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Reviews
Smokey and the Good Time Outlaws (1978)
They Won't quit Until They Make It (Sketchy Spoilers)
This may be sketchy but I recall the movie to be inspiring and well worth a look. Two guys come to Nashville and try to make it on the country music scene. Their vision is to play at the Grand IL' Opry. Rejection after rejection pushes them to the verge of quitting and moving back to wherever they came from. Finally they hatch a plan to sneak into the Grand IL Opry during a performance and WOW the audience with their music. I won't give the ending away. From what I can see, this one might be found in the used VHS bin at a second hand store or at a garage sale. So if you find it, hand over the 50 cent and watch it! It wasn't too bad.
The Fog (1980)
Laughing All The Way To The Fog Bank
John Carpenter is the "Everyman's" film maker. The stuff he shoots is not overly complex and it's frightening. Case closed. He's good! I recall sneaking into the next theater after we walked out of the end of another movie just to see what it was. In short, what was supposed to be a quick peek had me riveted to my chair and scared. No movie since has done that. I recall reading that the box office receipts were better than expected for Mr. Carpenter. Not a surprise. Yes, there are hundreds of slasher flix out there and better scripts but when you mix fog, a lighthouse, A hot DJ, wet pirates and Hal Holbrook's mustache you get a campy and very scary movie. I couldn't say exactly what draws me to this picture other than "It's Eerie". And the Eerieness never lets up. The soundtrack has a lot to do with this. It's perfect. Since its release I've liked it so much that in November of 2003 while visiting a relative in the Bay Area of California, the wife and I rented a car and drove through Marin County to Inverness and Point Reyes Station where most of the land shots in The Fog were filmed. The lighthouse out at the point is just as it's seen in the movie and it was cool how a familiar piece of land or a boat dock from the film just jumped out at you as you drove by! Most of the area hasn't been touched in 25 years. Even the red rusty Crosses that are seen lining the drive up to the old church are there! A bit faded but still standing. I was disappointed not to see the actual church at the top of the hill. Later I found out the church was located at a separate location in Southern CA. Anyway, enjoy the film. The bigger the screen and the dimmer the lights make this one come alive!
California Girls (1985)
What Most Of Us Believe California Is...
I'm surprised nobody has reviewed this one. First post, I'll try to make it good. (Brief Story Line) Robbie Benson plays a young kid in search of a better life and better weather in California. Before his flight he falls asleep and dreams the perfect California dream. When he finally arrives, he finds the West coast a lot colder than in his dreams. Not the weather, the people. Near the end a tiny bright spot appears in that he sees a girl who appeared in his dream previously. A nice all around good film. Doesn't seem to be available anywhere but if it pops up on TV, give it a look. As Always, Martin Mull is fabulous as the selfish con-man. This film makes you really feel for the "nice guy".
Flash Gordon (1980)
Horrible Acting 101 Is Now In Session
The famous comic book hero Flash Gordon is whisked onto the silver screen with lots of red & gold hues and a fabulous musical score by Queen. If you can somehow manage to edit all the characters & dialog out and just watch the Doug Trumball (Close Encounters) cloud effects & listen to the Queen score you just might have something here. Acting = 0 Special Effects = 9. The actors are so bad that the following proposed lineup would have been 10 times better... Ozzie Osbourne replaces Sam J. Jones as Flash. Teri Garr plays the love interest Dale Arden replacing Melody Anderson. Richard Dawson steps in as Dr. Hans Zarkov bumping off Topal (Named after the smokers toothpaste. Curious.) And finally Danny Devito brings up the rear as Ming The Merciless giving Max Von Sydow the Heismann. If this cast would be better, just imagine the cast that's already stuck inside this movie! OK, I'll be nice now. Fun to watch, bad acting, catch it if it's raining outside.
The Last Chase (1981)
The Oil Runs Out, So The 6 Million Dollar Man Heads West
OK, I'll be the first to admit that this film is nothing special in the grand scheme of millions of movies ever made. However, did you ever see a movie that was barely OK production & acting wise but held your interest? That movie is "The Last Chase." Sometimes you don't want a movie to be technically correct with perfect continuity and a flawless believable story line. This again is "The Last Chase". Sometimes you see a movie at a certain point in your past and watching it again brings back great memories from that time in your life. The Last Chase has characters that you can identify with. Lee Majors plays Franklin Hart an ex-race car driver living in a futuristic Boston who is tired of the laws of an America without oil. Chris Makepeace (Meatballs) plays a brainy student who tags along and gives Lee someone to talk to in the film. Longing for the days when America has gasoline and he could race his car and be a recognized sports figure Frank sees an illegal television broadcast from California (A Free State) and decides that Boston is no longer the place he wants to be. Set in the United States and filmed in Canada, the Last Chase is a fun albeit silly romp that converts an interesting story to film. If it's listed, record it. This one's very tough to find in any format. Made by Crown International Pictures Canada, I'd plead for the DVD, but that request would fall on deaf ears as almost no one would ever remember this one. But I liked it. The Gil Melle score is terrific!
Radium City (1987)
Documentary On The Effects Of Radium In The Early 20th Century.
An excellent film about radium and other radioactive chemicals used by plant workers who were not told of the major health risks of the substance. Interesting that plant officials knew and did not reveal the information to keep from losing employees. That behavior would result in "Lawsuit City" if it happened today. Keeps your interest.
Electric Dreams (1984)
A Boy A Girl & A Computer
The feel good decade of the 80's is all wrapped up in this fun film about Miles, his neighbor Madeline and his computer which comes to life and causes trouble. The acting is OK, which is redeemed by everything else. You will have goosebumps and a tear or two when Edgar makes the final sacrifice. If it's listed, watch it! Everyone should be screaming at MGM to release this dusty gem in the DVD format!! People need this movie, especially today. Dear MGM, please release Electric Dreams on DVD. You won't regret it. Your loyal fans.
Heatwave! (1974)
Hot, Hot Hot!
There probably isn't another movie out there that could make you thirstier than this one. Plot follows a young couple and their newborn through a devastating heat wave. Everyone's looking for water as the towns supply dries up. Things get tough especially on the baby. Look for the makeshift incubator. (Great Idea!) Reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode where the Earth shifts and heads towards the sun as the temperature keeps climbing. Acting is O.K. Worth a look on late night TV.