Change Your Image
jkstevens57
Reviews
Felix the Cat (1958)
"What will happen to Felix, in the NEXT exciting adventure...of Felix the Cat!?"
At the end of each little episode, the announcer (apparently Jack Mercer--as I see in the title page that he did every other voice on the program) would say this in a low, growly voice. In the background of the soundtrack, there would be a string section doing that sustained-one-note-suspense thing that we've all heard in a million different films. Used to scare the crap outta me--almost as bad as Koko the Clown popping out of that damned inkwell. Even though the sensibilities that went into this kind of animation helped to shape (warp?) me, and I love them to this day, sometimes I think that the old time animators were sadists who hated kids. Either that or I was just a wuss.
Greta - Haus ohne Männer (1977)
Surprisingly Touching
Having viewed all of the other 'Ilsa' film prior, I was expecting nothing more than a Franco-ized, over the top treatment of same. To be sure: this is very sick stuff here, and I did find myself wincing at the proceedings more than a few times. That notwithstanding, the 'cringe factor' was the result of the idea of what occurred onscreen, and not the technical proficiency (read: gore effects) therein.
However, what really caught me off guard was the surprisingly touching interactions of the female prisoners. In quieter moments, the acting was really quite effective and moving--the emotions rang true.
On the other side of that, all of the exploitive elements--mainly every time 'Ilsa' appears--were pure, unadulterated camp (and I confess: I am the biggest fan of pure, unadulterated camp!).
'Greta - Haus ohne Manner' is one of the finest examples of '70s sicko/shock-sploitation cinema of all time. 8 1/2 of 10.
The Deadly Females (1976)
Deadly Boring Females
In this film, the titular Deadly Females like to have tea, chat, stand and sit. Oh yes, they also kill people in some of the the most unspectacularly boring scenes I've ever witnessed. Just stultifyingly bad cinema.
I really dislike those kinds of reviews on IMDb that sort of yell at me in all capital letters "never [to] see this movie!!!" or some such, because often these reviewers are straight-up morons who don't really know what they're talking about--but I've never been more tempted to join the capital-letter yellers in my life.
Glen or Glenda (1953)
Sexxxy!!!
Ooh-la-la, what can I say that hasn't already been said ad nausium? However, I would like to convey a little personal anecdote about "Glen or Glenda":
When I was very young (too young to know, really), I remember stealing furtive glances into my cousin's massive porn-magazine collection. In the back of the sleaziest of these magazines were advertisements for those new-fangled video-tape thingies. One of such was a tape with a painting of a very sexy and statuesque young 'woman' on the cover. The title of this tape was "I Changed My Sex, AKA Glen or Glenda".
Many years later, I viewed this famously 'so-bad-it's-good' classic on public access television, when it slowly dawned upon me that i was watching the film from that silly advertisement! I had to imagine a man, waiting patiently for weeks for this item to come to him in the mail. Feverishly he tears the wrapping away and slides the tape in the VCR. Gazing longingly at the cover, he readies himself for an evening of hot, kinky 'n' perverted porn--and then this thing plays.
As the above thoughts occurred to me, I laughed so hard I fell out of bed!
Cheers! :)
Gojira tai Hedora (1971)
I'm Surprised No One Has Noticed
Doesn't anybody get that the 'smog' monster finally mutates into a gigantic sphincter? It spews toxic gas and s**t in order to destroy it's victims!!! If you thought this film was hilarious before, just check it out anew with this perspective.
Whether this is intentional symbolism, or just one massive, collective Freudian slip on the part of the filmmakers is completely beside the point--rent it again and see for yourself. You will laugh twice as hard.
You'll Like My Mother (1972)
Contrary To...
a previous posting, this was a limited theatrical release in the early '70s--not an ABC TV Movie of the Week.
Not much more to add, except to say that this is a somewhat slow, but effective thriller (Thomas's death scene is pretty spectacular).
Halloween (1978)
Oh, Puh-leeze...
I remember seeing this movie when it first came out in '79. My friends and I went to the theater, expecting to see 'THE SCARIEST MOVIE EVER MADE'. Now, mind you, I had been sneaking into movies like "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", "Suspiria" and "The Exorcist" (et al) since I was a little kid, but "Halloween" was the first time I went to see an 'R' rated horror film legitimately. My friends, however, were not exactly died in the wool horror fans like myself and were duly frightened by the proceedings. I, on the other hand, was kept awake only by the sporadic yelps and squeals from all of the other neophytes in the audience. I was, like--"what?" I did not see then, nor do I see now, why this movie made such a big impression on everybody. Its just not that scary folks. Unless by scary you mean highly derivative, unimaginative and dull.
Carnival of Souls (1962)
Semi-Forgotten Classic
Not many people know of this film, surprisingly--this is one of the most intelligently constructed and atmospheric horror (for lack of a better term) movies of all time. Whenever I do run across someone else who has seen this film, there is an instantaneous, unspoken understanding in regards to the enduring creepiness of this film.
My first viewing of COS occurred when I had inexplicably awoke in the middle of the night as a boy and switched on the TV. I had missed the opening minutes, but was powerfully drawn into the story. I sat transfixed until the shock ending, and think I just stared until after the sign off and following screen static. The next day I was not entirely sure I had actually watched this film or dreamed it--nobody else had ever heard of it and I never did catch the title (for some reason, its never shown much). Needless to say I was creeped out for days! Films that can affect one's sensibilities like this are golden! Find it and watch it in the middle of the night--alone.
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (1996)
The Rolling Who?
Legend has it that The Stones withheld airing and release of this production for many years because they thought that they had been upstaged by The Who. One look at this show and you'll know why: Pete and the boys quite simply stole the show with renditions of such tunes as 'Happy Jack' and--especially--'A Quick One (While He's Been Gone)'.
In my opinion though, The Stones put on quite a show of their own, and its great to see them (and the other bands of that era) in their prime. If you're a fan of rock (especially of the late '60s), you MUST check this one out--you won't regret it.
"You've all been forgiven"--Townsend