Alien DNA Monster

 

 (themoviedb.org)

SPECIES-1995-A kind of mad scientist (Ben Kingsley) puts alien DNA into a human fetus and winds up with an alien human female monster that kills and regenerates. He puts together a group to hunt it. An assassin (Michael Madsen), 2 scientists (Alfred Molina, Marg Helgenberger) and an empath (Forest Whitaker). Named Sil, she/it (Natasha Henstridge) is looking for a mate. After a lot of killing she gives birth and the climax takes place in an underground cave. It was ok and the cast is good. 

Director Roger Donaldson directed big-budgeted things like THE BOUNTY (1984) with Mel Gibson, NOW WAY OUT (1987) with Kevin Costner and COCKTAIL (1988) with Tom Cruise. After this he made the mad volcano hit DANTE'S PEAK (1996). Of course, they couldn't quit while they were ahead...

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Buster 3 Times

 

 (themoviedb.org)

THE THREE AGES-1923-3 stories featuring the one and only Buster Keaton. The first story is set in prehistoric times. Keaton is a caveman who rides a stop motion dinosaur. He’s sweet on Wee-gee (Margaret Leahy in her only movie role), a cave woman. But his elephant trading rival (Wallace Beery) likes her too. The second story takes place in Rome. A low ranking Roman (Keaton)) is in love with a woman (Leahy) also being courted by a high ranking official (Beery again).The third is set in the modern day. A young man (Buster again) tries to win a woman (Leahy again) despite the fact that she is also being wooed by a rich businessman (Beery of course). 

There's lots of great slapstick in the great Keaton style. It was his first full length film which he also directed (with help from longtime colla-borator Eddie Cline). Some think it's a parody of DW Griffith's BIRTH OF A NATION but it seems more like a takeoff on Griffith's INTOLERANCE (1916) to me.

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Witney Western

 

 (imdb)

THE LONG ROPE-1961-In a town run by a rancher named Ben Matthews (Robert J. Wilke), a judge (Hugh Marlowe) comes to preside over the trial of a Mexican accused of killing Matthew's brother. With the reluctant help of the sheriff (Alan Hale, Jr.), Stone investigates. He also meets gun-slinger Reb (Chris Robinson) who tries to reform. There's a trial where the real murderer is revealed and a quick gun fight. Also with William Kerwin and Lisa Montell. 

The Long Rope was produced by actress Margia Dean (she's in MESA OF LOST WOMEN). She hired veteran B-movie director William Witney who does a good job with this low budget minor western. Dean had planned at least one more movie but no more were ever made.

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A Pair of Palances

 

 (imdb)

HOUSE OF NUMBERS-1957-Arnie Judlow (Jack Palance) is in San Quentin after killing a man. His wife Ruth (Barbara Lang) and his twin brother Bill (also Palance) plan to help him escape. It's a little complicated and dangerous, playing on the twin aspect. They switch roles and Bill meets cellmate Frenchy (Timothy Carey with a hearing aid) while Arnie builds a hiding place at night. Later, Bill leaves the prison and Arnie plans his escape. He breaks out but nosy prison guard Hank Nova (Harold J. Stone) makes too many educated guesses. Edward Platt is a helpful warden. 

Far-fetched but enjoyable film noir with Palance good in the dual role. Earlier director Russell Rouse had written D.O.A. (1949) and directed THE THIEF (1952), a movie with no dialogue and WICKED WOMAN (1953) starring his wife, Beverley Michaels. He later directed THE OSCAR (1966), sometimes named one of the worst movies ever made. Hey! Nobody's perfect!

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It's The Limit

 

 (wkipedia)

CITY LIMITS-1984-After a plague kills off most adults, a young guy, Lee (John Stockwell) goes to the city to join The Clippers. He and Yogi (Rae Dawn Chong) fight a gang dressed as nurses. James Earl Jones is Albert, Lee's mentor, who helps them fight the army of overacting evil. Carver (Robby Benson) is behind a plot and sits at a desk for his few scenes (they could have been filmed in his home!). Also with Kim Cattrall, Pamela Ludwig and Don Keith Opper (also a co-writer).  

Stupid hi-jinx from director/co-writer Arnold Lipstadt a few years after his first film ANDROID (1982). At least that movie had Klaus Kinski in it...

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More Zombies

 

 (imdb)

NIGHTMARE CITY-1980-A plane full of zombies lands in an airfield and kills everyone there including an army patrol sent to investigate. Only 2 reporters seem to escape. The zombies use machetes, machine guns and their teeth. One of the reporters, Dean Miller (Hugo Stiglitz), tries to make a special broadcast warning but it's cut off by Gen Murchison (Mel Ferrer) who doesn't want to cause a panic. Miller quits his job in protest and Major Holmes (Francisco Rabal) is called in. The dead totally overrun a hospital where Miller's nurse/girlfriend Anna (Laura Trotter) works. The zombies drive cars, shoot guns, drink blood and murder and seem to be loosely organized. This Italian cannibal zombie isn't that good and the ending is a letdown. 

Director Umberto Lenzi made this between his two other cannibal movies EATEN ALIVE! (1980) (also with Mel Ferrer) and the infamous CANNIBAL FEROX (1981). Star Hugo Stiglitz was in 100 of European films including SURVIVE! (1976) and GUYANA: CULT OF THE DAMNED (1979).

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Rats, Rats, Thousands of Rats...In Hollywood

 

 (themoviedatabase)

RENFIELD-2023-Big budget Hollywood garbage. If producers, directors and writers don't understand how to make a decent horror movie they shouldn't bother. They just fill the screen with violence and gore and make a guy (Nicholas Hoult) who eats bugs the hero. Then they get nearly has been actor Nicholas Cage to play Dracula like an overacting ninny. (I guess they all forgot about VAMPIRE'S KISS (1988)) It was a box office bomb and deservedly so. Director Chris McKay should stick to Legos and Robot Chickens.

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