Here we are, nearly at the end of July already, and I haven’t posted the reviews for June yet. Not surprising, as life has been busy with Shark Week (reviews next month), a D&D convention (my 2nd of the year), and the start of the 2024 Olympics. Despite all that, I still found time to watch a few things during June (and July, too).
At the start of summer, I didn’t have a lot on my radar, save finishing a couple of seasons of TV, and my end-of-June ritual. My interest in dinosaurs and mysteries continued, of course, but I had a delightful surprise in mid-month when a near mythical stop-motion animated movie, The Primevals, suddenly became a available online.
And and at the end of the month (June 29), of course, my annual celebration of the great Ray Harryhausen’s Birthday. (I always take the day to watch my hero’s films — though some life stuff kept my viewing numbers of his work down a little on the day) So with that, let’s get going!
Here’s the usual ratings system:
* – 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.
Tingler, The **** One of Castle’s best films. Vincent Price is a doctor trying to discover why people’s spines curve when they die of fright. He theorizes it’s caused by a creature, The Tingler, which grows inside our bodies but then is dispelled by screaming. So, how would he manage to catch one? And how does his cheating wife figure in? Great theater gimmick, too!
Satan’s Slave *** When a woman’s parents are killed in a car crash, she retreats to a relative’s estate and finds herself having dreamlike visions involving a cult of Satan worshipers. Or maybe those “dreams” are real. Good 70s gothic atmosphere.
Falcon and the Coeds, The (1943) *** The Falcon (Tom Conway) finds himself mixed up with missing persons & murder in a girls’ school. Standard mystery.
Piranha 2: The Spawning ** James Cameron’s feature film debut feels like a Euro-trash horror film, but never gets quite to be that or to be a Cameron film. Problems plagued the production, but everybody has to start somewhere. Plot involves a “sequel” to Piranha, in which a mutant “flying” strain is released on the Caribbean after a shipwreck. A few scares, more laughs.
Star Trek Discovery (S5) **** After their long voyage across time & space, The crew of the Discovery must track down an ancient secret that could be used to -re-shape the universe — for good or ill. Opposed to them are imperialist aliens & a mismatched couple in the mode of Bonnie & Clyde, if Clyde were the heir to the throne of England. Some good stories & good new characters. Most of the old characters return, too, though sadly not some of the bridge crew. Plenty of nods & fan service.
Midsomer Murders 19-4 Red in Tooth & Claw ***** Chaos breaks out in the annual Belleville Small Pets show, when one of the prize rabbits goes missing & a local man is found dead among the bunnies. Shades of Monty Python! But of course, despite the wry humor, MM is always far more serious. John Barnaby & Winter must determine the killer’s motives & how it ties in to the pet show, if it does at all. And of course, there are likely more killings to come. As usual, a fun mystery well told.
Baywatch (Extended) *** Movie version of the T&A/action TV series has the elements you’d expect, plus Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, & even some of the original cast. They play the premis straight & even bring in conflict with the police, because why are Lifeguards tracking down crimes? Honestly, I enjoyed the heck out of its (tongue in cheek) high action. And cringed at the unrated morgue scene. But still, pretty wry & funny. This is a demonstration, IMO, of a good TV adaptation.
Land of the Lost (S2 – 1992) *** The Chiodo Brothers’ dinosaurs & special effects continue to make this sincere reboot/continuation of the original series worth watching. The stories are pretty standard syndicated TV stuff, but I’m glad I watched it.
Furiosa (2024) ***** George Miller returns to the world of Mad Max with a prequel to Fury Road, centering on the earlier life of that film’s hero — and it’s pretty great, if not quite as good as FR. Miller is still the master of action, with enough high-octane chases, fights, & set pieces for any 2 or 3 other films. Production values are great & the characters memorable. Generally, I don’t need origin stories, but the story of how Furiosa came to the Citadel won me over. I hope for more.
So Long at the Fair (1950) **** A woman visiting Paris with her brother thinks she might be going mad when, overnight, her brother disappears & nobody else in the world seems to remember him. A good period thriller with noir overtones. End doesn’t quite live up.
Jurassic World (Extended – 1922) **** More dinosaurs? More of the original crew? Count me in, but remember I liked this film in its theatrical cut. Maybe it’s a little long, but films with so much fanservice often are. The dinosaurs loosed in the last film have wandered across the world, causing chaos of many types while they and humans adapt. Meanwhile, sinister things are happening at a remote “dinosaur refuge” related to the original creation of Jurassic Park. For me, it works as a good send-off.
Jim Henson Idea Man (1924) **** Biopic following the life of Muppets creator Jim Henson as he creates his career from scratch, swings from advertising to Public Television & then creates an empire with his friends when no big studios will bet on The Muppet show. Also covers his experimental films & works as well as his major film work, Henson Creature Shop, & eventual sale do Disney.
Beach Boys, The (1924) **** A good biopic of the original surf & harmony band & its members, the Wilson brothers – Brian, Denis, Carl – their cousin Mike love, friends Al Jardine & David Marks, & various other collaborators. Hard to believe that many of them were teenagers when they did their first hits (Marks was only 13!). Brian’s later struggles are famous, but it’s sad that the doc only covers from their early days up until their revival with Endless Summer. Doing this it glosses over some pre-Summer work & entirely misses all of their later efforts. Which is why just 4 stars from me. Sure, you want a “happy ending,” but there is so much more to tell. Maye someday, we’ll get “the later years,” but I won’t count on it.
Falcon Out West, The (1944) *** Tom Conway’s Falcon heads west to solve the murder of a rich man killed in the east by rattlesnake venom. Standard.
Death in Paradise (S8) **** This light murder mystery series continues with DCI Jack Mooney (my favorite – so far) tracking down the killers with brilliant insights & adapting to the tropical locale, while perhaps thinking of reviving his love life. Cast changes continue (this is Brit TV, after all), but this time the changes feel earned & even unexpected. Good season.
Dark Hour, The (1936) *** Detective investigating a murder in a mansion (some Old Dark House elements) discovers a retired detective is among the suspects. Pretty standard, save for the ending in which everyone very convincingly tries to throw everyone else under the bus — or are they all throwing themselves under the bus? — leading to a not completely unpredictable but fun resolution.
War of the Gargantuas **** Japanese classic giant monster vs. monster battle between the Gargantuas (Frankensteins, in some version), Sanda & Gaira, who are “brothers.” Sanda lives in the mountains and is gentle; Gaira lives in the ocean and eats people for fun. The army wants to destroy them both, while scientists (who studied Sanda previously) want to save at least one. Some classic kaiju battles & rampages higlight this SF/H romp. Follows “Frankenstein Conquers the World.”
Topper Takes a Trip *** Topper pursues his wife, who’s decided to divorce him because of all that previous ghost stuff, to Paris, where she is being wooed by a cad, & he is bedeviled by one of his ghost “friends” & her dog (Skippy/Asta). Amusing sequel.
Arsine Lupin (1932) **** It’s John Barrymore as Lupin & his brother Lionel as the police chief pursuing the master thief in this sexy pre-code mystery/suspense thriller. I was impressed by the adult nature of some plot elements. Great acting, of course.
Santo & Blue Demon vs. the Monsters *** The Mexican masked wrestlers team up to defeat an evil cabal of monsters … and midget wrestlers….
Arsine Lupin Returns (1938) *** Billed as a sequel to the 1932 film, this has a completely different cast who are good, but not as good as the Barrymores. Again, the master thief tries to foil the inspector while maintaining his suave playboy cover identity. Standard mystery.
Falcon in Mexico, The (1944) *** Tom Conway’s Falcon goes to Mexico where he is pursued by mysterious criminals & tries to beat a bad police rap.
Primevals, The (2023) **** The amazing journey of this adventure film from it’s conception fifty years ago to its release more than 2 decades after the death of its creator, David Allen, turns out to have been well worth the trouble. After a yeti is killed & sant to a museum in the US, the museum mounts an expediation, headed by Haley Mills, to find a living specimen. She’s joined by an Indiana Jones-type, a local, a roge former student, & a current student. They head to the Himalayas & quickly find themselves in a Disney type adventure with Ray Harryhausen-like stop-motion creatures from Allen & friends & postumous collaborators. I’m so glad they did. While not a perfect film, there are many things to love here, and I do.
Leech Woman, The (Sven) *** Makeup executive is pushed by her ageist husband to seek a “fountain of youth” mystical cure for her product line. But the cost of that youth turns out to be more eerie than either of them expected & the user soon leads a double life as herself & a younger niece. While a minor Universal “monster” film, this still has enough fun to make me smile.
Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) **** Hitchcock’s original version of this suspense thriller features urbane Brits put out of sorts when they witness a murder, get a piece of paper from the dying man, & then their child is kidnapped. Touches of broad comedy & huge shootout at the end are unexpected for Hitch. Those and Peter Lorre in one of his first English roles make this cool viewing.
Equinox (1970) *** A group of young students on an outing find the supernatural, in the form of stop-motion & SPFX monsters, & a mysterious parallel world, near the cabin of their missing professor. The story contains Lovecraftian elements & was lengthened from a “student” film for public release. Future SPFX heroes Dennis Muren, David Allen, Jim Danforth & others. The monsters & FX have some cool moments & are very good, though not up to Harryhausen level, or any of their later work. The story is amusing, if not super original, & the bits added for theatrical release meld fairly well.
Midsomer Murders 19-6 The Curse of the Ninth **** Barnaby & Winter are called to a concert venue where a contest-winning violinist has been mysteriously murdered. Soon, another is murdered & several other people nearly killed. Ambitions & past secrets tangle before our heros solve the crimes. Another fine mystery with a top-notch cast of supporting players.
Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, The (1952) ***** Harryhausen’s first feature film has an all-time great monster/dinosaur (it inspired the original Godzilla), a strong cast of actors, & an iconic storyline, great music… And of course ground-breaking animation work by the master. Watching again this Harryhausen’s birthday, I’ve upped my rating to 5 stars, because this classic is endlessly re-watchable.
Valley of Gwangi, The (1968) ***** What’s better than 1 dinosaur on the rampage? How about a whole bunch of dinosaurs in a lost valley battling each other and cowboys? Yeah. That’d do it. This Harryhausen film, based on an idea by his mentor, the great Willis O’Brien, is a whole pile of fun, with multiple dinos, the titular Allosaurus, & a dino-roping scene that still amazes today. Great!
One Million Years BC (1966) **** If more dinosaurs is what you like, then it’s hard to beat Harryhausen’s remake of the old Victor Mature film. Ray later admitted that including some blown-up real animals as dinosaurs & spiders was probaby a mistake — despite it being a homage to the original — & though those are about as well executed as you can do it, it’s Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion creatures that make this stand out: brontosaurus, archelon, peterodactyls, cetratosaurus, triceratops, plus and iconic cave-man-allosaurus battle. The humans are less interesting, though this made Raquel Welch a star. Dinos!
And that’s the score for June 2024. As usual, a good mix of genre fare, monsters, mysteries, and more. But a little slower than usual, maybe, so totals for June are “only” 30 for the month, bringing the yearly total 275.
NEXT MONTH: July is a month of Shark Week 2024 and the Olympics start at the end of the month! I’ll recap SW here and you can be sure there will be plenty of other shows to share with you as well. See you then!
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