Reviews
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995)
A strangely exciting, highly watchable action movie
This movie has got me worried, it should be just another run-of-the-mill action movie, but it isn't. I find it one of the best action movies of all and I find that I can watch it time and time again without becoming bored. This is the fact that bothers me, for I find that the real classic movies of all time are those that you can watch over and over again and still find them fresh. So what is it about this particular action movie that makes it so good? I have to agree completely with the Movie Summary comments of 7th September l998 and yet I still love it. I find it better than Under Siege I, better than Die Hard 2 and 3 and as good as Die Dard and Speed for all round action,excitement,tension and plotline. I still can't decide why I like it so much, so I think I will watch it one more time and let you know.
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
A comedy gem. The team finally hit the laughter heights.
I have to agree with Nathan L.Erdel of Muncie,IN, on his user comments, this is indeed a comedy classic. The comedy duo of Abbott and Costello were at the height of their popularity during the late thirties and the forties and their particular style of verbal and slapstick comedy do not wear well with the passage of time and the sophistication of the modern day audiences. However, this film is the exception, from beginning to end it is almost flawless and provides a constant stream of laughs and thrills that even the viewers of today would be sure to enjoy. The writers and director and all the cast deserve congratulation for a brilliant effort produced on a low Universal budget. The film harnesses the particular comedy talents of Bud and Lou perfectly for the first and only time. Although the success of the film led the duo to try to replicate the style by having them meet more outlandish characters, never again were they able to repeat the heights and they gradually went into decline. But at least this film is left for us to enjoy and savour. From first to last the action, the thrills and the laughs combine flawlessly. Bud is the perfect foil to Lou's slapstick,as always. Lon Chaney,Bela Lugosi and Glen Strange all reprise their roles as The Wolfman,Dracula and Frankenstein to wonderful effect to provide the thrills as they chase the duo endlessly trying to get Lou's brain transferred into Frankenstein. Abbott and Costello provided some fine verbal comedy scenes in other early films and these also stand the test of time, but Meet Frankenstein was the only instance when their particular brand of comedy was successfully spread over an entire film.
Bottoms Up (1960)
Underrated British comedy film,with a fine performance by Jimmy Edwards.
Sadly neglected, this film proves to be one of the best of British comedies, with a superb script by Muir and Norden,based on their hit TV series "Whacko", that produces endless laughs from fine comic performances from Jimmy Edwards as the rascally headmaster ,from Arthur Howard as the put-upon "Mr Pettigrew" and from the rest of the supporting cast of British character actors and actresses. The battle by the headmaster to wring money out of the finances at Chiselbury School for his own hedonistic ends and at the same time bully,connive and cheat the pupils led by the wily "Wendover" gives rise to some classic comedy situations exploited to the full by the script and rich comic talents of Jimmy Edwards, who was born to play the outrageous headmaster. This film is home-grown British comedy at its best and is better than "The Belles of St.Trinian's" and "The Happiest Days of Your Life", other excellent comedy films based on school-life. Most films made from successful TV comedies have proven to be great disappointments, this film is the exception.
Objective, Burma! (1945)
Savaged unfairly by British press,but one of THE great war films
"Objective Burma" was unfairly savaged by the British press on its release in Great Britain and, therefore, never received its true accolade as one of the best war films ever made. In addition, the criticism it took detracted from probably the best film that Errol Flynn ever made. The British press panned the film for portraying the Americans as winning the war in Burma single-handed and falsely accused the film of ignoring the British and Commonwealth troops , who fought and died so valiantly in Burma. Anyone who watches the film will have to admit that these accusations are simply not true. The film portrays the foray of a US paratroop patrol into enemy territory in order to knock out a Japanese radar installatiion and so help in preparing the way for an airborne invasion. The film shows the successful attack and then the trials and tribulations of the patrol as it seeks to make its way back to base pursued by the enemy. There is no reason to involve any other allied nation in the story as it only concerns this particular patrol. However, the paratroops take advice and assistance on the patrol from a British officer and Ghurka and Burmese guides,who share in the attack and subsequent pursuit. The story,acting,music and direction are of the highest calibre throughout. There are no false heroics or gung-ho shoot-em-up action,just down to earth struggles to overcome the enemy,the jungle, hunger and thirst, that test the courage and determination of the officers and men to the limit. In my opinion Errol Flynn gives the performance of his life as the officer in charge of the patrol,showing courage,fear,sadness and determination in an admirable world weary fashion. All the supporting actors are well rounded,well acted characters,particularly Henry Hull as the not too young reporter who accompanies the patrol to write an insight into the soldiers of today and who learns to his cost that the war is for young men,the strong not the weak. One scene in particular stands out as one of the classic moments of this or any other film. The patrol has been divided, half led by Errol Flynn and the other by a young Lieutenant,Errol's friend. Eventually Errols half comes upon a native village under Japanese control and where the remnants of the rest of the patrol have been captured,tortured and massacred by the enemy.Here Errol is told that his friend the Lieutenant is still alive.As Errol kneels to talk to his friend the horror,the heart-breaking disgust is vividly portrayed and in a way that is a lesson to all other directors in how to get the most out of a scene without gore,histrionics and bad language. Only the legs of his friend can be seen as he lays in a doorway, the facial expressions of his friends,the dialogue,the music and the direction produce one of the truly great moving moments of any film before or since. It is worth seeing this film for this moment alone. The remainder of the film deals with the efforts of the patrol to escape from the pursuing Japanese and as their numbers are reduced more and more and as hunger and fear drives them on they are at last forced to make a final stand against the enemy dug in on a hilltop. The action is excellently done from beginning to end until at last the survivors can see the airborne invasion taking place and they can at last go back to base. Even here the harsh reality of war is perfectly portrayed as a weary Flynn puts a handful of dog-tags into his commanding officers hand acknowledging that this is all that is left of his brave men to show for their efforts. Well done Errol Flynn,well done Raoul Walsh, the war film has never been done better !
Siege at Red River (1954)
An underrated superior "B" Western
This western is,in my opinion,very underrated,and gives a nice blend of adventure,thrills,actiion and wry humour with the addition of some very catchy tunes. Van Johnson gives a good performance as one of a pair of undercover Confederate agents,carrying a stolen Gatling Gun through Union territory to aid the cause of the South. They travel as medicine salesmen contacting Confederate agents as they travel and picking up Joanne Dru on the way. The love interest between her and Van Johnson provide some nice humerous touches. Richard Boone steals the film,of course, as a really nasty,bullying,woman hating,unscrupulous,murdering cut-throat,who steals the Gatling gun from Van Johnson and sells it to the Indians and joins them, for money,of course, in attacking the Cavalry Fort. The fights,action scenes and Indian attack are very well-done. At the end Van Johnson gives Boone his come-uppance,the day is saved and Van goes off with Joanne into the sunset, but all in a very satisfying manner. Milburn Stone and Jeff Morrow provide excellent support. The direction,writing and acting are above par from all concerned. It is a western that one can see time and time again and still obtain great enjoyment.