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mrarn

mrarn
Member Since
11 Oct 2013
N/A
TCI
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2220
ratings
2211
Films
3
Shorts
5
TV Series
1
TV Episodes
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0
collections
14
Recent ratings
2219
Minireviews
183
Starred reviews
See all TCIs
2211
Films
3
Shorts
5
TV Series
1
TV Episodes
See all ratings
14
Recent ratings
2219
Minireviews
183
Starred reviews
Recent Ratings
34 12%
Murderers' Row (1966) - Rated 21 Oct 2026
“Murderers’ Row” is the second Matt Helm movie, and it delivers more of the same: the same jokes, beautiful women everywhere, and Dean Martin doing his “nothing really matters” routine as he fumbles through another mission. It’s packed with the colorful, over-the-top ’60s touches that define these movies, but you have to be in the right mood for it. This one felt particularly long, and by the time it ended, I was more than ready for it to be over. Maybe the problem is that the jokes and situatio - Full Review
38 24%
The Ambushers (1967) - Rated 19 Oct 2026
“The Ambushers” is the third Matt Helm film, with Dean Martin once again playing a secret agent women cannot resist. He travels the world photographing beautiful women and defeating evil plots, all with the same devil-may-care attitude. The movie is silly, but when taken in the spirit in which it was made, it is watchable. I am working my way through the series, and while the films aren't unpleasant, they simply aren't very good. The jokes, the a... - Full Review
47 52%
The Silencers (1966) - Rated 17 Oct 2026
“The Silencers” is a James Bond-style movie with Dean Martin as the superspy, but it isn't meant to be taken seriously. It begins with stripteases and is filled with glamorous women doing the sort of suggestive things that passed for sophistication in the 1960s. The hero is a photographer with all the women he could possibly want and an assortment of gadgets that probably seemed extremely cool at the time but now look rather wacky. The entire mov... - Full Review
38 24%
The Wild Westerners (1962) - Rated 16 Oct 2026
“The Wild Westerners” is a poorly constructed Western that is not even as good as the old television Westerns. It begins with a group of lawmen who are actually the bad guys. Then the woman the marshal is supposed to marry fails to show up, and he somehow winds up marrying a woman he has just met. He is furious but doesn't want anyone to know, so they pretend to be a couple. Naturally, he eventually falls in love with her. The entire story feels contrived and rather silly. The pieces never come - Full Review
48 55%
War of the Satellites (1958) - Rated 15 Oct 2026
“War of the Satellites” is a low-budget 1950s science-fiction film about Earth’s determination to explore space. Some unseen aliens want to keep humanity confined to Earth, so they assume the identity of an authority figure and try to sabotage the space program from within. It is silly, but it is also fun, and at just over an hour, it does not overstay its welcome. Considering when it was made and how little money the filmmakers had, I think they did a remarkably good job. I found it entertainin - Full Review
38 24%
Flame of Araby (1951) - Rated 08 Oct 2026
“Flame of Araby” is a colorful action-adventure built around Maureen O’Hara’s flaming red hair and a wild black stallion said to possess unbelievable speed. As for the acting, the dialogue, and the thin story, it's all this simple. She wants the horse to win a race. He wants it because capturing it is his life’s ambition. Their paths cross, romance takes hold, and there you have it. But the dialogue and the characters’ interactions are so awkward... - Full Review
52 65%
Merrill's Marauders (1962) - Rated 07 Oct 2026
“Merrill’s Marauders” is a World War II movie about a fighting force that started with 3,000 men and ended with only 100 still capable of fighting. It highlights the difficulty of command and the burden of pushing men to the breaking point, including the commanders themselves. It’s done in the familiar style of a ’50s combat movie, with battle scenes that aren’t always very realistic but deliver what you’re looking for. The story is easy to follow, and you feel for everyone involved. Had they fa - Full Review
35 15%
China Gate (1957) - Rated 06 Oct 2026
“China Gate” is a 1950s anti-Communist war movie set in Vietnam. The story has some potential, particularly in its treatment of prejudice and a father’s chance to redeem himself by accepting his own son. But the script and performances make it drag. Too many scenes consist of people standing around talking, with dialogue and behavior that don’t feel convincing. Angie Dickinson plays a woman of mixed European and Asian ancestry, but the casting ma... - Full Review
32 10%
Hell and High Water (1954) - Rated 05 Oct 2026
“Hell and High Water” is a Cold War drama staged on a submarine; it’s so contrived that I found it hard to watch. The characters are supposedly on a peaceful mission, yet they carry machine guns and regularly fight. There’s a romance thrown in as well, and none of it feels convincing. I suppose this kind of adventure has its appeal, but it didn’t work for me. The one thing I found interesting was the use of CinemaScope’s extra-wide frame inside the cramped submarine. It wasn’t necessary for the - Full Review
62 83%
Broken Lance (1954) - Rated 05 Oct 2026
“Broken Lance” is a family drama turned into a Western, with CinemaScope photography that makes good use of the wide landscapes and big scenes. It’s a familiar approach, giving a story about family conflict a Western framework, and there’s plenty here to enjoy. At its heart is a man who has built an empire, refuses to give up control, and rides roughshod over the people around him. The damage he does to those relationships drives the story, with ... - Full Review