Bad Channels - 1992 - USA

Bad Channels - 1992 - 3/10 

 
Extraterrestrials take over radio KDUL (dull, get it) and begin broadcasting “capture” signals.
Meaning, listeners (young, attractive female listeners) are lured, shrunk, stuffed in glass tubes.
How long until all gorgeous girls are gone?  Who will be Earth’s savior?  
El cheapo crap from Full Moon is a poster child for terrible.
What was I thinking?  Music by Blue Öyster Cult; I couldn’t help myself.

Alien³ - 1992 - USA

Alien³ - 1992 - 6/10 

 
Pity the unloved child.
Escaping the annihilation of the xenomorph colony, Ripley’s vessel crash lands on a prison planet.
Convicts are a mix of sociopaths, psychopaths, average murderers.  Staff is more of the same.
Unfortunately for Ripley, and for the male population, her ship had carried a stowaway.
This is a hard watch for fans of the xenomorph.  Endless scriptwriters, rewrites, studio meddling.
For the faithful, the extended “Assembly Cut” will provide a richer experience.
Those familiar with the fanedit world, seek out “Alien3: Third Cut” by 15MaF.  That is the one.

The Last Of The Mohicans - 1992 - USA

The Last Of The Mohicans - 1992 - 7/10

 
French and Indian War, where the English are outmatched in wilderness warfare.
Hawkeye and his Mohican family are reluctant to take sides, but eventually assist the English.
Director Mann filmed this as rousing adventure and it works gloriously.
Varied chases, memorable ambushes, spectacular battles.
Daniel Day Lewis solid as Hawkeye.  This put Madeleine Stowe on the map.
The dark star, however, is Wes Studi as the fierce Magua.
His eyes and expressions are implacable.

Naked Killer - 1992 - Hong Kong

Naked Killer - 1992 - 6/10
AKA - Chik Loh Goh Yeung // 赤裸羔羊

 
Kitty is a punisher, exacting revenge on men who brutalize women.
Where it hurts, between the man's legs.
With a cop investigating her, she enmeshes him in her vigilante world.
There is a mentor and partner, later a lesbian duo of assassins.
Easily enough for three films, tossed together like a salad.
Fast-paced Cat III film is prime Hong Kong, more fun should one be addled.

Angel Terminators II - 1992 - Hong Kong

Angel Terminators II - 1992 - 5/10
AKA - Huo Zhong // 火種

 
Disjointed Hong Kong actioner, packed with fights, yet incoherent plot wise.
Moon Lee and senior partner thwart a deadly robbery.
Meanwhile, a sextet of reckless youths get embroiled with a petty gang crew.
Behind all is a rising team of thugs led by Mad Dog.
Three or four half formed scripts jumbled together likely with an attitude that the audience won’t notice.
Waste of Moon Lee and Oshima Yukari, although their stuntwork is amazing.

Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion - 1992 - USA

Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion - 1992 - 6/10

 
Labor of love documentary / celebration of Ed Wood’s monsterpiece.
Sure, it reminds one of a fan doc, yet be thankful participants were interviewed before they were gone.
Locations are visited, including the derelict Quality Studio, cemetery, Tor’s house.
Better organized than any film Wood made, although this is still sporadic and meandering.
Over and over, the focus wanders away from Plan 9 onto players or oddball interviewees.
Perhaps little new for obsessives who have read or researched all matters Wood.
Breezy, informative, wistful to see and hear Maila (Vampira), Gregory, Conrad, shoot, even Valda.

The Mambo Kings - 1992 - USA

The Mambo Kings - 1992 - 6/10

 
Cesar and Nestor hit New York in the 1950’s, determined to swagger into the music scene.
Cesar is ambitious, Nestor wants a quieter life, perhaps a small club.
If the film was mostly Cesar, it would rock harder.
Nestor (Antonio Banderas) is a bit of a wet noodle, pining over his love left behind in Cuba.
Music is hot throughout, propelling  the film and compensating for the soapy bits.
Assante steals the film as driven, yet honor bound, older brother.

Bitter Moon - 1992 - UK

Bitter Moon - 1992 - 6/10

 
Sea voyage.  Two couples.  A pragmatic marriage, and the soured fail
Not that it has failed, as they are still together.
Yet, it is now love / hate.  They have inflicted too much emotional and physical pain on each other.
They share anecdotes, lowlites of their marriage, as the quieter couple hear in horrid fascination.
This is a chamber play of slow poisoning.  Mean spirited and bile bitter.
One gets the feeling that director Polanski revels in dragging viewers into misery.
Know your appetite for this.  I would urge caution.

Mrs. ‘Arris Goes To Paris - 1992 - UK

Mrs. ‘Arris Goes To Paris - 1992 - 6/10

 
While getting mail for Mrs. Dent, charwoman Mrs. Harris sees her Dior gown.
By and large, the loveliest, most beautiful thing she has even seen.
Determined to have one, she scrimps and saves for three years to buy one at the Dior shop.
Except, when she reaches Paris three years later, she finds there isn’t exactly a shop.
She is allowed to attend one of the showings (???), and sits next to a well dressed diplomat.
Lansbury is delightful in fashion fantasy, along with costars Diana Rigg and Omar Sharif.
Solid work all around.  Gowns, models, period cars, street scenes, everyday attire.

El Mariachi - 1992 - Mexico

El Mariachi - 1992 - 6/10

 
Case of mistaken identity.
A wandering musician and a gang who assume he is a murderous hitman.
The men pursue in droves, while the guitarist finds refuge, and romance, with an attractive female bar owner.
That’s the plot in a nutshell.  The energy, however, is off the scale.
Despite an amateur cast, despite a budget of under $8000, this became a huge hit and made director Rodriguez a Hollywood player.
He would work with major stars, with multi-million dollar budgets.
None would ever have the heart and soul, the authenticity, of this, his first release.

Leap Of Faith - 1992 - USA

Leap Of Faith - 1992 - 6/10

 
Religious hucksters, suffering a breakdown in Kansas, set up the tents.
Well, have to pay for the repairs and parts somehow,
The region is in the midst of drought and eagerly donates money for a miracle.
Even when the town sheriff exposes chicanery, townsfolk don’t care.
Last third sees a slow shift in direction, with the cynical edge being glossed.
No unswerving Elmer Gantry tone here.
Steve Martin good as heel (always enjoyed his dramatic turns over his comedy schtick).

Super Cop - 1992 - Hong Kong

Super Cop - 1992 - 7/10
AKA - Police Story 3 // 警察故事３超級警察

 
For many Westerners, this is where Jackie Chan exploded.
Top Hong Kong cop “Kevin” teams up with Beijing Interpol officer “Jessica”.
Target, a powerful lord, with Kevin infiltrating as a friend.
With Michelle Yeoh as the Chinese cop, one should expect action on a colossal scale.
Indeed, the stunts in this are off the scale (Hollywood relied on explosions and one-liners),
As with all Jackie Chan films of this era STAY for the credits (outakes).

Husbands And Wives - 1992 - USA

Husbands And Wives - 1992 - 7/10

 
Long married couple Jack and Sally are breaking up.
To the dismay of their friends, who begin to reflect on their own marriage.
Consequences include wondering whether their own relationship is still sound.
One of Woody Allen’s darker comedy of manners, which is not always funny.
He probes here into jealousy, possession, mid-life crises.
Fiction may mirror reality here, as this was the last film between Allen and Farrow.
Their story, sadly, became public fodder, and the stuff of tabloid soap opera.

Captain Ron - 1992 - USA

Captain Ron - 1992 - 6/10

 
Milquetoast family inherits Clark Gable’s old schooner, the Wanderer, which needs work (box of matches?).
They hire the very shady Cap‘n Ron to sail the boat and them from Bermuda to Miami.
How many boozy situations and adventures can you envision?
Well, the writers and cast could concoct a lot, lot more.
This makes an OK family film, (a good stoner flick), and a laugh filled romp.
Just don’t think.  “A shark ate your eye?”

Music For The Movies: Bernard Herrmann - 1992 - USA

Music For The Movies: Bernard Herrmann - 1992 - 7/10

 
From Citizen Kane (1941) to Taxi Driver (1976).
Overview of extraordinarily gifted, if testy, composer and conductor.
Herrmann was one who broke with the style of compositions derived from the European Romantic tradition.
Talking heads include composers, musicians, directors, an ex-wife, friends.
Analyzed is his use of ostinati (repeating musical patterns), also the break with Hitchcock.
At an hour, this skims along and covers roughly a quarter of his film output.

Stay Tuned - 1992 - USA

Stay Tuned - 1992 - 5/10  

 
Lazy salesman spends his home life watching TV.
To the fury of his wife smashes the set – whereupon – a visitor arrives with a satellite dish.
Capable of viewing 666 stations.  666.  Does the couple pick up on that?  Please.
Soon enough they are sucked into the set, into bizarro, deadly programs.
Parodies of TV shows aren’t vicious enough.  Horror elements, silly.
“Stars” John Ritter and Pam Dauber lack oomph, chemistry, charisma.

Saw this when it originally screened and left me sputtering for days.
In 1989, I had pitched a highly similar premise to the old television series, “Friday The 13th”.
Male viewer is sucked into a weird TV, forced by Satan to participate in programs in Hades.
“Friday The 13th” was canceled, my 30” pitch returned (as were those to countless freelancers).
I eventually decided Stay Tuned was just coincidence.  Thems the breaks, folks.

Howard’s End - 1992 - UK

Howard’s End - 1992 - 7/10

 
Lavish Merchant-Ivory production of impoverished gentry clashing with wealthy family.
Class comes into play as the impoverished are intelligent and more sympathetic to poorer connections.
Money is its own world, portrayed by a coldly dispassionate Anthony Hopkins.
Slow throughout, with gorgeous photography.
There are a lot of characters, and interweaving triangles.  One almost needs a playbook.
Subsequent viewings will reveal more subtleties.
Powerhouse cast.
Most worthwhile if you are in the mood for a leisurely journey though manners and distinction.

Savage Nights - 1992 - France

Savage Nights - 1992 - 7/10
AKA - Les Nuits Fauves

 
Jean prefers men, although something about Laura fascinates him.
Their mutual attraction is such that they become sexually intimate.
Afterward, and not straight away, he confesses that he is, and has been, HIV positive.
At times maddening film of lust, obsession, and disinterest.
Jean is selfish, in denial, perhaps empty emotionally and spiritually.
Directed and starring Cyril Collard, based on his own novel.
At times insightful look at gay cultures, some underground, others known.

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle - 1992 - USA

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle - 1992 - 6/10

 
The home-wrecker.  Usurper.  The hot babysitter, the childless au pair.
After Peyton loses her infant, she opts to enter a new family.
Mind you, the family in question, rather the wife, she holds responsible for the death of her husband.
Once in the home, small moves, worming her way deeper as a steamy, alternative mate.
Charged erotic thriller is too classy for that genre with a strong cast of rising faces.
Rebecca De Mornay could work these roles in her sleep at this time.
Sinister date film.

The Player - 1992 - USA

The Player - 1992 - 7/10

 
Late era Altman, whom I had given up on, provides an excellent thriller / mystery.
And scathingly funny, to boot!
Hotshot young producer (pattered after a wannabee Robert Evans?), blows off one too many writers.
Yeah, yeah, writers, they are all God’s gift.  After all, their mothers told them so.
Thing is, who is the malcontent scribe?  There are so many with a bitter grudge!
For films buffs, especially classic Hollywood, this is packed with jokes, gossip, scandals.
More thoughtful souls, the current era of Hollywood that Altman satirizes acts as a metaphor for America writ large.
One to view numerous times.  Indispensable for film hounds.