bfreedman-07716 Reviews

White Comanche (1968)

Transcendent Tortilla Western

[10/10 · 14 June 2022]

Peak Shatner, solid Cotten, hot Argentinian lady, awesomely inappropriate jazz soundtrack.

Damned if I ever figured out most of the plot but three guys took bullets in the middle of their foreheads and another took a knife throw in the back. Take that Tarentino.

The shirtless Shatner vs Shatner finale is sublime.

Bonanza: The Gift (1961) Season 2, Episode 27

Went Through the Desert on a Horse With No Name.

[10/10 · 11 March 2021]

One of best episodes. Minimal humor in this one but all sorts of action, drama and tears. Embraces and transcends the established Bonanza themes of honor and family. Jim Davis and particularly Martin Landau both deliver memorable guest performances.

Bonanza: The Dark Gate (1961) Season 2, Episode 24

Like crazy, man.

[4/10 · 10 March 2021]

The second Bonanza appearance of the legendary James Coburn is wasted in a psychological drama lacking context. Coburn plays a good friend of Adam with a vague and unexplained mental illness that changes him into a murderous sociopath. Absolutely no cause is provided for his condition. There's plenty of action but without more explanation, it all seems rather pointless. Certainly mental illness exists but if you're going to base an episode on it, take the time to develop the character.

Bonanza: The Rescue (1961) Season 2, Episode 23

Leif Erickson vs Lorne Greene

[8/10 · 10 March 2021]

That's all you really need to know. Two old grizzly bears protecting their brood.

An onery Erickson chews scenery from beginning to end. The rest is fairly standard Bonanza with nice dialogue between the brothers and more than usual contribution from Hop Sing.

Best moments are Hoss identifying the exact dinner at the Ponderosa from a half mile away and Adam's rifle bank shot.

Above average episode due to Erickson.

Bonanza: Bank Run (1961) Season 2, Episode 19

How to Succeed in Virginia City Without Really Trying

[9/10 · 7 March 2021]

Classic episode of the long running genre defying Western. This episode is purely goofy farce when Little Joe and Hoss become inadvertent bank robbers. One can only wonder how much director Robert Altman was responsible for the oddball ensemble performances. Just too many subplots to count. The conniving millionaire who spills milk on his Ponderosa map. The drunk Irishman with the fortune. The bankers who seem to have wandered over to Virginia City straight from the cast of How to Succeed. (One is even named Finch.) The wronged mule owner without a line of dialogue who beats the bejeebus out of Hoss and Little Joe. The telegrapher with the Victorian lamp obsession. The bank teller with three weeks and two days of vacation. The inexplicable running gag about Ben injuring his hand. And much more. Yet it all still holds together. Truly a treat for Bonanza aficionados. Bravo!

Bonanza: The Bride (1961) Season 2, Episode 18

Batman!

[8/10 · 6 March 2021]

The plot doesn't make a heckuva a lot of sense but the episode is well balanced between all four Cartwright. Plus you get a very young Adam West playing a heel. Gotta give it a thumbs up.

Bonanza: The Spitfire (1961) Season 2, Episode 17

The Hoads

[9/10 · 6 March 2021]

The ending felt a little deus ex machina but a great episode nonetheless. Big ups to Katherine Warren as an overly maked up Ma Hoad. Nice whip work. Jack Elam was vintage Jack Elam although a bit skinny. Strong performance from Landon after a string of Hoss-centered episodes. One of the best of the second season so far.

Bonanza: The Mission (1960) Season 2, Episode 2

Third waterhole on the left.

[8/10 · 21 February 2021]

Unusually tight plot for Bonanza and solid supporting performances from Henry Hull, John Dehner and Peter Whitney in this Hoss-only episode. The show stays true to their tradition of working within history with a relevant reference to the third Fremont expedition.

The Equalizer: Riding the Elephant (1988) Season 4, Episode 3

How far does a man have to pull back before he falls of the edge of the bloody world?

[10/10 · 12 June 2020]

This covers all the bases. Chinatown setting. Great performances from James Hong and Mako. One of Control's best. Micky chips in. Violent climax. Plot holds together and everything works. Top five all-time Equalizer episode.