I truly enjoyed this. It’s all preposterous, of course, but I’m adept at suspending disbelief, and I loved the look of this film. It’s well paced, great sets, the actors fit their parts. I especially liked Chris Evans as the skinny, pre-hunked Steve Rogers – he really and truly looked like a Simon & Kirby character. Only FF’d through the final fight scene since these bore me.

FF=1

I saw bad reviews on this, so when it arrove in its red-and-white envelope, I almost sent it back. But I needed a break so I stuck it in the player and – really enjoyed it. It has all my favorite stuff: a well-paced buddy film with action and creepy horror, plus =great= scenery well filmed. I was so engaged my thumb rarely strayed to the FF button. Trite dialogue, yes, but Cage and Perlman held it together. And Clair Foy made a great witch.

FF=1

Silly, gory fun. My favorite lines: “Are you okay?” and “Look at him. He’s walkin’ it off.”

FF=1

A movie with a split personality. The first half is a relationship film (with “Flowers for Algernon”/Charley overtones) and the second is SF action-thriller. I thought the dichotomy was pretty brave. I found Caesar’s development fascinating. On the downside, the ape shelter seemed to release a hell of a lot more primates than physically possible – a sort of clown-car effect. Another was something only a geek like me would know: Apes will never speak any human language. A hyoid bone is required, and they ain’t got one. (I learned this researching SIMS.) Worth a watch.

FF=1

Biographically dubious (though it’s nice to see that someone remembers George Melies) but a gorgeous piece of film making. I’m a sucker for these kinds of sets and weird characters. Had a Gilliam feel about it, but with a coherent storyline.

FF=1

British noir via Graham Greene. I saw both versions back to back and it’s amazing how creepy Richard Attenborough looked as a young man. I’d been told the earlier version is better; it’s somewhat more coherent, but only marginally so. If you like noir, I think you’ll like either one, especially the last scene – a knockout no matter which version you choose.

FF=1 for each (but in different parts)

Not nearly as engaging as season 1 – mainly because there’s not enough Alice. A bit flabby in the writing department, with too much time spent riding around London (filling up minutes where the plot runs thin).  Some unexpected turns and a boffo finale save it.

FF=1

The 2nd half of the title should be “Hunter of Weird Creatures Who Call Themselves Vampires.” Goofy fun if you don’t ask for much in the way of plot coherence or realistic effects. Still, I was engaged enough to watch all the way through.

FF=1

I found it as goofy as its predecessors, but also strangely moving. Am I getting soft in the head or the heart?

FF=1

Pure pulp awesomeness. I can hear the pitch: “The Untouchables in post-war LA.” And that’s just what it is (although don’t hold your breath waiting for a Potemkin reference). Mickey Cohen subs for Al Capone, and Sgt. O’Mara for Elliot Ness. You’ve also got a Magnificent 7 lineup of cop stereotypes: the tough one, the womanizer, the sharpshooter, the black, the Hispanic, and the nerd. And Emma stone as Jessica Rabbit. The two opening sequences show different brands of badassness: Cohen’s as he draws and quarters a Chicago mobster, and O’Hara as he single-handedly busts up a rape in a whorehouse. The dialogue is awful but the sets and cinematography are awesome. Special tip of the hat to the brawl in a blacked-out cellblock lit only by muzzle flashes.

FF=1