OLR: The Running Man (1987)

This movie just gets more and more accurate as time goes on. (8/10)

d. Paul Michael Glaser

OLR: Bones (2001)

I think I'd've preferred the movie remain in the '70s with gangsta Snoop, rather than turning into a dull ghost-revenge flick. (6/10)

d. Ernest R. Dickerson

OLR: Zombie Strippers! (2008)

I think Troma's gonzoness has spoiled me as I found this film far too sedate, despite the awesomeness of the title. (5/10)

d. Jay Lee

OLR: Death Proof (2007)

The theme music, Stuntman Mike, the car stunts and the girls kicking ass at the end were properly grindhousey, but the endless yapping in the in-between parts dragged the whole movie away from that intended theme. (7/10)

d. Quentin Tarantino

[Also watched the trailers for Werewolf Women of the SS, Don't and Thanksgiving, plus the ad for the Acuña Boys restaurant. For reasons no one can fathom, these are missing from the American DVD and BD releases. I had to rip them from the expensive, 6-disc Japanese DVD set so that I could have a proper Grindhouse double-feature tonight. While Nicolas Cage is inspired casting for Fu Manchu in WWotSS, the spot-on slasher trailer Thanksgiving is the winner in this batch.]

[That makes an even 222 movies for the year 2008.]

OLR: Planet Terror (2007)

Excepting the mysterious lack of gratuitous nudity, this explosion of zombies, guns, motorcycles, blood, cheezy one-liners and, well, explosions was exactly what I was hoping for from a grindhouse tribute film. (8/10)

d. Robert Rodriguez

[Also watched Rodriguez's fantastic Machete trailer, which was thankfully still attached to the movie on the BD release.]

OLR: Aladdin (1992)

I had to watch this after re-reading The Sandman #50 and, though not as good as that work of art, I was not disappointed. (8/10)

d. Ron Clements & John Musker

OLR: Burn After Reading (2008)

Apology accepted for Intolerable Cruelty. (7/10)

d. Ethan Coen & Joel Coen

Guest OLR: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Like getting hit in the face with a really pretty hammer for almost three hours. (7/10)

d. David Fincher

OLR: Cars (2006)

There's something about the colors and the car designs… I can see why children are insane about this movie. (7/10)

d. John Lasseter & Joe Ranft

OLR: Ratatouille (2007)

Perfectly edible, but a few spices short of a gourmet meal. (7/10)

d. Brad Bird & Jan Pinkava

OLR: Cinematic Titanic: "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" (2008)

The riffing doesn't really pick up until after Joel's shadow Christmas gifts, which is now my favorite shadow gag (from both shows). (7/10)

d. Nicholas Webster & Sharp-Ford

[watched the other one a little over two years ago, now]

Hitchcock | The 39 Steps (1935)

The 39 Steps (1935)
written by Charles Bennett and Ian Hay, based on a novel by John Buchan

Many consider this film to be Hitchcock's best of his British era, but I found it to be a lesser version of The Man Who Knew Too Much. It features essentially the same plot: the murder of a secret agent sends a regular person(s) into a world of spies, chases, escapes and assassination in order to save the Empire. Hitchcock certainly displays the same attitude here: both are fun, funny, suspenseful and filled with some real human moments.

For me, the key difference between the two films can be found in the main character. I don't think I like Hannay much at all. Everything's so effortless to him. This secret agent business literally falls into his lap and he assumes the mantle of super-spy with ease. Shove him in front of a crowd and he'll make up a political speech out of thin air to rouse the masses. Reveal yourself as the villain by displaying your nine-fingered hand and he'll react with bravado. Shoot him and he'll pretend to fall over dead, allow you to carry him to a dumping spot, escape and then make jokes about the hymnal that stopped the bullet. While this may be fun to watch in a proto-James Bond manner, he's not someone I can identify with. Personally, I'd be throwing chairs at people.

The little moments Hitchcock captures along the way make up for this improbably talented non-spy. There's this eye crinkle Professor Jordan does when he's discussing spy stuff with Hannay through euphemisms. There's the way Hannay tries desperately to read the newspaper story about him after the pair across the aisle from him stop discussing it. And, of course, the scene between Hannay, Margaret and her grumpy husband on the Scottish moors is full of great stuff: subtle manipulation by Hannay, the wistfulness of Margaret, the suspicious of the husband. That's the stuff you look forward to seeing in a good Hitchcock movie to fill in the gaps between the suspense and excitement. (7/10)

Watched the region 1 DVD released by Criterion in 1999. It's a pretty old Criterion disc (spine #56) and could probably use a good re-release. Not a bad print/transfer, still.

OLR: Cinematic Titanic: "Legacy of Blood" (2008)

Not as funny as previous releases, maybe because the movie's pretty dull. (6/10)

d. Carl Monson & Sharp-Ford

OLR: Sex and the City (2008)

This is pornography of some sort, but I am not the target audience. (4/10)

d. Michael Patrick King

OLR: The Santa Clause 2 (2002)

The fast-paced romance is a wee disturbing, but I think Tim Allen makes a great Santa. (6/10)

d. Michael Lembeck