M

M(1931)

Runtime: 109 minutes

Directed by: Fritz Lang

Starring: Peter Lorre, Otto Wernicke, Gustaf Grundgens, Ellen Widmann, Inge Landgut

From: Nero-Film A.G.

I'll mention right away that this is a must-see movie for any serious lover of cinema. I explain why (although not as eloquently as others have, admittedly) in my Letterboxd review below:

As I saw a pretty terrible movie on Sunday night, I figured it was time to watch something of high quality last night and that is definitely what I did by checking out this classic. I imagine everyone is familiar with the plot of how the police and the underworld of Berlin (as the police's raids trying to find the villain) are on the lookout for a serial killer of young girls, and the ramifications of this. So, let me explain why this is so highly regarded and may be a great director's best movie.

The plot is always compelling. When we start off the killer (what an astounding performance from Peter Lorre; no surprise that people would see him here and want him to do in English language movies and later, Hollywood) is in the midst of his spree and we see the horrifying toll that is caused by the panic over his disgusting crimes, and how paranoia reigns supreme and it is easy for a mob mentality to form and false accusations be made against innocent people. The pressure constantly builds until it finally boils over, the underground get fed up with their business being interfered with and they're on the offensive against Hans Beckert.

I was always interested from beginning to end as the movie goes through various phases; all pieces work well together and it comes together to something truly excellent. You see that the police in Berlin back then used such things as fingerprint and handwriting analysis. Many different themes are explored, which I won't fully spoil here in case anyone hadn't seen it before. I'll just mention they include the danger of vigilante justice, how the mentally ill are treated, and the trouble with mob mentality.

To think that this was the first ever sound picture for Fritz Lang; I knew the visuals would be no problem and they turned out great with the different camera angles and how things were edited together (really, it was far ahead of its time), but sound was a key component here; besides there not being a score, there were several moments where there was no sound at all and they were important moments so it stood out and it was greatly effective. When you did hear sound, it told a story on its own and to think that this was only a few years after sound in movies was even a thing.

Quite simply, if you are a serious film fan and had never seen this before, that is a mistake you must fix sometime, preferably soon. It really is a masterpiece that holds up even 85 years later. The final act alone is incredible and a nail-biting experience.

Brick Mansions

BrickMansions (2014)

26% on Rotten Tomatoes (out of 89 reviews)

Runtime: 90 minutes

Directed by: Camille Delamarre

Starring: Paul Walker, David Belle, RZA, Gouchy Boy, Catalina Denis

From: Several different companies; I'll save them the embarrassment and not mention who they were

I saw this on Netflix Instant last night and needless to say, it's a pretty terrible movie, and it also has the temerity to be pointless. Stick with the original District B13, the review of which you can check out here. My review of this movie is below, via Letterboxd: 

NOTE: The version of the movie I saw was the Theatrical Cut on Netflix Instant. I know that the Unrated Cut present on the Blu release has quite a few differences aside from it being 10 minutes longer but I did not want to pay a few bucks on Amazon to see that version and to be honest, don't expect me to ever see that in the future to see how different the two cuts are as I will presume it doesn't magically make this a motion picture worth seeing.

You know, it had been awhile since I had seen a really bad movie... that wasn't my mindset going in and watching this. I heard multiple people say that this was bad but when I saw the original District B13 I noted that it was entertaining but at the same time was extremely stupid. I figured it was time to see if this was as bad as its reputation suggests... well, it is. Really, stick with the original film.

The plot is almost a carbon copy of the original District B13 aside from the action being in Detroit 2018 instead of Paris 2013; the changes they do make don't improve the story of an odd couple having to work together in the worst section of Detroit to save a girl and prevent a bomb from going off. Paul Walker can't obviously fight so there's shaky-cam and quick cutting that hides this... problem is, the entire movie is shot that way and it's just bad; that's not the main issue here. What that the movie is pointless when you compare it to the original and this remake is just made in the most incoherent fashion, even compared to the mess that's District B13. Maybe the Unrated Cut improves cohesion but even if it does, this would still be pointless.

The performances... we all know that Paul Walker wasn't a master thespian but I felt bad he was in this crap pile, and posthumously at that. David Belle played the same role he did in B13, and as an actor he's great at Parkour. As for The RZA as the leader of Brick Mansions, as an actor he's a great rapper. I am sure we all know that he's a poor actor and we aren't too saddened that his wide release theatrical days on the silver screen appear to be over with.

When I reviewed B13 I noted how it was such a product of its time, comparing it to such movies as Torque and... The Fast and the Furious. I still feel that way and that's a reason why updating it to this time was stupid, alongside the obvious of it never needing a remake to begin with. Maybe I would rate this a little higher if it wasn't so darn pointless.

Enemy Mine

Enemy Mine (1985)

Runtime: 108 minutes

Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Louis Gossett, Jr., Brion James, Richard Marcus, the greatly named Bumper Robinson

From: 20th Century Fox

Would you believe that I had never seen this before? It is true. I can now say that this is a solid 3 star movie and I give the reasons why below via my Letterboxd review: 

Via Amazon I watched the full 108 minute version of this movie last night as someone online said I should; despite being a child of the 1980's I never actually had seen this from beginning to end before. If I did I imagine I would have nostalgia love for it; as I don't, I'll say that this was fine and I'll explain why.

If you haven't seen this movie yet either, it's a space tale where a space racist (that's the best way to describe Dennis Quaid's character; he hates the Drac alien species) is trapped on a barren planet with the lizard-like humanoid bipedal alien species known as the Dracs and this wacky duo of course don't get along at first but as the Drac nicknamed Jerry learns English and things happen, their relationship changes... I do agree it sounds cliché but there are some surprises along the way.

I can't say that this is great but it's still a solid 3 star movie and I don't regret watching it. Quaid as the space racist and Lou Gossett, Jr. as Jerry do solid work. The 80's effects work did make me feel nostalgic, even if some of it doesn't age that greatly. The lessons taught in the movie are all nice and I say it is a parable about not being a racist in general and not stereotyping things just because they are different from you.

This movie was a troubled production as Wolfgang Petersen wasn't the original director but he came in after the first guy was fired and they had to practically start all over, then it bombed at the box office as the story probably isn't “sexy” to the general public at the time. It is unfortunate as it is a pleasant movie to watch with some nice messages for the audience, along with the requisite exciting moments. The score is from Maurice Jarre, who delivered what you would expect from him... and that is a good thing in my eyes.

Oh, and to me it is wacky yet amusing that the reason the El Rey Network showed this a few times this weekend is that they were celebrating Mother's Day and believe it or not this does fit that criteria.

The Pirates

The Pirates (Hae-Jeok: Ba-Da-Ro Gan San-Jeok) (2014)

Runtime: 130 minutes

Directed by: Lee Seok-Hoon

Starring: Kim Nam-Gil, Son Ye-Jin, Oh Dal-Su, Park Cheol-Min, Yoo Hae-Jin

From: Harimao Pictures

Thursday night I finally checked this out; I delayed viewing the movie due to mixed opinions. It was something that I enjoyed, although it's not as great as some of the Korean movies I have seen before. I explain this in my Letterboxd review below:

I first heard about this movie from another site, where they posted some character posters. This was even before it was released in its native South Korea. It got some positive buzz from all “the white people” who saw those posters. Later, sites such as this one gave their opinions and not everyone enjoyed this. That is why I delayed watching this until last night, even though it was always in the back of my mind as I also enjoyed said character posters.

I knew beforehand that the tone would be pretty light and it was. The setting is late 14th century Korea, right before the Joseon Dynasty started-that lasted for about 500 years-and those in powers receive a Royal Seal from the Ming Dynasty. No, not the animal, but rather seal as in emblem. Anyhow, an accident happens and a whale swallows the Seal, so for a monetary award several different groups look for that large aquatic animal: a good band of pirates and a heel band of pirates, a group of bandits and some royal military.

The movie is pretty ridiculous if you think about it and the comedy can be hit or miss. I've heard it compared to an American blockbuster and that seems valid, both good and bad. That said, I was still pretty entertained. The characters were certainly memorable, especially the heroic pirates, as they are led by a young attractive woman as their leader, and she was awesome-not because she was a young attractive woman but because she was a kick-ass character who also loved whales. The action setpieces are pretty rad and unique, so that was a big asset to me. In terms of comparison, I have seen all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and I'll review them here sometime in the future, but except for the original the others are average or worse, and I'll explain why when I see those again; I tell you, I am not looking forward to seeing Pirates 3 a second time!

It's not the best Korean film I have seen and I understand why it's not for everyone. Me, I was able to enjoy it for what it was and I simply had fun checking this out.

Mad Love

Mad Love (1935)

Runtime: 68 minutes

Directed by: Karl Freund

Starring: Peter Lorre, Frances Drake, Colin Clive, Ted Healy, Sara Halden

From: MGM

This is something I watched on TCM late last night. I chose it on a whim and it turned out to be a fine decision indeed. Read all about it below via my Letterboxd review: 

This was a movie that played late last night on Turner Classic Movies and I only decided to watch it shortly before it started once I noticed it was on the schedule. The movie was only 68 minutes long, starred a bald Peter Lorre, was a version of The Hands of Orlac, I saw some positive reviews, and it just seemed like the right film to see. Turns out, it was. If you know the Orlac story, this will be familiar: a pianist has his hands badly injured in an accident and a surgeon who has the hots for the pianist's wife Yvonne grafts the hands of a serial killer onto him, and he changes.

Ted Healy (yes, the leader of the act that would later become The Three Stooges after they dumped him) provides some comic relief, not all of it funny. The setting is France but this is not always convincing with all the Americans and American accents around... yet this wacky film which has everything from knife throwing and a serial killer who has an interest in Hoover Dam to a cleaning lady with a pet cockatoo, and Lorre's Dr. Gogol getting his jollies from looking at a wax figure of Yvonne-you see, she performs in a Grand Guignol-style production-is pretty entertaining nonetheless.

There are some truly ghoulish moments and the real highlight was Lorre in his American film debut. His character goes through a wide range of emotions and was gleefully over the top by the time the movie wraps up. The cast as a whole is fine but Lorre is the most memorable for sure. This is definitely silly and I understand how in the past there have been people as well-known as Peter Bogdanovich who hated it; I say that it is Old Peter who helped elevate the material. In addition, it is nicely filmed by German director Karl Freund and out of all movies, some parallels have been made between this and Citizen Kane, and beyond sharing Gregg Toland as a cinematographer; imagine Welles watching this and loving it.

This may not be as famous as the most famous 30's horror films out there, but if you love such things then this should definitely be tracked down for your viewing.

Stone Cold Dead

Stone Cold Dead (1979)

Runtime: 109 minutes

Directed by: George Mendeluk

Starring: Richard Crenna, Paul Williams, Linda Sorensen, Belinda Montgomery, Chuck Shamata

From: Ko-Zak Productions

Here is a random movie I saw last night; I found out about it as I sometimes do, that being on a messageboard. I explain the whole thing via my Letterboxd review posted below:

About a month ago, I found out about this movie; yes, it was via someone on a messageboard. He noted that it was showing on MGMHD one morning; I don't get the channel anymore but it's also on Amazon Instant Video so I could see it that way. I finally watched it last night. The plot revolved around sleaze (a mysterious sniper is killing prostitutes, and Richard Crenna is a loose cannon cop who not only wants to find the killer but he also wants to clean up the streets of Toronto) and what really caught my eye was that playing the role of a pimp and heroin dealer was PAUL WILLIAMS. Yes, that Paul Williams, the diminutive singer and songwriter who seemingly vanished for years due to a bad alcohol and drug problem and he worked on Daft Punk's last album. I was so amused at the thought of him playing that character, I had to give this a watch.

Overall, I'll say that this was fine. There's certainly plenty of sleaze between the killer (they use a wacky sniper rifle with a Canon camera on it so they can take pictures as they make those kills; I imagine it'd be a lot more difficult to shoot such a contraption w/ a camera weighing it down, but I probably thought more about that than the movie did), multiple ladies shooting heroin, multiple women appearing topless, shots of what was then the red light district of Toronto, and a rather uncomfortable bit with a reverend who turns out to be a pervert. But to me the highlight is Williams as the pimp and dope dealer. He's dressed as a white pimp from the 70's and with the way he acted, it was tremendous. He is part of a certain sexual act and his reaction to that greatly amused me.

As for the movie, it is slowly paced and is 109 minutes long. Yet I was always interested in the story being told, even if the lead did not make much headway at first in solving this case. He also acted like a real heel at times and was not the sensitive type, pet fish at home aside. In one scene the pimp and heroin dealer Williams came off as more sympathetic, which I thought was interesting. But otherwise I was amused at him being a loose cannon cop, even in this day and age some of it comes off as a little awkward. I heard others say that this has giallo elements and I can't disagree between the kills with the sniper and how they were dressed. The funky score from Paul Zaza was pretty rad, I say. In terms of other people in the cast, there's Belinda Montgomery in a supporting role, Linnea Quigley in the beginning, a one scene role from George Chuvalo as-shock of shocks-a boxer and a blink and you miss it role from the great Michael Ironside.

The movie isn't a must-see but I was still entertained by this obscure flick; there were some unintentional laughs and the final act was nice as we find out who the killer is and the motivation is rather interesting. I have no knowledge of the novel Sin Sniper that this was based upon (both titles are awesome, in my eyes) but I can say that this movie is at least fine.

Green Room

Green Room (2015)

88% on Rotten Tomatoes (out of 138 reviews)

Runtime: 95 minutes

Directed by: Jeremy Saulnier

Starring: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, Patrick Stewart

From: A24

I saw this movie last night on the big screen and while it's the best movie I've seen from the director, I still don't love his output like many do. That's just me and my tastes. I try to explain why below in my Letterboxd review:

You know, I've come to realize that the films of Jeremy Saulnier just aren't for me, and I am OK with that.

I've seen all three movies he's done now, and the only one I've hated was Murder Party. That said, when people gush all over Blue Ruin and this film and I only found the former to be average and the latter by star rating is the “best” I've seen him do and I honestly could only give it 3 stars despite what most others think... he's just not for me no matter the popular opinion. I wish that wasn't the case as I don't plan on ever being an outlier when it comes to opinions but it happens plenty of times.

By now people should be familiar with the plot of a douche-y punk band (really, that's what they were) who are poor and on tour on the other side of the country so they perform at a middle of nowhere club that actually is a skinhead/Neo-Nazi hangout and s*** goes wrong and they get stuck there and have to deal with the likes of Patrick Stewart. Now, the idea sounded like a winner so I was hoping that I would love this. Alas...

The general idea was a winner. There's plenty of intense moments for sure and with what the cast was given all performed nicely. However, there's the old canard with me, that being the plot and characters. I won't delve into any spoilers so don't worry about that; I'll just say that the protagonists-that being the band plus the character played by Imogen Poots-aren't all that likable and that is an issue when the antagonists are horrible white supremacists; hell, I at least admired how Patrick Stewart's character was matter of fact in trying to clean up the mess at the club, even if it meant killing some dopey young adults do some things that did not make a lot of sense to me. Honestly, how or why the band did some of the things they did, it did not make me admire them, I'll put it that way. In addition, stylistically I am not a big fan of those movies where you only have a small amount of violence but what you do get is over the top and gross gore; that isn't an automatic fail for me (I still rate Drive pretty highly. Only God Forgives, not so much, but there were far worse problems with that). Just note that this is one of those films.

I wish that I could love this like most do. The director and me are not compatible; it's me, not you, you know. At least there was still enough to where I can rate this as “fine”. As I said before, it's tense throughout, the cinematography is nice-along with the music-I have no complaints with the performances and there are some real inspired bits as they try to fight back against the bad guys. The rating is as high as I can personally go. At least I can say that this was better than the trailers for The Lobster and Swiss Army Man, which both played before this. Those look like all the negatives that some people attach to arthouse movies, and appear to be pure wankery to my eyes.