Nearly Summer Watching

     Early Summer has come, I am still watching a few streaming shows, and a few network shows (though the Quantum Leap reboot show was canceled-- poop), but I still found time to watch movies on the comfort of my own couch. Here are the films I’ve seen over the past 30ish days…

Bend in the River- One of the better Jimmy Stewart/Anthony Mann westerns of the ‘50’s.

Jesse Stone: No Remorse- Still working my way through these TV movies. There hasn’t been a total dud so far.

Napoleon- The battles are cool, but the whole Napoleon/Josephine relationship is really not interesting and that is what is supposed to be holding the thing together.

Dream Scenario- This Nicolas Cage flick has a really interesting concept and I thought it was a pretty good dark comedy. My wife didn’t get why I thought it was a comedy. I still say it is, but very dark. IMDB calls it a comedy/horror film. I kind of see that.

Godzilla Raids Again- See Classics section for full review.

A Star is Born- Finally got around to watching the 2019 version with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. I’m a fan of the 1954 Judy Garland/James Mason version (itself a remake), but this update isn’t bad.

Man on the Flying Trapeze- This W.C. Fields comedy is a pretty good one. A little different because he plays the timid, pushed around husband character.

Superman III- While not a great addition to the franchise, there is still enough here to enjoy. Unlike it’s follow-up “The Quest for Peace”.

Wall Street- I still enjoy this Oliver Stone movie.

Damsel- This Millie Bobby Brown starring fantasy is just not very good. Everyone seems to be trying but it’s just kind of a mess. Angela Bassett, who is a terrific actress, is terrible.

Stakeout- I hadn’t revisited this one in a couple of decades. I still had fun with it, but the references are pretty dated and the main characters treatment of women isn’t great.

Priscilla- hampered by her inability to use Elvis Presley music in the film, this Sophia Coppola film is a bit of a yawner.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service- The one and done George Lazenby Bond film is actually one of the best in the series. I’ve seen it many times and still like it.

Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost- The premise it getting a little old, there are a couple more in the series, but otherwise this one isn’t bad either.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle- I LOVE the first Kingsman movie and was kind of disappointed by this follow up when it came out. I think I liked it more on a second view. Still not as clever as the first though.

Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind- This is a pretty decent documentary directed by Ethan Coen, of the Coen Brothers.

Heaven Can Wait (‘78)- I don’t think I’d seen this one since it was released back in 1978. It’s a fun piece of fluff that doesn’t overstay it’s welcome and has a happy ending.

The Color Purple- The theatrical version of the Broadway musical. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Beneath the Planet of the Apes- POTA movies are my comfort food.

The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog- See Classics section for full review.

Hairspray (‘88)- I’ve enjoyed this movie since it’s original release.

Desperado- My first viewing of Robert Rodriguez’ sequel to El Mariachi. I had a good time with it.

Billion Dollar Brain- The third of the Harry Palmer spy movies starring Michael Caine. I had only seen The Ipcress File before. I liked that one better. This film was also directed by Ken Russel, known for his darkly weird films, but he plays it fairly straight forward.

Drive-Away Dolls- This Lesbian road trip/Suspense flick was co-written (with his wife) and directed by Ethan Coen. There is some Coen Brothers DNA, but the film is a little uneven and gets caught up in off plot tangents from time to time.

Disney’s Robin Hood- A childhood favorite. I used to love Robin Hood and sometimes Little John best, but on this viewing I was mesmerized by the voice performance of Peter Ustinov as Prince John. He is hilarious.

Blue Beetle- My first re-watch and it’s still a decent super hero flick. I like how the family is integral to the story. Just as family is so important in Mexican culture. This film does a much better job of portraying the importance of family than the Shazam movies.