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Reviews
The Way of the Gun (2000)
Utter coolness . . . and lots of gunplay
This film was conditioned by the screenplay, and perfectly assembled by the director. del Toro and Philippe make excellent modern-day cowboys, out for the score on whatever rolls their way.
A crime-boss, his wife, their bodyguards and a surrogate mother make an excellent target, especially with the promise of seven-figures. After an all-to-clever kidnapping, the kidnappers themselves meet their match in a weathered, tried nemesis James Caan.
This film has everything somebody looking for a functional and new action-flick has to be. This is the new standard. Like "The Usual Suspects", this film oozes with criminals who we hate to love, criminals who we love to hate, and an ending that is everything if inevitable.
The Eiger Sanction (1975)
Secret Agent Dirty Harry
Of all Eastwood's films, this ranks on my top three list. If you're interested in seeing Dirty Harry Callahan with a Phd. in Art History and wearing crampons, then rent this movie tonight. There is some terrific photography in this movie, as the last hour was filmed all in Switzerland. That, coupled with Eastwood's classic delivery of tough-guy one-liners, make this film certainly worth seeing.
The Andromeda Strain (1971)
Excellent adaptation of Crichton's novel
With so many liberties being taken when writing screenplays based on novels, you often end up with a movie that is totally different from the book. Maybe some people like that, and since few people read books anymore anyways, rarely does anyone notice it. That is why I think this film is excellent. There were some small parts of the book that were left out, but from start to finish this film does the best job following the novel that I've ever seen from Hollywood.
Bataan (1943)
An excellent film about courage, duty, and honor
I remember seeing this film as a child, but only recently did I get a copy of the DVD and experience it as an adult. Being a student of history and in the military, war films have to go a long way to impress me. This one doesn't let you down. In some ways I think it does a better job realistically portraying war than some modern films I've seen. This small patrol of US Army soldiers must contend with lethal sniper fire, air raids, and overwhelming numbers of Japanese soldiers. One other thing it does a good job at is fully representing the diverse social spectrum of our country. For a film made in 1943, that is quite an accomplishment. Bravo!
The Devil's Triangle (1971)
This one actually frightened me
It was in released in the mid-1970s when everybody was coming out with movies trying to explain the Bermuda Triangle craze. Unlike most of those (which were mostly documentaries anyway), this one was a fictional explanation. It seems pretty straightforward in it's storytelling until the last ten minutes. It is this last ten minutes that actually frightened me. If you have the chance to see this one I'd recommend it.
Destination Tokyo (1943)
Run out and join the Navy today, Uncle Sam Wants You
This film was made in the middle of World War Two and was signed-off on by the Navy Department. Therefore, it is a very propaganda-oriented film. Despite this, I still think it is one of the better WWII Submarine films. Cary Grant is always entertaining, and you might notice Alan Hale as the cook, before he went on to skipper his own boat in "Gilligan's Island." If you like submarine films or World War II films this one is worth seeing.