Well, here it is the last day of March, 2024, and somehow I still haven’t managed to post my reviews for February!
Let’s fix that! Below you’ll find the “wrap up” of my Arabian films viewing, the start of viewing all the Tremors films in my collection, and even some of my favorite show of all time: Dark Shadows.
Here we go…!
Ratings are out of five stars. Here’s what those stars mean to me…
* – This film is not good. Avoid it unless you tolerate dreck well.
** – A flawed film. You may enjoy it if you like this genre or the folks in it.
*** – A good solid film. If you like this genre, you’ll probably like this film.
**** – A superior film within its genre. Thoroughly enjoyable.
***** – An outstanding film on many levels. A great example of its genre.
Note that some shows I’ve given a parenthetical star rating, either adding or subtracting stars, depending on how your amusement may differ from mine. I’ve explained the meaning in the reviews themselves. Usually.
Prince of Persia – The Sands of Time **** Despite less-than-stellar reputation, this is a well made, rousing action-fantasy epic with interesting & compelling characters (based on the video game) & good special efects. Prince discovers time-turning dagger & must save his adopted kingdom while his father, brothers, & it seems the whole world are against him. Except the pretty girl, of course.
Foundation (S2) **** Flash forward to the next age of Foundation & Empire with returning & new characters, visions, psychics. Soap SF fun.
Wolfman (1979) *** Low-budget effort, with Southern-accented wolfman, follows a man with dark family legacy. Good, sincere production.
Revenge of the Creature (Sven) **** The Gill-Man is caught by scientists & taken to a Florida marine park to study, but breaks out & causes fun havoc.
Office, The (S3) ***** This funny series gets even better as the cast & story start firing on all cylinders hitting their peak near season’s end.
Midsomer Murders 15-6 Schooled for Murder **** More creative Midsomer Murders as this time the (first) victim is killed with a wheel of cheese. Barnaby & Jones investigate not only the cheese factor, but also ties to locals including an exclusive private school.
Poirot 13-5 Curtain: Poirot’s Final Case **** Poirot dying from the maladies of old age returns to the site of his first murder, now a convalescent home, in hope of preventing murders to come by confronting a criminal so fiendish that only Poirot can bring him or her to justice.
Our Flag Means Death (S2) **** Though this season starts out very dark, it ends up strong & funny as our pirate crews split & then recombine with other crews making new friends & confronting old enemies. Great performances. I wish this series were continuing.
Midsomer Murders 16-01 The Christmas Haunting ***** Barnaby & new partner DC Nelson investigate a ghost hunting trip into an old house gone badly wrong, when someone is stabbed to death in the dark. John Barnaby is less inclined to believe the murder caused by a vengeful ghost.
Power of Film, The (6 Episodes) **** Professor Howard Stuber looks at famous films & analyzes how they’re constructed & the effects they’ve had on moviegoers & our culture. An interesing 6-part series, though little in concept or content that I wasn’t familiar with.
Helen of Troy (1955) *** Sword & sandal epic about the famous “Face that launched 1000 ships,” & the siege of Troy. Sadly mythology free.
Captain Marvel (2019) **** The MCU origin of Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers, does a good job of streamlining the complex (& confusing) comic book history of the character. Bree Larson is engaging & plenty of action — plus Skrulls & a surprising flerken.
Atlas (1961) *** Roger Corman’s low-budget sword & sandal adventure features Michael Forest (Apollo in Star Trek) as Atlast, who battles against overwhelming odds to defeat a tyrant. Despite clever camera work, lack of budget shows.
Midsomer Murders 21-1 Point of Balance **** Murder sprouts from rivalries at a local dance studio as a prominent ballroom dancer is only the first victim in a series of murders. As usual, Barnaby & Winter must sort out the various deceptions.
Hercules, Samson, & Ulysses (1965) ***(*) The mixing of mythologies in this sword & sandal (peplum) film is really a hoot. I love it (thus the extra star, if you’re like me). Highlights include Herc & Sam throwing huge blocks of stone & a toppling temple. A personal fave.
Thing that Couldn’t Die, The ***(*) Woman with divining powers finds a chest that contains, not treasure, as her greedy family hopes, but the severed, but still-living, head of an ancient warlock. Minor Universal classic that I love (extra star). Interesting Western flavor.
Monster that Challenged the World (Sven) **** Mysterious deaths on the Salton Sea lead to the discovery of giant bug-like mollusks (great practical FX). Classic.
Scorpion King 2, The: Rise of a Warrior (2008) *** Prequel to the Scorpion King, which was prequel to the Mummy film. Here Mathayus battles an evil tyrant (surprise) with supernatural abilities & (of course) a scorpion bent. Standard near sword & sorcery fantasy. Kinda fun.
Dark Shadows (Set 15) ***** Quentin’s ghost haunts Collinwood, & Barnabas goes back in time to prevent the destruction of his home & family. Unfortunately, in 1897, Barnabas is still a vampire & Quentin becomes a werewolf. Part of the best DS arc ever!
Death in Paradise (S4) **** Series recovers its feet & puts past mistakes behind, as it continues its amusing blend of murder with a dash of comedy.
Lake Michigan Monster, The **** Extremely low budget local film about wacky characters (& unreliable narrators) hunting a mysterious monster in Lake Michigan. A bit episodic but ends with a wild & trippy climax. Good for lovers of low-budget horror/comedy.
Midsomer Murders 21-2 The Miniature Murders **** Miniature doll houses & their creators take center stage as a prominent supporter is killed during a museum showing. Barnaby & Winter must sort through the local buffs & kooks to find the killer & maybe save more lives.
Turn of the Screw, The (1973) **** Dan Curtis directed this good adaptation of the Henry James classic, which features strong acting & locations & is only slightly harmed by videotape production. A governess comes to a remote mansion where two children are possessed by the malevolent spirits of former staff — or are they? Ending may be more powerful & direct than The Innocents.
Grand Tour, The 5-3 Sand Job ***** Jeremy, Richard, & James set out across Africa to re-create a legendary desert rally course. Of course, things get cocked up in amusing ways, both with their cars, their personalities, & the landscape. Amusing car choices. Great locals. Poignant ending.
Bride of Frankenstein (Sven) ***** One of the best horror movie sequels ever, as Frankenstein & the wacky Pretorius decide to build a bride for the monster. Contains scenes famously parodied in Young Frankenstein. Karloff brings his monstrous best. Just great.
Atlantis, the Lost Continent (1960) **** Dialogue often silly, but George Pal’s production has enough fantasy, ideas, & special effects to make it a personal fave. Greek rescues shipwrecked princess & returns her to Atlantis, the lost island ruled by science, beast men, & madness.
Colossus of Rhodes, The (1961) ***(*) Epic Sergio Leone peplum (sword & sandal) film set on the Isle of Rhodes during the time when the Colossus (one of the 8 Wonders of the World) allegedly bestrode the harbor entrance. Strong sets & design, great fights, & over-the-top melodrama make this one extra fun for me, though the story is standard rebels vs. evil tyrants fare.
Earth vs. the Spider (MST3K) ****(*) Giant Spider terrorizes town in one of my favorite Bert I. Gordon films. MST3K also gives it a great episode.
Tremors 2: Aftershocks **** Fred Ward & Michael Gross return in sequel that adds a new twist to the Graboids. Not the original, but still great fun. A bounty on graboids brings Ward out of seclusion to hunt the beasts, only to find the monsters are more complicated.
Beast Below, The (2023) **(*) Thai film where a giant lizard wreaks havoc among people in a desert water-drilling contest. Good for CGI monster fans.
How to Make a Monster (1958 – Sven) ***(*) Fired makeup artist turns actors into monsters (Teenage Werewolf & Frankenstein) to seek revenge against callous studio heads in a good Bert I. Gordon flick. My pining for those 2 “missing” films makes it lose a star for me.
Devil Beneath (2023) **** Australian brothers must decide what to do with their dead granfather’s land, not knowing that it’s inhabited by a mythical monster. Party time turns into creepy monster time, with plenty of action & gore in the 3rd act. Worked for me.
Echo (S1) **** Anti-hero from the Hawkeye series returns to her mystical Oklahoma Native American roots but her revenge against her big city allies threatens her family & friends. Some Netflix Marvel characters return, too, & that’s all good.
Tremors 3: Back to Perfection *** 2nd sequel to the great original adds another twist but only Michael Gross returns. That’s enough for a fun, solid monster flick. The graboid tourism business is flagging without monsters, but don’t worry, new ones sh ow up.
Tremors 4: The Legend Begins *** Flash back to the old west, before Perfection, as the graboids upset a mining operation & city slicker owner Michael Gross comes to town to set things straight. Playing against type, western location, & good characters make it solid.
Inspector Ricciardi 1-1 Vengeance Will Be Mine **** When a great tenor is found murdered in his dressing room, Ricciardi (who sees ghosts & receives messages from the dead) must sort through jealous rivals & secret lovers to discover who killed the famous Pagliacci. Interesting.
Midsomer Murders 16-2 Let Us Prey **** As a church attempts to save a controversial medieval fresco in its cellars, murders related to the conservation begin to pile up. Barnaby & Nelson before more murders based on the fresco’s images are committed.
Frankie Drake Mysteries (S4) **** Series finishes with some stretching the characters of Frankie & friends, fun mysteries, & a never-resolved cliffhanger.
And that’s it for February, 2024. The watching seems like it didn’t take nearly as long as finishing and posting about it! (Of course, the middle of March was eaten up by 2 conventions.) Totals for the month: 38 films, seasons, and notable shows/shorts. Not bad for a 29-day month. Bringing the 2024 Total to 104. A very respectable start.
NEXT MONTH: I finish up what I have of the Tremors series, continue my ongoing love of mystery shows and series, and somehow manage to get a lot of viewing done despite a double-convention (Founders & Legends and Gary Con, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons). See you in a few!
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