Tuesday, Sept 1960. Escape from the Bronx (a.k.a. Fuga dal Bronx, Escape 2000). (1981) Here's an italian film about a group of officials attempting to clear out Bronx NY to make way for some pretty high rise buildings. People are kindly asked to "leave the Bronx" and when they don't "leave the Bronx" they are turned
into a KFC extra krispy chicken finger basket. AS if this film wasn't funny enough (unintentionally so), the show Mystery Science Theater 3000 from the 1990s takes it and makes it a classic episode. A fan favorite to say the least. A great time! 5/10 (Mystery Science Theater 3000 upgrade 10/10 ) How can you pass up a deal like that? 61. Psycho. (1998) This does have a novelty feel now. It's in an updated setting, in color and even though it's shot-for-shot the same, everything is just slightly off kilter from the classic Hitchcock film. That's why I bother with it. I know it's not well thought of (and all the criticism is probably warranted) but I kind of like to give it a spin and view it as I would a broadway play version of the same material. The cast is mostly going thru the motions with perhaps William H Macy as the detective doing the best job of it. Vaughn as Norman doesn't quite work. Perkins gave off a weird vibe, like "virgin preacher's son with a secret to hide". Vaughn looks like he could be a rapist out of the gate; I don't see this modern Marion Crane going anywhere with him for a sandwich or anything else. Still, I crave this version every year at the time and save the original for closer to Halloween day. I do think fans of the original are overly critical of this tabboo remake. Any of you ever seen a stage play version of a movie? Well view it in that frame of mind you silly numb skulls! :p 7/10 62. Flatliners. (1990) Original story about a group of medical students dabbling with near-death experiences. We're treated to an familiar & excellent cast in a fun 2 hours of weirdness. If this is ever remade I hope they make the after-life bits more trippy. That's the only thing that I felt could've been done better. There's some serious stuff and some well done, low key tongue-in-cheek going on. I felt they side-stepped religion a little too carefully. To the potentional remakers: have some balls! Anyway, this is good stuff. 8/10
August 31, 2010
