a special place in my heart for Ingrid Bergman so the Hollywood version was a must watch and buy. Now in the Blu-ray specials features incudes the 1940 UK version of Gaslight . I have decided to "go down the rabbit hole " and watch it with an open mind .

1940's Gaslight (released in the United States as Angel Street) is a psychological thriller which stars Anton Walbrook and Diana Wynyard. This version adheres much more closely to the play it was based on than the 1944 remake so I have read.

1940 storyline is a darker more abusive affair than the Hollywood version I did appreciate this sensibility . By the way Walbrook & Wynyard were big stars in Britain .

The issue with the 1940 UK version is the lack of character development. The story is not setup nearly as well so I did not feel the emotional connection to the characters in the U. K. version . In Cukor's film, the part of the abused wife is strengthened by the excellent character study of Paula played by Bergman . Bergman's character is more than just a scared wife and victim. In fact, the film provided the celebrated actress with a memorable showcase, and Bergman plays her with a range that encompasses every emotion on the spectrum. She runs the gamut from being passionately in love and almost naively trusting, to being disoriented, unsure of herself, hysterically terrified, and even vengeful.

She plays her final scene with the gravitas of a Shakespearean tragedy, though she never overdoes her pain and growing confusion keeping the character grounded and sympathetic throughout her horrible ordeal. Bergman more than earns her fist Oscar win .

Both films are beautifully shoot, imbued with unbearable tension. However, Dickinson's film is more claustrophobic, confined entirely to the Victorian home, and it boasts a more pervasive darkness and a more overwhelmingly oppressive atmosphere.

The house in Cukor's film, like its predecessor, is an important character. And, in this version, it's resplendent simply breathtaking to behold. Cedric Gibbons and his team won an Oscar for set design, and it's not hard to see why. In fact, the entirety of Cukor's film is draped in a glamour the original can't match.

In Cukor's film, the part of the abused wife is strengthened, less overshadowed by her villainous husband. Often heralded as a "women's director" (a label he rejected), Cukor was known for giving women fuller roles. As a result, Bergman's character is more than just a scared wife and victim. In fact, the film provided the celebrated actress with a memorable showcase, and Bergman plays her with a range that encompasses every emotion on the spectrum. She runs the gamut from being passionately in love and almost naively trusting, to being disoriented, unsure of herself, hysterically terrified, and even vengeful.

She plays her final scene with the gravitas of a Shakespearean tragedy, though she never overdoes her pain and growing confusion keeping the character grounded and sympathetic throughout her horrible ordeal. Bergman is fabulous .

Gaslight 1940 I thought the acting was wooden and I did not like the way they set up the entire storyline. In my opinion, the 1944 version is vastly superior in every way. I had high hopes for the movie, but I was already disappointed the first half hour. In my opinion, it went downhill from there. It lacked the subtlety and character build up of the predecessor. It's worth watching, but I was very surprised to read that other people preferred it 5/10 .

Garson received her sixth of an eventual seven Oscar nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role, though she'd already enjoyed what would be her only win for Mrs. Miniver by this time. The quality of her work during this period, 1939-1945, is simply amazing, really one of the best outputs of all time. Her nomination was well-deserved for many reasons, including her handling of an Irish accent (Garson was not Irish born, as she claimed through much of her life, but British) and her deft portrayal of a relatively complex character, Mary Rafferty. Garson developed a sort of mini-specialty playing bright, attractive, working-class women.

The Valley of Decision would be the third feature film for a new young star who at that time was taking Hollywood by storm, Gregory Peck.

Peck's performance was naturally good too. I like his more intense roles more (Cape Fear ,The Guns of Navarone") , but Perk could do romance ...think Roman Holiday ! He does have several moving scenes in which he fights to save his father's steel mill from labor strife and his wastrel siblings.

An extra-special treat in this movie is a very young Jessica Tandy, playing Peck's selfish wife, Lucille. Tandy brings poignancy and raw emotional power to the small role.

Steel separates 1873 Pittsburgh into rich and poor, master and worker, powerful and powerless. On one side is Paul Scott, the progressive son of a steel mill owner. On the other is Mary Rafferty, daughter of an embittered laborer who was crippled in a mill accident. When Mary takes a post as housemaid at the Scott mansion, she and Paul fall desperately in love. But a bloody strike may tear the city -- and the lovers -- apart. Surging with passion and strife, featuring a commanding cast that includes Greer Garson, Lionel Barrymore and Gregory Peck (the relative newcomer created a sensation as the romantic, intense Paul), The Valley of Decision is a prime example of prestige filmmaking during Hollywood's Golden Age. 8/10.

Gehrig's consecutive games streak came to an end on May 2, 1939, when he removed himself from the lineup after a dismal start caused by his mysterious neuromuscular disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS - later known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease." Gehrig was the Yankee captain from 1935 until his death in 1941.

Over 1,200 home runs socked between them; when Gehrig retired, his 493 dingers were second all-time to Ruth's 714.

Nominated for 11 Oscars (it won one, for best editing), The Pride Of The Yankees has a vaunted reputation as a sports-movie classic.

True sports stories are usually inspiring, but this one may be the best ever. Also, it's very cool that Babe Ruth, Bill Dickey, Bob Meusel, Mark Koenig of the Yankees actually played themselves (How cool is that?!) and Bill Stern (host of the first sports talk show on radio) also played himself.

Cooper plays Gehrig with so much heart in this film, that the movie almost seems unreal due to the fact that Gehrig was such a good person, both as a human and as a star athlete.

There are few professional athletes in the world who show so much character and so much love to others as Gehrig did. Cooper is outstanding as always and you really could sense the chemistry between his co-star love interest Teresa Wright . You will fall in love for there characters ! Is adds much emotional punch as the third act revels the sad reality of Gehrig's illness . The Character development in this film is excellent to build a connection with what is unfolding on screen . I can not believe this is not on Blu-ray .

If you're looking for an athlete for your children to look up to, pick the "Iron Man of Baseball." This film does exceptionally well in capturing the heart and soul of Gehrig. It is a great family film and I highly recommend it . 9/10.

Pride of the Yankees really starts to get going when Teresa Wright enters the scene. The actress was to have her finest hour a year later in Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt, but she's an alluring presence in this film, bringing oodles of charm to the screen. The courtship of Lou and Eleanor is sweetened with a smartly pitched comic streak, and the relationship only becomes more delightful as the years progress and they become partners in the truest sense. Teresa Wright has the most intoxicating giggle ! She is just splendid !

Teresa was nominated for Academy Awards for her first 3 films (The Little Foxes, Mrs. Miniver and Pride of the Yankees). She was the only actor ever to be nominated for an Oscar for her first three films. And until Jennifer Lawrence received her 3rd nomination in 2014, Wright held the record for youngest actor to receive three acting Oscar nominations.

Though she died in 2005, Teresa Wright leaves a truly stunning cinematic legacy of good roles in great films. But she's not only missed by movie aficionados. After cinema's Mrs. Gehrig was asked to throw out the first pitch at a game on July 4, 1998, she became an avid Yankee fan, and after she died, when the roll call of former Yankees who had passed on was announced, her name was among the ballplayers. (Aw!)

When I first heard of it, I dismissed it as being kids stuff and some sappy romance. I was wrong.

The Princess Bride, uses satire to criticize rigid fairy tale conventions. Posing as a "classic tale of true love and high adventure", The Princess Bride portrays greatly exaggerated characters to mock the common fairy tale archetypes.

It is well designed, well directed and well acted. Every character in the film is memorable, even down to the priest who only has a few lines. The casting and writing of these characters all came together and now see it famous appeal . It's one of those films, no matter who you are, that makes you smile inside by the time you reach the end. 8/10.

It's a well-done "woman in peril" film with a crackerjack opening, as Lupino drives a wildly careening car underneath the opening credits, culminating in the car flying off the road into a river.

The viewer soon learns that Deborah Chandler Clark (Lupino) survived the crash but is hiding from her homicidal hubby Selden Clark (Stephen McNally) Selden had previously pushed Deborah's father (John Litel) off a catwalk at the Chandlers' company , then married Deborah so he could own the business. Deborah learns all this when she and Selden arrive at their honeymoon destination only to find Selden's mistress Patricia Peggy Dow (in her second film which she actually made first but was released later), waiting there, very unhappy that Selden married someone else and ready to let Deborah know just what a mess she's walked into.

Lily James likeness to Peggy Dow is uncanny.

Hostage taking, woman on the run,homme fatale "fatal man" or "deadly man". What more could a Noir fan ask for. A thriller from start to finish. I was always enamored with Ida Luppino . She was an amazing actress, producer and director. Films like this will allow her to live forever. 7/10.

Trivia Collecting an early paycheck on the production was Hollywood newcomer Tony Curtis,

It's sharp and funny--not a children's movie, but one of those hybrids that works on different levels for different ages. Antz is the darker film, visually and thematically, but it boasts a tremendous voice cast -- one of the best ever assembled -

Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Woody Allen Woody Allen ... Z (voice) Dan Aykroyd Dan Aykroyd ... Chip (voice) Anne Bancroft Anne Bancroft ... Queen (voice) Jane Curtin Jane Curtin ... Muffy (voice) Danny Glover Danny Glover ... Barbatus (voice) Gene Hackman Gene Hackman ... Mandible (voice) Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lopez ... Azteca (voice) John Mahoney John Mahoney ... Drunk Scout (voice) Paul Mazursky Paul Mazursky ... Psychologist (voice) Grant Shaud Grant Shaud ... Foreman (voice) Sylvester Stallone Sylvester Stallone ... Weaver (voice) Sharon Stone Sharon Stone ... Bala (voice) Christopher Walken Christopher Walken ... Cutter (voice) Jim Cummings Jim Cummings ... Additional Voices (voice) Jerry Sroka Jerry Sroka ... Additional Voices (voice) April Winchell April Winchell ... Additional Voices (voice)

Its also one of the most simply effective films about social class and identity .The story is engaging, the characters are likeable (Woody Allen as the neurotic dreamer Z perhaps stealing the show) note to mention Sharon Stone ! Gene Hackman and Sylvester Stallone ! Are you on board yet ?! The jokes are plentiful, inventive, and more importantly, funny. The animation is first-rate by the standards of 1998. Visually, it's impressive; Antz remains a hugely enjoyable film !

I saw Pitch Perfect in the movie theater ! Twice .... Love it !

It Has Anna Kendrick In It ! This is helpful. She is so adorable, talented, beautiful, and witty ! FYI she really sang all of her songs in all Pitch Perfect movies, Anna Kendrick reportedly refused to pre-record her vocals. Any time protagonist Beca, played by Anna Kendrick, was singing alone, she was singing live on set.

A movie about girl weirdos doing what they love. Bonus ! Rebel Wilson's performance!

I found myself liking the film whether I wanted to or not . I just ordered the Trilogy Blu-ray !! Relive the best moments with your favorite pitches! Triple the laughs, the adventures (or misadventures), and music with this three-movie collection.

The reception is quite positive for Wonka . I however could not get into this film It is not bad , the film is just to tame . "Wonka" could use more tart notes; at times it's borderline saccharine. There's no shiver of menace here, this is not the persona Willy Wonka is known for being sarcastic in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Wonka is a quirky, eccentric character who is known for brushing off questions and using sarcasm to ignore them ,this is what make the role such a good character Study .

It takes only moments into the film, when star Timothée Chalamet first opens his mouth to sing, to discover Wonka's errors: The songs are that not good, and the guy singing them is even worse.

Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka. Performance come to mind and whereas his 1971 version was magical and witty, this 2023 version of Wonka is a bit underwhelming . There is a lack of magic and surprise. The story just doesn't take me on a trip like the original did. Or for that matter the 2005 Johnny Depp version ; FYI If you love Weird and strange Depp's acting is for you. It is bat crazy !

Some of the songs of this the 2023 reimaging tale weren't really catchy or even good, and felt pointless. On a slightly more positive note, Hugh Grant puts in the only commendable performance as an Oompa-Loompa, and some of the visuals are impressive. 6/10.

Everlasting gobstopper ...........

No one will ever play the bright comic exterior and dark soul of Willy Wonka like Gene Wilder did in 1971. Wilder remains the gold standard in the role of Willy Wonka with his mad genius -- which featured a snarky edge and a hint of darkness.

The year is 1878, Lincoln County. John Tunstall, a British ranchowner, hires six rebellious boys as "regulators" to protect his ranch against the ruthless Santa Fe Ring. When Tunstall is killed in an ambush, the Regulators, led by the wild-tempered Billy the Kid (Estevez), declare war on the Ring. As their vendetta turns into a bloody rampage, they are branded outlaws, becoming the objects of the largest manhunt in Western history.

Brat Pack western for the late 80's ,

it looks more like a technicolor 1950s Western!

There's comedy, drama, and action that makes this western far more memorable than one may expect ! Each character also has their defining traits that make them individually likable. The cast is strong, delivering performances that always feel honest and in the moment, thereby making the violence that they must enact and endure all the more tense. Young Guns is a western that wants to entertain you and it succeeds well. 8/10.

Feature adaptation of Frank Herbert's science fiction novel about the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy.

A Duke's son leads desert warriors against the galactic emperor and his father's evil nemesis to free their desert world from the emperor's rule. I think this is one of the more underrated movies in Science Fiction history. It may be because the director himself was not happy with it, or because fans expected too much from a simple two hour movie.

David Lynch famously brought his "Dune" vision to the screen in 1984. The film score for Dune was composed by the Rock group TOTO their first and only film score . Its sublime.

Alicia Witt

in David Lynch's 1984 film adaptation Alia Atreides backed up by rock group TOTO was a highlight of the film .

For those who haven't read the book - including myself - the 2h 17m movie is a bizarre collection of characters, sets, endless references of spice, and constant internal dialogues that serve as narration.

It's a heavy film, you may need to be a sci-fi enthusiast to enjoy this, partly because of content, partly because of the long running time.

As a side note, Princess Irulan's (Virginia Madsen) opening introduction is vastly helpful. I am pointing this out as If one is not familiar with lore of Dune ,Lynch's film despite what critics and some fans may have said about the effort ; I personally think it is excellent "a film that gives LSD hallucinations without taking LSD."

My favorite aspect, the visuals, absolutely breathtaking ! Lynch's version is a great starting point even though liberties were taken ; to learn the lore and charterers penned in Herbert's novel.

Hardly a cohesive experience (Vintage Lynch) but individual scenes are brought to life with striking power. Lynch's third feature may have been a commercial disaster, but it gets under your skin and is enhanced by unforgettable images and an extraordinary soundtrack. 9/10.

I dig seeing a show targeted towards a more mainstream audience take a risk and go all in on absurdist bat- crazy humor and a serious dose of violent delights ! Mrs. Davis is a new sci-fi dramedy from creator Damon Lindelof of HBO's The Leftovers ;he's great at offering intrigue rich hooks . I also get a strong strong David Lynch vibe in the writing so there that too boot !

Mrs Davis is one of the weirdest TV shows I have seen in some time . I applaud the originality and the disjointed narrative.

After being ousted from her convent, Sister Simone (Betty Gilpin) vows to destroy the one responsible: a powerful artificial intelligence known as Mrs. Davis. To exact her revenge, Simone makes a deal with the algorithm and is thrust into a dangerous world of secret societies, religious conspiracies and age-old legends as she searches for the whereabouts of the most clichéd and overused MacGuffin -- the Holy Grail.

Violence is frequent and bloody: beheadings, impaling's, characters are burned at the stake (we see the fire and hear screams), with blood and gore seen at length. A unique and somewhat indescribable sci-fi series.

Betty Gilpin, a seamless comedic actress with vast emotional range, is exceptional. Gilpin doesn't even need dialogue to dazzle. Betty Gilpin is divine in Peacock's nutty nun drama Mrs. Davis (2023). 8/10. I applaud the originality and the disjointed narrative.