Saturday, April 21, 2018
Earthquake (1974)
Various stories of various people as an earthquake of un-imaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles.
Risible and bad disaster movie, the advertised "Sensurround" sound probably installed to drown out the ridiculous 'special effects'.
On renewed viewing: pretty bad, trashy entertainment.
Halliwell*: "Dreary drama with very variable special effects, gimmicked up by Sensurround. A box-office bonanza."
Maltin BOMB: "...hackneyed disaster epic..."
Joschka und Herr Fischer (2011)
He was a student activist, an urban guerrilla, a taxi driver; Joseph "Joschka" Fischer emerged from the Extra-parliamentary Opposition (APO) to become Hessen's trainer-clad environment minister and Germany's suited and booted foreign minister.
Although conceived as a mouthpiece for Joschka Fischer, who tells and explains his life story in this documentary, he does show enough self-criticism and reveals new details to make this an interesting watch.
Toys From My Childhood
Knucklebones, Tali, Fivestones, or Jacks, is a game of ancient origin, usually played with five small objects, or ten in the case of jacks. Originally the "knucklebones" (actually the astragalus, a bone in the ankle, or hock) were those of a sheep, which were thrown up and caught in various manners. Modern knucklebones consist of six points, or knobs, proceeding from a common base, and are usually made of metal or plastic. The winner is the first player to successfully complete a prescribed series of throws, which, though similar, differ widely in detail. The simplest throw consists in either tossing up one stone, the jack, or bouncing a ball, and picking up one or more stones or knucklebones from the table while it is in the air. This continues until all five stones or knucklebones have been picked up. Another throw consists in tossing up first one stone, then two, then three and so on, and catching them on the back of the hand. Different throws have received distinctive names, such as "riding the elephant", "peas in the pod", "horses in the stable", and "frogs in the well". [Wikipedia]
New York
Manhattan, Central Park -West-Center Drive- Looking Toward Central Park West (c early 1950s) - photographer unknown
First Lines: Jack Higgins - The Eagle Has Landed
Someone was digging a grave in one corner of the cemetery as I went in through the lychgate.
Friday, April 20, 2018
Swing Vote (2008)
In a remarkable turn-of-events, the result of the presidential election comes down to one man's vote.
Surprisingly entertaining and humorous satire with a good cast, and Madeline Carroll is the true star of the movie.
Maltin***: "Sharp, funny, relevant comedy...Genuinely Capraesque movie has a terrific cast that makes the most of the screenplay..."
Justice League (2017)
Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy.
Above-average superhero tohobohu entertains with good special effects, lots of action and, especially, a healthy amount of humour.
Thursday, April 19, 2018
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