The Professionals

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Professionals!

Original image located here. Accessed 30th April 2021

I have previously expressed a keen interest in the western genre and that interest has never dulled over the years. So here's a look at a western from the 1960s.
I know my film history and I can say that the sixties were an interesting time for the western. The decade was one where the genre going well out of fashion - which in turn offered a sense of reinvention accepted by the likes of Sergio Leone and Sam Peckinpah (in the form of The Good the Bad & the Ugly and The Wild Bunch respectively).

And it is in this period of reinvention that The Professionals sits comfortably. Compared to it's earlier brethren this film does indeed have a sense of grittiness and realism that is rarely found in the genre. There are indeed some great action sequences, more explosions than one would expect in a western and some characters with depth. But, as with many westerns, the real star is cinematography, which makes the scenery never dull and is always handled to it's best.
It may be overlooked when compared to other westerns of this era but that doesn't mean the Professionals is an worthy entrant to this genre.

Flash Gordon

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Flash Gordon!

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd April 2021

Consider this the antithesis to the dour stuff I have been watching these past few weeks.
Lets be honest here: The only reason i know this film exists is through the Queen connection ("Flash! A-HAAA!!). And it would be safe to say that I'm not the only one. Still Flash is - apparently - the king of the impossible and the savior of the universe so that was a least worth a look.

So let's not kid ourselves. This is b-grade fare: The colours are garish, the effects cheap, the acting constantly swinging between wooden and hammy, and the whole thing was laughable, even with the passage of forty one years. Still i can't say it was dull. And it is proof that adding Brian Blessed to anything will increase it's awesomeness tenfold.
And hey, the music was great

John Wick 2

And this week's Friday night movie has been... John Wick Chapter 2!

Original image located here. Accessed 16th April 2021

It may seem something of a double standard to watch this, a sequel to a revenge thriller, having said some less than glowing things about Promising Young Woman the week before. However, whilst what I said about Promising Young Woman may paint a picture of a movie that is at odds with itself, that is not the case here. John Wick Chapter 2 knows exactly what is and you, the audience member, had better believe it.

And much like any sequel, John Wick Chapter 2 knows what worked with it predecessor and builds upon it. But let's not kid ourselves: Clearly the John Wick movies thrive on the action sequences, delivering such scenes that are well-choreographed and never dull. Keanu Reeves still delivers with this character and there is a real interesting set up for the third movie.
Thing is though, this may all sound like good things but that is pretty much it: There are are some indeed slow moments in this movie but they do indeed seem out of place. And the whole 'former-assassin-struggling-to-retain-humanity' shtick from the first movie is downplayed. Which is shame seeing as it contributed a lot to the first movie being so compelling.
Still, I can't say this movie was boring. So it remains to be seen what the third movie can dish up....

Promising Young Woman

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Promising Young Woman!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th April 2021

Okay so I'm going to have to think about this one so hold on...
*Sounds of the Alchemist venturing off into the wilderness*
*37 days later*
*Sounds of the Alchemist returning from the wilderness*
....Ermmm.....

It seems to me you can't criticise this movie because doing so will only reinforce the points it is trying to get across
Still, I have the feeling this was made for a particular audience. One that does not include me.
Oh well....

Thunderball

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Thunderball!

Original image located here. Accessed 2nd April 2021

That title is misleading: perhaps I should start using the phrasing: 'This Month's James Bond Movie has been..'. Only that idea sounds completely dumb.

Anywho, one reason why i am watching more James Bond movies in 2021, is that I have seen bits and pieces of some but not all the way through. Therefore, watching a complete James Bond movie presents an opportunity to address some unfinished business. And Thunderball is indeed such a movie.
During the late eighties i came home from school one day to find my father who had stayed home from work on the account of being unwell. And he was watching a movie which featured some divers engaged in underwater combat. At the time, I had no idea what i was watching but i distinctly remember being mesmerized by the action taking place before me. It was exciting, gripping and was able to draw tension from a seemingly harmless situation. I also recall seeing the escape via jetpack at the start of the movie.
Of course, I would eventually find out that this was indeed a James Bond movie. So to watch Thunderball now is to revisit something that made a significant impression on me.

Unfortunately, this has so far proven to be the weakest of the Connery era. Many of the characters are dull & inconsequential, the plot is meandering & boring, the climax suffers from some bad editing decisions and the moments of gold are few and far between. Still Connery continues to be in fine form - as he no doubt has the character down pat by now - and the underwater sections are still impressive.
At least now i can say that I know which movie had those underwater combat scenes