Hercules Returns

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

Original image located here. Accessed 21st November 2025

Here's another movie that has been on my radar for years but is only now being addressed. It's an Australian movie form the early nineties that has now been forgotten. But I have been meaning to watch this due to it having been written by one Des Mangan (the one-time host of the SBS Cult Movie and who made dry-wit into an art form). 

So what this movie tells is the story of a guy who takes over a run-down theatre with plans to open it back up. He obtains a movie to screen as a movie but finds it's all in Italian. So he, along with his staff, dub over it. So what this movie is is twenty minutes of original footage and one hour of footage from an Italian movie called Samson and His Mighty Challenge accompanied by funny voices. 

In short, this movie is it's own Abridged series. 

And who am I kidding? It's hilarious to watch with lots of gags and lunacy coming from the most mismatched visuals and dialogue. There's some great lines and some genuinely-laugh-out-loud moments. Furthermore, this is clearly the vision of someone who has a passion for cinema and a substantial knowledge of lesser known movies. 
All in all, a fun watch. 

The Guns of Navarone

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Guns of Navarone!

Original image located here. Accessed 14th November 2025

As is often the case, this has been sitting on my watchlist for a considerable amount of time - well over two decades to be precise. And I have only gotten around to see it through the accessibility that streaming provides. 

I was led to this movie on the impression that this is one of the best war movies ever made. Some may disagree on that one but what I got from this movie is that it is a great example of a genre crossbreed: war and adventure. 
In this case, a group of soldiers, of varying backgrounds and unique talents, go through enemy territory to complete an objective. Sure that set-up may seem tried and tested but it is for a reason: it works. 
And this movie does deliver on it's premise: Exotic locales (Greece), high stakes, great set pieces, gripping tension and a cast giving committed performances. Gregory Peck is in fine form but somehow David Niven steals the show.
I was worried that a two and a half hour runtime may be a slog to get through but, against the odds, this was anything but a dull watch.

Anora

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

Original image located here. Accessed 7th November 2025

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 97 (2024) 
(clearly old habits die hard)

Funny thing: If this had never won Best Picture at the Oscars I wouldn't have given this the time of day - call it a case of it slipping under my radar. But I think I am, by now, well-versed enough in Best Picture Oscar winners to give this a look. Maybe, like numerous times before, I will be surprised?

Turns out, I was: Firstly, I will give the Academy credit as this has to be one of the times they show a spine and give the top prize to the most unconventional of candidates. I call this unconventional due to the subject matter and large amounts of swearing.
Secondly, it seems the reign of the 'small-scale-low-budget' trend of winners (that commenced with The Hurt Locker) shows no sign of stopping - Not that I'm complaining. 
Thirdly, this is both funny and sad in equal measure. In fact, I do agree with the observation that this movie owes more to the screwball films of the 1930s than would first appear. Certainly it comes with a coating of over nine decades of change but it's there. And, with said coating, fascinating to see.
Finally, Mikey Madison is indeed a force to be reckoned with.

So yeah, a well deserved winner of Best Picture on all accounts.