Movies and films (links to IMDB.com for basic information unless noted otherwise). Some of these I watched via TubiTv.com or other online source. The DVDs come from the public library (unless noted otherwise). In addition, I will try to add other trivia notes, such as when a film is based on a book adding the information about the book (at least the WorldCat record if available):
- Violent Cop (1989. Drama. Crime. Action. Japan film). The brief plot description: "A violence prone police officer discovers that his colleague is trafficking drugs." Takeshi Kitano, who also directs, portrays Azuma, a veteran police officer who has a tendency to smack around suspects as needed in order to get justice. To be honest, yea, he is a bit violent but not as dramatic as the movie title makes it sound (and to be honest, one or two of those crooks did deserve to get smacked). Things do get serious when the mobster who runs the drug operation has Iwaki, the colleague killed, making it look like a suicide. Azuma takes things into his own hands, and once his sister is kidnapped and raped, all bets are off. This is a slow pot boiler that builds up to the dramatic confrontation and a violent ending with a twist. An interesting film overall. Via TubiTv.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014. Comics. Action. Adventure). The 2014 take on the comic book characters. This movie had potential, but to be honest it's fairly terrible. You barely get to see the turtles, and Megan Fox playing April O'Neill is pretty much insufferable. The woman is pretty much in movies for the eye candy factor (and that is not saying much). The action really begins in the last forty minutes; it is an hour and forty minutes, so that means movie is almost over by the time anything really happens. The Turtles are portrayed well, and they look pretty good, but that is about it. What it does have is a couple of good appearances by Whoopi Goldberg (as April's boss), Johnny Knoxville does Leonardo's voice, and Tony Shalhoub doing Splinter's voice. That is about it on the talent in addition to the actors portraying the Turtles. This is a pretty forgettable movie that wasted its potential. I had seen it before, but I just got reminded how bad it is. I may watch the sequel down the road just for curiosity but keeping my expectations low. Via TubiTv.
- Reichsfuhrer-SS (2015. Horror. War). The basic plot: "The Reichsfuhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler was Adolf Hitler's most loyal henchman and one of the most feared men of WWII. Surprisingly, he had only one problem... He had no stomach for murder! When the Reichsfuhrer-SS becomes physically ill during the execution of Russian POW's on the Eastern front in 1941. Ruthless, careerist SS General Hans Shellenberg rats Himmler out to the Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler. Hitler tests his loyal Heinrich forcing him to commit the murder of a Polish prisoner named Danuta with his own hands." The rest of the plot is that this event is seen as a flashback. Himmler is dead after committing suicide and goes to hell. The demon there forces him to relive it as part of his torture. Overall, the idea of Himmler, one of Hitler's worst henchmen, going to hell and getting what was coming to him sounds great; it had potential. This could have been seriously gruesome with some exploitation thrown in. Instead, this is a plodding, seriously slow, non-horrifying bit of bad tripe that is pretty much an embarrassment to film making. Be glad I saw it so you do not have to. You see this offered anywhere, skip it. It is horrible, slow, barely has any gore. Someone wasted a good amount of money to make this. If you are looking for horror, this is not it. Via TubiTv.
- Gotti (1996. Crime. Drama. Biography). This is the HBO made for television movie. The movie is interesting, but the highlight is really in the casting and the performances. Armand Assante gives a pretty good portrayal of John Gotti. John Forsythe is Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, who as we know, eventually turns government witness. Gravano is the one who finally brings Gotti down. For me, the best performance, out of good performances overall, was Anthony Quinn portraying Neil Dellacrocce, who was underboss under Gambino and was Gotti's mentor. I really enjoyed Quinn's performance. Otherwise, the movie is a fairly straightforward telling of Gotti's life, a bit embellished making Gotti seemed a bit idealistic about preserving the honor of Cosa Nostra, which he basically sank with his flashy lifestyle. Still, compared to other movies about his life, this one is pretty good. Via YouTube, where I found it while looking for something else, so it was a bit of serendipity.
- Battle for Sevastopol (2015. War. Drama. Biography. Ukrainian film). The movie tells the true story of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, the most successful female sniper in history. When World War II is going on, and the Soviet Union is invaded by Germany, Pavlichenko finds herself with a talent for marksmanship and goes on to become the most successful sniper of the Soviet Union and history. The story is told with a flashback frame where after she is evacuated from Sevastopol, she is sent to the U.S. on a tour to get the U.S. more actively involved. She develops a friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. From that point of view, the rest of Pavlichenko's story is told from her early days to her successes to her evacuation. This is a very well made movie, starts a bit slow but once it picks up the pace, it makes for a pretty good war drama. Naturally, talented woman that she was, she had to face all kinds of male chauvinism. The war scenes were good; it was well performed. The title may be a bit misleading since the battle itself does not come til the later part of the film. Film is mainly a look at Pavlichenko. Like many of these based on history films, some details are changed here or there, but overall film is pretty good. Fans of war films will likely find this one interesting. Via TubiTv. On a side note, Tubi offers the film in original language with subtitles in English, which may be the way to watch this. I understand there is a dubbed in English version that is pretty bad in the translation and dubbing. I'd say if you can, get this version with subtitles (then again, I have found most international films you are better off with the subtitles).
Television and other series (basic show information links via Wikipedia unless noted otherwise). Some of these come in DVD from the public library. Others may be via YouTube, which, as noted before, I keep finding all sorts of other old shows in it, often full episodes:
- George Carlin Live at Carnegie (1982. Stand up comedy). One of two stand up specials he did "on location" (the other was at USC) between 1979 and 1982. According to the episode description this was a bit of a comeback for him as he had a heart attack earlier in 1982. "The routines include: Rice Krispies, Newscast #3, Have a Nice Day, Ice-Box Man, Fussy Eater, Dogs & Cats #2 and Over 200 Filthy Words and Phrases." The episode includes an opening in New York City with him asking directions on how to get to Carnegie Hall which is amusing as well. This was still in the earlier days before he got more serious but his powers of observation are very sharp, and he is quite amusing. Also he is a bit more physical in his comedy. Good to watch. Carlin is always enjoyable, and for me a good comfort in these Hard Times. Via TubiTv.
- Danny Greene: the Rise and Fall of the Irishman (2009. Mobsters. Crime. Biography. History. Documentary). "The life and case of Danny Greene, an Irish American gangster who battled the Italian Mafia in Cleveland, Ohio before his death by car bomb at age 43" (TubiTv description). Documentary features photos and interviews law enforcement, family members, and former mafiosi to give a picture of the Cleveland Irish gangster. Via TubiTv.
- George Carlin at USC (1977. Stand up comedy). This is Carlin's first stand up special, and it was on HBO filmed on location at USC. We think of Carlin as a very famous philosopher comedian, but back then this special required a special introduction from HBO to warn people about Carlin and language and how Carlin recently won a lawsuit protecting his freedom of speech and HBO's commitment to provide content for all audiences. Then again, HBO was also kind of new back then. After the "warning"/explanation, Carlin talks a bit about his craft and use of language in the empty theater; he is being interviewed. The show then starts. Topics of this special include "monopoly, flying on planes, random thoughts, walking, and other things." Granted, some things are a bit dated, but overall, the life observations are pretty good and still amusing; I enjoyed the bit about cats for example. In addition to amusing, I found it interesting to see Carlin in his early days. Everyone has to start somewhere, and this is where Carlin started on cable. Via TubiTv.
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