tonydal
Cinema Addict
Member Since: 23 Sep 2007
Location: CA, USA
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Atom Man vs. Superman (1950) - Rated 06 Jun 2025
"Talbot makes for a nicely low-key (even mild) archfiend. And Lois sports a Bette Davis 'do, with a feather cutely in her cap. Jimmy looks like he should have a faceful of freckles (and answer to the name Rusty). Unlike Reeves--who played it droll throughout--Alyn goes about things like some great big kid (which is another approach to camp). Oh yeah, and Perry finally gets to light that cigar at the end! Well...almost. George Plympton penned this opus (right before moving on to the Paris Review)."
Easy Rider (1969) - Rated 23 Sep 2007
"Let's see, it has Jack Nicholson, beautiful cinematography, great songs (like the Byrds' "Wasn't Born To Follow" et al)--and Toni Basil in her pre-pre-Mickey days. And Phil Spector...and lots of smoke. Clouds and clouds of smoke. And inhaling--snorting--hippie communes--and rednecks. Killer rednecks. And dialogue? "They'll make it, Billy." "They're not gonna make it, man." "They'll make it." And of course one slambang ending."
Devil Girl from Mars (1954) - Rated 13 Jun 2009
"The title character, complete with Darth Vader shower cap and interplanetary muumuu, lands her ship in the midst of a soap opera's worth of problems. Indeed, she often comes across as a guest in her own film. Also features a K-Mart version of Gort which has to be one of the lamest cinematic robots ever (even though the head torpedoes are admittedly pretty cool), and of course the virtues of "static negative condensity" (I think it was)."
Girls in Prison (1956) - Rated 03 Nov 2023
"A fun cast is wasted in a movie every bit as implausible as it is sappy. With Denning as an absurdly virtuous cleric and Darwell somewhat miscast as the warden. There's also a godawful lame song that keeps playing early on. In the end a 9.0 earthquake strikes the set, which leads to a breakout and the final shootout--which leaves us wondering why the Bad Guy shot the broad in stripes and yet somehow didn't shoot that smug, pain in the ass preacher."
Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965) - Rated 07 Sep 2020
"Cushing plays this like some sort of aging Willie Wonka, as I suppose befits the kids' show it still was. Afraid I had to dock it 10 for the sheer annoyance of the Stalk Eyed Monsters' voices (after a while it was like listening to a roomful of Gene Shalits)."
The Cyclops (1957) - Rated 07 Mar 2014
"One of the few times I've ever liked Lon Chaney: he's basically just a walking id in this one. Occasionally the players pause in their antics to look in on the National Geographic wildlife film that seems to be playing off to their right...and then eventually they encounter The Amazing Colossal One-Eyed Man."
Reform School Girl (1957) - Rated 21 Sep 2023
""If there's anything I like on a hot day, it's a cool chick." lol Kookie's a total dirtbag in this one (and he enunciates very clearly so you can tell he's pissed!).With Yvette Vickers as an even bigger bitch than usual, all of which leads to catfights galore and the predictable reaction from the Old Biddy Committee ("She's so old she creaks"). :D Meanwhile Clark Kent tries to save the day, and Gloria Castillo draws sympathy like a magnet throughout. Only real debit was the overly ideal wrap-up."
Avalanche (1978) - Rated 02 Oct 2023
"A film remarkable only for the charisma-free acting of its principals. Mia Farrow seemed about as interested in the proceedings as her stand-in no doubt was, and Hudson went over the top early on a few times in some attempt to convey concern about his surroundings. Forster at least appeared to care in a few spots (although that was mainly about the impending avalanche). Meanwhile Jeanette Nolan whiled away the time by drinking herself silly (a quite sensible plan, all things considered)."
Superman (1948) - Rated 02 Jun 2025
"Tongue-in-cheekiness has already gained a foothold in this version, with the Big S unable to do a thing unless he's wearing cape and tights! Lois is played by Noel...a few years younger and with longer hair (complete with scarf tie and cute white chapeau). And snub-nosed Jimmy O sports some sort of Bowery Boys hat (and gets knocked out so often they oughta call him One Punch). Btw no need to endure the usual cheesy special effects; here they are replaced by some rather cheesy animation."
The Loves of Hercules (1960) - Rated 04 Oct 2023
"A really buffed Bobby Darin plays the Hercster in this one--and for his main squeeze they somehow managed to find a gal with an even bigger chest than his. Then he has a brief encounter in the land of the Amazons (who have somehow managed to retain both of their tits)...and it all takes place before clothing was actually invented."