Day 6
movie: Saturday the 14th
starring: Richard Benjamin, Jeffrey Tambor
genre: Comedy
year: 1981
format: TV Edit
plot: A family moves into the estate house left to them in their aunt's will. Unknown to them, the house is haunted, and contains a very powerful book that the children unwittingly use to unleash a bunch of monsters.
Okay, so it's plot sounds a bit like some of the horror spoofs that popped up the last decade as well as elements of Elvira Mistress of the Dark. And I have to say, this was a long arse waste of time. It was not funny, it did not have a clear storyline at all, the limited use of the mythos it was trying to create got muddled within itself and just seemed to fall over it's own feet.
You have two vampires who want the house for themselves, and try to buy it from the owners only to be turned down. Then instead of doing what anyone would expect them to, which is kill the owners and take the house or at the very lest hypnotize the owners into giving it to them; the vampires just wait. Literally, they just sit in their car in the driveway and wait for the owners to leave. It's not till half way through that you learn it's the book hidden in the house they really want. As well, you learn the vampires can enter the house without any issues, so that plot point is really thin. The movie's big ending centers around everyone being trapped in the house with a monster hunter who spoiler alert, turns out to be the bad guy.
Granted this was from the beginning of the 80's, but the plot feels like it was meant for a bad Saturday morning cartoon - no pun intended on the name. It just left me scratching my head the whole time trying to figure out if the writers/producers were on crack at the time?
If you're a fan of either Monster Squad from 1987 or Elvira Mistress of the Dark from 1988, you would have to admit, both those movies took the two main storylines and did them 100% better. Clearer. Funnier. Smarter.
I'm going to bury this here in this unmarked grave. I'll be back tomorrow with another treat for your Hallowe'en displeasure.
Showing posts with label 1981. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1981. Show all posts
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Friday, July 1, 2016
year 5 day 157
movie: Quest for Fire
starring: Everett McGill, Ron Perlman
genre: Drama
year: 1981
format: Netflix Canada
plot: After their tribe is attacked, a group of hunters are sent to find some fire in order to save the tribe.
Based on the novel
Okay, so this is straight forward and one of those movies that you have to pay attention to, because, there is no dialogue. I was watching this thinking it's got more in common with the latest zombie genre then it really does with any of the fantasy genre or for that matter Tarzan. This is truly the real beginning of the survivalist genre in films.
One tribe of Cro-Magnon man is attacked by another more ape like tribe, which decreases the number of tribe members, as well as destroying their fire-pit. Which, is what the second tribe wanted to begin with, their flame. The tribal elder then sends three of his hunters out to get more fire. Which, at this point can only be gotten by either waiting around for lightening to start a forest fire or by stealing from another tribe's fire-pit. The small hunting party find themselves at the camp of a group of cannibals, and have to define themselves. In doing so, steal their fire-pit and rescue a young woman. The four now have become a tribe of their own, but eventually end up back at the camp of the woman's tribe. Here, they learn how to create fire themselves with sticks, how to build shelters, and pottery.
I'm not sure how I feel about this movie? It's funny when you wouldn't think it would be, like when the three hunters have to climb a tree to get away from a couple of lions, and when the Perlman character is making advances towards the third hunter but is told to back off (well kicked actually)
There are also moments when, even though it's done in a slightly humourous way, are darkly deep. Such as when the McGill character is rescued from a patch of quick sand, and forced to mate with all the women in the tribe; while the tribe watched. You can feel the humiliation factor more from the actual love interest, as she is not allowed to see him. Or when the hunters first find a freshly put out fire, enjoying the heat only to realize the ashes contain human remains.
what did I learn? My tribe would die if I ever got sent out for flamage.
starring: Everett McGill, Ron Perlman
genre: Drama
year: 1981
format: Netflix Canada
plot: After their tribe is attacked, a group of hunters are sent to find some fire in order to save the tribe.
Based on the novel
Okay, so this is straight forward and one of those movies that you have to pay attention to, because, there is no dialogue. I was watching this thinking it's got more in common with the latest zombie genre then it really does with any of the fantasy genre or for that matter Tarzan. This is truly the real beginning of the survivalist genre in films.
One tribe of Cro-Magnon man is attacked by another more ape like tribe, which decreases the number of tribe members, as well as destroying their fire-pit. Which, is what the second tribe wanted to begin with, their flame. The tribal elder then sends three of his hunters out to get more fire. Which, at this point can only be gotten by either waiting around for lightening to start a forest fire or by stealing from another tribe's fire-pit. The small hunting party find themselves at the camp of a group of cannibals, and have to define themselves. In doing so, steal their fire-pit and rescue a young woman. The four now have become a tribe of their own, but eventually end up back at the camp of the woman's tribe. Here, they learn how to create fire themselves with sticks, how to build shelters, and pottery.
I'm not sure how I feel about this movie? It's funny when you wouldn't think it would be, like when the three hunters have to climb a tree to get away from a couple of lions, and when the Perlman character is making advances towards the third hunter but is told to back off (well kicked actually)
There are also moments when, even though it's done in a slightly humourous way, are darkly deep. Such as when the McGill character is rescued from a patch of quick sand, and forced to mate with all the women in the tribe; while the tribe watched. You can feel the humiliation factor more from the actual love interest, as she is not allowed to see him. Or when the hunters first find a freshly put out fire, enjoying the heat only to realize the ashes contain human remains.
what did I learn? My tribe would die if I ever got sent out for flamage.
Monday, February 22, 2016
year 5 day 82
movie: Excalibur
starring:Helen Mirren, Nigel Terry
genre:Adventure, Fantasy
year:1981
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot:The fable of Camelot and King Arthur unravel as he's betrayed by those around him.
It's no secret that I love stories that fall into the "sword and sorcery" genre. Specially when there is more sorcery then anything else, and for years every time someone started mentioning this film, I would say I hadn't seen it, and they would raise an eyebrow at me promptly telling me how much I'll love the film. They all lied. There is something about the whole King Arthur thing that just doesn't interest me. I can't put my finger on it, but the stories in general leave me cold. But, for some reason, it keeps popping up lately.
Here, we have what could only be described as one of the most contrite few hours of storytelling. It is suppose to span over about 50 or so years, but there is no real indication of time, which made it jarring to sit through.
A lot of it happened in dream sequences. Sort of on the idea of astral projection, specially with the spell work that seemed to be happening. The knights ended up in odd vision quests/hex induced nightmares that really lent itself to the era it was coming off from. Very trippy.
The beginning introduced the idea that Arthur's father was just beyond greedy, a letch who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. And he does in the form of stealing his once friend's wife, killing his friend, and using a spell to do so. Years later, the step daughter uses the same glamour spell to seduce her brother Arthur and gives birth to their son. You almost get the impression that there is an incestuous relationship between Morgana and her son as well. Merlin is sort of this ambiguous character who you never really know what side he's on? He put me in mind of a trickster through all his scenes. Almost like the magick mirror in Snow White, telling the truth only to infuriate.
what did I learn? This movie was unclear in it's motives and about an hour too long.
starring:Helen Mirren, Nigel Terry
genre:Adventure, Fantasy
year:1981
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot:The fable of Camelot and King Arthur unravel as he's betrayed by those around him.
It's no secret that I love stories that fall into the "sword and sorcery" genre. Specially when there is more sorcery then anything else, and for years every time someone started mentioning this film, I would say I hadn't seen it, and they would raise an eyebrow at me promptly telling me how much I'll love the film. They all lied. There is something about the whole King Arthur thing that just doesn't interest me. I can't put my finger on it, but the stories in general leave me cold. But, for some reason, it keeps popping up lately.
Here, we have what could only be described as one of the most contrite few hours of storytelling. It is suppose to span over about 50 or so years, but there is no real indication of time, which made it jarring to sit through.
A lot of it happened in dream sequences. Sort of on the idea of astral projection, specially with the spell work that seemed to be happening. The knights ended up in odd vision quests/hex induced nightmares that really lent itself to the era it was coming off from. Very trippy.
The beginning introduced the idea that Arthur's father was just beyond greedy, a letch who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. And he does in the form of stealing his once friend's wife, killing his friend, and using a spell to do so. Years later, the step daughter uses the same glamour spell to seduce her brother Arthur and gives birth to their son. You almost get the impression that there is an incestuous relationship between Morgana and her son as well. Merlin is sort of this ambiguous character who you never really know what side he's on? He put me in mind of a trickster through all his scenes. Almost like the magick mirror in Snow White, telling the truth only to infuriate.
what did I learn? This movie was unclear in it's motives and about an hour too long.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
year 5 day 71
movie: Road Warrior Mad Max 2
starring: Mel Gibson, Virginia Hey
genre:Action, Sci-fi
year:1981
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: While searching for fuel, a man is drawn into the lives of a group of settlers and ends up trying to help them relocate
So this was a western right? I mean, I'm not imagining things, this was meant to be a sci-fi take on the old westerns? Right?
The survivors in this apocalyptic world, are looking for a safe route that will let them rebuild their lives. As there doesn't seem to be any kind of "city" outside of the camps they have set up for themselves, with everyone nothing more then nomadic tribes, or collectives. Along comes this lone "gunslinger" who just seems to want to pass through as quietly as possible, only he let's things get the better of him. Or so you think. As he offers to help only in trade for some gasoline. Which if this had been a straight up western, would have been gold.
He ends up becoming the typical anti-hero when he offers to retrieve a truck that may or may not even be viable, and ends up coming face to face with a bunch of pirates. (okay mixing movie metaphors here I know)
There is almost no dialogue in this film. It's all shoot em up, kill kill, car chases. I kept waiting for a big monolog from someone. Anyone.
I liked this style of movie more when I was younger, and would have found so many hidden "clues" to the metaphors or conspiracies in it. The obvious being how we as a society have wasted our resources. But now, all I saw was a bunch of S/M dudes chasing a truck.
what did i learn? I'll never be able to think of Mel Gibson again without thinking of the dog food scene.
starring: Mel Gibson, Virginia Hey
genre:Action, Sci-fi
year:1981
format: Hollywood Suites Channel
plot: While searching for fuel, a man is drawn into the lives of a group of settlers and ends up trying to help them relocate
So this was a western right? I mean, I'm not imagining things, this was meant to be a sci-fi take on the old westerns? Right?
The survivors in this apocalyptic world, are looking for a safe route that will let them rebuild their lives. As there doesn't seem to be any kind of "city" outside of the camps they have set up for themselves, with everyone nothing more then nomadic tribes, or collectives. Along comes this lone "gunslinger" who just seems to want to pass through as quietly as possible, only he let's things get the better of him. Or so you think. As he offers to help only in trade for some gasoline. Which if this had been a straight up western, would have been gold.
He ends up becoming the typical anti-hero when he offers to retrieve a truck that may or may not even be viable, and ends up coming face to face with a bunch of pirates. (okay mixing movie metaphors here I know)
There is almost no dialogue in this film. It's all shoot em up, kill kill, car chases. I kept waiting for a big monolog from someone. Anyone.
I liked this style of movie more when I was younger, and would have found so many hidden "clues" to the metaphors or conspiracies in it. The obvious being how we as a society have wasted our resources. But now, all I saw was a bunch of S/M dudes chasing a truck.
what did i learn? I'll never be able to think of Mel Gibson again without thinking of the dog food scene.
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