tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post8080796559181973473..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: Summer of Films: F/X (1986)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-80363202819295468312014-09-10T09:33:28.373-04:002014-09-10T09:33:28.373-04:00Andrew -
Yeah, I forgot to mention that. Her dea...Andrew - <br /><br />Yeah, I forgot to mention that. Her death wasn't needed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-18249788363665987912014-09-10T00:16:40.615-04:002014-09-10T00:16:40.615-04:00Sccott, It does have a Three Days of the Condor vi...Sccott, It does have a <i>Three Days of the Condor</i> vibe, except it also feels very much like a 1980s film rather than a political 1970s film.<br /><br />CGI would suck as a film!<br /><br />On the second film, I enjoy it, but I think it's very flawed. Even the production values are a notch below. The grocery store scene, for example, is fun but also feels totally staged to the point of being comedic.<br /><br />I also don't like that they killed Denehey's girlfriend. That seemed like too much for the lighthearted vibe of these films.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-32518320658912729372014-09-09T23:26:58.759-04:002014-09-09T23:26:58.759-04:00Turns out the second film was on HBO On Demand, to...Turns out the second film was on HBO On Demand, too!<br /><br />It was okay... I'm wondering if it would be thought of more fondly if the first film didn't exist. It was still neat to see all of Rollie's tricks but they made him too much like MacGyver... able to get out of any jam with just a lighter and hairspray, that sort of thing. It features one of my favorite character actors, Philip Bosco, but I think he was wasted in this movie. And the technology... you'd never have a line like, "Do you know how to use a modem?" in a movie today!<br /><br />The biggest disappointment... where was Brian Dennehy's mustache? :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-86893553842354522612014-09-09T10:10:10.936-04:002014-09-09T10:10:10.936-04:00Andrew -
Turns out this was on HBO On Demand thi...Andrew - <br /><br />Turns out this was on HBO On Demand this whole time! I just finished it. I liked it, though I agree with a couple of comments that the film strains credulity a few times (Rollie knowing every kind of effect and he's able to do it all on the fly by himself)... plus there were more than a few "on the nose" lines: "N/A?" "Yeah, not applicable." No shit! :-) <br /><br />And the female assistant was a little too much of a ditz for my liking. But that's more acting than the writing. Brown and Dennehy are great, though.<br /><br />What's funny is, this movie seems to have a loyal cult audience, but if it had starred Robert Redford and had been made 10 years earlier, it'd be considered a modern classic like <i>Three Days of the Condor</i> (which was a vibe I got from this movie).<br /><br />They could remake this movie today... they could call it <i>CGI</i> and would involve doctoring footage of some kind... EXCEPT: a.) it wouldn't be as exciting, and b.) all of this technology is much more accessible to regular people now, so there wouldn't be any novelty to it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-36552376524854784032014-08-17T12:31:46.238-04:002014-08-17T12:31:46.238-04:00GypsyTyger, LOL! GypsyTyger, LOL! AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-4734593800089913892014-08-17T12:31:27.179-04:002014-08-17T12:31:27.179-04:00Scott, You really should see this one. Your 1980&...Scott, You really should see this one. Your 1980's film knowledge isn't complete without it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-85800459943357923832014-08-17T12:31:05.847-04:002014-08-17T12:31:05.847-04:00PikeBishop, Those were excellent films as well. T...PikeBishop, Those were excellent films as well. The 1980s were a good time for films, especially the second tier films that weren't as famous at the time.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-27858261744078844972014-08-16T13:32:47.866-04:002014-08-16T13:32:47.866-04:00Scott:
Mr. Brown hit the lottery twice. He's b...Scott:<br />Mr. Brown hit the lottery twice. He's been married to Rachel Ward since 1983.<br />It just ain't right.<br />GypsyTygerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-40795063516912314232014-08-10T15:59:32.036-04:002014-08-10T15:59:32.036-04:00Another one I missed... and another one I've b...Another one I missed... and another one I've been told I should see by several parties!<br /><br />I'll just need to "find" it one day. ;-)<br /><br />(And yes, uh, Bryan Brown won the lottery with his role in <i>Full Body Massage</i>.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-44052562079676522222014-08-10T10:26:37.020-04:002014-08-10T10:26:37.020-04:00Also in 86-87, "Stand by Me," Manhunter...Also in 86-87, "Stand by Me," Manhunter (the original appearance of Hanibal Lecter, and Brian Cox blows Sir Anthony away), "Now Way Out" and DiPalma's masterpiece "the Untouchables." Good times indeed.PikeBishophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05761380937971970762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-47095909609675044812014-08-10T02:16:30.185-04:002014-08-10T02:16:30.185-04:00Floyd, I have seen that and enjoyed it. I also re...Floyd, I have seen that and enjoyed it. I also really enjoyed <i>Stakeout</i>. That was a good time for films!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-89585815379315309942014-08-09T07:37:37.719-04:002014-08-09T07:37:37.719-04:00Love F/X. Andrew have you seen Blow Out? Another...Love F/X. Andrew have you seen Blow Out? Another overlooked 80s film with John Travolta (DePalma was on a roll save for the execrable Casualties of War)<br /><br />Stakeout with Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez -- also greatFloyd R. Turbohttp://www.threedonia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-34352872606869918982014-08-07T23:34:32.757-04:002014-08-07T23:34:32.757-04:00Dave, Sadly, Hollywood is all about risk aversion ...Dave, Sadly, Hollywood is all about risk aversion and remaking a film that has found an audience is safer than doing something new.<br /><br /><i>F/X</i> is definitely a much better film than its sequel. As to why they would show the sequel just as much (or more), I suspect that has to do with cost. Apparently that drives most programming decisions, at least on the cable networks.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-33705680983338032202014-08-07T23:32:23.076-04:002014-08-07T23:32:23.076-04:00Thanks Ben! This actually causes me to think that...Thanks Ben! This actually causes me to think that if you're going to make an action film, you should at least have someone important on staff who isn't an action guy so that they can force the kinds of things actions films normally neglect, i.e. characterization.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-73767860187717096512014-08-07T22:45:28.565-04:002014-08-07T22:45:28.565-04:00Excellent review, Andrew!
I concur, it is a solidl...Excellent review, Andrew!<br />I concur, it is a solidly good film, with great characterization. I like how it avoids all the cliches and lazy writing so inherent in most action films. Goes to show that the best action films are usually the smartest as well.USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-46743183787223293092014-08-07T22:28:36.638-04:002014-08-07T22:28:36.638-04:00It's odd, F/X is a much better film than its s...It's odd, <i>F/X</i> is a much better film than its sequel, but I seem to have seen <i>F/X2</i> on cable a LOT more than the original. It says plenty about the programming directors of America's cable channels. <br /><br /><i>F/X</i> doesn't need a remake any more than it needed a sequel. For the love of Pete, Hollywood, think outside the box and try to come up with a high-concept movie that's at least somewhat original. Dave Olsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-59261609313124526172014-08-07T14:22:37.741-04:002014-08-07T14:22:37.741-04:00PikeBishop, I haven't seen it.PikeBishop, I haven't seen it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-27107654113382555562014-08-07T14:22:14.513-04:002014-08-07T14:22:14.513-04:00KRS, There was definitely an Australian wave at th...KRS, There was definitely an Australian wave at the time, and Brown benefited from it. Though, sadly, he never did catch on as a major star. He also did <i>Cocktail</i> around this time.<br /><br />In terms of re-watchability, there are definitely some twists that are better the first time. But overall, I think the story is very re-watchable.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-59674693759054262902014-08-07T12:53:04.598-04:002014-08-07T12:53:04.598-04:00Speaking of Australian Cinema, had anyone ever see...Speaking of Australian Cinema, had anyone ever seen the almost forgotten Paul Hogan project "Almost an Angel?" I never was interested in any of those "touched by" or "Highway to Heaven" stories, but I just ended up watching this one night and wow, it took some turns I didn't expect and even has an amazing, "never saw that coming" plot development (notice I avoided the dance associated with Chubby Checker word) towards the end. PikeBishophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05761380937971970762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-76250040575524504182014-08-07T12:30:23.266-04:002014-08-07T12:30:23.266-04:00Nice pick, Andrew. This is a great film. I am pa...Nice pick, Andrew. This is a great film. I am particularly fond of the everyman beats the masters of all evil schtick, when it is done this well. The movie relies on a number of finely executed misdirections that somewhat diminishes the experience in watching it again, but I've watched it more than once and enjoyed it.<br /><br />The movie came of the heels of the wave of Australian films that had been hitting the US for the previous years: Mad Max (1979), Breaker Morant, (1980), Phar Lap ('81), Gallipoli ('81), Year of Living Dangerously ('82), Man from Snowy River ('82) and the first Crocodile Dundee ('85). We thought the Australian film industry was rising to rival Hollywood, then it suddenly seemed to peter out. One of the very cool things about their products was that they went into inspirational story telling as Hollywood descended into cynical tropes, so the Aussies felt fresh. Even in examples such as Breaker Morant and Gallipoli, you can find messages that affirm the nobility of man, despite the fates of the protagonists.<br /><br />The 80's were a great decade for films of all stripes and you often didn't know what to expect when you entered a theater. I guess that experience is gone for good.<br /><br />Kinda sorry that Bryan Brown isn't more prevalent in the cinema.KRSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-41325942885710080982014-08-07T12:05:02.781-04:002014-08-07T12:05:02.781-04:00Backthrow, Die Hard is a good comparison in that r...Backthrow, <i>Die Hard</i> is a good comparison in that regard. Rollie is very much an everyman, except for his special effects skills. And it's those skills the bad guys underestimate.<br /><br />In terms of credibility, there are a few moments that stretch things a bit, but overall the movie is sufficiently enjoyable that you gloss over those moments with little difficulty. Agreed on the puns.<br /><br />I think Mason Adams is excellent. He plays a very convincing DOJ chief and then a very convincing bad guy, all without ever seeming maniacal or truly evil... just corrupt.<br /><br />Yeah, the sequel wasn't nearly as good. It's watchable, but highly flawed and it lacks most of the charm and fun of this film.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-90834111374923070692014-08-07T11:53:20.166-04:002014-08-07T11:53:20.166-04:00I saw F/X in the theater in '86, loved it then...I saw F/X in the theater in '86, loved it then, watched it on cable and DVD several times since, and it holds up well.<br /><br />I'd say the only thing that strains a little bit of credibility --and this is minor, as these things go-- is that the film asks us to believe that Brown is a master at a wide variety of effects techniques; traditional theatrical makeup, animatronics, all manner of practical/physical effects work (explosive charges, mirrors, etc), stuntwork, etc.<br /><br />Not only that he can do this on the fly, while the villains and police are after him, but that he does it all, normally, on the set of major film projects, with maybe one assistant. If that were true, end credit rolls would be significantly shorter, lol. <br /><br />And they go a little overboard with the pun movie titles. From the references, it seems like every film Rollin has ever worked on is a joke title, like "I Dismember Mama". <br /><br />But it's a fun movie, so, you roll with these.<br /><br />Mason Adams is good here, also, as the villainous Smuckers Jelly spokesman.<br /><br />Very much recommended for those who've missed it. If you like stories about an outnumbered-and-presumably-doomed character who is vastly underestimated by his opponents (DIEHARD, anyone?), this is a must.<br /><br />I seem to remember the sequel being not nearly as good.Backthrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02289433396695381105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-57696253617085047172014-08-07T11:28:44.000-04:002014-08-07T11:28:44.000-04:00Jason, I constantly hear talk about a remake. I t...Jason, I constantly hear talk about a remake. I think the premise is irresistible to Hollywood.<br /><br />It's not <i>Back to the Future</i> or <i>Raiders of the Lost Arc</i>, but this is a good film and well worth your time. That's why it's found an audience and it appears on television regularly.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-6543912438541571702014-08-07T11:22:29.938-04:002014-08-07T11:22:29.938-04:00GypsyTyger, I think you'll like it. And Brown...GypsyTyger, I think you'll like it. And Brown does a lot better than <i>Psyche</i> would suggest, though yes, he doesn't have the star power to carry most movies on his own.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-39305436031440130392014-08-07T09:27:13.353-04:002014-08-07T09:27:13.353-04:00I also haven’t seen this movie but I’ve heard of i...I also haven’t seen this movie but I’ve heard of it. It’s one of those titles that, sometime, somewhere, you’ll hear about at least once. Your review sounds a lot like what other people have said about it: an enjoyable action picture with good characters and a neat premise.<br /><br />And, perhaps to no surprise, this is another title that gets talked up for a remake. <br />Jasonnoreply@blogger.com