What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[Handyman Joe]

The Manchurian Candidate - the original, not the new Blu but the old MGM DVD. Watched this the day Angela Landsbury got her lifetime award - that wierd synchronicity that often happens when you randomly pluck a movie from your collection - fitting too, because she steals this movie as a driven harridan, a mother from hell. Some of the Commie paranoia stuff has dated this movie, and it can like a bit of propulsion at times, but it's still powerful stuff and recommend.

Vera Cruz - Perfect Saturday morning hokum as Burt Lancaster (pearly white sneer/grin turned up to 11) and Gary Mr Laconic Cooper alternately buddy up and lock horns in a fantasy Mexico. The massacre at the end nearly rivals the Wild Bunch and the shootout ending is great. Great stuff.

The Professionals - Classy effort, amazing cast - Burt again, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan (aging, doleful), Woody Strode as a gang of mercenaries. Almost a proto Avengers - Strode as Hawkeye, Lancaster as Tony Stark and Marvin as Nick Fury. Thrown in Jack Palance as the baddy, Claudi Cardinale at her absolute sexiest and a roster of background colour - Borgnine, Elam, Bronson - you've got a winner. Looks stunning on blu ray, a beautifuuly shot film.

Borderline - dud 1950 semi noir starts out OK with an aging Claire Trevor acting the floozy to infiltrate Raymond Burrs (doing his pre Ironside thug schtick) drug gang. Then Fred MacMurray, at his smarminest, appears and we veer into meet cute territory, replete with comedy Mexican stereotypes (I've been seeing a lot of Mexico lately - another odd coincidence) anyway, a punch up/shoot out climax can't save this misbegotten turkey which falls between 3 stools, and ends up flat on its arse.

[Sam]

Demons 3 - the Ogre - I enjoy a crap film as much as the next man but this was too much! Nothing really happens for the first 1 hour and 20 minutes, which could be forgiven if there was a thrilling climax but when the titular ogre does make its full appearance it's truly underwhelming, plodding around wearing a quite fetching mock tudor ensemble. No real gore to speak of, which could've livened this up a bit, and a plot which makes no real sense (which, to be fair, is par for the course for a lot of Italian genre films of the era). Even the eventual demise (SPOILER ALERT) of the Ogre is mundane, with the poor sod being repeatedly run over. But who is the ogre? What did he want? Why was he so obsessed with the heroine? Who knows, best just to put the kettle on and mourn the loss of 1 and a half hours of your life. I can't really recommend this one!

[Make Them Die Slowly]

Originally Posted by Frankie Teardrop

1) yes

2) yes, I suppose so.

That made me laugh out load.

[Buboven]

Trancers (1985)

7/10

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Make Them Die Slowly

That made me laugh out load.

Me too.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011)

A delightful and at times quirky British comedy drama about a Middle Eastern Prince's scheme to introduce Scottish salmon to the Yemen.

Beautifully acted by Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Amr Waked, with a scene stealing performance from Kristen Scott Thomas as the prime minister's press secretary, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is fun satirical look at government policy mixed in with a romantic sub plot which comes to the fore in the final third.

Anyone who like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and films of that ilk are sure to enjoy this. Forget zombies and serial killers. Fishing is where it's at.

[Nordicdusk]

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I just finished watching this this very minute. The film is set in the 70s and the way its shot it really looks and feels like it. A masked killer is on a rampage along with a small boy also wearing a skull mask. Im not going into too much detail its better to just watch it without knowing too much about it. The acting is good for the most part and the dialogue is pretty solid throughout and there is some great music that also captures the feeling of low budget 70s horror. The main thing here for me anyway is the gore effects they are outstanding for film with a limited budget. It always amazes me that these sort of effects can be pulled off in these films when bigger budgets films just cant be arsed.

Id recommend this to anyone who enjoys graphic gore. I loved every minute of it.

8/10

[Demoncrat]

Originally Posted by SharonLynette

A good old school friend is staying over as we're off on a day trip tomorrow so I'm treating her to some classic cinema with The Room and Samurai Cop, let the awkward sex scenes commence.

That's cheered me up somewhat Sharon.
Is this part of some intricate revenge plot by chance??

[Demoncrat]

Watched.....

The Dead (Ford Brothers, 2010)
Some nice locations and slow zombies meant this made the grade, wish I'd watched it sooner!!

The Watermen (Matt Lockhart, 2012)
Jay and some anonymous types lock horns with the locals (who all seem to be relatives of Brion James in Southern Comfort??). Some naaasty gore elevated this from the pile, but not too high. One of what I term "socialist" horror films....see also Eden Lake cough.

Mischief Night (2013, Richard Schenkman)
Reasonable cross betwixt Wait Until Dark (1967) and The Strangers. Whilst the setup is a bit obvious, it held my attention through the ad breaks.

Enough with the Horror Channel!!!
Btw Dem, The Abandoned is on tonight 21.00)

Also watched 800 Bullets (Alex De La Iglesia, 2002)
From my 2nd favourite Spanish director comes this wacky tale of family heritage. Whilst it slightly drags towards the end, I still recommend this enjoyable romp. Fooling his snooty mother, young Carlos travels to Almeria to meet his grandfather (an old stuntman in "50 movies"). Somewhat lighter in tone than Day Of The Beast or Accion Mutante!! Recommended, and yes "Fiesta" by The Pogues in on the ST!!

[Demoncrat]

Sexy Killer (2008, Miguel Marti)
Hoot! and cute to boot haha.

Zombie Flesh Eaters 3 aka After Death (Claudio Fraggaso aka Clyde Anderson, 1989)
Hoot! Someone had been watching Demons methinks!! Interesting to see a film with a Robert Kerman clone as well, even though it doesn't have the sticky charm of the 1st sequel!! IMO!! All togeher now "Liviiing after deeeath!!"