Bernard-Lee Movie Reviews

when a creature from outer space resembling a mutant tree craves world domination it does so by turning people into plant monsters (three types the sailor a fly-like creature that acts as a scout,the tumbler a furry plant thing turns into a thorny ball and the shooter a two legged no armed plant beast that takes over peoples minds or turns them into other shooters) and by using the residents of an oterwise quiet town to germinate more plant creatures the only ones who can stop it are a man returning to the town a unbalenced mad scientest a young cop and two teenaged girls

If your a horror film buff, see this!

Evil has sprouted in Comet Valley, in the form of some unusual inhabitants: Shooter, Tumbler and Sailor, bloodthirsty plants with a nasty personality. They're persuasive in attracting followers to their cause-an ingenious plan to pollinate and rule the world. Their plot might come to fruit unless a few enlightened humans can find a way to stop them.
Tom Bains (SAM HENNINGS) is a state geologist sent to Comet Valley to investigate a possible meteorite landing from the past. He notices the strange behavior of many of the town's citizens, particularly Doc Roller (BERNARD KATES), a botanist with a chilling theory about the meteorite. Roller believes the fragments that fell from the sky are actually seeds, which are suddenly germinating at an uncontrollable speed.
Bains and Doc team up with Brad Yates (DANE WITHERSPOON), the town's Deputy Sheriff, and Heidi Tucker (ANDREA ROTH), Bains' former sweetheart, in a desperate attempt to stop the attack and free Comet Valley from the SEEDPEOPLE.

In some ways, this is a charming but minor British comedy, most memorable for yet another in a seemingly infinite collection of excellent
comedic performances by Alec Guinness and for the opportunity to see a couple of great character actors in unusual roles : Bernard Lee (M in
the Bond Movies), as a police inspector and Peter Finch (of Network fame) as the debonair thief, Flambeau. You can take it for just that and
enjoy the film thoroughly.

But, on another level, the movie offers a relatively rare instance of cinema taking religious ideas seriously. The more obvious concept that
plays out here is that of redemption. Father Brown (Guinness) is not just another in the long line of British amateur sleuths who solves crimes
as a hobby, he's also a priest, concerned with saving the malefactors' souls. For those of us raised on Dirty Harry movies, the very notion that
criminals have souls is disturbing enough. But there's an even grander idea at play here; for Father Brown believes--quite rightly--that his life
as a priest, rather than insulating him from the rough and tumble of the "real" world makes him uniquely qualified to understand it and to
comprehend the darkest parts of the human heart. He explains to Flambeau that he hears things in the confessional that reveal all our faults and
failings and :

The more you learn about other people, the more you understand yourself;
and the more you understand yourself, the more you understand other people.

In fact, part of Father Brown's technique is a kind of early form of profiling; time and again he places himself in the criminal's mind and works
out how he might be thinking. And this is fitting because it is the signal insight of Judeo-Christianity, specifically, and, thereby, of
conservatism generally, that lurking within even the best of us (like a Father Brown) is all of the capacity and desire for sin that defines the
worst of us. The film has great fun with this as Father Brown enacts or reenacts the very crimes he's supposed to be investigating, and as it
does we see the thin line that separates him, or any of us, from the heinous.

As always, Alec Guinness inhabits his role to almost supernatural perfection--he's every bit the pudgy, too clever, cleric, managing to be both
endearingly sweet and scampishly wise in the ways of the world. Watching him perform one of these trademark screen transformations, I'm
always reminded of the line from Leonard Maltin's review of The Ladykillers "even his teeth are funny!" Unfortunately the story meanders a
little bit--G. K. Chesterton's original Father Brown adventures are just short stories, perhaps for good reason--and certain actions of the good
Father are difficult to reconcile with his character (like fooling the police into arresting an innocent man). Still and all, it's a good deal of fun
and the moral issues it addresses give it an unexpected, but welcome, gravity.

GRADE : B

Alec Guinness gives a wonderful performance as the priest-turned-sleuth in 'The Detective', called 'Father Brown' in the UK. Guinness is fairly young in this film, and it is wonderful for any fan of his other work ('Kind Hearts and Coronets' and 'Captain's Paradise' come to mind as earlier examples, or later work when he had become more well-known here in America,) to see him as a younger man. He is also accompanied by a marvellous cast, with Joan Greenwood and Peter Finch. The plot line is not complex, it is a classic sleuth sort of film, with an art thief (played by Finch) whom Father Brown is determined to catch, not only to bring justice, but also to, in his priest's duty, save the man's soul. It is admittedly not full of high drama twists and turns, but it is a mystery in the classic sense, and Guinness makes it more than worth it. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves mysteries, old movies, Alec Guinness, or all of the above!

The biggest problem with "You Only Live Twice" is that with Sean Connery wanting badly out of his 007 contract, his performance here is insipid and uninspired. As a result the film suffers in ways that its predecessors did not. Saddled with a mediocre screenplay, this is the weakest entry of the Connery era. Though its production is certainly of an epic nature, it simply lacks the entertaining quality of previous efforts. Not all is a misfire in this film however. There are certainly some impressive action set pieces, the best being the autogyro/helicopter dogfight. The locations are certainly exotic as practically the entire film takes place in Japan, and production Designer Ken Adam's set for Blofeld's Volcano lair is arguably the most fantanstic in the entire series. Lord knows "Austin Powers" borrowed a lot from this movie, including the physical blueprint of everyone's favorite megalomaniac of the absurd, Dr. Evil. Unfortunately the DVD, though packed with a few goodies, is also a bit of a disappointment as it lacks the number of extras that lesser films like "Live And Let Die" and "The Man With The Golden Gun" don't. We expect more from these DVD's, and certainly from Sean Connery.

Here James travels to Japan, where he learns how to be a bit of a ninja, courtesy of Tiger Tanaka, the head of the Japanese Secret Service. Tiger is sad that he didn't get his latch his mitts onto James when he was 12, so he could teach him how to draw his gonads up inside his body (a really nifty ninja trick, apparently). James' mission: to off the Evil Villain Shatterhead, and his wife (described by Tanaka as "to ugly to live"). Shatterhand has built what I can only describe as a Garden of Death, which kills anyone who enters it. Not only a Mad Scientist, but a Mad Gardener! Along the way James encounters a cutie named Kissy Suzuki (what is that, a girl's pink motor scooter?), a cute name and not nearly as ridiculous as, um, Miss Galore. Thrown in some volcanoes, hissing lakes of boiling mud, some sharks, some piranha and you have an enjoyable Bond novel. Good stuff. Fleming is a natural-born writer, although he does go over the top a bit with Shatterhand clanking around his garden in full Japanese armor. Still, this is fun stuff, and if you're a fan of James Bond (and who isn't) this is one novel that you shouldn't miss.

I really don't see why people think this film is bad it's GREAT!
Donald Plesance is my favorite blofeld, the song is brilliant and the movie is packed with action. The plot would have been better if blofeld wanted to start something diffrent to war which shows that this film has a weak plot. There's also not many gadgets in it just a cigarette with a rocket in it and that's all i can think of. But every time i see this movie i really dont dislike it so it's bad for the rest of my life.

The only other films i like better than this are Dr. No, Live And Let Die and A View To A Kill (my favourite) this is my second favourite connery film.

I was totally unprepared for how much I liked this movie. It is an interesting hybrid of Kenneth Grahame and Monty Python which probably works against it for a lot of people who expect one or the other and that is really too bad because the film has so much to offer. Although released by Disney (they own the film rights for the book in America thanks to their 1949 animated film ADVENTURES OF MR TOAD), the film was not made by them which accounts for the lackluster treatment it was given in this country. It went directly to video, was retitled in the process (it was originally THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS like the book), and has already been withdrawn from circulation. So much for it's rather sad history. The good news is that there are still plenty of copies to be had and at very good prices too but probably not for long so grab it while you can. While director-writer-star Terry Jones does take several liberties with the book, he remains true to the spirit of Grahame's work and that is the important thing. The performances from Jones, Eric Idle, Nicol Williamson, and especially Steve Coogan in the principal parts are truly extraordinary. Antony Sher as the Chief Weasel is an absolute delight and the cameos by former Python members and well known British television performers only add to the fun. The production design is stunning from the quirky costumes to the underground homes of Badger and Mole and the period motor cars that Toad dispatches are a wonder to behold. The BRAZIL like subplot concerning the dog food factory has bothered some people but it is in keeping with Grahame's views on rural destruction and urban blight and it also happens to be highly effective. The brief musical numbers scattered throughout the film add a touch of the surreal with The Weasel's Song (a wickedly funny parody of CATS) as delightful as it is unexpected. MR TOAD'S WILD RIDE is not a great movie but it is a highly creative one. It leaves you with a surprising number of sequences that will have you returning to it without really knowing why. Shame on Disney for treating it so shabbily. Let's hope that they will release it on DVD as that is the least that it deserves. An ideal movie for adults and children, it is as Mr Toad would say, "Glorious, simply glorious!"

'Mr. Toad's Wild Ride' is definitely one of the most charming children's movies that I've ever seen. Based loosely on the classic 'Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Grahame, the film is set in the English countryside and follows the adventures (and misadventures) of Mr. Toad (Terry Jones of Monty Python!), Ratty (Eric Idle of the same), Mole(Steve Coogan), and Badger(Nicol Williamson) as they battle with the evil, greedy weasels over the rights to Toad Hall. The special effects are minimal but very well done, and the quaint period costumes and animal make-up creates the perfect woodland atmosphere. The songs are short but cute; you'll find yourself humming the tunes before you know it. All in all, children will find the characters delightful and funny, while the darker images of the dangers of industrialization and progress will keep the attention of adults. I'd say my rating is four and a half stars, as opposed to just four. 'Mr. Toad's Wils Ride' is a definite must to any video collection!

This movie was barely released in theaters. Great adaptation of the Wind in the Willows stories, with excellent characterizations. Funny and very well-done--not just for kids.

Freddie Francis's DR TERRORS HOUSE OF HORRORS is an unbelieveable good movie, with tons of good acting, fun creepy sets and a very cool ending.

Five Strangers meet on a Train, soon Peter Cushing ( Dr. Terror ) joins them and tells them their "supernatural-fate" via Tarot. Five Stories, each touching another Horror Genre and all a quite good. You want Werwolves ( if you watch that story for the second time the Line "I needed some time to get over..." becomes pretty funny ), Killer Plants, Voodoo, Creeping Hands and Vampires all in one movie? This one's got it all, and let's not forget the Warparound story that is pretty good as well.

Christopher Lee is great as the snotty art-professor and Cushing has also a strong presence. The Other actors are good as well, the killer plant story features the Guy who played "M" in the James Bond movies. That's the only story that is kind of a let down, I'm not even sure what the ending means. My favorite has to be the Werwolf Piece, the ending will leave your mouth wide open. I love those It's-not-what-it-seems-to-be-it's-way-worse endings which is also present in the Vampire Piece. Lee's Story is fun stuff as well, note the great ending. The other Two ( Voodoo & Plant ) are rather averge but the Voodoo stuff is nice and creepy while the Killer Plant comes across as rather light.

All in all, don't pass this one. I wouldn't say that it's a classic, I wouldn't even recommend this to anybody that has no fun in watching old horror movies but if you have, this movie was made for you.

Amicus made several horror films,this being one of the better. Several men on a commuter train meet the mysterious Dr.Shrek (Peter Cushing).He tells them,one by one,how they will die using his Tarot cards.Some stories are better than others(The disbelieving Christopher Lee's called "Disembodied Hand" is the best tale in the film,IMO)Also a very young Donald Sutherland is one of the doomed in Dr.Terror's House of Horrors!!

Upon first reading the title, one might assume that this 1965 horror anthology was simply another cheap haunted house cookie cutter flick. However, when I actually viewed "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors," I realized that this movie (although not the BEST one conceived, in my opinion) was something that really DID hold my interest. Basically, the concept is this: the entire film takes place inside a train, where 5 gentleman (who have never seen each other before) sit together and wait to reach an unnamed destination. During the trip, these 5 passengers each have their futures foretold by a 6th individual; he turns out to be the mysterious, eccentric Doctor Sandor Shreck (Peter Cushing) who relies on a deck of Tarot cards to investigate the supernatural effects of fear and terror. The Doctor instructs each reluctant participant to tap the deck 3 times; afterwards the first 4 images confirm the listener's destiny, while an extra 5th card explains exactly how to avoid it. Then the fun really begins as each passenger's story is unveiled: Jim Dawson (Neil McCallum), a hard-working architect, is asked to renovate a widow's mansion, where later on he discovers an ancient Werewolf's coffin hidden in the basement. Bob Carroll (Donald Sutherland), a happily married man, is terrorized by a clinging vine creeping on the side of the house; an intelligent plant that becomes increasing maniacal against humankind. Biff Bailey (Roy Castle) is an ambitious jazz performer who steals the rhythms of an ancient voodoo ritual in an effort to compose a hit song; unwilling to take the West Indies culture seriously, Bailey learns the hard way why one must never pilfer music from an ancient, jealous god. Perhaps my favorite spooky tale is that of Franklyn Marsh (Christoper Lee), a snobbish art critic who coldly dismembers a painter's hand in a hit-and-run drive. When the desvastated victim commits suicide, his amputated hand returns to life for one purpose: vengeance! The film's final passenger, Doctor Blake (Max Adrian), is newly wedded to a gorgeous, seductive French woman who is later revealed to be a ravenous vampire.
I decided to rate this movie 4 stars because there are a few cinematic flaws. In some scenes (especially in the early half of the film), the acting did not seem convincing to me; such performances still leave something to be desired. In addition, a couple of the gentlemens' death scenes were fairly cheesy. But despite such mistakes, "Dr Terror" is worth watching all the way through, as it is glued together by a decent concept not always used in the horror genre. Also keep in mind that the twisting plotline flows from one scene to the next, without ANY excessive dialogue.

The story takes place around the turn of the century, and is about a gathering of the black Pesant family of the Sea Islands off the Carolinas as they prepare to migrate north, out of the world of former slaves in a rural society and into the modern era in the city. I found this film to be visually beautiful and deeply human. The Sea Island English dialect of the characters took a little getting used to, but was well worth the effort of understanding. The clan is large and multi generational, and they take time to honor their oldest member, great grandmother Nana Pesant. Her statement, "The ancestor and the womb is one and the same. Respect your ancestors, call on them for strength." is the underling theme of the film. All of this action is clothed in profound visual beauty, and magical events and memory weave through the fabric of the film. Believe me, you don't have to be black to enjoy this film. I loved it, and feel that it is on a par with the best of Fellini.

Daughters of the Dust is a richly evocative and absolutely beautiful film. Julie Dash masterfully combines her ten years of reseach in the moving film about a Gullah family on the verge of migration to the north. The performances are very strong and very moving. This movie must be seen more than once to capture the full meaning, but it is well worth the time. I would also recommend reading the screenplay which offers many insights into this incredibly deep and moving film. It is revolutionary in that it lovingly portrays wonderful strong and beautiful black women and tells their story in a manner that is free of sterotypes.

What a great day it was when the pen hit the paper on this one! If I were only to hear the words and not see the picture my minds eye would still capture the beauty. Thank you Ms. Dash for a very necessary tool inwhich I will use to educate my children on our history. And if you never do anything else, rest assured with this one you've done enough. Like Toni Morrison's "Beloved" your "Daughters of the Dust" is so very necessary.

The sight of Ursula Andress alone makes this movie worth viewing. She has to be the most gorgeous actress to ever grace a movie screen. British horror vets Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee lend capable support.

I've enjoyed very much this movie, since the very first time I saw it in a late show. I would like have it in DVD but, at the present, I've found it in a Region 2 PAL british version only. Anybody knows when I can get it in a Region 1 NTSC format?

Though it is not exactly a film classic, the movie has a great feel to it -- and rather transports you to the city of Kuma. I found all the actors wonderful, especially Ursula Andress. Anyone who loves ancient Egypt, stories about the re-incarnation of lost loves, and a slightly twisted ending will love this.

Roger Moore's first turn as James Bond is an interesting film that showcases James Bond trying to stop an island dictator from creating a massive drug problem in the world. The film features a large element of voodoo, a largely black cast, and the absence of Q, who was excused as part of a plan to make the series more current - these elements make this a unique Bond adventure. For some reason, this feels like a holdover from the more intimate, stylish Sean Connery era, probably due to veteran Guy Hamilton's direction (he directed Goldfinger and Diamonds are Forever), and the more down-to-earth sets, which lean toward the more realistic ones of movies like From Russia With Love.

The movie is a fun adventure, with a so-so villain, an interesting Bond girl (Jane Seymour, practically the only one who had a career afterwards), and a boat chase that goes on WAY too long. It also features Bond's first (and so far only) movie trip to New York City. The movie has a nice pace (aside from the chase), good changes of location, and it's just fun. Not a series highlight, but one that sits firmly in the middle of Bond's adventures.

Personally I consider Moore the best Bond, though others are sure to disagree. I grew up on the Moore flicks and they were always fun and campy. Here we see Moore's first efforts as he travels to exotic locales such as Haiti and downtown Harlem. The title song is fab and the action is fun. Jane Seyour is the main Bond babe, Solitaire, who has a hip connection to the Tarot. You can't lose with this! It has alligators, a wacky hillbilly sheriff and a Voodoo priest!

Very good film! Roger Moore really shows he is James Bond in this movie. He acts spectacularly and I think that the island Saint Monique in the Carribean made this movie a lot of fun.

Roger Moore's first turn as James Bond is an interesting film that showcases James Bond trying to stop an island dictator from creating a massive drug problem in the world. The film features a large element of voodoo, a largely black cast, and the absence of Q, who was excused as part of a plan to make the series more current - these elements make this a unique Bond adventure. For some reason, this feels like a holdover from the more intimate, stylish Sean Connery era, probably due to veteran Guy Hamilton's direction (he directed Goldfinger and Diamonds are Forever), and the more down-to-earth sets, which lean toward the more realistic ones of movies like From Russia With Love.

The movie is a fun adventure, with a so-so villain, an interesting Bond girl (Jane Seymour, practically the only one who had a career afterwards), and a boat chase that goes on WAY too long. It also features Bond's first (and so far only) movie trip to New York City. The movie has a nice pace (aside from the chase), good changes of location, and it's just fun. Not a series highlight, but one that sits firmly in the middle of Bond's adventures.

Personally I consider Moore the best Bond, though others are sure to disagree. I grew up on the Moore flicks and they were always fun and campy. Here we see Moore's first efforts as he travels to exotic locales such as Haiti and downtown Harlem. The title song is fab and the action is fun. Jane Seyour is the main Bond babe, Solitaire, who has a hip connection to the Tarot. You can't lose with this! It has alligators, a wacky hillbilly sheriff and a Voodoo priest!

Very good film! Roger Moore really shows he is James Bond in this movie. He acts spectacularly and I think that the island Saint Monique in the Carribean made this movie a lot of fun.

for those who want to lamblast roger moore's bond (and i'll do that myself on the later entries) then check out this connery dud. jimmy dean as a howard hughes villian? campy gay villians and a hollywood squares type washed up actress heroine? it's all downhill in a virtually plotless bond bomb

"Diamonds Are Forever" is the 7th in the James Bond 007 series from 1971. Agent 007 is assigned to stop diamond smugglers. This movie marks the return of Sean Connery to the role of Bond. He does a decent job here, but afterward he retired again and Roger Moore took over the role. Jill St. John does a good job of playing Tiffany Case, one of the smugglers. Norman Burton does a forgettable job of playing Felix Leiter. (The best Leiter was Jack Lord in "Dr. No" [1962]).

This movie really has two things going for it: an outstanding soundtrack and some of the best villains of the entire Bond series. Shirley Bassey sings the title track. Her's is a return performance, as she also sang the title tracks to "Goldfinger" (1964) and "Moonraker" (1979). The two villains, Mr. Kidd and Mr. Wint, are henchmen of Ernst Blofeld. It is just hilarious how they make deadpan one-liners which parody those of Bond!

This is one of my favorite Bond movies, but I am rating it down one star because it seems to bog down near the end. Ironically, I saw a DeBeers diamond commercial which said "A diamond is forever" while I was preparing this review. Apparently, the movie title has some marketing power to it!

Although Diamonds Are Forever is a fairly weak entry in the James Bond series, the special edition DVD of this movie must rank among the best of all the 007 releases. The half-hour Inside Diamonds Are Forever documentary is both outstanding and informative, featuring such items as the background story behind Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd (including recent interviews with actors Bruce Glover and Putter Smith), and a fascinating revelation by Jimmy Dean, who admitted to some discomfort in portraying a thinly-disguised Howard Hughes-type character when his real life boss at the time was, in fact, Howard Hughes. The 45-minute biography of Cubby Broccoli is almost worth the price of the DVD alone, and the inclusion of four deleted scenes nicely pieces together what was originally an editing nightmare for this film, especially Plenty's mysterious appearance in Tiffany's pool. One final note: the Bond filmmakers have always prided themselves in delivering sanitized sex scenes without resorting to gratuitous frontal nudity. However, when running the scene in which Bond helps Marie "get something off her chest" in slow motion, during the pre-titles sequence, her left breast, including full nipple, is clearly revealed. In real time, the scene plays so fast that nothing can be seen, but it's a much different story in slow motion.