posted
Watched Distant Thunder (1988) which was directed by Rick Rosenthal (Halloween II, Bad Boys).
It´s a good, touching drama about a Vietnam vet (John Lithgow) who tries to contact his now 18 years old son Jack (Ralph Macchio) after some 15 years living in the mountains. Lithgow is great and i also liked the rest of the cast. Kerrie Keane looks very pretty as the female lead.
It´s drama heavy but you can see some Vietnam action in the beginning and things get pretty rough near the end. I also loved the British Columbia locations.
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posted
Been wondering about this one for years, thanks for your take on it, atomik.
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Cheers for the review atomik just picked up a region 1 DVD copy where its paired with this movie - a show of force starring lou diamond phillips,Andy garcia, Robert duvall and amy irving,I managed to get a new copy for just over 5 uk pounds as the next cheapest was a whopping 44 UK pounds plus postage for a used copy which makes me think it might be becoming a deleted title!
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Helen_S
Hiding behind the shower curtain.....
Member # 5804
posted
I have that double feature. I still haven't gotten around to A Show Of Force.
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posted
Helen what did you think of distant thunder?
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Helen_S
Hiding behind the shower curtain.....
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posted
It's a decent film but wasn't overly enthused by it. It was nice.
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aTomiK
.... has green eyes as well....
Member # 6575
"Mercenary James Shannon, on a reconnaissance job to the African nation of Zangaro, is tortured and deported. He returns to lead a coup." (IMDb)
This was a pretty good action adventure directed by John Irvin. Christopher Walken is great and i liked the plot. Shannon´s first visit to Zangaro is interesting and after the cover is blown they beat him up pretty badly. Walken is then ready to give up his mercenary life but the woman she loves doesn´t want him anymore so he calls his old group and goes to war. The movie is mostly shot in Belize but there´s cool scenes filmed in London where they get the guns and ammo and also blueprint the mission.
Too bad that the UK dvd i have includes the shorter US theatrical version so it feels a bit jumpy and for example i couldn´t see the conversation between Walken and his love interest Jessie played by JoBeth Williams. It´s a good movie but i really would like to see the longer cut.
Walken has just the right things in his bag (booze, cigarettes, a porn mag and money) so he may enter Zangaro
[ 09. February 2016, 02:12: Message edited by: aTomiK ]
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posted
Watched Overboard earlier while eating lunch. Finished the second half of Demons which was fantastic!
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Helen_S
Hiding behind the shower curtain.....
Member # 5804
posted
Just finished watching Buster w' Phil Collins...not a bad little flick.
Posts: 2148 | From: Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Aug 2007 | Site Updates: 0
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Must be nice kevdug. I went back to the store I spotted a Buster vhs but someone beat me to it. How many stars out of 10 would you give it?
I also tried to watch RUNAWAY TRAIN but the copy I bought was junk so I threw it in the trash. I was bummed but I noticed the satellite provider gave us some free movie channels this week and what do ya know, Runaway train was on. I was pumped about this good luck. I missed the 1st 10 minutes or so. Since some of you recommended this flick, you are gonna dislike me. I didn't make it through the whole thing, just a few scenes but I could not handle Roberts stupid character/acting and Voights character/acting was funny but I don't think it was supposed to be. Sorry guys, let me have it
[ 21. February 2016, 15:04: Message edited by: TerdNthePoolGGB ]
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kevdugp73
He's eating after dark again....
Member # 5978
posted
Hey Terd...I'd probably only give it a 6.5. I love 80's movies for the nostalgia and that great 80's feel, but in fairness...it was set in the 60's (so obviously the "80's" was missing, but to be expected). Phil Collins' acting was actually pretty good...and another soundtrack smash hit for him. I think my "fair" rating was also influenced slightly after doing a bit of research (this movie was based on actual events, so I was a bit curious). The movie works to create a sense of empathy for the main character...a man with obvious flaws, but forgivable in that "everybody makes mistakes" kinda way, and alludes primarily to a love story and a somewhat happy ending...they may have fluffed it up a bit! I won't say much more until you've seen it. Pick a night to watch it that you're not looking for that "80's" fix...still worth seeing....
*I have Runaway Train but have never watched it...not high on my list right now!
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aTomiK
.... has green eyes as well....
Member # 6575
Watched Rough Cut (1980) which was a pretty good heist comedy directed by Don Siegel.
The project had it´s problems but i think that there´s lots of great dialogue here and the cast did good. Reynolds gives a nice performance as playboy thief Jack Rhodes, David Niven is Scotland Yard chief inspector Willis who wants to catch Rhodes before his retirement. Willis then uses beautiful Gillian Bromley (Lesley-Anne Down) to get Rhodes.
The movie was filmed mainly in England which is refreshing. Some might say that it´s a little slow and overlong film but i enjoyed the ride. Also the ending did surprise me.
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posted
My take on some of these films: Serial. I know that a lot of folks really love this one, but I think that it's overrated, and now, especially dated with its examination of the West coast lifestyle back then. I agree that Martin Mull is in fine comic form, as always, and it looks like this was the most fun Christopher Lee ever had on film. He has a ball with his businessman-gay biker character.
The Dogs of War--good, solid action film with a fine early Walken performance.
Buster--very slight slice of crime/life film. Phil Collins is a pretty good actor, Julie Walters is always good, and it has "Two Hearts" on the soundtrack. Not really that memorable, but a decent enough Saturday afternoon film...
Runaway Train is great, one of the best train/pure action films around. I think that while the acting may be a little stylized, it works well in the bigger context of the film as an existential piece. It must've been an incredibly difficult shoot in bad weather. And, of course, no CGI.
Rough Cut. Wow, I haven't thought about this one in decades. I saw it in the theatre way back when and thought it was a pleasant enough throw-away trifle with a nice cast. It used to play on HBO a lot during the 80s, and I had forgotten that it even existed. That ending, which makes no sense and really contradicts the rest of the film, was the result of some post-production tinkering and reshoots. It's clearly not Don Siegel's best film, though not his worst either.
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aTomiK
.... has green eyes as well....
Member # 6575
posted
Thanks, man. I wonder if the unused Rough Cut endings still exist. Maybe the film is in need of new edition with all the different endings attached. Posts: 2008 | From: Dixieland | Registered: Oct 2008 | Site Updates: 0
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posted
Not seen the - rough cut for many many years but do remember enjoying it,atomik did you ever get a copy of - breaking in with Reynolds? it was made in 1989 as that's got a really enjoyable laid back atmosphere to it,great performance from burt and i thought the banter between him and the much younger Casey siemaszko was a lot of fun!
The first ever action movie I saw at the cinema had - David Niven in it and that was - the sea wolves way back in either 80/81 at a little picture house just outside of Exeter in Devon in the united kingdom,never seen it since and wouldn't mind checking it out again!
I really enjoy - runaway train I've got it on blu ray,I think it's a really solid thriller and love the thundering music score,great film!
Surprised you didn't like it terd but each to there own,buster i originally saw at the cinema and enjoyed it,need to revisit it though for a fresh assessment,I do remember Collins being pretty good in the lead role.
I need to check out - dogs of war I think I caught the tail end of it once and found it to be pretty decent!
Never seen - serial but would also like to check that out!
[ 22. February 2016, 16:18: Message edited by: the young warrior ]
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aTomiK
.... has green eyes as well....
Member # 6575
quote:Originally posted by the young warrior: atomik did you ever get a copy of - breaking in with Reynolds? it was made in 1989 as that's got a really enjoyable laid back atmosphere to it,great performance from burt and i thought the banter between him and the much younger Casey siemaszko was a lot of fun!
Don´t have Breaking In yet but i´m going to get it before i reach the late 80s with my man Burt.
Approximately 15 films to go... Posts: 7053 | From: Finland | Registered: Feb 2008 | Site Updates: 7
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I just couldn't get past the voices voight and Roberts were attempting in Runaway Train. I will give it another chance sometime. I think SERIAL is worth a viewing.
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