Category: FILM REVIEWS
Crime, Triple-Time! + Quick News Cuts
Blade is a 1973 detective thriller / serial killer thriller that may be the worst shot film of the seventies, whereas ring of Death / Un detective (1969) is a forgotten, seriously underrated gem that’s the best thing in Code Red’s double-feature DVD. Also added to the review mix is a review of Fred Bongusto’s Un detective soundtrack, which frankly grooves, plus news bits including vintage 3D coming to Blu-ray, and Clive Barker’s Nightbreed: The Cabal Cut comes to Rue Morgue’s Cinemacabre this month at the TIFF Bell Lightbox!
Happy 1st & 4th of July. Ahem.
To tie in Canada Day (July 1), U.S. Independence (July 4), and the headache of why CanCon continues to get short-shrift from local companies, here’s a lengthy Editor’s Blog, using Leon Marr’s excellent & unavailable Dancing in the Dark (1986), which screened back in January at the TIFF Bell Lightbox with its director and star Martha Henry in attendance.
Eros VI: Bad Schoolgirls All Around
In Part 6, we have not only an Editor’s Blog, but reviews of Schoolgirl Report #8: “What Parents Must Never Know” / “Was Eltern nie erfahren dürfen” (Impulse / Synapse), Naughty Teen / Cara dolce nipote (One 7 Movies / CAV), and Pound of Flesh (Odyssey).
Getting a Ministry Fix + Home Video News
Review of Doug Freel’s memorable documentary on prioneering industrial metal / rock band Ministry Fix (Gigantic / CAV), plus home video news on Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, fall Twilight Time Blu’s, and Kino brings more Mario Bava to Blu-ray.
Lebanese Film in Toronto: OK, Enough, Goodbye / Tayeb, Khalas, Yalla
Review of OK, Enough, Goodbye / Tayeb, Khalas, Yalla (2010), part of Once Upon a Time, Lebanon: Visions of Postwar in New Lebanese Cinema running this week at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.
Jules Verne on Blu: Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)
Review of Twilight Time’s new Blu-ray of Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959), the best of the film versions based on Jules Verne’s classic escapist novel.
Nancy Kwan, Part 1: To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen’s Journey
In the first part of this series, a review of To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen’s Journey (2010), Brian Jamieson’s newly released documentary on the iconic actress Nancy Kwan, whose career in Hollywood was eroded by Hollywood’s narrow-mindedness, and personal challenges.
Casablanca at 70
Yes, Casablanca (1942) is now 70 years old and just uploaded is a lengthy review of the film and Warner Home Video’s new 3-disc Blu-ray set!
Go on… Bite the Bullet!
Previously available on DVD, Twilight Time brings out a stunning transfer of Richard Brooks’ near-perfect western Bit the Bullet (1975), meticulously cast with veteran character actors & a few young snots, and featuring gripping horse racing sequences.
East Bloc Sci-Fi, Part 1: Dead Mountaineer’s Hotel + Test Pilot Pirxa
Way back in the chilly winter of 2011-2012, the TIFF Bell Lightbox ran a great series called Attack the Bloc: Cold War Science Fiction from Behind the Iron, and I’ve uploaded a pair of reviews for two intriguing productions from former East Bloc countries: Dead Mountainner’s Hotel / ‘Hukkunud Alpinisti’ hotell (1979) and Test Pilot Pirxa / Test pilota Pirxa (1979) from Estonia.
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