Movies, Mom & Me

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  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Masami Nagasawa	Narumi Kase	Ryuhei Matsuda	Shinji Kase	Hiroki Hasegawa	Journalist	Mahiro Takasugi	Amano
  Yuri Tsunematsu	Akira Tachibana	Atsuko Maeda	Asumi Kase	Shinnosuke Mitsushima	Maruo	Kazuya Kojima	Det. Kurumada
  Ken Mitsuishi	Suzuki	Masahiro Higashide	A Pastor	Kyōko Koizumi	A Doctor	Takashi Sasano	Shinagawa

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2017
    Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.

Labels: aliens, apocalyptic, science-fiction2

# posted by gail @ 14:27    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  Under construction.
    Although I won't be receiving and viewing this movie until a few days hence, I'm pretty excited about it. This film has gone through many iterations and, during yet another routine scrounge for not just this movie but others I have on an extended list, I noticed that Criterion released the second-to-the-longest, best reviewed version, yet, a few years ago. I stumbled across it this evening, noticed it was at an unusually good price for a brand-spanking-new disc (I mean, I never expected to see it at this price, at least not new), being sold through a vendor with whom I've dealt before and trust, so I snatched it up.
    Something tells me that this will not be the last version released, so this movie might be one of the very few of which I end up obtaining more than one version. But, I've waited for a long time and I'm thinking I'll wildly appreciate this version of it. It might even satisfy me. Of course, I'll let you know.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Solveig Dommartin	Claire Tourneur	Chick Ortega	Chico Rémy	Eddy Mitchell	Raymond Monnet	William Hurt	Sam Farber/Trevor McPhee
  Adelle Lutz	Makiko	Sam Neill	Eugene Fitzpatrick	Rüdiger Vogler	Philip Winter	Kuniko Miyake	Mrs. Mori
  Chishū Ryū	Mr. Mori	David Gulpilil	David	Jeanne Moreau	Edith Farber	Max von Sydow	Henry Farber

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1991/2019 version
    Directed by Wim Wenders.

Labels: apocalyptic, chishū-ryū, Criterion6, science-fiction2, william-hurt

# posted by gail @ 21:39    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jeffrey Falcon	Buddy	Justin McGuire	The Kid	Stephane Gauger	Death	Lex Lang	Voice of Death

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1998
    Directed by Lance Mungia.

Labels: §5, apocalyptic, comedy3, goflexB, nuclear, satire3

# posted by gail @ 15:46    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Peggy Ashcroft	Hilda Bloggs	John Mills	Jim Bloggs	Robin Houston	Radio 4 Announcer
  James Russell	Additional Voice	David Dundas	Additional Voice	Matt Irving	Additional Voice

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1986
    Directed by Jimmy T. Murakami.

Labels: §5, animated, apocalyptic, goflexC, nuclear, tragedy2

# posted by gail @ 14:31    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    Considering its inavailability for decades (it was originally broadcast in 1964 and then shelved for nearly 50 years, finally being revived by TCM in 2012), I consider myself lucky to have a copy of this movie. I have never seen it, but I checked it for version information. There are, apparently, two versions making the rounds. The original features Henry Mancini's music. The second removed Mancini's music and replaced it with recordings of children singing Christmas carols. The copy I own is of the original broadcast.
    Aside from the review I've attached to the title of this post, I've linked, as well, to several reviews written about the movie, below. Each review, whether short or long, contains some interesting tidbit (or, in the case of the one linked to this post title, many tidbits) containing considerations of and facts about the production and impact of this film:
      Bureau 42 Review
      Emanuel Levy Review
      Films Graded Review
      TCM Article/Review
      Spooky Isles Review
    Most of the reviews contain a plot summary, some of which are quite detailed, so be forewarned, but, keep in mind, you already know this story, as it is a retelling of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Percy Rodriguez	Charles	Sterling Hayden	Daniel Grudge	Ben Gazzara	Fred	Barbara Ann Teer	Ruby
  Steve Lawrence	Ghost of Christmas Past	Eva Marie Saint	WAVE Lt. Gibson	James Shigeta	Doctor	Pat Hingle	Ghost of Christmas Present
  Robert Shaw	Ghost of Christmas Future	Peter Sellers	Imperial Me	Britt Ekland	Mother	Joe Santos	Number 32

  
    It is astonishing to note that every single one of the actors listed in the table above either was or became well involved in the entertainment industry, well known, if only by face recognition, and well loved. And, of course, it was written by Rod Serling, and, by the way, look who directed it. This was not meant to be, nor was it (even though it was disappeared for quite a while), a slouch of a production.
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1964
    Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

Labels: §6, apocalyptic, Christmas, goflexA, nuclear, pat-hingle, TV3

# posted by gail @ 18:46    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  I know, I know, what the hell am I doing with the following three movies?! It's complicated. I've never been a Christian but I am related to some people who were, back in the day, rabid evangelistic Christians. I don't know if they've ever seen these movies but I do know that they were far out and away from Rabid Evangelical Christianity when the first movie was released. They were, in fact, extraordinarily dismissive, and sometimes, it seemed like they were secretly afraid, of Christianity in particular and religion in general, by that time.
    My story with these movies is a bit different. When I was a teenager and my relatives (mentioned above) were rabid evangelical Christians, I became fascinated with Rabid Evangelical Christianity because I knew both of these relatives to be intelligent and thoughtful, so I had an impossible time understanding why, why, either of them not only became REC's but quickly rose to the rank of leaders among their Christian cadre.
    At this point, not being a believer, in the strict Abrahamic sense or in any religious or philosophical sense, I began studying the tracts they were distributing, going to a meeting, here and there, featuring Brother Burke (this link is to Brother Burke's son, who continues his father's pentacostal ministry on the same island, out of the same church where my relatives were churched), the local REC head. I even went to a Billy Graham "event" in a large arena and collected literature on REC beliefs. And read it. And remained flummoxed. How in the world, I wondered, could anyone fall under the spell of these beliefs, especially since they were unfalsifiable?
    Within a year or so I put my curiosity aside. I think I wasn't interested in knowing what, exactly, attracted my relatives to these beliefs and this community. I had more interesting, and more urgent, things to do. Then, in 1995 the first Left Behind book came out and I couldn't resist, even though my relatives had long ago renounced their REC beliefs. I read it. It was a fairly fun read. Kind of exciting. I knew all the faith details so none of it was shocking, nor did I take any of it personally. Five years later, though, the story was produced as a movie, the first in the trilogy which I, just today, added to my movie collection. At this point I have to tell you, I cannot remember when I first viewed the first movie, but it was a hell of a lot of fun, a real popcorn-and-soda pleasure. All the actors were so earnest, despite often being bad at what they were doing. The scenery was mostly, well, meh, but sometimes interesting, even eye-popping. The story flowed well. It was an emotionally romping good couple of hours. As years went by, when I was presented with the chance, I often rewatched the first movie and the other two. Just plain, good, afternoon fun. So, I decided, if I could find a good cheap price (which I did, recently) I'll add them to my collection.
    The catch is, these movies are still being churned out. Nicolas Cage starred in a 2014 reboot of the first movie in the trilogy. I haven't seen that one. Perhaps, some day, I will. Kevin Sorbo also mixed story lines together from the trilogy and has a movie in post production which will be releasing soon. I have no idea if I'll be seeing that one. Depends on whether I can see it, initially, at least, for free. If you are at all familiar with Kevin Sorbo's last some years of movie work, your response to the news of him joining the Left Behind franchise is, likely, "Of course he did!"
    Frankly, I'm only mildly surprised at Nicolas Cage's involvement with a movie based on these, ahem, stories. I mean, the possibilities for a real, secular blockbuster certainly reside in the pages of these novels. I can think of only one movie that incorporates this belief system into an excellent production: The Rapture. Yes, I own a copy of it. If you've ever experienced astonishment and disbelief over REC, you might enjoy The Rapture. It wasn't an audience attracter, although critics loved it. I'm thinking the reason it's so hard to produce an audience-rousing and critic-delighting film from these story elements is that anyone from the U.S., anyway, is frightened of the belief system these stories portray, even if they, themselves, don't believe in it.
    Anyway, this is just an initial post, no official movie write-ups, yet. I need a fresh watch of the movies listed below to really get into individual write-ups. So, yes, this post is Under Construction. I'm not sure if I'll be writing up the individual movies separate from one another or, for that matter, separate from this post. Stay tuned. I think this might be fun.
  
    Left Behind I: The Movie
    Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Kirk Cameron	Buck Williams	Brad Johnson	Captain Rayford Steele	Gordon Currie	Nicolae Carpathia	Janaya Stephens	Chloe Steele
  Clarence Gilyard, Jr.	Bruce Barnes	Chelsea Noble	Hattie Dunham	Colin Fox	Chaim Rosenzweig	Daniel Pilon	Jonathan Stonagal

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2000
    Directed by Vic Sarin.
  
    Left Behind II: Tribulation Force
    Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Kirk Cameron	Buck Williams	Brad Johnson	Rayford Steele	Clarence Gilyard, Jr.	Bruce Barnes	Janaya Stephens	Chloe Steele
  Gordon Currie	Nicolae Carpathia	Chelsea Noble	Hattie Durham	Krista Bridges	Ivy Gold	Lubomir Mykytiuk	Rabbi Tsion Ben Judah

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2002
    Directed by Bill Corcoran.
  
    Left Behind III: World at War
    Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Louis Gossett Jr.	President Gerald Fitzhugh	Kirk Cameron	Buck Williams	Brad Johnson	Rayford Steele	Jessica Steen	Carolyn Miller
  Gordon Currie	Nicolae Carpathia	Janaya Stephens	Chloe Steele	Chelsea Noble	Hattie Durham	Charles Martin Smith	Vice President John Mallory

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2005
    Directed by Craig R. Baxley.

Labels: apocalyptic, popcorn-and-soda7, religion2

# posted by gail @ 17:21    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Arnold Schwarzenegger	T-800 Terminator	Linda Hamilton	Sarah Conner	Edward Furlong	John Conner	Robert Patrick	T-1000 Terminator
  Earl Boen	Dr. Silberman	Joe Morton	Miles Bennett Dyson	S. Epatha Merkerson	Tarissa Dyson	Dean Norris	SWAT team leader
  Michael Edwards	2029 John Conner	Michael Biehn	Kyle Reese	Jenette Goldstein	Janelle Voight	Xander Berkeley	Todd Voight

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1991
    Directed by James Cameron.

Labels: apocalyptic, dramaF, horror2, popcorn-and-soda7, science-fiction2, spectacle2, super-hero2, suspense3, thriller3, tragedy2, violence4

# posted by gail @ 13:04    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  Well, people, I looked, and looked, and looked and couldn't find a review of this movie by Roger Ebert anywhere (although the reviews from Three Movie Buffs, to which I linked to the title of this post, more than suffice). I was sure I was, somehow, just missing it. Then, I chanced upon this admission, courtesy of IMDb and a dead link to "ReelzChannel", although Reelz certainly does exist, but searches there for "Roger Ebert" and "Terminator", came up with no results. In case you don't want to wander over to the link, it says that Roger Ebert admitted in 2009 that he'd never seen this movie.
    That just didn't seem plausible, and I'm nothing if not dogged, so, of course, I continued to look and discovered this clip from Siskel & Ebert's television show At the Movies in which Ebert not only admitted to liking the movie, but particularly liked the peculiar angle of the love story. Although the clip is not dated, it is clear from the conversation that Siskel & Ebert were reviewing it during the movie's first theater run, which was in 1984.
    Why is all this important? Well, through the many years since its release, this movie has gone up and up in audience and critical appraisal. The following two links to articles about the movie at Roger Ebert.com [30 Minutes on the Terminator] and the first two movies of the Terminator series [James Cameron's great double feature] underline this growing enthusiasm. In addition, the movie is certainly memorable. Not only did I remember it well, as I described to MFS a few days ago, "There's nothing like watching Arnold Terminator unfold into earthly existence."
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Arnold Schwarzenegger	The Terminator	Michael Biehn	Kyle Reese	Linda Hamilton	Sarah Conner	Paul Winfield	Ed Traxler
  Lance Henriksen	Vukovich	Bess Motta	Ginger	Rick Rossovich	Matt	Earl Boen	Dr. Silberman

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1984
    Directed by James Cameron.

Labels: apocalyptic, dramaF, horror2, popcorn-and-soda7, science-fiction2, spectacle2, super-hero2, suspense3, thriller3, tragedy2, violence4

# posted by gail @ 13:42    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  I don't actually have this movie in my collection, yet; it's on the way. But, I watched it last night, uncut, without commercials, at this link, The Day After, courtesy of Super Critical Podcast. Thank you, Super Critical Podcast! In case, Dear Reader, you're interested in knowing the ruminations of Super Critical Podcast about this movie, the link for that episode is here. I recommend you check it out. In fact, I've fallen in love with this channel and recommend it to you if you have any interest in movies featuring nuclearity.
    So, yes, I've watched it. It is the most devastating nuclear apocalypse movie I've seen, thus far. It is not for the faint of heart, but, despite its high level of tragic believability, it's worth it. There was a small but not annoying issue of video fuzziness at the beginning of the movie but I think that may have been due to either my TV or connection, because it corrected itself almost immediately. It is loaded with well-defined characters and scenarios that won't let go of your mind, even after the final credits.
    It was a TV production broadcast during the hey-years of nuclear apocalyptic films, the early 1980s. Of all the nuclear apocalyptic movies I've seen, so far, I have to say that this is the most riveting because it is the most well done and leaves nothing to the imagination. It's been less than 12 hours since I finished the movie and I continue to have images from it pop up, unbidden, in my memory. As you watch, you'll recognize several actors who hadn't yet become readily recognizable when this film was released who later went on to become big-deal-actors. You'll also notice the obvious seriousness with which this production was approached. This was one of the best blendings of message and movie I can recall, without a hint of preachiness in the script. Just daily life lived under a literal nuclear cloud.
    I'll be watching it again, later after I receive it, so I may have more to say about it. Or, you know, not. It was devastatingly realistic and I have a feeling that sense of devastation doesn't let up after multiple viewings. This movie, by the way, is the film that had a huge impact on U. S. President Ronald Reagan and was responsible for causing him to rethink his nuclear war policy.
  Update 1/25/22:  Extra Credit Question: Who do you know (including yourself) who you think would be capable of ordering the launch of a nuclear bomb? Don't worry, Dear Reader, I'll explain and elaborate later.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jason Robards	Dr. Russell Oakes	Georgann Johnson	Helen Oakes	John Cullum	Jim Dahlberg	Bibi Besch	Eve Dahlberg
  Lori Lethin	Denise Dahlberg	JoBeth Williams	Nurse Nancy Bauer	Calvin Jung	Dr. Sam Hachiya	Steve Guttenberg	Stephen Klein
  John Lithgow	Joe Huxley	Amy Madigan	Alison Ransom	William Allen Young	Airman 1st. Billy McCoy	Arliss Howard	Tom Cooper

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1983
    Directed by Nicholas Meyer.

Labels: apocalyptic, bibi-besch, dramaE, haunting3, jason-robards-jr, john-lithgow, nuclear, reflective, tragedy2, TV3, war3

# posted by gail @ 13:02    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  If you read comments left about this movie on Amazon.com (from where I purchased it) you'll notice that many of the commenters mention how long it's been since they first saw it: 30 years, 35 years; for me it's been 38 years. That was also the last time I saw it. In all these years, I haven't forgotten it. It was the first movie on my list of "nuclear movies to acquire" that I drew up a couple of months ago. No, it wasn't a long list. There aren't that many, and I wasn't interested in a lot of the movies I discovered.
    During a significant portion of the Cold War, during my raising from elementary school through college, I lived on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that was definitely a tactical target for bombing by U.S. "enemies", in part because it housed the B-52's that busied themselves, daily, with trips to and from Southeast Asia, in part because it was the U.S. Naval home of the nuclear submarine "Proteus", in part because the island was a strategic communications center for about half the earth, in part because Australia also had a stragetic communications center there and in part because the island was constantly surrounded by Russian "fishing trawlers" that monitored all communications coming into and leaving the island, while the crews gambled at cards with the local fisherman. Although our family was civilian when we lived there, everyone on the island was aware that the island was so small that, if it were bombed, it would be as though nothing ever existed at its coordinates. This was not of particular concern to anyone, except, perhaps, the U.S. military installations on the island. The rest of us, well, why worry about something we couldn't influence? I remember that, for instance, there were no "duck and cover" drills in any of my classes, whether they be elementary, high school or college. I didn't even become aware of the phrase "duck and cover" for many years after having left the island. After all, one blast and everyone on that island would be on their way to the afterlife.
    This is why, having seen the movie some years after leaving that island, I became fascinated with it. I didn't immediately relate to it. The situation we lived in during those early years of nuclear threat was nothing like what was portrayed in this movie. I mean, really, radiation sickness? No one living on that island during a nuclear attack was ever going to have to worry about that!
    However, although my life on that island had long ended when this movie came out, by that time I was living in the U.S. Nuclear culture. I continued having no fear of nuclear attack and it's aftermath, having been well schooled, throughout my entire youth, in "don't worry about it, you won't survive it" culture, but was riveted by this culture I'd missed and whether I shouldn't seriously consider it, since moving from an island where obliteration in nuclear warfare was a given to a country where, well, it wasn't.
    Take a look at this list: Films about the nuclear holocaust. It contains 61 titles. I'm assuming that it is not complete, and may never be, since these films continue to be churned out, but it starts in 1951. 1951, people! That was the year I was born! The most recent on the list was released in 2019: Chernobyl, a fictionalized account of a real nuclear disaster. There is even a punk rock musical on this list, Population: 1, released in 1986.
    Staggering, really! You'd think ... well, what would you think?!?
    I haven't [re]watched this movie, Testament [this review, by Glenn Erickson, DVD Savant/Cinesavant is illuminating about the history of nuclear apocalyptic films, as well as being an excellent review of this movie, in case you're interested], yet. I'm going to do that, today. I don't know if I'll write anymore about it. Possibly, since most of what I've written above is about the "genre", not this movie. But hang on, readers. We'll see.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jane Alexander	Carol Wetherly	William Devane	Tom Wetherly	Ross Harris	Brad Wetherly	Roxana Zal	Mary Liz Wetherly
  Lukas Haas	Scottie Wetherly	Philip Anglim	Hollis	Lilia Skala	Fania	Leon Ames	Henry Abhart
  Lurene Tuttle	Rosemary Abhart	Rebecca De Mornay	Cathy Pitkin	Kevin Costner	Phil Pitkin	Mako	Mike

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1983
    Directed by Lynne Littman.

Labels: apocalyptic, dramaE, female-director3, haunting3, nuclear, reflective, tragedy2, TV3, war2, william-devane

# posted by gail @ 13:06    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  Within the last few weeks when I was doing basic research for this site this movie captured my attention. I'm not sure, but I think I may have encountered it during a discussion of the EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) phenomenon resulting from a nuclear blast on an episode of Super Critical Podcast [the hosts of the episode to which I listened, by the way, are wary of what has been attributed to this phenonmenon]. At any rate, whatever was said piqued my interest and I ordered the movie.
    I haven't watched it, yet, and will report back once I do. In the meantime, I discovered that it is listed on TimeOut - Movies's latest (December 10, 2021) compilation of The 100 best horror movies of all time. Since the last time the Wikipedia article on the film (linked immediately below) referenced the list in 2014 this movie has moved up one notch from 66 to 65.
    I couldn't help it, by the way. I perused the entire list to see which movies in my collection appear on the list. Here's a rundown. The names of the movies I own are linked to the articles TimeOut - Movies wrote about each movie, including their current ranking (the list is reranked periodically - by the way, TimeOut's The 100 best horror movies of all time list includes two write-ups, the initial for the film as it appears in the list and an additional, different write-up when you click on the title; unfortunately, the html is so convoluted for the list that I couldn't figure out how to link to the initial write-up, so, if you want to access the first write-up, you'll need to scroll through the list; it's usually worth it, until the list is recalibrated, I suppose), after which I linked each to its location on my site:
  • 82. Midsommar - Midsommar in this journal
  • 67. The Witch - The Witch in this journal
  • 65. Kairo/Pulse - Pulse (Kairo) in this journal
  • 57. The Vanishing - The Vanishing in this journal
  • 56. The Sixth Sense - The Sixth Sense in this journal
  • 54. Repulsion - Repulsion in this journal
  • 39. Jacob's Ladder - Jacob's Ladder in this journal
  • 29. The Birds - The Birds in this journal
  • 7. Rosemary's Baby - Rosemary's Baby in this journal
    So. I was surprised to notice in TimeOut's The 100 best horror movies of all time list how many I'd seen and not collected, on purpose. I don't find horror films unwatchable. It's just that it has to be really good for me to want to watch it more than once. Of course, all of TimeOut's The 100 best horror movies of all time are supposed to be that good. I think that depends on the customer, and I'm a tough customer for horror. But, I scribbled down one movie from the list of which I'd never heard but read so interesting that I think I'd like to find it in my library system, rent it, if they have it, and possibly own it: 13. Don't Look Now. It's by one of my favored directors and comes in a Criterion edition, but it's a bit pricey for me, right now, especially since I need to settle down on movie buying for awhile. Ah, well. Could the U.S. government please send its citizens another stimulus check, say, a $2,000 check? The oligarchic corporations, into whose pockets it would land lickety split via citizens spending this money immediately (including me), would be thrilled. So would I. Oh, U. S. Government in the guise of Joe Biden, how reckless you are with your citizens, and, ultimately, your country.
    You may notice that, in my own labeling, I did not assign the "horror" genre to all these films. I thought about it, as I was compiling this post, but decided to keep my original ranking. Horror is different for different people. Those that I didn't label as horror don't have quite the horrific impact for which I look in a horror film.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Kumiko Asō	Michi Kudo	Haruhiko Kato	Ryosuke Kawashima	Koyuki	Harue Karasawa	Kurume Arisaka	Junko Sasano
  Masatoshi Matsuo	Toshio Yabe	Shinji Takeda	Yoshizaki	Jun Fubuki	Michi's mother	Shun Sugata	Boss

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2001
    Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.

Labels: §, apocalyptic, dramaE, folk-horror, psychological1, suspense3

# posted by gail @ 15:05    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  This movie has haunted me ever since I saw it, a few years after it was released. I saw it on television, likely on PBS, of course, since it was made for television. I've seen it a few times since and it never fails to rivet me. It is still as probable today as it was when it was made.
    I'm going to consider this write-up, though, still Under Construction, since I just received it, have yet to view it and it's been, what, at least twenty years and probably closer to thirty plus years since I last saw it. It was, after all, initially released 37 years ago.
    Expect more later. Or, perhaps not.
    So, I watched this movie last night, 11/16/2021. I'd forgotten, and was entranced by, the studious detail brought to the staging. The movie was even more horrific than I remembered, precisely because of these details, stuff like the increasing shabbiness of the clothes on those who survive; the work involved in opening a can when you haven't got a, well, a can opener; the importance of keeping one's affect flat in order to endure what one has no choice but to endure; the desire to die in those who lived through the blast vs. the desire to live in those born after the blast. More later, maybe, maybe not, but those were my initial astonishments.
    So glad I've added this to my collection! I know I'll be watching it again!
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Paul Vaughan	Narrator	Karen Meagher	Ruth Beckett	Reece Dinsdale	Jimmy Kemp	David Brierley	Bill Kemp
  Rita May	Rita Kemp	Henry Moxon	Mr Beckett	June Broughton	Mrs Beckett	Victoria O'Keefe	Jane
  Sylvia Stoker	Granny Beckett	Harry Beety	Clive J. Sutton	Ruth Holden	Marjorie Sutton	Michael O'Hagan	Chief Superintendent Hirst

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1984
    Directed by Mick Jackson.

Labels: apocalyptic, dramaD, horror1, nuclear, political5, TV3, war2

# posted by gail @ 01:15    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  I only own a few of Stanley Kramer's movies, but I've seen, throughout the years of my life, several of them. Check out this list. I'm sure you'll recognize several you've seen. Considering how long he lived (from 1913 - 2001), he wasn't particularly prolific, but the list to which I've connected will show you that he was extraordinarily important as a producer and director. It's almost as though he had a golden touch; he didn't use it often, but when he did, the results were always spectacular, often groundbreaking.   I'll be writing more about this film when I watch it again after having not seen it for a few decades. I can't believe my luck that it was available!
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Gregory Peck	Cmdr Dwight Towers	Ava Gardner	Moira Davidson	Fred Astaire	Julian Osborn	Anthony Perkins	Lt Cmdr Peter Holmes
  Donna Anderson	Mary Holmes	Lou Vernon	Bill Davidson	Kevin Brennan	Dr. King	John Meillon	Ralph Swain
  John Tate	Admr. Bridie RAN	Harp McGuire	Lt. Sunderstrom	Lola Brooks	Bridie's Secretary	Bill Hunter	extra/swimming double

  
    Cary Peck, Gregory Peck's son, also had an uncredited cameo in this film.
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1959
    Directed by Stanley Kramer.

Labels: apocalyptic, bill-hunter, dramaE, fred-astaire, gregory-peck, nuclear, romance5, war2

# posted by gail @ 01:03    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I just received this movie today so I haven't yet watched it, but I'll be doing that tonight. At any rate, I had to mention, there are no less than three reviews written about this movie at RogerEbert.com. No, Ebert didn't come back from the dead to review the movie, but two regular reviewers and one non-regular reviewer weighed in on the movie. The first review that came up at the site is linked to the title of this post. Here's the second and here's the third. The second, I think, is going to be the most informative, although I'll let you know once I've read it and watched the movie (I plan to do the movie watching first).
    Frankly, I have a troubled relationship with apocalyptic (and post-apocalyptic, I mean, let's face it, if a movie is about an apocalypse, is stands to reason it's also about the post apocalyptic period, although, I can think of one exception to that rule: The Last Wave; and, come to think of it, Dr. Strangelove doesn't cover the post apocalyptic period, either) movies. There are a few that I love and I think I own most of those. The ones I love are subtle and surprising, like The Last Wave and The Rapture. I'm not sure, from what I've read so far about this movie (a few blurbs, including the blurb on the cover of my copy), that this will be one of my favorites. It seems like it's not about apocalypsis, but uses an apocalypse as an excuse for a fight between the haves and the have nots. Thinking about apocalyptic events put me into an apocalyptic mindset and I ordered two other apocalyptic movies along with this one, both of which I'd seen years ago: Threads and On the Beach, both of which qualify for the "subtle and surprising" category. I've rewatched Threads and will be producing a write-up soon. I have yet to rewatch On the Beach. And, of course, I haven't watched this movie yet, although I notice in the Wikipedia article about it, linked in the next paragraph, that it got unusually good reviews, not all around, there were some critics who found the film less than good, but mostly the reviews were well above average.
    Can't wait to see how it hits me. Stay tuned.
  Update 5/18/2022  I watched this movie a couple or three months ago. The end is excellent, true Bong Joon-ho: One assumed lone survivor, leaving the wrecked train into a snow covered world with a polar bear snuffling around. I don't know why, but this scene captured my imagination. The rest of the film? Eh. A lot of have/have-not fighting. Tilda Swinton going crazy with her role and having what looks to be a fun time. Chris Evans as a totally forgettable protagonist. Lots of interesting bit parts by interesting bit players.
    This movie was a hit with the critics, but, I don't know, I think there are lots more credible and interesting apocalyptic films out there. Maybe I'm not in touch with the apocalyptic zeitgeist. And, the one question I had that was never concretely answered, why a train? I mean, why an apocalyptic train?
    Then, there's Ed Harris playing another version of Christof and John Hurt playing another version of, hmmm, oh, I don't know, name your poison. [This comment, by the way, is not to belittle his work. John Hurt was an astonishing actor with a wiiiide range. It is actors of his calibre that make me ever grateful I exist in a time when performances are recorded and readily available. He did, however, get a little typecast in his later years.]
    But, I'll keep it, especially since it is an example of apocalyptic movie-thought in the second decade of the 21st century, a century which appears to finally promise the long awaited "apocalypse". I mean, if humanity doesn't deliver it, the environment will.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Chris Evans	Curtis Everett	Song Kang-ho	Namgoong Minsoo	Ed Harris	Wilford	John Hurt	Gillam
  Tilda Swinton	Minister Mason	Jamie Bell	Edgar	Octavia Spencer	Tanya	Ewen Bremner	Andrew
  Go Ah-sung	Yona	Alison Pill	Teacher	Vlad Ivanov	Franco the Elder	Luke Pasqualino	Grey

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2013
    Directed by Bong Joon-ho.

Labels: anti-fascist, apocalyptic, bong-joon-ho, john-hurt

# posted by gail @ 17:09    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I finally watched this movie a couple of nights ago, let's see, Friday night, the 17th of September, 2021. I think Darren Aronofsky's mind was in the right place when he approached making this movie, but the part of it that follows narrative sense quirked out on him. Truth is, Noah's story in the Bible, and Enoch, doesn't make a lot of sense. I think it's supposed to be a "testament of signs and wonders", so to speak, and, as such, isn't meant to make quotidian sense. So, any film maker can not only be forgiven for adding and revamping strict biblical material, but can be praised for off-official-story changes that the film maker chooses to make. In making a film with wild, misshapen material, it isn't, though, forgivable for a film maker to let a sense of giddiness take over when making choices. I think that's what Aronofsky did. In addition, he underplayed, to the movie's detriment, some of the original story's frank suggestions of moral turpitude and overplayed, also to the movie's detriment, some of the story's suggestions of Noah's moral rectitude and ardor.
    Having said all that, and revealing a sense of disappointment in the movie, still, it's a spectacular attempt at a biblical epic, and better than any other Noah films I've seen (yes, I've seen a few, but, I think there are only a few). And, besides, I enjoyed the whole sub-development of The Watcher's story. It reminded me of the movie Watchmen (sorry, I never followed the comic book series), and kept me wondering what the whole deal is with men (male men, that is) and watchers. So I'm keeping it, because, as you may remember, Dear Reader, I have this thing about bible movies, mainly because my mother loved them so much. And, you never know, perhaps yet another agnostic atheist in the family will find them equally fascinating when I am no more of this earth. And, anyway, now I have a personal mystery to solve ... what is it with this male obsession with watchers/watchmen, anyway?
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Russell Crowe	Noah	Jennifer Connelly	Naameh	Ray Winstone	Tubal-cain	Anthony Hopkins	Methuselah
  Emma Watson	Ila	Logan Lerman	Ham	Douglas Booth	Shem	Marton Csokas	Lamech

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2014
    Directed by Darren Aronofsky.

Labels: anthony-hopkins, apocalyptic, bible-movies1, darren-aronofsky, jennifer-connelly, ray-winstone, russell-crowe

# posted by gail @ 14:04    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1*
• 
  Commentary:  This movie has haunted me since I saw it when it was first released. My mother has watched it a couple of times with me. She likes the background digideroo music, the otherworldliness of the movie...but she's not interested in trying to make sense of it. Neither am I, so we just watch it in awe on a fairly frequent basis.
  Update 5/15/21:  This post was originally published on February 9th, 2005. I had to replace it because some glitches had developed in its labels and it wasn't coming up when I corralled most of the labels applied to it. Everything is working fine, now.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Richard Chamberlain	David Burton	Olivia Hamnett	Annie Burton	David Gulpilil	Chris Lee	Fred Parslow	Reverend Burton
  Vivean Gray	Dr. Whitburn	Nandjiwarra Amagula	Charlie	Walter Amagula	Jerry Lee	Roy Bara	Larry

  
    Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
    Release Date: 1977
    Directed by Peter Weir.

Labels: apocalyptic, Criterion1, drama1, dream1, fantasy1, haunting1, me-favorite1, mystery1, peter-weir

# posted by gail @ 18:43    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I know, I know, what am I doing with this movie, relatively unknown, certainly a peculiar take on Christianity's final judgment doctrine, in my collection? Let me explain. I saw this movie when I was living in Seattle, when it premiered in the theater. I decided to see it after reading Roger Ebert's remarkable review of the movie, linked to the title of this post.
    No, I am not a believer, for all practical purposes I've never been, but I lived, in my teenage years, with a relative who became a rabid Christian fundamentalist and spent quite a bit of her time at home (which was, in those days, less time than she spent at church functions) trying to convert the rest of the family (which she never accomplished; an unusual defeat considering that the usually successful tactic of the church with which she was associated was to snatch the teens and badger them to convert their families). I was particularly affected, to the point of studying scripture, despite my lack of faith, and presenting her with an essay about how, if her beliefs were true, I was willing to be eternally damned. Some years later this relative renounced her belief, with her husband, whom she met in the church, and became a staunch atheist and Unitarian Universalist. I've remained an agnostic atheist with a fascination for religious rabidity and the media it inspires. This is my favorite movie of that genre. Notice all the labels I've attached to it. It affects me on several levels, of which I am reminded at least once a year since I obtained it.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Mimi Rogers	Sharon	David Duchovny	Randy	Kimberly Cullum	Mary	Darwyn Carson	Maggie
  Patrick Bauchau	Vic	James LeGros	Tommy	Will Patton	Deputy Foster	Sam Vlahos	Wayne

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1991
    Directed by Michael Tolkin.

Labels: adventure1, apocalyptic, bible-movies1, drama4, dream1, fantasy1, film-art1, haunting1, jesus-dvds, me-favorite1, neo-noirB, prophecy, spiritual1, suspense1

# posted by gail @ 08:42    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  Watched and bought this movie AMD
• Mentions:  none
• 
  Commentary:  This is another movie that was released well before Mom's death but which neither of us noticed, until it was too late for her. I'm sure she would have enjoyed it at least as much as me. Another one of those movies I can watch again and again. Yes, I know, this scenario is highly unlikely, but, frankly, considering our continued head-in-the-sand attitude toward the increasing climate change and what we, as humans, think of as climate chaos (what happens probably isn't considered chaotic from the perspective of the climate gods), how would we know what's likely and what's not? This movie has a peculiar effect on me. Every time I watch it (and, actually, I watched it, yet again, last weekend), my unedited emotional reaction is, "Yes! Let it happen! Let it happen!" Pretty much the same as my reaction to Earth 2100, which I don't yet own but probably will, since I no longer have cable, on which it used to show about once every three months.
  Update 2/7/18:  In case you're interested, here's the link to Earth 2100 on YouTube, with subtitles. As well, the next two links will connect you to the "official" ABC scripts; the first for Act One and the second for Acts Two & Three. These scripts are loaded with links to peripheral information mentioned in the documentary. Guess I don't have to own this one, after all! I'll try to check these links every once in awhile in case they go dead and I have to scavenge others.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Dennis Quaid	Jack Hall	Jake Gyllenhaal	Samuel Hall	Sela Ward	Dr. Lucy Hall	Emmy Rossum	Laura Chapman
  Ian Holm	Terry Rapson	Jay O. Sanders	Franklin Harris	Glenn Plummer	Luther	Dash Mihok	Jason Evans

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2004
    Directed by Roland Emmerich.

Labels: action1, adventure3, apocalyptic, drama6, fantasy2, jake-gyllenhaal, me-favorite2, popcorn-and-soda2, science-fiction1, suspense2

# posted by gail @ 12:52    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  G, I think
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  My confession is this: I think I've probably seen this entire movie, but I've never seen the entire movie in one sitting. I have memories of seeing parts of it while watching a football game. Weird, I know.
    I got it because this, also, was at a very low sale price, not Costco, and I have, for some time, very much wanted to see the movie of a piece.
    I don't think my mother has ever seen the movie, in whole or part, and I don't think it would command her attention. I think she'd consider it boring.
    Aside from the review linked to the title of this post, which is excellent, I'm sure you won't be surprised to know that this movie has also been reviewed more than a few times by Roger Ebert's site. This paragraph will contain all those writings I consider pertinent: initial review (remember, Ebert was 12 when the movie was first released); Great Movies review; a 2018 re-review of the film and it's relevance today and to ex-President Trump.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Peter Sellers	Cpt. Lionel Mandrake	Peter Sellers	U. S. Pres. Merkin Muffley	Peter Sellers	Dr. Strangelove	George C. Scott	Gen. Buck Turgidson
  Sterling Hayden	Brig. Gen. Jack D. Ripper	Keenan Wynn	Col. Bat Guano	Jack Creley	Mr. Staines	Slim Pickens	Mjr. T. J. "King" Kong
  Peter Bull	Alexei de Sadeski	James Earl Jones	Lt. Lothar Zogg	Tracy Reed	Miss Scott	Shane Rimmer	Cpt. Ace Owens

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1964
    Directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Labels: apocalyptic, nuclear, period4, political3, satire2, stanley-kubrick, war2

# posted by gail @ 17:21    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1* *2* *3* *4* *5* *6* *7* *8* *9* *10*
• 
  Commentary:  Although normally I'd say that all the comments would suffice as a review, this time I can say even more. Mom's favorite of the series is the first. Mine is Conquest of, although Battle for is a close runner up. We both much enjoyed the documentary on the making of the series, Behind the. The truth is, there is much that makes this series outstanding for its time and, thus, worth viewing. It set a couple of standards for science fiction movies, involving make-up and respecting the viewer's need for detail that grants plausibility, as well as respectable gaps that aren't too hard for the viewer to fill in, that puts it in the category of "must haves" for any science fiction movie maven. Even though the documentary clearly outlines a story of trying to milk an idea for all it was worth, its truthfulness lends even more respectability to the series. My mother, of course, is much more of a fan than I, and this is saying a lot, as I can imagine that I will eagerly watch all these films again with her.
  Update 2/9/18:  As I was updating the links in this site I noticed this link connected to a wonderful site about all the Apes movies. It insinuates that it will not remain up forever, having become an "archived" site, then talks a bit about its history. I don't know when this announcement was posted. I hope it remains at least until my own Mom & Me Journals sites are retired; frankly, I can't even imagine that possibility. Blogspot, as far as I can tell, keeps sites up forever and a day, even if they become "ghost" sites.
    Below is a list of all the movies in the sextilogy, the director of each and their corresponding links to their Wikipedia articles.
  
  
  • 
    Planet of the Apes
      

    Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
    Charlton Heston	George Taylor	Roddy McDowell	Dr. Cornelius	Kim Hunter	Dr. Zira	Maurice Evans	Dr. Zaius
    James Whitmore	Assembly President	James Daly	Dr. Honorious	Linda Harrison	Nova	Robert Gunner	Landon

    
      Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
      Release Date: 1968
      Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner.
    
    
  • 
    Beneath the Planet of the Apes
      

    Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
    James Franciscus	Brent	Kim Hunter	Zira	Maurice Evans	Dr. Zaius	Linda Harrison	Nova
    Paul Richards	Mendez	James Gregory	General Ursus	Gregory Sierra	Verger	Charlton Heston	Taylor

    
      Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
      Release Date: 1970
      Directed by Ted Post.
    
    
  • 
    Escape from the Planet of the Apes
      

    Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
    Roddy McDowall	Dr. Cornelius	Kim Hunter	Dr. Zira	Bradford Dillman	Dr. Lewis Dixon	Natalie Trundy	Dr. Stephanie Branton
    Eric Braeden	Dr. Otto Hasslein	William Windom	U.S. President	Sal Mineo	Dr. Milo	Ricardo Montalbán	Armando

    
      Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
      Release Date: 1971
      Directed by Don Taylor.
    
    
  • 
    Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
      

    Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
    Roddy McDowall	Caesar	Don Murray	Governor Breck	Ricardo Montalban	Armando	Natalie Trundy	Lisa
    Hari Rhodes	Role Name	Severn Darden	Kolp	John Randolph	Commission Chairman	David Chow	Aldo

    
      Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
      Release Date: 1972
      Directed by J. Lee Thompson.
    
    
  • 
    Battle for the Planet of the Apes
      

    Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
    Roddy McDowall	Caesar	Claude Akins	Aldo	Natalie Trundy	Lisa	Severn Darden	Kolp
    Lew Ayres	Mandemus	John Huston	The Lawgiver	Richard Eastham	Mutant Captain	France Nuyen	Alma

    
      Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
      Release Date: 1973
      Directed by J. Lee Thompson.
    
    
  • 
    Behind the Planet of the Apes - Documentary
      Very interesting, if you're a died-in-the-wool fan of these movies. My mom was, and she loved it. Although, frankly, I'm not sure if she thought she was watching a documentary or another Apes movie.
      Hosted and Narrated by Roddy McDowell
      Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
      Release Date: 1998
      Directed by Kevin Burns & David Comtois.

  Labels: apocalyptic, charlton-heston, mom-favorite2, nuclear, popcorn-and-soda4, science-fiction1

  
  
  # posted by gail @ 22:35    0 comments    email......this post