barbett-1 Reviews

September Storm (1960)

Fun, mindless adventure flick

[5/10 · 25 March 2024]

September Storm is obviously one of those kind of movies they just don't make anymore. In the 1950s and early 60s, the ingredients for an adventure movie were an exotic locale, a handsome hero, a sassy and pretty girl and a couple of bad guys. This movie has all these ingredients and they are mostly put to good use. The story itself is simple: two shady characters convince a Majorcan sailor to use his boss's yacht to recover sunken gold. A lovely American model is thrown in to keep things interesting. The voyage leads to cross and double-cross as the men quarrel over the money and the "dame". Underwater scenes are actually filmed very well considering the period, although the use of a rubber shark is unconvincing. There are several cringey moments of sexism in the dialog that are reflective of the period. Perhaps the most outstanding is when the bad guy says something to the effect of "Why do I gotta cook? - we gotta woman".

There is some glaring unevenness in the characters. One moment they are literally trying to kill one another and in the following scene they're all one big happy crew. The ending is kind of open-ended and a tad unsatisfying but at least nobody got killed.

Poor Things (2023)

Well, that was different!

[8/10 · 29 January 2024]

Poor Things is a strange little movie and seems to revel in it's unique oddness. Set in an alternate, steampunk world, the visuals can be both fascinating and jarring at the same time. There is an abundance of explicit sex scenes ("furious jumping") and some mild gore. Emma Stone plays a young woman, Bella, who has had the brain of her unborn child transplanted into her by the strangely amoral Dr. Baxter. She develops from an obnoxious brat into a coldly logical, yet highly insightful traveler through a world of contradictions. Through her experiences subjects such as social mores, capitalism, feminism and politics are examined. It is an absorbing tale but is sure to offend the sensibilities of some. I found it an enjoyable, often humorous film, but can only recommend it with a bit of caution.

Mean Girls (2024)

Great musical adaptation

[8/10 · 14 January 2024]

The new iteration of Mean Girls is a very entertaining movie. The songs are great as are the performances by a young and talented lead cast. Renee Rapp and Angourie Rice sing and act wonderfully as the rival Plastics but, in my opinion, Auli'i Cravalho stole the show as the outcast girl, Janis. I came to the theater not expecting a musical, but ended up pleasantly surprised by the energetic singing and choreography. Despite the musical emphasis, the film still retains the wry, somewhat subversive wit of the original. While I enjoyed the original, this is one of those rare instances where the remake is clearly a quality production. It is a real treat if you enjoy musical.

Anyone But You (2023)

Average rom-com fare

[5/10 · 1 January 2024]

Neither brilliant nor dreadful, "Anyone But You" features a cast of characters that are unbelievably attractive and, apparently, insanely wealthy. It stars Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeny's breasts in the formulatic equivalent of a Hallmark Movie knock-off. You know the drill - two perfect young people meet, are instantly attracted to each other, are separated by a misunderstanding with hilarious hijinks ensuing. The misunderstanding is eventually resolved, love blooms once more, and all ends well.

What sets this film apart is excellent cinematography with lovely wide-angle views of the Australian countryside. The supporting cast is very capable although the Australian men are played as oafish stereotypes. Glen Powell plays his part well, but Sydney Sweeny appears to be reading her lines from a teleprompter offscreen. Not the worst movie out this holiday season and enjoyable as long as you refrain from high expectations.

Christmas as Usual (2023)

Much better than most Christmas rom-coms.

[9/10 · 20 December 2023]

Every Christmas, I watch what seems like hundreds of cheaply made, formulatic Christmas rom-coms. Why? Because my wife loves them and I love my wife. They mostly follow the same trope:high-powered, career-focused, big-city woman discovers the true meaning of Christmas when she travels to small, Christmasy town and finds love with a big-hearted lumberjack-type guy. There's usually a glitch in the romance (which turns out to be some misunderstanding) they make up, kiss, snow starts falling and The End. Christmas as Usual, at the very least, changes things up. It centers around a newly engaged biracial couple (Norwegian Thea and Indian Jashen) who travel to Norway at Christmas time to announce their engagement to her family. There is an almost immediate culture clash as the family was not expecting Thea to show up with a non-white beau. The clash is heightened by Jashen's difficulty in accepting the family's elaborate yuletide traditions. As a result, Thea delays announcing the engagement...resulting in the plot-required conflict.

I found the culture clash aspect interesting as I'm not familiar with either Norwegian or Indian culture. Jashen questions why atheists would go to church on Christmas. Thea's family is surprised to find that Jashen's Hindu family celebrates Christmas. Usually, a movie will contrast American culture to that of another country. As an American, I identify with the customs and mores of my own culture and only find one side of the equation to be strange. In this film, both sides seems strange which is kind of refreshing.

The movie has high production values and is dubbed very well. At certain times, the anecdotes are vaguely reminiscent of My Big Fat Greek Wedding which I also liked.

While Christmas as Usual does not aspire to be a great film, it is much better than the cookie cutter American Christmas rom-coms that come out by the dozens each year. It's definitely worth a watch.

Somewhere in Time (1980)

An Enduring Classic Romance

[10/10 · 26 November 2023]

Somewhere In Time is a beautifully told tale of two insanely gorgeous people separated by an injustice of time. There have been plenty of critical reviews of this film but I can't find much to fault it. The movie involves lovers united, separated, and re-united by time travel. This is where many viewers get hung up on the details of time travel and criticize the movie's "realism". Many of these critics will eagerly accept dragons, Klingons, boy wizards, Orcs and Ewoks yet choke on time travel in this particular film. Of course, they're missing the point as this is a romantic drama with an almost incidental fantasy element.

Christopher Reeve sheds the tights and cape to portray a playwright (Richard) who becomes obsessed with a portrait of a beautiful stage actress (Elise) from long ago. As Elise, Jane Seymour looks stunning in the period costumes even though she is totally covered from neck to foot. Both actors are convincing and charming in their roles. Christopher Plummer plays Elise's manager with equal parts menace and elegance.

Filming was done largely at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan which added to the film's excellent capture of period ambiance. The final scene is an unabashed tear-jerker but very well done and clearly inspired a later Hollywood blockbuster.

Murphy's Romance (1985)

Quirky and Genuine

[9/10 · 26 November 2023]

Murphy's Romance is one of those small, intimate movies that slowly, but surely, develops the relationship between two mismatched people. It manages to avoid the tropes and cliches found in most romantic comedies. It is full of atmosphere and is gentle in tone and pace. There is no spectacle or hyped-up drama. It's a simple story of a blossoming love between a young divorced mom and a tough old widower. Both are independent-minded individuals neither of whom are looking for a relationship This is one of Sally Field's best performances in my opinion - very soulful. James Garner essentially plays James Garner, which isn't a bad thing. He's laconic, wise, smart-alecky and perfect in the role. I have no reservations in recommending this great little movie.

Love Is in the Air (2023)

Sweet and Sappy

[5/10 · 25 November 2023]

I'm fairly certain nobody involved in "Love is in the Air" intended to make great cinema. Even the title shows a lack of effort (the movie involves airplanes-wink,wink). That being said, this is a formulatic romance with the noble woman business owner at odds with the (initially) rotten corporate tool of a man. Through a series of trials and tribulations, the corporate jerk becomes a decent human being and the pair fall in love. There is the traditional third act drama where the lass discovers the lad's original evil plan and they break up only to reconcile five minutes later. If you threw some tinsel and snow at this production it would easily be a Hallmark Christmas movie. There is absolutely nothing new or original here.

That being said, the scenery is beautifully shot and the acting was not terrible. I feel this movie was intended to be a vehicle for the attractive leading lady who is a well-known singer in Australia (where the film was shot). This is an inoffensive little picture that isn't particularly good or particularly bad. If you're into improbable romantic comedies you could find it enjoyable.

Next Goal Wins (2023)

Small movie, big heart

[8/10 · 23 November 2023]

Next Goal Wins is a little film based loosely on the true story of the abysmally unsuccessful American Samoa soccer team. Essentially, it is a fish-out-of-water tale of an aggressive,alcoholic coach forced to work with a spectacularly incompetent team. Any comparisons to Bad News Bears, Mighty Ducks or Major League are justified. The difference here is the contrast between the win-at-any-cost drive of the coach versus the laid-back attitude of the team. It's not simply a case of the team resisting the guidance of the coach. Instead,it is the team and the coach failing to understand each other. While the team sincerely wants to do better, they also want to maintain their culturally significant priorities - church, tradition, work and family among others. This clashes with the culture of the coach who wants them to sacrifice all to succeed.

There are thinly developed subplots throughout - the soccer official who wants to restore national pride, the disgraced goalie and, most significantly, the skilled player who is also non-binary. While these characters lack detailed stories, they further illustrate where their priorities lie.

The ending is somewhat predictable but also heart-warming and satisfying. This is not a big spectacle like Waititi's" "Thor:Ragnarok" or politically edgy like "JoJo Rabbit" but it is a good film.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

A Classic For Sure, But...

[8/10 · 21 October 2023]

Don Siegal's Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a master class of how you can do a lot with very little. It is a truly terrifying sci-fi movie with no bug-eyed monsters, goofy spaceships or laser beams. Special effects appear to be limited to paper mache pods and soap bubbles. Instead of visual wizardry, the film relies on good acting and a plot that continually builds tension. The tiny town of Santa Mira is being taken over as alien duplicates replace the townspeople. Eventually, only stalwart Dr. Bennell and the radiantly elegant Becky remain. But they are hunted down by the alien doppelgangers who want to prevent them from continuing their takeover of planet Earth.

The film is justly regarded as a classic, yet there are glaring lapses of logic and continuity. Early on, the doctor is called to a friend's home where a strange body lies on a pool table. Four people carry on a conversation and have drinks around the body without mentioning how it got there. All agree not to call the authorities. The production of the duplicates is initially shown as a gradual process but, later, becomes an instantaneous occurrence that happens as soon as a person falls asleep. Sometimes the transformation involves the presence of a pod and other times it doesn't.

Flaws not withstanding, this is a must-see thriller and should not be missed.

Crimes of the Future (2022)

Gross but Engrossing

[8/10 · 13 October 2023]

I found Crimes of the Future to be a fascinating and unconventional film. Unlike most "dystopian future" films, it has little action and there is no clear delineation between good guys and bad guys. In fact, all the characters are seriously messed up. The premise is that human evolution has developed in bizarre ways. Many people can no longer feel pain so they turn to surgical mutilation for sensory gratification. These individuals are also immune to infections. As a weird sociological manifestation, these surgeries become spectator events and the resulting mutilations become regarded as high art. The superstar of this strangeness is Saul Tenser, an evolutionary misfit who regularly grows new organs within his body. These organs are removed by the lovely Caprice as part of their "performance art".

The somewhat sparse plot centers on Saul being recruited to infiltrate a gang that wants to guide evolution so that humans can digest plastic. It's all too freakish to explain but, in the context of this future time, it makes as much sense as everything else.

As mentioned, there is little plot and even less character development. But the film explores the societal and personal effects that occur when people become less "human". It's interesting to note that the evolved humans aren't regarded as freaks (think X-men) but, instead are readily accepted and exploited. Exhibitionism is taken to the furthest limits without hesitation. The concept of what is beautiful becomes completely perverted. It's a lot to take in.

There is, unsurprisingly, a ton of body horror and gore involved. But, in this case it is mostly warranted. The effects are impressive and drive the plot, but for the squeamish this movie is a hard pass.

Night of the Comet (1984)

Fun 80's B-Movie - don't take it seriously

[8/10 · 6 October 2023]

Night of the Comet is a hybrid sci-fi/comedy/social commentary film that is a microcosm of 1980s American culture. It follows two wonderfully shallow teenage sisters (Reg and Sam) as they adapt to life in a post-apocalyptic world. A passing comet has turned most of the world's population to red dust. The survivors are either murderous zombies or those who have been spared any damage by virtue of unintentional steel shielding.

Reg (the older, less vapid sister) works at a movie theater and spends the fateful night with her boyfriend in the steel-lined projection booth. Sister Sam,meanwhile, has a spat with her stepmother and spends the night in a steel storage shed. Reg quickly deduces the reality of the situation but Sam is in denial. She cites an apparently live radio station broadcasting as proof that life is continuing as normal. They make their way through deserted streets of LA to the station where they find it is broadcasting a pre-recorded program. They team up with a trucker, Hector, who has also been attracted by the radio broadcast.

While Hector continues on to San Diego to check on his family, the girls amuse themselves by shooting up cars with submachine guns and pillaging a mall. Eventually they are discovered by a group of scientists who survived the comet's immediate effects but are now succumbing due to allowing their bunker's ventilation ducts being left open. They kidnap Sam and take her to their facility for study. It is revealed that they also have taken two surviving children who they intend to drain of blood hoping to find antibodies. Hector returns and reteams with Reg to save Sam and the children. The film concudes with Reg, Hector and the children form a family unit to maintain "the burden of civilization" while Sam drives of in a convertible with a handsome survivor.

As I mentioned, this a B-movie with a low budget and a cast of relative unknowns. Nevertheless, it has decent production values and is quite witty. It lampoons valley girl culture, consumerism and the self-indulgence of the Reagan years. It also parodies the intellectual elite as the genius scientists are doomed by a very simple oversight. It's also interesting that this film is one of the few action films of the era to feature a pair of female leads who prove to be badasses.

Night of the Comet is definitely dated but is still a fun watch. It won't change your life but it is amusing.

Age of Consent (1969)

Two distinguished actors in a small gem of a film

[8/10 · 5 October 2023]

Age of Consent is a strange but wonderful little movie that is short on plot but long on character development and atmosphere. James Mason plays a successful but unfulfilled middle-aged artist who retreats to an isolated island to find inspiration. The island (on Australia's Great Barrier Reef) is populated by a number of quirky locals. Among them is 17 year old Cora (played by 24 year old Helen Mirren) who becomes his model and, eventually, his muse. Their relationship begins as a mutually beneficial business agreement. Initially, he pays her to supply him with fresh seafood and, eventually, to model nude. Despite the suggestive title, their relationship never becomes physical, even though they help each other grow and develop significantly. The film is essentially a "coming-of-age" story for both the young girl and the older man.

A couple of things really stood out for me in this film. Firstly, James Mason never looked so fit and tanned as he does here. I've been used to seeing him more as an urbane, sophisticated type, but he pulls off the beach bum look and persona very ably.

Secondly, I thought about how plucky Helen Mirren must have been to undertake this role. In her first leading role she is: paired with a screen legend; on location far from her UK home and, most significantly required to speak much of her lines while completely nude. Much has been written about her nudity in this movie but I will simply say she looks magnificent. Of special interest to me was Ms. Mirren's athleticism while freediving (again, nude) on the reef. She looked very comfortable underwater. I'm rather certain a stunt double wasn't used.

I would be remiss without mentioning the wonderful performance by Godfrey, the very talented dog who played Mr Mason's loyal companion.

I really enjoyed this movie. It moves slowly but is a nice story of two very different people helping each other to fulfill their potential.

Hard Ticket to Hawaii (1987)

Charlie's Angels on Silicone!!!

[5/10 · 30 September 2023]

It's apparent from the get-go that nobody involved in this motion picture was striving to create high art. Every aspect of this film is poorly executed. The plot involves two top-heavy bimbos who operate an air freight business with a tiny single-engine plane in Hawaii. Right. But the business, in reality, is a cover for The Agency, a super secret government...agency. The bim...protagonists are, in fact a tough as nails secret agent and a random woman in the Witness Protection program (?). Okay. Anyway, the frequently topless duo stumble across a diamond smuggling/drug running ring while delivering a honeymoon couple and a mutant disease-carrying monster snake to a remote location. The Playboy bunnies escape the island but not before the snake escapes from their plane. The ladies then call in reinforcements in the form of two macho, brain-dead himbos who spout the most stratospherically insipid dialog ever put on film. Hilarity ensues. One of the himb...male agents blows up a skateboard riding assassin with a rocket launcher and dispatches the assassin's blow-up sex doll with the same weapon. The mutant disease-carrying snake (a prop that looks like it was created in 4th Grade art class) kills the honeymooners in such a horrible manner that the tough-as-nails Agency ladies shriek like little girls on their first roller coaster ride. The bad guys kidnap the Agency's beautiful liason but only after we watch her change clothes, exposing her breasts for an adequate view. The mutant killer snake pops out of a toilet, causing the tough-as-nails lady agent to shriek in horror. Not to worry, as she is saved by one of the hunks who crashes his motorcycle through a wall and cleanly takes of the snake's head WITH A ROCKET LAUNCHER. And so on and so on. Eventually, after more topless scenes,it all ends in a hilariously orchestrated shootout where the bad guys meet bloody ends, a helicopter gets blown up and our heroes and heroines all survive and get topless.

This is the perfect movie for adolescent boys to pleasure themselves with. Beautiful topless women and ludicrous violence are in abundance. If like good dialog, competent acting and a coherent plot - then Hard Ticket is a Hard Pass. But, if you like surgically enhanced breasts this movie is for you.

Lifeforce (1985)

A strange vampire/sci-fi/zombie hybrid

[8/10 · 22 September 2023]

Lifeforce is an interesting film that juxtaposes vampire, zombie and sci-fi genres. It is simultaneously ridiculous and compelling in its telling of space vampires who bring a reign of death and chaos to modern day London. The film has been recapped extensively in other reviews so I'll just stick to critique. The plot is as looney as you would expect from a film about "space vampires". The acting is not anything special. Steve Railsback's character is regulated to being sweaty and obsessive. Patrick Stewart (the venerable Captain Jean-Luc Picard) gives an over-the-top performance as an alien-possessed gent who ends up speaking in a disturbingly feminine voice. Mathilda May doesn't really have to act as she mostly just walks around displaying her big, beautiful...eyes. The special effects, while not spectacular, are pretty good considering when this movie was made. Although, not a great film, Lifeforce is strangely fascinating and keeps the viewer waiting to see what happens next.

A Bay of Blood (1971)

Okay slasher film with some flaws

[5/10 · 21 September 2023]

A Bay of Blood is apparently the seminal classic slasher film. While being generally entertaining it was made on a low budget and suffers from a lack of production standards. The cinematography is pretty poor and the acting is really flat. Aside from screaming, there is little genuine emotion displayed throughout the film. The uninspired dialog may be due to less than enthusiastic dubbing and the original Italian version may be more convincing. There is an extended sequence of very silly young people getting murdered in an abandoned house which is totally unrelated to the plot. This sequence is only redeemed by the creative and bloody means by which these idiots are dispatched. The main plot revolves around a number of privileged folks killing each other to acquire a property on a bay (of blood) that has good investment potential. Despite the title, the last two murders are bloodless and uncreative: the busty blonde is merely choked to death while the "victors" of the murder olympics are gunned down from a distance. Not a great film IMO but an interesting watch if only to see how it influenced later films of the genre.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023)

Kind of a disappointment

[5/10 · 21 September 2023]

I enjoyed the first two movies in this trilogy(?) very much, but My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 really fell flat. It seemed like a series of meaningless little events padding a rather weak premise of Toula following her father's dying wish to bring his journal to his childhood buddies in Greece. Of course, locating his dispersed chums is difficult and creates the central theme of the story. Thrown in are some poorly developed new characters including a dopey "mayor", a menacing old woman and a previously unknown relative. Also, a contrived romance between a Greek boy and a Syrian girl is shoehorned in to supply the prerequisite "Greek Wedding". There are very few laughs and a fair amount of implausability in this messy Greek salad. If you're a fan of the previous two movies, I'd advise you to wait till it comes out on video and save yourself some money.

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

An Transfxing Experience

[9/10 · 15 September 2023]

I love history but rarely enjoy biopics. Usually they glamorize the person while being overly simplistic. Such is not the case with Oppenheimer. This is a multilayered tale which explores not just what the brilliant man achieved, but how he felt and what he thought. As such, it is a psychological introspective of a man's intellectual, emotional and sexual motivations. The story flashes back and forth between time periods but really isn't difficult to follow. The use of flashbacks effectively illustrate how Oppenheimer's past experiences influence his future actions. The whole story is brilliantly framed by a professional/personal conflict between Oppenheimer and a politically ambitious Lewis Strauss. The film has already been extensively reviewed and lauded so I won't go on. Suffice it to say I highly recommend it.

When Worlds Collide (1951)

An early sci-fi classic-somewhat flawed but still good

[8/10 · 12 August 2023]

When Worlds Collide is a very earnest film dealing with an inevitable apocalypse and how mankind will deal with it. The story centers around a group scientists and technicians scrambling to build a spaceship in time for a small group of men and women to flee to another planet before earth is incinerated by a wayward star.

Anyone looking for hard science in this sci-fi classic will be sorely disappointed. For instance, a civilization that hasn't even launched a satellite is able to construct a pretty nifty space ark in only eight months. While I'm no astronomer, I'm fairly certain the physics don't reflect reality. Also, it seems implausible that a complex effort to land 40 some people on a newly discovered planet would not check to first see if the atmosphere was breathable.

In terms of acting, not much is required for this kind of movie. The male lead, Richard Derr, deliver his lines ably. Barbara Rush is 1950s pretty. The chief heavy, played by John Hoyt, is nasty to the core. A little treat is seeing Hayden Rorke (who played Dr. Bellows on I Dream of Jeannie) in a small role early in the film.

Thrown into the mix is the prerequisite love triangle which is neatly resolved when one of the suitors suddenly becomes preturnaturally generous and steps aside.

Despite all these shortcomings, I liked this movie. Considering that it was made in 1951, the film managed to pull off some decent special effects on a small budget. The only exception is the background paintings which are subpar and in the final scenes are ridiculously cartoonish. The story itself is very thoughtful and examines how people cope with the specter of impending doom. It spares us the sci-fi trope of invasion by bug-eyed monsters from outer space. All and all, this works well when viewed as the period piece it is.

Don't Worry Darling (I) (2022)

Florence Pugh shows awesome acting chops.

[7/10 · 8 August 2023]

Don't Worry Darling initially appears to be a Stepford Wives knock-off but turns out to be ultimately more sinister and disturbing. The movie is set in a seemingly utopian 1950s desert town where all the brilliant men work for the Victory Project while their glamorous wives clean, cook, shop and lounge contentedly by the pool.

Florence Pugh plays Alice, one of the perfect wives who witnesses a friend commit suicide, leading her to question the truth about the Victory Project, the town, and her husband (played by Harry Styles). In the course of her investigation, she begins to have apparent flashbacks to an alternate existence very unlike the one she is perceiving. She agonizingly transforms from her "perfect " persona to a paranoid and apparently delusional state. Ms. Pugh shows deeply affecting emotion during her character's emotional decline and eventual resurrection as she finds the strength to break free from the deception that surrounds her.

Chris Pine co-stars as the manipulative leader of the Victory Project and Olivia Wilde gives a great performance as Alice's friend who has a dark secret of her own. The cinematography is excellent, capturing the glitzy feel of the 1950s against a spectacular desert background. The ending has a satisfying twist that resolves the mysteries neatly. I was not disappointed at all.

Barbie (I) (2023)

It is what it is

[6/10 · 8 August 2023]

Barbie is a fun little movie that is, at its core, a satire on traditional gender roles in society. Thrown in is some mild commentary on materialism and how reality seldom (if ever) lives up to our youthful expectations. Some people have claimed the movie posits a subversive anti-male agenda but I can't see it that way. It's simply a movie, based on a toy, that dares to actually not take itself seriously. Look at other films in this genre such as Battleship, GI Joe and the Transformers films. All take ludicrous concepts and imbue them with a ridiculous amount of dark "realism". Barbie doesn't do that. It reveals that it's a joke in the very first scene.

Is this a great movie? Absolutely not. But it is fun, entertaining summertime fluff. Margo Robbie and Ryan Gosling both look and act perfectly plastic. The set design is brilliantly colorful and the whole thing moves at a pleasant pace. See it and enjoy.

Logan's Run (1976)

Classic 1970s sci-fi

[9/10 · 16 July 2023]

The 1970s produced a slew of socially-conscious sci-fi movies ( Soylent Green, A Boy and His Dog, WestWorld, Rollerball) that managed to be entertaining and thought-provoking even while being a bit on the cheesy side. Logan's Run is the epitome of the genre, taking on contempoary concerns ranging from the Generation Gap, overpopulation, the environment, out-of-control technology and distrust of the Establishment.

The film is set in a domed city of the future populated by beautiful young people leading wonderfully hedonistic lives controlled by a central computer. The dome protects them from a toxic outside world ravaged by war and ecological disaster. The only downside is that everyone is equipped with a life clock placed (inconveniently) in their palm. At age 30, the crystal-like clock turns red and the citizen reports for a ritual called Carousel in which the participant is essentially vaporized. However, the populace is led to believe the participants were "renewed" and still alive. But not everyone believes this and an underground movement of "Runners" attempts to escape the city one-by-one to find the rumored Sanctuary.

Enter the dashing Logan (Michael York) a Sandman who tracks down and kills Runners. Logan loves his job and is good at it. He meets his polar opposite in the gorgeous Jessica, a supporter of the Runners and a believer in Sanctuary. Shortly thereafter, Logan is tasked with infiltrating the Runners and finding and destroying Sanctuary. Soon, he and Jessica are on the run with Logan's fellow Sandman, Francis, in hot pursuit. The fugitive pair eventually escape the dome but find no Sanctuary but instead find a run-down Washington DC occupied by one old man and his cats. To give more of the plot away would be a disservice to those who haven't seen the film.

On the downside, the special effects are not good at all. The dialog is a bit stilted and predictable. Also, I've always wondered how two people with perfect English accents are living in a domed city walking distance from Washington DC.

I like this movie a lot but viewers who didn't experience the 70s may have a hard time relating to the themes and the low tech effects.

The Red Baron (2008)

Kind of a disappointment

[6/10 · 16 July 2023]

Der Rote Baron is a biopic chronicling the wartime experiences of Germany's famous flying ace, Manfred von Richthofen. As with most biopics, the film is highly fictionalized with a loose framework of factual occurances underpinning a large body of conjecture and imagination. A great deal of screen time is spent on the tumultuous relationship between Richthofen and his nurse/lover. There is no historical support for the existence of this relationship. It is merely padding to add a emotional aspect to what would, otherwise, be a straightforward war story.

The acting seems a little wooden but, given that these are mostly German actors speaking English, it can be understood.

The costumes and sets all invoke the period rather nicely. I'm not an authority on the vehicles/weapons/uniforms of the era but the settings look and feel accurate.

The CGI aircraft are rendered in great detail and are probably historically accurate. However, the aerial battle scenes look somewhat unbelievable. The planes often seem to defy the laws of physics and the sky appears to be crowded with closely packed planes swarming like flies. It's kind of like the Death Star battle in Star Wars but with biplanes instead of spaceships.

This is not a bad movie, but it is by no means a great one. I think real war movie buffs will be disappointed.

No Hard Feelings (2023)

Raunchy Good Fun

[8/10 · 10 July 2023]

No Hard Feelings is an enjoyable and light comedy with an engaging cast of non-A-list actors, save for the luminous Jennifer Lawrence. She plays an edgy, foul-mouthed, down-on-her-luck young lady who answers an ad placed by two concerned parents looking for a woman to bring their introverted teen son "out of his shell" (wink,wink) before he leaves for college. Dad is played by the only other A-lister, Matthew Broderick, as kind of a new-age hipster/hippie hybrid. Andrew Barth Feldman plays the awkward teen to perfection, playing his role with authentic teen angst and insecurity.

Despite her character's gritty disposition, Lawrence is sensitive and sweetly beautiful. The movie takes a brief turn to the unbelievable when a completely nude JLaw kicks the butts of three punks on a dark beach. Nevertheless, it is a fun scene and certainly doesn't detract from the story.

No Hard Feelings is definitely one of the better recent comedies with a minimum of saccharine but lots of heart. It is easy to recommend.

Aquaman (2018)

SOLID SUPERHERO ENTERTAINMENT

[10/10 · 20 June 2023]

To start with let me first confess that:

A. I'm not afflicted with a childish prejudice against any superhero movie that isn't made by Marvel

B. I'm not going to trash a movie just because the lead actress is involved in an ugly dispute with her ex.

That being said, Aquaman is a great action movie that delivers impressive special effects, a coherent story (no planet-hopping or multiverses) and competent acting. Anyone coming to a superhero movie expecting high art and Shakesperian acting is somewhat delusional. Also, the reviews citing the scientific implausability of certain aspects of the film are laughable. When we live in a world where we easily accept boy wizards, Hobbits and spaceships that roar and make "pew-pew-pew" sounds it seems disingenuous to criticize a movie about an underwater kingdom. Aquaman is a movie where it is necessary to suspend disbelief - not unlike any offering by Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars or Marvel.

This movie is a fun spectacle with lots of entertaining visuals from giant ships being thrown ashore to armies mounted on sea creatures facing off against each other in grand battles. Jason Momoa and Amber Heard will never win any acting Oscar's, but they turn in decent performances. Momoa makes a suitable conflicted hero and is certainly built like a superhero. It was fun to see the usually delicate appearing Nicole Kidman kicking ass with some convincing martial arts moves. To me, the most convincing visual effects involved making people look like like they were actually underwater. Their movements looked natural and even their hair moved convincingly.

So if you can relax a little and remember that you are watching a comic book movie, you'll find Aquaman a pleasant experience.