Movies I Have Seen Lately

[The Baron]

Saw a Takashi Miike picture called The Great Yokai War. "Yokai" is a Japanese term for monsters from folklore, as opposed to the more familiar kaiju. It's a kids' picture, about a young boy from Tokyo sent out to live in the countryside with his older sister and his intermittently senile grandfather. When a vengeful spirit appears, the boy gets caught up in a war between warring groups of yokai and must find his courage to become the "Kirin Rider", the hero who will set everything to rights. It's not a bad picture - nothing deep, but an amusing story. Some of the yokai are really trippy, Japanese folklore can get pretty "out there", apparently.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

One last thought about The Bat and then I'll move on. It occurs to me that Stan Lee may have been inspired by the movie when he "created" his version of Batman.

THE LAST MAN ON EARTH (1964): Another Vincent Price movie which Tracy and I have since twice together already. Consequently, although we both like it, we didn't watch it again last night, but in came up next in queue in Tracy's 50 B-movie pack so I thought I'd mention it for those of you scoring at home. It is based on the 1954 novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, and the film itself contributes to my theory that all vampires and zombies (and, yes, even Frankenstein's monster) belong to the same class of creature: the undead. My theory accounts for the various kinds of vampires depicted in pop fiction, up to and including those that "sparkle" in sunlight. When I mentioned this theory in this forum the last time we watched this movie, it was Alan M. (I think) who suggested I read the Matheson novel. I bought a used copy shortly thereafter, but haven't read it yet. I'm looking for something different to read; maybe I'll read that next (or soon).

DEMENTIA 13 (1963): From the very first frame I could tell that this one had "cult classic" written all over it. It's written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Roger Corman. (Need I say more?) It features William Campbell (Star Trek's Koloth) and Patrick Magee (A Clockwork Orange). An eccentric old lady has three adult sons who are lobbying her to change her will. Campbell is the middle son, a sculptor, engaged to be married. The youngest son is unmarried. the movie begins with the older son and his wife. He wants to "take the boat out" for a while and she decides to go with him. "The boat" ends up being a rowboat, and is little more than a plot device for her to dispose of the body when he drops dead of a heart attack. There is also a fourth child, a girl who died in childhood. then people start dropping like flies and otherwise disappearing. The movie ends very abruptly. "Whodunnit" is explained in one line, THE END. Still, this is not the kind of movie one watches for an engaging mystery; this is the kind of movie one watches for cheap thrills. I'd recommend it to anyone to the mood to watch a well-made cult flick. 

[Richard Willis]

I recently watched Dementia 13 and my reaction was --- meh. 

I second the recommendation to read I Am Legend*. I read it years before seeing The Last Man on Earth and it blew my mind. The first "adaptation" I saw was the terrible Omega Man. The Will Smith version actually titled I Am Legend wasn't much better. If The Last Man on Earth was a color movie it would have been much more popular and iconic. 

*I'm always delighted when I see that a TV show or movie was written by Richard Matheson. He was a genius.

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

Last night I watched Shadow in the Cloud, a 2020 monster thriller directed by Rosanne Liang. I mean: Chloe Grace Moretz vs gremlins on a WWII bomber? What's not to like!

Honestly, this movie feels like two movies smashed together. The first one is tense and claustrophobic, as Moretz's Maude Garrett is stuck in a lower turret as the plane takes off, and her only communication with the crew is via radio. We rarely see what's going on in the cabin -- we just experience it through what Maude hears.

And then... the movie completely changes tone to full-on action movie, as Garrett leaves the turret for an absolutely ridiculous aerial action sequence. It's in no way believable, but it IS fun, and Moretz does a good job selling it. The film jumps several sharks along the way, but it's a good time throughout.

[Richard Willis]

I liked Shadow in the Cloud, too. I was first amazed by her in Let Me In (2010).

[doc photo]

One of the best elements of Richard Matheson's I Am Legend is how he provides reasonably logical explanations for many of the tropes of vampire lore.

The Vincent Price Last Man On Earth is the only film adaption that comes close to capturing the eerie feel of the novel. None of the others come close.

[Captain Comics]

My experience is the same as Richard's: I read I Am Legend in high school and loved it, and was disappointed by the movie adaptations, which missed the point of the story entirely.

[Richard Willis]

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec (2010)

Somehow I stumbled upon this movie. I had never heard of the movie or the graphic novel series on which it is based. The graphic novels and the (sadly, one-off) movie are both French. The movie was directed by Luc Besson (The Fifth Element (1997), Nikita (1990), Lucy (2014) and it's terrific. As far as I call tell, the version of the movie available online is in French with English subtitles. Like I did with the Swedish Dragon Tattoo trilogy, I recommend watching the dubbed version on DVD if you can't find a dubbed online version.

This IMDB summary gives the flavor of this exciting, funny movie:

"Desperate to cure her near catatonic sister, intrepid authoress Adèle Blanc-Sec braves ancient Egyptian tombs and modern Egyptian lowlife to locate a mummified doctor and get him back to Paris. Her hope is that oddball Professor Espérandieu will then use his unusual powers to bring the doctor back to life so he, in turn, can use his centuries-old skills on the unfortunate sister. In Paris however Espérandieu is already causing mayhem, having brought to life what was a safe museum egg but is now a very active pterodactyl. Paris 1911 may not be the healthiest place to be"

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec (IMDB)

https://www.coolfrenchcomics.com/adeleblancsec.htm

[Jeff of Earth-J]

I read  parts one and two of I Am Legend last night. Under normal circumstances, I would expect to finish with part three today, but Tracy is available and is already five issues into Rachel Rising. Also, I didn't make it to my LCS this week so we need to do that, too. You may expect to see my thoughts on I Am Legend (the book) and Rachel Rising posted to the appropriate threads when you see them.

[Captain Comics]

I don't see a Spider-Man: No Way Home thread; if there is one and I overlooked it, I apologize.

Anyway, my wife and I aren't going to theaters (enclosed environment, close quarters, recycled air; no thanks) so we finally watched S:NWH this weekend, now that it's available for video purchase. (It was $20, which is less than what two theater tickets in Memphis cost.) 

And yes, we quite enjoyed it. Some thoughts:

SPOILERS!

• The Venom "stinger" was a little confusing. I twigged from the dialogue that Eddie and his other had just arrived in the MCU thanks to Dr. Strange's spell, and then left immediately due to the second spell. He did leave a little goo, opening the door for Venom in the MCU (but not Eddie Brock). He presumably returned to his own universe, which I don't think is the same one Tobey Maguire is in. Because there was no Eddie Brock in Spider-Man 3. But then again, the symbiote did recognize Spider-Man on TV in some movie or other, so maybe Venom and Venom 2 are in the Maguireverse. Given that Vulture is going to drop in on Morbius (according to the Internet and Morbius casting), I'm a little confused as to who is where (outside the MCU proper).
• I think they should put this to rest by having Spider-Andrew Garfield show up in the Venom movies, and that Morbius and Vulture should be there, too, along with Jamie Foxx Electro and Rhys Ifans Lizard. And they should somehow get Dr. Octopus, Green Goblin and Sandman there, or equivalents. (Although I would love Alfred Molina and Willem Defoe to continue in the roles, somehow. David Haden Church can go, as he didn't really do anything memorable with Sandman.) Yes, everyone loves Tom Holland, but just make a clean break and have Spider-Andrew and all those villains in one place. For one thing, it sounds like there's a story there with Garfield; he apparently went kinda dark after Gwen's death. And now he's on the path to redemption, having met his alt-Peters, reminding him who he is. I would like to see that story, and they could tell it without changing Spider-Tom Holland at all.
• Plus, you know, Sinister Six. You could have whole Spider-Man movies without Spider-Man in them, with major actors like Michael Keaton, Jared Leto, Defoe, Molina and Foxx mixing it up. I'd pay good money to see that ... especially if they expanded with a Kingpin, a Scorpion, a Kraven, etc. Spider-Man's got the best rogue's gallery.
• Aunt May's death was genuinely moving. Plus, now we know that there was no Uncle Ben in the modern universe; May fills that niche. Maybe she never married the Ben of this world. Or, given that she's May Parker, she either did marry Ben and divorced him or he died before Peter was a teen. Alternatively, she's Richard Parker's sister. (In our universe, Ben was Richard's brother, I think.)
• I had to laugh when Electro thought Spider-Man was black, because he lived in Queens and helped poor people a lot. Laughed again when he said "there must be a black Spider-Man somewhere." Spot on, Max! Although I admit I don't know anything about New York, or why Dillon thought Queens would serve up a black Spider-Man. Clearly, Forest Hills was working class in Amazing Fantasy #15, but that's really all I know. Still, it was funny.
• I still think Lizard looks stupid. If you're not going to make him look like the Ditko version (which is far cooler), then at least give him a lab coat so he's recognizable.
• I sat bolt upright when Dr. Octopus and Green Goblin went at it. I don't remember that ever happening in the comics. Usually they're the Big Bad in whatever stories they're in, and the competition never appears. But again, this suggests a movie starring Molina and Defoe would be a blast. Maybe battling for control of New York's crime scene? Part supervillain, part crime noir? Then Wilson Fisk shows up? Sign me up.
• Naturally, J.K. Simmons must continue as J. Jonah Jameson in EVERY Spider-universe. This is non-negotiable.
• Who thought it was a good idea to attach a Captain America shield to the Statue of Liberty? That's, like, heresy or something. And I really like Captain America.
• I still don't know why Zendaya is in every TV show and movie in the world, but I won't complain as she did a good job here. Peter's teachers, Ned, Betty and Flash are forgettable, as always.
• I didn't understand much of the second stinger, except that Dr. Strange recruited Wanda. Oh, and the Strange Supreme from What If (or something like him) will be in Multiverse of Madness.
• When the other figures were trying to come to Tom Holland's world at the end, I didn't recognize a single silhouette. Did anyone else?
• Loved Benedict Cumberbatch and every scene with him in it. His dialogue was perfect. His characterization was perfect. His delivery was perfect. The snow in the Sanctum, Wong's promotion, and all off that back-and-forth was more than perfect; it was a joy. The Cloak of Levitation -- I had to laugh at "Thanks, Mr. Cape" -- once again stole every scene it was in. The Strange/Spider-Man battle was the highlight of the "action scenes" for me. I largely couldn't follow the Statue of Liberty fight.
• I loved the three Spider-Men together. That sense of brotherhood, of mutual support, was very affecting. "It's what we do." Yes. Yes, that is what Peter Parker does.

That's all I got off the top of my head.

[Richard Willis]

Cap, I'm going to read and comment on your post when I receive my BluRay disc in a couple of weeks.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

THE PHANTOM FROM 10,000 LEAGUES (1955): I have said in the past that the best MST3K spoofs are those of movies that at least have some pretentions of cinematic merit. That is not the case here. The plot is easy enough to follow, but it's just plain boring. I think MST3K could do a good job of overlaying some funny dialogue atop this framework. The "Phantom" is a beast, really, similar to the Black Lagoon's "Creature" but way more bulky and cumbersome. It appears only one minute in, then disappears for most of the rest of the film. Also (just because I think it bears mentioning), a league is a measure of distance, not depth. (The underwater shots in this movie are filmed in about 20 feet of water.) 

[Tracy of Moon-T]

The only thing fun about this movie is the creature. One scene has him tipping over a boat with two people and scuba gear using just his nose horns. One reveal, my favorite, has him appearing from a side of the screen, backing into frame, showing his spiked back. He backs into the full frame like a dancer doing the moonwalk. It was a laugh out loud moment for me. 

Jeff of Earth-J said:

THE PHANTOM FROM 10,000 LEAGUES (1955): I have said in the past that the best MST3K spoofs are those of movies that at least have some pretentions of cinematic merit. That is not the case here. The plot is easy enough to follow, but it's just plain boring. I think MST3K could do a good job of overlaying some funny dialogue atop this framework. The "Phantom" is a beast, really, similar to the Black Lagoon's "Creature" but way more bulky and cumbersome. It appears only one minute in, then disappears for most of the rest of the film. Also (just because I think it bears mentioning), a league is a measure of distance, not depth. (The underwater shots in this movie are filmed in about 20 feet of water.)