THE DANMAN CAN

Impossible not to tear up during this one.

Focus On Film   Episode 53  is up! Download the MP3  HERE Rygar and Danman try not to obfuscate whilst we go over the line, make flippy floppy, pay with rivers of blood, leave for good and take the corpse! In this episode: August 2017  Criterion Collection   Titles Announcement Best & Worst Of The Month  –  THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998), STOP MAKING SENSE  (1984), SHOGUN ASSASSIN (1980), NEKROMANTIK  (1987) Criterion Most Wanted "Focus On Film Theme"  & commercial music:  Daniel Sardella

Alien: Covenant  (2017) is yet another flawed but intriguing and entertaining film in this franchise. I don't think this is any better or worse than the third or fourth films.

Finally got around to seeing this. It's fun and the music is really cool but I don't like the dubbing or the voice-over. I much prefer the original films, LONE WOLF AND CUB: SWORD OF VENGEANCE  (1972) and LONE WOLF AND CUB: BABY CART AT THE RIVER STYX  (1972), of which it's comprised.

It's really easy to have a love/hate relationship with  Argento  and Fulci   films, primarily because what's good about them is so  good and what's bad about them is really bad. But I can think of few other directors for which I am so forgiving of their films' flaws. My thoughts from my previous  review remain largely the same, but I'm awarding Phenomena  (1985) another 1/2 star this go around. It's one of those films (as with others by both directors mentioned above) where my opinions fluctuate, but it's just so gloriously scattershot in a fantastic way that I can't help but appreciate it. I'm also thrilled that we finally have a better and properly restored version from Arrow Video   (huge uptick in picture quality), produced by my friend and fellow podcaster Michael Mackenzie ,  and released in a handsome limited edition with excellent essay contributions from Rachael Nesbit   and more! You can find my  Dario Argento...

Stop Making Sense (1984) never loses any of its power.

The first film was a solid little horror flick with some comedic touches. I'm not sure why the creative team behind this sequel decided to go the "everything in a blender" route and ditch the horror almost altgoether, but I kind of love them for it.  This is a film that only the 80s could birth and not have it turn out completely stupid. Somehow the filmmakers were able to mix a western, action/adventure, swashbuckling, dinosaurs, and up the comedy yet retain some sort of cohesiveness. To be sure, this film is ridiculous (and pretty silly), but  very   entertaining.

Thoughts from first viewing. Thoughts from second viewing. Thoughts from third viewing: see above. Incredible film.

A strong slow burn debut with hints of CARNIVAL OF SOULS . Mystery, isolation and dread to spare.