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Tim Burton recommended Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972) in Movies (curated)
Awix (3310 KP) rated Straight On Till Morning (1972) in Movies
Mar 8, 2021
Rather atypical Hammer psycho-horror is much stronger on dour naturalism than the usual gothic fantasy. A slightly unstable young woman moves to present-day London in search of her dreams and winds up moving in with a handsome serial killer (late-period Hammer star Shane Briant, in his first film for the company). Things eventually get a bit fraught.
It would be nice to think the change in style was the result of a decision by Hammer to experiment, but the fact the film was clearly made on a punishingly low budget suggests otherwise: the reason it's largely a two-hander, mostly taking place in a single flat, is presumably simply to keep production costs down. The atmosphere throughout is dingy and a bit grim; appalling early-70s fashion doesn't help much. There's a conceit about Peter Pan which is never really resolved (hence the title); the film's most distinctive feature is the editing, which is jarring, almost subliminal, and gets rather annoying very quickly. Good performances from the leads, I suppose, but this doesn't make up for the fact the story is implausible, uninvolving, and doesn't really go anywhere.
It would be nice to think the change in style was the result of a decision by Hammer to experiment, but the fact the film was clearly made on a punishingly low budget suggests otherwise: the reason it's largely a two-hander, mostly taking place in a single flat, is presumably simply to keep production costs down. The atmosphere throughout is dingy and a bit grim; appalling early-70s fashion doesn't help much. There's a conceit about Peter Pan which is never really resolved (hence the title); the film's most distinctive feature is the editing, which is jarring, almost subliminal, and gets rather annoying very quickly. Good performances from the leads, I suppose, but this doesn't make up for the fact the story is implausible, uninvolving, and doesn't really go anywhere.
Britt Smith (36 KP) rated Dog Soldiers (2002) in Movies
Mar 14, 2018
Gruff Rhys recommended M.C. Hammer & Vanilla Ice: The Hip-hop Never Stops! in Books (curated)
Dean (6921 KP) rated Thor (2011) in Movies
Sep 14, 2017
Hammer time!
A very good comic based action film. It didn't quite live up to the hype for me, still feel there are a few better super hero films around. It was very entertaining though, with a well chosen cast, slick SFX , good battle scenes and some light hearted humour. A fun film that hammers the action in!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) in Movies
Feb 12, 2018
What you'd call the economy tour
Archetypal Hammer horror movie from the studio's imperial mid-60s period; unwise English tourists in Transylvania ignore warnings from bad-ass local abbot (Andrew Keir) and spend the night at Castle Dracula. They think they're there as guests; actually they're a kind of walk-in buffet organised by Dracula's butler to help get his boss back on his feet.
A bit of a slow start, but atmospheric and effective, with some good sequences in the second half. Keir stands in for Peter Cushing with his usual authority and charisma. Christopher Lee isn't in it that much, but is good when he appears - there are differing explanations of just why he doesn't have any dialogue. Everybody's idea of what a Hammer horror movie should be like.
A bit of a slow start, but atmospheric and effective, with some good sequences in the second half. Keir stands in for Peter Cushing with his usual authority and charisma. Christopher Lee isn't in it that much, but is good when he appears - there are differing explanations of just why he doesn't have any dialogue. Everybody's idea of what a Hammer horror movie should be like.
Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated Sherlock Frankenstein & The Legion of Evil #4 in Books
Nov 30, 2020
So, if you've read my reviews of Vols 1-2 of Jeff Lemire's BLACK HAMMER, then it goes without saying that SHERLOCK FRANKENSTEIN.. would be a win, right? Not so. Let me elaborate..
The writing was top notch, nothing less than the almost always exemplary writing that we've come to expect from Jeff Lemire. The art, however, not good. I was not previously familiar with David Rubin's art, but after this, I have no interest in seeking works by him.
The art was silly, almost cartoon. Not like Dean Ormston's. It took away from the story as a whole, making it feel like a pantomime or something. Again, not a good artist choice for any future BLACK HAMMER-related projects! If not the disappointing art, I would definitely have given this five stars!
The writing was top notch, nothing less than the almost always exemplary writing that we've come to expect from Jeff Lemire. The art, however, not good. I was not previously familiar with David Rubin's art, but after this, I have no interest in seeking works by him.
The art was silly, almost cartoon. Not like Dean Ormston's. It took away from the story as a whole, making it feel like a pantomime or something. Again, not a good artist choice for any future BLACK HAMMER-related projects! If not the disappointing art, I would definitely have given this five stars!
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Lost Continent (1968) in Movies
May 9, 2021
Highly entertaining but impossible to categorise piece of nonsense from Hammer Films. Starts off looking like a bad melodrama as a freighter sets off from Sierra Leone with a combustible mix of lost souls in the ship's saloon, and an even more combustible cargo of white phosphorous in the hold. The various characters doggedly try to get on with telling each other their back-stories even as the crew is mutinying, the ship is sinking, sharks and giant octopuses are attacking, carnivorous sea-weed is snarling the propellors and fanatical descendants of the Spanish Inquisition are clambering over the side intent on dragging them off to be sacrificed.
One does have to wonder what anyone involved was thinking (the chief culprit, perhaps unsurprisingly, is long-serving Hammer executive Michael Carreras, who was a good producer but not so good at anything else), but the actors attack the ridiculous material with admirable gravitas and the set dressing is decent. It at least hits all the necessary exploitation movie beats (plenty of badly-realised monsters, low-octane action and scantily-clad women), and is very funny, albeit not intentionally. Possibly one of the worst films ever made, certainly the weirdest thing Hammer ever did; rated highly for entertainment value, not actual quality.
One does have to wonder what anyone involved was thinking (the chief culprit, perhaps unsurprisingly, is long-serving Hammer executive Michael Carreras, who was a good producer but not so good at anything else), but the actors attack the ridiculous material with admirable gravitas and the set dressing is decent. It at least hits all the necessary exploitation movie beats (plenty of badly-realised monsters, low-octane action and scantily-clad women), and is very funny, albeit not intentionally. Possibly one of the worst films ever made, certainly the weirdest thing Hammer ever did; rated highly for entertainment value, not actual quality.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated The Raid 2 (2014) in Movies
Nov 3, 2017
Action action action (1 more)
Great story
I went into The Raid and The Raid 2 not knowing anything about them and came out loving both. The Raid 2 has a much more grand scope and fetching ambition and it delivers completely. The hammer girl subway sequence is one of the best action sequences I have ever seen. Very highly recommended.
Dean (6921 KP) rated The Resident (2012) in Movies
Feb 16, 2018
An ok thriller, nothing new or ground breaking, reminds me a lot of another film I have heard of. It has a strong cast, pity Christopher Lee didn't get more screen time a Hammer favourite after all. It has it's creepy voyeuristic moments, but ultimately falls under a by the numbers obsession thriller. Worth checking out if you like thrillers of this type.