Saturday, September 11, 2021
Alien³ (1992)
Ripley continues to be stalked by a savage alien, after her escape pod crashes on a prison planet.
Although it has a good premise, all the necessary ingredients and some
great visual moments, this movie is from beginning to start incoherent,
basically a total mess.
On re-watching: the longer so-called
Assembly Cut is a major improvement and offers a more stringent
narrative than the original theatrical release.
Halliwell (no star): "Grim, grey sequel that struggles, and fails, to add something new to the now familiar story."
Maltin**: "More-of-the-same sequel...Good performances, some scares, but
a definite feeling of deja vu hangs over the proceedings."
Friday, September 10, 2021
Aliens (1986)
The planet from Alien (1979) has been colonized, but contact is lost so a
rescue team with impressive firepower is sent to investigate.
Sensible sequel to a sci-fi classic and upping the ante on suspense and
action, although there are some silly moments (alien mother riding the
elevator).
On re-watching: A step down from the original, more focused on action, but it certainly delivers the goods.
Halliwell*: "Frightening but mechanical sequel with none of the half-assed poetry of the original."
Maltin***1/2: "Intense, exciting sequel directed by Cameron the same way
he did THE TERMINATOR - once it gets going there's just no letup!
Weaver is sensational in compelling leading role."
Thursday, September 9, 2021
Wednesday, September 8, 2021
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
First Lines: Muriel Spark - The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
The boys, as they talked to the girls from Marcia Blaine School, stood on the far side of their bicycles holding the handlebars, which established a protective fence of bicycle between the sexes, and the impression that at any moment the boys were likely to be away.
Monday, September 6, 2021
Wild (2014)
A chronicle of one woman's one thousand one hundred mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent personal tragedy.
Compelling and at times powerful personal travelogue convinces with Witherspoon's strong performance, competent direction and good landscape cinematography.
Sunday, September 5, 2021
Alien (1979)
After a space merchant vessel receives an unknown transmission as a distress call, one of the crew is attacked by a mysterious life form and they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun.
Superbly directed and highly suspenseful sci-fi thriller, the decrepit spaceship design and especially the truly abhorrent creation of the alien still influence sci-fi and horror movies to this day.
On re-watching: a classic of its genre that reveals new details on every new viewing.
Halliwell****: "Deliberately scarifying and highly commercial shocker. On its own terms, a classic of suspense - and art direction."
Maltin***1/2: "Space-age horror film reverts to 1950s formula, but unfolds at a deliberate pace, populates the story with interesting, colorful characters, and plants its (genuine) shock moments with exceptional skill. Imitated but seldom equaled."