Track the Films You Watch (2005) - Page 21

Michael Elliott · 04-07-2005, 02:31 PM

Haggai, I just received RED ZONE CUBA and the newest collection of MST3K from Rhino so I'll let ya know what I think. I haven't seen any of the film included except for THE KILLER SHREWS, which I must admit is a film I love with a passion. It's one of my all time favorite bad movies so lets see if the bots can make me laugh as hard as the film.

Haggai · 04-07-2005, 02:44 PM

I actually haven't seen any MST episodes in a really long time. Might have to get in on that Manos action at some point.

Funny MST-related story: about 6 years ago, I saw James Ellroy reading from his then-new book on the campus of the U. of Michigan. Not long before then, I was thumbing through the book, which was a collection of short stories, one of which was called "Dick Contino's Blues." It started off talking about the titular person singing a song called "Rock Candy Baby," which immediately triggered my memory of where I'd seen it--in the movie Daddy-O, which was once done on MST. Ellroy was apparently a fan of this actor, so he wrote him into a story. When I saw him speak on campus, I had him sign a copy of L.A. Confidential, and I mentioned that I'd actually seen Daddy-O, though I didn't have the heart to tell him about the MST connection (which I wasn't sure he even knew about). He said that he really liked the movie, and always tried to circulate copies among people he knew. And he signed my book, "Go Daddy-O!" Pretty cool.

george kaplan · 04-07-2005, 06:02 PM

Runaway Train

It's hard to believe that this script was co-written by Kurosawa. If he had directed it like originally planned, with Henry Fonda and Peter Falk it would no doubt have been a much, much better film. It certainly couldn't have been any worse.

Michael Elliott · 04-07-2005, 10:09 PM

I thought Jon Voight was wonderful in the film and for that reason alone, I own RUNAWAY TRAIN. I think some make it appear like one of the best of the decade, which I don't really understand but I do enjoy it in an over-the-top kinda way.

Quote:

(which I wasn't sure he even knew about)

Funny story. Several people didn't know what MST3K was when they sold the rights to their films to them. I think the producer's felt these were fans who were going to "respect" the films so to speak. I've heard a lot of the films will never be released through Rhino because the producer's took the rights back. I enjoyed THE KILLER SHREWS episode. The short wasn't too good but I think that was because the actual film wasn't that bad. I put in the RED ZONE CUBA disc and was disappointed to see that there isn't a "movie only" edition. I was upset at first because I wanted to see this for John Carradine but I then learned that he's only in the first 45-seconds singing the title song!!!!! Carradine has had several "walk through" roles but this is nuts.

george kaplan · 04-07-2005, 11:41 PM

Well Jon Voight was certainly the best thing about the film, but he couldn't save it in my opinion. And some of the really bad, atrocious acting (e.g., the guys in the control room) is so bad, that it completely ruins the film as far as I'm concerned.

SteveGon · 04-08-2005, 09:33 AM

Map of the Human Heart (1993)

Viewed 4/7/2005

Vincent Ward's epic romance tells the story of a half-Eskimo boy and the undying love between him and the half-Indian girl he meets as a youth. A visually-striking journey, ranging from a remote Eskimo village to the horrific firebombing of Dresden, even if Ward doesn't always hit all the right notes. Seems a bit choppy at times, possibly due to cuts.

out of

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974)

Viewed 4/7/2005

Sam Peckinpah's cynical classic features Warren Oates as a seedy bartender hired to find a man wanted for impregnating the daughter of a wealthy Mexican landowner. But his seemingly simple mission turns into a bloodbath and ends up costing him the one thing he holds dear. A film made of grit, tequila and bullets.

out of

Whisky Galore! (1949)

Viewed 4/7/2005 (first viewing)

Charming little Ealing Studios comedy about the inhabitants of a Scottish island who scheme to rid a sinking ship of its cargo of whisky.

out of

Madadayo (1993)

Viewed 4/7/2005 (first viewing)

Akira Kurosawa's final film is long and talky, but nonetheless compelling. A beloved professor retires and is thereafter treated like royalty by his former students. I don't know much about Japanese culture in this respect, but the students' sycophantic behavior seems a bit extreme. But I digress - it's easy to see why this material would appeal to an aging artist like Kurosawa who spent a good number of years out of favor in his homeland.

out of

Jim_K · 04-08-2005, 09:49 AM

I was a bit disappointed with Whisky Galore! when I viewed it a year or so ago. I found myself (perhaps unfairly) comparing it to the other Ealing comedies that I love, Lavender Hill Mob, Ladykillers, Man in the White Suit & Kind Hearts.

I forgot to list it but I caught the Ealing documentary on TCM the other day. Good show.

Brook K · 04-08-2005, 03:33 PM

Sycophantic behavior? They love and respect their professor who aided them in their life's journey to having successful careers and families. Because they feel he has given them so much, they can do no less when he is in need and they are the one's in a position to help.

Madadayo is about the joy of life and the depths of our ability to care and nurture one another. Each person derives ultimate fulfillment from their ability to help others. It is one of the most life-affirming of films and stands tall with other Kurosawa classics about respect and humanity like Ikiru and Red Beard.

Madadayo - "not yet" is the sing song reponse in the hide and seek game, but here it means that he is not ready to die, there is more living to do, more people to help, more kindness to give and to experience - the unbridled joy of living and loving one another.

Michael Elliott · 04-09-2005, 09:04 AM

04/04/05

He Did and He Didn’t (1916) B-

Extremely black comedy about an overweight doctor (Fatty Arbuckle) who eats too much and then dreams that his wife is cheating on him. There were a few funny scenes but this is mainly interesting in the fact that it is very dark in how it tries to get laughs. Murder, abuse and other “dark” targets are here.

Coney Island (1917) A

Fatty Arbuckle travels to Coney Island where he competes with Buster Keaton for the heart of a girl, which leads to havoc. This is a wonderfully funny short that allowed Keaton to show off his grace as a physical comedian. The ice cream, fish fighting and waterslide gags are certainly the best. The laughs fizzle out towards the end but this is still hilarious.

Je Brule de Partout (1978)

Wacked out Jess Franco film, which he shot in six days and it’s obvious he didn’t spend an hour on a script. A young woman (Susan Hemmingway) is kidnapped and forced to work in an orgy show but it turns out her daddy owns the slave ring. It’s clear this was a film Franco didn’t have any money to make so he pretty much filmed anything and that anything is basically couples rolling around on the floor naked. Hemmingway is easy on the eyes as usual and Brigitte Lahaie, who went on to be Jean Rollin’s lead actress, is also hot. Daniel White’s brilliant jazz score keeps things going better than they should.

04/05/05

Fatty Joins the Force (1913) B

After saving the police captain’s daughter, Fatty Arbuckle gets to join the force and eventually winds up behind bars. There are some very funny moments, although they’re scattered out the ten minute running time. Fatty being picked up by some park kids and the scene where Fatty’s co-workers think he’s been killed are the highlights.

Flirt’s Mistake (1914) B

A flirt (Fatty Arbuckle) makes the mistake of his life when he flirts with a woman who just happens to be a man. The highlight is the facial expression of Fatty when he discovers this hot chick is really a bearded man.

Rounders, The (1914) A-

Fatty Arbuckle and Charles Chaplin return home to their wives drunk, steal their money and head off to get drunker. It’s great seeing the two legends working together and laughs are certainly everywhere. The best moments are the physical ones where Chaplin keeps bouncing off Fatty’s stomach and butt.

Leading Lizzie Astray (1914) C

Fatty Arbuckle changes a flat tire for a rich man who in return steals his girlfriend. Fatty’s only in the first and last minute of this and doesn’t provide any laughs. The center section is downright boring and again, no laughs.

Adventures of Errol Flynn, The (2005)

Another wonderful TCM documentary that takes a look at Flynn’s film career as well as his controversial person life, which included a rape trial. As usual, the doc makes the perfect blend in the two subjects and the interviews are wonderfully, especially Olivia De Havilland.

04/06/05

Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day (1915)

Laughless comedy has Fatty and his neighbor (Mabel Norman) doing laudrey and falling for one another, which doesn’t sit well with her abusive boyfriend.

Big Doll House, The (1971)

Beautiful women, catfights, food fights, torture, lesbianism, mud wrestling and nudity are the highlights of this cult classic Women in Prison film from Jack Hill. There’s always a slight bit of sleaze that makes this interesting but overall it’s pretty dull without enough story and the dramatic moments don’t work. Judy Brown and Pam Grier star.

Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition (1915)

Another laugh less team up with Fatty Arbuckle and Mabel Normand. Fatty goes to the fair where his eye for other women doesn’t sit too well with his wife. Not enough slapstick leads to zero laughs.

Wished on Mabel (1915)

Fatty takes his girlfriend Mabel and her mother to the park where they are preyed on by a thief. This one here has a few more gags including some eye poking, which probably influenced The Stooges.

04/07/05

MST3K: Junior Rodeo Daredevils (1992)

The jokes work only half the time here. I haven’t seen the original film but it doesn’t seem like a bad movie. Instead, it has cowboys and rednecks, which is where the jokes are aimed and there are some funny ones. Comedy can rely on truths so the best line here is “It sure looks like it sucks to be a cowboy”.

MST3K: The Killer Shrews (1992)

The regular film is one of my all-time favorite bad horror movies but the jokes here are pretty funny and right on the mark. The best jokes involve discussion of the “rats”, which are actually dogs with hair, big ears and longer tailed glued on them. The jokes involving the black servant are also very funny.

From Soup to Nuts (1928)

Laurel and Hardy are waiters to a rich party but havoc begins as they start to serve the food. This is a delightful short that doesn’t have too much going for it other than the boys falling into the food but this here is quite funny especially Hardy and the cake.

Another Fine Mess (1930)

Laurel and Hardy, being chased by the police, enter a mansion and assume the identity of the owner and maid. This is a very funny short with highlights including Laurel going from the butler to the maid in a matter of minute to the best moment at the end of the film in a horse outfit.

Chump at Oxford, A (1940)

After stopping a bank robber Laurel and Hardy get the reward of an education at Oxford. This was the European version, which added a 20-minute prologue, which was a remake of From Soup to Nuts but it really doesn’t work. The original is a lot better and contains a lot more laughs. The rest of the actual film here is very funny especially the maze sequence, which had tears coming from my eyes.

County Hospital (1932)

Hardy in the hospital with a broken leg so Laurel comes to pay a visit and gets him kicked out. I think this was my first L&H film and it remains one of my favorites. The stunt with the window and Hardy being thrown in the air is the highlight as is the final gag with the wrecked car.

Them Thar Hills (1934)

Laurel and Hardy head out into the mountains for some fresh air and come across a well that bootleggers have filled with moonshine. There were some very funny moments here and there but overall this here really isn’t anything too special.

04/08/05

Tit for Tat (1935)

Sequel to Them Thar Hills has L&H opening an electronics store next to a grocery store owned by the man they had the run in with in the previous film. This one here works a lot better for laughs even though the film is pretty straight forward with childish gags where the group destroys the others store.

Perfect Day (1929)

Laurel, Hardy and their families are going on a picnic but various events stand in their way. Another wonderfully funny short features many great gags including the car breaking down and the best moments involving the uncle’s bad foot.

They Go Boom! (1929)

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