Tag: 1982

DEATH WISH II (1982)

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Directed By: Michael Winner 
Written By: David Engelbach 
Based On Characters Created By: Brian Garfield
Cinematography: Tom Del Ruth and Richard H. Kline 
Editor: Arnold Crust and Julian Semian 

Cast: Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Vincent Gardenia, Anthony Franciosa, Laurence Fishburne, Ben Frank, J.D. Cannon, Robin Sherwood, Robert F. Lyons, Silvena Gallardo 

Architect Paul Kersey once again becomes a vigilante when he tries to find the five street punks who murdered his daughter and housekeeper, this time on the dark streets of Los Angeles.

While I will admit I am not a man of the first film for many reasons. I have to say the first one is definitely better than this sequel. At least it had dramatic tension and tried to be somewhat of a character piece.

This film is exploitative even when watching the theatrical version and not the unrated edition. It’s sleazy and a retread of the original. Only without any of the drama or moral questions that might have been raised before.

No, here as soon as a tragedy happens he goes right into action without a second thought and not trying to stop crime necessarily. Here Charles Bronson’s character is on a revenge mission. So while other crimes happen around him. He lets them go. 

This seems to be more of the same, only in a new location. 

This feels more like an even more Hollywood version of the bloodletting wish-fulfillment fantasy. That the audience for this franchise wants. Whereas the first film tried to be more a character-driven thriller. This is our and our action.

One of the film’s main problems is that it feels so sleazy and exploitative. Not necessarily the violence but the sexual assaults and nudity throughout. That feels gratuitous even when edited down. Even In some scenes, there is just nudity when not really needed. 

The rape and murder of the maid seem to be shown and filmed graphically mainly to show the ugliness of not only the crime but also to make the audience mad at the brutality and show how savage these characters truly are. 

The film is under 90 minutes and is never subtle and Vincent Gardenia’s character seems wasted and only as another way to link back to the first film and explain why he is in Los Angeles instead of Chicago. Though here he seems almost like comedic relief rather than as a strong character from the first film. 

Grade: C

NORMAN LOVES ROSE (1982)

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Written & Directed By: Henri Safran 
Cinematography: Vincent Monton
Editor: Don Saunders 

Cast: Carol Kane, Tony Owen, Barry Otto, David Downer, Warren Mitchell, Sandy Gore, Virginia Hey, Myra De Groot, Louise Pajo

A teenage boy falls hopelessly in love with his new sister-in-law. When she gets pregnant, someone raises the question that he might be the father–a notion he does nothing to discourage.

This is one of those films I remember the poster and box art from video stores that I frequented as a youth. Not blockbusters, more the mom-and-pop independent ones.

Never got to see it as a kid when most interested and remembered but finally recently got to see it. I believe I would have had more patience for it when I was younger. As it basically plays like a young teen fantasy come to life of romancing an older woman who you have a crush on. Only here not only does the dream come true but so do the consequences of that action and they are not all that one would expect.

The main drawing power for this film is that Carol Kane is the star of the film. Which is rare In itself and the production takes place in Australia. Wished she had gotten more lead roles instead of this misfire. As she is a constantly appealing screen presence only misused and wasted in this film. 

The film is supposed to be a comedy yet it’s never really funny and just not that good. Yet very 1980’s with a catchy main theme song. Not only is it in bad taste especially by today’s standards. It’s also very problematic.

A woman having an affair with her husband’s 12-year-old little brother is supposed to be romantic. You can understand the little brother’s actions but you question the woman is she a pedophile? starving for attention that she doesn’t get from her husband? sex crazed due to lack of sexual attention? or just in need to get pregnant. The film never answers that question and leaves the audience to answer a question they really don’t want to.

The film tries to be an ensemble film about a Jewish family but feels like it tries to invent drama where there isn’t in trying to frame it’s main plot. Worse of all it comes off dull.

Can see what the interest might have been at the time, a kind of taboo comedy that luckily doesn’t show but hints at a lot. Though it also makes you wonder who was the audience for this film overall.

As it’s not a teen movie, nor a sex comedy of T and A proportions. Nor is it exploitive, it at least tries to make the relationship look romantic. 

The brother even suspects the wrong person of having an affair due to the infidelity of his business partner. This leads to confusion for his character and ends up being the most abused throughout for very little reason. 

His father actually comes off as the most dramatic and sympathetic. In fact, throughout the film, the only character who seems to have a good head on their shoulders is the brother’s mistress.

The ending shows you the depth of young love and how quickly one can bounce their feelings to a new partner. As he seems to be a serial seducer with his innocence but now worldly ways. While it leaves her husband’s character in a kind of limbo

GRADE: F

CANNERY ROW (1982)

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Written & Directed By: David S. Ward
Based on the novels “Cannery Row” and “Sweet Thursday” By: John Steinbeck
Cinematography: Sven Nykvist
Editor: David Bretherton 

Cast: Nick Nolte, Debra Winger, M. Emmet Walsh, Audra Lindley, Frank McRae, James Keane, Kathleen Doyle, Art LaFleur, John Huston 

A depressed section of Monterey, California, known as Cannery Row from its string of now-empty canning plants is the backdrop for an offbeat romantic comedy about a pair of mismatched lovers. Doc is a lonely marine biologist (and former baseball star) who supplies specimens for science labs and classrooms. Suzy is a scrappy drifter who can’t even succeed as a prostitute because of her abrasive manner. When the two get together, it’s fireworks, though not the romantic kind. Not to worry, everything is in the hands of Cannery Row’s resident guardian angels, Mack and the boys, a band of drunken derelicts whose hearts are in the right place, even though their brains are not.

The film is atmospheric and feels enriched in culture but like John Steinbeck’s writing, it is based. It feels dull yet full of depth. It is a particular slice of life. 

The film has certain scenes that are full of charm and feel inventive. As well as a romance that feels like it takes place in real-time.

The character feels full and lived in and not necessarily caricatures. Where you could actually set stories around them individually. Which the film tries to do by giving them each time to shine. 

Debra winger comes off as charming. Especially as we learn more about her as the film goes along.

The film offers itself up more as a slice of life that feels like not too much happens. Thought the film will have A scene that will wake you up and then go back to being mundane. As the film in exchange for feeling lived in, never decides what or where it wants to go or to be.

Frank McRae plays another stereotypical mentally simple role but is meant to be more the lovable giant. This might be one of the first times he played the type. Before moving on to angry police captains in other films. 

The film feels like POPEYE the movie spin-off with a whole new set of characters but leftover similar sets.

As the film feels episodic. The film feels like a set of short stories coming Together to tie together the ensemble and focus on friendships and relationships.

Each character is lived in and feels like they have more to offer. As the film has scenes of absolute slapstick ingenuity and a hard-won romance.

One can see why the film might not have been a success, but also easily can be seen as a product of a bygone era. Even as the time period shows this more as a character-heavy periodic, episodic, and ensemble finding the story, character and themes 

This film works like that invention from the beginning of PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE. Where we see the invention and its mechanics, the nuts and bolts of it all, and are amazed at its assembly d how it works as it seems to put in a lot of synchronization for it all to work at certain intervals. 

Even entertaining to watch themselves until finally at the end. All of that for something so simple. Where the mechanics are more interesting or captivating than the act. A lot of work for something basic, that is how this film feels. 

GRADE: C+

GREASE 2 (1982)

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Directed By: Patricia Birch 
Written By: Ken Finkelman
Based On Characters Created By: Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey 
Cinematography: Frank Stanley 
Editor: John F. Burnett

Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Maxwell Caulfield, Didi Conn, Lorna Luft, Pamela Segall, Adrian Zmed, Eve Arden, Sid Caeser, Connie Stevens, Christopher McDonald, Tab Hunter

Two years after the life-altering events in Grease. Sandy’s cousin Michael, a straight-laced English student, is the new guy at Rydell High. Stephanie, the Pink Ladies’ foxy blonde leader, is about to break up with Johnny, the T-Birds’ leader, but she still likes her men dangerous, even as Michael starts to attract her attention. Now Michael needs to up his game: learn how to ride a motorcycle and transform himself into Stephanie’s hot leather-clad fantasy. Is he up to the task?

Directed by a noted choreographer Patricia birch. Who was the choreographer for the first film. The film’s showmanship is all there unfortunately the film isn’t. As it feels like a rerun of what we have already seen. 

This film is the epitome of 1950’s nostalgia that seems to be big in the 1980s. Though also an unneeded sequel.

I loved this movie as a kid. Watching it so many times. Even owning the soundtrack which I managed to get again a few years ago and enjoying it. As I know quite a few songs by heart. The songs are catchy and actually pretty good, but unfortunately still as memorable as the first film or its songs.

As there it comes off as an inferior copy that isn’t quite as sharp at all. It’s duller and the cast isn’t as memorable as their roles seem more uninspired. Making the t-birds more idiotic and not tough.

Though the characters trying to carry on in the grand legend and showing that they fall short isn’t intentional. It pretty much sums up this movie and its relationship to the first film.

Here they come off as imposing yet more jokes and comic relief caricatures as they Aren’t threatening. It’s an interesting case study in trying to act cool when truly scared in the role that you choose.

Everyone tries to give it they’re all but watching certain things come standing out. Such as it’s set in the 1950s yet Michelle Pfeiffer seems to be the only character who dresses in 1980s (when the film was made) fashion. This also helps showcase her future stardom as she definitely shows star potential more than anyone else. The movie is a true stepping stone for her

Other than most of the cast being obviously Too old to play teenagers. You can tell everyone in the background is a dancer just waiting to start dancing and singing on camera. Especially when it comes to their enthusiastic acting and facial movements.

It’s also ridiculous that no one can recognize the cool rider as Michael. As he doesn’t really change his voice. Only lowers it, and even though he wears a helmet he takes it off and only wears goggles that are barely shaded.

He even makes out with Michelle Pfeiffer and she never still recognizes him. Then singing the big number HANDS OF TIME comes off as one of the most unintentionally overblown ridiculous numbers. 

No one is truly a character. They all play types. It doesn’t help that unfortunately, Maxwell Caulfield has the looks but his singing can’t hit certain notes.

Even his plans to seduce her come off as douche. As they are more about manipulation and falsehoods. Even if the film tries to portray it as some kind of cute romantic turn. As he is basically dishonest throughout with her. 

Though the film is a cash-in. The production also has earnestness and energy. As well as campy as hell. Even if the plan was a quick cash-in and hoping to ride the success of the first film for the producer Allan Carr. Though the script for a proposed third film was resurrected later and made into HIGH SCHOOL THE MUSICAL. 

Grade: C

TURKEY SHOOT (1982) (ESCAPE 2000) (BLOOD CAMP THATCHER)

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Directed By: Brian Trenchard-Smith
Written By: Jon George & Neill Hicks 
Story By: Robert Williams, David Lawrence & George Schenck 
Cinematography: John McLean
Editor: Alan Lake

Cast: Steve Railsback, Olivia Hussey, Michael Craig, Carmen Duncan, Noel Ferrier, Lynda Stoner, Roger Ward, Michael Petrovitch, Gus Mercurio, John Ley 

In a dystopian future where deviants are held in “re-education” camps, a freedom fighter and a wrongfully-accused prisoner form an alliance to survive their decadent oppressors’ game of kill-or-be-killed – and turn the tide against them.

This is pure Ozploitation a prime example of the cinematic style and genre.

This is a B-Movie that strikes the right tone. As it is ridiculous and explosive but stays inventive and entertaining. 

Some might even watch this movie and can see it as an early version of the film THE RUNNING MAN 

This is a film that makes clear from the beginning who will not likely be the victims. 

The film seems to try to build up a sexiness for a female character but never quite follows through. Never giving her any character and is eliminated without a thought especially when it seems the female warden has a special interest in Her, more than any of the males.

Most of the wardens are actually more interesting and fun than the prisoners.

One of the evil wardens doesn’t even seem like he was really capable of doing any real hunting, physically. 

This film is one of the few times seeing Olivia Hussey in a film and as the lead. She is quite beautiful as the most innocent of the bunch. Which helps her to get the audience’s biggest sympathies throughout.

There are times when the film goes over the top in many fun ways. When it comes to the action, violence, and character but it also travels into the ridiculous. Like when it comes to the strange animal wolf-human character. 

The bald guard who aids the warden thought he was going to be a bigger adversary for the prisoners if he ends up barely being a Challenge. As the film seems to set him up at first as more of the main villain than just a right-hand man. 

This movie is never truly slow or boring. Though is continuously violent and ridiculous that you can’t help but have a fun time watching 

GRADE: B+

THE LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN (1982)

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Written & Directed By: Boaz Davidson
Cinematography: Adam Greenberg
Editor: Bruria Davidson 


Cast: Lawrence Monoson, Steve Antin, Diane Franklin, Joe Rubbo, Kimmy Robertson, Louisa Moritz, Brian Peck 


The friendship of a group of young friends struggling with teen sex, drugs, and work is jeopardized by a romantic interest which may turn pals into bitter rivals.

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