Zoophyte-2 Reviews

The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980)

Fu Manchu - I Must be One Of The Few

[9/10 · 30 September 2022]

Time's running out for the world's supreme criminal mastermind: Fu Manchu has run out of the elixir that keeps his 168-year-old body Fit for Fiendishness.

So he and his malevolent minions set out to purloin the ingredients, including a canary-yellow diamond that's one of England's crown jewels. In his final film, Peter Sellers wonderfully spoofs one of horror's favorite arch villains.

He's deliciously diabolical and doesn't stop there: he's up to his old multiple-role tricks that worked so greatly in Dr. Strangelove and The Mouse That Roared.

Trying to defeat him, is Fu's overly quirky nemesis Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard. Also young Helen Mirren as a tap dancing constable, Sid Caesar as an uncouth American G. Man and David Tomlinson (Mr. Banks of Mary Poppins fame) as a befuddled commissioner. His final film as well.

All together, I found this to be a very evenly paced and fairly well thought out and plotted film with an engaging storyline . I can see by the many reviews here, that I'm nearly in a class by myself. Well, to each his own preference but I've always liked this film and Peter Sellers' brand of humor in general.

True, it's no Pink Panther or any of the films mentioned above but if it makes me laugh, I've no complaints really. Very sad for his demise at the time.

I'm giving a 9. Not too crazy about the 'Rock a Fu' number.

Elvis (2022)

"ELVIS" - IT IS THE BEST !

[10/10 · 26 September 2022]

ELVIS

Wow! I can't exclaim it any other way.

In this long over due, theatrical film, Austin Butler is about as close to an accurate Elvis Presely as we may likely ever get (I compare it to the Kurt Russell performnce on television, back in 1979). No one, however, will ever be "the" Elvis Presley, because you only get the real deal once and once they're gone that's it.

Elvis is deceased and there will never be another like him again.

Austin nailed it as closely as an actor possibly could, so in saying that, should you go see it (or wait for the stream) , know that Austin truly made me believe I was seeing Elvis, again as close as anyone can get.

Tom Hanks does the narration and does that well, he also is Colenol Tom Parker. Parker was born in 1909 as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk in Breda, Netherlands. (According to Smithsonian Magazine).

He came to the U. S. but never attained a permanent Visa. Also taking the name Tom Parker from an Army induction representative, when he entered the service.

Something was said here about his using an accent. I had read Parker was not born in the U. S. - so Hanks may have been reflecting this fact, possibly. In reality, Parker could have learned to talk without it.

So, what I can say, Hanks did his job in portraying exactly what Col. Parker represented in the world of Elvis Presley. That's what matters most in regards to the character portrayal and he truly became Parker.

Returing fully to the movie now *I don't wish to make this an 800 page book * :

Visuallly , everything was done with spectacular detail to places and time and in splended cinemetography. Not that I was looking for any anachronisms, I don't watch movies for this purpose but I believe I saw nothing out of place, that shouldn't be there.

I do watch actors closely and everyone here seemed to be in character for the real and maybe fictinalized people they were playing or portraying.

I'll say great work on their part. When Austin did perform, he was absolutely electric and as he is playing a man who lit up a stage like lightning in the sky, he most certainly should and did bring that across on screen and out across to me.

If I hadn't felt anything from his or anyone else's performances, I would ceratainly have been let down and wonder why it wasn't done better, but I feel it was here .

The best thing I can tell anyone who is going to a theater to see this (or watching later on stream) , do not set yourself ANY expectations.

I learned a long time ago not to do this, because if a movie fully failed my expectations, I took it personally. I realized, it's silly to let a film do that. I always clear my mind of anything before I get to my theater seat.

If a bad movie, then I saw a bad movie.

If I was fully satisfied with the film, then that's great.

I leave it up to all movie goers to decide if they wish to watch the movie. That is your decision to make, not mine.

I know people will be on three levels. Love it (7 to 9 stars). It was okay (6 to 4 stars) or they just wont like it (3 stars to 1 star.) In short , I want people to decide for themselves.

My own feelings after watching today, are that I saw a great film, was fully entertained by the actors performances and just glad I went to the theater today. I rate it 10 stars because I'm just a satisfied customer.

(Edit : Anyone wishing to see more about the Real Elvis Presley, I reccomend the 1981 documentary... that also had played in theaters back then ... "This Is Elvis". )

Wow! I can't exclaim it any other way.

In this long over due, theatrical film, Austin Butler is about as close to an accurate Elvis Presely as we may likely ever get (I compare it to the Kurt Russell performnce on television, back in 1979). No one, however, will ever be "the" Elvis Presley, because you only get the real deal once and once they're gone that's it.

Elvis is deceased and there will never be another like him again.

Austin nailed it as closely as an actor possibly could, so in saying that, should you go see it (or wait for the stream) , know that Austin truly made me believe I was seeing Elvis, again as close as anyone can get.

Tom Hanks does the narration and does that well, he also is Colenol Tom Parker. Parker was born in 1909 as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk in Breda, Netherlands. (According to Smithsonian Magazine).

He came to the U. S. but never attained a permanent Visa. Also taking the name Tom Parker from an Army induction representative, when he entered the service.

Something was said here about his using an accent. I had read Parker was not born in the U. S. - so Hanks may have been reflecting this fact, possibly. In reality, Parker could have learned to talk without it.

So, what I can say, Hanks did his job in portraying exactly what Col. Parker represented in the world of Elvis Presley. That's what matters most in regards to the character portrayal and he truly became Parker.

Returing fully to the movie now *I don't wish to make this an 800 page book * :

Visuallly , everything was done with spectacular detail to places and time and in splended cinemetography. Not that I was looking for any anachronisms, I don't watch movies for this purpose but I believe I saw nothing out of place, that shouldn't be there.

I do watch actors closely and everyone here seemed to be in character for the real and maybe fictinalized people they were playing or portraying.

I'll say great work on their part. When Austin did perform, he was absolutely electric and as he is playing a man who lit up a stage like lightning in the sky, he most certainly should and did bring that across on screen and out across to me.

If I hadn't felt anything from his or anyone else's performances, I would ceratainly have been let down and wonder why it wasn't done better, but I feel it was here .

The best thing I can tell anyone who is going to a theater to see this (or watching later on stream) , do not set yourself ANY expectations.

I learned a long time ago not to do this, because if a movie fully failed my expectations, I took it personally. I realized, it's silly to let a film do that. I always clear my mind of anything before I get to my theater seat.

If a bad movie, then I saw a bad movie.

If I was fully satisfied with the film, then that's great.

I leave it up to all movie goers to decide if they wish to watch the movie. That is your decision to make, not mine.

I know people will be on three levels. Love it (7 to 9 stars). It was okay (6 to 4 stars) or they just wont like it (3 stars to 1 star.) In short , I want people to decide for themselves.

My own feelings after watching today, are that I saw a great film, was fully entertained by the actors performances and just glad I went to the theater today. I rate it 10 stars because I'm just a satisfied customer.

(Edit : Anyone wishing to see more about the Real Elvis Presley, I reccomend the 1981 documentary... that also had played in theaters back then ... "This Is Elvis". )

M*A*S*H (1972–1983)

MASH IS Fantastic In Every Single Season !

[10/10 · 30 August 2022]

Let me put this in the simplest terms.

MASH is a classic and was practically born that way when they decided to make a series of it from the movie .

I have nothing but praise from epsiode 1 to the conclusion. The show did the perfectly realistic thing in the Army ... of people actually going home from their service and being replaced by others.

It would have been unrealistic (with exception to main characters Ben Pierce and Margaret Houlihan) if all stayed for the full 3 year Korean war.

So it didn't bother me when characters left and were replaced. I liked all the characters in the show and if they left the series, that's the choice of actors as well as life in the military. Kind of a new experience to watch a new character.

In terms of Henery Blake geting killed on the way home, it was sad of course, but that's the truth that a good many never make it home from a war. Mclean Stevenson left by his own choice and again, that's what actors are sometimes prone to do. Successful series or not.

I don't buy into the nonsense and childishness of "I only like Seasons 1 to 3 (or 1 to 5). Or the ridiculous,"The show got more serious and ruined my fun!" Certainly ...how dare producrers and writers and cast want to make a show about 'war' more serious? How dare they make a descision without calling all of the fans personally? (Yes, being fecetious).

To continue ; What Alan Alda did in combining his acting , directing, assisting in script writing and even producing , only made for an even greater series than it already was. Although he's no stand up comedian, his funniest lines certainly were at that level or even above.

The solo "Hawkeye" episode (with the Korean family) is nothing short of amazing, as it's no easy task to carry a show practically on your own. The most amazing part is, it was not ad libbed. I've read the actual 20th Century Fox script and it reads just as humorusly and dramatic, as watching the episode itself.

As for what others have said about Alan Alda's ego and taking over the series to suit himself. Since I can tell it's only based their assumptions (in some cases their politics) and not any kind of fact...these ideas are absurd. As these persons do not know Alda personally. (Neither do I and I don't pretend to know his psyche.)

Alda and everyone of the main cast start to finish, all did a great job in giving us a series, with things that we can laugh about but also on the more serious subjects think about and even learn from.

It's not an easy task to make comedy out of a setting like war. People die in battle and in other fields of service in wartime, so I never took any of the more serious storylines lightly.

It amazes me the ones who call the later episodes 'depressing'.

Well where does anyone get the idea that this series was only supposed to be "fun and games" ? MASH was bound to become a more serious program as it went on.

With the end of Henry Blake and departures of Trapper John and Majore Burns & Walter O'Reiley , the changes took place in the show, that I pretty much anticipated would happen.

You can't do a series about this subject and have it stay ONLY a 'sitcom' 90% and serious only 10%. The balance was bound to shift and it did. In the show, the Korean war only got worse as it went on and that was reflected in the series change to more serious storylines and comic overtones.

I love comedy and know it well and I also like to watch a good TV drama or dramatic movie. MASH gave a great combination of both from beginning to end.

Having viewed the series through several times, I wouldn't be able to rate less than a ten. I know others rate lower but , they have a right to their feelings as well.

Myself? Again... I love the series, every episode is a gem.

Festival Express (2003)

This Is A Ten Star Historical Document Of the End of The 1960s!

[10/10 · 23 August 2022]

I'm going to make this simple.

I can't believe the lower than 5 star reviews I've seen here. I respect others' have a right to their opinions ; but the events were filmed as they were and the bands were who they were. I don't see what the problem is here.

It can't be changed, so I don't see how complaining is going to help.

I agree Ten Years After and Traffic would have been a plus, but that's their managemnt's fault.

Many of these acts, yes, were not well known but what's great is that they 'were' captured on film for posterity. We even have a snippet of momentary acapella sining from Janis, for "Me and Bobby McGee", which she never got to perform 'live'.

Over 50 years ago and we should be thanksul someone thought enough of this to save this film and get it cleaned up to be out on DVD.

Who the groups are, with maybe exception to the most famous, it doesn;t really matter. Many of these folks are gone or up into their 70s and 80s now. Their performances are great and again, saved for future generations.

That's what is the MOST important here. Above anything.

Ten Stars and here's a complete list of what we can see here.

__________________________

Performed in the film :

"Don't Ease Me In", Grateful Dead

"Friend of the Devil", Grateful Dead

"Slippin' and Slidin'", The Band

"Comin' Home Baby", Mashmakhan

"Money (That's What I Want)", Buddy Guy Blues Band

"Lazy Days", The Flying Burrito Brothers

"The Weight", The Band

"Cry Baby", Janis Joplin

"Ain't No More Cane", jam session on train including Rick Danko, John Dawson, Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir

"Rock & Roll Is Here to Stay", performed by Sha Na Na

"New Speedway Boogie", Grateful Dead

"C. C. Rider", Ian & Sylvia and the Great Speckled Bird (with Jerry Garcia and Delaney Bramlett)

"I Shall Be Released", The Band

"Tell Mama", Janis Joplin

"Me and Bobby McGee", Janis Joplin

"Cold Jordan", Jerry Garcia

"Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad", Delaney & Bonnie & Friends _____________________________________

Additional songs on DVD :

"Casey Jones", Grateful Dead (opening credits)

"13 Questions", Seatrain

"Child's Song", Tom Rush

"Thirsty Boots", Eric Andersen

"As the Years Go By", Mashmakhan

"Tears of Rage", Ian & Sylvia and Great Speckled Bird

"Hoochie Coochie Man", Buddy Guy Blues Band

"Hard to Handle", Grateful Dead

"Easy Wind", Grateful Dead

"Move Over", Janis Joplin

"Kozmic Blues", Janis Joplin

Other Festival Express performances

Audio recordings of Janis Joplin's performances from all three shows have surfaced on various posthumus releases. Starting with the 1972 double live album, Joplin In Concert, which consisted of Festival Express recordings on its second disc, and culminating with Live From The Festival Express Tour, Canada, released as a bonus disc for the 2005 deluxe reissue of her 1971 album, Pearl.

The 13 track disc collected many of the previously released recordings, along with 6 which were previously unreleased. Five filmed performances ("Tell Mama", "Kozmic Blues", "Cry Baby", "Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)" and "Move Over") were featured in the 1974 film, Janis.

Filmed performances of "Long Black Veil" and "Rockin' Chair", from July 5, 1970 in Calgary appear on The Band's anthology album, A Musical History.

West Side Story (2021)

West Side Story. 100% Score, A Plus & More

[10/10 · 18 August 2022]

Superb performances by all. Especially Anita, Maria and Tony and Bernardo plus supporting characters. Astounding choreography, delightful singing, beyond professional direction as well.

The CGI is unbelievably seamless! Steven Spielberg is never 2nd rate where giving a film it's own unique style and here, a true high level of sophistication.

Rita Moreno was a welcome guest in this movie. Her version of "Somewhere" is gentle and very emotionally moving, as her version is a sadness at not just the present situations but also a pining for a better future.

Ansel Elgort - Rachel Zegler · Ariana DeBose · David Alvarez · Brian d'Arcy James · Corey Stoll · Mike Faist all play their parts to a level that kept me riveted to my theater seat. All the required leads are filled to truly personified level with these actors.

Spielberg, with a an A plus choreographer like Justin Peck, lacks nothing, also, in presenting the dancing and musical material in his dynamic visual concept. The dancers here were completely synced in their movements and practically floated or, in the case of Jets and Sharks, looked tough while still in the movements of jazz-style.

The 'America' number was such incredible fun to see, as it was presented in daylight, as opposed to a tenement rooftop. The rooftop just as fun, but different.

I know songs were rearranged and there were additions but, it took nothing away from the 1961 film. Seen the stage play, it's also wonderful.

The players and Spielberg, together, helped make every song & dance literally unforgettable. This adaptation (as well as the original) prevents the material from being dated. The non-musical scenes are where these young actors get to show their range. In emotions, expressions and overall ability. It can't be easy to play a person easily driven to violence.

On the more serious elements in the film, the same criminal acts found in the first one are here but , simply, more realistically portrayed, plus the addition of the vandalism of the Puerto Rican flag mural.

It's not just about two rival gangs, it's about 2 rivaling cultures clashing over an alleged 'possession' of a neighborhood, owned financially by neither one. It's their wanting to be victorious, where the reason is actually meaningless in the end.

Such is the case in the senseless killings at the rumble / fight.

Tony and Maria , a couple who fall in love at first sight. ...and yes, having experienced that myself, I can tell you truly , it does exist. The chemistry and looks of love were very genuine looking, sounding and came through in their reactions to each other.

However, in this case, having it happen within the dangerous situation at hand, may have lead them to make irrational decisions they felt were right, because they wish to be together.

Maria, showing her youthful naive' mindset, wants Tony to talk to the Jets and convince them to stop the rumble. Tony, in his love for her, actually promises he will. Ansel Elgort's Tony (much like Tony in the 1961 version) , is a guy being pulled in many directions and in a state of confusion as well.

He wants to stay straight (commit no crimes), his old gang wants him to do the opposite and falling for Maria, he wants to run away with her but at the same time, try to make things happen that are practically impossible.

Ansel's expression comes across clearly , reflecting every bit of this. Tony just has too much happening too fast, right out of prison. His reason for having been there explode at the rumble.

No one should have expected anything less, in terms of how violent a gang fight can be or how violent one man can get when pushed over the limit. Same as, none can say what two people in love might do , when trapped in a hopeless situation in a virtually hopeless place. (Yes, even going to bed together.)

We know the ending here so I wont go over it but , that's my summation of, the 21st century version, of West Side Story . I loved it so it's simple, 10 stars from me. It's only one man's opinion , everyone is entitled to their own as well.

The film is out of theaters now , so the box office no longer matters in a review, so I wont cover that here. Well, that covers it, thanks for reading.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

LOL ! Really?

[1/10 · 3 August 2022]

How in the world did this ever get green lit?

Ridiculous, monsterous, absurd and many more negative adjectives.

I'd rather sit through Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm than this again.

CODA (2021)

To Live Life Rather Than Merely Exist & Survive In it."

[10/10 · 5 July 2022]

My review of "CODA," Siân Heder's sublime coming-of-age story of a child of eaf adults. I've viewed the movie several times in these last 11 months. For me, "CODA" contains a great many elements familiar in many movies I have enjoyed in decades of going to the movies.

Some themes and stories bare repeating in the world of movies, as some become a product of their era and, to some, seem dated and irrelevant. Also, new young adults need a fresh perspectiv, even if adults have seen such movies before.

So, as most already know, it's about a restless teenager trying to break free from her parents' expectations, helped along by an inspirational teacher, putting her on the path to a tense, make-or-break musical audition that's followed by an emotional catharsis by film's end.

But because Heder's adept at establishing the emotional bonds between the film's close-knit family, the presence of all these conventions doesn't matter too much.

"CODA" focuses on Ruby (Emilia Jones), a high school senior in Gloucester, Mass., who wakes up before the sun rises so she can help her father (Troy Kotsur) and older brother Leo (Daniel Durant) on the family fishing boat before heading to school to fall asleep at her desk and endure taunts that she smells like haddock.

Ruby is the only hearing person in her family, which puts the weight of responsibility on her shoulders for almost everything in her parents life. Marlee Matlin plays the mom, and she and Kotsur are a terrific acting pair on screen.

She loves singing and she's good enough, that her choir teacher, Bernardo, offers to train her so she can audition for the for the prestigious Berklee College of Music.

Ruby pairs up with the boy she's been crushing on, for a duet of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "You're All I Need to Get By." It pretty much guarantees that they'll fall in love because, singing that song, naturally they later realize there's a mutual attraction and real feelings.

Another certainty Ruby's desire to leave home and pursue her dreams will conflict with her family's need for her to stick around and help.

One thing that separates "CODA" from every other coming-of-age movie ... is the way that Heder seamlessly moves between speaking and American Sign Language in the family scenes. The signing is subtitled, rather than translated, highlighting it as a form of communication.

The mother, father, sister and brother communicating with this energy and intimacy, our understanding of the family, its dynamics, the love they share and what's at stake if Ruby leaves - is elevated

That means we care about these people - a lot. Ruby, played by British actress Jones captures the character's sensitivity & youthful impulsiveness, when sets out on the final part of her early life, so that she can begin the next part of it.

You 'might' cry at this moment or if you've been there before or you'll recognize it's familiarity, from when you yourself left home and it too, may not have been an easy transition.

As Joni Mitchell's song puts it : "Something's lost, but something's gained." Which is pretty much what life itself is...that's everyone's life.

TEN STARS!

Dirty Tricks (1980)

Dirty Tricks On A Crazy College Campus

[1/10 · 5 July 2022]

"Dirty Tricks". A movie, with somehow a budget of $5 million in Canadian dollars.... that confirmed to me that Elliott Gould playing a professor in a collegiate setting was first of all, ridiculous.

He looked out of place in such a role. The campus in this film is supposed to be Harvard, but feels more like an overrated community college with teachers hired off the street. I wonder if Harvard sued them?

As a history teacher, Gould invalidates his credibility as soon as he opens his mouth about, "American Revolution: "1776! They were people who cared! They gave a bleep!" Safe to say, Harvard likely wouldn;t have kept him 1/2 a day.

Then there's Rich Little, who plays a colleague in the history department. Little's character has been plugging his new book, "Our Founding Fathers : A Sexual Expose'," on every obliging talk show. (..but not getting fired for it?)

Both men seem to have a habit of bedding down with younger female students as well, so they can give them an A grade....talk about a movie being a product of a bygone era! Little was funnier back then doing impersonations.

Now the plot..I think it's a plot, certainly not a believable story.

Gould is threatened with abduction & assassination after it becomes known that he was the last person to speak to a murdered student, a young man trying to peddle a found document concerning George Washington possibly being a traitor to America. (Riiight , and Superman really worked for Lex Luthor.)

Nevertheless, Gould deals with this unproven claim is such a cavalier way -- by destroying it at the end of the movie ..as another stated here, by eating it!

A pair of moustahced, short haired thugs who look and dress alike, a male-female gangster duo, the mob and the FBI all pursue not only Professor Chandler but now a news reporter played by "Charlie's Angels" star Kate Jackson. Odd that her character resides in a posh apartment located over a porn parlor in Boston's seedier side.

The pursuit takes up most of this movie but without it, it would be an ever dumber movie than it already is. Gould annnoyed at reporter Polly coming to his house with her TV crew. If I recall right he makes a crude joke about Eskimo's and someone getting a kick in the 'icehole'.

Inferior comedy in every respect, "Dirty Tricks" was in and out of heaters in 1981 so fast, I couldn;t even find their box office take using a Google search. (Don't beleiee me? Try it.)

To put it plainly, "Dirty Tricks" was and still is a shambles, a film written in Junior High level humor, sexist towards women and really something that practically derailed Elliot Gould's movie career, after a deade on top.

Rich Little had his impersonations to fall back on and Kate Jackson was saved by the TV series, "Scarecrow and Mrs. King." Gould, while he di keep working in films , movies for TV and occaisonal good guest roles on many TV series....never regained, what I gues I'll call, the A list level of fame again.

Astoundingly and in conclusion, the film was actually based on a novel, "The Glendower Legacy" by Thomas Gifford. Which had been first published in 1978. I hope Mr. Giford sued. - One star is being kind and if anyone ever rates this higher....they likely were a student of one of these 2 allegeed "professors".

Seven Days in Utopia (2011)

Utopian Point of View

[10/10 · 11 June 2022]

It has been a number of years since I reviewed a movie on this website. I signed up sometime ago,wrote a few but just never got back to it.

I have a great reason to come back now. I went to see this movie on opening day because I do really like the acting of Mr. Duvall. Almost 80 he's still got the knack for doing great acting and giving his characters "character".

I have noticed some here feel this is either a bland movie or lacks any kind of drive for keeping one's attention. I feel kind of bad for them that they've missed the overall point here.

Not just that this is a movie with the surprise rate of 'G' but that the story is meant to simply give one example of a situation where a young man is wrapped up in the idea that if he fails at this sport,he fails at life itself.

This does not just apply to one thing we do in life but everything. Even when we fail at something,do we abandon it entirely and say "If I can't do this or be great at it,then my life is over?" Of course not.

What Duvall shows the young man is that the game is good but it's not the be all and end all of his existence. The fact that God is mentioned here,well that's just one person's point of view.

It doesn't mean that they're trying to be bible thumpers and try to convert us to Christianity. It is just one way of saying that what ever reason we are here,we have to find that,become that but remember that we are only human beings.

If one loses sight of that,then you end up thinking trivial things are important,instead of remembering that your life and life itself are what matters. As well as those who share it with you.

10 all the way. Not only a good golf score but a fitting score for this film.