Lukewarm Tarantino-wannabe without the wit or brains but lots of needless violence. Dozens of characters charge about, insulting and shooting each other, but there's really nobody to root for, and the climactic massive shootout is interesting to watch technically, but not involving emotionally, since we really don't care who makes it and who doesn't. Jeremy Piven is believable as the target, but is such a charismatic-free jerk that we hardly care what happens to him, and the larger scale import of his survival -- so he can testify against the mob -- never resonates. A few plot twists are tossed in at the end, but none of them make sense. In fact, the whole movie doesn't carry much logic, despite a number of overlong scenes of expository dislodge.
Reviews
5 Reviews
The Gathering
(1977 TV Movie)
One of the Best Christmas Movies Ever, now on DVD at last
4 December 2007
Truly wonderful, understated Christmas story with a familiar and appealing cast. Best thing about this film is its genuine warmth and simplicity -- you keep waiting for the grandiose emotional moment of manipulation, but it never comes; instead it's just a series of small, nice, natural scenes as the family comes together and remembers the pleasure of each other's company. The score is also memorable in its pleasant simplicity.
We watched this every year in my home growing up, and I was frustrated when it migrated to syndication and was edited for more commercial time before disappearing entirely. I see many comments on this site lamenting the film's absence on DVD, but I just did a search and came up with this new release for 2007: http://kultklassics.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=942589 I just bought it and suggest you do, too! Merry Christmas!
We watched this every year in my home growing up, and I was frustrated when it migrated to syndication and was edited for more commercial time before disappearing entirely. I see many comments on this site lamenting the film's absence on DVD, but I just did a search and came up with this new release for 2007: http://kultklassics.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=942589 I just bought it and suggest you do, too! Merry Christmas!
Breakheart Pass
(1975)
Appealing Western with a gazillion plot holes & One Amazing Fight Sequence
7 August 2007
entertaining but ludicrous western mystery, starring charles bronson at the height of his career, with beautiful outdoor scenery, a familiar cast and an uneven but at times memorable score from jerry goldsmith.
bronson plays an alleged arsonist and murderer who is being escorted to trial by a state marshall, on board a train that's also on a rescue mission to an army camp beset by disease. nothing is what it seems, and there are plot twists galore, several of which make no sense. most ridiculous development sees murder suspect bronson allowed to roam the train at will, as he figures everything out.
but the taciturn star has his roughneck charms, the railway sequences through the wintry, mountainous terrain are lovely, and there's an incredible, lengthy fight atop the rolling train that is eyepoppingly good -- no special effects here -- and escalates to a jaw dropping climax as the train rolls over a high wooden bridge.
nothing special, but an entertaining diversion.
bronson plays an alleged arsonist and murderer who is being escorted to trial by a state marshall, on board a train that's also on a rescue mission to an army camp beset by disease. nothing is what it seems, and there are plot twists galore, several of which make no sense. most ridiculous development sees murder suspect bronson allowed to roam the train at will, as he figures everything out.
but the taciturn star has his roughneck charms, the railway sequences through the wintry, mountainous terrain are lovely, and there's an incredible, lengthy fight atop the rolling train that is eyepoppingly good -- no special effects here -- and escalates to a jaw dropping climax as the train rolls over a high wooden bridge.
nothing special, but an entertaining diversion.
Leftist Politics Combined with Softcore Porn
18 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
liberal political consultant acquires nefarious electronic device that can sexually arouse women. he uses it on a corrupt conservative senator who also happens to be beautiful, blond and stacked (kim dawson). he later uses it on a beautiful young idealistic television reporter (jacqueline lovell) who threatens to expose him. chicks are good looking and the part in senator's office when she struggles to resist before exposing her big breasts and reluctantly masturbating to climax is hot. similar later scene on airliner with reporter almost as good. other sex segments are unnoteworthy and on-air lesbian finale falls flat, sadly. acting, production qualities, etc., universally lame.
The Cheerleaders
(1973)
The Girls Just Aren't H.O.T.
18 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
this movie get a '3' out of 10, or roughly 1/3, because there are 6 cheerleaders in this movie but only 2 are worth looking at, and that's 1/3. the two better chicks are the cheerleaders captain (denise dillaway), an attractive brunette with healthy natural breasts; and the dark girl (jovita bush), who has a rockin' body highlighted by magnificent nipples. but better still isn't great. none of these chicks would even qualify for the H.O.T.S. squad.
two scenes stand out - the young virgin cheerleader (stephanie fondue, a plain Jane with a nice ass) has to go through initiation by showering in the boys' room and is caught. she has her towel ripped away from her naked, and is fondled at length. later, the cheerleader captain gets it from behind from the coach while his old game highlights play on tape in the background as if play by play of his conquest.
but since the story is stupid, the sex situations clichéd, and the acting abysmal, the women at least need to be sexy and good looking and they're mostly not. if the cheerleader captain and the dark girl are a 6 on the 1-10 scale, to be generous there's a 5, two 4's and a 3 leftover. not a good ratio, even for exploitation fare.
two scenes stand out - the young virgin cheerleader (stephanie fondue, a plain Jane with a nice ass) has to go through initiation by showering in the boys' room and is caught. she has her towel ripped away from her naked, and is fondled at length. later, the cheerleader captain gets it from behind from the coach while his old game highlights play on tape in the background as if play by play of his conquest.
but since the story is stupid, the sex situations clichéd, and the acting abysmal, the women at least need to be sexy and good looking and they're mostly not. if the cheerleader captain and the dark girl are a 6 on the 1-10 scale, to be generous there's a 5, two 4's and a 3 leftover. not a good ratio, even for exploitation fare.
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