Media Notes: Roundup for June 2022

 

     

This is a somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during June 2022.

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):

• The French Connection (1971. Action. Drama. Crime). Plot description: "A pair of NYPD detectives in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a heroin smuggling ring based in Marseilles, but stopping them and capturing their leaders proves an elusive goal." This is a classic from the 1970s that is one of those films I have heard about often but not watched. So when Tubi brought it in I decided to watch it. In addition to Gene Hackman as Doyle, it has Roy Scheider (before he did Jaws) as Russo. This is a thriller that builds up very gradually. Doyle has a hunch of what may be going on, but getting his superiors to believe it is not easy; he has been wrong before. He is a spotless cop, but he is dedicated and persistent. Scenes are done very well with attention to detail. An example is the scene where Alain, the villain, is eating at this fancy city restaurant while Doyle, who is tailing him, is outside in the cold barely eating a slice of to go pizza and bad coffee. Another small detail: a character at the airport buying a ticket for a flight, cash, no questions asked (you can tell these were more innocent times). Naturally, the chase scene is memorable, a classic. It is around the chase that the pace really picks up as the cops put the pieces together, and from then, it becomes a thrill ride until the end, and I mean the very end. Overall, it is gritty and realistic, even with the outcome. It is a pretty good crime movie, and Hackman delivers a very good performance. So does Scheider as Russo the partner. It may seem a bit slow initially, but it is because it is building up, and it does so well. Today elements of the film may be an issue, but it is definitely a film of its time, and one that is still worth watching as it was made.  I am willing to give it 4 out of 5 stars. Watched 6/4. 
• The film is based on the nonfiction book of the same title, The French Connection, by Robert Moore (book's Wikipedia entry; Worldcat record). According to WorldCat, my library has it, so I may be able to read it soon. 
• Chinese Hercules (1973. Action. Martial Arts. Drama. Hong Kong film). Plot description: "A martial arts fighter, haunted by his past, takes a job as a dock worker in a small village. His vow never to fight again is tested by the cruel owner of the pier." Film is listed in Grindhouse Cinema Database. This is a story of a very skilled martial artist who has taken a non-violence vow, but as often happens in these films of "don't fuck with that guy," that vow is not going to last long when they push him to his limit. The issue is our hero apparently has quite the limit since he does not break his vow until almost the end of the film. Even when the foreman of the village, who attempts to defend the workers (the old guy turned out to be quite a fighter), gets killed, he still hesitates. They did stretch the drama a bit too long. The movie does have a bit of melodrama. It also does have some very good fighting sequences. In fact, some of the sequences can be quite violent. Bolo Yeung, who many may know as the villain in Bloodsport, appears here as an evil henchman, a role he does very well. The music can be a bit loud on this particular edition, couple of times dramatic music drowns the dialogue. The editing could've have used a bit of work in the sound. Overall, this is a fairly basic story of villain bullies a town, and the hero finally has to rise to make things right. The film has some slow moments, but not many. The fight sequences are very good, some quite violent. Film is pretty good and worth a look if you like martial arts movies though they do drag the drama a bit longer than they probably should. To be honest, it does get a bit irritating that all sorts of good people die while the hero refuses to fight, until about the last 15 minutes of the movie after his girlfriend, who even got into a fight herself, finally scolds him. A little less drama, and this could have been better. Back home, this is the kind of movie we'd say people cut open their veins for (that is how sad and depressing it can get, preferably with a rusted blade). I am not sure about the title, which may give the impression Bolo Yeung would be the hero, which he is not. To be honest, if he had been a Hercules figure this could have made for an interesting film. 2 out of 5 stars is as much as I am willing to give it. Via TubiTv. Watched 6/5.
• Blood Vessel (2019. Horror. Australian film). Plot description: "Lifeboat survivors board a German boat that's crawling with vampires during World War II." The six survivors are a pretty diverse group including an American cook, an Australian soldier, a Black sailor, a Russian sniper, a female nurse, and others. They know the Nazi ship could be their deaths, but they prefer to take their chances than remain in the ocean and starving. However when they board, the ship initially appears empty. Soon they discover otherwise. The movie builds up nice and slow. We get some hints here and there of what may have happened to the ship's crew, but it takes longer for the survivors to get an idea. This adds to the suspense. Once the vampires are revealed, the action ramps up, and it's a challenge to see who survives or not. Overall, this is a pretty good thriller, and it keeps the suspense and tension to the very end. The survivors as characters are not that great (I mean, they do not stick around long to get developed), except for the Russian and the Australian. Special effects were decent. Not terribly gory as vampire films go. An interesting take on the vampires and occult Nazi projects. I found it entertaining, and I liked it, so willing to give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 6/18.
• Jumanji (1995. Action. Family film. Comedy). Plot description: "When two kids find and play a magical board game, they release a man trapped in it for decades - and a host of dangers that can only be stopped by finishing the game." Before Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson took the lead in the sequels, Robin Williams started it all in this first film. I remember when this came out, but never got around to seeing it, so I finally got around to it. Movie starts in the 1800s with couple of teens burying the game that Alan will find in 1969. You do feel for Alan being bullied, not to mention his parents being seriously neglectful assholes, and wanting to escape, but when he plays the game, he has no idea what is unleashed. On a side note, apparently neglectful parents is a small theme in this movie, not unlike other "family" films. Stuff like that reminds me why I am not a big fan of "family" movies, the family part. Although, it is a family movie which means things get better in the not always functional family. Once the kids discover the game and start it (again), things start getting interesting. The special effects are pretty good, and they still look pretty good for this fantasy adventure. Good performance from Robin Williams, and I would add David Alan Grier does well too as the beleaguered cop trying to sort it all out. Overall, the movie is entertaining, though some parts seemed a bit stretched. It has a nice concept, the action adventure for the most part is pretty good. It makes for some nice light amusement. I liked it, so giving it 3 out 5 stars. Via TubiTV. Watched 6/25.

 

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 51 (out of 65) as I continue catching up on watching the series this month.  
• Iron Chef (1993-1999). I continue watching this full run via TubiTv. I finished the fourth season this month and I am in the middle of season five as the month ends.
  
• 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. Picking this up again (last time I watched was in December 2021) in Season 14. After episode 6, which I did not like that much, took a break from the series. 
• Season 14, Episode 7, "Sacred Trust." Plot description: "Barnaby and Jones investigate the cloistered world of Midsomer Priory when a nun is strangled to death. The detectives uncover a complex mystery involving holy orders, teenage romantic liaisons, African art and missing antique silver as the community is forced to open its doors to 21st-century policing." It all starts with a bunch of teenage boys with nothing to do vandalizing a church, and it does down from there. Thing is they are cloistered nuns, and they have no interest in involving the police, but soon we know they'll have to. It is an old cloister, only three nuns plus a novice, and one less when one gets killed. The priory is old land, and the nuns come from an aristocratic French line, so that emerges as a possible murder motive. Soon other small details begin to emerge and make for a complicated plot, and then one more murder as the priest who serves as the nun's chaplain is murdered too. And it is the small details that soon reveal a connection all the way from Africa and mercenaries in a war to the modern time in the priory. This was quite the case. 
• Season 14, Episode 8, "A rare bird." Plot description: "A row between keen birdwatchers in Midsomer-in-the-Marsh turns nasty when their president is killed. Patrick Morgan met his death while hoping to sight a rare bird, but is his obsession with ornithology to blame - or something more sinister?"  This is the last episode for Season 14. Naturally, this is a murder mystery, so there is more than just an argument of birdwatchers, including arguments over land where protected birds are that others want to drain and mess up, and even an affair or two. By the way, who knew bird watchers could be so bellicose, not to mention high tech (I mean, some of them have surveillance gear that puts government operatives to shame). Soon we learn the birders are quite vicious, but in the end we get quite a crime of passion.