Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Sites | Writers | Advertise | My Orble | Login

Film & TV on DVD - John Doe News & Reviews

 
Greetings Film Fiends and welcome to John Doe's Film Blog. 30 years of dedicated celluloid obsession has meant that I have seen a few films. Drawing attention to some of the lesser discussed gems that I love. Cult classics, obscure curios and quality genre pictures. This blogs purpose is to translate some of my passion for these films and with luck, inspire you the reader to go check em out.

Film & TV on DVD - December 2007

The Coen Brothers to do a Spaghetti Western

coen brothers
Directors the Coen Brothers



Crack out the scatter guns, eye ball popping Sergio Leone close ups and epic Morricone scores, the Coen Brothers are staying out west with a Spaghetti Western scheduled for the Writing/Directing Duo’s next film.

Coen Brothers Western
A shot from No Country For Old men



Reporting on cinemablend.com quotes the pair commenting on the speculative upcoming project, which seems to be already written according to Joel Coen, who says in thunder:
”We've written a western with a lot of violence in it. There's scalping and hanging ... it's good. Indians torturing people with ants, cutting their eyelids off.”


No strangers to violent and gruesome death and torment this sounds juicy in that fabulous Danny Boy supported Tommy Gun scene in Millers Crossing kinda way. Keeping it in context Ethan Coen expands on the dust bowl promise,
"It's a proper western, a real western, set in the 1870s. It's got a scene that no one will ever forget because of one particular chicken."


When you talk chickens and westerns your conjuring imagery of poultry slaughter from the opening of Sam Peckinpah’s resonant Pat Garret and Billy the Kid. Not a bad place to start.

Thinking of JD’s favourite spaghetti westerns like The Leone epics, Django, My Name is Nobody and the Trinity Films it easy to see the Brothers humourous sensibilities translating to the vast barren landscape arid in the thick operatic atmosphere of impending confrontation.


Spaghetti Westerns
Some Leone influence


There has been no official announcement about casting, BUT letting our minds wander….Clint for a villenous role would make the beads of sweat drop from my forehead.
Clive Owen, Timothy Olyphant and Billy Bob Thornton as feuding bounty hunters would leave me dehydrated and craving a drop of water.
Mickey Rourke as a past his prime destroyer of men and Bennicio Del Torro as his nemesis, I’m gasping for air. The lethal pair hunted down by young guns Joseph Gordon -Levitt and Emile Hirsch who encounter Sean Penn a down on his luck farmer who knows the ways of steel…Johnny D muses in the corner, reciting pathetic reasons why he hasn’t penned his own Penne Cowboys and Indians script.


Mr Doe leaves the room, excited at the prospect of this upcoming project but sorrowful at his own inability to move forward. The vomit swirls in the base of his stomach, Adious amigos.

Here are The Coen's and Tommy Lee Jones on Westerns
53
Vote
   


Gremlins (1984) - Trailer Included

December 26th 2007 03:27
Killer Muppets on the loose


Gremlins DVD
Gremlins Special Edition DVD
Director: Joe Dante
Writer: Chris Columbus
Starring: Phoebe Cates, Corey Feldman, Zach Gilligan, Hoyt Axton, Keye Luke,


“You do with Mogwai what your society... has done with all of nature's gifts. You do not understand.”Mr Wing

Originally conceived as a much darker adult satire, Gremlins has become a family Christmas favourite with an edge. Fitting into that Steven Spielberg produced genre of 80’s adventure films that includes The Goonies, Back to the Future, Young Sherlock Holmes and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Set in the prototypical Spielbergian town as an extension of nostalgic 50’s American values and innocence. The opening narration by struggling inventor slash father Randall Peltzer (Hoyt Axton) takes us back to the journey’s humble beginnings.
“Rand Peltzer, Fantastic ideas for a Fantastic World, I make the illogical logical.”Rand Peltzer

Searching for the perfect gift for his son Randall stumbles upon a mystical trinkets shop owned by Mr Wing (Keye Luke), a wise old Asian man. Amongst the racks and shelves of exotic treasures Mr Peltzer hears the song of a supernatural creature, the Mogwai.

Exactly what he’s been looking for, unfortunately “Mogwai is not for sale”. Thanks to a disobedient nephew and fate soon the forbidden fur ball is in the hands of Randall’s “golly gee” son Billy (Zach Gilligan).

Gizmo as he is named is a cute, furry and intelligent animal that seems like an ideal pet. “With Mogwi comes much responsibility” warns Mr Wing. There are 3 strict rules for care. 1. They hate bright light, keep them out of the sun. 2. Keep them away from water. 3. Never ever feed them after midnight.
“I warned you. With mogwai comes much responsibility. But you didn't listen.”Mr Wing

It isn’t long before the dictums are accidentally violated and Looney Tunes mayhem is perpetrated on an unsuspecting snow covered middle American population.


Gremlins stills
Mogwai at play, Mogwai in a cage and Gremlin on a rampage


John Doe says:
Inspired by the WWII spanner in the works and leanings towards the 1943 work of Roald Dahl, the movie, Gremlins is a holiday horror stocking stuffer. Full of childish imagination, pop culture milestones and scenes of gooey, macabre critter slaughter, in short a film geek treat.

Under appreciated genre maestro Joe Dante (Small Soldiers, Piranha, Inner Space, The Howling) uses the FX wizardry of the day to effective ends. The traditional puppet work may occasionally show its hand but individual personalities still burst through.
The visual effects often sight gags work as homage and throughout there is references to past cinema greats. Also unashamedly the achievements of its producer, you will find Indy, ET, Close Encounters and Jaws salutes within.

Inventive dispatching of the reptilian rapscallions sometimes crossed the line on censorship of the day, (there were rumours of an R Rating) but today there diabolical

Regular Spielberg Scribe Chris Columbus (Young Sherlock Holmes) went on to Direct Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. Here he delivers a script that has its share of charm but also charcoal humour and characters forged from classic material.

For instance, the dastardly dog hating Ruby Deagle (Polly Holiday) is a tribute to the Wicked Witch of the East.

Chinese acting legend Keye Luke (Voice of Zoltar in Battle of The Planets, Master Po in Kung Fu, Kato in the 1940’s Green Hornet) is remembered for so many parts and here as the sage Mr Wing he is ideal casting.

Zach Gilligan as the hapless Billy is sometimes frustrating with his doe eyed approach. The romance between him and the terminally gorgeous Phoebe Cates (Drop Dead Fred, Fast Times at Ridgemount High, Bright Lights, Big City) feels unlikely despite the obvious complementary personalities. Her monologue about why she hates Christmas is still melodramatic humour at its funniest.

The mangled career of Corey Feldman (Lost Boys, Goonies, Stand By Me, The Burbs) was still in its gestation period with this typical early role. Playing an over confident prepubescent who thinks he knows it all describes most of his worthwhile characterizations.

John Doe grew up watching this film each time St Nick’s visited and over the years it has continued to be a favourite in the house. Still amusing with its in jokes and sly edginess that some kids find genuinely frightening, I was one when I first saw it on the big screen.

As an adult the flaws are clearer but it still doesn’t diminish the accomplishment of its meagre goals less the suspenseful intention.

Side Note:
For those who are interested JD’s Christmas movies this year were Bad Santa, Nightmare before Christmas, Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark.


You can read Bryn's Horrorphile review for Gremlins HERE

Watch the original Gremlins Trailer
76
Vote
   


First Blood (1982) - Trailer Included

December 24th 2007 00:01
The mechanisms of a killer.

First Blood Poster
Original lobby Poster

Director: Ted Kotcheff
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Denehey, David Caruso, Bill McKinney, Michael Talbott, Chris Mulkey


“You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In Vietnam his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well Rambo was the best.”Sam Trautman

David Morrell’s intense, cat and mouse first person novel became one of the most successful action films ever made and inspired countless imitators. This is another case of an intelligent and inventive original being maligned because of mindless sequels and public perception. Notorious for its violent content, despite the fact that the body count of the film totals only four.

Mindfully attentive to the art of death and survival tactics this is the birthplace of iconic John J Rambo. Returning to a disgruntled society, the last survivor of a Green Beret covert operations unit that served in Vietnam.

He has endured horrific torture and witnessed unspeakable atrocities. Unceasing physiologically damages inflicted during his classified tour of duty have rendered him incapable of reassimilate into civilisation.
“Nothing is over! Nothing! You just don't turn it off! It wasn't my war! You asked me, I didn't ask you! And I did what I had to do to win! But somebody wouldn't let us win! And I come back to the world and I see all those maggots at the airport, protesting me, spitting. Calling me baby killer and all kinds of vile crap! Who are they to protest me? Who are they? Unless they've been me and been there and know what the hell they're yelling about!” - Rambo

Coping by living a nomadic life John J has wanders into the outskirts of a small town called Hope located at the foot of snow capped mountains. Hitchhiking and hungry for a meal he is picked up by the stubborn sheriff Will Teasle who soon arrests him for vagrancy.
“There wouldn't be no trouble except for that king shit cop! All I wanted was something to eat. But the man kept pushing Sir.”Rambo

Once in the confines of the town prison he is physically abused by the local deputy triggering Rambo’s mentally instabilities to frenzy. Fast, efficient and deadly he escapes in a hurricane of violence fleeing on motorbike into the dense familiar terrain of the forest.

A manhunt is immediately launched and despite outnumbering their foe the police soon discover it is John J who is most at home in combat. Now he has declared a one man war against Teasle and anyone that gets in the way is going to meet extreme pain.
“I could have killed 'em all, I could kill you. In town you're the law, out here it's me. Don't push it. Don't push it or I'll give you a war you won't believe. Let it go. Let it go.” - Rambo


First Blood rambo
You ain't so bad. Where is the guy with the mohawk?


John Doe says:
The 80’s action genre can be split into two sections, the inspiration and the imitation. Films like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon broke new ground with excessive body counts, witty one liners and razor sharp editing that propelled each scene into the next.

First Blood also inspired the genre, taking itself deadly serious, feverishly researched to successfully deliver authentic scenes of brutal primal instinct. Taking a classic blueprint and amputating unnecessary fat, modernising it with larger enemy numbers and more visceral damage of flesh and sinew.

The exciting physical directions are specific and intregral to the convincing of fictional plausibility. Constructed so the suspense is never far removed from the lethal atmosphere, a well placed lens sits back to provide constant orientation and perspective on the abrupt action.

Unbroken editing swiftly heightens the power of blood pumping stunt work. A massive fall from a daunting cliff face still leaves JD breathless.

There is a silent voice of integrity in the script that really is the strength of the overall work. The well structured Michael Kozoll (Hill St Blues) dialogue is taut and economic. The protagonist’s lines are minimal making him enigmatic until the outburst of rage and frustration in the finale. The three main characters are given sincere motives and each has their own ambiguous peccadillo that adds to the already frame turning scenarios.

Sylvester Stallone (Copland, Nighthawks, Victory) was already recognized as Rocky when he took on the lead in this hot property that had once been a Steve McQueen project and also Clint Eastwood and Dustin Hoffman had circled. His mumbling, incoherent delivery full of slobbering emotion and unspoken volatile threats is appropriate here and the musclebound body language is necessary.

Brian Dennehy (FX, Cocoon, Best Seller, Silverado) brings his trademark staunch sense of menacing authority that seems to underscore all his roles since. He convinces as the arrogant Korean vet turned lawman with something to prove.

Richard Crenna (Wait Until Dark, Sand Pebbles, Body Heat, Flamingo Kid) dominates onscreen as Trautman the man who trained and programmed the instrument of terror.

Keep an eye out for a less than intimidating David Caruso in an early role.

For a 13 year old John Doe there were moments in this that truly stunned, the mangled torso’s and astonishing needle and thread surgery were eye opening.

Watching it again recently with his young nephew Johnny realised that action cinema often fails to capture the same sense of intimate energy that comes from death wish stunt work within a solidly crafted framework. This isn’t meant to be masterpiece theatre but instead crackling entertainment to engage the adrenal glands and testosterone rich imaginations


A retrograde trailer for First Blood


Here is Rambo busting out of the police jail and heading for the hills.
82
Vote
   


Dusty Noir Enlightenment

Coming Soon: To be released on January 24th 2008
[ Click here to read more ]
130
Vote
   


John Doe's 17 favourite Robert Mitchum films

Carrying on from Part 1 which discussed this tough guy actors early career here now are JD's favourite Films featuring the laconic legend.
[ Click here to read more ]
88
Vote
   


Robert Mitchum - Part 1

December 6th 2007 00:00
Robert Mitchum - Drinking Tough and Fighting Renaissance

Robert mitchum
Robert Mitchum 1917-1997

[ Click here to read more ]
63
Vote
   


More Posts
3 Posts
4 Posts
9 Posts
381 Posts dating from August 2006
Email Subscription
Receive e-mail notifications of new posts on this blog:

JohnDoe's Blogs

0 Vote(s)
0 Comment(s)
0 Post(s)
75 Vote(s)
0 Comment(s)
1 Post(s)
Moderated by JohnDoe
Copyright © 2006 2007 2008 On Topic Media PTY LTD. All Rights Reserved. Design by Vimu.com.
On Topic Media ZPages: Sydney |  Melbourne |  Brisbane |  London |  Birmingham |  Leeds     [ Advertise ] [ Contact Us ] [ Privacy Policy ]