The Salamander (1981)

Not quite as good as it could have been but this is an engaging and complex thriller.

A number of prominent figures in Italian society have been murdered. Police officer Dante (Franco Nero) investigates the murders which are linked by a calling card of the figure of a salamander. Dante begins to unravel a fascist plot to stage a coup and now his life and that of Lili (Sybil Danning) is in danger...

This film has a great cast including Anthony Quinn and Christopher Lee though at times can be a bit hard going. The storyline is complicated but lacks the right amount of energy and dynamism to make this compelling and not a bit of a slog. The film is worth seeing though for the good performances and the intrigue which can be down right dark at times, especially in the torture scenes.

Battling Butler (1926)

More restrained than usual for a Buster Keaton film, the comedy coming from the story and situations rather than impressive physical feats.

Alfred Butler (Keaton) is a foppish young man sent by his father to do some hunting to toughen him up. Alfred continues his easy life in the mountains though in a luxurious tent and not a great deal of luck hunting! However, he meets a girl (Sally O'Neill) and falls in love. 

Unfortunately for Alfred, her male relatives are against the match as they think he is a bit of a weed. Alfred's valet (Snitz Edwards) tries to pretend Alfred is a boxer with the same name. Naturally soon Alfred has to enter the ring for real!

An enjoyable if subtle film. It is rather sweet and touching with good visual gags rather than manic slapstick. It is maybe not Keaton's best but it showed he had many strings to his bow.

Beyond Justice (1991)

A desert romp and also utterly terrible.

A spoilt rich kid (David Flosi) is kidnapped by his father (Kabir Bedi) and taken to the desert to become the next Emir of a violent clan in Morocco. His spoilt rich mother Christine (Carol Alt) hires ex-CIA agent Burton (Rutger Hauer) to rescue him. Christine insists on tagging along though as Burton takes on the Emir's (Omar Sharif) goons...

This is pretty poor stuff, so disjointed and confusing. The reason for this is that this is a film length version of a five hour TV mini series! Maybe the original series makes sense but this film edit so often doesn't. Hauer does his usual action hero stuff and that can be good at times, but the problem is the rest of this mess. 

You really do get the feeling Hauer, Sharif and Elliot Gould, who plays Christine's lawyer, are pretty wasted here. Fast forward between the action scenes and it is entertaining enough.

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.