Project A 2

Project A 2 (A Gai Wak 2) (1987)

Runtime: 102 minutes

Directed by: Jackie Chan

Starring: Chan, Maggie Cheung, Rosamund Kwan, David Lam, Bill Tung

From:Golden Harvest

Recently I've realized that I haven't watched as much Jackie Chan as I really should; thus, viewing one of the four movies I have on Blu in a set from Echo Bridge was in order. Of course it's from Echo Bridge so that meant the quartet of films were all on one disc and it was only the Miramax dubs but that's what I had on hand. Remember the halcyon days of yore when our biggest complaints w/ Miramax was how they treated the foreign pictures they released in the United States?

In the past I've seen and reviewed Project A, which I really enjoyed. It is set in late 19th century Hong Kong and Chan played Sergeant Dragon Ma (not to be confused w/ the villainess from Super Inframan); in the first he was in the Marine Police and here, due to his heroics he is in charge of trying to clean up corruption in law enforcement. Besides that aspect having more resonance in 2020, a major plot point here is... unrest in Hong Kong against the government. That is a huge deal now in the film world as one of the (many) issues people have with the live-action Mulan is that its star is pro-Chinese government against the rebellions in the region. To avoid controversy, let me move on...

The plot is busy and perhaps there are a few too many characters-pirates, bad cops, pro-government forces, anti-government forces, etc.; at least it wasn't too difficult to follow. The original movie I do prefer when it comes to plot, characters (I missed Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao's presence) and even the action-which is still fine... the finale was at least impressive. If only there wouldn't have been a plot contrivance or two... at least unlike in Project A, Jackie did not fall head-first from a few stories up-although, there were still some brutal stunts.

Santo And The Revenge Of La Llorona

Santo and the Revenge of La Llorona (Santo Y Mantequilla Napoles En La Venganza De La Llorona) (1974)

Runtime: 87 minutes

Directed by: Miguel M. Delgado

Starring: El Santo, Jose Napoles, Kikis Herrera Calles, Alonso Castano, Ana Lilia Tovar, Sonia Cavazos

From: Cinematografica Calderon S.A

Yes, this is El Santo vs. LA LLORONA

Because of the Blumhouse movie from early last year that apparently was terrible-at least judging by general consensus-many more people are familiar with that Hispanic legend. To be brief, while there are variations the basics are that a woman drowns her children as revenge against her cheating partner, then she drowns herself due to grief. Subsequently, she roams around looking for her children... she drowns children that cross her path because they aren't her progeny. As the story has been around for hundreds of years, it shouldn't be a surprise that it would be used for a Santo movie... yet I still was when this was recently discovered. As typical for the past month or so, this was viewed on the El Rey Network last night.

A spin on the typical is that our man w/ the silver mask teams up with a boxer, Jose Napoles (who I understand is a legendary Welterweight pugalist) to assist a professor in finding a medallion that's around the neck of a lady who lived almost 300 years ago and is the titular La Llorona; this is done for family reasons... his bloodline is cursed, in other words. It's found but the actual villains are ruthless gangsters that want the huge treasure of doubloons also attached to the legend. Llorona is portrayed with at least a little sympathy as she had kids w/ a Spanish nobleman and due to circumstances she felt like she had to kill her children. For certain, the gangsters are seen more often than the walking corpse. This does not rise above average in most respects. At least there's some action and spooky settings; for some reason, the wrestling and boxing scenes were filmed in a TV studio that was supposed to have fans... but obviously didn't as they were never shown. What a visual to see fights with only a mauve background.

However, the music and fashion were most noteworthy to me. At times the score reminded me of The Harlem Shuffle-the original from Bob & Earl as heard in Baby Driver, not The Rolling Stones cover from the 80's during their lean years. Some of the clothing was hilarious: one of the two young ladies they managed to shoehorn in wore quite the set of duds for awhile: bright yellow pants pulled up almost to her boobs, a blue shirt with a giant frog on front, and a dark blue jacket. Santo and Napoles usually dressed like they were old men; some of their clothing might as well come from my late grandfather's closet. What was worn in the finale was incredible: Jose had on a proto-disco purple outfit and the man in the silver mask wore a peach-colored argyle sweater... hilarious clothing to have on when you're whooping ass on a phalanx of tough hoods.

The Abominable Dr. Phibes

The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)

Runtime: 94 minutes

Directed by: Robert Fuest

Starring: Vincent Price, Joseph Cotten, Peter Jeffrey, Norman Jones, Virginia North

From: AIP

Not what I was expecting... but that is not a negative.

Last night this played on MGMHD and as this shamefully hadn't been seen by me before, it was a must-watch for this time of year... not just because Vincent Price should be viewed each Halloween season. The opening was amazing: a figure wearing a black cloak is playing a giant red organ (phrasing...) as it rises up into a spooky backdrop as bright blue credits are shown. It then gets even more incredible from there: the camera pulls out and this figure dances with a rather fetching young brunette-Virginia North, a dame I wish would have done more than a few movies-as a house band then plays. It isn't until later that you realize it is a mechanical band a la The Rock-afire Explosion you saw at Showbiz Pizza Place way back when. Rather wild, and then there is a few deaths shown right away until the setup is explained.

The opening for certain sets the tone; there is an undercurrent of humor throughout... thankfully much of it was pretty funny to me. The titular Dr. Phibes was presumed dead in an accident but that was a ruse; he gets revenge on those surgeons who were unable to save his wife's life during surgery. Via photos you see the wife was none other than Caroline Munro; personally, I'd be upset too if I was married to her and she died! Anyhow, he literally brings down Biblical plagues upon those men (and women) of medicine... this means locusts, frogs, rats, etc. Some of the deaths seemed straight out of a Saw sequel; this is not something to take that seriously yet that tone works for the film. So do all the strange touches... the period music-this is set in the 1920's-sometimes colorful sets, North always accompanying Phibes and sometimes playing a cello (?!) during the death scenes, etc.

Besides Price being awesome in his role without having to say a lot, the detectives were pretty amusing and it's always nice seeing Joseph Cotten in a big role. Plus, there are moments that may only tickle me pink, such as Terry-Thomas getting his jollies from watching stag films where a woman is writhing around w/ a snake. The Abominable Dr. Phibes is pretty wild and it is a blessing that it was not too weird or idiosyncratic for my tastes.

The Human Tornado

The Human Tornado (1976)

Runtime: 96 minutes

Directed by: Cliff Roquemore

Starring: Rudy Ray Moore, Lady Reed, Jimmy Lynch, Java, ERNIE HUDSON (no kidding)

From: The original Dimension Pictures

In the past I've viewed a few Rudy Ray Moore pictures on multiple occasions; this was one I had seen only once before, long ago. Somehow I had few memories of just how daffy this was. It's not as inept as the original Dolemite-no boom mics are seen this time-but it still is rather incompetent when it comes to such things as logic and storytelling.

The opening act is Dolemite and friends (one of whom was played by a bald ERNIE HUDSON in one of his first movies) partying in what is laughably supposed to be rural southwestern Alabama-more on that later-before they leave for California due to a racist sheriff's actions-this sheriff resembling a maniacal Kenny Rogers-where they get wrapped up in a plot where Dolemite's lady pal Queen Bee has some of the girls stolen from her nightclub by a rival club owner... of course a gross old white guy who has Mob ties.

The Human Tornado is still piss-poor when you look at such aspects as editing and plot progression; in its favor is that it has some intentional laughs along with the many unintentional ones (this does NOT include the stand-up that Moore does in the opening) and the expected vulgar Dolemite rhymes. While there is a rather unsubtle homosexual man who is in a few scenes, at least that did not become homophobic... plus in a key supporting role is Java, a trans lady who was always presented as a lady and her trans status was never acknowledged. In real life, Java was a well-known dancer in the Los Angeles area. Anyway, the martial arts don't look as bad as in Dolemite, although typically when you see Moore do them, the footage is sped up, presumably to disguise how much of a fighter he is not. Also, what a baffling ending. If you love Moore in his debut picture...

While the movie was obviously entirely filmed in southern California, the opening 20 or so minutes was supposed to be southwestern Alabama. I know this as a brief shot established that initial setting as an obscure town called Citronelle... which my family and I have driven through on a few occasions before. It was done on our treks from Florida to Kansas, where one of my two sisters lives. Even in 2020 the population is less than 5,000, making me wonder how and why it was chosen for the film. I can tell you Citronelle has no hills or giant mansions, although I am sure there are more than a few bigots around.

Peninsula

Peninsula (2020)

Runtime: 116 minutes

Directed by: Yeon Sang-Ho

Starring: Kang Dong-Wan, Lee Jung-Hyun, Lee Re, Kwon Hae-Hyo, Kim Min-Jae

From: Several South Korean companies

A few years ago, I was lucky to see Train to Busan on the big screen... even if there was a bad audience experience attached to it. The movie was a blast as there was plenty of action and horror mainly set on a train. Later I saw the animated prequel Seoul Station and that was rather disappointing. Even though I also heard bad things about Peninsula (or as it's known in the United States: Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula) this is in many of the largest cineplexes in the United States so it was an obligation to give it a shot.

Regrettably, while Busan was an exciting thrill ride with engrossing characters and had heart to spare, this was like a dumb mindless modern Hollywood blockbuster-with pretty lousy CG to boot. This time around it's several random characters looking to retrieve 20 million dollars (American) from a truck in Incheon. There is a reason why: via a clumsy exposition dump, the movie is set four years after the events in Busan... most of the country is abandoned and those that escaped to other countries are looked at derisively-probably like those in other countries view Americans. As these movies are about a virus, of course everyone will think of The Black Plague we have now... and also note how some Americans would think of a zombie plague as a hoax.

Besides this being a dopey film revolving around characters I couldn't give a damn about, there's also personal opinion of fatigue over various cliches concerning Korean cinema in the 21st century. There's been plenty of movies which have a young girl and invariably she ends up crying by the end; guess what... Peninsula managed to squeeze that in! Several times while at the screening I sighed at the cliché moments or the stuff that was especially stupid. This has several driving scenes and both Fast & Furious and Fury Road are blatant inspirations... the crap CG and lower budget are but a few reasons why those don't work. In addition, the person whose driving skills would put Lewis Hamilton to shame, their identity makes their abilities utterly preposterous.

Others deriving more entertainment from this is understandable; personally, those old-hat tropes, the world not being explained at all (who is still making gasoline? That is even more egregious than some places having electricity, as there are generators... which need gas to run) and how this was a follow-up to a great action/horror picture made me quite unsatisfied with the end result.

The Fall Of The House Of Usher (The 1928 French Version)

The Fall of the House of Usher (La Chute De La Maison Usher) (1928)

Runtime: 63 minutes

Directed by: Jean Epstein

Starring: Jean Debucourt, Marguerite Gance, Charles Lamy, Fournez-Goffard, Luc Dartagnan

From: Films Jean Epstein

Not to be confused with the 1928 American short, this French 63 minute production I stumbled upon a few days ago while searching for something else. It follows the Edgar Allan Poe story-more or less-and for this Halloween season, it only seemed logical to feature at least one of his tales, right?

Presumably most at least have a basic familiarity with the story of Roderick Usher-here, they found someone who appropriately appeared to be demented throughout-his sister Madeline, the family curse and the titular house also being a recipient of the curse, so that won't be dwelled on. Instead, I will note that director Jean Epstein was not only obviously inspired by the Soviet and German cinema of the time, this was highly Impressionistic. It means that it was a visual delight as some of the sets were huge in scope and among other things, a few times there are long scenes where images are overlaid on each other. None other than Bunuel was initially involved before he left after a disagreement with Epstein.

The film manages to be rather macabre and vivid, making it a quality selection to get you in the mood for the spooky season. It was viewed in a unique way on my part due to the lack of easy availability for a clear copy w/ translated intertitles. Therefore, two streams had to run at the same time... one had a nice picture but when I needed to see what the intertitles said, I had to flip over to the lousy video that at least was subtitled. The things I sometime have to do... thankfully this silent is pretty good so it was worth that minor inconvenience.

Evil Of Dracula

Evil of Dracula (Chi O Suu Bara) (1974)

Runtime: 83 minutes

Directed by: Michio Yamamoto

Starring: Toshio Kurosawa, Shin Kishida, Mariko Mochizuki, Kunie Tanaka, Katsuhiko Sasaki

From: Toho

Before discussing this film, I'll make a statement that is uttered each early September: while I do not participate in the official Hoop-tober festivities of watching horror movies throughout Halloween based on a set series of criteria, I still create a list of my own where I view whatever the heck I find or strikes my fancy. This encompasses a wide variety of different films and sometimes includes such things as cartoons and educational shorts about trick or treating. The list will be unveiled in early November.

Finally, I saw the final movie in The Bloodthirsty Trilogy, three horror movies from Toho which have nothing in common aside from director Michio Yamamoto and them being Nippon spins on Gothic Hammer horror. The first two-The Vampire Doll and a title I'll always love, Lake of Dracula-I enjoyed and my opinion has not changed for this. A professor accepts a new job at a small rural all-girls school... while some of the girls like the professor and there are boobs seen, this is not as “horny on main” as it sounds-it's not a Jesus Franco picture, after all. Anyway, someone is a vampire, although Dracula is nowhere to be seen... to be fair, the original title does not reference this character. The origin story is rather interesting-it will remind you of... Silence. Yes, the story brought to life by Masahiro Shinoda and Scorsese in separate pictures.

It is a creepy atmospheric movie which should delight vampire fans; the rustic setting is pretty cool and while there are some dopey moments, this was not too much a detriment when there's a sometimes psychedelic score, more than one possessed girl, a character that reminded me of Renfield-several different Dracula movies were mixed in here-and a few bloody moments. Arrow did a nice Blu set of The Bloodthirsty Trilogy I am glad I picked up in the past.