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Yes, Bond Villains elected and reelected all around my country, on both sides of the political SPECTREum! This proves that Bond still has a place in the world. But I won't get into that here.
Otherwise, hopefully I'll see something new soon!
I had ordered this to watch at Halloween but it didn't arrive in time! It's the film debut of Russell ( Highlander) Mulcahy and it tells of a giant killer wild boar in the outback in Australia. It's quite enjoyable and Mulcahy, coming off his music video background sets up some striking images (DoP is Mad Max's Dean Semler!) And the boar itself is never really fully seen, and falls back on the old pov shots. Greg Harrison is a fairly bland hero, and probably would have been better having leading lady Arkie Whitely, ( great name!) who appeared in Mad Max 2 as the heroine, who takes the monster on in the nicely staged meat factory finale!
I quite like Mulcahy's style-over-substance approach. It's definitely not for everyone, but I enjoy it.
Even went out of my way to watch his lowbudget Hammer-style mummy film Tale of the Mummy, which includes Christopher Lee, Honor Blackman and Gerard Butler cameos as well as supporting roles by Shelley Duvall, Michael Lerner, Jack Davenport and Sean Pertwee, who's overacting like crazy.
Great score by Stefano Mainetti too (actually bought the album):
The American cut, which is considerably shorter than the European one, is free to watch on YT:
Be aware though, it's low-budget so sfx suffer from that, and while protagonist Louise Lombard does rather well, her co-star Jason Scott Lee isn't exactly Laurence Olivier.
Anyway, I quite love this particular 90's Hammer-style kind of mummy thriller, despite its obvious flaws. It's more Blood from the Mummy's Tomb than the 1999 Stephen Sommers CGI adventure. But again, not for everyone.
Good little synopsis mate @Mathis1 I haven't seen this in decades. You're right, it has some striking imagery in it. I wouldn't mind a rewatch myself. I think it might be available on an Arrow Bluray release..?
My first time watching the Marx Brothers, and what a time it was!
Credit to the non-Marx cast members for being such wonderful straightmen (and straightwomen); it's a tough job to pull off, especially when playing opposite Groucho, but they did it without flaw, I found, and it really helped accentuate the chaos the brothers unleashed.
Good to see you back on here mate! I didn't get it on Arrow, though I think it may be available from them! I had only seen it once before, and if I'm wrong, I think it was part of Alex Cox excellent 'Moviedrome' series on BBC2?
Never heard of that film. Only other movie of Mulcahys I've seen (Apart from Highlander films) was 'The Shadow'
I would have been intrigued to see what he would have done on 'Rambo III' before he was replaced?
Thanks @Mathis1 like our favourite hero, i always return! ;)
Yep, that Moviedrome series was great.
Although not as good as the first and second X-Men movies, it's certainly was better than the third. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are great, and I loved Jennifer Lawrence as much as Rebecca Romijn (who gets a blink and you'll miss it cameo). All in all, a very good movie, and I loved the Bpondian elements in it, up to and including the final titles which reminded me of the main titles of DN.
10. Trigger Man (2007)
It’s okay-ish, but to me West’s sophomore effort is his weakest film. The concept is interesting enough, but the acting and pacing are pretty rough. The climax is the highlight, and I appreciate how West doesn’t entirely spell things out regarding what was going on. It lacks good, memorable characters and moments, but it’s not all bad. Still, an easy choice as my least favorite of the bunch.
9. The Roost (2005)
West’s first film isn’t a home run, but it’s got some good ideas. I was charmed by the classic TV horror act that bookends the movie, and the combination of killer bats and zombies was pretty cool as the main threat. Still, like Trigger Man, the acting and pacing isn’t very good, but I did find myself a little more attracted to what The Roost offered. It’s a flawed but neat little homage to old horror shows & movies.
8. Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009)
Apparently, Ti West was very unhappy with this film, but I found a lot about it to enjoy. I do prefer the first film by Eli Roth, but both are pretty funny films to just turn your brain off and chill to. Big bonus points for the inclusion of two Sparks songs (The Willys & Eaten by the Monster of Love), and a lot of fun chaos all over the second act. Admittedly, the characters are shallow and the overacting is pretty awful, but it’s one of those movies you know doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I liked it for what it was.
7. The Innkeepers (2011)
This was a decent ghost house (or rather, hotel) film from West. It’s the first on my list where I especially liked the characters and acting; Sara Paxton and Pat Healy were terrific and felt very natural. It was very slow for a while, but the dialogue and atmosphere keep things interesting until the action picks up. I felt like the climax was a bit rushed, and had mixed feelings about the ending in general, but overall this was an enjoyable movie, with an impressive blend of spookiness and comedy.
6. MaXXXine (2024)
I’ll be honest, MaXXXine was a little disappointing for me when I saw it at the theater this year. It’s by no means bad, but to me a significant step down from the previous two of its series. Mia Goth is top-notch as always, and Kevin Bacon was also memorable here. The kills and gore are excellent, as is the atmosphere and immaculate 1980s vibes. However, the Night Stalker element felt pretty wasted ultimately, and the third act is a bit of a mess. It felt like this script needed some more time, that certain details were rushed, but it’s still a fun movie. But, I’d definitely say, “threequel curse.”
5. The Sacrament (2013)
This was a really good, disturbing film from West. Of course, it’s based on a horrifying true story, and the third act was just brutal to watch play out. All the acting is very good, particularly from Gene Jones as the charismatic cult leader. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Its horror is the scariest of all West’s films because it’s horror from the real world. My one big complaint is that I’m not a big fan of found footage style and don’t think it really benefited the movie at all. I also would have liked some more time in between the news crew meeting Father and the intense, long climax. Still, it’s solid work and deserves appreciation.
4. In a Valley of Violence (2016)
This one really sticks out in West’s filmography for being much more of an action / Western feature than horror, though there are certainly some horrifying elements. I can’t help but be reminded of John Wick, and you’ve seen both you know why! The acting is solid across the board, though in my opinion Ethan Hawke and Taissa Farmiga shine the brightest. No new ground is broken with this movie, but its simple plot nonetheless captivated me and played out very satisfyingly. I love a good revenge movie, and this one didn’t disappoint. Intense action and stylish sensibilities more than make up for the lack of originality. It’s just a good ol’ fashioned Western with a modern sheen.
3. The House of the Devil (2009)
Now we get into the elite of the elite! This was such a treat to watch on Halloween. Devil worship is a fun horror sub-genre, and it’s done super well here. The characters, setup, and atmosphere are all perfect, so the slow buildup before hell breaks loose is not at all boring to me (I’ve seen that complaint before). Greta Gerwig was an absolute scene-stealer. This is just a delightfully creepy movie with some sweet spots of levity and a super chilling ending. I consider it a true horror classic, and a perfect breakout hit for West!
2. X (2022)
A highly entertaining and intense ride from start to finish! The cast was perfect across the board, highlighted of course by Mia Goth in not one but two roles! The 70s feels are captured flawlessly, and the excess of sex and violence makes for a super good time in a classic horror sense. Not much else to say except everything about this film worked for me, and it’s an excellent throwback that scratches that itch for old-school horror.
1. Pearl (2022)
Mia Goth’s performance in this one deserved at least an Oscar nomination; it was the single most impressive performance in any of West’s movies! Pearl feels just as much a drama and character piece as it does a horror. The period piece aspect is superb; I love it being set in the 1910s. It’s intense and gripping from start to finish, and I consider it to be Ti West’s most impressive film so far.
And there you have it! I even watched V/H/S and The ABCs of Death to check out West’s segments in them, which were both pretty good! It was a blast going through his filmography, and I can’t wait to see what he goes for next!
I love your ranking of Ti West's films. It's good to see that you enjoyed most of them.
Thank you! It was excellent escapism, and I don’t think he made a fully bad movie yet. Very enjoyable and consistent as far as I’m concerned!
I'm particularly happy that you found much to enjoy about Cabin Fever 2. It's got a few really filthy scenes, and I mean truly nasty, but with a sufficiently strong stomach, nothing a seasoned fan of 'yuck' cinema cannot handle. ;-)
Honestly, that’s the one I’d count as my biggest “pleasant surprise.” I’m pretty desensitized, so I made it through, though I still cringe at certain parts haha. I didn’t expect to enjoy either Cabin Fever movie that much, but also watching the first made me appreciate Eli Roth a little more. Personally, I dislike the Hostel movies, but Cabin Fever and Thanksgiving were winners for me!
Roth has a few interesting films on his resume. The ones I appreciate less are The Green Inferno (although I see what he was trying to do here) and Borderlands.
It's essentially a movie about the South African rugby team around the time of break up of apartheid and their efforts to become world champions. It's basically football played on another continent but there's enough moments and actual game action to keep the viewer entertained. Morgan Freeman plays a credible Mandela and Matt Damon plays lead role as one of the star players of the African team that leads his team.
All based on true events that actually came to pass years back. You don't have to be a rugby fan to enjoy it but some knowledge of the apartheid years of SA and 1995 World Championship held there would be beneficial to the viewer.
A really good movie...a bit too America-centric (I'm not that happy with the choice of Matt Damon in the leading role), but Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela is priceless. And especially for Eastwood, it's an incredibly positive film.
PS: And I don't have the slightest clue about rugby.
Back in the 80's I was an avid filmgoer and I remember going to see this. It popped up on Film 4 channel the other night (it's premiere!!!) and so I had to tune in. It's a slight but enjoyable flick about a Warlock ( Julian Sands) who travels to modern day L A to retrieve a book that contains God's real name!!! That if spoken backwards will reverse Creation! Our villain is pursued by a Witchhunter played by the great Richard E. Grant, who is a hoot with his knowledge and tricks to slow the bad guy down ( if you hammer nails into Warlocks footprints, he feels the pain!) Lori (Footloose) Singer is the reluctant accomplice ( "But you've seen what he can do!", "That's why I'm not going!")
Scripted by David Twohy, it's good fun, with some dodgy 80's effects, ( the flying, the eyeballs!)
Not a movie though captures the imagination more than most, I purchased this on cassette tape earlier today which really adds to its authenticity and atmosphere.
- kids playing football
- English quotes on ancient Roman walls
- sharks in the Colosseum (though in desperate need of freaking laserbeams)
- Romans referring to Poseidon (Greek) instead of Neptunus (Roman)
- etc.
Or try to tell an insteresting story, do some research and at the very least attempt to accomplish some suspension of disbelief.
This one is like Monty Python and Stephen Sommers throwing ideas in a blender without telling the director that emulating Cecil B. DeMille's self-seriousness would probably not fit.
3/10
7,5/10
Of course it's not as good as the first one, but Scott sort of redeems himself after last years failure, 'Napoleon'. It's a massive movie with real sets and plenty of setpieces, and although it kind of follows the same template as 'Gladiator' there were many surprises, like the character arc of Denzel Washington.
The score is generic, though. Best places where were they reused some of Zimmer's cues from the first one.
I thought the score was pretty decent until the bit where they reused the Zimmer cue and it was like… oh yeah, thats what Gladiator is.
Enjoyed the film even though I thought the climax was a bit weak sauce, and Mescal was a bit to blank for me. Fine when he had some of the “more fun relaxed banter” scenes and could crack a smile with others, but he was in moody rage mode nearly all the time.
I laughed out loud when a character was reading a newspaper.
Really entertaining western, yet another telling of the Wyatt Earp/OK corral story, this went up against Kevin Costners version, titled 'Wyatt Earp' ( which I've never seen!), but this tended to be recognised as superior film. Kurt Russell heads as Earp, and there's a terrific starry cast, with Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Powers Boothe and Michael Biehn, but the film belongs to Val Kilmers wonderful portrayal of John 'Doc' Holliday! He's a hoot, with great scenes and lines ("I'm your Huckleberry!")
George P. Cosmatos directs from a screenplay by Kevin Jarre ( who, I believe was meant to direct as well!) And it's all great fun, with cracking shootouts (the great Terry Leonard was on 2nd unit/ stunt duties)and a rousing score from Bruce Broughton! A word too for legends Robert Mitchum ( narrator) and Charlton Heston in a cameo!
Technically Romans did have something resembling a newspaper, but you're right it was hardly like what we saw in the film. Now, being rather intruiged by the ancient world, certain things take me out of it completely, and don't get my disbelief suspended. I don't mind historical inaccuracies to a certain extend, but in G2 it's just too much. Some stuff felt like they belonged in a Monty Python film. At least for me they did.
Yesterday, I put Condorman in my Blu-Ray player, and enjoyed it as much as I did when I first saw it (in Trier, during my military service). Fun parody of Bond style movies. The premise (a comic book writer/artist is asked to do a spy mission) looks preposterous, but since then, I discovered that it wasn't so far-fetched after all (the Canadian Caper, anyone ?). And the cast was great, especially Barbara Carrera.
Boy talk about a blast from the past! I remember watching it when I was like seven or eight. About 40 years ago.