hippyhorn69-1 Reviews

Devil's Snare (2020)

One of the absolute worst films ever made

[1/10 · 10 August 2023]

I seriously thought this film might be good, based upon the title, rating and description. It soon became evident, however, within a minute or two, that it was anything but.

The acting was totally ham and the camera work was like that of a young kiddie using their dad's camcorder. With neither lessons or a tripod.

If there is a nomination for a film where everything is bad then this is the one to enter and win with.

Avoid at all costs. By the way, I didn't finish it, as it was so poor with no sign whatsoever of improving. I seriously challenge anyone to do so. It's an insult to the intelligence of film fans everywhere and it beats me how and why it was ever made in the first place.

Blackmail: Vacant Possession (1966) Season 2, Episode 12

Only one comment

[8/10 · 24 January 2023]

This short is a great old black and white item, concerning an cheapskate young couple who can't resist a bargain-basement property, thinking that there's no catch but a sitting occupant, then are proven that there's more to the situation than they think. . I've only one comment on this and it concerns the end. The two "nephews", who were losing £1,500 by the old bird skipping, would only have to tell Kinsey to stop the £2,500 cheque (from which the £1,500 was coming) to shaft her plan and she would get nothing. A very big fault which, at the end, spoils what was otherwise a very good story. Oh dear!

The Ipcress File (2022)

Great little TV adaptation, apart from the Harry Palmer character.

[7/10 · 7 March 2022]

Let's get one thing out of the way to start with. The 1965 film was excellent and no remake, film or TV series, is ever going to come near to matching, never mind beating, it. Also bear in mind that some films, based on novels, are ripe for stretching into a longer TV series but others are not. This Ipcress File is not. Having said all that, the only other thing wrong with the TV series adaptation is the Harry Palmer character. The series tries to make him look like Michael Caine's character i.e. Look the the actorIt, even down to the silly, almost exaggerated, 1960's thick-rimmed, heavy specs. That's a mistake, and it fails dismally, creating a pale, virtually comical, Harry Palmer. It's like using an actor that looks like Sean Connery to play James Bond after Sean Connery stopped playing him but, even worse, trying to replicate his character in look and everything else. Caine is Caine, no matter what part he plays. You'll never imitate him well so don't try. Quite frankly, he looks like a complete knob-end or a pervert. Just choose another actor and give him a different character that still suits the role, in this case a black marketeer used as a spy. Certainly do not use Caine's trademark, for the time, thick-rimmed 1960's specs. That is a big, big mistake. The rest, as they say, is OK with the establishment of the time being pretty well recreated, though the frumpy, way below average looking landlady sleeping with a Russian spy is a bit of a stretch. So, to sum up, it is what it is, a relatively low budget TV series adapted from the book and film. Not brilliant by any means but certainly enjoyable to lovers of the genre like me.

Black Fly (2014)

Don't waste 90 minutes on this - starts boringly and doesn't get much better

[6/10 · 6 April 2021]

One sort of groans when the phrase "Inspired by true events" or some such is emblazoned within the precis of a film. You know that there's a 75% chance of it being boring, apart from the bits that take a tad of artistic license. This film falls easily into that 75%. I mean basically you know what happens if someone hacks off a multi-gun owning slack-jawed yokel nut job, by boffing their partner or in any other way - death - and, of course, it does happen, several times in fact. To make matters worse, there are several loose ends with unanswered questions. Don't waste 90 minutes on this - starts boringly and doesn't get much better The only good thing about it is that it says a lot for tightening gun laws.

The Irregulars (2021)

No horse dung in the streets but ... plenty in the series.

[5/10 · 29 March 2021]

I looked forward to this as having at least a tangible connection so old Shylock. So far there is little or none. There are more anachronisms than you can shake a gentleman's dress cane at, making it unbelievable. London in the 19th century and transport is horse-powered yet the streets are so squeaky clean that they look better than after a visit from the modern street cleaner. Not a pile of horse dung nor a bit of litter in sight so far, yet 19th century London was awash with the former, hundreds of thousands of tons or more per annum. Perhaps it's how Americans think of it.

Uneducated street urchins who understand very lengthy, unusual words and even more complicated matters plus even have the affront to mix it and insult a Prince of the Realm, Queen Victoria's eighth son, poor bleeding Leopold, who wouldn't be out in his royal carriage in the slums anyway. Anyone doing that sort of thing to royalty would probably have ended up in the Tower (where some of the ravens live by the way). Even an urchin with nice clean and neat dreads! Probably matted or lank hair would have been more realistic for the time and place.

Street scenes and sets, other than scenic, distanced views, are very good (apart from the aforementioned lack of filth).

The premise of the series is also good but would have been better named something completely unrelated to Sherlock Holmes. Stretching any assistance he may have had in the novels like this is not good.

The series could have been so much more realistic and better and it is definitely a three-pipe problem.

Chavez Ravine: A Los Angeles Story (2003)

Typical of the US Government's and big business' corporate greed.

[10/10 · 27 April 2020]

A good example of how the US Government and big business shafted the poor ordinary folk way into the 1950s and got around anyone trying to help them by accusing them of being commies and slinging them in jail for refusing to answer the question of whether or not they were. Destroying a social housing project (and no doubt many others) for greed and an LA Dodgers stadium. Not much has changed there then in the ensuing 60 or 70 years.

Maggie (I) (2015)

Simply boring!

[2/10 · 10 April 2019]

I've just wasted an hour and a half of my life, which I'll never get back, watching this, as I like Arnie movies but, in my opinion, it is probably the worst film he's ever made. I kept thinking that it must surely get better but unfortunately for me it never did. Totally boring clap-trap.

Return from the River Kwai (1989)

Absolutely no relation to "Bridge on the River Qwai" except to cash in 20 years down the road

[3/10 · 24 May 2008]

A very average little war movie with no relation to the original "Bridge on the River Kwai" other than in name and a brief bit at the start. It's just a pure latter-day cash-in on the name of the original in fact.

The cinematography is decent and the colours are very good. A few sparklies are evident in the very dark scenes but with a decent sound free from any unwanted hiss or crackle the overall quality is pretty good.

As a bonus I found a few nice pseudo-surround effects using my Yamaha digital sound projector so I can't complain about anything other than the story.

Oh it's not quite family viewing by the way, containing as it does a few "bastards" and one "piss off" (for which the orator was beheaded with a sword by the Japanese officer to whom the remark was addressed).

My aged parents with whom I watched it on one of their weekly visits were not impressed though I thought it was an absolute hoot.

I nearly forgot to mention that there is a serious anomaly about 47 minutes into the film (which I'll submit for inclusion on the database).

The POWs are travelling by a rather ancient and decrepit train along a single-track equally decrepit jungle railway to their destination, housed in horrid old wooden box-car like trucks. At this mid-point we see a view of the train with colourful contemporary main-line passenger coaches, which look rather nice and comfortable and are certainly not made of wood. The film then reverts to the wooden box cars.

Model Shop (1969)

The OST music must be good!

[8/10 · 24 May 2008]

I'm currently looking around for a copy of this film after learning that Jay Ferguson's 60s rock band Spirit (who I've been a fan of since the late 60s and have some original vinyl of) contributed to the OST.

I'm giving it 8/10 sight unseen based on the fact that Spirit wrote some music for it, though I understand that the French director screwed it up somewhat because of his lack of communication with the cast and crew. Well that's the French for you.

Looking forward to seeing the film and making a further comment based on a viewing.

Keep on rockin'.