Tweekums Reviews

Hanna's Homecoming (2018 TV Movie)

Witchcraft

[7/10 · 5 May 2024]

As this film opens Hanna returns to her remote village home after being at boarding school for three years. It soon becomes clear that the locals have a problem with her. Her mother vanished some years before and shortly afterwards the bodies of three men were found in the nearby marsh. They believe her mother was a witch and she might be as well! Hanna does manage to make one friend; a city girl named Eva who lives in a cabin in the marsh with her grandmother. Soon people start having 'accidents'; is Hanna really a witch, is somebody else behind them or is the explanation more down to earth?

This film, retitled 'Witchcraft' on Amazon Prime, is a solid chiller. It starts well with the isolated location and unfriendly locals creating a good atmosphere. It isn't too long before things start happening that create doubts about our protagonist and hint at worse things so come. While it isn't gory there are a few scary moments. The cast is solid enough, especially Valerie Stoll and Milena Tscharntke who play Hanna and Eva respectively. I thought the resolution was pretty good; neither to obvious nor overly unexpected. Overall a decent chiller that is worth a watch if you are a fan of the genre.

These comments are based on watching the film in German with English subtitles.

Princess of Mars (2009 Video)

Entertaining in a low budget kind of way

[6/10 · 3 May 2024]

John Carter is a sniper serving in the US Army in Afghanistan. Following a serious injury suffered in the line of duty he if forced to take part in an experimental teleportation operation. He is sent to the fourth planet in the Alpha Centuri system; a planet the locals call Barsoom. When he awakens there he discovered that here he has the ability to jump great distances but is still captured by the reptilian Tharks. After helping during an attack he gains the trust of their leader. Later the group capture human Princess Dejah Thoris who was on a mission to take the new operator to run the planetary air-cleaning station... if what she says is true the atmosphere will become unbreathable if anything goes wrong at the plant... inevitably things will go wrong at it will be up to John Carter to save the day; but not before he has faced other dangers.

Perhaps it is because I expected so little of this that I ended up rather enjoying it. Yes, the plot is pretty simple, the effects are basic at best and the acting isn't going to be award winning but is far from terrible. It was more fun than I expected. Antonio Sabato Jr was solid as John Carter; I felt that he successfully avoided both taking it too seriously and the opposite and treating is as a joke. Not having read the books I can't say how close this is to the source material; obviously there are some changes as John Carter comes from the present day not the nineteenth century. The 'Mars' of this film has a good enough look even if the Vasquez Rocks filming location will be familiar to anybody who watched the original 'Star Trek' series. Overall I'd say that this film passes the time well enough if you like low budget sci-fi.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021–2024)

An enjoyable 'Clone Wars' spin-off

[8/10 · 2 May 2024]

The 'Bad Batch' of clone troopers were first introduced in 'Clone Wars'; this series shows what happened to them after Order 66 caused troopers to turn against the Jedi. These aren't ordinary troopers; each of them has specific skills and after Order 66 is given all but one of them turn against the new empire. They leave the clone facility on Kamino along with a young female clone named Omega. She was part of an important Imperial experiment and they are desperate to get her back. Over the course of the series The Bad Batch and Omega will get involved in a number of stand-alone stories while ongoing series long plots continue.

Based on their appearance in 'Clone Wars' I wasn't sure how the 'Bad Batch' could make up a whole series... thankfully the makers did and provide a really good show. We get to know the group much better and their characters develop nicely; especially the one that remains loyal to the Empire. Young main characters can be somewhat irritating but Omega is likable and not overly precocious or whiny. It was a refreshing change for a Star Wars series to be centred on relatively normal characters rather than Force Users. The stories are gripping with all the action one would expect from a 'Star Wars' series. The animation is of a high standard; when faces aren't on show one could almost be forgiven for forgetting that it is an animated series. The only minor quibble is that one really does need to watch many episodes in a dark room if you want to make out what is going on as the settings are dark. Overall an impressive series that Star Wars fans are likely to really enjoy.

Invincible: Atom Eve (2023 TV Movie)

The origins of Atom Eve

[8/10 · 30 April 2024]

This 'Invincible' spin off takes place before the events of the main series and concentrates on the origins of Atom Eve. We follow her from her birth to being a young girl with an instinct for science before she gains the power to change matter at an atomic level. Gaining powers gives her opportunities but also causes problems with friends and her adoptive parents as well as authorities who want her for their own purposes.

I enjoyed the first two seasons of 'Invincible' and liked the character Atom Eve so thought this would be worth watching... I was right. It gives a lot more depth to the character. It was enjoyable seeing her powers emerging; especially later on when she confronts various dangers and demonstrates just how powerful she will become. There are some nicely comic moments; I laughed out loud when one crook asked her if she was a Power Puff Girl! There are also more emotional moments as it becomes clear not everybody can accept who she really is. Overall I really enjoyed this special episode and would definitely recommend it to 'Invincible' fans.

Dodsworth (1936)

An American marriage hits the rocks in interwar Europe

[8/10 · 28 April 2024]

As this film opens successful businessman Samuel Dodsworth sells the car company he founded. With his wife, Fran, he plans an extended trip to Europe. Soon after they set sail aboard the, then new, Queen Mary, it becomes apparent that they want different things in life. While she flirts with Captain Lockert, a young Englishman, he befriends American expat Edith Cortright, who lives in Naples. Following a 'misunderstanding' with Lockert, Fran insists they bypass England and head to France. It soon becomes obvious that their marriage is in real trouble.

I thought this was a pretty solid film. The characters felt real and managed to be sympathetic; it was easy to understand why the Dodsworths were drifting apart even if one party was more to blame than the other. The cast is impressive; Walter Huston is solid as Sam Dodsworth as is Mary Astor as Edith. However for me Ruth Chatterton stood out as Fran, a less likeable character who is overly concerned about growing older. It was fun to see David Niven appear in an early roll a Lockert. Sets and locations are good; one could be forgiven for thinking it was shot on location in Europe rather than in America. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of older films; it may not be full of action but the characters feel real.

In the Light of the Night (2020)

It Comes at Night

[6/10 · 25 April 2024]

Minthe Hellheim's life is about to get difficult; through no fault of her own she is about to lose her accommodation and her job. Then she gets offered a new job; surveying and restoring an old watermill near the town of Hellheim. It is no coincidence that she shares her name with the town; as a baby she was found there and taken into care. She isn't keen to go back but has little choice. Once there she learns more about her job then heads to the mill, which is situated in the remote Wolf Valley. She is instructed to stay away from the out building and the mute woman who lives there. It is a mysterious place and locals talk of ancient myths concerning the mill and what has happened there. Before the film is over she will learn more about the place, and herself.

I thought this was a decent enough film. The location created a good atmosphere and it did a solid job creating the mythology of the place. Unfortunately it never really got scary, succeeding only to get to the level of a bit creepy. Diana Maria Frank does an impressive job as Minthe and the rest of the cast are solid. There is little violence to speak of and what there is tends to happen out of view. Overall I'd not say this was a must see but if you prefer chills to outright scares it passes the time well enough.

These comments are based on watching the film in German with English subtitles.

Fallout (2024– )

You do not need to have played the game to enjoy this series

[9/10 · 22 April 2024]

This series opens in a time that looks very like the 1950s shortly before rising tensions lead to nuclear destruction. Moving forward two hundred years we find ourselves in Vault 33, one of a number of subterranean structures where the lucky few survived and their descendants await the day that it will be safe to return to the surface and rebuild America. When outsiders manage to enter the vault and kidnap its leader his daughter Lucy heads out into the wasteland hoping to find him. Here she will encounter many dangers. At the same time Maximus, a squire in the Brotherhood of Steel is given the task of assisting the mech-suited Knight Titus on a mission to capture a certain individual. When Titus is killed Maximus dons the armour and continues the mission. Also looking for the individual is a bounty hunter known as 'The Ghoul'... events will lead to these three crossing paths as more is discovered about the world they inhabit; things they don't realise themselves. Back in Vault 33 Lucy's brother Norm gradually learns further facts about the people that run their lives.

I've not played the game so have no preconceived ideas about what the show should look like. I can't say whether that is for the better or worse but I can say I really enjoyed it. It quickly and effectively introduced key characters and the world they inhabit and the story moves at a good pace. Every episode provides plenty of tension and fairly violent action as well as interesting revelations. Such a story could easily take itself too seriously but this manages to provide plenty of laugh out loud moments. I thought the cast did a fine job bringing their characters to life. The sets and locations are great; the vaults have a believable look and the locations have a suitably abandoned look. This might be because in at least one case the real long-abandoned town of Kolmanskop, in Namibia, is used. Similarly I liked the use of mostly physical special effects rather than the CGI more modern films and shows use. The retro soundtrack was fun and added to the feel of the action; especially when a light song played over more violent moments. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to fans of post-apocalyptic sci-fi whether you've played the games or not; I can't wait for season two.

River of Fear (2021)

River of Fear

[6/10 · 21 April 2024]

This Latvian film features a group who plan to film a commercial for vegetarian sausages in a remote river, and surrounding forest, near the Estonian border. The employ Andrejs to be their guide; he is unimpressed by their lack of safety concerns. Red flags should have been seen when they get to the river and are approached by a local who reprimands them and warns them against going into the forest. Things soon start getting strange; Andrejs suddenly finds himself naked in a forest pool. There is no sign of anybody else. He sets off looking for them and meets some strange and unpleasant characters along the way.

I admit that the main reason I watched this film was that I'd not seen a film from Latvia before. I wasn't disappointed. The plot was a little confusing at times but that didn't bother me as it added to the film's atmosphere. The river through a forest setting isn't exactly original; something the makers acknowledge with a reference to 'Deliverance'. That doesn't stop it being effective though. I don't know if it is referencing local folklore but certain elements certainly feel folkloric. The cast is solid enough; the sort one expects in a low budget fare. It is hard to assign this to a particular genre; there are horror elements but no real scares or gore, just a constant sense that something isn't quite right. Overall a decent enough film but not really a must see unless you are curious to see what sort of film Latvians make.

These comments are based on watching the film in Latvian with English subtitles.

A Shop for Killers (2024– )

A Shop For Killers

[9/10 · 21 April 2024]

As this Korean drama opens a sniper is trying to kill Jeong Ji-an, a young woman in a remote house; she finds a rifle under a sofa and fires back. We then, via a series of flashbacks see how she came to be there and why she is being targeted. It turns out that her parents had been killed and she when she was a young girl and she was adopted her uncle, Jeong Jin-man. Officially he runs a business selling tubing but in reality it is a front for an illegal weapons 'supermarket'; following his apparent suicide she has inherited the business... which came as a surprise to her.

I really enjoyed this action packed series. The opening scene immediately grabbed my attention before flashbacks start telling us how the situation occurred. Throughout the series we move between various time periods but is never confusing about when what we are seeing is going on. This means that even though Jeong Jin-man is dead when the series starts he is still a major character. The acting is solid throughout; the main bad guy may be a bit of a pantomime villain but that suits the feel of the series. The final episode wraps things up nicely without shutting down the possibility of another season. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to action fans.

These comments are based on watching the series in Korean with English subtitles.

Monster (2014)

Monster

[8/10 · 18 April 2024]

This Korean drama has three main characters; Bok-soon, who may be a little slow but is happy enough running her vegetable stall at the local market hoping to fund her younger sister's university tuition. She is however prone to violence if confronted. Tae-soo, a potter who lives in a remote house; he is also a serial killer. Finally there is Nari, a nine year old girl. Their lives will become tragically entangled after Tae-soo's brother asks him to retrieve a phone from a woman who is blackmailing his boss. That woman is Nari's older sister. Tae-soo kills her and tells Nari to run; he will come after her and kill her and anybody she asks for help. She meets Bok-soon and this leads to her sister's death. Together Nara and Bok-soon flee. Bok-soon is determined to save Nari as well as avenge her sister. Tae-soo is now after both of them.

I found this film to be very enjoyable and not what I expected. There is plenty of drama and the violence, of which there is quite a lot, is bloody and brutal; that was expected. What was not expected was the fact that it frequently manages to be rather funny and there is a touching relationship that develops between Bok-soon and Nari. The cast is solid; especially those playing the three leads. Locations are used well and the cinematography is great; at times things had an almost dreamlike feel to them, most notably a foggy scene in a forest. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to fans of Korean films who are looking for something a little different.

These comments are based on watching the film in Korean with English subtitles.

Star Wars: Rebels (2014–2018)

A solid addition to the Star Wars franchise

[8/10 · 15 April 2024]

It is fourteen years since the Republic fell and the oppressive Empire took its place. A small group of rebels aboard a freighter called 'The Ghost' are striking back against the Empire around the planet Lothal. They are led by pilot Hera Syndulla and include Jedi knight Kanan Jarrus, a Mandalorian named Sabine Wren, Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios and a droid nicknamed Chopper. Into this group is added Ezra Bridger, a force sensitive teenager who Kanan takes under his wing; while all these characters are important it is clear that Ezra is the centre of the story. As the series progresses we learn more about the characters and get plenty of action as they face many dangers and adversaries both familiar and new to this series.

Having recently watched 'Clone Wars' and most of 'The Bad Batch' I looked forward to seeing this; when it started I was a bit put off by the change in animation style but, thanks to interesting characters and exciting storylines I soon stopped noticing the change. While Ezra can be a bit irritating at times I thought most of the new characters were a lot of fun, heroes and villains alike. I liked how some old characters pop up occasionally but never dominate the series. As one would expect from Star Wars there is plenty of action. This has a real sense of danger for characters, especially for those I haven't seen in films or series set later than this. Overall I'd say that while this might not be as good as 'Clone Wars' it is still well worth a watch. Make sure you watch it before watching 'Ahsoka' as quite a few characters introduced here reappear in that series.

Midsomer Murders: The Blacktrees Prophecy (2022) Season 23, Episode 1

Will any survivalists survive?

[8/10 · 15 April 2024]

As this episode of the long running murder mystery series opens a radio blares a warning... the missiles are in the air and Armageddon is minutes away! Luckily for disaster prepper Warren Kaine he has been preparing for such an event and had a large bombproof shelter in the nearby woods. On the way he calls to fellow preppers. Once there he has a drink to celebrate his survival... unfortunately for him it is drugged and the bunkers ventilation system is draining the air from the room. There was no missile attack and Barnaby and Winter are looking for a killer amongst the prepper community and their families. As the story progresses plenty of suspects and motives appear, as do further victims.

If like me you enjoy the silliness of most 'Midsomer Murder' stories you'll be sure to enjoy this. We get several regular tropes; members of a special interest group being murdered in highly imaginative ways, the second was particularly bonkers, numerous suspects, many played by familiar actors, and a range of motives. An early scene puts the killer on the viewer's 'suspect list' but doesn't make it too obvious; this show does love misdirection. Before that reveal there are some enjoyable plot developments and twists. The cast, both regular and guests, do a solid job playing things straight even in sillier moments. Overall I thought this episode was a lot of fun in a way fans of the series should expect.

Another Man's Poison (1951)

An enjoyable melodrama

[8/10 · 14 April 2024]

Janet Frobisher is a successful writer of mystery novels who lives in a remote house on the Yorkshire Moors. She is estranged from her husband, a man with criminal tendencies, and is having an affair with the fiancé of her secretary. One day she returns home to find a strange man, He identifies himself as a criminal associate of her husband. At first she tells him that her husband is not there but eventually admits that he is... but he is dead! She poisoned him. The interloper offers to help her get rid of the body and then starts impersonating the dead man who none of the locals appear to have met. He quickly makes life very difficult for her. Tensions rise but he may not be as easy to get rid of as her husband. Things are only complicated by the curious local vet.

If you enjoy melodrama then this is the film for you. Protagonist Janet is clearly not a good person but, largely thanks to Bette Davis's delightful performance, is likeable in the way one can only really like somebody if they are fictional. Gary Merrill, Bette Davis's real life husband, is equally solid as the antagonist... a character who is deliberately unlikeable. The rest of the cast is solid if distinctly secondary. While most of the action takes place within the house the occasional outdoor scene gives a sense of the isolated moorland setting. The rules of the genre mean most viewers will know what to expect in the end but seeing how we'll get there and the exact details are a lot of fun. Overall a solid melodrama that fans of the genre will want to see.

Cast a Dark Shadow (1955)

A solid melodrama where there is no doubt about who is guilty

[8/10 · 12 April 2024]

As this film starts we are introduced Edward 'Teddy' Bare and his wife Monica; she is a fair bit older than him. Soon afterwards he hears her talking to her lawyer about making a will; believing that she intends to leave him the house but the bulk of her wealth to her estranged sister he arranges for her to have a fatal 'accident'. It is only then that he learns she has already made a will with those terms and as her sister in in Jamaica he can hardly kill her. It is time to find another woman with money; this time a merry widow named Freda. They are soon married but she will be much harder to part from her money. Perhaps he will have more luck with Charlotte Young, a woman looking for property to buy.

If you want a whodunit then this film won't be for you; we know Teddy is a rotter from the start. However if you want a good solid melodrama where the only real question is whether he will get further victims before his inevitable exposure. Dirk Bogarde really impresses as Teddy; a character that we can see as dangerous but can understand why others trust him. Margaret Lockwood is solid as the working class Freda as is Kay Walsh as Charlotte. The rest of the cast is pretty decent too. Fine cinematography and direction help create just the right atmosphere with much of the action taking place in a single house; there is enough elsewhere to take the film away from its theatrical roots. Overall I'd say this is well worth watching if you are a fan of older British films and like a good melodrama.

The Guns of Navarone (1961)

A classic 'Boys' Own' Adventure in Second World War Greece

[9/10 · 8 April 2024]

This film, based on a book by Alistair MacLean, is set in 1943. Two thousand allied troops are trapped on the Greek island of Kheros and it is known that the Germans are planning to take the island in a show of force hoping to bring neutral Turkey into the war on their side. Six Royal Navy destroyers are to mount a rescue mission... there is just one problem; the Germans have a pair of massive anti-shipping guns on the island of Navarone that would decimate the ships. It is decided to send in a small team of commandos to destroy the guns; a nearly impossible mission. The group is to reach the island disguised as Greek fishermen before joining up with members of the local resistance. Inevitably the mission will not be easy and there will be several setbacks and encounters with the Germans before they get close to their target.

This is a classic film of its era and is still exciting today. Early scenes introduce us to the key characters and their mission. Once the action gets started it seldom lets up for long as our heroes face a variety of challenges. Each of these is suitably different with action on sea and land, with shooting, stabbing and explosions; none of which is graphic enough to make it unsuitable for younger viewers. Inevitably it is a little far-fetched but that doesn't matter as it is tense enough to stop one thinking of such things while watching. While it is, for the most part, predictable there are some surprises to be had. The cast which includes the likes of Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn and Anthony Quayle does a fine job making their characters believable; the Greek locations used add to that impressively. At two and a half hour in length one might think it would drag but it doesn't... in fact when it was over I thought I must have seen a shorter cut but I hadn't! Overall a must see for fans of Second World War action of all ages.

Last Action Hero (1993)

An enjoyable deconstruction of the action genre

[8/10 · 6 April 2024]

As this film opens LA cop Jack Slater is taking out bad guys with explosions and cheesy one-liners. It turns out this isn't real life it is just 'Jack Slater III' the latest of the franchise starting Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ten year old New Yorker Danny Madigan, who lives with his widowed mother, escapes his humdrum by going to the movies; he particularly enjoys the Jack Slater films so when the projectionist invites him to an unofficial midnight preview of 'Jack Slater IV' he can't refuse. Prior to the screening the projectionist gives him a 'magic ticket', apparently given him by Harry Houdini. The film gets underway and Danny sits back to enjoy it... then something happens that throws him into the world of the film! With his knowledge of the films Danny helps Jack in a world were good guys always win in the end and normal rules of science and geography don't apply if that makes for a more exciting story.

In one way this can be looked at as yet another action movie, just with a fantasy twist. In another it is a deconstruction of the genre; it points out the more absurd genre clichés as it effectively plays with them. There are also plenty of references to other well-known films for film buffs to spot. Arnold Schwarzenegger is on good form as Jack; impressing in the action while simultaneously sending it up. Young Austin O'Brien is solid as Danny Madigan and Charles Dance is enjoyably menacing as the villain, Mr. Benedict. The action is enjoyably over-the-top and for once anytime the effects or stunts don't look real it can be put down to the fact that this is 'movie world' not real world. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to action fans who don't mind seeing one of their favourite genres being gently mocked.

Too Late for Tears (1949)

An impressive, if less well known, film noir

[9/10 · 4 April 2024]

As this film noir opens married couple Alan and Jane Palmer are driving to a party. She isn't keen to go and persuades him to head home. As they turn a passing car throws a bag into the back seat of their car; it is full of cash. It is obvious it was meant for somebody else and soon that person gives chase but Jane manages to lose him. Once home Alan and Jane discuss what to do with the money; he wants to hand it to the police; she has other ideas. He agrees to put it in storage for a week while they decide. Soon Danny Fuller, the man the money was meant for, turns up and threatens Jane; it soon becomes clear that she has no intention of giving it up and will go to any length to keep it. Her life, and the lives of those around her are about to get complicated, if not downright dangerous.

I'd not heard of this film until I stumbled on it of Amazon Prime. I'm glad I did as I enjoy film noir and found this to be a top notch example. All great film noirs feature great femme fatales and Lizabeth Scott's as Jane Palmer is up there with the best. At first she seems to be an ordinary Los Angeles house wife but it soon becomes clear that Danny wasn't wrong when he describes her as a tiger... this kitty certainly has claws! The story is solid with plenty of good twists before the finale. The cast, especially Lizabeth Scott is impressive and locations are used well. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to fans of film noir; it deserves to be better known.

The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil (2024– )

The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil

[7/10 · 1 April 2024]

Masatora Akutsu is a demon who has been sent to Earth to recruit humans to help in Hell's war against Heaven. He falls in love with Lily Amane, a girl he is hoping to recruit but unfortunately for him she is an angel with the job of hunting demons. She defeats him but rather than killing him she enslaves him; the collar she forces him to wear makes him do whatever she commands. As the series progresses they grow closer to each other; perhaps he will be able to use her to change Heaven.

I thought this was a fun enough series. The sort one enjoys while watching then forgets once one starts watching something new. The plot is decent enough if not the most original and the characters are likeable. The animation is good as are the character designs. There is some decent action, particularly when Lily's brother shows up. Overall; not a must see but fun enough.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

Delusional Monthly Magazine (2024– )

Delusional Monthly Magazine

[6/10 · 1 April 2024]

This series is centred on the employees of the titular 'Delusional Monthly Magazine'; a publication that specialised in stories that most people would write off as crackpot, supernatural nonsense. One of these stories involves the mythical continent of Mo and artefacts known as MoParts which when assembled are meant to bring back the Mo Continent. It soon becomes clear that the MoParts do indeed exist and they have another power to; they enable certain people who hold then to transform into fantastical creatures... inevitably this includes certain of the magazines employees. They aren't the only people after the MoParts; an organisation known as the 'White Pegasus Company' is also looking for them.

This series is fairly silly but quite fun. At first I wasn't too sure about it but it grew on me as I watched more episodes. That said one character's 'overly scientific' catchphrase grew old fast. The story provides a fun reason for the various fights between our protagonists and members of White Pegasus. The character designs are decent enough. I liked how they looked when transformed; there was something amusingly camp about them rather than fearsome. Overall I'd say this is far from a must see but it passes the time well enough.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp (2024– )

Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp

[7/10 · 1 April 2024]

Elise, an empress in another world, was not a good person. When she dies she reincarnates in modern Japan; here she determines to become a doctor and be of value to society. Then she dies again and reincarnates back into her old life, when she was still young. This time she decides to be a much better Maperson. She wishes to become a doctor so she can use skills she learnt in Japan to help raise medical standards in her homeland. This will mean foregoing the life that had been planned for her.

I thought this series provided an interesting twist to the isekai genre. It starts well showing us glimpses of Elise's life in Japan before her return to her original world. She is now a likeable character and it was fun watching her put her modern medical skills to use in a world that appears to be a century or two behind our own. It was nice to have an isekei world that didn't rely on magic or video game style levelling up. The characters are solid with good designs. Overall I'd say this was a fun series that is worth a watch.

Finger of Guilt (1956)

Finger of Guilt

[7/10 · 31 March 2024]

Actor Reggie Wilson's career as a film editor in Hollywood was ruined when he got involved with his boss's wife. In order to make a new life he has moved to England. He works at a small film studio and, having put his old ways behind him, has married the daughter of his new boss. Things are going well till he starts getting letters from Evelyn Stewart; a woman he claims to have no knowledge of. She certainly acts as if she knows him. When Reggie and his wife track her down she certainly seems very plausible. Is she telling the truth and if so is Reggie lying or, due to some mental condition, does he really have no memory of her?

I thought this was a solid enough film. It is a melodrama with some film noir elements; Evelyn certainly comes across as a femme fatale but this lacks the murderous elements usually associated with that genre. The mystery is entirely centred on who is telling the truth and Reggie's sanity and this kept me guessing almost till the obvious reveal. Richard Basehart does a solid job as Reggie making the viewer believe the character is starting to doubt his own sanity. Mary Murphy impresses as Evelyn, a character who tells a believable story. The rest of the cast are solid enough too. The story plays out well even if the ending isn't perfect. Overall I'd not call this a must see but it passes an hour and a half well enough for fans of older films.

The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash (2024– )

The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash

[8/10 · 31 March 2024]

This isekai series is centred on Femicia, a young girl who lives in a world where people's worth is judged on the star rating of their magical skills. Unfortunately for her it emerges that she has a single skill and that is zero stars. This is considered so inauspicious that she is run out of town. She soon uses has single skill, the ability to tame creatures, to tame a weak slime. She names it Sora. When people meet her they mistake her for a young boy, she doesn't correct them and tells them her name is Ivy. Over the course of the series she makes friends and proves surprisingly useful in a local conflict.

Another season, yet another isekai show! This one is rather gentle and a lot of fun. Usually our protagonist will be ridiculously overpowered so it makes a refreshing change to have a lead who isn't obviously powerful. Femicia/Ivy is a delightful lead and Sora is a lot of fun. There are some nicely tense moments even though nobody is likely to think Ivy will be harmed. Secondary characters, both friends and antagonists are good. The character designs are good and animation is of a good quality. It might not be a must see but I'd certainly recommend it to fans of the genre.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I'm Not the Demon Lord (2024– )

Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss But I'm Not the Demon Lord

[8/10 · 29 March 2024]

After dying in an accident a college girl finds herself reincarnated into a fantasy world; one identical to a game she has played. She is the raven haired Yumiella Dolkness and is proficient in dark magic... two things that are hated and feared in this world. She is shunned by her family and passes her time raising her magic level. On entering school students magic levels are checked; ten is considered very impressive; hers is ninety nine, the maximum! At first she is accused of cheating in the test but when it becomes apparent she really is that level her fellow students fear her. She sets about trying to fit in and helps other students raise their level, in particular Alicia Ehnleit. She is a practitioner of light magic and was the protagonist in the game. As is usually the case they will ultimately have to face the Demon Lord.

Isekai series are two a penny these days and while this one doesn't exactly bring anything new to the genre it is rather fun if you enjoy the genre. It starts well and early episodes are amusing as Yumiella easily overpowers those who think she is a fraud. While there isn't a real sense of danger there are some decent action scenes as she helps others level up and ultimately face the Demon Lord. The characters are good, especially our protagonist. I liked the character designs and thought the animation was solid. Overall I'd say this is worth watching if you are a fan of the genre.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

The Man Who Cheated Himself (1950)

Solid film noir set in San Francisco

[8/10 · 28 March 2024]

Wealthy Lois Frazer is in the process of divorcing her husband, who only married her for her money, when she discovers that he has recently purchased a handgun. She calls her new lover, homicide detective Lt. Ed Cullen, to tell him she is convinced her husband is planning to kill her. He comes round and is there when she uses the gun to kill her husband. Cullen quickly takes control of the situation, dumping the body, at the airport the dead man had been due to fly from later that evening, and throwing the gun into the bay. As leading investigator it should be easy for him to ensure that the case remains unsolved... he hasn't counted on his rookie partner, who happens to be his younger brother, being so dogged in his determination to solve this, his first murder case.

Unfortunately the version of the film I watched on Amazon had been colourised. For the most part it looked okay but at times the colours fluctuated in a distracting manner; it would have been better if it had been left in the original black and white. Thankfully it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the film. The plot is classic film noir with a protagonist led astray by a femme fatale. The story moves at a good pace and the tension increases nicely as it approaches its inevitable conclusion. Lee J. Cobb might not seem the obvious choice for the lead but I thought he did a fine job and was believable partly because he isn't the typical lead. The rest of the cast are pretty solid too. While a fair bit of the action takes place indoors it does manage to make good use of its San Francisco setting... a city that could have been made for the movies. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of film noir, just try to watch an uncoloured version if you can.

'Tis Time for "Torture, " Princess (2024– )

'Tis Time for "Torture, " Princess

[8/10 · 28 March 2024]

The titular princess is a leader in humanity's Imperial Army during its battle against the demonic Hell-hordes. One day she, and her talking sword Excalibur, known as 'Ex', are captured. Now she will have to face the Hell Lord's chief torturer; Torture Tortura and her assistants. One might expect things to get rather unpleasant but this torturer employs rather unconventional methods... instead of inflicting pain she entices the princess to give up vital secrets by offering her delicious food! Her assistants use equally unconventional methods. Soon the princess almost considers them friends and rather enjoys her new life, much to Ex's consternation.

I really enjoyed this series. Yes it is all rather silly and a bit repetitive but it provides plenty of laughs in every episode. The characters are a lot of fun and one never really believes that anything unpleasant might happen despite the constant references to torture. I liked the character designs, especially the somewhat cute 'villains'. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anime fans wanting some light-hearted silliness.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.