Shadow Conspiracy (1997)

A rather dumb but well made political conspiracy thriller.

Political adviser Bobby Bishop (Charlie Sheen) is drawn into a political conspiracy that has been uncovered by people who very quickly get killed. It is obvious that the conspiracy goes to the highest levels in the White House and Bishop doesn't know who to trust. 

Bishop ends up with journalist (and old flame) Amanda Givens (Linda Hamilton) on the run from a group of highly organised killers. Who can he trust, can he even trust his mentor and chief of staff Conrad (Donald Sutherland)?

A ridiculous film in many ways, especially at the end where the conspirators try to kill the President with a remote control helicopter! However, the sheer nonsense does make this film very watchable. The action is non-stop and often very well done. 

Red Alert (1977)

A tense drama set in a nuclear power station which is on the verge of blowing up and irradiating half of the USA!

Alerts are sounded at a nuclear power station, then there are a number of explosions. However, the control computer seems to think there is a radiation leak despite evidence on the ground to the contrary. It appears that a disgruntled employee may have placed bombs around the reactor and these need to be found before they cause a critical accident...

As Frank (William Devane) and Carl (Michael Brandon) desperately try and avert disaster they have to contend with the computer as well as the reactor...

An excellent TV movie that ramps up the drama as the reactor temperate rises. This film has it all, technological chaos, political intrigue and personal tragedy. The film fits so much in and does a very good job with it.

The Hostage Tower (1980)

A daring, if somewhat ridiculous, plot to hold the Eiffel Tower hostage!

Master criminal Mr Smith (Keir Dullea) has an audacious new crime planned, he will take the Eiffel Tower hostage! He recruits a number of top criminals to help him, unfortunately for him though two are agents from Philpott's (Douglas Fairbanks Jr) special crime fighting unit. These are Clarence (Billy Dee Williams) and Sabrina (Maud Carver), though Sabrina is shocked that Mike (Peter Fonda) has also been recruited and he was her instructor in the CIA...

The plot goes off, and an added complication is that Mr Smith has got hold of some deadly laser weapons, and the mother of the US President (Celia Johnson) is also a hostage...

A solid action TV movie (though the premise itself is a little ridiculous). The scenes on the Eiffel Tower are very well filmed, and the laser cannons are pretty cool. Well, lasers are always cool.

The Night Flier (1997)

A good Stephen King adaptation. Vampires are bought into the 20th century, travelling by light aircraft instead of a horse drawn carriage!

Richard (Miguel Ferrer) is a hard noses reporter for a sensationalist tabloid. He begins to investigate a strange case of vampire style attacks by someone who arrives at remote airstrips by private plane, though he thinks it is just a really sick serial killer. New reporter Katharine (Julie Entwistle) is also after the story, they do work together for a while but Richard is determined to get the scoop and ends up locking her in a wardrobe! 

Richard finally tracks down the killer, but ends up with much more than he bargained for...

A fine enough film, low budget but plenty of gore, the vampire effects are pretty well done. Although we know we are in a horror film, much of the film plays out as a pretty decent crime investigation film too.

The Marseille Contract (1974)

A stellar cast, a good plot but somehow a bit of a disappointment.

US agent Ventura (Anthony Quinn) has been trying to bring drug baron Brizard (James Mason) down for ages but to no avail, so he decides to employ a contract killer. 

To his surprise the assassin turns out to be an old friend, Deray (Michael Caine). Deray is sent down to Marseille to get involved with Brizard's organisation, meanwhile Ventura is starting to have second thoughts...

A decent enough early 1970s crime movie though with the three leads you might expect a little more, maybe we are just being a bit greedy? This is still an enjoyable film, gritty and violent at times and also with some good sports car action.