Media Notes: Roundup for August 2021

 

This is a somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during August 2021.

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):

• Street Fighter (1994. Action. Adventure. Video game adaptation). Plot description: "Col. Guile and various other martial arts heroes fight against the tyranny of Dictator M. Bison and his cohorts." The film does start with quite a dramatic news montage. From there, we get the cheesy adventure we got in 1994 starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Col. Guile and Raul Julia, in his last performance, as M. Bison. To be honest much of what saves this film is Raul Julia's performance where he really plays M. Bison up (on a trivia notes, Julia was dying of cancer at this point, but he took the role because his son, who was a fan of the game, asked him to. So many fans of Julia see this film as a love letter to his son). In addition, other cast members include Kylie Minogue as Cammy and another great actor: Wes Studi as Victor Sagat. For a movie that is about a fighting tournament video game, it has very little actual fighting tournament action. Yes, there is some fighting but relatively minimal for what the movie should have been. It is more the hero, Guile, trying to stop the nefarious Bison and his plans for world domination. It's a pretty basic Saturday cartoon kind of plot, but it does have some entertaining moments for a light movie. Speaking of entertaining moments, the computer's voice in Bison's compound does have some funny lines too. Raul Julia is great fun on screen, though overall, he could only do so much. In the end, it is a poor adaptation of the game, but it is a cheesy corny fun movie. For me, I always have a soft spot for it. 2.5. out of 5 stars. Via TubiTV. Watched 8/1.
• Jaws (1975. Thriller. Adventure). Plot description: "When a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community, it's up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down." The classic film that had everyone scared to go to the beach, or any body of water for that matter, back in 1975. Tubi brought all three films in the series this month, so I figured I would revisit. The movie did win three Oscars, including Best Music for John Williams's soundtrack work, that eerie music we all of a certain generation know so well. In addition, Steven Spielberg directed it (he never returned for the other sequels). A strength of the movie is the suspense; you do not get to see the shark until later in the movie, so all you get is the music and then the blood afterwards, maybe a corpse or other hint the victim is gone. This is a movie that builds the tension a bit at a time. I have not seen the movie in a while, so like many I mainly remember some scenes and mostly from the final act when the three men are out hunting the shark. But all that comes before builds up to that final act. There is some good drama in the film even if figures like the mayor are more caricature than anything else (although he is a caricature of the guy more worried about money by not much. To be honest, he is a lot like your typical American politician, and I do not mean that in a good way). By the way, most of the people in the beach are idiots too, you know kind who moment things get a bit rough will trample anyone and NGAF as long as they get out. Spielberg did catch that bit of American nature well. And on a sort of not quite a joke, The mayor is most likely GOP Party of Stupid because like real politicians of that party he does not give a fuck and wants those beaches open. . . until the shark appears and it's HIS kids in the water. I am finding very interesting how this movie speaks so well to the times now. No wonder so many pandemic memes have come out of it. Also, when Brody says the line "you're going to need a bigger boat" that is a classic moment, and this film does have some good moments that have become classics by now. In addition, there is some good interaction between the three men hunting the shark, some good acting there. When Quint tells the story of the USS Indianapolis, that is haunting. Overall, a gradual buildup to the final act with some good thrills overall. Film still holds pretty good. 4 out of 5 stars. Watched 8/6.
• Alien (1979. Science Fiction. Horror). Plot description: "After a space merchant vessel receives an unknown transmission as a distress call, one of the crew is attacked by a mysterious life form and they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun." This is the classic science fiction horror film that started the Alien franchise and then got crossed with the Predator franchise, but before all that, this is where it started. It also started Sigourney Weaver on her way to become an icon of action heroes based on a good solid horror story and her good acting portraying a strong, smart capable woman there on her merits. The movie did have a very solid cast overall as well including Tom Skerritt. Yaphet Kotto, and John Hurt among others. It also has a great soundtrack; that opening music is quite haunting and sets up the opening of the story well. One of the strengths of the film is that it builds up the suspense gradually, takes its time. Nowadays people know the basic "rules" of the xenomorphs and the franchise, but back then seeing it for the first time, this would have been horrifying. The suspense and horror still hold well. However, compared to the more action oriented sequels, this first film may seem a bit slow initially. Naturally, in typical horror movie fashion no one listens to the one reasonable person who knows rules save lives, and it goes downhill from there for the rest of the crew. Overall, this remains a classic for horror and science fiction fans. The film has slow parts but most of it is engaging and keeps you on your seat until the very end. 4.5 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 8/20.
• Aliens (1986. Science Fiction. Action. Adventure). The sequel in what would go on to become a franchise. Plot description: "Fifty-seven years after surviving an apocalyptic attack aboard her space vessel by merciless space creatures, Officer Ripley awakens from hyper-sleep and tries to warn anyone who will listen about the predators." As usual, no one listens to her, again, and people start dying, again. This time the mission is to investigate the fate of a colony, and a group of colonial marines comes along. Movie does have a good cast with folks like Lance Henriksen, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, and Paul Reiser taking a turn as the not so competent corporate representative we all love to hate. Sigourney Weaver returns to the role of Ripley. Oh did we mention it is the same planet Ripley and her crew escaped from that set the whole thing in motion before? Yea, here we go again. Unlike the first film, if you've seen it, then you know the basics of the xenomorphs. Having that, this is a basic action and survival film where the monster is trying to get them, and we have to see who survives. It does not help that Burke, Reiser's character, is doing his best to sabotage their survival in the hopes of bringing a specimen for the bio-weapons division. Nuts, I know but some people never learn. Overall, this is a pretty good action film, with some jump scares here or there. It is mostly a blend of action and suspense. You get more action here than the first film; they ramped it up, and overall remains a pretty entertaining film. It still holds up pretty well. 4.5 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 8/28.
• The Street Fighter (1974. Martial Arts. Action. Crime. Thriller). Plot description: "After failing to reach a deal with her enemies, a mercenary karate master decides to protect the daughter of a recently deceased oil tycoon from the evil conglomerate that's after her inheritance." Shin'ichi "Sonny" Chiba passed away this month. He was known to a lot of modern audiences for his role as Hattori Hanzo in the Kill Bill films. But he was an action star long before that, and I learned this was one of his early and good roles. Naturally, when I saw Tubi had it, I decided to take a chance. The movie is dubbed into English. Personally, I would have preferred subtitles, but you get what you can get. Film does have a pretty good 1970s music track by the way. Terry Tsurugi (Chiba's character) is a no nonsense martial arts master who lends his skills to the highest bidder, and he does not appreciate when those who owe him money for his work refuse to pay. For some reason, his clients often want to stiff him, but he always gets back at them. There are two plots in the film that will come together. First, Terry helps a convicted martial arts master who used his skills to kill to escape execution. When the family refuses to pay the agreed upon price, Terry get back at them. Second plot is the one about the daughter that the Yakuza wants kidnapped. When the Yakuza refuse to pay, he simply offers his services to protect the daughter instead. The plots can get a little convoluted but a lot of why you watch a film like this are the fight scenes, which are pretty good. The end duel is quite dramatic. The film does have a bit of stiff acting here and there, and as I said, the plot can be a bit convoluted, but still it is entertaining. I did find the ending good enough. Also that one scene he tears the nuts off that rapist is worth the price of admission. Overall, I'd say 3.5 out of 5 stars for the film overall, but watching Chiba at work is well worth it. I am willing to seek out the sequel, Return of the Street Fighter, which Tubi also has. In terms of appeal factors by the way, this movie is like the spaghetti westerns featuring the Man With No Name or the Sartana films. Watched 8/28.

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:

• C.O.P.S. (1988-1989. Animated series. Police. Action. Humor. Children and Young Adult).  See my comment on this in the May 2019 roundup. I've been watching this in and out. I start this month on episode 39 (out of 65) as I continue catching up on watching the series this month.  
• Midsomer Murders (1997 to present, still going. Mystery. Crime. Detective. British series). I commented on this series in the July 2020 roundup. Via TubiTv, which has up to Season 20. 
• Season 11, Episode 3: "Left for Dead." Plot description: "Barnaby and Jones are in Dunstan to investigate the deaths of a reclusive couple. As they try to establish whether Ron and Libby Wilson were murdered or died of natural causes, their attention is drawn to a dispute raging between a local builder and road protesters nearby. When another death occurs, the detectives learn that there are plenty of dark secrets and fierce hostilities in this apparently idyllic village." A bypass road is being built, and some locals want none of it. When the guy running the construction is found murdered, things start to get interesting. In your typical small town fashion, turns out the guy running the construction, Purdy, has a serious connection to the reclusive couple, who lost a child years ago. Given Purdy was also a Grade A asshole, there are plenty of suspects for his death. Soon it becomes clear the past is back catching up to four friends who as children committed a terrible murder. And Barnaby has to find the culprit before all four are killed. As often happens in these episodes, Barnaby gets his final flash of inspiration to solve the case at the last minute, usually leaving his wife stood up, this time stood up for dinner at home. Overall pretty good story.