Movie review - "Start Trek III: The Search for Spock" (1984) *** (warning: spoilers)

 Direct pick up from part 2 with Kirk trying to save Bones, and retrieve Spock by stealing the Enterprise. Because they're looking for Spock, his absence until the end isn't noticed. The film has learned from Part 2 to keep the regulars at the forefront - the plot is about rescuing Bones, and finding Spock, and the Enterprise blows up, and Kirk's boring son is in danger and dies (he doesn't even get a close up the poor guy).

Kirstie Alley's replacement as the female Vulcan isn't as good. I like Chris Lloyd's nasty Klingon - Shatner gets to beat him up and throw him off a cliff presumably to make up for not doing with the Khan.

Some nice lines, Shatner has a fine old hammy time. Sorry these stories are a little silly. Why didn't Nichelle Nichols go on the mission? It seems weird just with Scoy, Sulu and Chekov.

Nice to see Australia's own Judith Anderson at the end.

Movie review - "Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan" (1982) ***1/2 (warning: spoilers)

 I saw this at the cinema and didn't like it -too slow. I still find it a little slow although I totally respect the love the fans have for it. It's much better than the 1979 film - less enamoured of its special effects, tighter, faster, but most of all: it puts the emotions of its regulars front and centre. One of the people on the planet is Chekob, Kirk deals with an ex and his son, Spock dies, Khan is after Kirk. It doesn't talk down to its audience.

Movie review - "Star Trek The Motion Picture" (1979) **1/2

 The fans don't like this even though they did turn up and it's got the cast. The special effects are pretty snazzy - maybe lingered over too long. I think the core problem is the big emotional stakes - the spirit of the bald lady being possessed (Persis Khambatta) and the man who loves her (Stephen Collins) being affected - are "guest stars". This issue needed to be given to our regulars.

Still it's not bad. It's smart. Talky. Nice to see everyone, although only Spock has much to do.

Movie review - "Junior Bonner" (1972) **`1/2

 Part of that weird early 70s enthusiasm for rodeo movies, this is arguably the best known, starring Steve McQueen and directed by Sam Peckinpah, although it didn't make much money.

McQueen is very cool and good. Peckinpah's direction is understated. The acting is fine. Robert Preston is flashy dad, Ida Lupino is harder mum, Barbara Leigh is the hot girl (that's about it). Joe Don Baker is excellent as McQueen's realestate brother. Ben Johnson is in it as some rodeo guy.

The movie  would've been more exciting with McQueen as a gunslinger. Sorry, it's nice Peckinpah wanted to change pace, but the film is boring.

Aussies will like how McQueen buys Preston a ticket to Australia (Preston's dream destination).

Movie review - "The Under Pup" (1939) ***

 All I really know about Gloria Jean is that she was Universal's back up Deanna Durbin but this debut starring vehicle is a charming tale, perhaps to be expected from producer Joe Pasternak (Richard Wallace directed).

It's a decent story - Gloria is a plucky 11 year old from a poor background with colourful uncles (including C Aubrey Smith) who wins a chance to go to summer camp. There's plenty of bitches but some nice sones too as well as pleasant counsellors Robert Cummings (his follow up to Three Smart Girls Grow Up) and Nan Grey.

The cast is full of familiar faces like Dickie Moore, Beulah Bondi, Billy Gilbert and Australia's own Cecil Kellaway. Cummings' part is quite small - he does get a funny scene where football fan Jean gives him some sass (heis character is a footballer). The subplot about a lonely girl and her divorcing parents getting back together is sweet.

Aubrey Smith does well enough listening to Jean warble. Cecil Kellaway does too at the start - he'd just done that in Mr Chedworth Steps Out.

Movie review - "Cross of Iron" (1977) ***

 Some good stuff here. Focusing on Germans in the Eastern front gives this a solid downbeat quality. Some excellent war scenes. James Coburn plays it straight, no joking, and it's a reminder that he can act. Max Schell and James Mason are on hand. It's long. Bad female roles again - rape victims, and Santa Berger as a hot nurse who roots Mason.

But Peckinpah resonated with material. Some good scenes. Much better than The Killer Elite I think being away from Hollywood helped him.

Movie review - "And One Was Beautiful" (1940) **1/2

 Odd melodrama with two sisters in love with the same guy - sophisticated Jean Muir and "homey" Laraine Day with Robert Cummings as the gyy. Muir and Cummings go to a party he gets wasted and insists on driving - but then she does it, she runs over and kills someone. He takes the fall. That's not a bad drama set up.

The film stacks the deck against Muir - who actually had my sympathy. She lies, Cummings goes "no I'd remember running someone over" which isn't true, Day instantly suspects her sister... A little more work and this could've been a lot better.

Day is sweet, Muir good and Cummings charming - the acting is a reasonable standard. And it's got MGM gloss. Cummings seems remarkably chipper the whole time for someone who is up for murder. He's chipper in prison, and chipper when he finds out he's innocent. The family of the guy Muir kills are forgiving - plucky stock working class types.

The film covers a lot of ground.