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Reviews
Mutiny in Heaven: The Birthday Party (2023)
Excellent movie about a band that never was popular in the U.S.
I was involved in the Orange County punk scene in the 1980s. We heard the name Birthday Party but really never heard ABOUT them or their music. It wasn't until Nick Cave formed The Bad Seeds that he and his band became famous over here in the U. S.
There is GREAT RARE footage of old Birthday Party shows, Nick's early bands and cool animated drawings that tell their story. My one complaint is that while it was great that they interviewed all the band, they rarely identified who was speaking when showing clips, etc. I recognized Nick Cave's voice but the others all just blended in together.
Definitely recommend this movie if you are a Cave fan or a fan of early punk in general!
Lights Out: And Adam Begot (1951)
Early TV Show with a Twists Ending
I thought this was a pretty cool episode. Of course, yes, the production values from 1951 vs. 2020, 70 FREAKING YEARS LATER, pale in comparison to modern times. However, this is a pretty "modern" plot here. It involves 3 characters: A woman and both of the men who love her and are arguing over her throughout the episode. The dialogue in the car between the 3 is actually pretty well written. Yes, the guy running around in the furs as a Neanderthal is pretty silly looking but overall, especially with the nice little twist at the end and the witty dialogue at the beginning among the 3, I'll give this an 8.
Side note: The writer, Arch Oboler, around this time made the post-apocalyptic cult move, Five, about, yes, the last 5 folks on earth after an atomic war. There was not only a love triangle here among a good and bad guy over the last, and pregnant, woman, but an examination of racism and a great film setting, the Frank Lloyd Wright Cliff House, in the Santa Monica Mountains, owned by Mr. Oboler who gave his name to the property. The house unfortunately, and tragically, burned down in the Woolsey Fire in 2018.
The Happening (2008)
I'm being generous giving this a 3.
What in the hell is Marky Mark doing in this movie??? That's the reason I started watching it. And the whole end of the world vibe right now. I'm trapped in my room and distancing myself from my roommates with nothing else to do and yet I STILL struggled to watch this movie to the end. If you want end of the world movies during the current crisis, watching The Quiet Earth. Or even the funky The World, the Flesh and the Devil. Not this crap.
The Name of the Game: The Enemy Before Us (1970)
Agree with Poster. Does anyone have this episode on tape?
I love Thomas Wolfe and have tried for years to get this episode but it appears to have been lost with time. If anyone has this, I would love to buy it. Orson Welles narrates the Wolfe text and as a troubled teen, this totally resonated with me. And still does as a troubled adult! lol
The Sacrament (2013)
Garbage pure and simple
What is the point exactly of making an extremely lame ripoff of the Jim Jones saga??? WTH was the point??? OK I wasted 60 minutes of my life on this crap at which point I came to my senses and stopped the damn film! So truthfully I did not see the ending but saw way too darn much. Look, I will watch stuff like Blood Sucking Freaks and enjoy it but if you insult my intelligence like this film did...beware. I will rise from my ennui and write a bad review!! Be warned.
Lol. But don't bother with this crap. Watch the cool History Channel documentary on the REAL Jonestown tragedy instead. You will learn something and be a heck of a lot more entertained than with this seriously awful film. I almost never rate anything a 1 but 0 was not an option here.
The Guest (2014)
Garbage but worth it for Dan Stevens
Done many times before, stupid screenplay, crazed Veteran of Army experiment goes berserk and kills everyone, yada, yada, yada.
The only reason I gave this crappy movie as high as a 5/10 is the ending in the fun house is very colorful and the shooting at the mirrors a la Orson Wells was cute but the real reason for this high a rating is that the star Dan Stevens is HOT HOT HOT. And the scene where he exits the steamy bathroom after a shower gets a 11/10.
So, if you are so inclined, watch this for the hot Dan Stevens. If not, I'd suggest a Clint Eastwood movie or something for really entertaining action.