Reliving my childhood, here is a movie that was rated R back when I was 14 and I couldn't see then.
The Warriors are a Coney Island street gang in this West Side Story line. The various gangs across the city assemble in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx for a city wide assembly with Cyrus, who called for all to come together. All the various gangs were very distinctive outfits with their names on the back.
But when Cyrus is shot, the Warriors are blamed and they have to make it back to safe ground while all the other gangs are looking for them. In a throwback, they have to travel on foot and by subway, leading to various confrontations. The subway plays a big part, as danger is lurking always with the rumbling train coming through.
Billed at the time as a gritty, dark underground tale, it really comes across as somewhat theatrical with the chapter-like gang v. gang battles. The Baseball Furies are a great example, with their pinstripes and face paint. The costuming and cinematography were excellent.
A bit ahead of its time with an interesting multiracial cast. It does fall squarely in its time in the late 70s, with the effect of some earlier movies, especially Clockwork Orange and American Grafitti. Directed by Walter Hill, it is very similar to a fine later movie, 48 Hrs, plus other 80s classics, Risky Business and Lethal Weapon.
* * * * of 5
Aliens (1986)
A re-viewing of The Terminator (1984) led me to see this James Cameron followup. Strangely, I had never seen it. I had see Alien (1979) and suppose I didn't think this sequel-worthy at the time. So 28 years went by.
In this movie, 57 years have gone by since Lt. Ripley escaped from LR-212 as the sole survivor. Now she's going back. Since she was out, colonists have occupied the planet for years, but now there's been no word from them. A crew of Marines is assembled to go in, and Ripley tags along.
At its best, this is really a war movie, with the crew of Marines being a colorful bunch, from the cigar-chomping Sergeant, to the bandana-ed Vasquez (no helmet needed), to the the solid Hicks. The Marines once inside the target area, become the Lost Patrol, cut off and having to fight their way out. On their way they pick up a survivor girl, Newt, which adds to the humanity of the fight.
The Aliens were likely state of the art in 1986 but the effects fall a bit short by today's standards. In the first Alien, we hardly ever saw the monster and that added to the suspense. In this case, it was by its day, considered very violent, but again, by modern standards, not so much.
Sigourney Weaver plays a great leading lady for a sci-fi war movie - it makes this a classic film
* * * * *
Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension * October 3
See previous post for the significance of this October 3 release and note the DVD timing
And Scout's Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse
DVD releases * Coming Sooner
Paramount Pictures is working on a trial run to speed up the movies from the theater to DVD. Currently there is an agreement to wait at least 90 days after a theater movie debut to get to DVD. This is a relic of the 1980s and is considered a crack that piracy can often fill.
Now the new plan for 2 movies releasing in October: Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension and Scout's Guide to the Apocalypse". The movies will release on DVD after the theater count drops to 300. By way of example, the biggest movie of this year, Fifty Shades of Grey took 9 weeks to reach 300 theaters. So this DVD is will available after 2 or 3 weeks likely.
Looks like a good change with the times.
Now the new plan for 2 movies releasing in October: Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension and Scout's Guide to the Apocalypse". The movies will release on DVD after the theater count drops to 300. By way of example, the biggest movie of this year, Fifty Shades of Grey took 9 weeks to reach 300 theaters. So this DVD is will available after 2 or 3 weeks likely.
Looks like a good change with the times.
The Terminator (1984)
After struggling through the plot of Terminator: Genisys, I was interested in going back to the original. Some of the bits were iconic (the close up of the headlight, the naked discus thrower pose) that they made it into both movies. And now I know who Kyle Reese is.
On review, The Terminator was somewhat ahead of its time for 1984. This version was much more violent and disturbing than even modern day movies. Arnold gunning down storekeepers, cops in the station house, women in the back, evil giving good a run for its money, just doesn't happen much today. The dialogue was more than I remembered, which was somewhat limited to "F___ you A______e" but I did not remember the placement of the more well-known lines "I'll be back" and "Come with me if you want to live".
Overall the movie reminded me a lot of Alien, which James Cameron would go on to direct its sequel Aliens, about a shadowy, evil monster that is hard to stop. The end was also fresh again, as I did not remember any of the story resolution.
* * * * of 5
On review, The Terminator was somewhat ahead of its time for 1984. This version was much more violent and disturbing than even modern day movies. Arnold gunning down storekeepers, cops in the station house, women in the back, evil giving good a run for its money, just doesn't happen much today. The dialogue was more than I remembered, which was somewhat limited to "F___ you A______e" but I did not remember the placement of the more well-known lines "I'll be back" and "Come with me if you want to live".
Overall the movie reminded me a lot of Alien, which James Cameron would go on to direct its sequel Aliens, about a shadowy, evil monster that is hard to stop. The end was also fresh again, as I did not remember any of the story resolution.
* * * * of 5
Terminator Genisys
To Reboot in computer terms means to start over, while keeping most original items intact. The movie version of a reboot is similar: an opportunity to create new stars out of existing storylines, while ideally introducing new viewers to the original.
This reboot of The Terminator, T2, and so forth leads with its strong suit. Arnold Schwarzenegger - they don't get much stronger than him. Even pushing 70, he's a commanding presence and easily the best part of the movie.
He's aged and transitioned into a nurturing "Pops" and is the guardian angel of the new iteration of Sarah Conner and John Conner and Kyle Reese.
No surprise that the 2015 version of Sarah and Kyle looks like younger version of Linda Hamilton and Arnold. We've got the next generation lined up, if the box office agrees. This may be a playbook preview of the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens with Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill bringing up the next generation of Jedis.
As with many time travel plots, the story jumps around a lot from 2025, to 1984, to 2017, no make than 2014. The new villain is Genisys, playing the Ultron part, as the computer system set to take over the world unless it is stopped. No James Spader voice makes it fall a little flat. The system does have it its disposal a number of T-1000's , complete with police uniform.
The best part is the allusions to the original movies, complete with Pepsi machines and old style clips. Not so good: a complicated plot, again not much suspense as to what might happen.
* * * of 5
This reboot of The Terminator, T2, and so forth leads with its strong suit. Arnold Schwarzenegger - they don't get much stronger than him. Even pushing 70, he's a commanding presence and easily the best part of the movie.
He's aged and transitioned into a nurturing "Pops" and is the guardian angel of the new iteration of Sarah Conner and John Conner and Kyle Reese.
No surprise that the 2015 version of Sarah and Kyle looks like younger version of Linda Hamilton and Arnold. We've got the next generation lined up, if the box office agrees. This may be a playbook preview of the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens with Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill bringing up the next generation of Jedis.
As with many time travel plots, the story jumps around a lot from 2025, to 1984, to 2017, no make than 2014. The new villain is Genisys, playing the Ultron part, as the computer system set to take over the world unless it is stopped. No James Spader voice makes it fall a little flat. The system does have it its disposal a number of T-1000's , complete with police uniform.
The best part is the allusions to the original movies, complete with Pepsi machines and old style clips. Not so good: a complicated plot, again not much suspense as to what might happen.
* * * of 5
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