merc108 Reviews

Black Heat (1976)

action!!??

[21 April 2006]

Black Heat was more like a Monday afternoon made-for-TV movie. There's the usual whodunit mystery and then we meet the bad guys. Not your usual blaxploitation flick , the main star is ex-Philadelphia Eagle Timothy Brown who seems a lot less "black" than lets say...Jim Brown, or Fred Williamson. Brown plays "Kicks" Carter who doesn't really live up to his name. I've seen a more violent Timothy Brown in M.A.S.H. than in Black Heat. Sure he plays the tough cop who gets his information and leads but in this movie he doesn't use much of his fists or legs but uses his gun in some parts of the film where it could have used climactic fight scenes. Russ Tamblyn of West Side Story fame plays the bad guy and he plays his part well. In short words, we watch Timothy Brown films to see him fight . On the other hand he plays it well with the ladies in the film.

The Longest Hundred Miles (1967 TV Movie)

Veteran actors not credited.

[19 April 2006]

I have always enjoyed watching the film "The Longest Hundred Miles" since I was a kid. I have recently seen the film and noted some veteran Filipino actors who played Japanese soldiers. At the end of the film the cast did not include them. I was quite disappointed since these were two highly respected actors. The first Japanese general who invaded the church was played by Vic Silayan. He has appeared in numerous films in the Philippines and in the U.S. including " No Man is an Island" and " Night of the Cobra Woman ". Silayan also co-wrote a book about Filipino cinema that reflected all his work.

The second Japanese general who pursued the contraption bus in the film was played by Vic Diaz. Much like Vic Silayan he has appeared in a lot of Filipino and American movies like " Impasse " and " Daughters of Satan ". Diaz was known for his smooth talk and persuasiveness on screen.

I feel these two actors have been overlooked during "The Longest Hundred Miles ". This is my salute to Vic Diaz and vic Silayan for their excellent work.

Si Popeye, atbp (1973)

Popeye in the Philippines

[19 April 2006]

" Popeye " was a vintage Filipino Film directed by the late great director Ishmael Bernal in 1972. I've actually seen this one on local Philippine TV. Veteran actor Ariel Ureta plays a mustachioed Popeye character who dates a girl named Olive Oyl, fights a guy named Bluto, eats spinach and even steals a Mercedes-Benz in one scene. This was a comedy film which contained a lot of slapstick humor. Movie was filmed in color and was shown in the popular Filipino movie houses around mid to late 1972. Ariel Ureta was later known as a game show host and made a lot of television commercials. Movies like these may never be seen again. The Filipino film archives should show at least 300 vintage movies per year. There were a lot of well- made Filipino movies from the 1940's to the 1970's. Some of them were filmed in black and white.