'90s Class: Gods and Monsters (1998)

 A Film about a famous Director- that's pure Oscar bait.  Is it good though?

Gods and Monsters is sort of a Biopic of Director James Whale...albeit mostly fictional.  The broad strokes are true, but this 1998 Film is actually based on a Book.

The Film follows Whale in his (literal) final days as he struggles with his declining mind and health.  Can a new person in his life be the spark that brings him back?

I mean, no.  Did you not read the previous sentence?

The Film actually won an Oscar, which is a rare thing on this Site!  Sadly, it also was not a hit in Theaters.

Before Ian McKellen was Magneto and Brendan Fraser fought a Mummy, they teamed up in this very different Film...

It is 1957.  Famous Director James Whale has been retired since 1941 and living his final years in retirement.

Notably Whale did not hide his sexuality, back when people very much lived in the closet.

As such, his 'open secret' is one that he can deploy at will.

However, his body is failing him.

He had a stroke (IRL it was in 1956) and it has been causing his old memories to overtake him.

In function, it is a creative way to include the Flashbacks.

He sets his eyes on his new Gardener- a man named Clayton (Brendan Fraser)- and says that he'll pay him to let him draw him.

All above board, of course.

His stroke is also causing him to see things, which can't be good.

I'm also not a Doctor, but is that how they work?

Whale continues to befriend Fraser and obviously has some sort of feelings for him.

That seeps into his dreams, where he begins to see himself as the Monster and Fraser as the Doctor.

Fraser eventually learns Whale's open secret and tries to be calm about it.

In the next drawing session, however, Whale really pushes him and they have a big argument, ending with him storming out angrily.

Fraser realizes that he overreacted and they reunite.  Whale takes him to a Garden Party to meet his former friends and gets depressed when he realizes that he and his contemporaries (like Elsa Lanchester and Boris Karloff) are seen as relics.

He makes Fraser sad and he agrees to pose nude for him.  Whale gets very aggressive and tries to incite Fraser into kill him, explaining that his mind is going and he wants to die!

He doesn't, so Whale drowns himself in his own pool the next morning.

In the aftermath, Fraser moves on and makes a family, showing off his one piece of memorabilia from Whale- a signed copy of his original Frankenstein Monster drawing.

The End.

A really good Film that is not that much like what I usually see.  Have I even done another Bill Condon Film here?

Well, yes, apparently, but not the ones you'd hope (Candyman 2, Twilight: Breaking Dawn 1 and 2).

Everyone does a really good job here.  Ian McKellen is obviously the Star attraction here and he really disappears into the role.

To his credit, Fraser does a great job reacting, which is arguably the hardest job as an Actor.  Redgrave also walks a fine line between being too dramatic and too silly.

Just know that this is a highly fictional version of Whale's final days, as it is an adaptation of a fictional account.  His real ending was less dramatic, but still tragic.

It was fun seeing them recreate the Bride of Frankenstein set/make-up.  They did a good job all around.

Do note that the Film can get pretty intense at times and does deal with subjects that some people- even 27 years later- are still shy about.

So long, Boris.

Next up, let me changes things up again.  I never gave the bad Jaws Sequels a proper review in 2009, so let's do it right!

Tubi Thursday: House of the Wolf Man (2009)

 I enjoy watching Old Movies, trying to relive Classics or just to enjoy the cheesiness on display.

While I'm in a Universal Horror mood (see tomorrow's Review), let me check out a new(er) Film that intentionally tries to look like an old one.

My history with those is very mixed, so here's hoping for the best...

A Castle.
A storm.

A creepy guy opening the door.

This is The Old Dark House, a different James Whale Film...but still Universal.

A bunch of strangers all invited by a Mr. Reinhart to come to his Estate.

The winner of some sort of contest will get it all.

The Master is played by Ron Chaney, the Grandson of Lon Chaney and son of (obviously) Lon Chaney Jr.

He's up to something, but we'll get to that...eventually.

After some watchful paintings, some banter and some foreshadowing, the most forthcoming of the group explains what she has figured out.

They are all related, each one sired by a man/monster that killed their Mother(s).

This isn't Universal Horror- this is The Howling V!

Kudos for the cheap looking Model Castle though.

It's only missing a great shot of lightning striking in front of it to be Universal.
Well, that or a Roger Corman Film.

The Film FINALLY gets to the point as the group has dinner with Reinhart after more foreshadowing (specifically about someone named Bella and the Frankenstein Family Crest).

Reinhart turns into a Wolfman (and obvious double) and kills most of the group.

He's stopped by...the Monster.

At least he looks cool.

Sure- why not throw him in with almost no setup or teasing?!?

I guess that 'Bella' mention is going to lead to Dracula showing up and...yeah, alright then.

Sadly, the Film just kind of ends shortly after that.  The End.

A Film that...I can't recommend that much, sadly.

A Movie like this can work.  Copy the look and feel, but make a new, interesting Film with it.

Barring that, make a good Comedy.

Here's a little secret- not every Universal Horror Film was created equal.  The Classics are considered that for a reason.  Some of the Sequels that are just alright are just old Films also made by Universal.

I wish that this was a good use of the look and feel, but that's really all there is to it.

The final Segment of the Film is fun, even if it does kind of break the Universal illusion with how the action plays out.  If the other 45 minutes or so were half this good, I'd be all over this one.

House of the Wolf Man is a well-meaning, but not that great Film.  It's also not above marketing to, ahem, a different demographic...

A Film that knows what it wants to look and feel like.  If only the same dedication went to making the Film interesting as it did to making it look grainy in black and white.

Shudder Day: The Taking of Debra Logan (2014)

 After watching that Documentary on Found Footage, I decided to give a few Films from that one a chance.

In this case, it is a much-lauded FF Film from 2014 that blends Story Genres...while still playing all of the hits.

A young woman decides to make her PhD Thesis on the Study of Alzheimer's Disease and how it affects people.

Sarah Logan- in need of money and help- gets her Mother Deborah to agree to the Documentary.

Notably, this one doesn't give us the 'Their Footage Was Found and they were Lost' kind of text.

As such, we can see stuff clearly added in post, like a B-Roll about how said Disease is so deadly.

For instance, it made this lady look like she just saw Samara crawl out of her TV.

This is either fake or someone consented to put this in a Film, so I'm good.

Due to how the Disease is affecting her, Deborah is alternately friendly and wary of the Crew (of 3 people).

Her behavior is unpredictable, but not dangerous...yet.

Since this is a 'Documentary,' we, of course, have to watch them set up Cameras.

That's a key part of every Documentary and not just an excuse for not at all subtle foreshadowing.

As the days go on, Deborah gets stranger and stranger.

Weird stuff happens to her and around her, but, you know, they don't call anyone but Doctors (when she hurts herself).

Windows that are nailed shut just fly open and the lady levitates on camera...but just keep shooting, gang!

Is Deborah going through the sad and often sudden slide from a brain disease/disorder OR is there more at play?

As they learn more about her past (and that of the area), questions are raised.

Is she...possessed?

Things get freakier and freakier.

Deborah seems to mutate and become quite violent.
Secrets about her family's past come to light.

Lots of running around and doing everything at night.

Can they figure out how to fix things or is it too late for everyone involved?

To find out, stream it now (also on Tubi, apparently).

A Film that is actually quite good, when it is not doing all of the usual cliches.

I'm not a fan of the 'Run Around in the Dark with just a Flashlight' bits in any of these Films.
It is a cheat.  A way to not show things.

I won't SPOIL the finale of the Film for you, but I will say that it would have been far less annoying to watch if it happened during the daytime.

So much happens in the dark when it doesn't need to (save for cutting the Budget down).

When you do get to see stuff, it is effective, creepy and usually quite good.

More of that please!

It is a tentative recommendation from me here.

The good stuff is really good.
The annoying stuff is...quite present throughout.

At this point, you're probably sick of me and my big mouth...

A Film that is genuinely upsetting and freaky throughout.  If they had just made this like a normal Film, I'm 100% on board.

10 Crazy Superman Moments from 'Super Friends'

 Superman has been iconic for Decades, going on a Century. 
Many people's childhood images of him are from the various iterations of Super Friends, be it the one with Wendy & Marvin, the Wonder Twins Era or the Super Powers line.

I'm glancing over at my box of loose Super Powers toys, so I'm included.

In honor of the new Superman, let's look back at some of his...odder moments, shall we?

10. Kryptonite is more common than Steel!

Superman's most famous weakness is Kryptonite and makes for an easy way to write him out of a Scene/stop him.

That said, it shows up so often AND on other Planets (seen below in The Death of Superman).

Does that mean that this is also Krypton?!?

9. Showing his Age!

Three Phantom Zone Criminals (not the ones you're thinking of) get loose and plan revenge.  They expose Superman to Red Kryptonite, which has a random effect every time.

This time, it ages him until he looks like a Character right out of Heavy Metal.  It gets disturbing!

8. How is this part of the plan?!?

As part of a larger plan to stop Manta (not Black Manta- he's beige here), Superman and Wonder Woman put on an 'Aerial Aerobics' Show to act like they are unaware of his actions.

...um, okay.

7. Super Downgrade

In a Super Powers Episode, Felix Faust casts a spell to steal Superman's powers (represented by a glowing energy ghost).

However, the power is stolen by his cellmate- The Penguin.

6. Aces High, Superman Low!

In a Super Powers: Galactic Guardians Episode, our Heroes battle new foes in the form of the Royal Flush Gang.

We later learn that they are funded/supplied by Darkseid, but seeing one of them just throw out a card that turns into a Red Sun Energy Ray (a lesser weakness from the Comics) sure is embarrassing.

Firestorm puts up a better fight than you!

5. Now how is THIS part of the Plan?!?

Stick with me here for a bit, won't you?  Two aliens in a sub have a freeze ray.  They eventually freeze the moon (in the vacuum of space).

This is PART of the Super Friends' plan, however!  Superman *breaks a chunk of the Moon off to make it a giant reflector of sunlight to thaw out the frozen Earth!

4. A (James) Whale of a Tale!

Dr. Frankenstein makes a new creation, but quickly runs afoul of the Super Friends.

It is super-easy, barely an inconvenience to capture Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Robin.  He proceeds to use a new device to create a homunculus of the first three (Robin is excluded).

His plan...

3. There's No Place Like Metropolis!

Mr. Mxyzptlyk wants revenge on Superman and transports him, Wonder Woman and Aquaman to 'The Planet of Oz.'

He transforms them into versions of the Public Domain Characters and sends them on their way.  It gets sillier as it goes in, which I won't SPOIL.

2. They're Taking the Heroes to Isengard (Isengard!)!

This Episode probably merits a full induction of its own, but I'll cover the key parts.

An evil Wizard turns our Heroes into 'trolls' (which are clearly Hobbits) and they must save Middle Earth.  Yes, they do call it Middle Earth.

1. Great WHAT now?!?

In Universe of Evil, our Superman is swapped with an evil universe's one.  

On our Earth, the evil Superman soon realizes that something is off and thinks this...

No, really!

To reiterate, this is a fun and classic Show.  It was also written for kids by people that were both very creative and probably did 'partake' of some '70s substances (if you know what I mean).

Here's this out of context image as a final proof.

Happy Superman Weekend!

Tubi Thursday: The Aviator (1985)

 After a man could fly, we saw the same man fly...again...in a plane.

This is the 1985 Film called The Aviator, featuring Christopher Reeve.

A Flight Instructor (Reeve) tries to coach a nervous would-be Pilot in 1918.

He freaks out and the plane crashes, giving Reeve a scar and blowing up the young guy.

10 years later, a Banker is trying to ship his Daughter (Rosanna Arquette) off to avoid some trouble.

She's a handful.

Reeve has grown bitter and separated himself from others in the ensuing Decade.

When he's told that he has to transport a person- which he's told is the future of airplanes-, he's not happy.

Can you tell?

They make a nice flight, even if they don't want to talk to each other.

Nice aerial shots.

Side note: this was Directed by George T. Miller and not the one you're thinking of.  Both are/were Australian though.

The guy at the first stop- Scott Wilson!- accidentally gives them a faulty oil line.

The plane loses oil pressure and crashes.

Now the unhappy duo must survive together while they wait for a rescue.

Good thing she's 17 in the Film, as opposed to 11 in the Book.

Arquette and Reeve butt heads.

The presence of a pack of wolves is also a factor!

Can they survive the environment and each other?

I mean...you know how it works, so...

The End.

A solid Film that has perhaps been a bit lost to history.  Sorry, Chris.

The 2004 Film of the same name won 4 Oscars.
This Film was likely seen by at least 4 people named Oscar.

I'm actually surprised to see the negative feedback this one got.  Granted- I care very little about what Siskel and Ebert say/said about a Film.

I think the problem is that the Film tries to be like an old timey Drama.  For me, that works.
For others, it is perhaps 'antiquated' and 'stodgy.'

Arquette and Reeve make a good combo, playing a combative pair that grow to like each other in a really natural way.  She has one moment- which is in character- where I could see you being annoyed by her.

Does this Film truly standout?  Maybe not.
Does the backlog of Films that Reeve did that aren't Superman Films need defending?  Hell yes.

I'm on the job!

A Film that is designed to look and feel like an older Film.  If that appeals to you or not, your mileage will vary.

Re-Review: The Suicide Squad (2021)

 After seeing this Film in a small Theater during the Pandemic, I haven't seen it since.

I got a nice Blu-Ray and, well, this seems like the best time to look back at this one.

This is The Suicide Squad, the 2021 Sequel/Reboot/something to the 2016 Film that people still want to tell you has a super-secret good Cut out there.
I'll be surprised if it does.

Another group of Villains is sent out by Amanda Waller on a strange mission of great importance.  Look forward to reuniting with, well, 3 Characters from the last Film.

This one sadly didn't do well, but did lead to a Streaming Show about one of the Characters.

Is it a Film that is bound to be remembered well or just a bunch of weird nonsense?
To find out, read on...

When Amanda Waller has a mission, she assembles a new Suicide Squad.

This includes Pete Davidsen, Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker and Jai Courtney playing a bunch of C-D List DC Villains.

They are sent to a Central American Island to destroy some technology and its link to the US Government.

Are they Epstein-ing someone?!?

Wait- if that is The Suicide Squad, what are Bloodsport, Ratcatcher 2, Peacemaker, King Shark and Polka Dot Man doing here?

Well, they're the real Main Characters.

Save for Harley Quinn, who gets her own mini-Movie and Arc inside of this same Movie.

They spend a long time with her and eventually cut back to the rest of them.

She'll eventually join up- don't worry.

Can the group- united with Colonel Flagg- work together to get past a small Army to complete the mission?

Can they hit all of the usual beats- like slow motion walking as a group IN THE RAIN no less- as they do?

What are they fighting now?

What's the deal with that javelin?

Also, wasn't that Taika Waititi in that Flashback earlier?

To find out, stream this or pop your disc in now.

A Film that is both a glowing endorsement for and a warning about what to expect in Gunn's DCEU.

As a reminder, Gunn was briefly fires by Marvel for reasons you'll either rage about or agree with.  Freed up, DC/WB said, 'Make whatever you want- we don't care!'

He did.

The Film is all about manic excess, pure insanity, a heaping of heart and lots of blood.

Seriously, if you are allergic to CGI blood and gore (somehow), this is not for you.

If you only know Gunn from the Guardians Film, this may not be for you.

I've seen far worse, but this Film definitely leans into the brutal violence.  There are moments where they add in flourishes- like Harley's big Action Scene- but it mostly is just there to shock you.

In addition, they do that trick where you see a Scene and then see a Flashback to give it context.  It is neat once.  They do it three times.

Having said all that, I really bought in to the Character moments, the Story, the fun little Cameos and the whole presentation.

I'm a weirdo and I was the Audience.  What about you?

Just remember that Sharks are not as scary IRL as they are on Film...

Next up, let's see if I can get back on Schedule.  It is a Film about a Director and all of his problems.  Stay tuned...