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Destination Inner Space (1966)
Alpha Male Behavior At It's Best
The reviews of this film focus on the 'story' and special effects, but they should be focused on what is the highlight of this masterpiece. Alpha Males pitted against each other, The struggle between the two lead men is masterful. Each want to lead. Each holds the other in contempt for reasons they both know, but which do not come out until near the end of the show. This is an EXCELLENT depiction of the Alpha Male struggle during a crisis. The actors playing the two men never went on to give such powerful performances, and at no point did they over act or even seem to be performing their roles. They OWNED them. WATCH IT.
High School Hero (1946)
GOOD CLEAN FUN
There are several films in this series (think Bowery Boys) and this is no real better or worse than the others, BUT this one has the weaker music and dance numbers. Like Grease the cast are all adults playing HS kids, but they are all good--especially if you follow them through the series. This is simply good wholesome fun. I like to think of these films as prototypes of the later Elvis films. Freddy's singing is a highlight (as with Elvis) and the story set around the songs is compelling enough to get you through the ONE HOUR runtime. I found the 4 movie series on Amazon Prime, you can too, and then see for yourself the kind of Wholesome, fun entertainment they don't make anymore.
Angels' Brigade (1979)
FUNNY, SEXY and poorly written
Some have called this the place 'where all the has-beens go', and while there are a lot of classic comedy stars in it, with the exception of Mr. Howell, they have done nothing to be ashamed of in their parts. Surrounded by 6 sexy women these guys are having a ball. Imitation Charlie's Angels--well, yeah. Boobs and babes, what more can you ask? Susan Kiger was robbed, however, her role should have been larger. Still, I understand why the director had to give that role to his WIFE. LOL. Susan is sexy, and coming off her role in the film SEVEN, where she is simply topless eye candy, in this film she has no topless scenes and only a couple of good lines.
The Yearling (1946)
CLASSIC Coming of Age Story
The term 'coming of age' story has lost all its meaning since these days it is applied to any teenage film. There was a time when films like this actually earned the label. In this multiple Academy Award winning film, we find ourselves in the Florida swamps shortly after the Civil War where a man and his small family are struggling to make their way in the world. The mother--played excellently by Jane Wyman--has experienced so much personal loss that she is merely existing. As the story plays out, we see great acting on the part of Miss Wyman as the mother's true character is revealed. Gregory Peck--always good--shines as the father, Penny Baxter, especially during his scenes with his son. Now for the elephant in the room. Claude Jarman, Jr.'s portrayal of the son, Jody. He is a wonder. His expressive face is by turns winning in his happiness and heart-wrenching in the moments of distress. No one wants to see a child undergo what Jody does in this story, and the father--in one of his heart to heart talks with him--tells him this. IF you have a son, or a grandson, please gather him and watch this Classic Coming of Age story.
Old Yeller (1957)
The BEST Boy and His Dog Story EVER
To this day there is no boy and his dog story that is better than this one. What elevated this story above others like it: Where the Red Fern Grows, Marley and Me, and The Yearling, is the evolution of the relationship between Travis (Tommy Kirk) and Yeller. Tommy Kirk's acting talent is on full display as you watch his hatred and resentment of Yeller morph into first grudging respect, and later heartfelt love. A bond for the ages. By the end of the film, when Travis is talking with his father (Fess Parker) you feel the life lesson that he has learned through his relationship with Yeller.
Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
Stewart Peterson Displays Deep Acting Talent
Retired actor Stewart Peterson displays a deep well of acting skill and talent in this film. So convincing as a little poor boy who loves his coon hounds, Stewart (Billy) convinced many people to lower Ol' Yeller a notch on the Boy and his Dog scale. Travis (in Ol' Yeller) was played by the talented Tommy Kirk, and in that film, you can see the grudging bond between Travis and Yeller, it is that bond that lifts Ol' Yeller above other films of its type, but in this film, Billy loves his dogs from the moment he sees them, just as Jody did in the 1955 film The Yearling when he saw the fawn, Flag. If I had to rate these three classic Family films, I would put Ol' Yeller first, The Yearling second and then this film. Each is excellent, but the Travis/Yeller bond is wonderful to watch, the Academy Award winning cinematography of the Yearling lifts that just above Where the Red Fern Grows.
Against a Crooked Sky (1975)
Wonderful FAMILY Film
This is the story of a young boy who goes through the wringer in order to rescue his sister who was abducted by a brutal band of inidans. The brotherly love is portrayed excellently by young star Stewart Peterson. I had already encountered and been impressed by his acting talent when I saw the Classic FAMILY film 7 Alone. Do yourself a favor, if you have small kids or grandkids, gather them with you and watch this touching film.
Black Water: Abyss (2020)
Neither as Good nor as Bad as One Might Hope
Until recently, I did not even know there was a sequel to the excellent Black Water from 2007. Once I found out I instantly fired up Amazon Prime and gave it a watch. As a veteran of other Australian films (Mad Max, The Reef and Black Water) I was hoping this would live up to each of those. In fact, it was on par with the Australian films Razorback, and Wolf Creek. So, it was neither as good nor as bad as I might have hoped. It was interesting once you accept that--just in all horror films (including the ones we all praise like Jaws, or Halloween--1978) --the characters are going to make stupid decisions in order for the movie to movie, the film works. There is, for my taste, just a bit too much melodrama (soap opera) that excellent films like The Reef and the original Black Water did not contain. Still, there are some scares, and one or two tense moments.
Truckin' Man (1975)
So 70's I Had to Check my neck for Puka Shells
This is a TV movie level film. Starring Christian Slater's father--he would later go on to be more successful in several Daytime Drama. Mike Kelly is a typical 70s trucker. He is called in after his father's death and slowly becomes aware that perhaps the old man was murdered by the officials at the trucking company. As Mike investigates, the daughter of the trucking company's owner falls for him--much against the will of her father. Mike--again typical of the 70s male attitude--leads her own, and through a series of misadventures the pair are drawn closer to each other. The film is light, and the humor tries. If you can catch the Rifftrax version you will enjoy it even more.
Alien Outlaw (1985)
Harmless Drive-in Fair
I watched the Rifftrax version of this film and it is harmless drive-in fair. The acting is not bad, if you accept going in that it is the type of film you used to see on the second bill at a drive-in. Andrew and Peter fishing is a highlight, and Lash LaRue has less to do than he did in The Dark Power. Reliable humor is provided by Luger. Watch the Rifftrax version and their added comedy lifts the film.
One Step Beyond: The Burning Girl (1959)
Once Again We Find the Source
This was a pretty good episode for this show, certainly not on the level of Outer Limits, Twilight Zone, or Alfred Hitchcock Presents. What does make this stand out however is that it is clearly the source for Stephen King's novel 'Firestarter'. I have discovered over the years that Stephen King honestly just re-writes older works by other people. 'Salem's Lot (Dracula), Shining (Haunting of Hill House), The Stand (The Earth Abides), even Carrie can be seen to have been inspired by this TV show. I just don't get it. I mean, Robert McCammon made his early career by rewriting early Stephen King novels: Night Boat (Christine), They Thirst ('Salem's Lot) and of course, Swan Song (The Stand), but at least HE owned up to it. The closest thing we get to a King confession is in his book Danse Macabre wherein he admits to having been working on the Shining when he read The Earth Abides, and thought 'too much ecology and not enough story' so he re-worked it as The Stand.
Thank God It's Friday (1978)
Some Dance to Remember
This show is the epitome of what the Disco Era was all about. The appeal of a sparkling place to go on Friday and/or Saturday to dance the night away. It was the Tindr/Grindr of the day where you met someone you like--purely physical attraction--and then went home/took them home, and the first words you said the next morning were 'What did you say your name was, again?'. The characters in this film, and the performers who play them are little more than avatars for the viewer. Slip into the skin of the young stud looking for a 'nice' girl, or into that of a young girl looking not for Mr. Right, but simply Mr. Right Now. Life was actually like that, and there was not such thing as politics, or hate speech, or judgements. It was fun on a bun.
Magic Christmas Tree (1964)
Not as bad if you laugh through it
I watched the Rifftrax version of this and laughed all the way through it. I did notice the demonic tone, but Bill, Mike and Kevin kept it at bay by making fun of the fat kid, the parents and even the tree itself. If you want to see it, watch the Rifftrax version. I was shocked to see a film made in the early 60s with three little boys as friends and one of them was BLACK, not something to be expected at that time when schools were not yet integrated, but if you are watching a demonic Christmas Tress turning little kids into Satanic minions on the night of Christ's birth, not accepting the three as friends seems, to me, as stupid as refusing to swallow an aspirin after one has just swallowed a door knob.