Frank's Movie Log

My favorite wuxia. Set in medieval China on the eve of a once-a-decade contest between China’s greatest swordsman and Japan’s greatest swordsman. The Chinese champion is Ching Wan. The Japanese champion is Hashimoto. Unbeknownst to Hashimoto, his Shogun has a secret agenda involving a ninja army. Continue reading...

A murderous clan of cannibalistic savages descends upon an unwitting family stranded in the desert. Continue reading...

Christopher Lee’s feature debut. Also Terence Young’s directorial debut. A Rebecca knock-off featuring Eric Portman as a wealthy eccentric who believes Edana Romney to be the reincarnation of an Italian countess he loved in a past life. Lee’s bit part comes early and his lone line lacks his resonant baritone. Continue reading...

I was fine with the cannibalism, but everything else irked me. Continue reading...

An elite corporate head hunter finances his lavish lifestyle by stealing art from his prospects. This setup serves as a fulcrum for a clockwork plot. To reveal anymore would spoil the film’s myriad surprises. Continue reading...

A prestigious Kung Fu tournament. Two rival schools, one of which will stop at nothing to win. A promising young student. Imposing villainous fighters with exotic techniques. Despite the abundant tropes, the film surprised me. Continue reading...

Commentary watch. Recorded in 2001 with director Bob Clark. A few minutes in, after describing how the camera’s moving on screen, he admonishes his prior comments as “all terribly didactic.” I smiled, won over. He reveals Gilda Radner had Andrea Martin’s role, but dropped out for Saturday Night Live. This proves the extent of his behind-the-scenes disclosures. Instead, he focuses on the cinematography and the performances on screen. His stern defense of the film’s third act didn’t change my opinion, but I appreciated how much he believed in it.

Commentary watch. Recorded in 2006 with writer/director Lewis Jackson and John Waters. Waters disappoints, coming in unprepared, having not seen the film for several years despite being a huge fan. He often shifts into a passive viewer, laughing at what’s on screen instead of commenting. That said, as an independent filmmaker himself, the questions Waters does ask often prove insightful. For his part, Jackson, unprompted, points out several bits I’d never noticed, such as how he had several interior sets painted with green walls to keep a red-green color scheme, and Home Improvement mom Patricia Richardson in a bit part.

Tedious, idiot plot opens with Tim McCoy losing his ranch to a crooked land baron played by Wheeler Oakman. McCoy then departs to prospect for silver, but returns in time to save love interest Alice Day from Oakman’s schemes. Long in talk and short in action. John Wayne has a bit part as one of McCoy’s sidekicks. Walter Brennan has an even smaller role as a sheriff’s deputy.

George Brent plays a writer in love with an heiress played by Ruth Chatterton. She loves him too, but can’t stop mothering her philandering husband. Bette Davis plays Chatterton’s kid sister who’s also sweet on Brent. Continue reading...