Welcome to the 289th Edition of my series. I hope everyone has a good
Memorial Day weekend. This Tuesday is the premier of AMERICA'S GOT
TALENT in which I tried out in front of the judges for the second time.
I have no idea one way or another if or when I will be featured. This
week I pay tribute to the late Delores Fuller who recently left us. I
will now get on with my recommendations for this edition.
Starship
Troopers (1997): This is part two of my Neil Patrick Harris series.
This is my sci-fi film for the week which was an interesting satire
directed by Paul Verhoeven. Casper Van Dien stars as Johnny Rico who is
one of many high school students encouraged to join the military when
graduating to become a citizen. He then must fight a very extreme
battle of Alien insects to save the world. Dina Meyer, Denise Richards,
Jake Busey, and the great Clancy Brown all co-star in this sci-fi film.
This is available on Instant Netflix and followed by two sequels which
I have not seen. Verhoeven admits that while reading the book, he
stopped after a few chapters feeling bored and depressed adopting the
satirical tone in the film. He also directed ROBOCOP and TOTAL RECALL
and this adds to some good futuristic satire that he has made.
Manhunter
(1986): This is part 29 of The Chain and this chain continues with
Joan Allen who was a blind girl in this one. This is the film which
introduces us to Hannibal Lector and in this movie is played by Brian
Cox. Years later, Hannibal would becomes an icon courtesy of Anthony
Hopkins but Cox still makes the most of this film. CSI alum William
Peterson stars as Will Graham who is a very troubled detective who comes
out of retirement to pursue a serial killer named the Tooth Fairy and
must go to the man who wronged him for help in Hannibal Lector. Michael
Mann directed this version of the film which is quite atmospheric and
disturbing but still a pretty good and underrated entry of the Hannibal
series. Next week, The Chain will continue with Joan Allen.
Holocaust
(1978): This is one of two mini-series I feature in this entry with
this one likely pretty easy to guess the time period this takes place.
The story centers around the Weiss family who are a Jewish family trying
to survive the horrible times of the Holocaust. James Woods plays Karl
Weiss who is an artist and is one of the first who must survive the
horrible times after his marriage to Inga, played by a young Meryl
Streep. Michael Moriarty co-stars as a family friend of the Weiss
family who was very idealistic but after joining the Nazis, at the time
for money, we see a downward spiral of him becoming one of the worst
ones. This is a very moving mini-series but it is not upbeat by any
means and has some very disturbing images which were unfortunately very
realistic. Ian Holm co-stars as Himmler. Rosemary Harris co-stars as
the matriarch of the Weiss family.
Wild Boar Hunt (1940): This
is my short film for the week I found on TCM On-Demand. This is a
documentary short focusing on Howard Bill who was billed as "The World's
Greatest Archer". He demonstrates his archer skills before going on
the big boar hunt. This was a pretty insightful documentary short.
Bride
of the Monster (1955): This is my tribute to actress Delores Fuller
who recently left us and plays the part of Margie. I now bring you "The
Worst Director of All Time" in Edward D. Wood Jr. Bela Legosi stars in
his last starring role as Dr. Varnoff who captures many men for an
experiment. Loretta King stars as a newspaper journalist who gets a
little too close to the action. This is Wood at his best with his great
knack for being unintentionally funny but was very passionate about his
work but lacked attention to detail which is obvious for the octopus in
the movie. This is Wood's only financially successful film. This is
for any fan of B-movies and is available on Instant Netflix.
Harry
Brown (2009): Michael Caine stars as the title character in this film.
He is a retired serviceman and widower in England whose best friend is
murdered. He tries to leave it to the police but the police are not
able to get the job done so he decides to do his own justice. Yes,
Michael Caine as a vigilante, how much better can it get. I suppose
this is a DEATH WISH for this generation and really questions how far
can one go when they do not feel the justice system is working. Caine
is great as Harry Brown who can elicit sympathy no matter how violent he
gets. Emily Mortimer co-stars as a British cop who is trying to bring
justice but has a hard time. Not much more can be said but this is a
very underrated action film.
Seven Chances (1925): This is my
silent film for the week which stars Buster Keaton as financial broker
Jimmie Shannon who is struggling financially. He then finds that in his
Grandfather's will that he will inherit 7 million dollars but must
marry by later that evening. He then uses very comical means in trying
to find that wife while questioning his morality. There is a great
scene where Buster is running down the hill trying to dodge the rocks.
It was remade years later as the 1999 film THE BACHELOR but I'm sure it
does not match this one. This is available on Instant Netflix.
Metropolis
(2001): This is my anime film for the week. This movie takes place in
a futuristic society where both humans and robots live but not very
well together. The robots are executed if they enter the wrong areas.
This movie takes place with a young boy named Kenichi and his private
investigator uncle. He then meets a girl named Tima who is a robot and
he looks to uncover the truth and protect her hoping to make the world a
little more peaceful. The animation in this film is amazing but the
story lacked some but still brought you in at certain points. This is
available on the Crackle app that I have on my Roku player. This is
based on the comic by Osamu Tezuka.
1776 (1972): I watched this
one at my dad's house who owns the DVD. This is the musical version of
the events that lead up to the signing of the Declaration of
Independence. William Daniels plays the very stubborn John Adams who
has this idea to become free of Britain but many do not share his
ideals. Howard Da Silva plays Benjamin Franklin who is kind of a
conscience for Adams. Ken Howard co-stars as Thomas Jefferson who is
talked into writing this Constitution but shows a lot of tension between
him and Adams. Blythe Danner plays Martha Jefferson and was actually
five months pregnant with her little baby Gwyneth. This movie has some
pretty good musical numbers and a great history lesson with good
performances. I know a couple people who have tried to put on this show
on stage but it is very hard to cast as it needs 26 men who cannot
double in parts.
Elizabeth I (2005): This is my second
mini-series for this edition and this one was on HBO. Helen Mirren
plays "The Virgin Queen" in the later years of her life which focuses on
the relationship she had with the Earl of Leicester, played by Jeremy
Irons, in which she could not marry him and never did marry even upon
the wishes of the kingdom hoping for an heir. She later sets her sights
on the Earl's dangerous stepson, played by Hugh Dancy. This is a
two-part mini-series where Mirren really shines as Elizabeth and in the
same year she plays Elizabeth II in THE QUEEN.
Well, that is it
for this week for the movies. Tell me what you like what what you do
not like. Stay tuned for next week which so far includes Winona Ryder,
more Neil Patrick Harris, Ingmar Bergman, and many others. Keep reading
and I have an honorable mention.
HONORABLE TV MENTION
Dollhouse
(2009-2010): This is a short-lived tv series which lasted two seasons
on Fox but did not deserve the term "short-lived". Joss Whedon, known
for writing shows like BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, ANGEL, FIREFLY, and the
great web-series DR. HORRIBLE'S SING ALONG BLOG, wrote this series.
BUFFY alum Eliza Dushku stars in this series. This takes place in an
organization where mind-wiped humans, referred to as "dolls", are
imprinted with different personalities to do tasks by which the
"dollhouse" is hired to do by the clients. When they are not imprinted,
they are ignorant, naive, and almost childlike not really knowing the
world. All these people have agreed to work for the dollhouse to get a
"clean slate" on their lives. Dushku plays the part of Echo which is
her code name for the doll and every doll has a code name to the
phonetic alphabet. This character really evolves through the show
slowly realizing her surroundings of what is really happening and is
determined to get out. Olivia Williams stars as Adele who runs the
Dollhouse and determined to keep her authority at the Dollhouse. Tahmoh
Pinikett plays Agent Ballard who is obsessed with finding Echo and
suspects many things that go on but none of his colleagues believe him.
There are other well-written characters to stay drawn into the show.
The show had 26 episodes and the show really was not formulaic like some
shows can be. Each episode was quite different and leaves you wanting
more. It also raises a lot of social questions and morality questions
on the ethics of what they do. There is an alum from each Joss show I
named off in BUFFY and ANGEL alum Eliza Dushku, BUFFY and ANGEL alum
Alexis Denisof, ANGEL alum Amy Acker, FIREFLY alum Summer Glau, and DR.
HORRIBLE alum Felicia Day. I have decided that next time Joss Whedon
puts out a new show that I will make sure I support it from the
beginning and hope to be that one person that will keep it from getting
an undeserved cancellation. This show is available on Instant Netflix
and is worth the watch.
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