Saturday, August 29, 2015
First Lines: Michael Gilbert - Smallbone Deceased
First will be set out the Parties, each by his full name and address and by a Description, as, Lieutenant - Colonel in His Majesty's Grenadier regiment of Footguards, Solicitor to the Supreme Court of Judicature, Clerk in Holy Orders, Butcher, or as the case may be and (where of the female sex) wife, widow, spinster or feme sole.
New Stuff: Hollow Triumph
Another one from the Film Noir series, a lot more to come soon, since they're currently on offer to a reduced price.
New Stuff: The Bride of Frankenstein
After having recently rewatched Frankenstein I just had to get the continuation.
The General Died at Dawn (1936)
Amid the anarchy of China, an American mercenary tangles with a ruthless warlord.
Exotic adventure drama has good atmosphere, excellent production value and a good cast, but is a bit slow-going, and the finale outstays its welcome.
Halliwell**: "Heavy-going but very decorative studio-bound intrigue which seems to take place on the old Shanghai Express sets with an extra fusion of dry ice. An intellectual's picture of its day."
Maltin***1/2: "Fine, atmospheric drama of Oriental intrigue..."
Friday, August 28, 2015
New Stuff: Mats Gustafsson
I missed getting this album at Mats Gustafsson's performance in Landshut last month - there were only a few copies and quickly sold out.
First Lines: Mary Stewart - Nine Coaches Waiting
I was thankful that nobody was there to meet me at the airport.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
The AristoCats (1970)
With the help of a smooth talking tomcat, a family of Parisian felines set to inherit a fortune from their owner try to make it back home after a jealous butler kidnaps them and leaves them in the country.
Not quite on level with previous Disney masterpieces, this animated feature nonetheless delights with harmless humour, loveable characters and less sentimentality.
Halliwell**: "Cartoon feature, a moderate example of the studio's work after Disney's death, with rather too few felicitous moments."
Maltin***: "Derivative of earlier Disney animated features but entertaining just the same."
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
New Stuff: Mette Rasmussen
Freejaazblog says. "Rasmussen's and Corsano's profound understanding of the liberating power of free, creative music is impressive. Strongly recommended."
Safe Haven (2013)
A young woman with a mysterious past lands in Southport, North Carolina where her bond with a widower forces her to confront the dark secret that haunts her.
Mediocre and schmaltzy tearjerker that adds some mild thriller elements; it does have good photography and some suspense, but is otherwise unremarkable.
Maltin**1/2: "...has the requisite small-town scenery and romantic fireworks but adds thriller elements...Hallström manages to keep the Hallmark greeting card schmaltz to a minimum, mixing in some genuine suspense. Duhamel is appealing but Hough won't make us forget Meryl Streep anytime soon."
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
First Lines: Reginald Hill - Underworld
'...the paddy broke down and we had to walk nearly the full length to pit bottom and there was a hell of a crowd there already and tempers were getting frayed.
The AristoCats (1970)
A favourite from my childhood (cats!), I haven't seen it again since it was released in 1970.