A space-future guy, considered one of the top players of board and card games in the entire galactic civilization known as “The Culture,” is recruited as an “ambassador of fun” to play the ultimate board game on a primitive, war-loving planet. In the process we get a good view of a less-advanced culture as we root for Gurgeh. Banks is making up goofy game rules as we go along, but whatever. The whole sporting-event framing of the story makes it move along quickly as we wonder how he’s going to be victorious despite the ever increasing stakes. Reminded me a bit of Ender’s Game just in its setup and structure.
AKA School of the Holy Beast, this is a Japanese nun-sploitation in which I assume the writer’s only knowledge of Christianity was learned from other nun-sploitation films. There’s a point where one of the head nuns tells the students that Jesus said adulterers should be “arrested and killed.” I could be wrong, but I don’t think that’s in the spirit of the New Testament. Anyways, this is about as sleazy as these movies can be with its share of floggings, naked skin, and a creepy priests. Yet, the movie is shot in an incredibly artistic style that makes the whole affair seem more high-brow than it actually is. I think it’s a good movie, but you’ll surely need to go to confession after watching it.
Okay, now we’re talking. Finally a Cynthia Rothrock movie that showcases her martial arts abilities, has crazy stunts, and an actual plot! I went into this knowing nothing and was surprised by the dark tone. Although not as baroque in its staging, it’s on par with John Woo’s films from around the same time. The key factor here is the “anyone can die at any time” rules that it sets up. There are real stakes which make the incredible fight choreography all the more intense. Sure, there are plot-holes galore (and tons of obvious stunt doubling) but it all just becomes part of the flow in this excellent Hong Kong actioner.
Jenkins meticulously documents how some of the great treasures of antiquity ended up in museums so far away from the places of their origin. There is also a bit of history about the forming of museums and their evolving roles. However, the primary topic is whether or not these objects should be returned. Both sides are given but she sides more with keeping stuff where it is now, among other arguments, citing that museums serve a broader purpose than nationalistic or ethnic pride.
It’s a Metroid game that plays like all the other 2-D Metroid games! Like every other game in the series there comes a point where you realize you don’t have to kill any of the enemies and you might as well just run past them, they’re just going to respawn anyways. But unlike the other Metroid game I’ve played there wasn’t much incentive for backtracking through previously explored areas unless you want to get a 100% completion.
Apparently this is a remake of Metroid II from the Gameboy. I finally get to experience the story of the baby metroid that has been alluded to in just about every incarnation after this. The game is mostly about exploring various regions to find a few boss-type aliens and collect their DNA. This opens the next area, then repeat. Yes, it gets repetitive, but each new upgrade makes you feel like you are somehow progressing. It probably goes on just a tad too long and I was so tired of the game by the time the surprise final boss made its appearance. A good game, but not great.
My quest to find a good Cynthia Rothrock movie continues. This thing is absolute trash filled with non-actors and tons of extreme close-ups. I think most of the cast came straight out of some Orange County dojo. But there is a reason you must watch this movie: Don Niam is absolutely enthralling as the evil Stingray. He spends half the movie stalking redheads and maniacally calling them all “Anna” in the most pervy way possible. When he finally gets his comeuppance is the stupidest thing ever and it’s great.
My Robert Mitchum film fest continues with this classic. There are some great, surreal visuals and Mitchum’s character is definitely memorable, but he is not as scary as the film wants him to be. He kinda comes across as a goof. It doesn’t help that he get a few stealth musical numbers in there.
Classic thriller that, for a film of that time, was surprising brutal in both its themes and some of the violence depicted on screen. It’s very strange how quickly the do-gooder hero of the film was willing to put his principals aside to protect his family. But, then again, Mitchum’s character was just so ruthlessly evil he’s almost a cartoon by the end.
I wanted to see what a post-Hong Kong Cynthia Rothrock movie would be like, and it’s pretty bad. Her talents are completely underutilized as most of the story is focused on the male lead played by Chad McQueen. David Carradine plays the main villain and he at least gives it all he’s got (which isn’t much). There is a genuine attempt at character development and story here but, unfortunately, this is supposed to be a karate movie and the fights are flat and un-energetic.
