ph: Laurie Bartley
Saturday, February 24, 2018
First Lines: Eric Ambler - The Light of Day
It came down to this: if I had not been arrested by the Turkish police, I would have been arrested by the Greek police.
Huo yuanjia (2006)
A biography of Chinese Martial Arts Master Huo Yuanjia, who is the founder and spiritual guru of the Jin Wu Sports Federation.
Professionally well-made martial arts bio-pic that offers some emotion and soul-searching besides the excellent fight scenes.
Maltin***: "Li apparently caps his career in this genre...Emotionally charged and visually striking; Li shows why is a master of the art."
Patriots Day (2016)
The story of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the aftermath, which includes the city-wide manhunt to find the terrorists responsible.
Meticulous reconstruction of the actual events, wonderfully managing multiple subplots and a large cast of protagonists, doesn't add anything to the well-known facts.
Friday, February 23, 2018
Toys From My Childhood
Major Matt Mason was an action figure created by Mattel. He was an astronaut who lived and worked on the Moon. When introduced in 1966, the figures were initially based on design information found in Life Magazine, Air Force Magazine, Jane's, and other aviation- and space-interest periodicals. Later, the line attempted to transition into the realm of science fiction.
Also in the toy-line were a three-story "space station" (actually a moon base), various lunar surface and flying vehicles, mostly battery-powered; and various accessories, variously powered by springs, pneumatics, strings, or batteries. What made the early run of the accessories appealing was that the designs were based directly on concepts promoted and demonstrated by NASA and the various contractors involved in America's "Race to the Moon" in the 1960s. The "Moon Suit" and the "Space Station", as well as the "Jet Pack" were actually seen as concept drawings in such magazines as Look and Life. The laser weapons were copied from designs of science fiction shows of the time. [Wikipedia]
Out of the Furnace (2013)
When a young man mysteriously disappears and law enforcement doesn't follow through fast enough, his older brother takes matters into his own hands to find justice.
At its core a simple revenge story is heightened by excellent location cinematography and great performances throughout; Woody Harrelson is particularly efficient as a sinister low-life crook.
Maltin**: "A story that would have been exploitation-movie fodder in the 1970s is played here with a heavy hand, straining for significance. Good performances and vivid location work can only go so far."
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Hell or High Water (2016)
A divorced father and his ex-con older brother resort to a desperate scheme in order to save their family's ranch in West Texas.
Modern-day Western gives its cops-and-robbers story depth with excellent scenery photography, love for detail and strong characters and some social commentary.
