The Big Red One(1980)
Director Sam Fuller's deeply personal masterpiece was based on his own traumatic experiences in World War 2.It is generally considered by fans to be his best movie.A simple tale of a 12 man rifle squad led by a nameless sergeant played brilliantly by Lee Marvin(who was also a WW2 veteran) find themselves whittled down to 4 as they participate in the invasions of North Africa,Sicily,Normandy and the liberation of the Falkenau concentration camp.The stark message Fuller wanted to get across with this film is that "Survival is the only glory in war."
Watch this and you'll see why.Also featuring Mark Hamill in great form.
8/10
Unfriended 4/10 - i suppose its a horror film for the internet generation but i really did not get it.
An American Werewolf In London(1981)
There's always been a strong element of self mockery to horror movies and director John Landis gauged the mixture to perfection,revitalising the entire genre with a film that's scary,tragic and very funny.Lovingly spoofing lycanthropy,Anglo American relations and anything else unwary enough to cross its path.Also featuring a truly,heartbreaking and astonishing transformation sequence created by Rick Baker which set a new standard.
8/10
The Dead(1987)
For his final movie,John Houston chose to adapt a short story by James Joyce.Being near death(his ill health forced him to direct from a wheelchair,hooked up to an oxygen cylinder) he signed off with a bittersweet meditation on transience and mortality.Outwardly,not very much happens.In 1904 Dublin,two elderly sisters host a dinner party,their guests arrive,eat,sing and take their leave.Poignancy underlies the action,preparing us for the heart stopping moment when Angelica Houston,about to leave,is transfixed by a snatch of a song that revives a long buried memory.John Houston was often thought of as a uneven director but, with this he surpassed himself and silenced his critics.
9/10
Dinosaur(1985)
More of documentary really that lasts just under an hour.Hosted by the late Christopher Reeve and featuring some stunning go motion animation from Phil Tippett.I've had this on tape since 1987 but I think it is on YouTube somewhere,if you like old school SFX techniques it's well worth tracking down.
8/10
(27-02-2016 14:52 )*Kal-El* Wrote: [ -> ]The Spy Who Loved Me, my fav of the Roger Moore films, great music and soundtrack. 9.3/10.
http://youtu.be/Mmcmq1SPp8k
http://youtu.be/SaV-6qerkqI
One of my top 5 bond films ever. Also I've met one of the Bond Girls from that film. I've met the stunning Caroline Munro who played Naomi (Karl Stromberg's assistant who flew the helicopter that chased James Bond in the iconic chase with the Lotus Esprit submarine car). Got a signed pic of her & she autographed the box of a model of the Stromberg Helicopter her character flew
I'll post pics of them when I can
Update: Here is the Stromberg Helicopter model Caroline signed
Still can't find the signed pic I have of Caroline. If I can. I will post it
Mysterious Island(1961)
Cy Endfield directs this simple tale of a group of castaways that fight off giant versions of everyday critters on Captain Nemo's island.Ray Harryhausen was very proud of the stop motion in this film, especially the giant crab,which was an actual,regular crab he bought from Harrods in London.
7/10
Dog Day Afternoon
1975, directed by Sidney Lumet, with ( main actors) Al Pacino, John Cazale
7,5-8 / 10
based on the true story of a famous bank robbery , attempted in Brooklyn by John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturale. Fascinating movie, and an outstanding Pacino.