AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
Charles Dobbs is a British secret agent investigating the apparent suicide of Foreign Office official Samuel Fennan. Dobbs suspects that Fennan’s wife, Elsa, a survivor of a Nazi Germany extermination camp, might have some clues, but other officials want Dobbs to drop the case. So Dobbs hires a retiring inspector, Mendel, to quietly make inquiries.
Sidney Lumet's The Deadly Affair is a very compelling spy procedural, anchored by James Mason playing John le Carre's George Smiley (though named differently here due to rights' issue). The movie is based on Le Carre's first novel, Call for the Dead. Mason is a tremendously good Smiley, more animated than those who followed him in the role, but more believable as the cuckolded husband. Mason brings a real weariness to the character, always an emotion that Le Carre chased. The plot is intricate, but easily followed; the movie is directed without any noticeable style, but with a definite ease and the script is crisp. A solid Cold War spy movie.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
A lift technician finds himself drawn into a web of mystery and peril as he investigates the perplexing deadly accidents occurring in the elevators of a new office building.
This Dutch horror movie could well have you, put off by lifts, as they have never been more frightening here. What is causing one particular lift, the middle one of three, to malfunction, and display some quite scary behaviour, while also causing a few nasty incidents and deaths, to some of it's users. Why this movie works on a more realistic level, is the bad hiccups that occur with this lift, whether the air conditioner stuffing up, or the lift not arriving where it should, hence a blind man falling to his doom, these are real believable faults and they do happen, where the one in it's finale, is totally off the wall, and ridiculous. This movie has a lot of suspense, the most engrossing part, the last fifteen minutes when a technician checks out the inner workings of the lift. Blood letting is very low for gore hounds even though there are one or two good deaths. Good acting by the entire cast. A great horror movie worth seeking out.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
When two brothers, Josh and Mike, go to a small southern town for a vacation, they find most of the residents either dead or missing. When Mike himself goes missing, Josh teams up with the local sheriff and an attractive school teacher to find him until Josh discovers that the whole town and most of it’s people have been infected by a form of toxic waste, and they have all turned into toxic zombies.
This movie starts rather slow, but near the end it turns into a full-blooded zombie-flick. These aren't your normal zombies though and have blue skin due to toxic waste but they still have taste for human flesh and blood. There isn't really any flesh-ripping portrayed in this movie, but the pulsating skin-effects and the highly corrosive yellow substance leaking out of their hands are cool. The story and set-up are coherent and keep you going, even without much gore & bloodshed to entertain you. The acting by the cast is OK. So if you're into 80's horror situated in isolated redneck-towns, then I can see no reason for not seeing this one.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
Dracula and his helper Renfield relocate to 70’s era New York in search of Cindy Sondheim (the reincarnation of Dracula’s one true love, Mina Harker) after being evicted from his home in Transylvania. The Count battles Cindy’s psychiatrist, Jeffrey Rosenberg (a descendant of Van Helsing), who may be in love with Cindy too.
A funny spoof of the Dracula story. While rather goofy in tone, it remains strangely endearing and perky thanks to the suave performance of George Hamilton milking it out as the Count himself. Arte Johnson's is amusing as Dracula's giggling, bug-munching servant Renfield. The cast seem to be having fun with its wittily well-judged script and lively gags. It would have been great if the story had Dracula interacting with the everyday activities of New York's nightlife a bit more. There are plenty of laughs to be had watching this movie. On the whole, it's just good old fashioned fun.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
A businessman tries to team up with a kung fu school but is rejected by the old master. As revenge, the businessman sets up a series of situations that frames the school and it's star pupil as a rapist.
Barry Chan stars in this very low-budget Taiwanese martial arts movie that offers average entertainment for its type. While the story is hardly gripping, there's enough intrigue to keep the plot moving between fights and it plays rather well. A lot of these movies have little structure but this one remains engaging enough throughout by actually telling a coherent story. The fight choreography is, for the most part, decent. It's neither graceful nor brutal enough to really stand out. Had to laugh out hearing the Das Boot theme music (even ripping the sonar FX!) being used in the movie.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
A bomber is terrorising LA and Lt Geronimo is after him. Hopelessly baffled on how to track the bomber down, detectives get a break and think a serial rapist may have seen the bomber's face.
For the most part this is a straight forward 70's police procedural drama, showing all the new fangled technology of the time in which computers that can create an exact psychological profile based on a few vague details. In between all of that, the movie is a surprisingly grim and sleazy affair. Vince Edwards takes his hard-nosed cop schtick seriously enough to elevate it above cliche, and Neville Brand is pretty stellar as a smug, petulant blue-collar sex criminal. However, it's Chuck Connors as the bomber that stands out who wants to punish society as revenge for the death of his daughter on drugs. Well worth seeing if you like your cop thrillers to be on the trashy side.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
Tommy Wilhelm is a salesman. An honest, hard-working guy who has lost his job, his girlfriend, and left part of his sanity behind as he heads to New York to pick up the pieces of his life. He’s always been able to sell, but caught in a downward spiral, he must, in addition, face the father who never really understood him, while trying to balance his newly precarious existence.
This depressing movie is based on Saul Bellow’s novel Death Of A Salesman. The 1950's set tale may be sombre but it holds the attention and the movie is full of good performances, especially from Robin Williams, who gives the piece real appeal. This was his 3rd dramatic acting role and his first real attempt at playing it straight with less of his smiles. It's one of three obscure, virtually forgotten movies Williams did before his breakthrough in 1987 with Good Morning Vietnam. The name of the movie is one that Williams would quote in his later work Dead Poets Society. Don't come into this expecting a happy ending as it doesn't happen. An interesting though sad tale that Robin Williams fans should enjoy.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
A female college student Julie is raped by three low-lifes, and is then blackmailed by her attackers to keep quiet. Desperate for revenge, she makes contact with a necromancer, who promptly “takes care” of the boys using her powers of darkness.
This is essentially an 80's low budget b-movie which takes the 70's rape revenge exploitation genre and offers it a supernatural twist. It's one of those annoying types of movies when just when it should be over, it plods on about 20 minutes more. All the plot threads have been wrapped up, but it conveniently finds new ways to drag on such as the nerd Ernest who tries to help Julie. The special effects are lame and the monster itself is funny - somebody in a wig with strawberry jam dumped on them! All of the college students in the movie look to be in their late 20's. There is just enough stupidity to keep you watching though. Elizabeth Kaitan in the leading role looks nice and all that but her acting skills leave a lot to be desired. Overall, this could have been a better horror movie. It had some good ideas but the filmmakers failed to take advantage of them. Perhaps with a bigger budget they might have succeeded? Below average.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
A biological experiment goes haywire when meat-eating mutant roaches invade an island community, terrorising a peaceful New England fishing village and hideously butchering its citizens.
An oddly atmospheric Julie Corman (wife of Roger) production which has a decent cast delivering some intelligent dialogue, along with competent special effects and production design. In spite of these achievements, the pace is fatally pedestrian, robbing the movie's chance of becoming a taut, suspenseful and memorable horror tale. The bugs are a triumph of ingenuity, their rather grotesque, ribbed appearance looks menacing in spite of their diminutive size. There are some very gory scenes scattered throughout the movie. In the end, this is a well made horror movie for those with strong stomachs.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
A dangerous prisoner, Jacko Thomas, overpowers his police guard and jumps from a speeding train in the Dartmoor countryside. In the ensuing fight Jacko kills the guard and makes his way to a secluded hotel on the moors where Tredgar is being paid to arrange a safe transit for Jacko and his sister Jean.
A minor but highly effective little b-movie suspenser from director Lance Comfort. He succeeds in creating much in the way of suspense and tension here and the attractive setting of lonely Dartmoor enhances the feeling of claustrophobia heightened by some nice sets and great cinematography. The plot unfolds nicely with some clever twists. Good performances from the cast which includes Tony Britton, William Lucas and Christina Gregg. Definitely a movie to take a look at if you get the chance.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
When an average-looking 15 year old teenage girl gets a makeover, it's enough to make her father become overprotective of her.
A bad 80's teen movie. This is the old cliche about the ugly girl with braces and glasses getting a makeover and suddenly ALL the boys want her. Tony Danza basically plays the same character as he did in the sitcom "Who's The Boss". This movie does very little to entertain anyone with its kiddy humour, and only people who think Ami Dolenz is attractive will be amused. Matthew Perry also turns up in a small cameo. A waste of time.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
The children of Barton United are trying to win the cup in their local football league. Nasty councillor Mr Bates doesn't like them and wants the team his son plays for to win instead so he makes life as difficult as he can for them. However, Barton United are offered help by the local professional team that just happens to be Manchester United with its manager Matt Busby.
What a lovely children's drama this is which will remind people of a certain age in the UK how they used to play the beautiful game in the streets or on a muddy field when they were young. Bernard Cribbins and Norman Rossington are some of the big stars in this short movie whilst the Man Utd team of the time also pop up in cameo appearances with even a speaking part for Sir Matt Busby. Watch out for a very young Susan George as one of the kids taking part. The story is easy to follow with plenty of humour. The locations around Manchester which includes inside the grounds of Old Trafford are interesting to see. All in all, this is a really good nostalgic movie for all the family to enjoy.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
An all-female motorcycle gang, called ‘The Maneaters’ hold motorcycle races, as well as terrorise the residents of a small Florida town, and clash off against an all-male rival gang of hot-riders.
Dreadful, absolutely dreadful - that's the only thing I can really say about this movie. This must rate as the worst acted and worst written of the long line of 1960's biker movies. Filmed on a shoe-string budget, any teenager in high school could do a more professional job. The special effects are terrible. The camera work is terrible. The script is terrible. The musical score is terrible. The acting is terrible. In other words, the movie is shit. There is nothing and I mean nothing to recommend about this movie but if you suffer from insomnia I'm sure it'll make you go to sleep within the first 10 mins.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
Dan Merrick comes out from a shattering car accident with amnesia. He finds that he is married to Judith who is trying to help him start his life again. He keeps getting flashbacks about events and places that he can’t remember. He meets pet shop owner and part time private detective Gus Klein who is supposedly done some work for him prior to the accident. Klein helps Merrick to find out more…
This is a solid enough psychological thriller from the early 90's, directed by Wolfgang Petersen, who adds in a few watery and shipwreck scenes for effect (only natural from somebody that made Das Boot). Greta Scacchi turns up in another femme fatale role while Tom Berenger is the main star, playing a guy who survives a car wreck only to suffer amnesia as a result. Bob Hoskins is great as the private detective helping Berenger's character out. There's a couple of twists and turns to the storyline. It'll definitely keep you glued to the end.
3 years, 10 months ago
AKB48Fan added 1 item to The Big Movie Watch List of 2021 list
A village is being oppressed by a four villains lead by chow chung until a beggar comes to town and teaches a young man and woman the 7 star grand mantis style of fighting.
This Korean kung fu comedy is more comedy than kung fu and despite some good kung fu sequences, it is more lacking due to a hero who tends to be more of an idiot than heroic. Benny Tsui attempts to look like a Jackie Chan like figure. However, while he has the martial arts skills to match, the movie doesn’t really give him a chance to show his skills as much as one would hope. Instead, he constantly gets beaten up and resorts to unbelievable tactics to stop the main villain of the movie. Overall, this could have been quite the kung fu comedy but with a hero who is more of a buffoon than able-bodied fighter (which is not his fault) and a finale that is borderline ridiculous, this should be seen just for curiosity purposes.
3 years, 10 months ago