Meteor (1979)

I was searching for something to watch earlier today and stumbled onto one of the classic disaster flicks that I grew up with. This was ironic, because just yesterday I mentioned this genre to someone on X. Because the conversation was still fresh in my mind, I decided to sit back and enjoy 1979s Meteor. 

Plot: The U.S. must join forces with the U.S.S.R. in order to destroy a gigantic asteroid heading straight for Earth.

Ahh, the 70s were such a good decade for fear mongering and disaster films. While this one isn’t one of the better entries, it is an interesting throwback to that era and genre. The ensemble cast is deep and they put on solid performances. While some of the storyline seems a bit out of touch, having grown up in that time, I felt at home with the Cold War aspects that were a constant throughout the film. The effects are dated, the soundtrack doesn’t blend, and some of the overall feel was uneven and cheesy, but that is what made those All-Star disaster films so much fun. The story lacks tremendous depth but it is interesting, casting is spot on, and there are moments of suspense that do hold up. In the end, this one didn’t age well because much of the underlying atmosphere was tied to the Soviet Union and the Cold War. If you grew up during that time frame like I did, then this one will be appreciated. It is far from perfect and nowhere near the best disaster movie from the era, but it is a fun trip back to when the world and attitudes were totally different. 

Carry On (2024)

Continuing a mini-trend I started the other day, I decided I wanted to stay with a holiday theme. In searching, I saw that this one was just released by Netflix and is a Netflix original. While I’m usually not a fan, I did decide to give it a go. That is the 2024 release, Carry On. 

Plot: A mysterious traveler blackmails a young TSA agent into letting a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight.

I don’t watch or review many action thrillers, to me, the genre fell flat at the end of the 1990s and has never really recovered. This one caught my eye, so I gave it a spin and wasn’t disappointed. This movie would have fit in during that era, when the action and thriller elements outweighed the believability. The performances are solid, including Jason Bateman as a villain. The atmosphere, tension, and effects work. While the storyline and actions are nowhere near plausible, they at least make it entertaining. In the end, this is a fun movie and although it is a touch predictable, it is easy to just sit back and enjoy a mindless action flick. Check this one out, for a Netflix original, it’s worth it.

Dark Breed (1996)

After finishing my physical therapy this morning, I just wanted to relax and recover. Having someone attempt to stretch scar tissue really isn’t a fun experience. To assist in this endeavor, I went to Tubi to find something Sci-Fi related and decided on 1996s Dark Breed. 

Plot: Six astronauts are infected by an alien organism.

More of a cheesy action flick than horror movie , Dark Breed, offers a ton of explosions and is a low budget conglomeration of multiple Sci-Fi stories wrapped in one package. The acting is ok and there is a ton of stunt work that makes it fun, but lost in all the explosions and craziness is not much of a coherent story and it lacks teeth to be anything more than an outlandish action film. In the end, this is not really a Sci-Fi film. Yes, there are alien/infection overtones, but those are lost in the execution. I do not recommend this one for Sci-Fi fans at all. 

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

Having spent most of the day working on yard work and updating my Etsy shop, I decided to take some time and relax. In doing so, I discovered that Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among  Thieves was streaming on Paramount+. So, let the campaign begin.

Plot: A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.

I went into the new Dungeons & Dragons not knowing what to expect. While i haven't played in years,  i was one an extremely avid player and have been looking to get back into it.  What i found amazed me.  This is an is an absolute blast of a movie. Ther cast and performances are outstanding, the storyline is lighthearted and fun, and the action sequences really work. Best of all, it can be enjoyed by everyone, even those that have never enjoyed the fun and mishaps that take place within a real campaign. Yes, some of the CGI is uneven, but that is easily overlooked. Personally, i loved the small nods to the lore of the series and would hope all of fans pict it up. This is a great journey into a combination of action and comedy, and a movie i totally recommend.

The Meg (2018)

Over the past few weeks as I have spent more time building up the Ringmaster’s Realms vintage toy store, I have found myself watching more movies as I get things ready for either the online store or the Too Groovy Toy Show in May. Of course, as usual, my selections have been uneven. That is definitely the case with this one, the 2018 entry The Meg.

Plot/ Five years ago, expert sea diver and Naval Captain Jonas Taylor encountered an unknown danger in the unexplored recesses of the Mariana Trench that forced him to abort his mission and abandon half his crew. Though the tragic incident earned him a dishonorable discharge, what ultimately cost him his career, his marriage and any semblance of honor was his unsupported and incredulous claims of what caused it - an attack on his vessel by a mammoth, 70-foot sea creature, believed to be extinct for more than a million years.

After sitting through this one the other day, I can say that my decision to wait on it was completely justified. There really is nothing in this one that makes it worth watching (unless you have a quest to watch every shark themed movie ever made). This one is bad, honestly, I have very little to say that could make it any better. The performances are uneven to be kind, the CGI is terrible, the plot is predictable and completely laughable, and the dialog is bad. It really came across as more of a shark themed chick flick than anything else. In the end, I wish that there was something more positive to say about this one, as I really wanted to like it, but honestly, it is not worth your time. Stay far away!

Justice League (2017)

Now that I have been caught up in building The Ringmaster’s Realm online vintage toy store and preparing for our first toy show, I have found myself spending more time in the super hero universes than horror or even sci-fi in recent weeks. While this is a nice change, it has shown me that not all super hero’s (or their movies) are created equal. That was definitely the case with this entry Justice League from 2017.

Plot/ Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his new-found ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy.

I must admit that this has been my least favorite super hero movie out of all the ones I have watched. There was really nothing in this film that inspired any type of positive reaction. This one lacked emotion on many levels and it didn’t appear that there was much thought put into the overall feel of the film. The soundtrack is bland, the scripting predictable and rather generic, it lacked character development, and the atmosphere felt out of place throughout.  Yes, some of the performances were decent, the fight scenes had a couple of bright spots and it was a nice flashback to my youth when I watched Saturday morning cartoons, but other than that, the movie felt extremely forced and underdeveloped. In the end, I am not quite sure why this one came off so poorly, maybe it was the disjointed editing or uneven plot. All I know is that this one did nothing at all for me and made me dread thinking about any other installment in this franchise. I could never recommend this one to any super hero fan, it is just too depressing.

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

I know, I got rolling with the blog and then drifted off. I didn’t mean to, but I was in the middle of finishing up a contract for some radio-drama’s and needed to focus on those. While I was working though, I was able to watch a few flicks. One of those was the 2017 sci-fi entry Blade Runner 2049.

Plot/ A young blade runner's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former blade runner Rick Deckard, who's been missing for thirty years.

As a fan of the original Blade Runner, I decided to stay away from this one for a while. Unfortunately, I discovered that was a huge mistake and should have embraced this film from the start. Even as a long movie, this one pulled me in and made me want to watch and see what happened throughout the layered story line. At the same time, I could see why there were some complaints, as it was not quite the action film the trailer popularized, and some could find it a bit slow. For me, the outstanding cinematography provided the perfect vehicle for the story, allowing both the light and dark of this world to come to life seamlessly, the performances were solid, and the cast did a great job at bringing everything together in a way that would appeal to fans of the original and those who never experienced the 1982 classic. Yes, the run time and lack of action may turn some people off, but those are only small issues and are easily overlooked. In the end, any sci-fi fan should not only enjoy this film, they should demand that same quality at of all films in the genre. This is one of the best sci-fi films to come out in some time and it is a movie that must be seen. If you haven’t watched it yet, you are really missing out.

Let Me Make You a Martyr (2016)

Last night after finishing my Evil Dead 2 review, I decided to dive back into Shudder to see if I could find something interesting. After some thought, I decided on the 2016 crime drama Let Me Make You a Martyr.

Plot/ Adopted siblings hatch a plot to kill their abusive father, a local crime boss who won't go down easily.

This movie was not at all what I expected when I started watching it and honestly, it was a lot more than I ever imagined that it would be. This was an extremely thought provoking film with a detailed and layered storyline that was both entertaining and intelligent. The scripting was outstanding, as the non-linear approached worked extremely well in creating an atmosphere, the performances were solid with Marilyn Manson leading the way with an extremely memorable performance, and the cinematography and production elements were spot on. Sure, the non-linear storyline and drug use will turn some people off as will the slower pacing, but in this case, it should be viewed as the perfect platform for this story to be told in the proper manner. In the end, this is a movie that should definitely be seen. Yes, it isn’t really a traditional horror movie, but it does have elements that should make any viewer cringe. If you haven’t done so already, find it and give it a shot.

Alien Arrival (2016)

Yesterday was much longer than I had expected, as Jolene’s softball friendly lasted a lot longer than I had expected and I was beaten down. I did find time to watch some television last night and I decided on the 2016 sci-fi entry Alien Arrival (AKA Arrowhead).

Plot/ A prisoner of war is offered a chance at freedom if he completes a dangerous rescue mission. His ship crash-lands on a desert moon, leaving him stranded. While struggling to survive, he discovers a deadly secret.

I was looking for something different when I picked this last night and that is exactly what this was. While it is nowhere near a perfect film, it does show that filmmakers can create something interesting no matter what the budget is. The cinematography and scenery were outstanding and the performances were solid especially considering the smaller budget used in this production. Yes, the scripting felt too detailed and there was may have been too much fluff written in, the pacing was uneven, and there were many inconsistencies littered throughout the movie that was extremely noticeable if you pay close attention to it. In the end, this was a solid debut entry and a movie that is much better than I expected when I selected it. Is it a perfect movie? No, not by any means; however, it is better than some of the films that show up on the sci-fi channel from time to time.

The Mummy (2017)

I definitely needed something different today to watch. After spending so much time in Salem, and then following that up last night with Sleepy Hollow, I decided that I wanted something with a modern flair. After some debate, I decided on the 2017 entry The Mummy.

Plot/ An ancient Egyptian princess is awakened from her crypt beneath the desert, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia, and terrors that defy human comprehension.

I had heard so many mixed things about this movie since its release and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Honestly, I am quite sorry I made the trip to rent it at Family Video. Set as the first film the Universal Studios Dark Universe, this was a huge miss and really offers little hope for what type of travesties await us with the other entries. While the casting was impressive, there was no substance behind the performances and everything (even the fight scenes) felt flat. Sure, this film was able to distance itself from the majority of the last Mummy trilogy (I did like the first one), it did not do enough and ended up taking the overall storyline in a direction that was not as entertaining and/or as memorable as it could have been. Yes, the visuals work, and the cast is what it is (although Tom Cruise again proves he is nothing more than a name at this stage), but those are the only real positives that I can pull from the time I spent watching it. The effects were average, the characters are all unlikable and do not leave any type of lasting impression, the action sequences are a mess, and again, the best scenes are in the trailer. In the end, this is a bad movie and one that should not even share a name with the classic Universal Studios take on The Mummy. If you haven’t wasted your money yet, don’t it is not worth it at all.

Poseidon (2006)

Last night I decided that I wanted to watch something different and move away from the creature features of the past few days. After some searching, I decided on the 2006 action flick Poseidon.

Plot/ On New Year's Eve, the luxury ocean liner Poseidon capsizes after being swamped by a rogue wave. The survivors are left to fight for their lives as they attempt to escape the sinking ship.

As a kid, I remember watching some of the great disaster flicks of the 1970s. Unfortunately, not only has the use of CGI ruined those but also Hollywood seems to have lost the creative flair for those flicks. This film is a perfect example of a disaster flick gone awry with a huge budget. Honestly, there wasn’t much to like with this one and I wish I would have chosen something else instead. While the cast was solid, the performances and characterizations were flat, too safe, and underdeveloped. The CGI was spotty, the decisions with the scripting were uneven, and the overall feel of the movie lacks atmosphere and tension. In the end, this film is one that I could have skipped. Hell, I didn’t even know it was at the box office and thought it was a made for television entry. If that were the case, it may have been more entertaining. Trust me, you should stay far away from this one.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)

After making it through Alien: Covenant this weekend, I decided to change genres completely for my next flick. That movie is the 2017 action/adventure King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

Plot/ Robbed of his birthright, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword from the stone, he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy - whether he likes it or not.

I can see why this is polarizing. On one hand, this is definitely not your traditional King Arthur movie, which would leave traditionalists up in arms. But, there are some interesting aspects that make it entertaining. Personally, I did enjoy the action sequences, the performances, and most of the effects. However, the lack of character development, the modern dialog, and the overall lack of Arthurian atmosphere did not do it for me. Was it a terrible movie? No, in fact, had it been made outside the King Arthur universe it would have likely received a better reception. In the end, if you like period pieces and can look past the idea that this is Arthur and Excalibur, then you may enjoy this one more than I did. Not a terrible movie, but not quite what I was expecting.

Shin Godzilla (2016)

As I was relaxing last night doing some last minute paperwork for Prestige tryouts today, I thought about working on a second review. Instead, I waited for today to review one of the best monster movies I have seen, 2016s Shin Godzilla (AKA Godzilla Resurgence).

Plot/ An unknown accident occurs in Tokyo Bay's Aqua Line, which causes an emergency cabinet to assemble. All of the sudden, a giant creature immediately appears, destroying town after town with its landing reaching the capital.

The last few modern creature features I have watched have been pretty good and I hoped that Shin Godzilla would be the same. This was especially the case after hearing that Toho was behind the film and taking the famed creature back to its roots. What I found was both enlightening and entertaining with a darkness that seems to create something deeper than most of the stylized Godzilla flicks from my youth. The storyline is intriguing with an interesting look at the flaws in the way the Japanese Government is set up. I have to wonder if this is somehow a message about the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that destroyed the Fukushima nuclear plant. Even after the initial scenes with the monster, Godzilla morphs into something amazing and more devastating than one would expect, the performances are solid, and the soundtrack works really well. Yes, the character development is lacking, there are some head scratching moments, and the audio dubbing is not the best, but those flaws were somewhat expected. In the end, this was one of the best monster movies I have seen in some time, and I could only hope that this is the creature that ends up facing King Kong. Sure, it is not quite the typical Godzilla flick, but it is well worth watching.

The Phantom Fiend (1932)

Earlier, I was reading an article on Jack the Ripper and yet another claim of solving that mystery. As a history buff, I have always been fascinated by the Ripper and enjoy consuming everything about the horrific tale. Incredibly, while searching for a movie tonight, I stumbled upon this 1930s entry based on a book about Jack the Ripper, The Phantom Fiend; a remake of the Alfred Hitchcock silent classic The Lodger.

Plot/ An enigmatic young man in a London boarding house becomes the subject of suspicion as the infamous Jack the Ripper begins his campaign of slaughter.

Being a fan of classic cinema (and of the Hitchcock silent gem), I figured I was going to be in for some head scratching moments with this one. Anytime someone attempts to remake Hitchcock, it never seems to end well. While this one is not unwatchable, there are a ton of flaws that make it fall well short of the inspiration. For me, any time Jack the Ripper is involved in the storyline, the movie has potential and this one does have potential. Unfortunately, between the uneven performances that made it feel like a poorly dubbed silent film, the poor sound quality (considering the dialog), and an ending that in no way serves justice for the original, this one is a tough watch. Sure, the storyline is not anything spectacular or groundbreaking, but there is something there that should have been better. In the end, this one is a bit of a disappointment. While it is not terrible, it is nowhere near anything that I would watch a second time.

Lost in Space (1998)

After a mixture of serial killers and creature features, I decided to venture into something with more of a sci-fi edge. After some thought, I decided on the 1998 reboot, Lost in Space.

Plot/ The Robinson family was going into space to fight for a chance for humanity. Now they are fighting to live long enough to find a way home.

I remember when this one came out and like many fans of the original series; I found it a bit disappointing. After re-watching this earlier in the week, I think my first impression was way off. While this is not a perfect film, it does have more positives than flaws and the storyline is closer in tone and depth to some of the initial episodes of the series than it is given credit for. The effects were solid, the cast was fun and their performances were decent, and the cinematography was spot on and created an entertaining feel. Unfortunately, the scripting felt forced and the dialog was choppy with too much focus put on trying to be clever and there were more than a few clichéd moments. In the end, this was an entertaining science fiction adventure suitable for the entire family, and a movie that is better than it has been given credit for. If you have a chance, give it a shot, you could do much worse.

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

After watching Awakening the Zodiac, it was time to change genres. Having felt such a connection to Caesar, I decided to grab another flick with some Simian heritage. That movie was the 2017 blockbuster Kong: Skull Island.  

Plot/ A team of scientists explore an uncharted island in the Pacific, venturing into the domain of the mighty Kong, and must fight to escape a primal Eden.

I am sure that this is going to be a polarizing film split between the love or hate communities. Personally, I loved this one and think that this is one of the better blockbuster creature features to come out in some time. I will admit that there were a ton of plot holes and the characters were not only flat, but their decision making was unfathomable, but I was able to look past those elements. All of the creatures were amazing, with this representation of Kong being one of my favorites. The fight scenes were fierce and at times gory, and the performances were solid. Overall, this was exactly as advertised a blockbuster creature feature that brought one of the all-time greats back from the dead. In the end, the film will likely disappoint some hardcore Kong fans. Yes, it has some flaws, but if you are in the mood for a mindless creature feature with some tremendous fight scenes this one is for you.