rich52 Reviews

Alien Abduction (2014)

Not bad for a "found video" movie

[5/10 · 3 November 2015]

I had to give it a 5 out of 10 because it is the best hand-held video-cam movie I've seen yet. The characters seem real, and likable, and the performances are pretty good. This beats the daylights out of Cloverfield and every other "found" video I've seen. There are actually some aliens in this one and the effects are fairly well done. The video quality is also the best I've seen so far. Even though the scenario has been used all too often, this one has, all I've seen so far, beat hands down. Is it a great movie? No. Is it a good one? No. But it is fair. It is entertaining and, if you like the found video types, it is worth a look.

Hangar 10 (2014)

One of the worst movies ever made

[1/10 · 2 November 2015]

This movie makes the worst movie you have ever seen a potential Oscar nominee. Here is yet another installment of a complete movie done with hand-held video cameras. The characters of the girl and her friend with the video camera are alright, her boyfriend is a total jerk. Ninety percent of the movie is spent wandering through the woods and the ending is terrible. There is no real story-line, the dialogue is terrible, the acting is marginal (to the negative side), and it is boring. I will admit that the special effects in the last 5 minutes of the film are pretty good, but that is the only good thing to say about this abomination. If you enjoy wasting your time, this is the movie for you.

Hellcats of the Navy (1957)

Too often over scrutinized

[6/10 · 10 January 2004]

This film is primarily for Ronald Reagan buffs or for those who want to see Ron and Nancy on screen together. The story centers around an initially unstable relationship between a submarine commander, a nurse, another officer showing interest in her and an executive officer who questions the motives of the commander, both personally and militarily. Is it one of the 'great' WWII submarine movies? No. Is it worth a look? Yes. It doesn't contain the depth or intensity of Cary Grant's "Destination Tokyo" or Clark Gable's "Run Silent, Run Deep," but could be considered comparable to Glenn Ford's "Torpedo Run."

The Broken Land (1962)

Interesting western short.

[9 March 2003]

This short 1-hour Western movie centers on a drifter who comes to a small town and has run-in with its sadistic sheriff. A string of circumstances leads to running from a posse, robbery, and murder. Considering the limited length of this movie, it's a good story, the characters are likable, the dialog is literate, the performances are good (particularly Jack Nicholson), and it's well directed. If you collect Western movies, this one is worth having.

Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987 TV Movie)

A continuation of the episode "Mannon," 12 years later.

[7/10 · 2 September 2002]

Twelve years after gunslinger Will Mannon is sent to prison, he is parolled. He has sworn to revenge himself by killing Matt Dillon and the judge who sent him there. Fellow prisoner, and old friend of Dillon's, Jake Flagg, tries to convince the warden to temporarily release him so he can warn Dillon, but is refused. Flagg breaks out and is being hunted for the murder of the warden. Dillon, hearing of this, sets off to track his old friend down. In the meantime, Mannon shows up in Dodge and begins terrorizing Miss Kitty. This is the first of five TV-movies recalling the later escapades of Matt Dillon after retiring as the marshal of Dodge City, Kansas. Earl Holliman is excellent (as usual) as Jake Flagg, as is Steve Forrest in reprising his role from the original 1975 episode. This is a very good story and there are several flashbacks from the original episode interspersed throughout. Thanks to director Vincent McEveety, the film retains the same cinematic "feel" of the original episode. It's a "must see" for any die-hard "Gunsmoke" fans.

Convicted (1950)

An accidental killing sends a man to prison for murder.

[8 August 2002]

Broderick Crawford plays a district attorney that reluctantly prosecutes a defendant for accidentally killing a man in a fist fight in defense of a lady's honor. Realizing that Ford was being severely under-defended by his own lawyer, Crawford tries to pass every break in the book to the defense attorney, who's too stupid to pick up on it. In the end, Ford is convicted of murder and sentenced to prison. Later, Crawford is assigned as the new warden and attempts to help Ford further.

This is a very good, highly underrated movie. It's worth a look.

The Sea Wolves (1980)

Retired British veterans retire German shipping.

[5 August 2002]

A neutral Portugese port in India has three German cargo ships in it. One of them is believed to contain a hidden short wave radio that is transmitting the locations of British war ships to U-Boats, costing the British Navy dearly in the Indian Ocean. Because the port is neutral, Allied forces are not allowed to enter and destroy the radio. A plan is finally devised to use aged retired members of the, no longer in use, Calcutta Light Horse, who are now enjoying the joys of civilian life. But, is there really a radio in the harbor? If so, which ship is it on? This is quite an entertaining film, especially for those who enjoy (and remember) Gregory Peck, David Niven, Trevor Howard, and many many more British actors.