What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[MrBarlow]

A.W.O.L. 1990.

A French foreign legionnaire goes on the run to see his dying brother, only to get involved in underground fighting to help support his family.

JCVD does what he knows best...kicking some ass for money and meeting a street husler Harrison Page who becomes his manager and near promoter and introduces him to Deborah Rennard, a big money fight promoter while our hero is being hunted down by the legion's two heavy handed guys. Van Damme doesn't mind having the shit kicked out of him and can take a beating and dish it out. Throw back to the late 80s early 90s with the soundtrack that is quite catchy.

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[MrBarlow]

The Two Faces Of Dr. Jekyll. 1960.

Hammer's underrated movies based on Robert Louis Stevenon classic tale with Paul Massie in the dual role of Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. Different from other adaptations that have been done, Hyde is usually portrayed as a tough monstrous brute but in this he is shown to be a charming spoken gentleman yet Jekyll is the rough spoken beard mad doctor. Christopher Lee is the old friend always in dept and Mrs Jekyll's lover and has plenty of screen time and never disappoints. The film is also interesting in how it chose to end the saga. Instead of following the book, it chooses a very novel approach to winning the struggle between Jekyll and Hyde. Certainly worth a watch.

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[Mojo]

Originally Posted by MrBarlow

The Curse Of The Werewolf. 1961.

Hammer's entry (and only one) to the Wolfman/Werewolf genre, this time set in Spain that has a narration over it and can be a very slow start. Oliver Reed marks his film debut and appears 50 minutes into the film.This does seem to be a homage to the 1941 Lon Chaney film with the same make-up and a man who has a Curse but doesn't want it and yet can't control it when the animal instincts take over. Terence Fisher did try his best to make it entertaining and those above him probably had to force changes back then to appraise a audience with little violence shown on screen. This could be a film that you can have a love/hate relationship with.

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It’s funny you mention the love / hate for this one. When I first saw it donkeys years ago when I was getting into watching Hammer films for the first time, it was one of my least favourites from the studio.
Over the years and having watched it a few times since, it has become one of my favourites of the original Hammer classics. A terrific film with arguably one of the very best werewolf designs.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

The Asphyx (1972)

A scientist (Robert Stephens) discovers that within us all is a soul or spirit that leaves our bodies on death and is taken by a creature from another dimension known as an Asphyx. He builds a machine that he claims can capture an Asphyx and together with the help of his assistant (Robert Powell) does so, using his own body and indeed death, for science purposes.

This underrated Gothic chiller is a bit of a gem. It's usually overlooked when it comes to great horror films of the era possibly because it doesn't sound so enticing from it's description not does it's artwork seem especially captivating. However largely it's really good. Freddie Young's photography is terrific, giving the film a refined and stylish feel. A feel which is embellished with fine performances from Stephens, Powell and Jane Lapotaire as Stephens daughter.

Probably the film's most delightful aspect is the Asphyx creature itself which is especially memorable and works extremely effectively. The image of the creature captured in the blue light of Stephens machine will stay with you for days after viewing.

Thanks to it's subject matter The Asphyx is a thought provoking diversion from the norm.

The Screenbound Blu-ray image quality is a thing of beauty.

[Demoncrat]

Noted D.


The American Scream (1988, Mitchell Linden)

A family trip away from all their cares. Paradise? Not quite.
Our brood finds the locals are a tad standoffish which leads to a confrontation of sorts.
An oddity. The breezy tone does not match the subject matter (intentional?), which made the demon sit up and take more notice of this one. Hmmm.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

The Monster Squad (1987)

Dracula rises from the grave to enlist the Wolfman, Gillman and Frankenstein's monster to capture a powerful amulet that will give them the power to control the world (Sounds suitably bonkers doesn't it!) except in their way is a group of kids collectively known as The Monster Squad due to their love of classic horror monsters.

This could have proven the stuff of nightmares for me in the same way the terrible Goonies do but this is done with so much charm and the kids so likable that it's impossible not to enjoy. Whilst Dracula is hammier than a hog roast, Tom Noonan plays Frankenstein's creation with just the right amount of melancholy that he's impossible not to like especially when he teams up with the squad.

It's fairly derivative at times but a loving homage at others. There's certainly horror and splatter galore as well as adult humour courtesy of Shane Black's witty script. Stan Winston's special effects are excellent and the fact the kids don't make you want to strangle them is a blessing. Think more Stephen King light rather than saccharine Spielberg cuteness.

Although this isn't as good as director Fred Dekker's first film Night of the Creeps from a year earlier, this is still more than worthwhile. The Monster Squad is basically a fun idea that's nicely executed.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Rome Express (1932)

Murder, art theft, blackmail and intrigue with a motley assortment of passengers on the night train traveling from Paris to Rome.

Conrad Veidt and Cedric Hardwicke head this superior piece of early British cinema here lovingly restored by Network and the BFI. A key piece of thirties cinema, as the first British ensemble piece, Rome Express has excellent production values -Although filmed in the confines of a London studio director Walter Forde really gives the impression the train is in motion throughout - and a script that mixes genuine tension especially towards the finale with a dash of humour making this the pioneer of train thrillers that would inspire a genre in itself.

Veidt, probably best known as Major Strasser in Casablanca (1943), is excellent here. He's so shady Mexicans would take a siesta in his shadow, yet he's almost eclipsed for star power by the stunning Esther Ralston as a silent movie star on a promotional tour, an actress whose beauty seems almost crystal like in the stunning black and white photography.

Remade in 1948 as the inferior Sleeping Car to Trieste, Rome Express is an early example of British proto-Noir and is well worth seeking out.

[nicholasrope]

Originally Posted by MrBarlow

A.W.O.L. 1990.

A French foreign legionnaire goes on the run to see his dying brother, only to get involved in underground fighting to help support his family.

JCVD does what he knows best...kicking some ass for money and meeting a street husler Harrison Page who becomes his manager and near promoter and introduces him to Deborah Rennard, a big money fight promoter while our hero is being hunted down by the legion's two heavy handed guys. Van Damme doesn't mind having the shit kicked out of him and can take a beating and dish it out. Throw back to the late 80s early 90s with the soundtrack that is quite catchy.

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Took me a while to realize that Michel Qussi (Tong Po) was actually in this, same with Bloodsport.

Also Billy Blanks had a blink and you'll miss him type of cameo, just makes me want to wish that he and Van Damme was the final battle.

[nicholasrope]

A Prayer For The Dying

Mickey Rouke is a Irish IRA Hitman who after a hit realizes that a Priest played by Bob Hoskins witnessed the Murder and therefore decides to protect him and his Niece from his former Bosses. Liam Neeson has a role also in a Film which by judging by it's cover, looks like it's an Action Packed affair but it's more of a talk/thinking kind of Film. While Rouke's Irish accent is a bit jarring, the Film isn't all that bad.

On a side note, this was on Talking Pictures, they've been showing some interesting mid 80's-early 90's Films recently.

Greedy

Kirk Douglas is a very rich mean old man who's family is jockeying for position in order to inherit his fortune through back stabbing and insults however when the realize that a younger woman may get it instead, they enlist a forgotten Nephew played by Michael J. Fox to help them. Nancy Travis co-stars as well in a entertaining Comedy with a twist ending you could see coming.

Gran Turismo

Based on the True Story of the 1st Gran Turismo player to become an actual Racing Driver. David Harbour is amazing as the gruff Team Leader who is tasked with getting him ready and Orlando Bloom is the brainchild of the operation. Djimon Hounsou and Geri Halliwell Horner co-star in a very entertaining Film in which you don't have to be a fan of the game or Motor Racing to enjoy.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Berlin Express (1948)

During the opening credits, a notice reads, "Actual scenes in Frankfurt and Berlin were photographed by authorization of the United States Army of Occupation, the British Army of Occupation, the Soviet Army of Occupation."

Jacques Tourneur's post war noir is possibly the film that birthed the whole Cold War spy genre some ten years later. Written by the legendary Curt Siodmak this is as much a documentary as a film, especially to begin with. This docudrama's most memorable aspect is the views of the bombed out cities of Frankfurt and Berlin which create a suitably grim and shadowy atmosphere in which this film of the disappearance of a German peace campaigner and the search for him by an assortment of fellow military attached passengers from the Berlin express train he was traveling on, takes place.

Once all the events are uncovered we are left with a remarkably touching ending as the train finally gets to Berlin and the British, Russian, French and American passengers we have followed throughout all say their farewells as they depart for their relevant sectors of the occupied capital.

Well worth seeking out.