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FEATURED THREADS for 1-26-23

 
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 7:54 pm    Post subject: FEATURED THREADS for 1-26-23 Reply with quote



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What posts are on the list today?

Well, we have a movie about a dangerous brain, another one about a space age version of a Bruce Willis movie, and a third one about Doctor Who!


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The Brain (1962)

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Instrument of Terror!

An adaptation of film noir legend Curt Siodmak's novel, Donovan's Brain, The Brain offers up a murder mystery narrative to go with the mad science angle. It's not particularly thrilling, but it does tick along nicely, and director Freddie Francis has a keen eye for scene staging.

The cast features Peter Van Eyck, Anne Heywood, Cecil Parker, and Bernard Lee. They all do what is required to make the material work.

Stand out moments involve some delightfully monstrous paintings, a lie detector scene, and all the sequences where Van Eyck is possessed by the brain of the powerful industrialist who was murdered by person or persons unknown.

Good and safe "B" schlocky fare for the so inclined. 6/10

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Lockout (2012)

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I was kind of inclined to headline this as being the movie guaranteed to make highbrow film fans froth with incredulity. That anyone could enjoy such a derivative, tongue-in-cheek, low ambition piece of schlock, is surely cause for venomous spleen venting from the serio film brigade. They call them guilty pleasures — but the thing is, I just don't feel guilty about having such a wonderfully fun-filled time with the Luc Besson produced Lockout.

Plot? Well it's the future, and basically Guy Pearce (Snow) is wrongly convicted of a crime and sentenced to do stir in stasis until whenever.

But up in space at the MS1 prison facility, home to all the maniacs found in Demolition Man, the president's daughter, do-gooder babe Emilie Warnock (Maggie Grace), is suddenly taken captive and it's a big hostage situation.

This looks like a mission for a serious hard bastard type! Well Snake Plissken wasn't available, so they get Snow, who is bulked up, full of wise cracks, and has a point to prove. Guess what follows? Yep, complete popcorn frenzy as Pearce and Grace cut a swathe through MS1 and have a date with coolness personified.

On the way, via a truly gorgeous sci-fi affected Blu-ray print, we will tick off the homages and influences and compare notes with our viewing partners about how it's a Snake Plissken movie but with Shane Black type dialogue. While those who are partial to a bit of sci-fi design are well served here, because even though these might be the worst CGI effects ever during a chase scene (that mercifully only runs for 50 seconds), the space ships, sets, and Torsion System sequence prove that you don't need Michael Bay type bucks to please the eyes.

From the quite brilliant and hilarious opening interrogation beat down, to the big reveal and punch line, this Besson produced piece is serving popcorn with a smile to a certain segment in the film watching populace.

With bits of the Snake Plissken movies, Fortress, Die Hard, Commando, Demolition Man, Minority Report, Last Boy Scout and any other quip laden dude/wronged man-on-a-mission movies, Lockout clearly lacks originality.

But seriously, as anyone involved playing it as anything other than a sly homage movie? No, they weren't. Pearce is great fun in the role, but he isn't trying to woo the highbrow crowd's votes for films of the year. Anyone viewing it expecting something cerebral should feel more guilty than those who stand up to say they had a great time watching it. Ingem Ferem. 7/10

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Daleks Invasion Earth: 2150 AD (1966)



Destroy Invaders! Destroy Invaders!

Daleks-Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. is directed by Gordon Flemyng and Milton Subotsky co-adapts the screenplay with Terry Nation and David Whitaker. It stars Peter Cushing, Bernard Cribbins, Ray Brooks, Andrew Keir, Jill Curzon and Roberta Tovey. A Technicolor/Techniscope production, with music by Barry Gray and Bill McGuffie and cinematography by John Wilcox.

A sequel to Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965), the plot finds Cushing once again playing the Doctor after he's transported to 2150 A.D. and finds London ravaged by the Daleks. The Daleks are turning humans into slave Robomen, but an underground human resistance offers hope. Can the Doctor and his companions aid the resistance and save Earth from Dalek damnation?

Even though Dr. Who and the Daleks irked the Dr. Who fan base — understandably so since Amicus' version of the good Doctor differs from the TV series version — it was enough of a success to warrant this sequel.

You pretty much get a retread of the first film with the characterizations. Cushing's Doctor is a lovable old eccentric prof, and two of his lady female relations are along for the ride. Tovey returning as the same character, and Cribbins has replaced Roy Castle as the light relief companion accidentally thrust into a chaotic world.

The Daleks remain a unique and devilish foe, their voices unnerving and their colors vibrant in Technicolor.

The plot follows a familiar trajectory; much running, puffing, capture-and-escape histrionics, and the good-versus-evil core booming throughout.

The sets remain cheap, the effects are basic (but quaint), and the acting just about passes the test because everyone seems to be enjoying themselves, Therefore, they're performing to the required standard.

Unfortunately, the music score is truly out of sync with the picture, at times it sounds like it belongs in a Carry On comedy! At other times it sounds like an episode of The Avengers. In fact John Steed would have been a good addition to the plotting! But there is some darkness in the story, making it more potent than its prequel.

This wasn't as successful as the studio hoped, so a third film was shelved. If you aren't a hardcore Dr. Who fan and you can accept it on its own daft and fun terms, then Daleks-Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. is an enjoyable enough time filler. 6/10

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
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