Mystery in Swing (1940)

A somewhat confusing crime race movie, though has some good music in it.

Prince Ellis (Robert Webb), a band leader and trumpeter, is killed. When the police begin to investigate the case they find there is no shortage of suspects as Ellis seemed to be hated by nearly everyone! This includes his ex-wife and the father of Ellis' new squeeze Mae (Tommie Moore). Reporter Biff (Monte Hawley) also helps the detective with the confusing case...

The film is typical of race movies (black only cast and crew) in being pretty low budget and roughly made at times. The story is a bit confusing though has a pretty good and innovative way to discover and unmask the killer. But if you can't follow the story just enjoy some good blues, jazz and swing music. Highly enjoyable.

Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935)

One of the best Charlie Chan films with a sinister opium smuggling ring targeting Charlie a number of times.

Charlie (Warner Oland) is in Shanghai to investigate an opium smuggling ring. At a welcoming banquet, prominent local official Sir Stanley is killed by a booby trapped right in front of Charlie who begins the investigation. However, soon Charlie himself is in danger and kidnapped by a shadowy mob, though he is rescued by Number One Son (Keye Luke).

There are a number of suspects, could Philip Nash (Jon Hall) be behind the attempts on Charlie's life or is the ringleader someone completely unexpected...

An excellent and energetic entry in the Charlie Chan series with more action than often is the case, including a rather juicy flying leap by Number One Son. 

Eye of the Tiger (1986)

The streets of a small town have been taken over by drug crazed bikers, only one man can stop them (natch).

Buck (Gary Busey) returns to his small hometown for a spell in gaol to find things have changed for the worst, a biker gang led by a cardboard cut-out (William Smith) are running rampant, killing and beating and raping people in the streets in between selling crack cocaine. The sheriff (Seymour Cassel) has been paid off.

After Buck stops the gang raping a nurse, they turn on him and kill his wife (Denise Galik) and wreck his house. They also kidnap his young daughter (Judith Barsi). With the help of his old army buddy JB (Yaphet Kotto) faces down the gang with the help of a lot of hi-tech weaponry...

So, a silly and unoriginal premise but an entertaining violent romp. The action scenes are well done and spaced out by a reasonable amount of story. Blade the main baddie could have been better though, he looks pretty cool but we don't really see much from him until the very end of the film.

Village of the Giants (1965)

Annoying teens eat a weird chemical created by an even more annoying pre-teen and become giant annoying teens.

A group of delinquents led by Fred (Beau Bridges) turn up in a small town. In that town Mike (Tommy Kirk) is trying to make out with his girlfriend (Charla Doherty) when little Genius (Ron Howard) invents a weird orange goo which turns animals into giants. 

Naturally its not long before Fred and his gang take the goo themselves and become giants who terrorise the town. Normal size teens and adults are at their mercy...

Now, it doesn't sound very promising, the special effects and acting are not up to much and most of the characters are hard to warm to. However, despite that the film is great fun, maybe because it is just so ridiculous.

Omoo-Omoo, the Shark God (1949)

A remarkably cheap film about a Pacific Islander curse and the eyes of a god.

Sea captain Guy (Trevor Bardette) has stolen a couple of pearls from a South Sea Island people, the pearls being the eyes of their Shark God. Guy is cursed with a tabu and is sent into near madness and bad health. He is forced to return to the island. However, he still won't tell the Chief (Pedro de Cordoba) where the pearls/eyes are. Guy's crew include some disreputable members who fancy the pearls for themselves...

A fairly dreary film, short in length though padded out with plenty of stock footage (including an underwater life scene which seems to go on for ages). The story is thin, the sets basic and the acting either non-existent or awkward. Not really a lot of jungle fun.