Michael-Douglas Movie Reviews

A capable caper film distinguished by expert performances from a veteran cast. Gene Raymond's turn as the world-weary ringleader is especially noteworthy and a long way from his sappy, lightweight roles of the 1930's. Authentic war hero Wayne Morris is a likable co-conspirator, but unfortunately just two years away from an untimely early death. Professional loser Elisha Cook's presence guarantees a bad end to the best laid plans, and though the movie as a whole doesn't disappoint, the budget appears to be in the neighborhood of $50 tops, as the getaway truck revolves endlessly around Griffith Park. Director Hubert Cornfield looks to be aiming at a breakthrough film on the order of Stanley Kubrick's remarkably successful caper film of the year before, The Killing, but doesn't get it. Plunder Road simply lacks the imagination and panache of its predecessor. Nevertheless the movie merits a look for its spartan virtues, expert pacing, and capable cast.

Well worth a look, 'PLUNDER ROAD' is a tense little crime film that, like so many others did, got lost among the bigger name thrillers of the period. But despite it's relative obscurity the film is a highly entertaining yarn involving a group of thieves attempting to get away with an elaborate gold heist, while facing slim odds. No big names to speak of, an ostensibly low budget, and a cheeky title (a Mitchum reference?) do nothing to diminish the impact of this scrappy little gem. Check it out.

The hard, slashing night rain in Plunder Road's first five minutes all but obscures our view of the lynchpin of the plot: the hijacking of a train for its cargo of gold bullion. The remainder of the film follows the hijackers along their various escape routes. (There are foreshadowing's of Goldfinger's Rolls Royce -- or echoes of Judy Holliday's Solid Gold Cadillac -- in the plot). Its no-frills narrative, poverty-row cast and spare economy of means make Plunder Road a surprisingly effective example of late noir.

The next exciting vol. of Blake's 7 entitled VOICE FROM THE PAST and GAMBIT
Ex-Arbiter General Ven Glynd is trying to make contact with Blake and the others. He and he alone has information regarding Servalan and her motives to take control of the Federation. Blake thinks this maybe the key to stopping the Federation. Avon wonders why Blake is acting so strange around Ven Glynd and his group. Can Blake figure out who is telling the truth or is this another cunning trap laid out by the Federation for him?
In the next epsidoe entitled GAMBIT
Blake gotten word that a medical officer named Docholli may know where control is. Blake heads for Freedom City a place where gamblers can win and loose fortunes in a mere moment. What Blake doesn't know is that Servalan is already there finding Docholli so she can find control. What both Blake and Servalan don't know is that Travis has found Docholli and seems to be protecting him. All the while Avon and Villa get a rather good idea to use ORAC to get some money while Blake tries to find his man.

Volume 12 of the "Blake's 7" video series contains two more episodes of this British sci-fi series. These episodes continue the saga of interplanetary rebel Blake, his starship Liberator, and his ongoing campaign against the tyrannical Federation.

In "Voice from the Past," Blake is suffering aftereffects of the brainwashing he had suffered at the hands of Federation thugs. He and the crew of the Liberator become entangled in Federation leader Servalan's latest plot. Although there are some good aspects to this episode, I found it to be less than effective. The show struck me as rather stiffly directed and acted in parts.

But "Gambit," the second episode on the tape, is marvelous. In this story Blake and the crew infiltrate Freedom City, a "wild west"-type outpost that is independent of the Federation. Freedom City is an incredibly decadent and baroque place, with a profitable gambling industry. Servalan refers to the place as a "pestilential rat-hole"--ironically, she seems to fit in perfectly! This episodes features some of the series' most outrageous costumes and characters (in particular, Freedom City's foppish leader), and some great guest performances. And as a bonus, the artificial intelligence Orac reveals a surprising new ability. There are some great Avon-Vila moments, and the plot helps build up to the explosive second-season finale (on the next video).

B7 has inspired quite a cult following over the years, and these episodes demonstrate some of the qualities that make the series a classic of sci-fi TV. Check this video out.

"Voice from the Past" takes what was given in the first episode and turns into a great sequel, turning originally two-dimensional one-off characters into 3D masterpieces. It's great to see Blake's prosecutor defect and turn against the Federation! The whole episode deals with Blake, trechery, deception, and more... and perfectly done.

"Gambit" is odd for a Robert Holmes story as he usually writes top-notch stuff. Making ORAC inexplicably shrink for a while is obviously what ruins the story, but the rest of it is not bad by any means. But it is a thorn which sticks in the side of an otherwise typical story with the usual Robert Holmes' gift of making cool characters.

Definitely worth owning, though!

The next vol. of Blake's 7 with epsidoes CHILDREN OF AURON and RUMORS OF DEATH
In the episode entitled CHILDREN OF AURON
Avon is tracking a famed Federation torturer called the Shrinker. Avon found out that he was the one who killed his belvoed Anna. The others trying to stay out of Avon way as he begins his plans for revenge. Meanwhile Servalan is once again taking the Federation reconstruction to the next planet..the planet of Auron. There Servalan will take the peace loving people and make them part of the Federation by any means. Cally sister sends out a mental plea to her begging for help. A strange epidemic has erupted. Cally needs to go but Avon plans seems to be getting in they way. Will Avon get his rvenge or will Cally be the last of her people?
In the next epsidoe entitled RUMORS OF DEATH
Servalan has finally settled into the role of Federation president. She is about to host the most powerful people of the Federation but before the festivities begin an uprising on Earth begins. Servalan finds herself a prisoner and facing death very soon. Meanwhile Avon finding out that Shrinker was not the one who killed Anna but a Federation agent called "Bartolomew". Now Avon has set a course for Earth and is going to find his revenge of die trying.

These episodes get the series back on track following the disastrous "City at the Edge of the World." "Children of Auron" is an interesting premise whose ending doesn't quite deliver. Servalan hatches a plan which will destroy most or all of the population of Auron, Cally's home world. (It is interesting to note that many of the third season's episodes revolve around Cally and her telepathic abilities, almost to the series' detriment.) Servalan's plan is ultimately revealed to be creating offspring in her own image and capturing the Liberator. This episode starts off well, but has a weak ending. "Rumours of Death" is one of the most unique episodes in the entire Blake's 7 series. Servalan is put in very real danger and removed from her usually glamorous settings. It is great to see her character in a such a different situation. The plot revolves around Avon seeking revenge for the murder of a woman he greatly loved in the past. There are several twists and turns and the episode moves along briskly. It is a five star episode in and of itself and is one of best episodes in the entire Blake's series.

Children of Auron sees another, not too credible, side of Servalan and the deaths of numerous hench men.

Rumours of death is an excellent well plotted conspiracy story. Shot on location in a large country house, the plot centres around Servalan's address to the federation and the conspiracies to kill her.

Avon's (Paul Darrow) exchanges with Shrinker open the episode and makes extremely entertaining viewing. One of the best Blake's 7 episodes I have been fortunate enough to see.

"Power" continues the story from "Terminal", the crew are trapped on the planet Xenon with no way to get to their newly acquired ship Scorpio, watch Avon---cold and ruthless as ever, kill men and women in a battle of the sexes for Scorpio.

"Traitor" Tarrant beams down on a planet to learn about the Federation's new secret weapon and joins the planet's resistance fighters; he also sees an old friend, he had hoped was dead.

The next vol. of Blake's 7 entitled POWER and TRAITOR

In the episode entitled POWER
Avon and the others escaping from Dorians trap now have run of his base. However they can not get to the ship Scorpio in the silo. Avon, Tarrant and Dayna explore the planet and find primative warriors living in what looks to be an old military base. Villa is trying to crack open the door but instead finds a dangerous trap a nuclear compression charge. Now time is running close Avon and the others have to figure out how the warriors play into the twisted plans of Dorian and Villa must defuse the charge before the whole planet goes.
In the next epsidoe entitled TRAITOR
The Federation has been rebuilding faster then ever and the latest planet is Helotrix. Helotrix is famed for having the most savage and brutal warriors in the universe so how did they surrender so easily? Avon and the others decide to find out. There the Federation have settled in and are fighting off the last of rebels of the planet. Trying to figure out what is going on they also find out some news Servalan is no longer president. Something strange is going on Helotrix but both mystries have the same answer. Will Avon figure it out soon?

first I would like to say These episodes do NOT have Garth Thomas in them. They are exelent episodes among my favorites of Blakes 7. I did always like the later ones best though. Other then the last episode Garth is only in the first 2 seasons I believe.

The Carry On films were never going to win awards for sophistication, and, in my humble opinion, there were only a handful of really worthy ones in the whole series of some thirty or so pics. This is one of those that stands out, however. All the regulars are there and at their best, delivering some of the better comic lines from the series: Sid James as Sir Sidney Ruffdiamond; Kenneth Williams as the Khazi of Kalibar; Charles Hawtrey as Private Widdle.

Americans perhaps find the films hard to appreciate because many of the gags are reliant on knowledge of British slang and experience of British life (the Carry Ons were always at their best when sending up British institutions - the NHS, trade unions, the caravanning holiday etc.). Still, there are enough universally understandable laughs in there to entertain anyone.

Carry On offerings to avoid like the plague: Matron, England, Abroad, Emmanuelle, Columbus. Better fare: Teacher, Spying, Camping, At Your Convenience, Behind (the last really decent one).

Carry On Up The Kyber is undoubtedly one of the very best of the series, if not THE best. Whilst most Carry on films suffered an onslaught of criticism from critics, they actually joined in praise for this entry, and rightly so.

The Khaszi of Kalabar finds information that proves that the men of The Third Foot And Mouth regiment are not "the devil in skirts" as they claim to be, so he decides to bring their presence in India to an end. With Sir Sidney Ruff Diamond's (head of "the devil in skirts") cushy job threatened to come to an end, he decides to take action against it.

The irreplacable Hattie Jaques and Barbara Windsor are missing from this entry but most of the other regulars are here such as Sid James, Joan Sims, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Terry Scott and Bernard Bresslaw as well as featuring the talents of Roy Castle, in his only Carry On role and Angela Douglas who previously had appeared in Carry On Cowboy (1965), Screaming (1966) and Follow That Camel (1967). The best players in this historical romp are Sid James and Joan Sims as the hilarious Ruff Diamonds. Joan Sims delivery is priceless as her delicatley, well spoken voice occasionally slides into a broad cockney accent - amusing stuff!

Carry On Up The Kyber is consistently funny throughout with Talbot Rothwell's script bubbling with inventive repartee and sparkling razor sharp wit. The film boasts the best ending in a Carry On film, where the gang are all keeping a stiff British upper lip and deciding to ignore the attack that's taking place outside the building, proceed to continue with their supper whilst the building is collapsing around their ears.

Classic British comedy at its very best and fans of the series will be delighted.

Having been born and raised in the UK, I was bought up on the Carry On Films. Unfortunately, there are not many Americans I have come across since I moved to the US who have ever heard of them. Carry On Up The Khyber is without a doubt the best of the series, It lampoons the British Empire in a way that Queen Vick would have been proud of her self - from the Karzi Of Kaliba calling Queen Vicrtoria every other London Rail Station (Queen Waterloo, Queen Euston) - to Private Widdles boxer shorts which disgrace the Third Foot and Mouth Regiment who never wear anything under their kilts and who are 'Always Ready For Action'.

This film features the whole of the regular cast (say for Hattie Jaques) and also has the Late Terry Scott as Sgt Major McNutt and Roy Castle as Captain Keen!

If you enjoy Austin Powers, then you will love this film, as Mike Myers has repeatedly said that a lot of his ideas are based on the British Comedy he was raised on, and by watching these films you can seen where he gets such names as Alotta Fagina from.

I emplore anyone who is thinking of wathcing any one of these films to make it their first - but definately not their last.

Hulk Hogan and Chris Lemmon are back as those Navy SEAL do-gooders in this sequel (well, it's actually just a 2-part series from the first season of the syndicate show). This time, they have to save their cocktail waitress friend, Kelly (played by the beautiful Carol Alt) from being forced to marry an evil General.

The script is just as lame as any of the others in this pretty goofy series but you will get a kick out of some of the gags here. It doesn't get much sillier than this but there is a whole lot of action and it is appropriate for the whole family.

This beautifully written action-adventure is the best of the series! I originally rented this at the video store since I'm a huge Carole Alt fan, and I could see she was well featured in this movie. Okay, so I was a bit embarrassed checking out a Hulk Hogan movie... but WOW... this one was a total delight! Move over "Rush Hour" and "Double Take", and all those action-adventure comedies... the duo of Hulk and Chris Lemmon, Carole Alt's charm and beauty (she's never looked more beautiful than in this movie), and the awesome production values makes this perfect summertime viewing. You can also watch it again and again, and if you have children... it's perfect for them. The action is more fun than bloody, and the use of Hulk's daughter (that is, the actress playing his daughter) in the film gives the movie a great "attitude" for kids to watch and feel apart of the adventure. In the movie Carole's character shares a "mutual" dream with a far-away prince, which brings them together, and makes her trust this "dreamboat" enough to take her back with him to "Kismet". Unfortunately his motives are not all fairy tale, and she is held prisoner, causing Hulk and Chris (and "Spence" and "Bru") to come to the rescue. The dialogue (it was written by Tom Greene), is amazingly clever, characters well drawn out (Bru and Spenser's "food tasting trick" on a prison guard is a down right classic, and their comic timing is up there with Laurel and Hardy!), and the direction (by Doug Schwartz), is just plain wonderful! Special attention should also be taken to one of the most exciting and hysterical chase sequences, again, beautifully directed, up and down the Middle East buildings, culminating in a delightful "back and forth" with Bru and Spence, right up there with the "cliff jumping scene" in "Butch Cassidy". Also, Ms. Alt shows a wonderful comic flair which I wish producer's would allow her to show off in all her movies... especially the Italian ones. She is a gem! I'm sure there wasn't a very big budget for this movie, so I really was astonished at how "big" the movie looks. It's more "Indiana Jones" than the usual low-rent Hulk Hogan movies. There are three movies you can buy and/or rent. This one is "Thunder In Paradise 2", and as I said, is the absolutely best of the group. Beware... the first one is a rehash of the pilot TV series which was done with a different crew and production staff (though the same director, who does his very best with a very bad script, not written by the author of this one), and the third one, though much better than number one, just doesn't have the slick adventure "free-for-all" that this one... number 2... has throughout. If you can't afford to buy this new, you can get it at a huge discount in the "used" section, or if it's not here on Amazon, try E-Bay which seems to have it at a discount. Or, by all means rent it for the whole family. It's a joy. Especially with the dearth of good family adventure entertainment out there right now!

I worship Hogan. Hogan is my God.

i want to review the killing man

Paranoid atmosphere, strong camera work, brutal action scenes, and amazingly good acting combine to make this flick unique in its class. Low budget action movies are usually stagey and mechanical, with actors sleepwalking through their roles. Not here. Michael Ironside's simple death scene is acted with such enthusiasm that it stops the show. And Jeff Wincott is the most underrated hero in the movies today. Action fans will not be disappointed.

This is a though-provoking movie shot in a very interesting manner. The content is a bit eery, but the quality is superior for a B-action flick. Jeff Wincott is great in his performance, as in all his works, and is way too under-rated. I would rent this one again. Wincott flicks are always worth the viewing. The storyline is captivating and the end is anything but uplifting, but it keeps your attention.

This is a boring type-cast story that leaves you feeling like "so, why did I have to watch that ?" Depressing, with no entertainment value, not to mention it's very dated. When Alan Alda was a movie star, the world was a much different place than it is now. Maybe, that's why the movie doesn't ring true. Anyway, I don't recommend it.

If you're into politics, you might enjoy this film. Supposedly, its a very realistic view of the U.S. Senate and as such, it'll be interesting for those of us who consider Allen Drury to be light reading. As a film, though, its somewhat draggy and very much a product of the late, self-righteous 1970s. Alan Alda is a young Senator named Joe Tynan, an ambitious liberal who has an affair with Meryl Streep that leads to his perfect world starting to collapse around him. There's not really much of a plot to the film -- its mostly a collection of scenes of Tynan campaigning, cheating, and legislating. Some films work without a clearly defined plot but this film just seems to be sort of a mess. Alan Alda was brave to play a character who is, occasionally, rather unsympathetic but at the same time, Tynan still carries a lot of the smug, self-righteousness that Alda brought to the final seasons of M*A*S*H so if you disliked Alda on that show, this movie probably isn't for you. That said, this film also contains one of Meryl Streep's few truly genuine, human performances (she doesn't fall back on the obvious "actorly" technique that's marred recent performances) and she's actually quite sexy in a role that I'm sure screenwriter Alda thought would come across as "liberated" but actually smacks of a certain unacknowledged sexism (for she may be a smart, accomplished, independent activist but she's still basically there to have sex with and sing the praises of Joe Tynan). Two of Alda's fellow Senators are played brilliantly by Melvyn Douglas and Rip Torn (who at times seemes to be playing Pennsylvania's own Snarlin' Arlen Specter though the film actually predates Specter's election). Highly praised at the time, the film is mostly forgotten today but it has its occasional moments.

This overlooked gem may be both Streep and Alda's greatest film. As one to whom politics is both life and life's work, I can counsel you that this is one of the most realistic political films ever, not to mention one of the most enjoyable. See it and be convinced. Also, don't miss Rip Torn--I once worked for a Senator just like the character he plays!

What can one say about a movie like this. The music selections make one want to hit the MUTE button on the remote. The acting quality of Douglas is far from what one would expect from this man. Ditto for Fonda. The script is positively stupid, though I'm really having difficulty trying to find a proper word. Just are no words that fit the bill. I bought this moveie because I found out Hume Cronyn passed away in June (03). He, like the others, fails to live up to past performances. The worst part of this flick is it is just plain STUPID. Wish I had seen this before spending the money on it. Now, with a review this negative, the forum moderator will probably delete it, but if it survives, go look for something else. This movie is a total joke, but I don't mean "funny". Pathetic-like joke.

I first saw this movie on an Amtrak train. Although I was only 7 at the time it made a lasting impression on me. I couldn't remember the name of this movie or the stars, just the story line.

I finally caught this movie on the Western channel and it is just as good as I remembered it. Not your typical Western, it's a comedy with a lot of star power behind it and just enough twists to keep it fresh.

Chances are you have seen this film before if you are looking this far since this film never received the notoriety that it deserves. If by chance, you have stumbled upon this title, check it out you'll be pleasantly surprised.

When I sat down to watch this movie, I expected to see a movie much in the tradition of, say, The Wild Bunch or The Searchers. You know, tough guys on horses being tough. What I ended up watching was a western-comedy that I honestly saw as the grandfather of Blazing Saddles. Honestly, to me, this movie is that funny. Douglas, Fonda, Burgess Meredith, and the always awesome Warren Oates all give performances worthy of all the praise you can give them. Prison movie? It just happens to be set there, and serves as the backdrop for the hilarious posturing going on between Douglas and Fonda. Right from the start, you'll be hooked.

This movie features John Wayne not as a cowboy but as a football coach. It is not one of his most famous ones probably because it is not the genre of what most fans think of when they think of John Wayne, comedy. It is a good movie though. When I first watched it I was amazed. Everyone (from Wayne to the actress that plays his daughter) does an excellent job. John Wayne's first role was in a silent in which he played a football player, and he also played football at USC for a couple of years with Ward Bond. So it is a subject he knows well. Overall, it gives light to a new side of the Duke, the comical side (which isn't bad). It isn't one of the best, I grant you, but it is great because it shows Duke's acting talents with a great script and cast.

I thought this was a very good movie. It was different having John Wayne as a football coach instead of a cowboy. I reccomend this movie to people who like John Wayne movies, and to people who like older movies.The reason why I watch these movies is because my family likes them so I watch them to.

Football Coach John Wayne and College Rector Charles Coburn combine in an underrated, light comedy which defines liberal arts under religious auspices. The values of both men are profound; the flaws, transient. Purpose transcends both plot and budget as the heroes struggle for ideals, make mistakes, and begin again. Their stories reflect the human condition of all who strive maturely. You can define life by people like this. There is response to grace in them. And its warming fire reaches out finally to all who perceive. Definitely worth seeing!