Media Notes: Roundup for September 2024

  

 

This is a somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during  September 2024.

Movies and films (links to IMDB.com for basic information unless noted otherwise). A lot 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).

• Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (also known as Candyman 2. 1995. Horror. Slasher. Thriller). Plot description: "The Candyman arrives in New Orleans and sets his sights on a young woman whose family was ruined by the immortal killer years before." I watched and reviewed the first film back in 2021, and despite the fact I did not rate it highly, I decided to take a chance on the sequel, so here we go again. Tony Todd returns to the title role. The film is atmospheric at times, in a good way, and the move to New Orleans adds a bit to the mystique of the story. However, the film suffers from slow pace as the first one. The story does get some depth, which is a good development, but pace does not really pick up until the final act. By the time the horror really kicks in, the film is in the final act and almost over. Todd does deliver a solid performance, as he always does. I like the story, and I think these films could be so much better, but they are not.  In the end, the film remains at the OK level, so 2 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 9/1. 
• Grizzly (1976. Adventure. Horror. Thriller. RiffTrax edition). Plot description: "An eighteen-foot-tall grizzly bear terrorizes a state park, leaving Ranger Mike Kelly, photographer Allison Corwin, naturist Arthur Scott, and chopper pilot Don Stober to track down the beast. Meanwhile, the body count rises." Now, this is the Rifftrax edition, which is available on Tubi, so that means you also get smart ass comments from the Rifftrax comedians: "The RiffTrax crew lampoons what is basically Jaws with a bear and a very fake take on how a savage 18-foot man-eater terrorizes a state park." Jokes aside, this is very much a 1970s film from the looks and scenery to the long credits sequence at the opening. From the first two deaths, two female campers, you can tell this is not high cinema in terms of special effects. It may want to be horror, but once you see that first fake bloody arm fly off, you might laugh, and that is not including the Rifftrax guys doing smart cracks. By the way the grizzly is an oddity for this particular forest, so the expert explaining how a big grizzly is there is a bit ridiculous on the science (not unlike the Dreyfus character in Jaws trying to explain the shark initially). In fact, this movie really works the Jaws in the woods angle, down to the supervisor guy denying the issue. Another ridiculous moment, the messing with a bear cub that seems seriously tame, and again, that is without the Rifftrax jokes. Overall, the movie is OK. The acting is adequate, but the plot is no big deal. It definitely is not a movie to take seriously. Some of the ideas and scenes are outright ridiculous, but that is where you get a laugh or two. The Rifftrax guys do help move it along a bit, but their jokes can be hit and miss. When they hit, they are good, when not, kind of meh. In the end, it's a low to average B-movie with amusing moments but no big deal, so I'd say 2.5 out of 5 stars. Watched 9/1. 
• The Last Shark (1981. Horror. Italian film, though filmed in parts of Georgia, US and Malta). Also known as L'ultimo squalo. Riff Trax edition). Plot description: "James Franciscus tries to save hundreds of swimmers in a coastal resort after a Great White Shark starts terrorizing the area." As noted, James Franciscus stars in this; you may remember him from the 1970 Beneath the Planet of the Apes. This is basically another shark movie trying to capitalize on the success of the 1975 Jaws. Movie overall is barely OK, see some of my notes below. The RiffTrax guys make it a bit more bearable, but not by much. The movie's writing is not good either, and at times you can't help to laugh. So 2 out of 5 stars. It is bad, but I have seen a lot worse. This one is at least watchable, and amusing given some of the ridiculous things the characters do. Watched 9/7.
• To fill some time it seems, you get an almost four minutes credit opening of a guy showing off windsurfing moves. Not too shabby. 
• The guys make fun of the first kill because it lacks music, no soundtrack to convey tension, but I think in a way the silence can convey some tension. Now the scene overall was so so. As for the rest of the movie, the soundtrack does leave a bit to be desired.
  
• Even without the guys' smartass remarks, the film's dialogue has some not intentionally funny moments. 
• We even get the city politician denying the shark issue, though he allows for some "shark proof" netting to be installed to keep the shark out of the beach cove where the regatta takes place. I think we all know how effective that will be. 
• Ron Hamer (Vic Morrow) is the "Quint" character here, only not as crusty or messed up as Quint was in Jaws. Peter Benton (Franciscus) is the Chief character, though what he does other than being a writer is not quite clear. 
• The movie tries to keep just enough hints from Jaws to be recognizable but with differences so they do not get sued (which they got sued anyhow). The result is the plot is pretty much all over the place, at times you are not quite sure of the sequence of events or their logic. Pacing is also fairly inconsistent. 
• That diving scene into the cave does not really make sense. But that the shark does with it is seriously ridiculous.  By the way, the people in this movie make some really dumb decisions, even for a cheap horror movie. And speaking of horror, it is relatively minimal.
  
• The shark effects are pretty bad, but that is on par with this type of movie. 
• The ending here does vaguely remind you of the ending in Jaws. 
• Shock Waves (1977. Horror. Mystery. Science Fiction. Zombies. Nazisploitation.). Plot description: "Visitors to a remote island discover that a reclusive Nazi commandant has been breeding a group of Zombie soldiers." It has Peter Cushing as the commandant, so I figured worth taking a chance on this. John Carradine is also in it. Movie opens with an expository narrative of the "special soldiers" the Nazis made from secret experiments; this sets up the film. After that, film starts sort of from the end, with a survivor rescued, then we get her telling the story, and the film goes on. One thing the film does well is the use of music to set moods. Film is somewhat atmospheric, relying on the environment to set up the suspense, but that is not enough. Main issue with the movie is the plot has potential, but it is seriously slow in terms of plot and pacing. Also plot meanders quite a bit, which does not help. The scares are relatively minimal, and Cushing's character is killed early on. The character was fairly underused. As for the tourists, these are dumb folks, even for a horror film, for the most part. Film is OK overall, so 2 out of 5 stars. Watched 9/13.
  
• Note: the movie is listed in the Grindhouse Database. I like nazisploitation films but this one is certainly one of the poor examples of the genre. 
• Robot Jox (1989. Action. Science Fiction. Thriller). Plot description: "In the distant future, mankind has forsaken global wars for battles of single combat. The world has been divided into two opposing super powers, with each side represented by trained champions." I thought I had seen and reviewed this before, but I did not find any notes, so here we are. It's a Charles Brand production, so keeping the expectations low. Gary Graham, who you may remember from Alien Nation (the series) among other things, stars. Anne Marie Johnson, who you may know from the comedy series In Living Colour, also appears. Overall, the movie is no big deal. It can feel a bit formulaic with Achilles (Graham) as the grizzled veteran having to do one more fight, the maniacal villain Alexander, who is seriously cartoonish as a Russian or similar villain, and couple of  young whippersnappers in Achilles' side hoping to replace him. Sort of like a Rocky vs. Drago montage with giant robots, and a somewhat ridiculous ending. It was probably a bit more fun when I watched it in much younger days and giant robots were the cool thing. I grew up on a lot of giant mecha anime. This does not compare to that, but it is OK in the end. Special effects are good enough for the time period. The acting is adequate. This is the kind of movie you watch once, or catch it late at night, it is nice but it is not memorable. It is seriously cheesy scifi with some fighting in it. I'd give 2 out of 5 stars. Via Tubi Tv. Watched 9/27.
  
• The film hints at some dystopian elements such as encouraging families to have more babies. Another detail is certain foods may be scarce, such as meat. 
• There is a brief espionage plot, but it is nothing terribly substantial, and you can kind of figure out who it is right away. 
• Land Shark (2020. Horror. Science Fiction. Adventure. Chinese film. Original title: Lu Xing Sha). Plot description: "Qian Cheng, the boss of the pharmaceutical company, has invested in a bio-pharmaceutical research laboratory located deep in the jungle. By modifying the shark gene to develop a new type of anti-cancer drug." Initially I this was just some B-movie like so many other shark movies out there, but I saw it is an international film, Chinese in this case, and figured what the hey I'll take a chance. Movie is in English. The film opens with the research lab where they are experimenting with the shark. When the shark breaks out of the lab, despite everyone saying things are ok, the mayhem soon begins. The researchers manage to get out of the flooded lab through an emergency hatch, only to realize the shark can go through land. Yea, I know, it's as ridiculous as it sounds, but go with it. The movie is a basic scientists messing with technology and genetics when they should not, but it is more an unintentionally funny movie than horror. Between the so-so acting, the very thin plot, and that one asshole character we are all waiting for the shark to eat, you get a few laughs along the way. If you come to see this as a science fiction/horror movie, it is a disappointment. If you come at it for what it is, a seriously cheesy shark disaster movie with some scifi elements and some unintentional humor, you may be better off. I'd say about 2.5 out of 5 stars. It's OK late night entertainment with some popcorn and a beer or two. Via TubiTv. Watched 9/27.
  

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:

• Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1988-1999. British. Comedy. Improv). Plot description: "The programme's format was on a panel of four performers conducting a series of short-form improvisation games, creating comedic scenes per predetermined situations made by the host or from suggestions by the audience." This is the original British series, which lasted 10 seasons, and Tubi has the 10 seasons albeit with an episode or two not included but most, so I am watching it here and there starting this month. 
• For me, this is a bit of a comfort watch when I find it. I've seen the American version, but for me it lacks the charm of the original.  Still, I will watch the American version if that is what is available, but I prefer the British original. Tubi also recently brought in the Australian version; I may watch it later just for curiosity and novelty.
• I had not seen the first few episodes when the series started. It is interesting to see how they set things up, Clive has to explain more things that later on we take for granted. Over time the cast settles in nicely. 
• Space: 1999 (1975-1977. Science Fiction. Adventure). Started watching this in January 2021, and watched a bit more in February 2021.  Watched couple more episodes in May 2021. Last I watched at the moment was back in December 2021. At time, I watched Season 1, Episode 9. Joan Collins guest starred in that episode.
• Picking up again with Season 1, Episode 10: "Black Sun." 
• The Vicar of Dibley (1994-2000. Sitcom. British). Plot description: "It is set in the fictional Oxfordshire village of Dibley, which is assigned a female vicar following the 1993 changes in the Church of England that permitted the ordination of women. Dawn French plays the lead role of vicar Geraldine Granger." This sounded like something interesting, so decided to take a chance on it. It lasted 3 seasons, which TubiTv has. The series overall is nice, good light humor, and overall pretty wholesome. Once the town, except for David the chair of parish council, gets over the vicar being now a woman, the series settles after the first episode when she arrives. Overall, a very sweet series with some good humor. It is geared for adults, but it is relatively nice, maybe some innuendo here or there. I loved the post-credit scenes of Geraldine telling Alice a joke, always amusing. I am glad to have watched it, and I would recommend it for folks who have not seen it before.
  
• In Season 1, Episode 6, the vicar plans to do a special church service to bless animals, and apparently to the village squares that is a problem of animals inside a church. This particular issue I did not understand. Where I come from, churches would have a service to bless animals, often during the feast of St Francis if I recall, and this was nothing to fuss over. Yes, some people brought their pets, again, no big deal. David the head of the parish council being so against it seems petty. Granted, the character of David, a Tory and  somewhat corrupt politician, is petty as heck, so him opposing anything she does (since he an old school Anglican who does not approve female clerics) makes sense but still, it does not seem like something to make a big deal. Anyhow, the service goes well, and all is good. 
• The first season does include three special episodes. Episode 7 is an Easter 1996 episode. Episodes 8 and 9 are Christmas episodes for 1996 and 1997 respectively. 
• In Episode 7, Mrs. Cropley, known for her ghastly recipes dies. 
• The regular episodes last about 30 minutes each. The specials last a bit longer.
  
•  Women's Extreme Wrestling (2002-2008. Wrestling. Entertainment). I could not find out much about this series Tubi recently brought it. Reminded me of the old G.L.O.W. so I figured I'd check it out for fun. Tubi has two seasons of it. Season 1 has ten episodes. Second season has 20. Episodes are a bit, very much a bit, like G.L.O.W. without the music but with women playing various characters combined with your basic wrestling. Aside from the wrestling and the nice looking women of all types, it's the commentary that makes this amusing and entertaining at times. Each episode seems to be its own event, and Tubi does not seem to have it all in sequential order, which means you may miss a plot detail here or there, but still entertaining now and then.