Hijacked: Flight 285 (1996)

Fairly unoriginal aeroplan hijacking movie with a cast of stereotypes in the Airport movie tradition. It isn't that bad though.

Convicted murder Peter (Anthony Michael Hall) is being transported on a commercial flight, however he has two friends aboard the flight who release him from the Marshals and he takes over the flight. He demands a flight to freedom and twenty million dollars. FBI investigator Deni (Ally Sheedy) is rushed from her gymnastics coaching (really) to handle the situation...

As usual with these films we follow the story with a number of the fellow passengers. So, we have the rude drunk businessman (David Graf), the retired couple, the troubled family who come good as the varied passenger stereotypes (no alcoholic middle aged woman though which is disappointing, so we can't complete the bingo card). All are vital to the plot to some degree though so that is good.

The film is quite generic we are to be honest with few surprises but it is competently done. If a bit ridiculous.

False Pretenses (1935)

A fairly familiar subject maybe but nicely done.

Mary (Irene Ware), after being embarrassed by her drunken oaf boyfriend, loses her job as a waitress. She meets a rich former millionaire who is now skint (and stops him killing himself). Kenneth (Sidney Blackmer) and Mary concocts a plan where he will teach Mary how to be a refined lady and snag a rich husband (and she can pay him a finder's fee). Naturally, things don't go to plan...

So, a familiar story, poor girl learns how to be a rich girl. Its a pleasant little comedy with some decent performances and good chemistry between the lead pair. Witty dialogue especially early on makes the film, it does fall a little flat later on though the film is short enough for this not really to be a problem.

Firepower (1993)

Its the near future, street gangs have taken over parts of the city where the police are afraid to go.

However, police detectives Darren (Chad McQueen) and Nick (Gary Daniels) are operating undercover to investigate Drexal (Joseph Ruskin) who runs illegal drugs including counterfeit AIDS vaccines in the no-go zones and also runs death matches, his champion The Swordsman always wins. The Swordsman is Jim Hellwig aka The Ultimate Warrior in what is probably his only movie role!

So, this is pretty basic stuff. Violent and cheap, everything is rather dark despite all of the open fires. Nothing really makes a lot of sense but it doesn't really matter as there will probably be another killing in ten seconds. The Ultimate Warrior is probably the best part of the film even though he doesn't really say much. 

The Groundstar Conspiracy (1972)

A tense spy drama that keeps you guessing and has some pretty amazing twists.

An explosion at a top secret rocket lab seems to have left only one survivor Welles (Michael Sarrazin) who turns up a bloody mess at the home of Nicole (Christine Belford). Government investigator Tuxan (George Peppard) thinks Welles has stolen top secret data but the problem is, Welles has no memory of the events, in fact he claims he has no memory of anything!

Tuxan ruthlessly probes Welles but it really does seem that he has no memory. Tuxan stages Welles' release to try and flush out the dark figures behind the conspiracy. Welles and Nicole go on the run but Tuxan is always watching... even the bedroom!

A surprisingly good film packed full of government hysteria and mystery and it will keep you guessing about what is really going on. 

Up in the Air (1940)

A tale of murder and mystery on the wireless.

Frankie (Frankie Darro) is a page boy in a swanky radio station building. He pretends to be a big shot though to impress new receptionist Anne (Marjorie Reynolds) and try and get her a spot on air (she does have a very pleasing singing voice). He is also trying to master his comedy act with the janitor Jeff (Mantan Moreland).

However, the station's big star Rita (Lorna Grey) is shot dead during a rehearsal. Soon a singing cowboy called Tex (Gordon Jones) is also killed. How are they linked and how is Anne mixed up in it? Frankie of course wants to find out, dragging a reluctant Jeff along with him...

One of a series of films starring Darro and Moreland who worked very well together. It is a bright and breezy drama with plenty of comedy thrown in. Highly entertaining if not exactly a deep or original mystery.

The Mystery Airman (Serial) (1928)

A classic serial set in the air, with ten episodes and nine death defying cliffhangers.

The Baker Airplane Company led by Jack Baker (Walter Miller) has developed some new world beating technology for it's aeroplanes. However, a rival company want this technology and are prepared to use nefarious means to get it (of course!) Baker and his aircraft are continually attacked by a fleet of mysterious raider aircraft led by Pilot X...

So, this is familiar serial fare. The aerial scenes are a bit hit and miss and can be a bit difficult to work out what is actually happening but the episodes have sufficient fast moving action and plot twists and turns toi keep you entertained. The identity of Pilot X is of course unknown though is one of the other characters with a mask, so you can try and work it out before the big reveal! Also stars Eugenia Gilbert, Robert Walker, Eugene Burr and Dorothy Tallcot... is one of those Pilot X? Find out next week (maybe).

Gamera vs Viras (1968)

Every Japanese child's favourite rocket propelled giant turtle battles a bizarre space monster, as usual.

Aliens plan to conquer the Earth, however the mighty Gamera spoils their plans by destroying their ship. The aliens (in another ship of course) instead use two annoying cub scouts in a submarine to trap Gamera and put him under their control. 

Gamera then destroys Tokyo, which has probably only just been rebuilt after the last time Gamera destroyed it. Finally, Gamera is released from the alien spell but then has to battle Viras the giant space squid...

This is the usual Japanese monster fare but includes little you have not seen before (sometimes literally as this is padded out with footage from earlier films). Its OK but there are better monster films out there.

Bounty Tracker (1993)

A film about a bounty tracker, which is basically a bounty hunter but with a different title.

Jonathan (Lorenzo Lamas) is a bounty hunter tracker heads out west to visit his brother in LA. Unfortunately brother Paul (Paul Regina) and his firm of lawyers is mixed up in a murky crime boss trial. When Paul's law firm is literally wiped out by a gang led by Gauss (Matthias Hues), Paul gets police protection. However, that doesn't save him from Gauss and his top hit woman Jewels (Cyndi Pass)...

Jonathan wants revenge against Gauss and enters the LA underworld to try and track him down, including a rather strange fight scene at an Indonesian martial arts dojo. Jonathan ends up getting some help from a bunch of kids.

An ultra violent film with a basic script which simply provides a skeleton for the violent set pieces to be hung off. Not very original or high art but entertaining if you like a high body count. The sort of film you would get from the video store as a teenager and loved all to death but nowadays cringe throughout if you watched it, well not me as i am still the teenager inside and loved it. There is plenty of early 1990s cheese on show as well. Great stuff!

Murder with Pictures (1936)

An enjoyable crime caper, naturally with a wise cracking journalist like they always are in 1930s movies!

After crime boss Nate Girard (Onslow Stevens) is found not-guilty of murder, newspaper photographer Kent (Lew Ayres) gets on the story. At a party Nate holds to celebrate, a mysterious woman called Meg (Gail Patrick) confronts him. Later Meg turns up at Kent's apartment begging for help (he is in the shower at the time!) Redfield (Earnest Crossard), Nate's lawyer, was shot during a press photo call. In the confusion Meg fled and now she is suspected of carrying out the murder!

Kent decides to help Meg but he soon finds himself drugged (by Meg) and his apartment ransacked (by Nate's men). However, his friend and rival McGoogin (Paul Kelly) may have given him the clue to the identity of the real killer...

A fast moving film with some good performances though the plot at times is a little strange or far fetched. The sub-plot with Kent's annoying fiancé (Joyce Compton) doesn't really add anything to the film.

Death Race 2000 (1975)

One of the ultimate future shock road movies.

It is the year 2000 and America is run by a brutal regime pacifying the masses by the entertainment of the death race across America where bonus points are available for running people down! The regime's hero is Frankenstein (David Carradine) and ranged against him a strange crew of over the top characters including Italian pseudo-mafioso Machine Gun (Sylvester Stallone).

Meanwhile, a group of freedom fighters are aiming to bring the regime down and plan to crash the race to do it. Frankenstein himself though isn't quite what he seems...

Satirical, unusual and very violent. Death race certainly isn't lacking in kills (bonus points!) Its not lacking in good humour too. The racing perhaps is nonsense but the cars had a certain quirky feel about them. A really great film. 

Drums of the Desert (1940)

An enjoyable war film, including Mantan Moreland in a serious role for a change.

Paul Dumont (Ralph Byrd) is an officer in the French Foreign Legion heading out to his new appointment in north Africa. He meets Helene (Lorna Gray) on the boat and falls in love, however when they reach port she disappears. But when he reaches his new posting he discovers Helene is already there and is engaged to marry his commanding officer Captain Brideaux (George Lynn)!

Meanwhile, Abdullah (Willy Castello) plans revenge on the Legion after his brother is killed. Dumont and Helene soon find themselves caught up in a deadly crossfire...

Although the romantic part of the film can be a bit overly dramatic at times, the film is given depth by the military scenes. Mantan Moreland plays a Legion NCO and does really well in a non-comedic role.

The Undead (1957)

An interesting film despite the premise which at first glance looks like run-of-the-mill witchcraft horror but there is a lot more to it.

Unscrupulous scientist Ratcliff (Val Dufour) has devised a way to send someone back to relive a past life. He pays for prostitute Diana (Pamela Duncan) to lie on his couch, though not for the usual reason. Diana is sent back in time and discovers she is a witch who is due to be beheaded! Diana escapes and links up with a coven including Livia (Allison Hayes) and even Satan (Richard Devon) himself!

The problem for Diana is, if she avoids death in the past, then her future lives may not exist. Ratcliff heads back himself into her past life to help her make the right decision...

Witchcraft films of the period tended to be rather campy and a bit like a pantomime. However, this film is saved by the dilemma and internal battle Diana faces, plus a rather dark twist. Surprisingly good.

Mission of Justice (1992)

This film is basically one long martial arts fight punctuated by little bits of plot. As the fighting is of pretty decent quality (and very violent) then this isn't that bad a thing.

Kurt (Jeff Wincott) is a disillusioned police officer who quits due to the odds stacked against the force. Mayoral candidate Dr Larkin (Brigitte Nielsen) also seems to agree with him, as she has recruited her own vigilante force to help the police. Kurt joins this force though because he is suspicious of Larkin and her actions and thinks she is behind the death of his friend and mentor Williams (Tony Burton).

Kurt discovers that behind Dr Larkin's public image is a dark world of ultra violence, torture and corruption. Dr Larkin will stop at nothing to achieve her aims, especially murder.

This is a great fun film with some amazing action set pieces. The plot is so-so but good enough to serve a film of this type. 

The Wrestler (1974)

A nostalgic view of professional wrestling in the 1970s but not much of a film.

Frank (Edward Asner) is a wrestling promoter who is involved with other promoters around the country trying to come up with a unified national show (so foretold the rise of Wrestlemania in the 1980s somewhat). However, the mob want to fix some matches to make some bread which goes against everything Frank believes in (this film is strictly kayfabe). 

Meanwhile, the champion and Frank's friend Mike (Verne Gagne) refuses to put his title on the line against the up-and-coming and dangerous challenger Billy Robinson. Frank puts his friendship with Mike on the line to book the match...

This really isn't that great a film from a dramatic piece of work standpoint. The plot is plodding and sometimes confusing, the acting from most of the wrestlers is pretty poor. However, for a nostalgic look at wrestling in it's time this is great. Some real legends of the ring are on show here (the film is heavily AWA based) including Verne Gagne, Dusty Rhodes, Dick Murdoch even a very young (and brown haired) Ric Flair in one scene!

The Lost Missile (1958)

New York is threatened by a mysterious missile from outer space, no amount of incorrect stock footage can stop it!

A missile of extraterrestrial origin is hit by a Soviet missile, now it is out of control and making it's way across Canada, scorching everything in it's path. New York is due to be hit in about half an hour, which gives the US plenty of time to evacuate the city. They wouldn't be that efficient these days, it's take them a few hours to choose the font for the evacuation notices.

Top nuclear scientist Dr Loring (Robert Loggia) and his assistant/lover Ellen (Joan Wood) are due to get married when the alert goes up. Instead they work on Loring's plan to fire an experimental nuclear missile at the incoming menace. This involves carrying deadly plutonium across the city to the launch site with only the most minimal of security...

So, this film doesn't make sense on many levels but it is a genuinely exciting, tense and fast moving film. It is somewhat marred by incorrect stock footage. This isn't exactly uncommon with films (of any era to be honest) but it does feel like the makers threw every scrap they could at this film to pad it out. Despite the flaws this is a great watch.

The Gold Racket (1937)

Straight forward but decent crime capers.

A gang is illegally importing gold from Mexico into the US and is willing to kill any Federal agents which get in the way. Alan (Conrad Nagel) is sent down to Mexico to find the location of the gang so the authorities can move in. His reporter girlfriend Bobbie (Eleanor Hunt) is left behind... for now.

The smuggled gold is traced to a mine, at a cantina nearby pilot Steve (Frank Milan) is able to buy his drinks with gold nuggets but Alan realises on a woman can get into Steve's confidence so he calls Bobbie down to sing in the cantina! Soon both of them are in deadly danger...

An enjoyable film, part of a short series featuring the characters Alan and Bobbie. Although the film is short it does drag at times as there is a bit of padding to the basic story. The plot won't tax you but the film is a fine watch, with some humour too especially from the cantina owner Fuzzy Knight.

Catalina Caper (1967)

Swinging teens foil a gang of crooks, not as bad as you might fear but not far off...

A criminal couple (Del Moore and Sue Casey) steal a valuable painting and take it to Catalina island where they plan to swindle a dodgy Greek art collector by showing him the real one then selling him a fake. The collector Lakapolous (Lee Deane) however, has his own scheme to steal the painting off the gang. The couple's son Tad (Peter Duryea) finds out what his folks are up to and plans to steal the painting himself and return it. Other kids including Don (Tommy Kirk) also get involved.

If thats not enough there is a mysterious guy who is watching them but keeps falling into the water, oh and Catalina island is full of teens in their swimwear dancing about in that swinging 1960s pop manner soon to be made obsolete by psychedelia.

This is light fare really, and quite ridiculous too. Basically a 1960s beach movie with a bit of crime added. The frequent musical interludes take any momentum away from any other part of the story, one of these interludes does include a cameo from Little Richard though so thats quite cool and probably the movie's best bit.

The Gang's All Here (1941)

Someone is targeting a logistics company's trucks. Two friends take a job driving those trucks unaware they are being put in danger.

Frankie (Frankie Darro) and Jeff (Mantan Moreland) take on the job with Pop's (Robert Homans) company. after being hired by the mechanic Chick (Jackie Moran) and Pop's daughter Patsy (Marcia Mae Jones). Frankie and Jeff manage to escape the first attempt to run them off the road but on the second attempt they are not so lucky and end up prisoners of the gang. Meanwhile, Lee (Keye Luke) is an agent for the insurance company investigating quite why Pop is sending so many claims. He discovers a plot hatched with insurance broker Saunders (Irving Mitchell) to defraud the company...

This is a fun film with a good cast which gels very well. The story is packed into a short film (as is usual with a B movie) but the fast pace and generally light feel and tone make this a highly enjoyable little film. Though with Luke and Moreland involved in the film you do half expect a certain well known Chinese detective to make an appearance!

Robot Monster (1953)

A laughably bad 1950s science fiction film, though with a clever twist.

Johnny (Gregory Moffett), an annoying all-American boy, is sleeping off his picnic with his parents. He wakes up and reaches a cave, suddenly the world is torn upside down, dinosaurs fight in a valley, most of the human race is wiped out and... an alien gorilla in a space helmet is looking to complete the job!

What is going on? Why have we gone from a picnic to a post-apocalypse scene were just a handful of humans are left alive in just the blink of an eye? Apparently the survivors are protected from the evil cosmic ray weapon of Ro-Man (George Barrows/John Brown) by a serum developed by The Professor (John Mylong). Ro-Man, despite his space simian nature, puts his plans to complete the wipe out of humanity when he takes a fancy to Johnny's older sister Alice (Claudia Barrett)...

This is very low budget fare, for some reason Ro-Man has a bubble making machine. Nothing really makes sense, well when we do get the twist it kind of explain a lot of the nonsense we have just seen. Very strange stuff indeed.

The Jesse Ventura Story (1999)

Jesse "The Body" Ventura (wrestler, actor, politician) has a life story almost tailor made for a biopic, unfortunately this isn't it.

We see Jesse from his early years as a US Navy Seal, then breaking into pro-wrestling before injuries forced him to take on a broadcasting role. This led to him beginning a film and TV career before finally entering politics and becoming governor of Minnesota. 

A great story but unfortunately so much of the story portrayed on screen is completely wrong, especially the wrestling segments which seem to exist in some parallel universe utterly against actual wrestling history (Raven, Goldberg in wrestling supposedly set in the 1970s and 80s? Really?)

To make matters worse, the guy who plays Ventura (Nils Allen Stewart) doesn't really look or sound like him, which is always a drawback when the original is one of the most recognisable people on Earth! Quite why the makers took so many liberties is unknown, but this is really terrible. Watch the real Jesse Ventura in Predator or Abraxus instead!