Nice, likable fable about a race to land the first person on the Moon. The Russians and the Americans are locked in battle again to be the first nation to get a person on the Moon. The Americans opt for a barely space worthy civilian to represent the US in an effort to match a similarly progandistic move dreamed up by the Russians. A last second flurry of preparation sends James Caan rocketing to the Moon with Robert Duval acting as his more experienced coach. The whole thing is drenched in melodrama but don’t let that deter you. You will likely become engrossed. This is an early effort from eventually important director Robert Altman. He apparently acted as a director for hire during this production and had to follow studio orders which did not sit well with him. A few years later, he would take an overall more controlling grip in the creation of his films. “Countdown” moves along briskly well and there are a few suspenseful moments on the trip. The 1960’s era technology on display is eye opening and somewhat dated at the same time. Watch this film at least once.
Category: action
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“GO, GO, GO!!!!” – NO SCRIPT CAN LIVE WITHOUT THIS CLICHE.
These days, I don’t think you will find an action movie that does not include the phrase, “GO, GO, GO!!!” screamed out by a character in full flight motion. And you’ll probably hear this shouted several times more throughout the stock chase, pursuit, frantic action sequences that clog up these crazed action vehicles. Is it an entitlement to the action film scripter to include this chestnut multiple times amidst all the sweat, smoke, fire and explosions? I guess it must be. Everyone else includes it. Why don’t I? It is most certainly a cliché lazily included because what else would someone say who is running away from or toward a calamitous situation? How about: How do I get out of this alive? I am sure it occurs in a movie the likes of The Mummy Returns. A lot people running around, shooting guns and cracking jokes at the same time. Ugh. BTW – DOOM (2005) is a main offender of this fine tradition. LOL!
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Bill Paxton Passes Away At 61
We just lost another great performer. Actor Bill Paxton just recently passed away. I have fond memories of Paxton as the cowardly but ultimately heroic Private Hudson in “Aliens”. There were also noteworthy acting turns in the science fiction and horror genre films “Predator 2” and “Near Dark”. He had another great role as a treasure hunter in “Trespass”.
I have heard many good stories of Paxton, the man. He was described as being a very friendly, warm human being. Our sympathies go out to his loved ones.
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EVEREST – 2015 – TRAILER
The limits of endurance are tested for those who choose to scale the highest spot in the world, Mount Everest. The pitfalls involved include the mind and body altering effects of high altitude, sudden, unpredictable onslaughts of violent weather, fending off the encroaching cold and avoiding frostbite. Climbing the mountain has always presented a formidable challenge for those who attempt to reach its summit. Along came Rob Hall who devised “Adventure Consultants”. This was a venture that presented a group ascent of Everest under his, his assistants’ and his team of Sherpa’s guidance. The venture proved to be both profitable and influential as a score of similar businesses also offered their services. Now, those less trained and unaccustomed to the rigors of climbing could receive a helping hand, for a sizable fee, to attain the distinction of having scaled the legendary Everest. And the crowds of climbers appeared. But this overcrowding would lead to some very dangerous and deadly situations.
This movie is based more or less on Jon Krakauer’s record of the 1996 doomed climb, “Into Thin Air”. No better an authority on the story as he was a member of Hall’s team. I think this is a pretty engrossing film. A sense of wonder and expectation for Everest petrifying into despair, dread, nightmares.
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CHATO’S LAND – 1972
“Chato’s Land” was a late entry in the Western film genre that had proliferated at the movie theaters for 50 years but started to fall out of favor by the 1970’s. To draw in viewers who might be lured away by other fare, some of these latter day “oaters” resorted to adding more violence and depravity. That sensibility shows up in this film, a blood soaked tale of a hastily drawn together posse of cruds who go off in pursuit of a wrongly accused Indian who kills a lawman in their town.
As the misbegotten mob gets drawn deeper into his “Land”, a forbidding desert Hell, they become easy prey for the fugitive Chato. He manages to outwit the posse and pick them off one by one, in sometimes gruesome fashion. Charles Bronson is in the title role but his recited dialogue is nearly non existent and composed of one note.
This movie is particularly interesting for the interplay of the cast playing the posse. Jack Palance, Richard Basehart, James Whitmore, Simon Oakland and Ralph Waite are all fine performers and they work well off of each other.
Nicely shot on location by Michael Winner. A memorable music score accompanies too.
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THE CAVE – 2005
What happens when you go to explore a massive underground cave/water way and you get about three miles in and one mile down from the surface of the earth? Naturally, you run into hulking, ravenous monstrosities that can see in the dark better than you and are intelligent enough to trap and hunt you. And, much to your dismay, there is no dependable way out of this cave and the nightmarish situation you find yourself in. (Sounds like work. Just kidding.) Very effective horror/thriller that stays engaging until about the last 10 minutes of the movie. By that point, we become well aware of the true appearance of the monstrous underground dwellers. Maybe not so scary after we get more familiar with the beasts. Prior to that point, creepy!
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RACE WITH THE DEVIL – 1975
Ah!!! Here is a delightful little trifle called “Race with the Devil”. Two vacationing couples take their RV out into the wild and make the mistake of setting up camp smack dab in the middle of human sacrifice country! Truly terrible luck. After this unfortunate incident, the movie becomes one long chase sequence as the blood thirsty devil worshippers continue in hot pursuit of the couples. Great action and some nice turns by the always dependable actors Warren Oates and Peter Fonda. This one is definitely not an Easy Ride.
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THE GODFATHER EPIC
Spend this Labor Day weekend absorbing this 7 plus hour combination of Frances Ford Coppola’s two finest “Godfather” entries. There is a lot of footage included that didn’t appear in “GF I or GF II” that fills in some of the storyline and weaves these two productions together. Beautiful cinematography, outstanding acting and eminently watchable storytelling all combine to make this a 7 hour viewing experience well worth the effort put in. Coppola’s directorial masterpiece, in my opinion, and magnificent acting from Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. You’ve got three days. Watch it more than once!
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Riddick vs. The Rock – 2016
Check out the details of this juicy feud which erupted on the set of “Fast and Furious 8”. Seems Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and co-star Vin Diesel are at odds. This story unraveled on August 9, 2016. Don’t you just want to go see the latest installment of this franchise now?
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/the-rock-and-vin-diesel-are-beefin%E2%80%99/ar-BBvslBg?ocid=spartandhp -
FIRST BLOOD – 1982 – TRAILER
My favorite Stallone actioner, “First Blood” was the first and best screen appearance of Vietnam Green Beret John J. Rambo. Rambo strays in to the wrong town when its hard ass sheriff takes an immediate dislike to him and throws him in jail. Rambo’s treatment in incarceration brings on flashbacks of his torture at the hands of the enemy in a prisoner of war camp in Vietnam. All Hell breaks loose as Rambo busts out of jail and goes on the lam into the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. The sheriff then takes his personal vendetta against Rambo to extremes and enlists an army of law enforcement to bring the fugitive from Justice in. Great action sequences, some well staged chases, amazing, forested locales and some solid performances from the dependable thespians Dennehy and Richard Crenna. I remember seeing this at a drive in and not knowing what the heck was going on as the forest settings proved too dark to translate well to a drive in movie screen. LOL. At least we were well stocked with booze!
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THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD – 1958 – TRAILER
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad has to be stop motion animator, Ray Harryhausen’s, crowning achievement. Sinbad sets out on a fantastic odyssey to retrieve the ingredients to concoct a potion to release his love from a spell which has reduced her to the size of a doll. Many pitfalls and danger are met along the way, of course. The cyclops has become one of the icons of fantasy creatures unleashed on the masses, at least in my world. A sweeping, sprawling cinematic treat, this flick is packed with monsters, mystery, and action. Great creature models and the best stop motion animated work ever done by anybody, in any age!
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HOMBRE – 1967
This movie has been playing a lot on cable TV. It is, in fact, a very fine film. Paul Newman is a man who was brought up among Native Americans in the Old West. His attempt to enter into “civilized society” meets with many harrowing encounters with man’s inhumanity to man. There are quite a few characters appearing in this film for whom enough just isn’t good enough. They want more than the what they’ve already got, no matter how sizable, and do not care who or what is forced out of the way on their quest to get the additional largess. To put it simply, there are a ton of dirt bag scoundrels acting out this drama. Some fine performances provided by Richard Boone, Frederic March, and Cameron Mitchell. Newman essentially plays a rather stoic persona here but his “strong, silent type” is loaded with more strength and character than most of the other players. I like him in this role. The various instances of racism, intolerance toward fellow man, greed, avarice and general bad behavior on display here make it, at times, a difficult movie to sit through. Take the time to make this journey and you will feel well rewarded although a bit sad at the end.
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THEY LIVE – PIPER’S BEST!
It gets to be a drag commenting on the great personalities who are no longer with us. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper just passed at too young an age. Roddy Piper made his name in the wrestling ring and established himself as one of the most memorable heels ever. You were never quite sure what stunt Piper would resort to as he became increasingly wound up and then exploded in some violent act of lunacy. Sports Entertainment never looked so good when this maniac was present. Piper branched out into action flicks and turned up in this John Carpenter directed paranoid fantasy. Piper plays a drifter who stumbles into a well concealed alien scheme of mass manipulation and brain washing of the public at large. Piper then attempts to eradicated the problem. Much machine gun fire, explosions, mayhem and even some wrestling action ensues. One of Carpenter’s better post – Halloween, The Thing, efforts. Piper’s best role. BTW – I made up for an earlier fail and have actually attached the trailer now. DOH!!!
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KING OF THE LOST WORLD – 2005
With a lot of attention being placed on the upcoming theatrical release of “Jurassic World”, it might interest you to take a look at this lovely little lost world ditty. A plan crashes on an isolated island that is rife with primordial life forms. But the really beautiful beastie present is the “King” of this place. Look familiar? A man in a terrible ape suit runs wild at times through this thing. This movie is a great diversion. Seek it out and have a few cheap thrills!
