Hi. Thanks for stopping by. This is a site for Movie Lovers. Some opinions, some facts, some fun. Accent on fairness, no cultural snobbery, free of p.c. If that sounds vaguely right-wing, rest assured it most definitely is not: I just don’t much suffer b.s. While I don’t isolate in a darkened room, spilling a diet soda while talking back to the screen and can run, jump & throw a ball like other people, over 5+ decades I’ve somehow managed to see more than 6,000 movies. I like to share my takes on the stories they tell and the people who tell them. That’s pretty much it in a nutshell, but below we’ll give you an idea of what you might notice the site includes and also what is missing.
Kid with special effect, fort and friend. 1962, maybe just after seeing “Lawrence Of Arabia”, “The Longest Day” or “Mutiny On The Bounty”–or, hey, wait a sec –“The 300 Spartans!”
I struggle to keep write-ups fair enough to applaud what works in films that may not be successful and nudge what may be lacking in those that are, and favor putting things in historical and thematic context, if the specific production calls for it. As to synopses, let’s keep those as brief as possible. It’s a cheat when critics use up half or more of the text of a review to go in detail over the plot. War Of The Worlds: Martians attack the Earth. Bingo! All I need to know. Now, is it good or bad, and why, why not?–that’s what I’m after. Too much detailing of the storyline is like someone giving you directions to a store that are so complicated you need a secretary and a camera to transcribe it all. Plus, I want people to read all the way to the end, and get as much info as they can without losing patience (with me) or giving away the experience of seeing the movie. Cut to the chase.
A guy who’s afraid of cats is no pal of mine.
We’ll often note the ages of some of the cast members at the time the film was made, sort of placing these screen-people we feel we “know” in their own stage of development as artist or person. “Wow, Lancaster was 44 and he could still jump over that log like a teenager!”
Just your average American kid: polite, well groomed and armed to the teeth
I welcome comments and am keen to share viewpoints and impressions, and unlike certain politicians can tolerate a thoughtful question or disagreement–but will not engage with acidic poseurs who wish to lecture me on ‘cinema’ or venomous trolls who hate the world from the safety of their keyboard. My supply of life minutes is too precious, better spent rewatching The Wind And The Lion or The Magnificent Seven for the fortieth time. Want to trade lines from It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World or The Wild Bunch, compare Bernard Herrmann to Jerry Goldsmith or plug a movie you like? You came to the right place.
Some of my musings you’ll agree with, others you’ll dismiss with a snort, but whichever lane you choose, do come along on memory trips to steamy jungles, raging seas, distant planets, to boudoirs and battlefields, peals of laughter and screams of fright. Rumble with Jets and Sharks, try to reach ‘The Big W’ before Ethel, see ‘the varmint’ with Linus, take Aqaba by camel and Ft. Knox by Galore. Cheers, Mark
Larry Pennell, actor and a great brother-in-law
Great job, Oh, Mark!
Muchas gracias.
So many DVDs……..makes me shake with anticipation. Question please: are they categorised? How do you find the movie you are looking for? I can never find my phone/keys/glasses.
PS. My four brothers were all Siamese cats:)
Hi (finally,a month later). I just got back from my trip and have begun to answer blog stuff. Actually, that last pic with all the movies was taken at a friends house in their movie room. I have a similar set-up, but it’s less photogenic (I remain less-and-less photogenic as well). I’ve currently got about 800 titles, give or take, with maybe another hundred or so I wanna seize. I always mess with the categorization, depending on my mood, inspiration and/or how much jungle juice I swill. Right now they’re just boringly alphabetic, but I often arrange them by genre and theme (more fun). Categorizing can be a challenge (maybe not a Mt.Everest or Kokoda Trail type, but one fights as one can). I will cite “Lawrence Of Arabia” for example. It’s a (1) biopic, (2) war movie, (3) adventure ,(4) epic, (5) spectacle, (6) drama. I tend to regard it mainly as an Adventure. Speaking of peril: are you nursing an epochal-yet-proud hangover from your retirement bash?
Ladies don’t get hangovers and as the daughter of Depression parents I was taught never to waste nourishment of any sort so have never been “sick” either.
And it’s Kokoda Track, not Trail, to us dinky-di’s, young Mark from Portland.
Hope you enjoyed your trip.
The scheduled blogs have provided some smiles.
Enjoy your week:)
“Track”–I really should have known better, as I’m kinda historyish–now I feel like ..like..an American. I am young” in relation to things like the Grand Canyon or the Great Rift Valley. The trip was..well, fraught,yet still worthwhile. Anyway, back to books (we weren’t there, but by this time you know to bear with me)—I used to work (’84-’89) at the country’s(World’s?) Biggest–Powell’s Bookstore, in Portland. One time had over 1,000 books on my shelves, but now have whittled it down to maybe… 40 (gulp).
Young Mark from Portland who is Curious and who hasn’t been back home long enough to get his washing up to date.
Queensland is a big state and varies enormously. If I can put it to you like this : the north is Jungle Jim territory, the south east is David Caruso in CSI Miami, and to the west is High Chapperral or Bonanza country ( without Little Joe). However, winter is most certainly the time to do it.
I’m getting from you that you are both well educated and well travelled so am not sure that Qld is the destination that would meet any requirement for new experiences, especially if you are doing a round the world thing.
If you are looking for different I’d be looking at the Northern areas and to the west. Broome, the Bungle Bungles, the Kimberley’s, in order to gain a bit of an understanding about our Dreamtime and Ancients. Happy to provide any assistance if required.
Having said that young Mark, always happy to throw a shrimp on the barbie – said no Aussie ever – but rather a Prawn on the hot coals. Always happy to extend the hand of friendship to an Errol Flynn fan.
Bit concerned with all this travel planned how will you keep the masses entertained with your regular reviews? Loved Quo Vadis which has made me want to rewatch it. Adored Robert Taylor And The Detectives ( An aside : when are you writing your book?)
I’ve just read an article about Americans coming down to this part of the world because New Zealand is not at war with anyone and is deemed a safe destination for when Trump presses that red button. Your lot are flying in, investing, and building nuclear dugouts. Well, I’m calling BS : when NZ plays Oz in a football match, it’s War. Make no mistake about that.
House is quiet at last and I am too weary to think about the wretched day.
Have a beaut day.