Book review - "Killin' Generals: The Making of The Dirty Dozen, the Most Iconic WW II Movie of All Time" by Dwayne Epstein

 I love the movie and enjoyed the book though I'm not sure there's enough material here for a whole book. The film wasn't too complicated - man heard rumour from Russ Meyer, wrote book, book sold to MGM, book was turned into script and then film quite quickly, made relatively easy. It was a guys on a mission WW2 action movie, they weren't inventing the wheel. The film was fortunate in its timing and stars - got it cresting at the right time. There's an interview with Ken Hyman which is a coup - a book on his career would've been better. The film had some colourful actors but under Robert Aldrich everyone was kept in line. I enjoyed it, just think maybe this was better as an article.

Movie review - "Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1" (2023) *** (warning: spoilers)

 The title was a turn off I feel. Part One... come on... Couldn't they come up with two stories? It feels a little ruthless to introduce another slim long haired woman with a shady past to fall for Tom Cruise, and have her in the same film as Rebecca Ferguson, then to kill off Rebecca Ferguson.

There's too much talk about keys and the dark and shade and how it's all changed and who is good anyway etc etc etc... because these films who is good is really kind of simple, it's Tom Cruise and his friends.

Anyway there are still decent twists and turns, I love Chris MacQuarrie gets to show off his love for The Train and The Great Escape, the action is splendid, Cruiser is Cruisier. I just wish they'd told it in one movie that's all.

TV review - "Succession - Final' Season" (2023) ***** (warning: spoilers)

Divine. Maybe loses a little invevitably with the death of Brian Cox. But it plays out weill. Dialogue so awesome you could swim in it.

Movie review - "Tentacles" (1977) **

 Amiable Jaws knock off has some stylish direction, phtotography and music as well as an enjoyable collection of Hollywood hams: Henry Fonda as a shonky businessman, John Huston as a newspaper editor, Shelley Winters as a mum.  None of these roles are big - the big part is Bo Hopkins as a killer whale trainer whose wife and sister in law are killed so he sets out to get the killer octopus with said whales.

Octopuses aren't that scary on flim but there's decent sequences.

Movie review - "Something Borrowed" (2011) *1/2 (re-watching)

 Terrible. Kate Hudson is on autopilot. She and Gennifer Goodwin never seem like friends. Goodwin seems bored. Colin Eggletston is like a robot. John Krasinski wins whatever honurs are going. It's not even attractive to look at.

Movie review - "Beat Girl" (1960) **1/2

 An old school melodrama - sulky teen reacts badly to dad's new wife - is given modern trappings. Gillian Hills has plenty of curves and pouts as the teen - she's gorgeous, was discovered by Roger Vadim, and can act well enough. I'm surprised she didn't become a bigger star.

The modern trappings incude the Soho setting - Hills is tempted to become a stripper in a sleazy club run by Christopher Lee. The cast is lots of fun. Noelle Adams is the step mum, David Farrar is dad, kids hanging out include Adam Faith, Peter McEnery, Oliver Ree and Shirley Ann Field. 

John Barry provided music. There's some entertaining beanik dialogue and kids dancing.

Movie review - Spitfire#1 - "The Girl from Mexico" (1939) **

 A sleeper hit for RKO which kicked off the Mexican Spitfire series. RKO B's were always nicely unpretentious and technically well done. A lot of musicals had a plot about trying to be a radio star - ad man Donald Woods finds Lupe Velez to sing.

Woods was a handsome lunk who played handsome men in flms like Anthony Adverse but who lacked charisma. Velez had it, so did Leon Errol who is Woods' uncle.

It's quite bright. Yes Velez has a cliche part but she drives the action, gets famous, gets the guy (away from the stock fake love interest). Good natured.